If I set up one new company in Taiwan and the other one in Beijing at the same time, I am not sure whether any risks might happen on the trade between the two companies. There is one issue to aware, which is transferring pricing, a taxation term which I am not familiar with.
Transfer pricing usually occurs among associate enterprises, resulting in decrease of a nation's tax revenue. There are many complex concepts and operations on this issue. Although I thought of this benefit as well, the motive of starting two companies in different places stem from the high criteria of capital amount of a Joint Venture company, the only form that 2 Taiwanese and 1 Chinese can invest in the Mainland China.
Although transfer pricing and Advance Pricing Agreement are not easy subject for me, I found they are quite interesting. If I do not try to start my own company, I would never encounter this issue, and, from my work, I would never learn something new and similar to it.
Related Article:
Tax Co-operation in an International Setting (by Chinese scholar)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Creating a Start-up Is Demanding and Challenging
Creating a start-up is never an easy thing. These days I gleaned related info on the Internet, talked with friends or previous boss about their start-up experiences, and contemplated possible solutions for obstacles. There is always something unexpected happened in the process of register our new company. It is true that if we do not have passion, we would give up the idea of building a company of our own.
On Monday, I visited my previous boss and he gave me many useful advices. Inspired by his words, I begin to consider the possibility of setting up a company in Taiwan. Afterwards, I found some insurmountable impediments to a Joint Venture in Beijing, prompting me to figure out a way to build corporations with limited capital.
There was a time I felt so tired that I was thinking of giving up the start-up plan. However, I realized that to create my own business requires right timing to meet some right partners, business opportunities, and proper locations, factors that one could not always meet anytime in one’s life. I think I have to seize the chance to live up with my dream right now, or I might not get the same chance later even I left China.
China is all the rage just now. Now that I live in China at the moment, I should do something on this piece of land. If I do not give it a try, I would never know whether I could make it or not!
On Monday, I visited my previous boss and he gave me many useful advices. Inspired by his words, I begin to consider the possibility of setting up a company in Taiwan. Afterwards, I found some insurmountable impediments to a Joint Venture in Beijing, prompting me to figure out a way to build corporations with limited capital.
There was a time I felt so tired that I was thinking of giving up the start-up plan. However, I realized that to create my own business requires right timing to meet some right partners, business opportunities, and proper locations, factors that one could not always meet anytime in one’s life. I think I have to seize the chance to live up with my dream right now, or I might not get the same chance later even I left China.
China is all the rage just now. Now that I live in China at the moment, I should do something on this piece of land. If I do not give it a try, I would never know whether I could make it or not!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
My Friend Did His Best to Recruit Me
Colt invited me for dinner yesterday in Guomao. He used to invite me for dinner this Monday but I had to wait for my landlord to pay the rents.
He tried his best to persuade me to join his company, although he was unwilling to give me any shares of his company. He explained that there is no difference between holding some shares of the company and merely sharing profits of business, an idea which he can only talk about theoretically and can not give me pragmatic salary package. His company has set up for more than one year and has not broken even. Therefore, his company can not afford my salary for sure. This is why I proposed him to give me some shares because as a stockholder, I could comfort myself that I am working for my own company although the pay is so low.
The atmosphere of the end of the dinner may be kind of uncomfortable. He kept saying that I do not admit the wrong decisions I made about my previous job selection. Nonetheless, I thought he was the person who was too confident to see his own weakness and to understand that each person has his or her own values. It was not necessarily wrong if I chose a different path from his.
I revealed to him that I might have four options for my current career path. Among these choices, the most possible is to create a start-up with my other friends. I stop convincing me after knowing my thoughts.
This talk makes me feel that there is no possibility for cooperation between his company and my future start-up, a beautiful plan I considered for a long time before today’s meeting.
