Unlocking the Tax Advantages of Dubai Offshore Companies: A Strategic Business Move For Chinese Entrepreneurs

Dubai, known for its luxurious lifestyle and iconic skyline, is also a thriving hub for global business operations. The city’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly environment make it an alluring destination for entrepreneurs and investors worldwide.

One of the most compelling reasons to consider Dubai for company formation is its offshore jurisdictions, which offer significant tax benefits that can be a game-changer for businesses.

Unlocking the Tax Advantages of Dubai Offshore Companies A Strategic Business Move

Why Choose Dubai for Your Offshore Company?

Tax Efficiency: A Core Attraction

Dubai has been synonymous with wealth and finance due to its favorable tax conditions, providing a tax-efficient landscape for offshore companies. Its offshore jurisdictions have no corporate tax, no income tax, and no capital gains tax, making it an interesting choice from a tax perspective.

This is particularly attractive for international businesses and investors looking to maximize their earnings and reduce their overall tax burden.

Reinforced Privacy and Asset Protection

Choosing Dubai for your offshore company also assures enhanced privacy and security for business owners. The confidentiality laws in place ensure that the identities of company owners and shareholders are protected from public disclosure. This allows for greater discretion in business operations.

Strategic Location and Robust Economy

Dubai’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa offers businesses a gateway to a variety of markets. Moreover, the UAE’s economy is one of the most robust in the region, underpinned by a diverse range of sectors including trade, logistics, finance, and tourism.

The Allure of Dubai’s Offshore Companies from a Tax Perspective

Offshore companies in Dubai present several tax-related incentives that are not just appealing but could be considered crucial for enterprises seeking financial agility.

No Double Taxation

Dubai has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with many countries worldwide. This ensures that businesses operating in Dubai are protected against paying taxes both in the UAE and in their home country, significantly reducing their tax liability.

Repatriation Benefits

Another attractive feature for offshore companies in Dubai is the lack of restrictions or taxes on repatriation of profits and capital. This is particularly important for foreign investors who wish to move funds freely without being penalized financially.

create a dubai offshore company

Access to UAE Free Zones

Offshore companies are often confused with Free Zone companies. Although both have distinct characteristics, offshore companies can benefit from the free zone’s tax exemptions even without being physically located there.

By establishing an offshore company, business owners can perform their operations through the UAE free zones while enjoying the same tax exceptions and concessions.

No VAT for Offshore Companies

Value Added Tax (VAT) is imposed on the supply of goods and services in Dubai. However, offshore companies are not subject to VAT in the UAE, freeing them from the complexities and costs associated with this tax, provided they don’t conduct business within the UAE.

Legacy Planning and Smooth Succession

Offshore companies in Dubai enable efficient legacy planning and smooth business succession due to favorable inheritance tax conditions. Investors can structure their businesses to ensure seamless transition and minimal taxation for future generations.

Conclusion

In summary, offshore companies in Dubai offer a tantalizing mix of tax incentives, privacy, and global business access, making them an interesting choice for business owners and investors aiming for financial optimization. The combination of a zero-tax framework with the emirate’s economic stability offers an unprecedented opportunity for wealth accumulation and capital growth. If you are considering global expansion or seeking a tax-efficient investment vehicle, the prospect of a Dubai offshore company should not be overlooked.

Setting up an offshore company in Dubai requires careful planning and understanding of legal frameworks. It is advisable to consult with professionals who specialize in UAE business set up to navigate the regulations effectively and ensure that your business reaps the full benefits of Dubai’s tax-friendly landscape.

Embarking on the venture of establishing an offshore company in Dubai unlocks a world of financial opportunities. It stands as a testament to the strategic advantage of the emirate’s economic policies and a welcoming business ecosystem that continues to attract discerning investors worldwide.

The Silk and Road Initiative: The Emergence of a Global Economic Powerhouse

The Silk and Road Initiative

China’s Silk and Road Initiative (SRI), also known as the New Silk Road, represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever undertaken.

Since its launch in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, the SRI has grown from a regional development strategy to a global endeavor, extending its influence to Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.

However, the expansion of the SRI has brought about a series of economic, political, and strategic concerns, particularly from the United States and its allies.

Background of The Silk and Road Initiative

The SRI is a comprehensive project aimed at connecting China with the rest of the world, both physically and economically. The initiative includes two major components: the Silk Road Economic Belt, which focuses on land-based connectivity, and the Maritime Silk Road, which concentrates on sea-based connectivity.

The original Silk Road, which emerged during the westward expansion of China’s Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), connected East Asia and Europe, fostering the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices. The SRI aims to recreate and expand upon these ancient trade routes, promoting economic integration and cooperation among participating countries.

The Expansion of The Silk and Road Initiative

Over the years, the SRI has evolved from a regional project to a global initiative. The program has expanded its reach to include not only East Asia and Europe but also Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. As of now, 147 countries, representing two-thirds of the world’s population and 40 percent of global GDP, have signed on to SRI projects or indicated interest in doing so.

This expansion, however, has not been without controversy. Some analysts view the SRI as a disturbing extension of China’s rising power and influence. Critics point to the high costs associated with many of the projects and express concerns about the potential geopolitical implications of the initiative.

The Belt and Road Initiative and Global Power Dynamics

The SRI has significant implications for global power dynamics. Some analysts see the project as a strategic move by China to reshape the global economic order in its favor. By investing heavily in infrastructure development in other countries, China can expand its economic influence and potentially gain geopolitical leverage.

For instance, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a cornerstone of the SRI, has sparked concerns about China’s growing influence in the region. The project, which connects China to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, has been seen as a strategic move to secure China’s energy supplies and expand its military reach.

The Belt and Road Initiative and Debt-Trap Diplomacy

One of the most significant criticisms of the SRI is that it engages in what some have termed “debt-trap diplomacy.” This refers to the practice of providing loans to countries for infrastructure projects that they cannot afford, thereby increasing their indebtedness and dependence on China.

Critics argue that such practices could potentially lead to an erosion of national sovereignty, as countries may find themselves under pressure to align with China’s interests in order to repay their debts. There are also concerns that China could use its financial leverage to gain control over critical infrastructure in other countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative and Environmental Concerns

Environmental concerns have also been raised in relation to the SRI. China’s significant investment in nonrenewable energy projects as part of the initiative has raised questions about its commitment to addressing climate change. Critics argue that by promoting the use of fossil fuels, the SRI could potentially exacerbate global warming.

The Response of the United States and Other Countries to The Silk and Road Initiative

The United States and other countries have expressed concerns about the SRI. The U.S., in particular, has viewed the project as a strategic challenge. In response, the U.S. has sought to build infrastructure and foster cooperation among low-income countries through various initiatives, such as the Build Back Better World Initiative (B3W).

However, some argue that these efforts have been insufficient to counter the influence of the SRI. They suggest that the U.S. and its allies need to develop a more comprehensive strategy to respond to China’s growing economic and political influence.

The Role of Third Countries in The Silk and Road Initiative

Third countries, such as India, Japan, and countries in the European Union, have also played a significant role in the SRI. These countries have sought to balance their economic interests with their strategic concerns about China’s growing influence.

For instance, India has expressed concerns about the SRI, viewing it as a potential threat to its security and sovereignty. Japan, on the other hand, has adopted a more balanced approach, recognizing the potential economic benefits of the initiative while also expressing concerns about China’s intentions.

In Europe, the response to the SRI has been mixed. Some countries, particularly those in the eastern and southern parts of the continent, have welcomed Chinese investment. However, others, particularly those in the western part of the continent, have expressed concerns about China’s growing influence.

The Future of The Silk and Road Initiative

The future of the SRI is uncertain. While the initiative has achieved considerable success in expanding China’s global influence, it has also faced significant challenges. These include growing opposition from some countries, concerns about debt sustainability, and potential geopolitical risks.

Despite these challenges, the SRI is likely to remain a central pillar of China’s foreign policy in the foreseeable future. As such, it will continue to shape global economic and political dynamics, influencing the relationships between China and other countries, the balance of global power, and the future of the international economic order.

Conclusion

China’s Belt and Road Initiative represents an ambitious attempt to reshape the global economic landscape. While the initiative has brought about significant economic benefits for China and participating countries, it has also raised a series of concerns related to debt sustainability, environmental impact, and global power dynamics. As the SRI continues to evolve, it will be crucial for the international community to closely monitor its development and respond accordingly.

China’s Economic Revolution: The Journey from Manufacturing Giant to Innovation Titan

The economic transformation of China over the past few decades is a testament to the nation’s resilience, strategic planning, and relentless pursuit of progress.

Once primarily recognized as a manufacturing behemoth, China has evolved into a global powerhouse in innovation, challenging the dominance of established tech leaders like the United States and Japan.

The Rise of China’s Economic Powerhouse

China’s economic rise has been nothing short of phenomenal. In the early 2000s, China’s GDP was a mere quarter of Japan’s. By 2010, China had leapfrogged Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy. Today, it is poised to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy, a prediction made by Standard Chartered Bank in 2010.

