Chinese exporters have grown weary of the foreigners’ rigidity, and they often do all they can to avoid precise promises. It can be a shipment date, a certain level of quality, a proportion of wastage of materials, etc.
What Americans of Europeans see as a step necessary to clarify expectations (and improve communication), the Chinese only see as a risk.
They think, maybe their own supplier will not be up to expectations.. or maybe their factory will be flooded… Who knows? Better not commit to anything that can be measured objectively.
I have heard Chinese salespeople saying “we’ll try our best, don’t worry” more than I can stand. I always want to shout this at them:
Do, or do not. There is not “try”!
You can also watch this 11 sec. video on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcFx4ymZFgU&feature=related
And if you are behind the great firewall of China… Get a VPN!