He tried his best to persuade me to join his company, although he was unwilling to give me any shares of his company. He explained that there is no difference between holding some shares of the company and merely sharing profits of business, an idea which he can only talk about theoretically and can not give me pragmatic salary package. His company has set up for more than one year and has not broken even. Therefore, his company can not afford my salary for sure. This is why I proposed him to give me some shares because as a stockholder, I could comfort myself that I am working for my own company although the pay is so low.
The atmosphere of the end of the dinner may be kind of uncomfortable. He kept saying that I do not admit the wrong decisions I made about my previous job selection. Nonetheless, I thought he was the person who was too confident to see his own weakness and to understand that each person has his or her own values. It was not necessarily wrong if I chose a different path from his.
I revealed to him that I might have four options for my current career path. Among these choices, the most possible is to create a start-up with my other friends. I stop convincing me after knowing my thoughts.
This talk makes me feel that there is no possibility for cooperation between his company and my future start-up, a beautiful plan I considered for a long time before today’s meeting.
Friday, May 25, 2007
NTU(臺大) Students Visiting Qinghua(清華) Students in Beijing
Students form National Taiwan University visited Qinghua University in Beijing
Originally uploaded by taigerwan.
This is a meaningful activity because students in Taiwan seem not to understand China so much as those in China seem to understand Taiwan. It might be caused by the manipulation from the politicians in Taiwan. Whatever one's positions, one should understand as much as possible about the China affairs in order to making a wise decision.
Generally speaking, students from Taiwan were more laid-back and joyful than those from China, who appeared to be serious. There was one thing that amazed viewers – the Chinese students were open-mind to discuss some issues that we thought were taboo here. Perhaps, the young generation of China would really become the hope of this rising empire.
In the occasion, I met some Termite and Syrup, a Taiwanese couple who went to study in American together. Both are brilliant people. I might enter NTU one year earlier than Syrup. It was nice to talk with them.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Go to See a Doctor in Beijing Xiehe Hospital (協和醫院)
Yesterday was my first time to see a doctor in Xiehe (協和) Hospital, the most well-known hospital in Beijing. Unusually, I got up before 6 o'clock and then dashed to the bus stop because it is said that registration would be full after 7 o’clock. Fortunately, I succeeded in registration and left the hospital about 9:30.
Although the medical services in Taiwan must be better than those in China, for me who do not have the public health security, the cost to see a doctor in Taiwan becomes very expensive. Registration in China may be only 5RMB, while that in Taiwan may cost 150 NTD.
Except the terrible crowded patients, I had a good impression on Xiehe Hospital. Therefore, I went to apply a card issued by the hospital which can make the registration process become easier after second time.
Although the medical services in Taiwan must be better than those in China, for me who do not have the public health security, the cost to see a doctor in Taiwan becomes very expensive. Registration in China may be only 5RMB, while that in Taiwan may cost 150 NTD.
Except the terrible crowded patients, I had a good impression on Xiehe Hospital. Therefore, I went to apply a card issued by the hospital which can make the registration process become easier after second time.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
A Software Localization Meeting Beijing
Yesterday, I attended a localization meeting in Beijing, which consisted of several speeches given by sponsors and main players in translation or software localization industry. Nonetheless, all the speeches were very crass-some become product sales conference, and some sound like college job fair- except the part about the curricula of School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University.
The only value for me to attend this meeting is to know a Senior Project Manager from a Taiwan Vendor. I might contact him later when I was free. He said some of clients asked its company to arrange some Taiwanese professionals to work in Beijing. However, this is not a permanent request. I think that is especially suitable for me.
At night, Sheath and I discussed about our business. I was exciting. I am going to give it a try. He treated me dinner in a western restaurant. I do not think the price is cheap, but he said in Guangdong the prices for such a meal are much higher. Well, it seems some local Chinese people are just richer than me!
The only value for me to attend this meeting is to know a Senior Project Manager from a Taiwan Vendor. I might contact him later when I was free. He said some of clients asked its company to arrange some Taiwanese professionals to work in Beijing. However, this is not a permanent request. I think that is especially suitable for me.
