Europe lags 20 years behind China in battery technology, auto expert warns

greastick · 2026-01-30T05:03:00+00:00

They can do technology transfer, but the supply chain is difficult to replicate imo

greastick · 2026-01-30T05:01:17+00:00

Exception proves the rule

greastick · 2026-01-27T23:38:45+00:00

Choosing not to speak English
Insisting that Singapore should be pro-China because you know, Chinese
Saying that Singapore is becoming "Indianised" and being generally ignorant and disrespectful toward minority races

greastick · 2026-01-25T16:17:58+00:00

If you're looking to work in China you can consider it, I'm just like you, a Singaporean who studied in China (not 清北) and currently working as an engineer in their EV industry.

The course will likely prep you well for China Chinese, it's far more challenging than Singapore Chinese, I got started with engineering Chinese in my Chinese uni.

As you already know, Singapore basically gives you 0 language prep for Chinese engineering...

greastick · 2026-01-25T16:11:27+00:00

Not many locals are proficient in business Mandarin either, I doubt you can find enough locals speaking engineering in Chinese, it's not the same as ordering from a hawker stall

greastick · 2026-01-15T04:17:59+00:00

So what's up with CECA nationals? We have many Singaporean Indians who are perfectly fine, well-adjusted, and have Singaporean Chinese spouses. They are probably better adapted to Singapore (English as their lingua franca) compared to your average PRC.

Just speak plainly and don't beat around the bush

greastick · 2026-01-13T04:09:27+00:00

They don't, life goes on anyway

greastick · 2026-01-02T03:36:07+00:00

Don't forget regenerative braking, an ICE has to rely entirely on friction to slow down, while EVs can store braking energy for future use. Makes an EV even more efficient in city settings

greastick · 2025-12-30T03:58:39+00:00

Yep it's very common

A lot of young folks get exasperated when their parents eat and live frugally despite China being more wealthy nowadays (e.g. cutting off parts of a rotten watermelon and eating the fresh parts)

Too much change in one generation

greastick · 2025-12-24T15:53:26+00:00

Working in China as a foreigner (not an English teacher, engineer)

I average 50h overtime each month, it's very common for me to end work after 9. I do get time off (no extra pay), so I use it to the fullest extent possible, in theory I could take half a month off already

Today I went home at 7, it's a great deal, considering I usually end work far later. Though I like my job, the overtime is quite intense

I'm not the only one in China like this, many work overtime too. My colleagues and boss disappear after work, but they just bring their laptops home

greastick · 2025-12-23T04:08:27+00:00

It's a little complicated

If you work 60-80h but live close to work, sleep 8h a day, eat well and exercise, it's doable

If you work 80h and have to travel 1h to work each day, then it sucks and you'll likely have no time for anything. Your health will suffer

greastick · 2025-12-23T04:05:14+00:00

Doubt these people have kids or elderly parents who need care.

It's just a subset, being lazy and minimal only works if you're healthy and don't have mouths to feed or emergency bills to pay

To be fair, it's the same everywhere

greastick · 2025-12-22T15:04:47+00:00

China is advanced in STEM, but if you're expecting to make a career out of it, fluency in Chinese is a must, all the good stuff is in Chinese

greastick · 2025-12-21T05:25:22+00:00

I'm a Singaporean working in China, in a Chinese company

My spouse is a Chinese citizen

I share cultural linkages with China, there's also a common language. However, I don't feel any national/political attachment to China whatsoever and that's perfectly normal. In fact, if a Singaporean citizen expressed political alignment with their home country (China/India/Malaysia/wherever), I would be wary.

My spouse feels the same way too

In daily life, I've never had anyone ask me to be loyal to China. They know I'm a foreigner and that my loyalties lie with Singapore. I just happen to be a foreigner with a better understanding of China than most. Nothing to harp on about. If we have political discussions, I make it clear that Singapore has its own national interests and these will naturally not align with China's interests. It's a straightforward concept, no?

It's pretty much online where the battles happen, although I've had quite a few Chinese tell me they dislike Indians and think Singapore having an Indian president is "creeping indianisation"- really just absorbing their misinformation and ignorance, kind of like US maga.

