Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Would You Go to China on Business Now?

shift.newco.co

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–28 of 28 posts

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#21

Post by fhood »

creaghpatr wrote: post #18
fhood wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, skepticism is important, but I am willing to believe that this arrest was for basically the reasons stated, and I think to assume that it is completely otherwise would be overly cynical. That said, I would not be terribly surprised if the Chinese felt forced to retaliate in some way.

You need to read "The Chickenshit Club" which details the long, agonizing process the DOJ goes through before making an indictment (and subsequent arrest) because you seem to be laboring under the delusion that one person or persons decided "oh let's just arrest someone important from China" Edit: I want to add that China is an amazing place everyone should visit at least once in their life and I hope the author does…

Hang on, I meant that I believe that the DOJ was acting in good faith.

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#22

Post by bilbo0s »

rrggrr wrote: post #20

I don't go anymore and here are the reasons why: 1. Arbitrage gone. The China arb on price has largely closed (as it should have) and its not a viable business strategy anymore for the markets I serve. 2. Vendor disinterest. Again, as it should have, the domestic Chinese market has grown such that export business in my markets is more trouble than its worth to my Chinese vendors. Those who do export find it easier to…

Number 5 is what kills it for me.

Don't underestimate number 5. It's very true. At least right now there are a few there who will still adhere to the niceties of just being courteous, but the hostility between the US and China is growing, and the number of people like that will decrease precipitously over time.

All that said, I think there are certain classes of Westerners who may find it easier than others in China in the future. I think the average Chinese person is starting to be more nuanced in their views. So maybe they see a big difference between a German guy and an American guy? I can't say, but I think that may be true??? Also, if you're high enough on the food chain, you're obviously a lot easier to tolerate. But that's a very small number of Americans. And, as always, the basketball players will likely always be able to make a go of it in China, it's kind of like Iran with the basketball guys.

But yeah, if you're a regular Joe-American, the tides are definitely shifting. But Captain Obvious could tell you that.

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#23

Post by opo »

Bucephalus355 wrote: post #15

Background on the Japanese and Americans in WWII stranded in each other’s respective country. Americans were pretty much able to get out of Japan after December 7th. I believe the police arrived to talk and quarantine them all, but all the reporters I know made it out on their own easily within the next month or two. Same thing in Germany. William Shirer was reporting from Berlin as an American up until early 1942. T…

Do you have any sources for any of this?

For example:

>...Americans were pretty much able to get out of Japan after December 7th.

Well... I didn't see any references specially on Japan itself, but when Japan took over Guam, they interned:

>...and 100 civilian men, including businessmen and the American Catholic priests, as well as the Spanish Catholic Bishop, Miguel Olano. According to official records nineteen of them died while they were prisoners. All of them suffered from malnutrition and exposure.

https://www.guampedia.com/wwii-prisoners-of-war-sent-to-japa...

>...Same thing in Germany. William Shirer was reporting from Berlin as an American up until early 1942.

According to wikipedia:

>...subsequently tipped off that the Gestapo was building an espionage case against him, which carried the death penalty. Shirer began making arrangements to leave Germany, which he did in December 1940.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Shirer

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#24

Post by tathougies »

5trokerac3 wrote: post #13
tathougies wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a rather low-effort comment, which sets up a false dichotomy.

It's far from a false dichotomy. Non-violent drug offenses are the modern day equivalent of vagrancy laws and private enterprise making use of prison labor the equivalent of the chain gang. Just because China is unquestionably more authoritarian doesn't mean that we don't have similar arrangements in America.

Sure, but someone who's principled enough to not do business in China is likely principled enough to not do business with private prisons / other cheap labor schemes.

That's why your response sets up a false dichotomy; it pre-supposes that anyone not using China for cheap labor is necessarily looking for cheap labor somewhere else.

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#25

Post by clubm8 »

5trokerac3 wrote: post #4

Before we assume that this is "a high stakes game of geopolitical poker to divert from Mueller", as the author suggests, let's see exactly what a C-level executive of one of the world's largest tech companies allegedly offered to the Iranians and for what purpose . Hypothetically, for all we know she was offering to use the company to launder money made from selling nuclear weapons tech on the black market. It's not…

>Before we assume that this is "a high stakes game of geopolitical poker to divert from Mueller", as the author suggests, let's see exactly what a C-level executive of one of the world's largest tech companies allegedly offered to the Iranians and for what purpose. Hypothetically, for all we know she was offering to use the company to launder money made from selling nuclear weapons tech on the black marke

Unless she offered it in the United States why should she be extradited here? I can get behind waiting for her to leave China, who presumably would look the other way. But why can't the Canadians prosecute her?

This idea that people who did not enter the United States can be subjected to it's laws and shipped off to it's prisons (with their abysmal human rights record) is scary.

And I say this as someone who's extremely critical of China and thinks we're spending too much time worrying about dank russian memes while China buzzes our aircraft in the South China Sea and imprisons millions of Uyghurs.

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#26

Post by clubm8 »

creaghpatr wrote: post #18
fhood wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, skepticism is important, but I am willing to believe that this arrest was for basically the reasons stated, and I think to assume that it is completely otherwise would be overly cynical. That said, I would not be terribly surprised if the Chinese felt forced to retaliate in some way.

You need to read "The Chickenshit Club" which details the long, agonizing process the DOJ goes through before making an indictment (and subsequent arrest) because you seem to be laboring under the delusion that one person or persons decided "oh let's just arrest someone important from China" Edit: I want to add that China is an amazing place everyone should visit at least once in their life and I hope the author does…

>I want to add that China is an amazing place everyone should visit at least once in their life and I hope the author does not let his fanatical political theories get in the way of what could be a life-expanding trip.

Well, having to buy a cheap chromebook I'd throw away/sell after the trip is a bit of a drag. Not being able to bring my mobile is a drag. Worrying that my public history of being pro-democracy, pro-free speech, and pro-Tor may result in harassment is a draq.

I had a lovely time when I went to Tokyo, without any visas, special electronics, or other considerations beyond the usual "don't leave your phone in the hotel room untattended" and "use a VPN" type opsec I always use traveling.

Why should I give my tourism dollars to a state that will at best tolerate and at worst actively harass me?

Re: Would You Go to China on Business Now?

#27

Post by rqs »

rrggrr wrote: post #20

I don't go anymore and here are the reasons why: 1. Arbitrage gone. The China arb on price has largely closed (as it should have) and its not a viable business strategy anymore for the markets I serve. 2. Vendor disinterest. Again, as it should have, the domestic Chinese market has grown such that export business in my markets is more trouble than its worth to my Chinese vendors. Those who do export find it easier to…

> 5. Hostility

Got me curious. I don't think we in China have reached that level (hostile).

Many people in China is passive, meaning most of the time you better open up by yourself, otherwise people are likely to leave you alone.

Yes, that can makes people feel helpless sometimes, but that's not because people are hostile, no, it's because people are cautious and don't want any trouble. It's not cautious towards foreigners, it's cautious towards others. In China, strangers just don't exchange much. If you want to feel the same level of friendliness that you might have in America, you need become somebody that other people familiar with (So maybe they know how to treat you well without piss you off, or other way around).

Post reply on HN