A More Western China? 4 Areas Where the West Has Impacted China
As an expat living in China, you would probably say that life is becoming rather more comfortable here. The city where I live is not particularly glamorous, but its amenities are certainly improving with each passing day. Of course we gradually adjust to the Chinese lifestyle and even pick up some habits to call our own, but the amenities that are making life a little easier are often those inspired by the West. Issues related to Western influence in China are complex and there is a great deal of contention. Some aspects of the Western impact on modern-day China are more obvious.
1) Foreign direct investment helps the economy grow
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been pouring into China with investors attracted by investment opportunities and its growing domestic market. This has played an important role in China’s economic development and export success, with foreign-invested enterprises accounting for over half of China’s imports and exports, according to the Ministry of Commerce. China’s FDI in September 2013 rose 4.9 percent from the previous year to $8.8 billion, as released in a report by the Ministry. Investment from the United States and the European Union continues to grow with an 18 percent and 4 percent jump, respectively, over the eight-month period. U.S. direct investment totaled $2.5 billion as of August 2013 and EU levels hit $5.4 billion.
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