China Tells

80% of World’s Christmas gifts are made in China. As such you can imagine how busy the container lines would be during the Christmas season. China goods are cheap in big volume, and justifies the transportation cost from Huangpu or Shanghai to every corner of the planet. The hidden cost of those gifts, however, might not be as simple as it appears to be (See Article from Guardian). First is the environmental cost: to produce such volume of Christmas gifts a lot of hazardous chemical are being used ni China, while such chemical will be banned in Europe or US. Second is labor condition including child labor. It is reported that some factories in South China employs child labor below 18 to do the factory work. Personally I think the environment concern is valid but I believe that child labor is not prevalent and only exceptional case in China. However it is still wrong and even one such case could get people excited and disgusted. On the other hand, howver, it seems the only way for middle or low incomers in the west to enjoy a pleasant Christmas with affordable gifts to their kids. Without China’s bumper supply, kids in the West might have to go through a Christmas without gifts.

每年的圣诞节都是中国出口的高峰期。全世界大约80%的圣诞礼物是中国制造。中国低廉的劳动力和制造成本成就了全世界成千上万家庭和孩子的圣诞气氛，但是这之中也有成本。比如环境污染和劳工待遇就是最典型的问题。如何改善中国制造地区的环境，以及提高劳工受保护的程度同时禁止童工雇佣，是中国制造和出口行业的一大课题。