Diagnosing the West’s China Missteps: Systemic Gaps That Derail Business Ambitions

['Dr. Catherine Hua Xiang', 'Dr. Catherine Hua Xiang Is Director Of The Confucius Institute For Business London', 'Programme Director For International Relations', 'Chinese At The London School Of Economics. She Is The Author Of Bridging The Gap', 'An Introduction To Intercultural Communication With China', 'Lid Publishing', 'Shortlisted For The Specialist Business Book Award At The Business Book Awards'] Observer 2025-09-23 18:30:55

Across sectors—from luxury and retail to technology, manufacturing and finance—recurring missteps reveal systemic misunderstandings that Western firms must address. Western companies that separate social media from transactions appear clunky by comparison. Without strong local HR practices, Western companies may hemorrhage talent or inflate payrolls, reducing competitiveness. A more sophisticated China strategySo how can Western companies avoid the traps that have ensnared predecessors? China will remain both an opportunity and a challenge for global companies.