Government procurement no sure boon to Chinese brands

The recent list of approved vehicles for government purchase from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has caused quite a stir because all 412 models are Chinese brands.

It is a particular setback for Audi, traditionally the brand of choice for the Chinese government. Some foreign media have been particularly critical of the list, calling it a violation of WTO principles.

But I believe the policy is in line with public opinion that government purchases require greater scrutiny and more cost controls. After all, it seems unreasonable to use taxpayer money to buy luxury cars for a small group of public officials.