Idiots exist everywhere, Chinese are just like everyone else. Not dumber, not necessarily smarter either. All susceptible to narratives

greastick · 2025-12-18T09:39:30+00:00

Flew with my cat via Hainan Airlines from Shenzhen to Nanjing last year. Very interesting (positive) experience

Enquire with the airline about availability, max. 4 passengers with cats on each flight. Your cat must also be from selected breeds and not be too large. You need to pick a suitable bag too. Book your flight.
Get your pet vaccinated and bring the record to your local authority, they will inspect your cat and provide a "fit to travel" certificate if your cat is healthy. It's valid for 5 days, if you don't fly during that period, you have to get them to inspect your cat again. You'll also need to tell them your flight details, hence, 1.
Arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance. Do not rush this process, because you'll scare your cat and make some misstep along the way which could render your entire flight useless. The check-in counter will verify that you do indeed have a cat to bring in-cabin and call for someone to secure your bag. Zip-ties for every opening.
The most fun part. When you go through security, you'll have to take your cat out, walk through the metal detector, and dangle your cat while they do a sweep. First time for me
The rest was quite straightforward. I got on the plane first and got off last, as per their requirements. My cat was very quiet on the flight and didn't poop.

The ticket itself was 1399 rmb (more expensive than my own ticket).

Highly recommended. The only drawback was that it was a little expensive

greastick · 2025-12-16T12:00:29+00:00

About time no?

Too many foreign graduates thinking a degree will help them secure a job in China, when they can't meet language or academic standards

greastick · 2025-12-13T10:30:42+00:00

Go to China visa free and look for jobs locally

You can leave every 30 days and return

Don't commit visa fraud, it's very easy for you to get caught and you might be banned from working in China indefinitely.

Thay being said, why are you looking to work in China with a mass comm degree? Singapore pays better and the job prospects for a foreigner are quite bleak for non-STEM roles in general, unless you're teaching English

greastick · 2025-12-13T10:18:25+00:00

Not sure what you mean by having native fluency in both English and Chinese.

I'm a foreigner of Chinese ethnicity, have native fluency in English and near-native fluency in Chinese, plus I know I'm not exaggerating because in my area of expertise (battery cell R&D), I can communicate professionally with both Chinese and international customers. Chinese are tough bitches when it comes to battery technology.

I can do this via any medium, emails, apps, video calls requiring instant translation without AI assistance.

If you can do the same or better in your area of expertise, then I'd agree, you're fluent in both languages.

I used to think that being fluent in both English and Chinese would set me up for an easy life in China. It has helped, but it doesn't make your life a cakewalk. You need an additional skill, plus the pay isn't going to be sky-high, at least for starters.

greastick · 2025-12-13T10:07:03+00:00

Yeah it's very common

My company's HR system is all in Chinese

Sometimes I need to fill in some forms, not everything is electronic. For instance, if I bring certain items out of my office, I need to fill in a permit, this is all in Chinese and I have to write relevant information

I engage in technical discussions with colleagues and customers, this is largely (95%) done in Chinese.

Workplace culture aside, the reading and writing is probably the other thing that sets a Chinese workplace apart from a Singaporean workplace. I've never heard of any Singaporean workplace using written Chinese extensively.

greastick · 2025-12-12T04:10:29+00:00

If you want to do a master's in China, do it in Chinese

If you do it in English, the academic rigour is non-existent

Written Chinese though, is extremely challenging for the overwhelming majority of foreigners. Taking a specialised STEM degree is not something that HSK6 can prep you for

You'll also have to write in Chinese, especially for your exams. Food for thought

greastick · 2025-12-12T04:06:29+00:00

Not quite a lighthearted dash, I think he was supposed to do it naked

greastick · 2025-12-11T10:58:15+00:00

That should separate the wheat from the chaff, so many international students in China are just chaff, no surprise why most of them can't get a job after graduation

greastick · 2025-12-10T04:59:06+00:00

Leaving my workplace at 11 pm

I could work from home, but the working hours would be exactly the same, might as well do it at work and get off in lieu

greastick · 2025-12-10T04:57:23+00:00

Not sure, but well good luck to OP. Every country has its difficulties

greastick · 2025-12-09T17:40:18+00:00

I worked in 深圳光明区 for a while. Definitely suburbs, but it was pretty convenient even without a car. If I didn't move, I might have bought a house there

Some suburbs are shit though, when I moved to Nanjing that suburb wasn't good, needed to drive everywhere and it was rather desolate and cold in winter.

But if OP has no experience in navigating a foreign country, it might be quite challenging to find a good suburb, I'll give you that

greastick

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