At night, Sheath and I discussed about our business. I was exciting. I am going to give it a try. He treated me dinner in a western restaurant. I do not think the price is cheap, but he said in Guangdong the prices for such a meal are much higher. Well, it seems some local Chinese people are just richer than me!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Hop spring in Beijing (九華山莊/小湯山/北京)
Hot spring is always fun. Yesterday, Squash, Oliver, Henry and I went to Jiouhua Shan Zhuang (九華山莊) again, because we enjoyed the time spent there in March with Jupiter and Neptune. However, this time is not as exciting as last time, partly because this is our second time visiting so that no novelty exists any more, and partly because the atmosphere of spending time in hot spring in the afternoon can not compare with that at night, making us feel kind of mysterious and romantic.
The hot spring in Xiaotanshan (小湯山) contain sulfur, and it is beneficial for health, preventing skin diseases occurring. Salt rubbing is the most interesting part for this trip. I had to take off the swimming pant and lie on a bed first. A man put a small amount of water and plenty of salt to my entire body and then began to rub. According to the man, this massage can kill bacteria attaching on human body. Surprisingly, I did not get any strong feelings during the whole treatment. On the contrast, Squash was too sensitive to complete the process. He asked to rub himself, a funny thing to say and to do.
Under the recommendation from Squash, we had a dinner in a Japanese restaurant called "ISSHIN" in Wudaokou (五道口), where is famous for many Korean living in the neighborhood and ,therefore, is called "small Korea in Beijing". Many foreigners ate in ISSHIN. The food was delicate and palatable, and of course expensive.
The hot spring in Xiaotanshan (小湯山) contain sulfur, and it is beneficial for health, preventing skin diseases occurring. Salt rubbing is the most interesting part for this trip. I had to take off the swimming pant and lie on a bed first. A man put a small amount of water and plenty of salt to my entire body and then began to rub. According to the man, this massage can kill bacteria attaching on human body. Surprisingly, I did not get any strong feelings during the whole treatment. On the contrast, Squash was too sensitive to complete the process. He asked to rub himself, a funny thing to say and to do.
Under the recommendation from Squash, we had a dinner in a Japanese restaurant called "ISSHIN" in Wudaokou (五道口), where is famous for many Korean living in the neighborhood and ,therefore, is called "small Korea in Beijing". Many foreigners ate in ISSHIN. The food was delicate and palatable, and of course expensive.
Friday, May 11, 2007
First Time Language Exchange
Yesterday in Yannan (燕南) coffee shop, Neptune and I had our first time language exchange. Neptune revised my three compositions and advised me to apply more personal and specific examples to my writing. I think he is right. However, he seams not good at instructing writing details, such as proper use of vocabulary and grammar. Olive appears to be more experienced than Neptune. I made a phone call to Olive and we three had a lunch of dumplings together in NongYuan(農園).
Olive was so thoughtful and generous that he suggested us to use his room in Shaoyuan (勺園) for exchange. In the afternoon, I began to teach Neptune how to pronounce those Chinese sentences in his textbook, a material from Global Village. Neptune complained that in Global Village, most students are Koreans and thus they generally use the Korean language to communicate. Besides, He found that many students spoke much worse Chinese than he, an environment that, in his opinion, is a disadvantage of learning Chinese.
Olive was so thoughtful and generous that he suggested us to use his room in Shaoyuan (勺園) for exchange. In the afternoon, I began to teach Neptune how to pronounce those Chinese sentences in his textbook, a material from Global Village. Neptune complained that in Global Village, most students are Koreans and thus they generally use the Korean language to communicate. Besides, He found that many students spoke much worse Chinese than he, an environment that, in his opinion, is a disadvantage of learning Chinese.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Lifetime Friends Needed Especially When in Depression
These two days, I have been in deep depression, mostly derived from the pressure of study and the advent of the exam. I got to do something to cheer myself up. Hence, I forced myself to jog for 20 minutes or so, and, after dinner, I watched Kang Xi Lai Le（康熙來了）, a popular and entertaining Taiwanese Show. Today I watched the episode about 周渝民, one member from F4 which is the most sensational group both in China and in Taiwan.
