Reason Number 34 - White China Crime

Fault Lines On The Face Of China: 50 Reasons Why China May Never Be Great’ - Excerpt 65

"The second element of the 4th Army of Instability’s triumvirate of crime is made up of those wearing white shirts and dark ties with direct access to the finances of companies and banks nationwide.

White China Crime rarely involves just a single culprit, simply because it is almost socially acceptable to rip off the hand that feeds you. While they form an element of the 4th Army of Instability, White members rarely have contact with Blue China Crime members by virtue of their social standing.

White China Crime is a rampant force in China, especially in the country’s banking sector, because that’s where the real money is. "

Crime is another of those areas where China is so much a mirage. Crime in China is omnipresent yet hidden. It’s present everywhere and visible almost nowhere. Come to most any big city in China and your level of personal safety is – for the most part – rather higher than it would be in many Western societies. Certainly I’d feel safe anywhere in Shanghai at any hour. That’s not something I could say for London.

But while you might be safe in personal terms – at least in a big city – you are surrounded by frauds and scams. Yet the low visibility of crime in China has led many Chinese people to believe theirs is a safe and law-abiding culture. And this is about as far from the truth as you can get.

And in corporate terms the amount of theft and thievery is simply staggering. Most every overseas firm in China will know this – in China, a contract is worth jack shit. If you’re a Westerner doing business in China, watch out, for you are regarded as fair game. Swindles, theft, cooked books, bald-faced lies; it’s all fair play.

Trouble is, there is no public acceptance of this fact – no – let me rewrite that – there is no public anger about this fact. Corruption is accepted. And until the people of China begin to get angry about corruption – do something about it – then China will remain a crook’s paradise.

Fault Lines On The Face Of China: 50 Reasons Why China May Never Be Great’ - Excerpt 66

"Judicial corruption, another form of White China Crime, is widespread in China. In 2006, five judges in Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court were arrested for soliciting and taking bribes. Also in 2006, three top judges in Fuyang Intermediate People’s Court in eastern Anhui Province were charged with taking bribes.

In 2004, 461 judges were charged with corruption. In 2005, the number was 378, and in 2006 it was 292. But even though the number of judges being prosecuted is dropping, China’s Chief Justice, Xiao Yang, says he still has ongoing fears about the “grave situation” of judicial corruption.

A judge’s skill may also be measured by his ability to keep himself one step ahead of the laws he has been entrusted with.

Over the next few decades, the ranks of White China Crime will swell because it is incredibly easy to join up and ‘share’ the wealth. All the new recruit will need is a job with position, the ability to play with the figures, and a willingness to recruit others in the grand scheme.

With an uncontrolled booming economy, unfortunately it is fitting that China should have an uncontrolled booming crime industry."