The MIC Toakis aren't crap, they are great value for money, but they are certainly not a patch on the mij models. I really don't think it's anything at all do do with the fact they are made in China, more to do with the fact they are made to a certain price-point.
Burny and Gretch make some absolutely amazing guitars in China, but at around ?500-600 they are getting up towards the price of some Japanese models, I think Tokai has deliberately made a decision to keep the mic & mij models quite seperate in price, and with that comes seperation in quality.