For most of the last decade, China seemed to take a light approach on regulatory enforcement; it worried that strict application of its many laws, rules, and regulations would scare off investors when the economy could not afford to lose foreign money and manufacturing.
Now signs are emerging that the days of benign neglect are ending. The government is cracking down on violators of existing regulations, issuing new guidelines and circulars to enhance what’s already on the books, and passing new, tougher legislation.
