The actual function of China's special economic zones is control, not freedom. Passing into one is identical to passing through an international checkpoint, wi

The actual function of China's special economic zones is control, not freedom. Passing into one is identical to passing through an international checkpoint, with minor differences. When driving, the guards basically ignore white people and party members while non-party members have to pull over and go through full scanning and scrutiny to prove they are allowed to enter. Once in the zone, setting up any kind of business that requires actual capital equipment is completely impossible for anyone who is not a party member. Even for party members it is close to impossible. China is actually highly regional with provinces having a lot of power. You have to get permission from the province to do anything, and the local powerful elite will only permit those they can control to establish industry. With this in place, they do not have to care about anyone outside of these zones, so they are free to enact whatever brutal policies they desire. Special economic zones are only for powerful, rich, and well-connected. Everyone else loses.