Both sides are finding it difficult to deal with each other’s very unique way of doing business. China used to control all aspects of business both internally and externally but they have been so used to cutting corners that they are finding it very difficult to follow the West’s strict rules and regulations with respects to product quality and materials. The huge amounts of goods that flow out of their borders, allows them to do so for they argue that everybody’s doing it so why not us. The recent increase of product recalls such as toys, toothpaste and contaminated drugs that led to human and animal deaths. It also got them a lot of scrutiny from other western nations shaking the Chinese way of doing business and forcing them to take note of quality instead of focusing on quantity.
Resorting to their iron-fist strategies, Beijing executes the chief of the product quality board which was accused of accepting bribes and allowing tainted medicine to flow out from their borders. This was too much of a shock for the world which received a very shocking realization that China is still a Socialist state and that civil liberties are still quite suppressed and crimes are met with severe penalties.
This gave rise to much criticism from Western nations and Human-Rights groups that China, long after the Cold War still employs ruthless methods and tactics to suppress its citizens. Many question their ability to host the upcoming 2008 Olympics with their track record in human rights and other civil liberties, there is sure to be a lot of issues before, during and well after the games have commenced. This might be a turning point for the Chinese, for people from all over the world would be part of the Olympic Games that they may not be able to contain issues and questions about the way the government conducts its business. They have even tried to control the internet to and from China in hopes of banning illegal sites from their citizens and people outside the country access to their well kept secrets. Time will show if the country will be able to adapt to a rapidly developing world of international cooperation and co-existence and they themselves will be the judge if they have done their best in providing a games that upholds the true values of the Olympic Games.
Originally posted on February 19, 2008 @ 7:20 pm