Initially, China’s economic prowess was rooted in its ability to produce low-value, labor-intensive goods at scale. However, over time, the country has successfully absorbed foreign technologies and developed its own, becoming a formidable competitor to companies in developed countries.

The Catalysts for China’s Technological Transformation

China’s transition from a manufacturing hub to an innovation titan was facilitated by three significant factors:

  1. Large semi-protected market: China’s enormous domestic market provided a fertile ground for its companies to experiment, innovate, and scale operations. The semi-protected nature of this market also shielded Chinese companies from excessive foreign competition, giving them a chance to evolve and mature.
  2. Global ties: China’s connections with researchers and companies worldwide facilitated the exchange of ideas and technologies, accelerating its innovation drive.
  3. Capital investment: China has poured substantial financial, human, and physical capital into promising fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. This has turbocharged its technological advancement and positioned it as a global leader in these domains.

The Chinese Innovation Juggernaut

Today, China competes directly with the United States in several emerging technologies. For instance, in the field of artificial intelligence, China has made significant strides. It has developed world-class AI companies and has ambitious plans to become a global AI leader by 2030.

In addition to AI, China is also making impressive progress in quantum computing, 5G technology, biotechnology, and other high-tech sectors. These advancements have been facilitated by China’s bold and forward-looking policies, which encourage innovation and experimentation.

The Role of Government Policies

One of the key driving forces behind China’s technological transformation has been the proactive role of its government. The Chinese government has implemented various policies to promote indigenous innovation and technological advancement.

For instance, the Chinese government’s recently approved 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) calls for bolder steps in reform and innovation. This plan underscores the government’s commitment to foster technological innovation and upgrade the country’s industrial capabilities.

The Impact of China’s Technological Rise

China’s technological rise has far-reaching global implications. For one, it challenges the conventional wisdom that technological breakthroughs can only occur in an environment of free markets and democracy. China’s success demonstrates that a different model – one characterized by a mix of state intervention, market forces, and global collaboration – can also yield impressive results.

Secondly, China’s technological advancements have significant geopolitical implications. As China emerges as a global tech titan, it is reshaping the global balance of power and redefining the contours of global competition.

Navigating the Challenges

Despite its impressive progress, China’s journey towards becoming an innovation titan is not without challenges. The country is grappling with rising costs, growing complexity, and increasing competitive pressures. It also faces the daunting task of transitioning from an economy driven by low-cost labor to one powered by innovation and high-tech industries.

To navigate these challenges, Chinese companies will have to up their game. They will need to boost productivity, refine product development approaches, and tame supply chain complexity. Companies that can effectively make this transition will be well-positioned to thrive in the years ahead.

The Way Forward

As China continues its journey towards becoming an innovation titan, there are valuable lessons for other countries. For instance, China’s willingness to experiment with pro-innovation policies and tolerate a certain amount of waste in catalyzing technological upgrading offers important insights for other nations looking to boost their tech capabilities.

Moreover, China’s rise also underscores the importance of having a long-term vision and a strategic approach to technological advancement. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, China has remained steadfast in its pursuit of technological progress. This relentless pursuit of innovation, coupled with strategic planning and execution, has been at the heart of China’s transformation from a manufacturing hub to an innovation powerhouse.

Conclusion

China’s economic transformation is a remarkable story of resilience, strategic planning, and relentless pursuit of progress. It underscores the potential of strategic planning, government support, and global collaboration in driving technological advancement.

As China continues its journey towards becoming an innovation titan, it offers valuable lessons for other nations looking to boost their tech capabilities. The Chinese experience shows that with the right policies, strategic planning, and execution, even the most audacious goals can be achieved.

The Impending Burst of China’s Real Estate Bubble: An In-depth Analysis

The Impending Burst of China's Real Estate Bubble

In the last few decades, China’s real estate market has flourished, growing into one of the world’s most profitable and dynamic sectors.

However, recent events suggest that the nation’s property market is on a precipice, with the potential to plunge into a severe crisis. This article delves into the intricacies of the situation, exploring its roots, the current state, and potential ramifications.

A Glimpse into the Past

To comprehend the impending crisis in China’s property sector, it’s crucial to understand its historical context. In the initial years of the People’s Republic, China didn’t have a well-defined property market. Urban dwellers relied on state employers for housing, and all urban land was constitutionally “owned by the state”. There were no private developers, and the concept of buying and selling land was foreign.

However, this scenario underwent a radical transformation in the late 1980s. Taking cues from Hong Kong professionals, Chinese officials in Shenzhen and Shanghai began selling “land use rights” to investors as part of long-term leases. This move was a game-changer, turning municipal authorities into overnight millionaires and giving birth to China’s property market.

The Real Estate Boom

In 1998, China officially initiated its real estate market nationwide. Urban households were allowed to buy and own flats, igniting a spectacular property market boom.

This boom was fueled by the nation’s rapid urbanization, with millions of people flocking into new flats, transforming real estate into the most vital engine of China’s economic growth. By some estimates, the sector now accounts for over a quarter of all economic activity.

The property boom also led to the financialisation of China’s economy. The banking industry soared, giving rise to a plethora of financial products backed by property. Bonds issued by many local government financial vehicles were ultimately backed by underlying property values.

The Downside of the Boom

Despite the economic windfall, the property boom created significant challenges. One major issue was the excessive borrowing it facilitated. All players in the industry, including local governments, developers, and households, accumulated debt at a stunning rate. For many local governments, they were technically bankrupt. For households, the pressure of debt repayment is escalating as the economy slows down and moves into deflationary territory. For developers, survival is becoming a struggle due to their debts.

The property boom also led to a distortion in housing prices. The exuberance of the market could only be sustained by continuously rising housing prices. When demand dried up, prices began to fall, and the whole economic structure started to crumble.

The Current Scenario

Presently, China’s real estate sector is teetering on the brink of a crisis, ignited by a housing slowdown. What started three years ago as a crackdown on risky business behavior by home builders has spiraled into a threat to the broader economy. The confidence of consumers, businesses, and investors is being undermined, and China’s typically interventionist policymakers have done little to ease these anxieties.

Moreover, the recent statistics paint a grim picture. New-home prices have slipped just 2.4% from a high in August 2021, while those for existing homes have dropped 6%. These figures show existing-home prices falling at least 15% in prime neighborhoods of major metropolitan areas like Shanghai and Shenzhen.

The Role of the Government

The government’s role in the impending crisis is complex. On one hand, regulators allowed developers to gorge on debt to finance a growth-at-all-costs strategy for decades. On the other hand, they intervened suddenly and drastically in 2020 to prevent a housing bubble. They stopped the flow of cheap money to China’s biggest real estate companies, leaving many short on cash.

However, as the crisis worsened, Chinese policymakers have defied calls to step in with a significant rescue package. They have opted instead for modest gestures like relaxing mortgage requirements and cutting interest rates. This approach has raised concerns about whether policy makers themselves have an accurate understanding of the market as they devise measures to prop up demand.

The Impact on Households

The potential burst of the real estate bubble will have significant repercussions on Chinese households. Many urban households have benefited from the changes sweeping the landscape. Those who already owned urban flats reaped a financial windfall as the steep increase in property prices expanded household wealth. According to a survey last year, property accounted for more than 70% of household wealth in China.

However, the current slump in housing prices is affecting these savings, which are primarily tied up in property. With housing prices falling and the economy slowing down, debt repayment pressure for households will become heavier.

The Impact on the Economy

The property sector’s crisis poses a significant threat to China’s economy. The nation’s dependence on real estate, which was lucrative during the building boom, has become a liability after years of excessive borrowing and overbuilding. Chinese consumers are spending less because of the slump in housing prices, and jobs tied to housing — construction, landscaping, painting — are disappearing.

Moreover, local governments, which rely on land sales to developers to pay for municipal programs, are cutting back on services. Financial institutions known as trust companies are staring at losses from risky loans handed out to real estate firms, prompting protests from angry investors.

The Future: A Tug of War

The future of China’s property sector is uncertain, with persistent downward pressures and increasing easing hopes. The perception gap on home prices stems in part from the vast array of policy levers the authorities have at their disposal. While countries such as Australia, Singapore or the US tend to tighten loan-to-value limits or lift interest rates, China can go beyond this to ban anyone not born in a particular city from purchasing homes or limiting the number of properties a person is allowed to own.

However, the weaknesses in housing price statistics hardly make things better. This may now work against determining the right policy to stabilize the market. The Chinese government also intervenes on prices directly, creating a distortion in the market.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that China’s real estate sector is at a critical juncture. The potential burst of the real estate bubble could have far-reaching implications, affecting not just the property sector but the broader economy as well. While China might be able to avoid a property market crash, the sector can no longer be the engine that once powered its economy. As the nation grapples with this reality, it’s clear that the property sector’s golden age may be coming to an end.

