Advantages and Disadvantages of Migration to China - Essay Example

Advantages of Migration to China There are several reasons for migration to China. These include the rapidly growing economy, the availability of jobs, the internationally recognized educational system, the low cost of living, the cheap and efficient facilities, and the positive image that China has on Western people. One of the advantages of migrating to China is that the country is experiencing rapid economic growth in addition to the fact that it is one of the largest growing economies of Asia and the world (Skeldon). Somehow, the fact that China is one of the world’s emerging economies and an economic giant itself is the reason why it is good to move to China for residence and to invest in there or put up some business. The Chinese are known to be very successful people in business and that they have a natural skill in conducting all their business affairs. Therefore, it is certain that whoever lives in China will never experience bad times when it comes to business. A second advantage of migrating to China is that it has two million job vacancies reported in 2004 and definitely much more now (Skeldon). In fact, even in a country with the largest population in the world, there are still shortages in the number of workers in their various factories and business establishments. The reason is that a Chinese worker’s wages are far higher than that of a foreign national. This is why tens of thousands of foreign workers, especially from Vietnam, are brought to China every year, and the 2.85 million people who migrated to China actually came to be employment. The salary in Vietnam is “three times” lower than in China so Vietnamese are willing to receive even just half the pay for the Chinese worker (Skeldon). Moreover, people from other countries in Asia and the world can find jobs in China fast as long as they are diligent and they are willing to receive a salary which is lower than the Chinese national receives. A third advantage of migrating to China is the fact that it is easy to study in this country. In fact, as of now, China ranks as a “major destination” for international students (Skeldon). In fact, as of 2011, there were 74,472 foreign students in China for the undergraduate level, and 18,978 studying at the postgraduate level. According to China’s University and College Admission System, or CUCAS, one reason to study in China is the opportunity for travel and exploration. The landscapes, climates and cultures of China as well as its festivals will definitely be a very good motivation for any foreign student. China also has modern architecture, ancient structures like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, and a great urban night life. Traveling is also convenient and affordable. In fact, the tuition fee of schools is affordable. Another thing is that there is an employment advantage in China. It means that after studying in the country, a foreigner can still be employed in the country. Moreover, the quality of education is high and the schools have international recognition in the United States, the UK, France, Japan and 65 others. One last advantage of migrating to China for education is the firsthand experience of Chinese culture. It means that one can experience Chinese religions like Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism first hand when one studies in China. Furthermore, one can eat Chinese food and drink Chinese wine, and experience other local and traditional practices which are actually not even found in textbooks (“5 Reasons to Study in China”). It means that the educational system in China is one of the best reasons to migrate to this country. China currently has 238,184 foreign students (Skeldon). Aside from education, one very important reason for migrating to China and residing in this country is the low cost of living. Compared to other countries in Asia especially South Korea and Japan, China has very cheap goods and one’s money has a great purchasing power. One can also afford a lifestyle that one wants. The cheap products in China include food like milk, eggs, vegetables, chicken breast, rice, water and Chinese beer. Moreover, leisure activities in China, transportation, travel, clothing, and other commodities cost low. This includes cheap restaurant meals, massage, housekeeping, hotels, phone and Internet services (“Cost of Living in China”). There are other advantages of living in China when it comes to facilities. For example, in China, one can easily and cheaply send money abroad from China using Western Union or through a bank or money transfer company with only around 15 U.S. dollars as fee for a large amount of money. Moreover, because of the low cost of living in China, the lifestyle allows for significant savings. It means that some foreign professionals who live and work in China can save even 50% of their salary and can save even around 640 U.S. dollars a month (Low cost of living in China). This means that if one works in China, one can make a lot of money and save much but one does not have to give up some luxury and some forms of fun. In countries with a high cost of living, it is natural to sacrifice leisure, travel and entertainment just to be able to save a little money from their hard labor. One last good advantage of living in China is the trust that foreigners have for the country and the Chinese people. In fact, according to the survey by the Institute of Arts and Humanities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Duke University, and Indiana University, 71.3% of Americans considered China an ally of the United States. Moreover, 60% of Americans believed that the US economy would greatly suffer negative consequences if the United States broke economic ties with China. Moreover, Americans also believe in the strength of China in politics and world economics. These results mean that the Americans consider the Chinese as a friendly and important people (Hongyi). Thus, there is a great reason for foreigners like Americans to live in China. There may be some disadvantages in living in China but the advantages especially the low cost of living are attractive to many foreigners who want to migrate to another country. Moreover, a lot of negative things may be said about China but it is true that aside from these bad things, China is one of the best countries to live in. Top of Form Bottom of Form Works Cited “5 Reasons to Study in China.” 2013. CUCAS. 7 Mar 2013. “Cost of Living in China.” 2013. English First. 7 Mar 2013. Hongyi, Wang. “Most US Citizens See China Friendly.” 2011. People’s Daily Online. 6 Mar 2013. “Low Cost of Living in China.” 2012. Goldstar TEFL Recruitment. 7 Mar 2013. Skeldon, Ronald. “China: An Emerging Destination for Economic Migration.” 2011. Migration Information Source. 