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The Volkswagen plant in Qingdao is an example of how German carmakers have come to rely on China to stay competitive.
PHOTO: AFP
The Economist
For Chinese fans of table tennis, even global tournaments have a cosy feel. China so dominates the sport that many international matches amount to a contest between “our Chinese” and “their Chinese”.
Fans in China proudly watch their country’s champions compete with members of the “ping-pong foreign legion”, their fond nickname for Chinese-born aces who, realising they will never make their national squad, emigrate to play under other flags. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, more than a dozen table tennis players representing European, Latin American and other countries were China-born and trained.