“The Moonlight Clan,” a movement in Asia where young employees spend their entire salary each month

china spending habits

In several Asian countries, a phenomenon is becoming more and more common. It consists in spending the whole of one’s salary each month.

In several Asian countries, sociologists and economists are warning of the rise of a new generation of consumers. Young people under the age of 35 who are rather well off and have decided never to save anything and always to spend their entire salary. This movement even has a name: “The Moonlight Gang”.

This concept can be found regularly in traditional media or online platforms. This phenomenon is particularly present in China, but also in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. In China, the expression also has a double meaning.

For example, if “moonlight clan” is translated as it is in Mandarin, it also means “a group of people who spend everything they earn every month”.

More surprisingly, this phenomenon does not affect underprivileged young people who would not be able to finish their month end, but rather young executives, who have good salaries, around 2,000 dollars per month.

They spend everything on designer clothes, luxury goods, spa treatments, trendy restaurants and travel. They refuse to save, to hoard or to put aside money to buy an apartment that is too expensive per square meter anyway. It’s almost a philosophy. The exact opposite of what their parents did, who sacrificed themselves to save more and more.

An underlying trend

Recently, an online survey in Taiwan on the job search site Yes123 showed that 46% of young workers said they identified with this “moonlight clan” movement. A significant 26% of those surveyed said that they spend their entire salary every month, but in addition they were getting into debt to indulge themselves even more.

The macro-economic impact of this phenomenon on a national scale could be enormous, because, for example, these people do not buy houses or apartments. So the real estate market is going to have to adjust.

A large part of the moonlight clan will never have children. They have become accustomed to a life built around their person and do not want to “clutter up” with other humans. Already, there is a collapse of the birth rate in all these countries: Taiwan now has the lowest fertility rate on the planet.

Freed from Covid, Chinese rush to ski resorts

chinese ski resorts

After three years of health restrictions, Chinese ski resorts are packed for the winter school vacations. Chinese people are enjoying this return to life.

It is the effervescence at the entrance of the small ski resort of Nanshan, located in the mountains above Beijing. It’s hard to find an instructor because it’s so crowded. “The line to learn snowboarding is over here, skiing is over there! At the moment, all the teachers are taken”, explains an employee. If you accept an instructor with several students, it will go faster. But there’s still a 30-minute wait.”

A group of young people came from the Canton area. This is the first trip for them since 2020. Silin, in his 20s, only wants one thing, to finally enjoy life. “This is our first time snowboarding. We’re going to have a blast because we’ve been cooped up for too long. We haven’t traveled in three years,” she says excitedly. We are happy. If the health measures had been maintained, I think I would have ended up with mental problems.”

Twice as many skiers as in 2022

And indeed, the instructors are overwhelmed. “The number of people coming to learn to ski has more than doubled from last year,” says one of them. There are so many people at the resort right now, the crowds are everywhere! The ski market is really good.”

Skiing is a luxury sport in China, but no matter, this mom, who came from Beijing with her three-year-old daughter, plans to spend a lot this week. “Now we don’t wear masks when we go out. We feel very relaxed and relatively free,” she says. It’s true, skiing is expensive. The week will cost me between 4,000 and 7,000 euros. But my daughter is very happy.”

Just next door a dozen students are getting ready to climb into the chairlift. “We are very happy. We’re not locked in the university anymore. Snowboarding is so cool!” they enthuse. 

“We don’t have enough money to pay for lessons so we found videos on TikTok to learn the technique and today, it’s practice!”

A Chinese student confesses

And it doesn’t matter if the atmosphere is not really winter and the snow, 100% artificial, is present only on the slopes. The skiers are simply happy to find their favorite sport, after three years of deprivation.  

Is a new cold war between the United States and China to be feared?

tensions chine usa

The destruction of a Chinese balloon in American airspace on Saturday, February 4, is a new tension between the two countries.

Is this a new Cold War between the two leading world powers? A return to the 1960s, when Kennedy’s United States confronted Khrushchev’s Soviet Union without direct conflict. The episode of the Chinese balloon in American airspace is one more tension in the already bad American-Chinese relations. The thesis of a provocation by Beijing is shared by many observers.

By sending a missile to pulverize the balloon that was flying over their territory – for espionage purposes, according to the Pentagon – the United States has, above all, reduced to rubble the hopes of appeasement with China.

Since then, angry comments have multiplied.

On Sunday 5 January, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Washington of having “overreacted” and said it “reserves” the right to retaliate. And then on Monday morning, in case we didn’t quite understand, a little extra layer: the American actions have “seriously affected and damaged” relations between our two countries, says Beijing. Which is a lot to ask of a balloon that is supposed to be a simple weather research device.

Anthony Blinken cancels his visit

It must be said that China did not really appreciate the cancellation in extremis of the visit of the head of the American diplomacy, Anthony Blinken. This trip would have been the first of a U.S. Secretary of State in China since 2018. It had been decided during the meeting between Joe Biden and XI Jinping in November on the sidelines of the G20 to help the two powers emerge from a phase of high tensions.

Anthony Blinken should have been in Beijing today. He was eagerly awaited, as there are many rivalries and disagreements to be resolved: the war in Ukraine, the threat of invasion in Taiwan, tensions in the South China Sea and economic issues. But for Washington, adding the subject of the balloon to this list – which in another context might have been relatively anecdotal – was not really a good idea.

For the moment, this trip is only postponed; the White House assures that the channels of discussion remain open… but it will be complicated to put the pieces together. We will also see what the analysis of the debris that has started to be recovered off the coast of South Carolina will show. In any case, this is the most acute crisis in Sino-American relations since Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last summer.

Republicans lash out at Biden

This balloon affair also has consequences for American domestic politics: first, it feeds a certain anti-Chinese fever in the political class, but it especially feeds the opportunism of the Republicans who accuse Joe Biden of not having been quick enough, not firm enough, “as always, when it comes to national security and foreign policy,” ironizes their representative in the Senate. “China has made a mockery of our airspace,” says Mitch McConnell.

“This balloon should never have entered the United States,” adds another elected official, Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Shooting it down “over the Atlantic is like tackling a striker on a soccer field after the game is over.

The opposition is unleashing its blows, with the aim of weakening the president as much as possible, who is due to deliver his major State of the Union address to Congress tomorrow. 

The case of Taiwan

Despite the tensions, the Chinese and Americans have never broken off the dialogue, because the two economies are very much linked. On the geopolitical level, there were already many points of contention, starting with Taiwan, which the United States promised to defend in the event of a Chinese invasion. 

Like China’s more intense military exercises, the escalation is gradual, but it is not new. Their fierce competition extends to all areas on which a state’s power depends, such as high technology. In artificial intelligence, for example, China is investing heavily with the goal of overtaking the United States by 2030.

TikTok in China and the United States: pride for some, mistrust for others

tiktok china and the US

The US authorities were suspicious of TikTok, well before the irruption of this Chinese balloon in the American sky: the application is accused, across the Atlantic, of being a tool of espionage and propaganda in the service of Beijing.

Donald Trump, already, had made war on the social network, which has more than 100 million users. A text that prohibits the use of TikTok on the devices of officials in Washington has been voted and many states have also taken similar measures.

The CEO of the application will be heard in Congress, at the end of March a big oral that must give him cold sweats. As Donald Trump had wished, TikTok may well have to separate from its Chinese owner to continue to thrive in the United States.

In China, in Beijing, where the parent company is located, there is no communication on the subject. The information available is given by the American management of TikTok, assuring that the computer servers of the international version are physically separated from the parent company in China, and have been transferred to an American database management system, but according to the Chinese newspaper Caixin, which is generally well informed and enjoys a certain freedom of tone, part of TikTok’s data is still saved on the company’s servers in Singapore, i.e. not very far from China.

The management of TikTok assures that no data is transmitted to the Chinese government. But the social network still explains that all TikTok employees, including those in China, can have access to the data of American users, provided they have passed a series of very strict cybersecurity checks.

The Chinese government could also have access to this information, Bytedance, like all the giants of new technologies being theoretically subject to the control of Chinese authorities and the Communist Party.

Coronavirus: and China is slowly getting back on its feet after peak levels of infection

Factories are reopening in China, where economic activity is picking up actively. A recovery correlated with a sharply declining epidemic.

Of course, this is only patchy information, but it is encouraging. Factories are gradually reopening in China even if they are not yet operating at full capacity. For example, Airbus has restarted its assembly line for the A320 family based in Tianjin, south of Beijing. For its part, Toyota is gradually reopening its three Chinese plants. In Asia, and particularly in China, we see a revival, many projects have restarted” and “if we don’t respond, our competitors will take over the markets.

On March 12, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a circular encouraging the resumption of foreign companies’ activities. It requires the relevant local authorities to make regular visits to international companies and monitor their projects to assess their situation (activities, production, investment).

