WE ARE NOT AGENTS FOR ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR ORGANIZATION IN ANY COUNTRY. FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS IS AN INDEPENDANT COMPANY. WHEN WE RUN TRIPS IN CHINA WE INTEGRATE WITH CHINESE COMPANIES FOR PERMITS, LOGISTICS, LIAISON AND RESEARCH – AS PER CHINESE LAW FOR ALL CLIMBING TRIPS. THESE COMPANIES ARE INDEPENDANT, PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT HAVE INTERFACES WITH CHINA’S GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE CHINA MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION, SICHUAN MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION AND CHINA XINJIANG MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION, AND THEY HAVE LONG HISTORIES NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM, BUT THEY DON’T REPRESENT THEM.
DECADES OF REGISTERING PERMITS MEANS THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE FAMILIAR WITH US AND WHAT WE DO, WHICH IN A HIGHLY CENTRALIZED SYSTEM HAS MANY ADVANTAGES, INCLUDING ONES NOT ALWAYS EXTENDED TO NEW COMERS TO THE CHINESE WAY OF DOING THINGS. IN CHINA LONG TERM TRUST IS EVERYTHING.
WHEN YOU BOOK A TRIP WITH FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS, ASIDE FROM THE AMOUNT THAT GOES ON PERMITS, YOUR MONEY GOES TO INDEPENDANT COMPANIES WHO RUN THE LOGISTICS, SUPPLY, ACCOMODATION AND LOCAL EXPERTISE WE USE. WE PAY VERY SUSTAINABLE, GOVERNMENT SET RATES, AND NO MONEY GOES TO THE MILITARY, POLICE OR OFFICIALS.
IN THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AREAS WE OFTEN TRAVEL TO WE CARRY THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO BE THERE, WHICH AT TIMES CAN BE SIGNED OFF ON FROM A HIGH LEVEL. WE DON’T COVERTLY TRY TO ENTER RESTRICTED AREAS, AND ANY ACCESS WE ATTEMPT THAT WAS OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL PLAN IS DONE WITH CONSULTATION FROM THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. MANY ARE THE TIMES WE HAVE SAT IN PERSON WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CLIMBING ASSOCIATIONS AND DISCUSSED IDEAS.
25 YEARS OF GOING TO THE MOST OBSCURE PARTS OF CHINA HAS YET TO LEAD TO ANY FORM OF HOSTILITY WITH THE AUTHORITIES. WHILST OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS, MOST OF TIME WE ARE NOT, AND 100% OF THE TIME INTERACTIONS HAVE BEEN FRIENDLY, USUALLY INVOLVING EATING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE NO AGENDA OR POLITICAL STANCE IN CHINA, AND THOUGH SOME WHO HAVE JOINED OUR TEAMS DO, EVEN SHORT EXPOSURE TO THE REALITIES OF TIBET, XINJIANG AND CENTRAL CHINA SOON SHOW HOW THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY ARE PRESENTED BY WESTERN POPULAR MEDIA. THESE ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX ISSUES WITH VERY LONG HISTORIES THAT REQUIRE A BROAD KNOWLEDGE BASE BEFORE ADDRESSING. AN OPEN MIND AND KEEN OBSERVATION IS THE BEST THING TO BE BOUGHT TO IT.