Everybody may encounter some kind of emotional disturbance now and then. One has to learn how to cope with it. I think the best way could be talking with friends, listening to favorite music, doing some exercises, watching some movies or TV programs which can make one cry or laugh so that one can temporarily forget his or her current condition. The emotion management could be more difficult for those who live alone, and, unfortunately, I am belonged to this kind of groups.
Everyone turns to especially need friends, when suffering. At the moment when one becomes fragile, however, one only want to talk to those “lifetime friends”, instead of general friends, who might be colleagues or virtual friends on the cyber space. Unfortunately, most people may find it difficult to make lifetime friends since leaving campus, because most friends that people made after graduation involved with some sorts of sophisticated interests between.
When I was in college, I do make some lifetime friends, which by definition means, no matter how long we have not seen each other, no matter how far away our locations currently is, or no matter what might happen in the future, we believe we can still be friends until die.
At the moment, fortunately, I somehow feel like making two more lifetime friends, Olive and Henry, who is a local Chinese. Before, I used to think that it is impossible for me, a Taiwanese, to make any real friends with the locals. Perhaps, I was wrong.
Everybody may encounter some kind of emotional disturbance now and then. One has to learn how to cope with it. I think the best way could be talking with friends, listening to favorite music, doing some exercises, watching some movies or TV programs which can make one cry or laugh so that one can temporarily forget his or her current condition. The emotion management could be more difficult for those who live alone, and, unfortunately, I am belonged to this kind of groups.
Everyone turns to especially need friends, when suffering. At the moment when one becomes fragile, however, one only want to talk to those “lifetime friends”, instead of general friends, who might be colleagues or virtual friends on the cyber space. Unfortunately, most people may find it difficult to make lifetime friends since leaving campus, because most friends that people made after graduation involved with some sorts of sophisticated interests between.
When I was in college, I do make some lifetime friends, which by definition means, no matter how long we have not seen each other, no matter how far away our locations currently is, or no matter what might happen in the future, we believe we can still be friends until die.
At the moment, fortunately, I somehow feel like making two more lifetime friends, Olive and Henry, who is a local Chinese. Before, I used to think that it is impossible for me, a Taiwanese, to make any real friends with the locals. Perhaps, I was wrong.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
The City Animal Visited Lotus Lane (什剎海), the Bar Zone in BeijingAgain.
The Bar Zone in Lotus Lane - Performer
Originally uploaded by taigerwan.
I always enjoy strolling on the lanes in shichahai and streets near Drum Tower (Gulou / 鼓樓), because the surroundings remind me of many busy streets in Shanghai, such as Xintiandi(新天地), one of my favorite places there. Olive treated Henry and me again to have a dinner in a British style restaurant. The cuisine is OK, but I do enjoy the atmosphere there. We sat on the second-floor terrace, where I found that Henry and I were the merely two Asian faces on this particular space, making me have the illusion that we were enjoying our time somewhere in Europe.
With Olive's help, Henry just got an intern in Paris. Hence, Olive asked me whether I have time to travel with them to Europe later. I can not help raising my tone to repeat his question again. This invitation is very alluring for me. I do have plenty of time. However, I might not have enough money to visit Europe again. They will let me know their schedule once they set it down. We will see!
Saturday, May 5, 2007
How Can I Endure My Face to Become "SWOLLEN"?
Beijing Botanical Garden
Originally uploaded by taigerwan.
When I especially desire to go swimming, most of the time I am in a condition of frustration. Now I become even more depressed after meeting the above-mentioned situation.
Usually, I do not enjoy doing exercises. What is more, I do not enjoy watching any sport program, which, for me, is so boring that I seldom to tune in to any sports channel, such as ESPN. Nonetheless, I do not really want to become a fat guy, and I do want to live longer to enjoy life, so that I force myself to do some exercises, such as jogging, swimming and yoga.
