Every city has a certain level of friction – a tax on the time and energy on the team and what is is able to accomplish. In China on this study the friction includes the fall-out from a contract that is not worth the paper it is written on. This is a city where you need to assume that if a situation can give more money, power to one side or another it will, regardless of formal or informal agreement.

Roll with it.
Eat or be eaten.

And, on occasion, be pleasantly surprised.