As is very often the case with China, the issue is much more complex than that. China does have emissions regulations, but the selectively enforce them. Most Chinese companies don't have the technology to create compliant products(automobiles and trucks, in this case) Nor do consumers have the money to purchase compliant products. So, rather than spend $$$$ on developing compliant products, companies will spend $$ to get the right person to sign off on their non-compliant product. This has a double-benefit of making Chinese products MUCH cheaper than foreign products (most foreign companies will not make a non-compliant product) and putting more Chinese manufacturing workers to work.

Here in China, we use 80/20 as a rule of thumb: 80% of the products in a given market will be "fake." In my case, we find that about 80% of the competitors in the engine markets are selling non-compliant engines. One example: One of our competitors was selling an aftertreatment "catalyst" at retail for less than our material cost. So, we bought one and cut it open. Iron. No platinum or other catalysts. Well, pretty hard to compete on price when the other guy doesn't have to follow the rules.

After living here for a year, I can tell you that "Money is King" in China. Nearly every single person is constantly on the hunt for where they're going to get their next infusion of cash. Putting enough money in the right hands can get you nearly anything, ANYTHING that you want. Until that cycle is somehow broken, China is going to continue to run headlong into the future with little concern for the long-term well-being of its environment and citizens.

I currently live in Beijing. I can have a new console in my living room in less than a half an hour. They're for sale in every major market here. And not really marked up much more than the US price. It was a piece of cake to get a 220V power supply for the Wii when we moved. I think I got it for 40 kuai (about $6) Sure, they'd sell a ton more of them if I could go to Gomez or Sunning..... but the "ban" is surely not keeping them out. Like most regulations here... not enforced at all... or selectively at best.

We need to know which "ton" you're speaking about. Is it a shit-ton, a metric shit-ton or a butt-ton?

If you were a Chinese citizen, you'd be so used to the idea, it wouldn't even make you flinch. I visited China during the run up to the 2008 Olympics. I was watching CNN international. The reporter started talking about China's "increased tranpsarency to the press" or whatever term they were using then. The screen went black for about 2 minutes. When the picture came back, the reporter was done. This happened several times over the 2 weeks I was there. I was dumbfounded. It's just a way of life. The Chinese just shrug their shoulders and go on.

You also get better fuel economy because you don't meet the same emissions regulations, the same crash protection rating, or the same interior ammenities. And if you're getting 15mpg in a 92 F250 with a 4" lift towing a trailer, I'll bet you dollars-to-donuts that it's a diesel. Comparision fail.

These are the ones that are also commonly used as "pull out and wait to merge" lanes by the aforementioned stupid drivers.

I believe it was Sir Chris Bonington that has his necrotic frost-bitten toe snapped off at a party by a curious nurse. He talks about it in his account of surviving the climb of Annapurna's south face.

I don't think anyone is calling this "research." This is "journalism." Much lower standards for printing your "results" IMHO.

Then he's just using heat that would otherwise be present inside his home..... which will likely be replaced by some sort of HVAC system.

... are belong to us.

Hell, the internet has made it impossible to SPELL "Hegemony"

Wikileaks could potentially pose a threat to US intelligence, for many reasons including "Tipping our hand" to the enemy. So, the Government develops a strategy to mitigate the threat. News at 11?

If you'd be willing to accept some Opportunity-sized solar panels, we could remedy that for you.

Not on my Latitude. Prnt Scrn is the main key, Fn + Prnt Scrn = SysRq.

Yeah. um.... not sure, but I think the "She was asking for it.... look how she was dressed!" argument doesn't really get you very far.