Masked Intentions

<p>In the late 70's China was an awakening giant; decades of depressing self sufficiency theories left the country technologically industrially and agriculturally backward. By 1975 Chou En Lai and Deng Tsao Ping recognized a renaissance of technology and open economy was required Achieving those goals required engagement with the U.S. to replicate leapfrog and provide a starter engine. The engine which had accelerated the West's economies was the ubiquitous computer. How was China to get one? </p><br><p> The United States strictly controlled the export of computers to the Communist world particularly since the Korean War.</p><br><p> The world leader in computers IBM was sought and responded. This book presents IBM and China's one year 1977 struggle in Beijing to write a contract that unleashed IBM's China's and the U.S.'s restraints on computer exports and delivered China's first large-scale computer in 1978. The book presents the basis for China's ensuing economic boom. It tells a story of humor strife and of lasting personal bonds. It reveals the mishaps of cross-cultural negotiation. And... it reveals how the Chinese plan for modern computer education was hidden in computer purchase. </p><br><p> Three Chinese engineers - Messer's Wu Mu and Shu - and two American IBM'ers enabled that deception and bridged the cultural gap. IBM now has thousands of employees in its Greater China organization and billions in revenue. China has a thriving Information Management industry and connection to the world through the internet all starting with this seed.</p>