A revival of the Chinese economy

According to the consulting firm Trivium, the Chinese economy is now operating at 69.5% of its capacity as of March 16, 2020. But Goldman Sachs is already predicting a 9% recession in the first quarter in China. Its forecast for China’s annual growth is now +3% (compared to +5.5% so far).

China has put in place a mechanism to preserve its economic fabric. Thus, on March 13, the Chinese central bank, which unblocked extensions or renewals of corporate loans at the end of February, announced a reduction in the banks’ mandatory reserve ratio, releasing 550 billion yuan (76 billion dollars) to support the economy. The People’s Daily announces on its front page, “the reopening of 79% of major construction sites” in China.

95% of Chinese companies (excluding SMEs) in operation

Half of the foreign companies established in China anticipate a return of activity by the end of March. Why such optimism: 16 of China’s 31 provinces would no longer (officially) have any patients with COVID-19 (Tibet, Qinghai, Fujian, Anhui, Xinjiang, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Hunan, Gansu, Yunnan, Henan, Jiangsu, Chongqing, Tianjin, Guizhou).

China reported Thursday no new contamination of local origin, a first since the beginning of the epidemic. But health authorities reported 34 additional imported cases. China (excluding the territories of Hong Kong and Macao), where the epidemic broke out at the end of December, counted a total of 80,928 cases, including 3,245 deaths and 69,601 recoveries. 34 new cases and 8 new deaths were reported between Wednesday and Thursday.

Nearly 80 percent of companies surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said they lacked the staff to open a full production line. And this, although the Chinese authorities have banned layoffs linked to the virus. In this context, Chinese SMEs are severely affected. Excluding Hubei, 60% of SMEs, and 95% of critical size industrial companies would have resumed activity according to the Chinese Ministry of Industry. However, most of them are operating at low levels.

How can we get around censorship in China?

censorship in China

China has adopted several filtering methods such as the Great Firewall, blocking IP addresses, and manipulating DNS addresses, to name a few. This advanced censorship systems are made to obstruct or control the different types of Internet access. It is also noticeable at the national level where access to certain content is blocked for the entire population, which creates a slowdown in some Chinese sites. 

Bypassing censorship in China 

To circumvent the various censures imposed, there are methods of circumvention developed by companies or third parties. These allow individuals and certain companies to fight against censorship measures and especially against Internet surveillance. The most well-known and effective method is the VPN (Virtual Private Network). 

Using a VPN to bypass censorship in China 

Despite the many restrictions of the Chinese government, there are still some suppliers who offer VPNs to avoid censorship. The VPN generally consists of sending blocked content to an intermediate machine, most often outside the source country, and forwarding this request to the source machine. Now, one of the most critical tasks is to find the best VPN to allow you to access the site you want while protecting your data. 

More on this topic https://www.generation-nt.com/vpn-contournement-geographique-populaire-anonymat-securite-actualite-1969681.html

How to get one? 

If you want to go to China, it would be best to buy a VPN before going there because VPNs are banned there, and it is, therefore, difficult to get one. Also, in case you are already in China, some hostels offer access to a VPN when you connect to Wi-Fi. 

How does a VPN work? 

Once downloaded, open the VPN, select the server in the country you want, and then connect. The VPN connects the navigation device to a server abroad. That causes your IP address to change, making it appear that the traffic from your device comes from the chosen country. You will then be able to use all approved sites and applications in that country. The use of a VPN has many advantages both in China, where it is necessary and in any other country. 

Bypassing censorship with online bypass systems 

Another way to avoid the various censures imposed is to use an online bypass system. It is a set of web pages that presents a form to the user and forwards the requested content to the user whether or not it is blocked. This retransmission technology is possible by rewriting the links of censored addresses. The user does not need in this case any software or to modify his different internet configurations. 

In short, you must have a VPN or use an online bypass system when going to China if you do not want to take the risk of being completely disconnected from the rest of the world. Then, when you decide to use the VPN, your choice should be the one that is stable and effective to protect your personal information. 

Free VPNs: five reasons to never trust them

With the increase in malware stealing passwords, the VPN market is booming in 2019. According to the Global Web Index, 25% of Internet users accessed a VPN in the last month, while VPN applications represent hundreds of millions of installations on mobile operating systems. In the meantime, the global market value of the VPN market is expected to reach $35 billion by 2022.

Finding a reliable VPN is not easy. But there are some you should never, never choose: free VPNs.

1-Aggressive advertising practices

The aggressive advertising practices of free VPNs can go beyond a few annoying pop-ups and quickly venture into dangerous terrain. Some VPNs infiltrate through the cracks in your browser’s media playback functions and stick to the basics of your digital life.

In 2017, HotSpot Shield VPN gained painful notoriety when a complaint from the FTC hit for violating privacy in the broadcasting of ads. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University had discovered that not only did the company have a backdoor to sell data to third-party advertising networks secretly, but it also used five different tracking libraries and redirected user traffic to secret servers.

2-You are exposed to malware

According to a CSIRO study, 38% of free Android VPNs contain malware. And yes, many of these free VPNs are highly rated applications with millions of downloads. Your chances of catching malware are therefore higher than one in three.

In this case, ask yourself what costs the least: a quality VPN service for about a hundred euros a year or the use of an anti-imperial theft company after a smart guy has stolen your bank account login and social security number?

3- Slow speeds

One of the main reasons people use a VPN is to be able to access their favorite streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video when they travel to countries where these companies block access based on geographical location. But what’s the point of accessing the geo-blocked video content you paid for if the free VPN service you use is so slow that you can’t watch it?

Some free VPNs are known to sell their users’ bandwidth, potentially putting them in a legal mess for what they do with it. The most famous case is that of Hola, who was caught in 2015 discreetly pumping the bandwidth of its users and selling it, like a mercenary, to any group that wanted to deploy a botnet.

Huawei: World Mobile Congress opens up with geopolitical tensions

The Huawei issue will most likely dominate all topics at the WTC this year. We will talk a lot about this new generation of telecommunications called the 5G. Everyone thinks that after 3G and 4G, it’s just another step in the speed of connections.

But it is a huge technological leap that will at least multiply the uses and rate of data transmission by smartphones as well as between connected exchanges, relays, objects or devices. In short, it is a revolution. An expert on the subject does not hesitate to say, exaggerating a little, that this qualitative leap is comparable to the invention of electricity and the Internet.

And it is precisely because the stakes are high that 5G is already the subject of conflict. Between the United States, which has partial control over this technology – Donald Trump even speaks of an unjustified “delay” and demands that the greats of the US Tech become pioneers again – and China, whose flagship Huawei has become the world leader in 5G. It is easy to see why the largest industrial and diplomatic delegations that will arrive in Barcelona on Monday, not to mention the pharmacies linked to them, will be American and Chinese.

A strategic threat?

No one waited for the series of the extradition proceedings of Meng Wanzhou, heiress to the Huawei empire, to be wary of Huawei’s control of 5G over the entire spectrum.

Ms. Meng is facing a charge on US soil for intellectual property infringement and circumvention of sanctions. The United States has asked Canada, where she has been under house arrest since December, to bring her to American justice. But, in the eyes of the West, Huawei is not only a threat of industrial and commercial supremacy. All but the British refer to a strategic threat.

Because they suspect Huawei of being able, thanks to 5G, to siphon billions of data at will thanks to spyware implanted in the systems, or even sabotage or hack into so-called vital infrastructures in the field of public transport, energy or even in the defense industry.
Huawei’s supporters, particularly in the industrial sector, cannot imagine for a second that a company of this size would take such risks for its global reputation.

US paranoia?

It is true that the suspicions expressed by some people are close to paranoia and defy common sense, especially when they come from the United States. One of their emissaries has just traveled around the world begging the allies, not to ban Huawei, but to choose other suppliers for 5G.

This diplomat explained to his interlocutors that it was a question of safeguarding democracies in the face of the Orwellian danger of the Chinese dictatorship, for example by referring to his techniques of artificial intelligence in the service of political repression.

Nevertheless, the American intelligence services have examples of what Huawei and his servers may have been spying on, particularly in Africa (at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa), or in Australia (which is why Huawei was banned there at the risk of Chinese reprisals on Chinese imports, as suggested by the local press) and perhaps in the United Kingdom. And it seems that in Barcelona, the maximum pressure will, therefore, be put, this time, on the industrialists tempted to collaborate with Huawei at the risk of becoming accomplices.

Conquering space: China, more ambitious than ever

In addition to the launch of a first satellite on 24 April 1970, China’s space programme has long remained as empty as the Gobi Desert. China didn’t enter the race until the 1990s.

Since then, progress has been tremendous. Today, the world’s leading economic power continues to catch up at a phenomenal rate and has impressive and sometimes worrying ambitions.

This year alone, the Chinese have already made 24 launches and are planning at least 16 more.

