Reaction versus Anticipation

After 8 years here, I continue to be intrigued and amazed by China's reaction to events rather than anticipation of events. This happens at all levels of society, from the government leaders to workmen. Even if by anticipating any given problem the amount of work would obviously be less, the preferred and default solution is to do nothing until the problem has arisen.

There are a number of examples of this which come to mind:
• China's resolution to the housing bubble, where instead of carefully considered economic policies over a number of years there has been multiple large boots applied to the neck of the problem over the last few weeks
• China's stance on Iran and North Korea (why worry about what MIGHT happen when it hasn't?)
• China's driving test. A key part of the test is to measure your physical strength and your reaction times. This is to be sure that you are fully qualified to react, rather than to anticipate. (I don't recall being asked about the shortest stopping distances from any given speed?)
• Building roads. I drove to Suzhou on Saturday and 15 km stretch of the 5 year old A30 motorway between Sonjiang and Qingpu was almost undrivable due to subsidance. A crew of workman were digging up one 10 metre stretch in an effort to smooth one lumpy bit.

I have a theory about all this. It comes down to the controlling culture instilled by Mao which continues to be present in government, state-owned business and all state-owned services such as education. Everyone is told what to do, with little or no opportunity (nor encouragement) to find a better way. Consequently, with nothing to gain from suggesting that something could be improved, why improve it?

This, I believe, is also why China has become a nation that copies rather than creates. Gone is the creative spark that brought us gunpowder, paper, the compass and the clock. And until China changes the way that its children are taught and finally has the courage to empower its People, nothing will change.

David King
Shanghai, 17th May 2010