Up to a point.
IMHO, it’s actually the opposite. China doesn’t need immigrants as automation will make many jobless as is the risk in South Korea, the most automated country. The issue won’t be the lack of jobs, but that many people don’t want to work in factories anymore, with long hours and relatively low pay.
What China needs to achieve it competitive products across the leading industries, to support a consumption led economy with most workers in the services sectors, and maintain growth and a stable economy should western markets become less open to Chinese products.
If any immigrants are to be allowed, it’s rich foreigners that want to live in China akin to rich foreigners in the GCC, as well as top talent workers that can found and grow industry leading companies.
For China moving some of its labor intensive industries (that have become cost prohibitive or being tariffed to uncompetitiveness) to friendly nations can help support their partners economies which in turn give opportunities to higher end Chinese companies to sell new products to increase productivity. Something like a Chinese version of John Deere putting out new and innovative products to boost agricultural productivity.
If some of these products are also in high demand in the country these factories are loved to, the products can also be sold to the local market and nearby markets, further boosting sales. Products like this would have be relatively high margin as well, primarily electronics, such as Solar panels, air conditioners, TVs, Furniture, Toys, perhaps even boats as stated in the following piece from a few years ago.
The product that could have the most impact could be EVs, akin to Mexico’s auto manufacturing advantage. Automation can’t get around tariffs.
It’s these tariffs and labor costs that have made even Chinese colonies set up factories in Mexico for the US market. If China sets up show in Pakistan for the GCC and European Markets, it could also benefit similarly as well.
