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Boycott Chinese products (Boycott Made in China or stop using Chinese products, stop buying Chinese goods) is a slogan used by Internet campaigns that advocate a boycott of Chinese-made products. Commonly cited reasons for the boycott include the perceived low quality of products, territorial conflicts involving China, support for separatist movements within China, and objection to more specific matters relating to China, such as the eating of dog meat and the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. Countries including India, Philippines, and Vietnam have called for the boycott of Chinese goods, as have separatist movements in China itself. A full boycott of Chinese products would be difficult to achieve, as the country is responsible for the assembly of a high number of goods that are widely sold and used across the world.
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Causes
China is the largest country in the world by population, and the fourth largest by territory, sharing long borders with several other nations. Border conflicts have occurred many times between China and their neighbors during its history. At the center of Asia, some Chinese emperors attempted to expand their kingdom through war. Also there is a lot of conflicting national interests and policies between China and other nations, like the disputes between the other nations with China and its allies. As a result of these conflicts, there is dissent against China amongst its border nations, and calls for the boycotting of Chinese products originate from residual resentment due to border conflicts.
In 1949, Chinese communists took control of China. Since the 1980s, Chinese leaders have made economic development one of their first priorities. Chinese businesses often produce goods tailored to market expectations; therefore, Chinese products may not be high in quality when consumers prefer to pay a low price.
Overpopulation is a possible reason for manufacturing low quality products. Some firms cannot find enough of the needed raw materials to produce goods that serve the customer requirements, producing instead versions made with cheaper material. At this point in time, many companies and businesses may also lack capital, industry expertise, and marketing power, leading to counterfeit products. At times, products of famous corporations such as Apple, Hyatt and Starbucks are copied.
However, by looking at the situation in the context of history, it can be argued that this is simply a normal transition in manufacturing, as a phase of low quality and counterfeit manufacturing is not unique to China, as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have undergone very similar economic phases. Keeping the aforementioned information in mind, with high quality goods being delivered from Chinese firms such as Huawei, Lenovo, and DJI in recent years, it can be observed that the state of Chinese manufacturing seems to be trending upward.
The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was considered a signal of poor food safety, affecting thousands of people, and as a result many Chinese parents do not trust Chinese milk products. In recent years, however, the Chinese government is taking many actions in order to try and combat areas of questionable food safety quality.
India
India and Tibet have called for a joint campaign to boycott Chinese goods due to border intrusion incidents. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat declared: "We speak about self-dependence and standing up to China. The new government seems to be standing up to it. But where will the government draw strength from if we don't stop buying things from China?"
In a recent episode in 2016 China denied the entry of India to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Also China is viewed as a major road block by Indians towards her permanent seat in United Nations Security Council. Meanwhile, China provides Pakistan unconditional support in many international stages. Also China makes a large quanta of investments in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (in both Gilgit-Baltistan and POK or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). During the conflict between the India and Pakistan in August–September 2016 after Uri attack the supporting stand of China towards Pakistan lead to a popular Boycott Chinese products Campaign in India.
Many shops in India also began to boycott Chinese goods.
Philippines
Many nationwide campaigns were held by different groups to boycott Chinese products. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda supported Filipinos to boycott Chinese products over the Spratly Islands dispute which was the Scarborough Shoal standoff in 2012.
Vietnam
The tension about the disputed areas in the South China Sea with China, especially the case of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 standoff, have triggered some boycott movements in this country. The usage of Made-in-Vietnam goods is an incentive method to show the patriotism over South China Sea conflicts.
Boycott by Tibetan Government-on-exile
Professor Thupten Norbu, brother of Dalai Lama, called for a campaign to boycott Chinese products for seeking Tibet independence. He said: "I am confident that the campaign to boycott Made-in-China products will gain the support of freedom loving people around the world, and will eventually succeed in forcing China to respect the rights of its own people and acknowledge Tibetan independence. […] I call on all Tibetans and friends to join with us in the pure and sacred struggle to free our country."
People called for a boycott because of low quality and unsafe Chinese products.