Expatriates in China

         China is now a major destination for expatriates, and its number had risen by 18% in only 4 years (guardian, 2013) and there is now a new kind of expatriates in China: students. Many economists predict that China will become the largest economy in a few years (guardian, 2013) and since its opening policy, it is easier to come to China for foreigners. In this article I will talk about the different kind of foreigners coming to China and the reason why they chose China and how it is to be an expatriate in the country and finally the changes that come across China and how its changes the situation for expatriates.

       We could think of expatriates in China as people in their 30’s wearing suits and working for multinational companies but they do not represent the expatriates’ community anymore. Indeed, different kinds of people are coming to China for different reasons. There are now students attracted by the low-cost of life and traveling opportunities, they want to learn mandarin in one of the language program universities offer (it is very easy to find a university in China with a program for foreigners to learn mandarin). Young expatriates who came to China for its opportunities but who are now working at a very low salary until they find something else. The young expats with a good situation, they are the expats who found a good opportunity and are now working to a great future. The entrepreneurs, who are in China for several time and decided to launched their own business. The managers, they are more the “typical expatriates” they came to China to accomplish a job for a precise duration, and then they will come back to their home country. The old expatriates who are living in China for many years and are well integrated in the country like if it was their own (Verdot, 2010). It is important to define the different kinds of expatriates living in the country as they are not expecting the same things from their stay in the country and they also don’t have the same lifestyle either.

        Those expatriates are coming to China for either: a job opportunity, a lower cost of life, travel opportunities, more work than in their home country or a country where recession is not in everyone’s mind. Some people think China is the new El Dorado and it is an alternative to western countries in actual crisis (Yang, 2012). An HSBC survey found that 69% of expats in China have more disposable income and 44% of them think the country offers them a higher quality of life (guardian, 2013). 

        However, how is it to actually live in China for a foreigner? Many expatriates have been publishing papers in blogs or newspaper about their life in China, even if some of their publication are subject to debate such as the “Why I am leaving China” essay by Charlie Custer who is leaving China after several years living here with his wife and kids, and is “denunciating” some behaviors China has and the bad quality of life. Some other expatriates are keeping up a blog about their life in China and what they experience every day, but both of those sources are talking about the complex relationship expatriates have with China: a love/hate relationship. Even though many foreigners are complaining a lot about China and its pollution, or people being not polite, or other health incidents… they still stay in the country or are willing to come back. This is what Tom Carter (an expat in China since 2006) explain as he agrees with the different problems some expatriates are pointing at but he still likes living in China even after he left for 2 years to work in Japan and then India. He defines China as “a love-it or hate-it kind of place” which in my point of view sum up people’s opinion who have been in China (Taylor, 2013). While living in China I met people just waiting to go back in their home country and others who truly liked the ease of life here, but both had the same complains about the country: people attitude, pollution, crowd, complexity of the administration….

        However, China is changing very quickly, and the advantages the foreigners had are willing to disappear. There are now more “options” for the Expat community such as western grocery stores, pubs, Burger Kings and other international trademark. China is no longer a cheap place to do business, and real estate is increasing every year, foreigners are no longer considered “exotic” to the Chinese population and it will get more difficult to get a job as it was 5 years ago, however it will benefit the Chinese population by being more fair even though if expats will be fewer. This is the price of globalization.

Ophélie BOURGEOIS

Sources:

guardian, t. (2013, February 19). China – why expats are heading east. Récupéré sur The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/hsbc-new-horizons/china-why-expats-are-heading-east

Taylor, A. (2013, August 2). Here's What Those Notorious Expats Are Really Doing In China. Récupéré sur Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/unsavory-elements-by-tom-carter-2013-8

Verdot, O. (2010, January 30). Les différents types d'expats en Chine. Récupéré sur Marketing en Chine: http://www.marketing-chine.com/chine/les-differents-types-dexpat-en-chine

Yang, L. (2012, January 31). S’expatrier en Chine, une bonne idée ? Récupéré sur Café de la Bourse: http://www.cafedelabourse.com/dossiers/article/sexpatrier-en-chine-une-bonne-ide#