As one who has sparred with Alien/Ishmael and disagreed with his tendency to exert control in these forums, I am deeply disappointed with his banning. I guess as an American I tend to expect a persons opinions and comments to be subject to argument but not to be silenced.

I understand the need for some moderation and the need to suppress bad actors (not sure what that is exactly), I think being banned for persisting in discussing arbitrary rules is a bit over the top.

While aware that many folk have the urge to be the Nanny and continually correct others as if they were errant children. There is a danger such urges devolve as intolerance grows.

I often disagree with Alien/Ishmael but he has a right to his opinions no matter how misguided they are.

So Vera, as the GoK Nanny, I ask if you are moderating behavior or suppressing dissent? I know we as "customers" we have no rights, I just hope your power is tempered with understanding and tolerance.

Slightly off topic but gives an insight on "Declaring, Paying Profits and Dividend Out of China." The key concept to keep in mind is that China views repatriation of funds as inconsistent with GDP growth.

www.lehmanbrown.com/[...]

@tigertiger: Excellent post and a really good way to think about the realities of property ownership in China.

I would also add two more factors which always will remain uncontrollable: 1) the ever changing visa issue and, 2) the relationship between your home country and China.

@Ishmael: China's anti-pollution laws were late in coming, rarely enforced, and pretty much ignored. As you object to flying and riding in autos, I will leave the impact of pollution on civilization to your imagination.

For a time, in the 1990’s, I participated in the recyclables market. I was contacted by a Chinese guy who wanted to import recyclables from the US. So, acting as in his agent, I arranged for five containers of clean, crushed and compacted aluminum cans to be sent to China.

At the time, shipping a container of goods from China to the US would cost about $3000 USD per container. In the US empty containers were stacking up in US harbors. Shipping from the US to China would cost about $200 USD, or less, for a container. You can get a lot of aluminum cans and a 40’ container so the cost per kilo to ship recyclables to China was pretty low.

Then I was contacted about plastics. I found a source of clean, sorted, shredded plastic and, acting as an agent for the buyer, had 10 containers to be shipped to China. The buyer was upset because he did not want clean, sorted, shredded plastic, he wanted basically just the plastic in any condition, any type, any color no restrictions, just full containers of plastic.

Shipping was by Cosco, the Chinese line in every deal.

When I was contacted by authorities in Los Angeles regarding cars stolen in LA being shipped to China, and then questioned about potential contamination, I decided the marginal income wasn't worth the potential problems and stopped doing the business.

Some have decried the 'dumping' this stuff in China and elsewhere. I understand that concern but I must point out that there must exist a demand for trash or it doesn't move. I found American Capitalists were in the recycling business but Chinese buyers were demanding lower quality and insisted on paying less. Trash is cheaper.

@l4dybug Are you suggesting that since 2010 there has been a substantial change in US and China environmental behavior?

The 2010 info indicates that the US with twice the GDP, one fourth the population, of China contributes about one thirtieth as much plastic trash to the ocean. Are you suggesting this behavior has changed?

But then, horror of horrors, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris 'save the world' emissions hoax. This accord was primarily a plan to penalize developed nations while the two major polluters, India and China, had no requirement to clean up their acts and reduce emissions until 2030, or something. The US has in fact significantly lowered actual emissions exceeding the Paris goals while rejecting adherence to those goals.

My experience with Asia began more than 50 years ago before the use of plastic bottles began. Seems to me I first saw plastic bottles appear in Asia while I was still buying glass bottles in the US. I am not a fan of plastic bottles and was disappointed when they became in common use in the US.

It is my opinion of the polution issue is that it is driven by economics. Going clean, (I dislike the term ('green'), has higher short run or initial costs but the 'invisible hand' of Capitalism is, in efficiency and effectiveness, leading to the cleaner world we need.