On Choosing Your China Expert

A couple of people recently introduced themselves to me as sinologists, leading me to wonder what kind of qualifications are needed to become one. I definitely find it strange that some people can brand themselves as experts in all things China.

Dan - well said. I don't how many 'China-experts' I've met over the years, but funnily enough I can't remember any of them.

Now if it's an expert on Chinese beer you want, talk to LaoLao. Chinese ladies, talk to LaoLao. Chinese food, talk to LaoLao's wife. Chinese barbers shops talk to a priest, you should be ashamed.

Hi Dan,
With regard to China experts, I agree its not possible to know everything about China and specialists in one area are what is needed. For my part, I'm specialized in the wireless industry in China and specifically mobile devices (cell phones), which is, hands down, the largest revenue geerating sector in China. I have wanted to explain to your company how you should be developing this market, but ultimately, you guys claim not to be technology savvy, yet you maintain an excellent web page. Here is some advise from a guy in Washington State who has been liviing in/doing business with Greater CHina and India since 1985, and if you count studying CHinese language since 1982, you need to be developing opportunities to provide entry services to CHinese cell phone handset manufacturers whom will come to set up offices in Washington State. Over three years ago, I explained to the Washington State Office of Trade and Economic Development Council that because Microsoft was building up it's Windows Mobile Asian handset hardware partners in Greater CHina, they and the laywer community should spend the time courting those companies to come and set up an office in the Seattle area. Since then, HTC, a major Taiwanese vendor has put an office in Washington State. Now, I've noticed another company putting an office here for two reasons: first, to be next to Microsoft and secondly we have two of the countries wireless carriers' (T-Mobile & Cingular) handset divisions stationed here. It's only a matter of time before the Mainland Chinese handset manufacturers invest in offices here too. What I'm saying to your organization is be open minded, just because you don't happen to be very technology savvy is no reason for you to be blind to opportunities in (Greater) China. Do your research like I, as a Greater China and India Wireless Market/Mobile Device Specialist and develop relationships with these companies which may lead to revenue opportunities for your firm.
Thanks,
Karl Weaver

Sergey --

Good point. Yes and no. Yes, the company describes itself as China experts, but no, I doubt very much that it is of the view that within its fairly large group, it has every expertise necessary for doing business in China. I would guess that from time to time it brings in outside experts to assist. So for example, my firm claims to be China lawyers. But, there are definitely many China legal issues we would not touch at all and a number of other China legal issues we would only touch if we could bring in the right outside person to assist.

McGregor's company has so many people with substantial experience and such a wide body of knowledge among those people that I have no problem with the firm describing themselves as China experts. I would think though that nobody within the firm claims expertise on everything China, or even everything on China business.

nanheyangrouchuan --

!!

Hey, I think I am at least in the running for "Jr. Beer Expert"!

Excellent post, and wonderful comments. Except for that PiPi character.

I agree with most all of the points raised, though I think Karl's trying a little too hard in drumming up some biz with you CLB. :)

Another thing about the "expert" issue here. I am not an expert in anything. My father used to say he was "a journeyman of all trades and master of none". Due to his working in several business sectors, as many of us do, we gain experience and are able to view things from more than one perspective.

In comparision to the average 25 - 35 year old raised and educated on the Mainland, foreign experts are just that. Expert-ienced.

Good point. In the mid 90s I was the only foreigner on a panel at a conference on China manufacturing and I was introduced as a "Zhongguo Tong", a "China Expert." I said that I appreciated their kind introduction but that I had to disagree with them...I thought that "China Expert" was a contradiction in terms: Chinese history is too long, the culture too complex, the language too deep for anyone to be considered an "Expert".

I said that I prefer to use the term "China Addict". For over 20 years, I have been addicted to this place. Because of that addiction, I might have experienced a few more things than others, but by NO MEANS does that make me an "expert". If anything it might cause one to question my intelligence and "expertise" that my addiction is the thing driving me and not something more rational like money, fame or power. For those interested, I do a column for "that's Shanghai" magazine and my March column addresses this very issue:

Dan, keep up the GREAT work debunking and deflating those of us who think we know something...we need more of it!

zzyzx --

Yes, to the extent the good expert in a number of the areas I listed has to know about the things you mentioned.

Myra --

Thanks for checking in and thanks for commenting. I definitely agree with you on the need for using a culturaly knowledgeable expert in certain situations and there are definitely situations where no matter how good a foreigner's Chinese may be and no matter how well that foreigner may know Chinese culture, there is absolutely no replacement for a true local.

Thanks for the response. If you are in Beijing at some point and can give me some advance notice I would be happy to buy you lunch or a beer.

hey dan -this was a great post - I will direct people to read this when I get those questions also :)

Beefeater --

Vested interest or no, you are absolutely right.