Red Planet

"Today, the West has a lot of fears and misconceptions about China. Most of the fears are unrealistic because of a lack of understanding," noted Wang. The World Trade Organization reported in 2009 that China became the world's largest exporter of goods, but this does not necessarily translate to strength. "Americans are afraid that China is becoming a global manufacturing power, but in reality they basically take orders from Western companies. They are not involved in innovation, design, marketing or even packaging," explained Wang.

Here lies the American advantage. The U.S.-China Business Council reported the United States imported nearly $300 billion worth of products from China in 2009. We are one of China's biggest clients and in sales everyone knows who is in power and who is "always right." "The Chinese consider their manufacturing the world's sweatshop. They consider themselves at a disadvantage and want to move up the value chain," stated Wang.

THE WORLD'S SWEATSHOP
If this is true and China is the world's sweatshop, have conditions improved since the days when Americans first lifted the veil with the Kathie Lee Gifford sweatshop scandal in 1996? And have the calls by China's top client (the United States) for safe products and social responsibility in manufacturing jobs (i.e. fair wages, factory conditions, housing conditions, etc.) been answered? Have we been vocal enough or complacent and content with low cost at the price of others?

"When I started out in this arena, a socially responsible factory had reasonable health and safety standards in place and paid their workers. That evolved to also employing only those legally eligible to work and ensuring that minimum wage for factory jobs is based on an hourly basis, then ensuring an amenable psychological environment and provision of legally required benefits," said Denise Fenton, executive director compliance, Quality Certification Alliance, Seattle, Wash. Today, because the rapid industrialization of China has caused such massive environmental damage, Fenton also noted that some socially responsible factories are even monitoring effluents and air emissions and the impact they are having on the community.