7 Mar 2013. (Name) (Professor) (Subject) (Date) Disadvantages of Migration to China Regardless of the good things everyone says about China, it is also equally true that there are some negative things about the country and about the idea of migrating there. These include the poor living and working conditions, the negative perceptions of Americans when it comes to some aspects of China, the various annoying things like pollution and noise, the difficulty of the Chinese language, and the traditional beliefs and perceptions of the Chinese when it comes to doing business. Although China boasts of numerous employment opportunities, it is also true that the average Chinese worker has bad working and living conditions. In fact, workers in China have to keep their living costs “at the lowest possible level” in order to send money back home to accomplish their goals, and that the wages in Mexico and Eastern Europe are even 8 times as high. Moreover, Chinese companies limit overtime and often give the workers month-long shifts in work schedule. Aside from these things, the living conditions of the workers allow them to live in only one floor which can accommodate around 250 people. They even share only one washroom. This definitely causes hygiene problems (Zuwei). If these are the actual working conditions in China, it means that a worker in China is treated as a second class, or even a third class citizen. Certainly, a foreigner who is used to good working conditions in his country would be shocked at the horrifying conditions that are waiting for him in China. Although Chinese products are cheap and the overall cost of living is cheap, this is actually compensated for by the terrible working conditions of the average Chinese laborer. This will certainly make someone think twice first before migrating to China. According to a joint survey from Shanghai Jao Tong University, Duke University and Indiana University, there are some aspects of China that Americans generally dislike. According to the survey, 62.7% of Americans believe that the Obama Administration is “not tough enough” on many political issues that concern China (Hongyi). This means that Americans and perhaps people from other countries are opposed to the policies of China especially concerning its territories and how it deals with other countries. Perhaps, Americans do not only believe that Obama should do something about it but also that the United Nations should do something to improve the situation and to control China. Such a negative perception is really an important factor to consider before one decides to live in a country that is disliked by many Westerners. Moreover, based on the results of the survey, 72.5% of Americans “disagreed that China has an appealing popular culture” (Hongyi). This means that Americans and perhaps people from other countries as well may think that either China has become boring or too traditional and conservative. Nevertheless, whatever reason Americans have for this negative perception, it means that China is not anymore that interesting or appealing to Western people. Although this is only a matter of opinion, still popular opinion has some truth in it. According to an expat who lived in China, and perhaps according to many foreigners in China, one problem is the “noise, low sanitation standards, awful popular music, lack of grass and trees, pollution, big crowds, warm beer, spitting [in public], blaring televisions, and lack of respect [for] privacy and personal space” (Living in China). Although these things may not be enough to say that China is a bad place for living in, the more one is exposed to these negative things, the more one will get annoyed or irritated. The problem is that a foreigner can hardly complain about those things mentioned. Therefore, there is no other choice but to get used to the situation. Moreover, the fact that the Chinese listen to and watch only Chinese songs and TV shows means that the foreigner has to make extra effort not only to get along with the Chinese neighbors and friends, but also try hard to learn how to speak the Chinese language. In fact, according to the expat who was interviewed about his experiences in China, “The most difficult aspect of learning Chinese is the pronunciation” (Living in China). This is because certain Chinese words have meanings that vary together with the tones. For example, the word “mai” if spoken with a dipping tone means “buy” but with a falling tone, the same word means “sell” (Living in China). The Chinese language will therefore most likely create a huge obstacle for the foreigners who want to live in this country. Another disadvantage of living in China is that the Chinese have different perceptions of doing business compared to Westerners and other Asians. One example is that when conducting business with the Chinese, it is best to use the Chinese language because the average Chinese man’s understanding of English is not that good. Their listening skills are poor although their reading and writing skills can be very good. This means that the foreigner who wants to do business with them should take great care “not to use complicated words” because this will just cause communication issues (Shivnani). Another problem with the Chinese is that they “they don’t see the business relationship as long term” and so they do not regard any customer as a loyal customer no matter how many times you have done business with a Chinese businessman or woman (Shivnani). This means that many Chinese would think that if one does not buy anymore, it is ok because there are other people who will take his place. Lastly, the Chinese are not very good when it comes to providing high quality products. It seems that many products made in China are actually made from substandard raw materials (Shivnani). Perhaps, it is because they produce these in bulk and they want the production to be done as soon as possible. With this idea in mind, it seems that it will not be easy for any foreigner to survive in China when it comes to business unless he has mastered Chinese culture and the Chinese language. China may be a good country to live in, but with these disadvantages, one is made to choose between two things: One should endure and learn how to adapt to the lifestyle and China and should study the Chinese language very well, or one should think twice about migrating to this country. Works Cited Hongyi, Wang. “Most US Citizens See China Friendly.” 2011. People’s Daily Online. 6 Mar 2013. “Living in China: What it Was Like for Ben.” 2007. Expat Interviews. 7 Mar 2013. Shivnani, Manoj. “Disadvantages of Doing Business in China.” 2012. China-Window.com. 8 Mar 2013. Zuwei, Ji. “The Disadvantages of China’s Cheap Labor in Its Foreign Trade.” 2011. Sei of Blue Mountain. 7 Mar 2013. Read More