The Double Standard in the US-China Tech Rivalry

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This chapter explores the double standard in the US-China rivalry in the tech sector, highlighting the concerns raised about Chinese tech firms' ties with the Chinese government while US tech firms have close ties with the US security state. It questions the US geopolitical response and argues for a discussion on technical vulnerabilities and regulatory issues. The chapter also discusses the portrayal of TikTok's problems in the US government and the underlying views on China, emphasizing the need to prioritize broader objectives beyond winning, considering the global public's well-being.

Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss the growing divide between the United States and China, and how nationalistic narratives distract us from a better understanding of tech in both countries.

Yangyang Cheng is a particle physicist and research scholar at Yale Law School. She’s written for the New York Times, The Guardian, The Nation, WIRED, and many others. You can follow Yangyang on Twitter at @yangyang_cheng.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Yangyang wrote about the myth of the TikTok spy and the US fixation on Chinese espionage for Wired.
She mentioned the coming expiry of a science and technology agreement between the US and China. It’s been temporarily extended.
Paris recently wrote about the benefits the US receives from the global footprint of its tech companies, and why that makes China look like a threat.

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