Opinion
Made in China
Yet another discovery of melamine in milk powder in the northern Chinese provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Tianjin has made me reflect on the determination (nay pigheadedness) of some Chinese suppliers to continue to ‘milk’ the easy profits from the very dangerous and illegal addition of this chemical.
As the penalties handed out to those caught so far are very severe (some have been executed), it may seem strange to westerners that this activity continues. ‘Made in China plc’ has shot itself so often in the foot during the past 18 months that you would have thought the penny would have dropped by now, as so many products – from chocolate to dog food – have been outlawed by China’s export markets.
The reality is that China, like the US, is a market so internally significant that the potential rewards can outweigh any risks, especially in a culture where gambling isn’t just second nature, it’s part of your ‘face’ to the outside world.
Being seen as a great gambler holds far more sway than the latest BMW in your driveway. And they will gamble on anything – from flies on a wall to water drops running down a window.
China has now perfected the art of capitalism without the complexity developed by the west. The end always justifies the means, and today’s result is everything. After all, tomorrow is … just tomorrow, and may never come.
Remember, in China you can now buy counterfeit eggs and toothpaste.
Marc Donaldson is a partner at On The Ball Consulting. He’s the former president of Delfi Cocoa and the former CEO of Heritage Fine Chocolates. He was also managing director Asia Pacific for Barry Callebaut.
- If you enjoyed this article, you may also like this: China executes melamine culprits
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Marc Donaldson is a partner at On The Ball Consulting
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