I am a fan of Yoga, but the expense of practicing it here in Beijing is much expensive than that in Shanghai, where I used to buy a seasonal membership card of a yoga club next to my flat. I might consider to practice it around July, when my membership card of Huateng Club is about to expire, making me have to spend all the balance by the expiration date. I might take the 20 times program, which would cost me RMB 720.
Now that I can not go swimming, I turn to jog this evening. Jogging is tiring and boring and it take persistence to accomplish the running each time. In Beijing, it is impossible to get into any school to take advantage of the track on campus, a situation different from Taipei. I planed for myself a route to run in my neighborhood. If I am in a good condition, I can run about three circles of it. But today, I only finish two and a half. I vow to myself that I would go jogging each day, because I notice that my face manifested in recent photos becomes “swollen”!
Friday, May 4, 2007
Want to Own an Apartment? Want to Work in Sydney?
Beijing Botanical Garden
Originally uploaded by taigerwan.
I think I am a nomad continuing migrating from one city to another. I do not really have the desire to possess one house for myself, at least not at the current moment, partly because I do not have the feeling of belonging to any specific city, no matter Taipei, Shanghai, or Beijing. I keep searching for a place where I belong to.
I wrote to Tomato that I have already set out toward my destination, so that I do not have the right to become depressed for now. The only thing I should do is to concentrate myself on what I should accomplish each day, avoiding from keeping surfing on the Internet without purposes.
Another thing Tomato mentioned is that an acquaintance invited him to work as the designer in Sydney for the second biggest pearl supplier in the world. Perturbed for many days, he eventually declined the invitation because the affinity developing between him and the brand he has been cultivating in his current company whose headquarters located in Kaohsiung.
I supported his decision because Sydney, for him, is an unknown world where he can hardly harness the potential variations which might hinder his success. However, if I were him, I am not sure whether I would make the same choice because I am such a person who always pursues novelty and changes.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Thousands of Chinese Students Unable to Register TOEFL Are HeadingAbroad to Take It!
TOEFL is all the rage just now. Last week when it was available to register the exam from July to October, all the seats were occupied in four and a half hours, making many students anxious about no opportunities for taking TOEFL. Furthermore, the process of registering a seat was a torture that many people spend more than one day to grab one because the webpage of the Chinese version registration website appeared error message all the time, provoking people even more frustrated and furious. Until now, there are still a big many students unable to get a seat for exam, a incredible and chaotic situation that one in any countries can hardly imagine. Some of those miserable students have no other choices and, thus, are forced to go abroad to take the TOEFL exam.
This is definitely caused by short supply of seats for such a big population country. Indeed, this situation may be partly because the implementation of iBT TOEFL, a new practice which the entire problems are sent out from the test center in the U.S., requires hardware equipment, such as computers and access to the Internet, and, thus, the places where qualify to such requirements might not be as many as those in the PBT or CBT TOEFL times. However, another reason could also be that the institution of arranging iBT TOEFL in China has very limited ability to organize the exam here. One of the proofs was the slow response of the website when thousands of people trying to register their own seats at the same time, obviously deriving from the poor capability of its servers. But I do not think the ETS, the owner of TOEFL, dares to change this institution unless it does not plan to keep promoting its business in China, because this institution, actually, is the Department of Education of China.
Another unpleasant thing is that the price to take TOEFL in China is much higher than that in other countries. In China, one has to register a seat on a Chinese version website operated by the Chinese authorities and the price listed on it is RMB 1370, higher than the price on the international website set by ETS. Hence, who are making money from Chinese students?
This is definitely caused by short supply of seats for such a big population country. Indeed, this situation may be partly because the implementation of iBT TOEFL, a new practice which the entire problems are sent out from the test center in the U.S., requires hardware equipment, such as computers and access to the Internet, and, thus, the places where qualify to such requirements might not be as many as those in the PBT or CBT TOEFL times. However, another reason could also be that the institution of arranging iBT TOEFL in China has very limited ability to organize the exam here. One of the proofs was the slow response of the website when thousands of people trying to register their own seats at the same time, obviously deriving from the poor capability of its servers. But I do not think the ETS, the owner of TOEFL, dares to change this institution unless it does not plan to keep promoting its business in China, because this institution, actually, is the Department of Education of China.