The Chinese authorities do not intend to stop there: as early as 2020, will put into service three new launchers (Long March 5 bis, 7 and 8) and a Rover will leave for Mars, a response to the American and European missions (March 2020 and ExoMars).

Where, then, will their celestial ambitions end? President Xi Jinping’s objective is clear: his country must become the leader, particularly in space, by 2049, the hundred years of China’s Popular Republic.

Solar power plants, or military stations, in geostationary orbit?

However, China will not be satisfied in the long term with only imitating what the other major space powers have achieved, but will seek to fulfill its designs, not necessarily pacifist ones.

Thus, the most impressive project consists of building one or more solar power plants in geostationary orbit (at 36,000 km above the ground) which will convert electricity into microwaves or lasers before being returned to Earth.

While it suggests a constant supply of electricity, it also raises a concern: by controlling this type of energy transfer, it would be easy to transform this power plant into a space weapon that could strike anywhere.

The Chinese space sector remains mostly controlled by the military-industrial complex, whose culture of legendary secrecy prevents observers from knowing what China’s aim is.

The Chinese still have to catch up on a considerable gap. They are just beginning to design their heavy launcher (Long March 9) without which they cannot reach the Moon or Mars. Nevertheless, The United States maintains a considerable lead. Above all, they will never let their “enemy” invade geostationary orbit, or settle alone on our natural satellite.

The entire American space industry is preparing for installation on the Moon. From NASA to SpaceX or even Blue Origin, innovations such as low-cost launchers will allow Americans to continue to dominate the space sector. China will try to keep up. Above all, its ability to complete its lunar program does not convince everyone.

Huawei Gives Up the US Market

After having suffered several setbacks in the United States where it has been trying to make its nest for years, the Chinese giant of mobile and telecom equipment affirmed that the country of Uncle Sam no longer constituted its priority.

This will not improve the already strained relations between Washington and Beijing. Huawei, who had dreamed of settling in the United States for years, finally decided to throw in the towel after having suffered a series of setbacks. According to Forbes, Eric Xu, acting CEO of China’s telecom and smartphone equipment giant, explained last weekend that Uncle Sam’s country was no longer his priority.

“There are things you can’t change, and it’s best not to overthink it,” he said at an annual analyst summit in Shenzhen. We can devote all our energy and time to our customers, and develop more efficient products to meet their expectations.

This decision comes as Huawei after the failure, in early January, of a partnership with the American mobile operator AT&T, on which he relied to distribute his smartphones. Knowing, moreover, that another distributor, Best Buy, indicated last month that it would no longer sell the terminals of the Chinese group. These last setbacks were obviously too much for Huawei’s staff. It must be said that the band has long been the subject of criticism in the United States. The American political sphere has long perceived its products as a threat to the country’s security. Officially, it fears that Beijing will use them for espionage or cyber attacks.

This is one of the main reasons why Huawei, the world’s third-largest smartphone company behind Samsung and Apple, has decided to focus its strengths on other markets. In addition to China, of course, the group has made the Old Continent one of its top priorities. At the end of March, the Chinese telecoms giant chose Paris to launch its new high-end terminals: the P20 and P20 Pro. Huawei also relies heavily on Africa, where it relies on low-cost terminals to attract consumers. Knowing that this market is still growing, while developed countries, such as China, Europe or the United States, are considered mature markets, with already very high levels of equipment.

There is uncertainty about what will happen to Huawei’s 1,200 employees in the United States. If research teams could stay on site, those dedicated to sales or marketing would probably no longer be needed. Huawei, which aims to become the world’s number one smartphone eventually, is in any case deprived of a vast market. According to the Idate think tank, the North American terminal market was valued at 177 billion euros in 2017, compared with 251 billion for Asia-Pacific and 175 billion for Europe. Huawei’s decision will undoubtedly add fuel to the current trade war between the United States and China. Knowing, moreover, that another Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer, ZTE, has recently been deprived of American electronic components after a case of violation of the embargo against Iran and North Korea.

PSG Conquering the Chinese Market

Paris Saint-Germain, the revered Ligue 1 club, recently announced a partnership with LGD Gaming, China’s most popular eSport team.

 

Since 2016, the French club has piloted several teams in eSport competitions, where video game players compete against each other, broadcast live and online to a wide audience. Paris Saint-Germain works in collaboration with several teams, who play on as many different games like FIFA, League of Legends, and now with LGD Gaming, Defense of the Ancients 2, better known as Dota 2.

LGD Gaming is without a doubt the first Chinese team. Internationally, at an annual Dota 2 tournament, one of the team’s players, called Forever Young, finished third and won a prize of $2,592,231.

The partnership was announced at a joint press conference in Shanghai with Fabien Allègre, Director of Merchandising and Diversification at Paris Saint-Germain, Yassine Jaada, CGO of PSG eSports, and Xuan Li and Jie Pan, respectively Strategy Director and CEO of LGD Gaming.

“This partnership is a perfect fit with our development strategy,” said Yassine Jada during the conference. This union will benefit from LDG Gaming’s management, operation and influence in the country, as well as the commercial value and the Paris Saint-Germain brand.

Double the bet

Like many European football clubs, Paris Saint-Germain has been trying for years to establish themselves on the Chinese market, but with mixed results.

For years, the best European clubs have played pre-season matches in Hong Kong and China, seeking to internationalize their brands. In recent years, however, many clubs have finally chosen to play in the United States.

Historically, English Premier League teams have been more popular in China than their European neighbors. Paris Saint-Germain has therefore recently sought to reduce this gap. Until 2015, the club had never played any preparatory matches in Asia but had already played in Africa and North America.

Many executives, such as Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United, have strongly criticized the tax that these pre-season games cost players. While coach Laurent Blanc has defended this practice. Paris Saint-Germain also looked for the best ways to maximize the brand’s international potential, while asking players to do as little as possible.

This week, Paris Saint-Germain also partnered with the marketing agency Desports to manage its communication and marketing in China. The partnership will run until the summer of 2021. Earlier this year, both Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille played with the names of the players transcribed into Chinese on their jerseys.

The best of all worlds

eSports are very popular in China and, for many companies, have replaced traditional sports as a market entry point.

By 2016, marketing for eSports was worth nearly $280 million, influence marketing and sponsorship. This figure should easily exceed $1 billion by 2021. And by 2024, it could even become an Olympic discipline in its own right.

Famous Chinese brands, such as the brewer Harbin, have even turned to video game competitions to market their products. Anhuesr-Busch Inbev, the owner of Harbin, conducted a study in 2015 on Chinese men between the ages of 18 and 29: they found that the study group responded more positively to eSports than to traditional sports, food or music.

And the Chinese eSports landscape reflects this enthusiasm. The Zhongxian E-Sports Stadium, a new stadium located in Chongqing in the south-west of the country, is under construction and could accommodate 7,000 spectators for eSport events alone. The structure should open mid-2018.

Some universities have even started offering courses on eSports management and marketing. It is an industry that is developing massively in China, but also abroad. At the end of March, the Las Vegas Strip saw the opening of a new eSport arena, sponsored by a Chinese company, Allied eSports.

What Types Of Crypto Currencies Are You Thinking About As An Investment?

rsz_fsgrsdghswhrwwwwssxxcvvb

Do you currently invest in any cryptocurrencies? Digital currencies are booming here in China, and this is a hot topic we wanted to cover for months now!

There are so many of them now that it’s hard to keep up with the count. Do you remember when it was only Bitcoin that was available? Maybe you don’t because like many people, perhaps you didn’t pay much attention to these crypto-currencies. I have to say that I did, but I didn’t ever invest in them right away.

There are several of the digital currencies that are getting people’s attention now.

One of them is of course still Bitcoin. Then there is Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple and more. The first three that were mentioned have been around for awhile, but Ripple is relatively new. That cryptocurrency is gaining in popularity, however, and it is one of the premier picks for people just starting to dig in right now.

bitcoin and cryptomonnaiesIf you plan on investing in digital currencies, it is important to mention that more brokers are offering them these days. You might have even heard of Bitcoin IRAs. My favorite broker, Robinhood, is now offering cryptos soon, but they have yet to release them. It is interesting that so many brokers are offering them now because that just shows how they are getting super popular.

Have you considered investing in them for your IRA or just in your portfolio? There is, of course, a different type of risk when investing in these digital currencies, so that should always be taken into consideration. In my opinion, these currencies don’t make for a great IRA investment. They are more for individual portfolios, and I don’t like them for that either.

It is also good to know about the best security practices as crypto is a wild market! Make sure you read this portefeuille pour bitcoin article, you should be up to speed!

It’s up to you what you want to invest in though.

And it’s hard to argue that the crypto-currencies don’t have a future because they do seem to be sticking around for good. And they have made many people quite a bit of money, so that’s something for sure. Is that what has made you want to buy some digital currencies?

Just remember that you don’t want to buy high, so keep that in mind. Bitcoin kind of hit a high recently. Some of the other digital currencies might still be a buy, but then you have to think about whether or not they are going to be around even later. You certainly want to consider that, and then you can decide which digital currencies you want to buy and how much of each.

