The art of faking it

There are always rich ironies when Chinese and Westerners officials get together to talk about piracy, counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights.

Westerners preach away, and Chinese earnestly pledge that they are taking firms steps.

A few years ago, an Italian envoy was in Beijing discussing piracy on behalf of the European Union. Before he left town, journalists spotted him buying a fake Rolex on the street.

Now comes the latest tidbit: A two-day economic summit this week between a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Vice Premier Wu Yi was held far out of Beijing at a place called the Grand Epoch City, a convention venue. I wasn’t there but am told the place is full of faux Ming Dynasty touches, including temples and pavilions.

A South China Morning Post article (behind a pay wall) termed the place “a manufactured, counterfeit city,” noting that there was lots of talk about piracy. The article then added this zinger:

“For any U.S. officials who had missed the irony, they could have bought it at the conference hall gift shop. Yes, pirated American goods -- wallets, shirts and handbags -- all conveniently on sale at a snip of the original price.”

Note to readers: I’m headed off on a year-end holiday to remote parts of Southeast Asia until Jan. 3 so this blog will be in temporary hiatus – unless I find something too compelling not to post!

Comments

[Daniel Mourning]

Hmm.. Piracy seems to be open and has been tolerated by the Chinese government, they could import it to the other countries.. bought up by the countries businessman and sell in in a low price, thats why piracy is spreading the whole world, coming from China.

dan,
Panama

[Daniel Mourning]

Hmm.. Piracy seems to be open and has been tolerated by the Chinese government, they could import it to the other countries.. bought up by the countries businessman and sell in in a low price, thats why piracy is spreading the whole world, coming from China.

dan,
Panama

[Daniel Mourning]

Hmm.. Piracy seems to be open and has been tolerated by the Chinese government, they could import it to the other countries.. bought up by the countries businessman and sell in in a low price, thats why piracy is spreading the whole world, coming from China.

dan,
Panama

[Daniel Mourning]

Oh sorry for the spam.. i didn't meant it.. i think there's something wrong with the confirmation code.. pls delete those two more. sorry... not intended to ruin the site.. i was just passing through and enjoy reading it and comment a little..

[Pffefer]

Bad, bad China.

Here you go, nh.

[Larry]

"tolerated by the Chinese governmnet" ? Isn't it more like "encouraged" and "insisted" ?

[Pffefer]

Larry, exactly how does the Chinese government encourage and insist piracy? Fake it or die? Fake it and you will get tax breaks?

[nanheyangrouchuan]

Glad to see you are finally on board pfeffer.

And bad, bad expats.

[Pffefer]

Bad bad expats? Then why are you still here? Your presence in China only helps "the bad bad" China.

[nanheyangrouchuan]

I can be proud of my profession, bringing clean water and air to the masses (or at least trying to). I'm not some media/marketing slob trying to push product and fling BS more often than actually doing any work.

Basically, everyone wants what I'm selling and what I'm selling is a clean and healthy life. Now what about you?

[chinese buddhist]

nh: let's hear some details about your "proud profession", whatever it is: because, for a seller of "clean" whatever, you sound terribly UNCLEAN.

[Ron]

Thanks for helping with city group:)