Ten Commandments for Doing Business in China

A blogger called Diligence China.com offers a list of 10 Commandments for businessmen thinking about doing business in China.  The list is good but not nearly enough to warn a foreigner about the dangers of doing business there.  A person who does not speak Chinese or doesn’t have a really good friend (not a fair-weather friend) who speaks the language and understands the customs and dangers involved, is almost certain to misunderstand everything he/she sees and hears.  You can’t judge China on how you do business at home nor can you begin to understand the complexity of a 5,000 -year-old society.  A good book with which to start your studies is called “Heijin,” which means “black gold” and has the same connotations as “black market.”  Except in China, the black market is the real market.  The cops are often the crooks.  And the government will force you to take on a partner who may rip you off at every opportunity.  And his buddies in government (local or national) are very likely to prosecute you rather than him.

Think long and hard before you invest in China and the amount of diligence that is due boggles the mind.