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Market research in China usually involves combining secondary data with primary research, because published information alone often lacks the context needed for sound decisions. The real challenge is not finding data, but understanding what it actually means.

Secondary research is useful for sizing up a market and identifying broad trends, but it rarely tells the full story on its own. Primary research through interviews, surveys, or direct observation helps reveal how decisions are made on the ground. When these two methods are used together, the gap between reported information and actual behavior becomes clearer.

If your research looks complete but decisions still feel unclear, the issue is often interpretation, not the volume of data.

Read the full article for a closer look at when each method works best and how to avoid common mistakes.

After a decade working in China, I have found that one of the most persistent sources of frustration for foreign companies is expecting a Chinese state-owned enterprise to behave like a private company. It rarely does. SOEs operate under a dual mandate—commercial goals layered with policy priorities—which means decisions move through multiple approvals and are shaped by factors beyond profit.

Two practical takeaways stand out from my recent article. First, success depends on aligning your project with current government priorities before entering serious discussions. Second, you must map every key stakeholder early—one contact is rarely enough to move a deal forward. Without that understanding, progress stalls and resources get committed before the path is clear.

If you are seeing positive meetings but no measurable progress, it is often a sign of structural misalignment rather than a negotiation issue. Read the full article to see how this plays out.

Many businesses treat China’s regulatory environment as a set of written rules to be followed step by step. In practice, those rules are interpreted differently across regions and sectors, with enforcement shaped by shifting government priorities. The gap between what the law says and how it is applied on the ground is where most compliance problems begin.

I have seen companies move forward confidently after reviewing legal summaries, then encounter unexpected obstacles once operations start. The same business model that works in one city can face a very different outcome in another.

Written law provides structure, but it does not show the full picture. Combining legal documentation with local insight and early planning usually leads to clearer decisions and fewer surprises later.

Read the full article for a practical breakdown of how China’s regulatory system works and what that means for your business.

Risk assessment often comes after a decision to expand into China, and that is where problems start to compound. I see many companies move forward based on price or initial impressions, only to find that supplier behavior, regulatory exposure, or communication gaps become much harder to correct once production is underway.

A structured evaluation breaks risk into five categories: regulatory and political, supplier reliability, financial and contract terms, logistics, and cultural communication. Each of these can affect operations in ways that are not visible during early negotiations. Prioritizing based on likelihood and impact helps avoid reacting to minor issues while overlooking serious ones.

If you are considering expansion, the next step is to assess your exposure directly and decide based on verified information rather than assumptions.

Read more from the full article.

Most China negotiations do not move in a straight line. From my experience working on the ground, what looks like delay is often active evaluation happening behind the scenes, and pushing for clarity too early is where many deals begin to lose traction.

The process typically unfolds across overlapping stages, from relationship framing and trust-building to internal alignment and formal negotiation. Early positive signals or repeated meetings are often misread as progress toward agreement, when they are more accurately part of a longer evaluation of reliability, intent, and long-term fit.

I often see businesses misinterpret reduced communication or shifting terms as problems, when in reality these reflect internal decision-making or ongoing alignment. Recognizing where you are in the process changes how you respond and helps preserve trust as negotiations develop.

Read more to understand how each stage works and how to navigate it more effectively.

Many Western businesses enter China with a strategy that has worked elsewhere, only to see results stall. In my experience, the issue is rarely execution alone. It is a mismatch between familiar assumptions and how Chinese consumers actually make decisions.

I have seen how trust, social validation, and platform ecosystems shape outcomes in ways that differ from Western markets. Consumers often rely on reviews, peer influence, and visible credibility signals before buying, while digital platforms integrate content, communication, and commerce into a single experience. Treating these as separate functions weakens conversion.

Pricing and brand positioning also tend to be misunderstood. Value perception matters more than simply being affordable, and loyalty depends on staying relevant in a fast-moving, trend-driven environment.

If your current strategy is not gaining traction, the issue may be how the market is being interpreted. Read more to understand where these gaps appear.

Many businesses enter China with strong market logic but struggle once policy direction and enforcement begin to shape outcomes. In my experience, the issue is not a lack of information, but a lack of structure for turning that information into decisions.

Political risk in China is tied as much to policy priorities and enforcement patterns as it is to written regulation. I have seen companies rely too heavily on formal rules, only to face pressure when enforcement shifts or when local interpretation differs across regions.

A more practical approach starts with identifying sector sensitivity, mapping regulatory exposure, and tracking policy signals early. This helps businesses plan ahead rather than react after costs and constraints increase.

Read more to understand how to assess China political risk with a structured framework.

Chinese economic data often looks clear, but in practice, it rarely functions as a direct reflection of market conditions. In my experience, businesses run into trouble when they treat headline numbers like GDP or industrial output as complete signals, rather than as data shaped by policy, timing, and regional variation.

One of the most common issues I see is misreading timing. GDP can confirm long-term direction, but it does not capture short-term demand shifts. Indicators like PMI and retail sales tend to reveal changes earlier, especially when they are read together. When these signals diverge, it usually points to instability rather than straightforward growth.

I also emphasize starting with the decision itself. Market entry, expansion, and partner selection all require different indicators, cross-checked and grounded in local context rather than national averages.

If you are working with China-related decisions, read the full article for a more structured approach.

Many China market entry failures do not come from one major mistake. In my experience, they begin with early assumptions that are never fully tested against how the market actually operates.

One of the most common issues I see is treating China as a single market. In practice, regional differences in consumer behavior, policy interpretation, and distribution structure can significantly affect execution. A national strategy that ignores these differences often struggles to gain traction at the local level.

Another recurring problem is relying on surface-level signals. Early interest, strong meetings, or positive data can be mistaken for real demand. Without direct validation, companies move forward too quickly, and misalignment shows up later in partnerships, positioning, and sales performance.

If you are evaluating entry into China, it is worth taking a closer look at these assumptions before committing. Read more for a deeper breakdown.