BEIJING, CHINA – There are many stereotypical views portraying all products made by firms in the People’s Republic of China as being of a lesser or rather inferior quality.
Part of this stereotyping stems from China possibly being its worst enemy for the mere fact it has not done enough to market itself as an alternative to the diminishing economic prowess of the United States of America (USA) whose influence is overwhelming.
Leslie Young, a Professor of Economics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business recently contextualized the issue saying China can learn “great soft power lessons” from Britain by making its values accepted by other countries.
China could change the stereotyping and negative perceptions by teaching other countries about its work ethic, language, rich traditions and culture.
This was also done successfully by the British whose values and norms still dominate the way in which the world functions, as can be attested by most officials wearing suits and ties while English is the global lingua franca.
Because of the work ethic of its industrious citizenry and its financial prudence the People’s Republic of China also has factories that produce high-quality apparel, electronics, automobiles, trains, planes, ships, pharmaceuticals and military hardware such as tanks.
No wonder other countries burdened by massive external debts are envious about China because it has in excess of US$3.82 trillion in foreign reserves and it could soon also be the render of the last resort.
Small-town Chinese traders who have flooded African markets with poor-quality goods called ‘Fong Kongs’ are partly to blame for this negative stereotyping.
When people talk about Chinese products in most cases they do not know there is a place in China called the ‘Silk Market’ and ‘Ya Show’ that are essentially malls that sell the best suits, dresses, trousers and coats that money can buy and more so at a massive discount. ‘Silk Market’ is equivalent to Saville Row if not more as the ‘Silk Market’ is also a bargain hunter’s paradise.
It is unfortunate the small-town Chinese traders doing business in Africa are doing their country a great disservice by not sourcing high-quality Chinese apparel from the ‘Silk Market’ and similar Chinese sources that could materially benefit other countries.
China also produces cheaper but reliable technologies such as tractors that could benefit farmers in Africa’s developing countries and it makes environmental friendly ‘Tuk Tuks’ or tricycles that could be used by millions of Africans as a cheaper mode of transport.
Part of the present stereotyping could arise from the fact that most of the perceptions about inferior Chinese goods are from reports by the Western media who have vested interests as they regard China’s economic supremacy and rise as a threat to their countries.
In the Western eyes the economic rise of China could result in the world’s most populated country becoming more assertive, more aggressive and even more expansionist. But contrary to this ill-founded fear Chinese leaders insist no matter how strong China becomes economically it will not seek hegemony.
Despite the assurance, Westerners fret this gentle Eastern Asian giant could one day have a change of heart and become hostile and “less pleasant”.
Like we said before, China should do more to change negative perceptions about the quality of its goods that are not only of a high quality but are also cheaper and could benefit Africans and other developing countries.
• Chrispin Inambao, the editor of New Era and has just returned from a three-week visit to China, where 30 Namibian editors, journalists, radio producers and media officers attended a three-week seminar sponsored by the Chinese government.
By Chrispin Inambao