Working in China 229Keeping Up To Date
To keep abreast of current events and business trends while in
China, many expats subscribe to the International Herald Tribune,
The Asian Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. The latter
two are available by Internet subscription.Who Matters?
In China, there are a number of critical stakeholders that you
must keep in consideration when you are doing business.
First and foremost is the Chinese government. There is not
any business action that you take in China that does not
somehow include the government. From licence approvals
to taxation to labour unions and party cells, the government
has reach into and authority over your China business.
The most benevolent link between government and
business are the industry associations. They are meant
to be the communication conduit between business and
government. It is within the industry associations that early
drafts of regulations get floated for feedback and comment.
The industry association provides a platform to voice your
views. It also has the obligation to keep members informed
of change through briefings and information distribution.
Another link between government and business is the
media. Still heavily regulated in China, the media continues
to be the mouthpiece of the Chinese government. Although
increasingly liberalised to create financial self-sufficiency,
good journalists know where the line is and not to cross it.
If the government wants to deliver a message to a company
or industry, the media is a useful platform. Your relationships
with the media are important in providing your side of
the story to create a balanced image should you be under
scrutiny by government, competitors or the public. It is also
an important partner in telling your China story.
China creates unusual bedfellows in that your competitors
are also a stakeholder in your business. The approvals
and setbacks that you encounter in China provide a precedent
for your competitors, either to be restricted or to make
forward movement.