I was trying to let this die....Forgive me Greybeard......but sense you asked.........I worked 18 months in China some 10 years ago or so. I was subcontracted to the China National petroleum company and maintained equipment at different locations around China. I worked 9 weeks on and 3 weeks off. The company I worked for produced nothing in China and was one of the few that actually brought dollars back into the United States. I lived with the Chinese people and have nothing against them. I speak some Chinese, but not using the language have lost most of it. They were great, very polite, and treated me great. At the time, I had spent 30% of my adult life in asia, not just China.......Trust me, there is a huge difference between China and Japan.
First, the chinese for the most part, are not motivated by money as government run companies pay everyone the same and most of the people are told where they will live and work. Because of this, there is no concern about the quality of work produced. Joint venture companies are a little better, but 60 years of work ethics are not changed over night. Every overseas company that does business in China is a joint venture, not a wholly owned company.
Second, foreign companies are taxed at a very high rate, and that tax money goes to finance their militay, as the defense budget in china gets the lions share of the budget. I choose not to fiance the Chinese military or the new Chinese space program.
Third, the Chinese currency called the Rem &B by most expatriates, is not allowed to float against the world currency market, and is fixed in value giving the Chinese an unfair competive advantage.
Forth, It's a communist government that would like to see communism spread around the world. They have recently signed agreements with Cuba undermining american interest 90 miles offshore of the coast of florida. They are currently operating the Panama Canal.
Human rights issues in china are another concern and people are jailed because they said something the government didn't like. I worked with 10 techs at each site, and each would speak freely with me one on one but all were afraid to have a collective discussion. Having a short wave radio, a tech would come in a listen but if someone else came in the room they would both leave. They were scared to death the party would find out.
Japan, on the other hand, produces the only American made trucks. Toyota, manufactures trucks in Decatur Alabama, and builds engines in Winchester Tennessee. nissan Assembles trucks in smyrna Tennessee and has several plants producing parts around the region. These Japanese companies employ a lot of people in Tennessee and Alabama. Yes, there are profits going to these companies, but they bring good wages to locals.
Does Japan trade fairly? More so than most.
The point I'm trying to make is that while the consumer benefits by low prices for goods produced in China, it comes at the expense of American labor and those dollars that are going back to China are financing counter American interest around the world.
I realize that things have changed some over the last several years, but it's still a Communist country. Hopefully, someone will let us know how the business and polical climate has changed over the years.
Sorry Greybeard.......delete this post if you must........These are observations from someone who has genuine knowledge of China......