There are different stories behind each cryptocurrency and why they exist. Read about Ripple and what it is for. Of course, you want to read about any of the cryptocurrencies before you plan to invest. Some of them like Ripple haven’t been around long at all. The four digital currencies mentioned represent only a small portion of what’s out there right now, and so you have a lot of studying to do. Investors should also study and research their moves big time before they invest. Crypto-currencies are no different than other investments in that regard.

ledger nano s wallet

More on the Ledger Nano S on this page www.cryptos-monnaies.fr/test-ledger-nano-s/

New US protectionist attack on China

The U. S. Department of Commerce proposes to tax imports of Chinese aluminum foil heavily. A decision on steel is expected before mid-April.

Formerly assistant to the US Trade Representative for Asian markets in the 2000s, Wendy Culter warned: “We will see more trade action taken against some trading partners in the coming weeks. The announcement made two weeks ago on the protection of imports of washing machines and solar panels is just the beginning of a series of announcements to come.”

On Tuesday, the U. S. Department of Commerce recommended the introduction of high taxes on Chinese imports of aluminum foil. For dumping reasons, customs duties ranging from 49% to 106% are mentioned. These tariffs would be doubled by anti-subsidy taxes ranging from 17% to 81%, depending on the products. It will be up to the U. S. International Trade Commission, in a vote on March 15, to endorse these recommendations.

China will take the necessary steps to defend its legitimate rights.
The Chinese answer didn’t take long.” The United States failed to comply with WTO rules and seriously damaged the interests of Chinese exporters of aluminum foil. China is highly dissatisfied with this,” said Wang Hejun, head of China’s Trade Inquiries and Remedies Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Endangered National Security

In April 2017, its trade secretary Wilbur Ross initiated an investigation to determine whether steel imports posed a threat to U. S. national security. The final report, presented in mid-January, clearly identified a threat. The US steel industry may find it difficult to respond to a crisis similar to that of the Second World War. Foreign suppliers account for one-third of U. S. steel demand, while 28% of domestic capacity is unused.

In aluminum, 91% of demand is imported, and 61% of US foundry capacity is untapped.

Commerce’s report proposes three scenarios for introducing taxes, quotas or a mixture of the two on imports of aluminum and steel. The Chair has until April 11 to rule on steel and April 19 on aluminum.

america china economic war

If U. S. President Donald Trump hits hard, we’ll take countermeasures.

It remains to be seen who will be targeted: China alone or other countries exporting their steel and aluminum to the United States. In Sofia, at an informal meeting of EU trade ministers on Tuesday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström was very clear.

One thing’s for sure: the pressure is rising. New dumping and subsidy investigations increased by 60% during Donald Trump’s first year in office.

And in 2017, the United States again posted a deficit in trade in 2017 of 566 billion dollars. A record since 2008 due to the sharp rise in imports. China and Mexico, among others. An unacceptable trend for the president.

Apple in China: a market full of pitfalls

apple in china

By launching an offer with China Mobile in 2014, the leading Chinese operator, Apple hopes to attract buyers who are slow to be persuaded.

A symbol of financial success and the unavoidable accessory of the “bobo” panoply in the West, the brand with the apple has much harder to establish itself as a trendy reference in the Middle Kingdom.

the foxcon factories were chinese workers are employed

By launching an offer on Friday, January 17th with China Mobile, China’s largest mobile phone operator, Apple hopes to attract buyers who are slow to be convinced and recover market share that has been eroding in recent years.

Enormous potential but little to no brand awareness

The Chinese market has unparalleled potential in the world, but China is one of the few countries where Apple’s market share has been declining for several years: 6.2% in the third quarter of 2013, compared to more than 10% in 2012 (figures: Canalys).

The apple firm is already present in China via contracts with two medium-sized operators, China Telecom and China Unicom, but with its 763 million subscribers, China Mobile weighs much heavier than the first two combined.

In China, Apple only accounts for 10% of its worldwide sales (all handsets) and 3.5% of its sales of smartphones.

Technical barriers

The distribution contract between Apple and China Mobile, initiated in 2007, the year of the launch of the first iPhone, has long stumbled on technical issues, as 3G Chinese standards are not compatible with iPhones. It is now things set on 4G standards.

One problem remains the access to the App Store, which is jointly controlled by the Chinese authorities, who decide which applications the Chinese can buy, and which ones are banned from the country.

opening of a new store in shanghai

A high level of competition

China is making smartphones, and it does it well: the five largest Chinese smartphone producers alone share 25% of the world market shares.

Faced with very expensive Apple products, the Chinese consumer is spoiled for choice. And the local know-how is pushed: in China are produced and assembled a large part of Apple components, its manufacturers, therefore, have significant expertise in the matter.

Our advice if you own a Mac

Over time, the performance of computers can decrease and slow down your productivity.

There are however utilities and some simple tricks that will allow your Mac to regain its original speed. Guaranteed without malware which will make your computer more powerful.

Your Mac starts to take a little age, and you feel it does not turn as fast as when you leave the box? A small maintenance is usually enough to return to your machine its form of yesteryear. This short guide we have put together brings together a set of tricks, some applications and simple methods that can revive the flame of your headed computer.

  • Make the updates
  • Remove applications
  • Trim your dock
  • Disable certain features

If your Mac is still slow after that make sure you visit for more Mac tips https://www.nettoyersonmac.fr/mon-mac-est-lent/

Hope you’ve found these tips helpful!

Shanghai Real Estate: Tips for Finding Housing in 2017

View of Pudong Lujiazui form Huangpu district at night

Among the few favourite discussion topics of expatriates living in Shanghai, housing is one of the most common. When it comes to housing, each has its own standards which can be very different from one to another, but it is useful to have the basic knowledge to understand and better apprehend the real estate market in Shanghai. Do you want to change neighbourhood or housing, to give a second boost to your Shanghai adventure? Not satisfied with your first choice? Or maybe you are about to land in Shanghai in a few months? Students, young entrepreneurs, families with children, here is a general picture of the real estate situation of China’s first city for expatriates, in which everyone always finds happiness after a few compromises.

Overview of Shanghai real estate industry

The real estate market is completely liberalised and works in a very similar way than what one can know in the US or Europe, with a few nuances. When a property is to be rented, it is registered on a general website and accessible to all the agencies, with no exclusivity. Going through a real estate agency is mandatory. The agencies are either small local agencies (those with small ads in showcases), ideal for smaller budgets or for those who have already chosen one specific neighbourhood for personal reasons, or larger, more international and often more expensive agencies targeting expatriate families with big budget/allowances. Agencies are paid by commission, usually one month rent when the rental exceed 10,000RMB, plus a management fee for each renewal of a lease. There are also relocation agencies, for newcomers in particular, which deal with the real estate part, and also offer general services to help expats settling down. These services may include enrollment in schools, various administrative procedures such as work visa or residence permit, tenancy management and other tailored services. This type of service can be very useful as the language is one of the greatest challenges that every foreigner will face when living in China.

Lujiazui Business and Financial Center of Shanghai

Who are the landlords?

They are either private individuals or developers, that is to say, professional investors, specialising in commercial and residential real estate. The current trend is an increase in the share of individual owners, the developers having sold a lot of properties lately. And in general, for equal value, it is often better and safer to hire a developer who is a true professional with a reputation in the marketplace and who will be more vigilant that the level of service delivered is satisfactory for its tenants.

If you are looking to rent it is always useful to get an idea of the availability and price range of apartments and houses on the internet. But beware, sites are often biased and do not reflect the reality. Chinese real estate online platforms are indeed full of junk ads, and misleading information so be very careful when performing a search. At the end of the day, nothing is better than a good old face-to-face meeting with a trusted interlocutor.

Shanghai Housing Supply

Regarding housing options for expats in Shanghai, there are usually four main types. Each type is attached to a specific area and often match with a specific type of expatriate.
High-end apartments are located in the wealthiest part of downtown Shanghai such as Jing’an, Huangpu, Xuhui, Changning and Lujiazui. These properties are often parts of fancy compounds with a lot of facilities (tennis court, spa, swimming pool, gym, etc.). It’s the preferred types of young families and young couples. When it comes to apartments Shanghai has surely the largest variety among all types and should easily meet any of your requirements.

If you want to live in a house, however, the supply might be a bit more restrictive. In Shanghai, houses are often referred as villas. These big properties are almost all nestled in compounds in suburban greener areas of Shanghai such as Pudong, Qingpu or Minghang. They look similar with a garden, a parkway and a garage, much like in the American suburbs. Some of these compounds actually aim to copy these American-styled homes. They usually cost a lot more than apartments and are the first choice of executives with families.

Another choice for executives, but without families, is the serviced apartment. Much like a hotel, these accommodations are perfect for business travelers. They are quite expensive as well and located everywhere in the city, like hotels.

