China bans videogame

We have to say that China is a class in itself. It is not only emerging as the world's economic powerhouse, but also full of contradictions. But what do you expect from a country that on the one hand proclaims a socialistic outlook while on the other hand, embraces capitalism? It sure is interesting. Let us explain: Yesterday's Asian Wall Street Journal (AWSJ) reported that the country is opening its doors to foreign retailers, against any existing opposition of protectionist forces.

But in contrast to this new opening, the country clamped down on this Swedish video game called "Hearts of Iron" on Friday, May 28, 2004, for "distorting history and damaging China's souvereignty". The ban is understandable from China's perspective, since the game shows the Manchuria, West Xinjiang and Tibet as independent countries, and Taiwan as belonging to Japan. Okay clearly, someone in the Swedish developer team didn't do the homework and figured out the accuracy of the game.

Juggling two tasks at once and living and working in ambiguity is one of the characteristics of great executives, but China shows that this apparently also applies to countries.

(By Asia Business Consulting)