Can I use my visa card in China?

You sometimes have to call the credit card company to authorize the card for international use. When they see charges from overseas, they often reject them thinking the card must have been stolen. I can usually use my Visa debit card in an ATM in another country and it works because I use a PIN number. When I try to make a purchase, the bank rejects it and then the card doesn't work in an ATM again until I call them.