Another unpleasant thing is that the price to take TOEFL in China is much higher than that in other countries. In China, one has to register a seat on a Chinese version website operated by the Chinese authorities and the price listed on it is RMB 1370, higher than the price on the international website set by ETS. Hence, who are making money from Chinese students?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Two Day's Travel: Shanhaiguan (山海關), Qinhuangdao (秦皇島) andBeidaihe (北戴河)
Olive, Henry, Jo, Ni, and I went to Shanhaiguan (山海關) for sightseeing. Olive, Henry and I stayed over night in Beidaihe (北戴河), whereas Jo and Ni returned to Beijing because Jo would have a class next day.
After traveling to Europe for one month, I became to lose interests on travel, especially in China, not only because I don’t have much money now, but also because most traveling spots in China are similar, such as temples and ruins, etc. Although I was also looking forward to this trip, which was proposed by Oliver, my motivation was only to breathe some fresh air outside Beijing, regarding the journey only as a stroll much longer than a one-hour stretch after dinner.
In term of stroll, our two-day trip was really a good exercise because we did walk for a long time, especially the second day in Beidaihe.
We took train from Beijing Railway Station to Beidaihe first, and chartered a 7-seat vehicle until 8 o’clock for the first day itinerary, costing each person RMB 50. This saved us a big deal of time from searching for transportation tools and from transferring among them.
Our first stop is Laolongtou, (老龍頭) a name in Chinese literally meaning “the old dragon head”, where the Great Wall extends east into the sea, i.e. Buohai (渤海). We had a lunch first before buying tickets to enter the resort. Originally, we chose a restaurant, but, before ordering anything, we left for another one because Jo found that some dirt on the bowls and plates. Jo apologized for his insistence to change place to eat, but he said, “I don't want to be sick.” I respond to him that, “When I still lived in Shanghai, we used to wash our bowls, chopsticks and spoons with the tea before eating anything. Lack of hygiene in restaurants, especially in the rural locations, is commonplace in China.”
The scenery in Laolongtou was, actually, spectacular. The only thing uncomfortable was the freezing and winding weather.
Our second stop was Jiaoshan (角山), the first mountain that the Great Wall encounters and surmounts in a westerly direction. This journey has become the most appealing part for us, because of its several astonish and hazardous vertical ladders on the fortress of the Great Wall. Admittedly, this section of the Great Wall is the most charming one compared to other sections such as Juyongguan (居雍關) and Jiayuguan (嘉峪關). I found myself a personality trait that the more challenging a thing is, the more impressive I would feel. Huashan (華山), which ranks as my number one picturesque mountain among all the others, was a good example.
Our third stop was the well-known Shanhaiguan, whose ticket cost each of us 40 RMB, making Jo and Oliver to complain about the implementation of super capitalism throughout China. Everything in China charges a fee, no matter what it is and whether it is worth or not. I agreed with them that this place does not deserve that much of money.
The second day of our triad was not exciting. On the second day, however, we spent much more money on the sightseeing on the boat, on seafood which we picked up in person at the restaurant close to the pier, and on the cable car above the seawater between the mainland and a petty island called Nandaihe Whelk Island Amusement Centre (南戴河仙螺島遊樂中心).
The total expense of this travel costs me RMB 800 or so. At the end of the day, nonetheless, I found that actually I should only pay for RMB 500. In other words, I pay extra RMB 300 for the expenses of others, such as the expense of the chartered vehicle, the entrance tickets of Laolongtou, and the most fees of the second day. Any way, it is not a big deal as long as everyone had a good time.
More Photos of Shanghaiguan, please click here!
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