Does anybody know how many or what percent of the factories in China are owned by Foreign countries?

Question

For cheap labor and almost negligible manufacturing costs, I guess it's logical for many foreigners to run branches of their company in China.

Answer 1

Well it depends of the branch

I do not know it as a global figure

some sectors are NOT allowed for DFI (direct foreign investments)
DFI are encouraged in certain sectors
Ownership is limited to a minority share (not more than 49%) in several sectors.

Answer 2

I'm sure it can be very attractive for foreign companies to own subsidiaries in China and a lot of them do.

I also find this question very interesting and relevant in this category, because we in the rich world very often accuse China and India for their fast rising emissions of greenhouse gases when it's in fact emissions to produce products to be used by end-users in the rich world.

If we are to let China and other developing countries to produce our products, I think we are obliged to make sure they are produced in an sustainable and "human right" way. That way we can also put pressure on the Chinese Government and/or make the difference in pricing of Chinese versus locally produced products lesser.

Please read this article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7028573.stm . It's very informative and adequate.

Edit:
This article is almost even better than the first one to describe the problem: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4542104.stm

Answer 3

I am pretty sure China forbids foreign ownership of factories there. I understand that foreign firms can own partial shares, but not the majority of a factory.

Answer 4

Why pay your citizens a living wage when you can screw the third world?

Answer 5

I don't know the number but I do know it's ruining our country!

Answer 6

no i don't know