Inside the U.S.-China Tech War

No audio? Hover over the video player, and tap the Click to Unmute button.

Already an FP Subscriber?

On-demand recordings of FP Live conversations are available to FP subscribers.

When Antony Blinken visited Beijing last month, it was the first such mission to China by a sitting U.S. secretary of state since 2018. Contrast that with the Obama administration, when then-Secretary Hillary Clinton went to China seven times in just under four years.

It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.

Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? Dan Wang, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive annual letters reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.

 

Video clips from this event

  • Technologist Dan Wang explains whether U.S. regulatory measures are effective in actually curbing China’s ability to produce high-end semiconductor chips and proliferate its technology around the world.

  • Wang explains why he is pessimistic about China’s long-term economic rise and doesn’t believe China’s technological rise is inevitable.

Read the Transcript

A worker wearing a blue body suit, face mask, and disposable gloves reaches out one hand to grasp a sheet of clear plastic packaging material from a table of clamps.

Why China’s Tech Dominance Is Not Inevitable

Technologist Dan Wang on the impact of U.S. sanctions on Beijing.

Insider  |  Ravi Agrawal

Go to the FP Live Podcast page

Prefer to listen? Follow the FP Live podcast for the entire conversation, plus other in-depth discussions, wherever you get your podcasts.

Related

Upcoming

Back to the FP Live landing page

 Discussions

On-Demand from FP Live

The Trump-Xi Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to great fanfare but left with little to show for it. What does the Trump-Xi summit reveal about the balance of power between the world’s two biggest economies?

China scholar Rana Mitter joined FP Live’s Ravi Agrawal to debrief on what was gained from this diplomatic mission.

Watch Now

  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

Is Russia the Winner in Iran?

While much of the world is suffering from the spike in energy prices, Russia has enjoyed a rare windfall from increased oil revenues. Alexander Gabuev argues that U.S. President Donald Trump’s moves in Iran and Venezuela are not only a boon to Russian interests but also will push Moscow into a deeper partnership with Beijing. The director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center joined FP’s Ravi Agrawal to explain how Russia is navigating a moment of particular global flux.

Watch Now

  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

Inside Iran

How are regular Iranians coping with months of war and economic pressure? How have U.S. and Israeli attacks changed their perception of their own government? Journalist Ali Hashem spent weeks in Tehran since the war began and argues that Iran’s current leaders have adapted and unified over the course of the conflict. Hashem sat down with FP Live’s Ravi Agrawal to discuss what he’s been seeing and hearing in the country.

Watch Now

  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

FP Live: The Ask-Me-Anything Edition

On a special ask-me-anything episode, regular host Ravi Agrawal will take stock of a world at war. What does the Iran conflict mean for the global economy or traditional alliances? More than a year into U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, how are world leaders navigating his leadership? And what of the U.S.-China relationship? FP Live’s executive producer, Dana Sherne, turned the tables on Agrawal, taking questions from FP subscribers and viewers alike.

Watch Now

  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?

Foreign Policy’s forum for live journalism, convening experts and world leaders.

Contact FP Live

Enter your email address to manage your FP Live notifications preferences.

Manage your FP Live notifications preferences:

Your email address:

Not You? Log Out

All FP Email Preferences Subscribe

Inside the U.S.-China Tech War

Add to Calendar:

  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline trigger="click" customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline trigger="click" customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline trigger="click" customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline trigger="click" customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" inline trigger="click" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css" >
  • went to China seven times in just under four years.</p> <p>It’s fair to say that U.S.-China relations aren’t what they used to be. There is competition and tension in several arenas, particularly when it comes to technology. A few years ago, Washington began to move to keep companies such as Huawei out of U.S. infrastructure for fear of their ability to spy. Today, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. policy isn’t just about preventing spying but containing China’s very ability to access high-end computing power.</p> <p>Where is U.S.-China tech competition headed? Are Washington’s restrictions on Beijing working? How is China’s tech sector reacting? <strong>Dan Wang</strong>, a tech analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, lived in China from 2017 until last year, closely observing the country’s tech sector. Wang is famous in part for his perceptive <a href=https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/"https://danwang.co/">annual letters</a> reflecting on developments in the world’s second-biggest economy. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Wang on FP Live.</p> <p> </p> " location="https://foreignpolicy.com/live/inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war/" iCalFileName="inside-the-u-s-china-tech-war" lightMode="bodyScheme" buttonStyle="flat" hideIconButton hideIconList hideIconModal hideCheckmark inline trigger="click" customCss="https://foreignpolicy.com/wp-content/themes/foreign-policy-2017/static/stylesheets/add-to-calendar-overrides-fplive.css?v7" >

Loading graphics