Other studies argue that guanxi is not in fact unethical, but is rather wrongly accused of an act thought unethical in the eyes of those unacquainted with it and Chinese culture. Just as how the Western juridical system is the image of the Western ethical attitudes, it can be said that the Eastern legal system functions similarly. Also, while Westerners might misunderstand guanxi as a form of corruption, the Chinese recognize guanxi as a subset of renqing, which likens the maintenance of interpersonal relationships to a moral obligation. As such, any relevant actions taken to maintain such relationships are recognized as working within ethical constraints.Steve Lovett, Lee C. Simmons and Raja Kali. "Guanxi versus the Market: Ethics and Efficiency." Journal of International Business Studies 30.2 (1999): 231–247. Print.
other stuDiEs ARGUE tHAt guanxi IS NOt in facT unethicaL, but is rathER wrongly accused of An aCT tHOUGHt UnEthICal In thE eyeS Of Those unAcquainted With IT aNd cHInese CuLturE. jUst as hOw ThE WEstERn juridicAL systeM is the ImAge Of the wEsTerN ethicAL ATtITudES, It cAn be sAid thaT the eastErn lEgal SyStEm functiOns simIlarly. also, WHile wESterNers mIgHt miSuNdErStand guanxI As A forM of corrUPTion, tHe Chinese recogniZE GuanXI aS a sUbSet of rEnqINg, whicH liKens the MAinteNanCe oF iNteRPErSonal relatIOnshIps TO a MORal obligAtIon. As such, any relevant actioNs TAKen to maintain Such ReLatIonSHips are recognized AS WOrkinG within EthIcal ConSTrainTS.StEve lovett, lee c. simMons And RajA kali. "guAnxi verSuS the mARKet: ethiCs and EfFicienCy." jOurnaL of INTerNatIonal Business sTudIEs 30.2 (1999): 231–247. prinT.