A Modern Analysis of 'Guanxi' of Foreign Investment in China

China is a land of guanxi, everything is connected with guanxi. China has a business culture based on guanxi connections underpinned by strong Confucian ethics. However, there are some reasons why it is difficult for western companies to run businesses in China. Firstly, foreign firms lack the understanding and experiences necessary for doing business in China. They don't know the absence of alternatives is one of reasons that guanxi is so powerful in Chinese society. Secondly, there are many misconceptions about guanxi. It is easier for many foreign scholars or businessmen to equate guanxi with corruption due to the ambiguity of guanxi. Thus, if a foreign enterprise possesses guanxi, it can be a source of competitive advantage for doing business due to lack of law systems for anti-corruption activities in China. Furthermore, it is gaining increasing importance not only in Business to Government(B2G) but also in Business to Consumers(B2C) relationships. Therefore,managers should pay great attention to the proper use of guanxi instead of being involved in corrupt behaviours because now the governments hold a strong attitude against corruption. In particular, establishment of working guanxi through red envelops(basically giving money) or illegal gifts can cause a great problem for both parties, which were naturally accepted among most government officials and businessmen until recently.