[baybal2]

This

I met a lot of very self confident American entrepreneurs, over the years, who come to China thinking that they can play their game here.

Believe me, an average CPC section chief by mid-30 will have an arsenal of political stratagem to outplay any of those guys. Even though may look inept, they are on completely different level when it comes to your mindgames.

Your best bet in this game is not to play it. My own take on it as somebody who's been here for quite some time: the less you see them, the better.