Synthetic ivory is great as a signal if it's indistinguishable and you lie about it's origins.
But a lot of people want to/need-to "signal themselves".
Which reminds me, I'm not sure why cops don't try to move fake ivory into black markets, have sting operations where once they catch a dealer, instead of arresting them, force them to sell their fake ivory, undercut the market enough that poachers have incentive.
Probably China isn't that concerned about the problem.
But a lot of people want to/need-to "signal themselves".
Which reminds me, I'm not sure why cops don't try to move fake ivory into black markets, have sting operations where once they catch a dealer, instead of arresting them, force them to sell their fake ivory, undercut the market enough that poachers have incentive.
Probably China isn't that concerned about the problem.