[seanmcdirmid]

In my experience, if something is hard to do in the USA, it is much harder to in China, which doesn't really acknowledge immigrants. Now, this is just "by the book", which the USA takes much more seriously than China. Often times, the book in China isn't even written and all they will say is "没办法", your only option is a tourist visa where they wink you'll probably be ok, unless you are unlucky enough to be caught in some crackdown, then it's 6 or so months in Chinese detention before being deported.

Only be in China if you REALLY need to be there, otherwise it's a whole lot of pain without corresponding upside.

[gjkood]

In the same vein, for those in the USA trying to do business elsewhere, please be aware of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [1]. There is no upside to breaking those rules.

Sean, my Mandarin/Chinese is at below beginner's level. My google translate of your phrase is 'no way'. Was that what you were saying?

1. https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-pract...

[seanmcdirmid]

Yes, 没办法 just means "what you want to do is impossible, though (often implied) should be possible."

FCPA applies not just to Americans, but anyone who does business in the USA, so even non Americans can be caught up in it, and many developed countries have their own versions of it.

I don't think bribes fly around so easily these days. At least nothing overt, though the Chinese partner they thrust on you is often just a backdoor bribe that looks legit on paper.