Commander in Chief of the Chinese Navy (PLAN) wears a Submariner

[marcb747]

This was taken yesterday in San Diego as the Commander in Chief of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Adm. Wu Shengli was being shown around by Adm. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations.

[kilyung]

Before the wise cracks come out... nice legit sub.

[Silverfever]

I wonder who gave it to him as a "gift"...

[marcb747]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Before the wise cracks come out... nice legit sub.

Hahaha...here we go.

[springer]

I want to see the serial number before making a decision!

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Before the wise cracks come out... nice legit sub.

Am I missing something?

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

Am I missing something?

I'm just waiting for all the Chinese fake sub jokes.

[mjclark32]

[MitchSteel]

Before the wise cracks come out... nice legit sub

Dammit, Mike , you beat me to it.

[iazrollie]

Does he need to carry his green Rolex warranty card to get past customs?

[perpetualman88]

Is he still here in SD?

Maybe we can have a Rolex GTG with him

Cool to see him wearing a fine Time piece for the high seas

[opaline460]

What's so funny? All Chinese wear fakes?

[eeh100773]

I gotta' say it: our hats are much nicer than theirs!

[Hairdude1]

Very cool

[Old Expat Beast]

There's a whole army of right-minded web users in China looking out for high-end watches on the wrists of government officials in photos - civil servants who could never afford a Rolex without being corrupt. The country is, undeniably, also awash with fakes of various quality. Not just watches but pretty much anything that will turn a profit.

[sleddog]

I'll remind everyone who proceeds this post.

This is an international forum, stereotyping or prejudice will not be tolerated! Forewarned.

[kenn18]

It's ugly to stereo-type. My experience is that there are some visitors from Europe or US who came visiting Asia, particularly Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Bangkok, and asked to be taken to "tourist" places where they can buy fake Rolexes and other designer goods as "gifts". Whereas it is not uncommon now for Mainland Chinese tourists to buy genuine designer goods (Montblanc, Rolex, LV, etc) by bag-loads whether in European countries or elsewhere.. There are all kinds of people, but to suggest that a visiting Navy Admiral from China to wear anything not authentic is not wise. Just my 2 cents..

[marcb747]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

There's a whole army of right-minded web users in China looking out for high-end watches on the wrists of government officials in photos - civil servants who could never afford a Rolex without being corrupt. The country is, undeniably, also awash with fakes of various quality. Not just watches but pretty much anything that will turn a profit.

I'm sure a man of his stature could very well afford a Submariner and rightly so. The pic caught my eye because it shows that even in the highest echelons of the Chinese government, Rolex is still king.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by sleddog

I'll remind everyone who proceeds this post.

This is an international forum, stereotyping or prejudice will not be tolerated! Forewarned.

Absolutely Rob. It's probably best to just close the thread as I don't see this going anywhere interesting or ending well.

[Touring]

Originally Posted by kenn18

It's ugly to stereo-type. My experience is that there are some visitors from Europe or US who came visiting Asia, particularly Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Bangkok, and asked to be taken to "tourist" places where they can buy fake Rolexes and other designer goods as "gifts". Whereas it is not uncommon now for Mainland Chinese tourists to buy genuine designer goods (Montblanc, Rolex, LV, etc) by bag-loads whether in European countries or elsewhere.. There are all kinds of people, but to suggest that a visiting Navy Admiral from China to wear anything not authentic is not wise. Just my 2 cents..

Agreed. Appearances count for a lot in Asia and people in power wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything but authentic. How they got the money to afford such things is another issue...

I'm not saying it happened in this thread, but I find it really surprising whenever all the comments about fakes and places such as Hong Kong, Bangkok...etc. start to come out. For anyone who's actually been to visit these cities and stayed away from the tourist traps, they'd realize that there are a boatload of very high-end stores in these places. Hong Kong for example is known as a high-end shopping mecca. Why do you think IWC decided to open its only flagship boutique there?

And if it weren't for the demand for fake designer goods coming from non-Asian countries (including Europe and North America), then this market wouldn't exist. Supply and demand, you know.

[T. Ferguson]

Despite some of the sensibilities in Asia with those in positions of power wearing signs of wealth, I doubt the head honcho of the Chinese Navy would have much difficulty explaining how he could afford a Sub. Lest we not forget, this watch has been military issue to lesser ranks in other armed forces around the world, and it might in fact have been issued to him.

Now a Smurf might be another matter.