When it comes to China-related issues, grassroots companies are turning away from campus lawns and charging into corporate boardrooms.

The grassroots are capitalizing on an important globalization issue. With more and more American companies expanding to the country that mushroomed yet another 9.8% this year, the conflict behind their often progressive, people-focused mission statements and the country's protectionist, violent practices is greatly magnified. American executives squatting in fledgling offices are prime targets, as their ears are usually perked from having to confront this conflict on a daily basis.

Tim Reason of CFO.com writes about recent press releases from the Falun Gong movement. These statements are being sent to U.S. businesses that are trying to juggle both making a buck off of low-cost labor and presenting an idealist face to U.S. media. His reference to China's execution of 4 executives for bank fraud makes a good point that our overseas whitecollars are not in Kansas anymore...

Whether one agrees with a specific grassroots company's mission is a matter of opinion. The big question is, which side is going to budge? Are U.S. investors and management going to be deaf to the grassroots' media blitz, swayed only by their record-breaking profits? Or will China have to adapt to more Americanized standards in order to continue attracting foreign direct investment?

Perhaps we Americans are blinded by the mushroom cloud effect for now to make a decision. But when the dust settles, let's hope our principles hold more weight than our wallets.

Posted by Michelle Smith on January 4, 2006 07:27 PM