You may feel confused and puzzled after living in China for some time as an expat, not only because of its 5000-year oriental culture and its very complicated language, but also, every day, you’ll find it is always so difficult to get full information here. Why is that?
Keep information as a valuable resource
It seems that Chinese have a genetic characteristic to operate a consulting company: every small piece of information is considered to be of value. Sharing isn’t that common. Only close friends will have a chance to hear accurate details, shared as a gift, in a private conversation. In Chinese education, young students learn very early that they are not alone in the competition. They hear a saying all through their school time: Each school entrance exams is like “千军万马过独木桥” (qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo, a mighty force to pass a narrow log bridge.) The more open you are with your details, the more and stronger competitors you’ll have to face. Yes, information, the correct direct useful information, is often well protected to benefit the factholders.
Keep information for their convenience
Even the service industry, which is supposed to offer good information, is frugal in giving open and clear message, even to its clients. A recent on-line scandal stirred passion in China. Guo Meimei, who claimed herself to be the commercial general manager at the Red Cross Society of China (the country’s largest government charity organization) in her microblog, showed off her jet-set life in photos and details Angry people begin to ask “Where is our donated money?” No matter whether she is the real manager or not, or she is a real nouveau riche or not, the more important issue raised from the scandal is that there is no regular information disseminated from the Red Cross to its donation contributors and the public in China. And sadly, the Red Cross isn’t the only example.
It is not surprise that you have to take hours and hours and big efforts to know the proper procedures of a government service. The service offering side, usually the government-run or the monopolized industry, in short, the powerful side, just doesn’t care how much time and effort their clients will waste. To let you know or NOT, it’s all for the information-holders convenience. Try your luck.
This information imbalance can only lead to inconvenience, wasted time, doubt, anxiety, rumor – even paranoia, confusion, anger, and indifference. But holding back the information gives an opportunity for a flexible explanation or excuse for inefficiency just for whenever necessary. “Serve the people” (为人民服务, wèi rén mín fúwù) is the slogan of the Chinese government, but sometimes they may forget their role and purpose. Is the citizen that really the government’s priority for consideration? Well, they may answer when they have time and didn’t argue with their wife last night. Most western countries operate a citizen’s right to know what information is held within the official files. Can China ever move to this level of openness?
Keep silent to achieve temporary harmony
Another reason for you not easy to hear the whole story is hiding some facts often can achieve temporary harmony. Perhaps the policy follows the English expression ‘Ignorance is bliss’? Meaning what you do not know, cannot cause you concern. Daily communication follows the same style. Chinese are more likely to nod at any opinion you say, even when they don’t agree with you in their heart at all. But for not irritating you, or saving face for you, they hold back their opinion and choose to keep silent and smile. In this style, anyone can be your friend.
An old Chinese saying goes, “和气生财” (hé qì shēng cái, Harmony brings wealth). Chinese believes harmony is more important than truth. Are we richer because we sold our principles for silent harmony? And “报喜不报忧” (bào xǐ bù bào yōu, Report only the good but not the bad.) is the frequently used trick in the working report and phone calls to mother. In the seemingly harmonious peace, it will be more difficult to draw the real picture. Chances of discovering risks and problems in advance may be lost. Avoiding the issue does not solve the problem. Respect can only exist with open and truthful discussion. Yes boss?