In some ways, China remains a society in which information is not freely disseminated, even when the holder of the information would lose nothing by doing so. People may not feel the need to keep others informed of anything unless the situation absolutely, and immediately, demands it.

Under any other circumstances, information is a potentially valuable resource to be retained and used at a later, possibly more profitable, date.

For a significant portion of their working lives, many Chinese worked in environments where information was not freely available or shared and have therefore not seen the advantages of freely communicating with other people in their workplace.

Consequently, even when communication may seem at an all-time low to you, your Chinese colleagues may perceive it as being adequately clear, timely, and efficient.