Chinese to get tough on ecigs

[Balvenie]

It's a billion pound/dollar industry...The Chinese aren't daft...They will never give up on a business like that....

Fair point. But so is big tobacco, and that's the business governments the world over are looking to not give up on unfortunately.

 

[Dr Manhattan]

Sent from my iPhone using Planet of the Vapes

 

[av3y khal1]

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Ha haa
That gave me a chuckle.

 

[askegi]

Probably the tobacco companies pushing it.

 

[securityuniform]

I think big tobacco has a hand in this. If I remember correctly a vast number of chinese smoke. Certainly every single chinese student we have (and we have a lot) smokes. Not once they get here, but proper dyed in the wool 40 a day smokers when they arrive. I can see a lot of money changing hands in the delighful cuthroat profitable world of chinese politics. They have never shown themselves to be particularly health concious when it comes to their citizens, but suddenly they are worried about the kids vaping? Not even kids, adults under 30. If the majority of vaping equipment production can be cut off at source then the effect on the rest of the world will be devastating till it is picked up elsewhere, and people will be back on the stinkies very quickly. Look how hard it is to get decent equipment during the chinese new years celebrations.

 

[HAZZA1962]

Apparently Bees are going to stop producing Honey as well!!!

 

[Mark]

When you read this you can see why China sees ecigs as a threat to its MASSIVE tobacco (state-owned) industry

The Chinese Government Is Getting Rich Selling Cigarettes - Businessweek

 

[elusivemite]

When you read this you can see why China sees ecigs as a threat to its MASSIVE tobacco (state-owned) industry

The Chinese Government Is Getting Rich Selling Cigarettes - Businessweek

Government owned. Says it all really doesn't it.

 

[Chronic Screwdriver]

The article originates from a study made by University of Hong Kong, as opposed to anywhere in mainland China. Hong Kong enjoys a certain amount of autonomy from the Chinese state, having previously been a UK colony (we won it in the 2nd Opium War, a war FOR drugs) It's a powerful economic hub, and generates a lot of wealth for their economy.

As such, it is allowed certain freedoms not enjoyed in other Chinese provinces (like relatively free internet use, and being able to complain about things without being run over by a tank ) as shown by the demonstrations and public protests last year about Beijing's attempt at electoral reform there.

China is set to become the largest world economy in a few years, and they have form when it comes to putting profit above public safety/health concerns/workers rights/almost everything else.

While that certainly isn't a good thing (Really China? working people till they drop (off a building)?) as long as the industry remains lucrative, I wouldn't imagine
they'd ban Vaping gear over a report from a province considered an upstart by the 'Inner Party'...

 

[scrumpox]

... I wouldn't imagine they'd ban Vaping gear over a report from a province considered an upstart by the 'Inner Party'...

Good observation.
China's economy is driven by consumerism. In order to be a consumer you must have a job and somewhere to live in order to raise your family. Throwing thousands of people out of work and onto the city's streets does not support consumerism. I doubt such a thing would happen without a clear plan for re-employing those workers. So the trigger events you would look for would be either:-
a. the big e-cig manufacturers diversifying their product lines ... producing something other than ecigs., or
b. Shenzhen manufacturing moving to Taiwan or Korea
That would tell you that they're under pressure from the Party.
Shenzhen (not Hong Kong) is the global capital of e-cig production the vast majority of which is exported, bringing in foreign currency. Taiwan is already thriving, handing over manufacturing to a foreign country like Korea would be unthinkable.

China can control the use of e-cigs, and protect its tobacco revenues, through taxation and propaganda. They don't need to kill a market within which they're preeminent.