The last type is unique to Shanghai. We call it “lane house”. This property type can only be found in a few parts of downtown Shanghai and mostly in the Former French Concession in Huangpu district. They are the typical housing of Shanghai built in the 1950’s and consists of two-storey houses lined up along a central lane. Young couples and single expats love this type of house as it gives you a feel of living like a local person.

Here is a video if you want to learn more about the property types available in Shanghai:

Buying property in China as a foreigner

For foreigners who want to settle in the long term, it is possible to buy a home in China. Of course, you will need assistance for administrative and banking aspects. Because of the surge of real estate prices, Chinese authorities have recently strengthened their laws of buying real estate in Shanghai. In addition, there are specific rules for non-Chinese, especially for access to bank loans. As it becomes increasingly harder to own an apartment in Shanghai for Chinese citizens, it might be more and more difficult for foreigners too.

 

Shanghai rises as a rival of Silicon Valley

Shanghai will be Silicon Valley’s first competitor as a technology innovation center over the next four years, thanks to its focus on its financial and digital strengths, KPMG Group said yesterday.

Zhangjiang hi-tech park is a major technological area in Shanghai Pudong new district

43% of respondents to the KPMG survey felt that the global center for technological innovation is likely or very likely to move from Silicon Valley to another country over the next four years. The survey was conducted with 90 leaders in the technology industry in China and 168 in the United States.

Shanghai was selected by 25% of respondents as the leading rival of Silicon Valley as a leading technology innovation center, ahead of New York, Tokyo, Beijing and London.

“China’s economic transformation stimulates the creation of new growth drivers, new industries, new institutions and new opportunities in technology and innovation,” said Egidio Zarrella, Head of the Department of Customers and innovation for KPMG China.

“Shanghai ranks first in the world as a technology leader of the future with strong regional leadership in the financial markets and many high-tech parks in Pudong.

Shanghai, with a growing number of digital media and entertainment companies, is expected to be among the world’s leading innovation centers in the coming years, “he added.

The survey indicates that the Internet of objects, robotics, artificial intelligence and biometrics are technologies necessary for the transformation of industries and enterprises.

Shanghai received central government approval last year for the construction of a global center for technology and innovation that will be completed in 2020.

This year, the city will build the Zhangjiang Comprehensive National Science Center (Zhangjiang Global National Science Center). This will be hosted in Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, a special area of Pudong New District fully dedicated to high technologies.

Chinese New Year 2017: Enter the Rooster

2017 is about to arrive, and bears the hope of economic growth. Technically, the year of the rooster doesn’t start until the first day of the lunar calendar, which falls on January 28th this year. However, since no one really uses the lunar calendar in China anymore, the turning of zodiac has been moved to January 1st.

What can we expect from the year of the rooster?

We will see an increase in the number of babies being born. The reason for this is quite simple: Roosters. Sound. Cool. People tend to relate many desirable qualities to babies born in years of the rooster, and would even try to hold back the birth (I don’t know how one would do that), or rush it (with C-section) just so they can have a rooster baby. Roosters symbolize character traits that include dominance and ambition, and are said to be blessed with luck and strength. According to a survey done by the Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po, 85% of sampled parents (mainland and Hong Kong Chinese) tend to believe that rooster babies are smarter than others. Although there is no scientific or mythical proof about these babies being smarter, this “baby rush” does means a number of things: A) babies born in 2017 will face a lot more competition in school and their careers; B) if you are thinking about starting some baby-oriented service such as babysitting or early childhood education, 2017 might be an especially good year to start.

Chinese brands generally tend to employ the current year’s zodiac as a key element in their advertising and straplines. They do that every year rotating through the Chinese zodiac cycle. In 2016 there were plenty of monkey adverts, a massive gang of goats  in 2015, and mobs of horses in 2014. As we’ve already established, the rooster is the mightiest creature of all the zodiac, and chances are that they will be abused for marketing purposes with an extra dose of passion. Staying away from these grand fowls or using them less explicitly will make your marketing efforts stand out from others.

Face Culture in China

If you are a newly arrived expat, you will most certainly be confronted with culture shocks with Chinese people, and one of them is the ‘’face’’ (Mianzi面子).

A quick example: after a business meeting, your Chinese colleague kindly offers you a lift and you turn his offer down just as kindly. If this happened in the West, nobody would think twice about it, but in China, declining a colleague’s thoughtful gesture may cause him/her to lose face.

What is face in China?

Some say that Chinese face is pure vanity. Others say it is a mask that makes things appear better than they really are. In fact, Chinese face has a much broader meaning. It represents a person’s reputation and dignity within multiple spheres, including the workplace, the family, personal friends, and society at large.

Doing business with face

Inevitably, giving face and saving face is crucial when it comes to do business in China. One of the most obvious ways in which this plays out is the avoidance of public criticism in all but the most dire of circumstances. In this way, you give people face in public. Where in a Western business meeting a boss might criticize an employee’s proposal, for example, direct criticism would be uncommon in a Chinese business meeting because it would cause the person being criticized to lose face. Since much of China’s business culture is based on personal relationships (Guanxi 关系), giving face is also a tool that is frequently used in making inroads into new social circles. If you can get the endorsement of one particular person of high social standing, that person’s approval and standing within their peer group can “give” you the “face” that you need to be more broadly welcomed in your business in China.

Here are some short sentences about face:

Having face(有面子)[ Yǒu Miàn Zi ]
To have gained pride or prestige through some kind of achievement
Giving face(给面子)[ Gěi Miàn Zi ]
To praise or give deference to someone else to improve/uphold their reputation
Losing face(丢脸)[ Diū Liǎn ]
To be humiliated or to suffer the loss of social standing

What about you? Have you ever made someone lose face in China? We’d love to hear about your experience of the Face. Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below.

Gifts in China: what to offer and what to avoid

Do you have the plan to give gifts to your Chinese friends? Or do you just want to share ideas with your friends? Having a relationship with Chinese people may have left a unique impression and makes you feel curious and feel interested in improving your sensitivity toward your Chinese fellows. Indeed, there are many Chinese people in many countries in this world. The Even recent update said that there is at least 20% population of the world celebrated Lunar New Year. That thing is the fact that tells people about how Chinese can be one of the biggest race in the world. However, that makes other people curious about the culture of China and how other people appreciate and learn to get involved in that culture. One of the most popular cultures that you can approach is giving a gift. In Chinese culture, there are many unique things you can learn including colors, days, clothes and more. When you have come to choose which best gift you can give to your Chinese fellows or partners, you have to know what to avoid and offer when it has come to gift. Once you randomly choose the gift, you will get in trouble, and even you will end up your relationship with a mess. To ensure that you do it right, here are things you should see when it has come to stuff like present and gift.

Things to avoid

  • Clocks, when you are talking about the gift in Chinese culture, you have to see that clock is not a good idea for a Chinese gift because, in Chinese culture, clock as a present is a taboo thing that it can be the sign or identical stuff in the funeral ceremony. That is why it is important to ensure that you will not pick any clock as a gift for your Chinese fellows.
  • Pears, fruit as a gift is a good idea but when you choose pears for your Chinese partner, you have to think twice because pears in Chinese culture are a symbol of separation. It’ll be trouble when you decided to give pears.
  • Umbrella is another bad choice for a gift because it is also a symbol of separation. If you decide to choose umbrella as a gift, you may hope that your relationship need to be ended.

Things to offer

  • Wine is a good thing to offer when it has come to gift stuff. It will be practical and nice gestures if you give grape wines as is one of the good symbols or gestures to wish the receiver a better health.
  • The health supplement is also the best choice for a gift because many Chinese people appreciate heritage about health product especially if you bring to them from your home country. That will be more special for old Chinese people receiving a gift like that.
  • Home specialties, giving what makes your countries or regionals special like a miniature of a landmark or just products that are popular and old from your hometown can be a symbol or high appreciation to the relationship between you and Chinese people.

Overview of the Chinese Holidays

Have you ever wondered that there are many holidays in China? Seeing how big this country makes you attracted to the culture of China and that has been the common effect when you realize that you are not alone. There are many foreigners especially western people that come to China, and Chinese government claimed that there is always increasing the number of foreign tourists that come to China. It’s not something strange because China has its unique culture and it has been the older heritage that Chinese people could not leave. Chinese people are popular to keep their heritage for years, and we have known that it could be something powerful that make other people attracted to Chinese culture. If you are interested in China, then you have to learn many things about their culture including right day to get more Chinese festival to watch so you don’t miss any single thing that could make you have unforgettable moments in China. One of the most righteous days when you are going to visit China is to come to there in their traditional holidays because you will get much more about their culture. It usually comes from traditional Chinese holidays that come from a part of harvesting days. There are many essential Chinese holidays. Chinese New Year has been an essential holiday because it is celebrated by many populations in the world including Korea, East Asian and much more that have Chinese people in the countries. To ensure that you will not be wrong to take holidays, here is Chinese holiday overview you should know.

