Perception is reality. And in China, reality can sometimes be amusing. Take for example this great story out of China about the concept of “face,” which is roughly defined as the importance of reputations and appearances.

Some Chinese companies are taking “face” one step further and running crafty Screens on white people (so much for reverse discrimination). To convince people to trust in their companies, firms are hiring white foreigners to stand in as business partners or to be fake employees.

(Who knew whites were so trustworthy?) I, for one, can think of a few who might dispute this notion –Native Americans and, more recently, anyone who’s had the misgiving to turn on the TV when BP CEO Tony Hayward speaks.

To have a white foreigner work at your company is a Screen play, defined on The Standard Table of Influence Strategies as a “the attempt by a player to borrow issues, ideas, events or other symbolic references to advance its agenda or thwart a competitor's movements.” In this case, the Screen is visual and implies some sort of connection to Western countries. For many, these connections signal beaucoup bucks!

The Chinese market is difficult to navigate. But rent a white boy and it can be a bit easier.

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: zazzle.com

China surpassed the United States as the number one CO2 emitter in 2007. Yet since then, and somewhat paradoxically, it has been successfully Drafting Uncle Sam, becoming a leader in renewable energy sources.

China’s ability to provide the west with solar panels and wind turbines has some experts running ominous Screens on China becoming a modern-day Middle East—controlling the world’s supply of alternative energy.

Global leaders have bought into this fear—or at least understand that they need to develop profitable relationships with China. In March 2010, the United States announced almost $40 million in funding for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. Not to be outdone, Europe Crowded the advancement and announced last Saturday its own partnership with the Middle Kingdom to make progress in developing clean energy technology.

Either way you look at it, helping the environment is making China even wealthier and more popular with its western neighbors. Is it the dawn of the Chinese Century?

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: knowledge.allianz.com

The World Expo will take place this May in Shanghai. Almost 200 countries will showcase new technology, wealth and creativity. Of course, the U.S. will be in attendance and it plans to have its strongest presence in expo history. And where there’s influence and action, there’s usually plays to be found.

One theatre of action surrounds the U.S.’s presence itself. Some critics are Calling Out America for failing to distinguish itself as one of the expo’s lead players—accusing Uncle Sam of running an ordinary Crowd instead of game-changing Preempts and Drafts. Given the U.S.’s fast-start, this is all somewhat surprising.

The U.S. expo committee was off to a good start—raising $61 million in less than a year by using Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a Screen to raise beaucoup bucks. But raising the money was just one hurdle expo officials needed to jump. Groups who submitted unsuccessful bids angrily Called Out the State Department, saying that the process was based on nepotism.

The World Expo in Shanghai is one of the most anticipated in history. With May right around the corner, will the U.S. pull some last minute plays out of its hat to put a positive spin on an event that seems to be souring? We’ll soon find out.

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: cctv.cn