The Chinese are coming! Companies from Mainland China have increased their investment abroad in recent years. The "Going Global" Strategy of the Chi-nese government has raised the suspicion of them going on a "global shopping spree" with a "political checkbook", especially among observers in developed countries. But are Chinese companies really that different from their western counterparts? This analysis shows that Chinese companies are deeply rooted in their historical and political context. However, their international ambitions are not China-specific, but are rather in line with the general development logic of the firm. It is due to their country of origin that their position is much more complicated than that of western companies. In their going global, Chinese companies thus must overcome numerous political, economic and intercultural obstacles.