The first essential holiday in China is Lunar New Year as it has been the biggest celebration among Chinese people all over the world. We have known that it has been common in countries where there are Chinese people live there like East Asian countries and more. There are also sequences of the holidays in Lunar New Year like you can set the fireworks and visiting family members on the first day of Chinese New Year at the beginning of January or February (In worldwide calendar) depending on the days counted and decided by Chinese calendar. Another holiday is the 15th day of January of Lunar Calendar. You will see Lantern Festival where you can see lion dance as it can be the symbol of celebrating the first full moon in China and you also can eat Tang Yuan.

The 15th of Lunar January also becomes the last day of New Year celebration. In Lunar Calendar, the second day of February will be the Zhonghe festival where you can eat many kinds of Chinese pancakes and noodles at that time. The next holiday is 3rd day of March where Shangsi Festival is held as the women’s day in Chinese culture. Next holiday is on the 5th day of May when you can celebrate Duanwu Festival by eating more dumplings, joining Dragon Boat race and more. There are still more Traditional Chinese holidays you should see when you are going to visit China on their special days.

Why Chinese companies should use microblogging

 

China is special country. It is also one of the oldest countries that have a lot of heritage and unique culture. We all know that this country is like a King in manufacture and economy. Besides, its specialties of copying ideas, but this country should be respected as they have an independent market and economy structure that no other countries have. Indeed, Europe countries have good ideas and implementation of technology and economy but China’s spread has been phenomenal and great. We all know that China has protected their people from worldwide social media or mainstream media on the internet. They think that using mainstream social media can harm their dependence of the country. That is why they made their social media and micro-blogging based social media. Chinese people that want to access social media like Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, need to use VPN to ensure that they can access mainstream social media. The band moves from Chinese Government allows and forces Chinese companies to support their microblogging media. The fact tells the difference. However, Twitter claimed that there are at least 10 millions of Chinese users that use Twitter. That thing makes Chinese companies think twice to be free from mainstream microblogging social media. If it sounds weird and leaving high curiosity, here are ways on how Chinese companies use microblogging.

Though it is banned Twitter appeals them

We all know that mainstream microblogging has been blocked in China and that thing is the common thing happened in the business world. We also know that Chinese companies have limited access to reach global marketing when the mainstream media is blocked in China. That is why Twitter works harder to appeal Chinese companies to reach a global market. However, it is not China when it is not giving ease to Chinese marketers to get their best way in reaching their best performance. China has their microblogging social media, and it’s been phenomenal and famous. It is called Baidu, Sina Weibo and more. Chinese companies still have their power to keep their people in their ways in social media. Even, they claim that there are outside Chinese people have registered in their microblogging sites. However, it is not enough to make a good move for global reach advertisement.

Some of the Chinese companies get exposure in mainstream social media

It is not a strange thing to hear that some of the Chinese companies use mainstream media to get the global appeal and reach. One of the best ways to keep it big is when they have been spreading their branches to other countries, and then they have made a good move in social media that is banned by the Chinese government. Chinese culture believes that they can make their power and when it has been big, it will come special attraction that makes other countries come and then have a good deal with them. The way to get more exposures is when they offer their business to other countries and then can use mainstream social media to get global reach through advertising like Twitter, Facebook, and more.

Colors in China: What do they mean?

China is one of the world’s largest countries with one of the world’s oldest and deepest culture. Their ethnicity even has been spread among countries in the world through what is known as the Chinese diaspora. They are in Europe, America and even in Africa. Besides, it has strong power on the economy; it also has a big influence on cultures, especially in South East Asia, Japan and Korea. They share spiritual beliefs, architecture and culinary knowledge along with other traditional customs that often go beyond the strict limits of the Chinese territory. One of the most powerful example might be the Lunar New Year, sometimes named the Chinese New Year which is celebrated is many Asian countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea. In their calendar, the Chinese have symbolized each year with an animal; 2017 being the Year of the Rooster. In Chinese cosmology, things are often linked to symbolic elements that have unique characteristics. In today’s post, we will see how colors are used in China’s symbolism and what are their meanings.

The colors allow the Chinese to describe the world around them. Each color has a particular meaning that might be different from one culture to another. In China, there are five “traditional” colors (五 颜, wǔ yán), arranged according to a specific order, which is directly related to the philosophy of the five elements. Some colors in Chinese are considered inauspicious, others are auspicious. They usually consider color as emotion or color in the face, but now color in Chinese can mean many things. To make sure that you understand, here are the little explanations of each color in Chinese culture.

The Five elements

There is a popular theory about color in China. China’s emperor has a theory of the five elements to select a color. The color green stands for wood, red  stands for fire, yellow for earth, white for metal and black for water.

Black

The Chinese character for “Black”

Black represents water. In China, as elsewhere in the world, black 黑 symbolizes something serious, very formal. It was the color wore by the imperial dignitaries,  much like the outfits of our lawyers back in the West. Black also expresses the secret in Chinese, something that is happening in the shadow. This is why the mafia is translated as “black society” (黑社会, hēi shèhuì), dirty money by black money (黑钱 hēiqián) and clandestine workers by black workers (黑 工 hēigōng). Black is also considered as a neutral color. Thus, in modern China, people usually wear black clothes in their daily life and white is usually for funerals.

Red

Red symbolized luck and happiness

The second color is red. It represents fire. Chinese people usually believe that red can be a sign of joy and fortune. It has been common color in Chinese New Year and other official or traditional holidays. That is why many older people or people that have been married usually give red envelope as red is a sign of good luck. Red in Chinese culture is not usual for an event like a funeral because it  represents happiness. Thus, it can be pretty offensive to wear red clothes to the funeral ceremony.

Green

“Wearing a green hat” means “being cuckolded” in Chinese

In China, green color usually carries a negative meaning. The Chinese think that someone who does not feel good has a green face. “Having a green face” also means to be angry. Another popular meaning is to cheat on someone. “Wearing a green cap” means being unfaithful to your husband. Generally this term is used for a woman who had a relationship with another man and therefore dishonored her husband.

White

People wearing white shirts at a funeral in China

The fourth color is white. It strongly symbolized the purity and brightness of the metal. It is the official color of clothes in a funeral ceremony. The Chinese are also obsessed with the white skin, as it is usually related to your position in the society.

Yellow

A Chinese emperor wearing yellow clothes

The last color is yellow as a symbol of earth. This color, very important in Chinese symbolism, represents glory, wisdom, harmony, happiness, culture. Yellow is reserved for the Emperor, it is the color of royalty.Later, it took very different meaning as yellow is also the color of sex and pornography.

How Does Chinese Lunar New Year Work

Chinese New Year Dragon

Asia always gives something wonderful to do, and it’s always been a thing that everyone that lives outside Asia is attracted to the culture and the country. Some of them also travel around Asia countries, and some of them even live with the visa tourist so they can stay longer than a holiday. Even, there are many Asia countries that have been a worldwide attraction; there is still China that can be considered as one of the biggest and most attractive Asian countries in this world. China is one of the oldest countries in this civilization. To get closer to the country you have been dreaming of to visit is to know the culture.

If you are interested in Chinese culture, the very first and primary day for the recommended day is in Chinese New Year because there will be many cultural events that can be a huge attraction that you cannot forget. Chinese New Year usually happens during late January or late February. The most interesting thing in this Chinese New Year is that there are more than 20 percents of the population of the world celebrate Chinese New Year with fireworks, feast, and festivities. This new year is one of the biggest day celebrated by Chinese people in China and other Asian countries. Some of you may be curious about how it works. How Chinese New Year works can be long to explain but we have a short explanation about that as it is one of the richest holidays in this world, so it can be so interesting to talk about Chinese Lunar New year.

The red lanterns and dragon are traditional symbols of the Chinese Lunar New Year

How it works

There are many ways to celebrate Chinese New Year. As there are many religions believed by Chinese people, the way to celebrate is different too. In the West, this new year is usually celebrated only in one day, but there are still people that celebrate this new year for two weeks. It has a strong connection with Taoist, Buddhist, and other religious practices in many western holidays. As there are many different ways to celebrate, some people celebrate based on their religion and belief. Some of them celebrate by giving honor to ancestors, and some of them also only watch the traditional show on television. The main thing that should be in Chinese Lunar New Year is to enjoy and have joyous days during the celebration. It is to cultivate good luck and better prosperity for next year.

For your information, this Lunar New Year is originated from China in the 14th century and strongly connected with the Chinese agricultural calendar or cycle. The early spring is the right time for farmers to prepare planting stuff and the last day was used for the landlord to collect the money for rent and by the day to pay the rent money, peasants celebrate it. Then, in 1912 it had been official to make the day as a celebration for Lunar New Year with joyous days and better hope for next year. Now, it has been the biggest celebration day for those Chinese people or people that still have Chinese heritage in their blood.