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ECFR ON AIR

In:Sight China with Angela Zhang

May 31, 2024
Angela Zhang, an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong and an expert in Chinese tech regulation, dives into the intricacies of how China controls its big tech companies. She discusses the government's tumultuous relationship with firms like Alibaba and the implications for global tech governance. Angela compares Chinese tech regulation with that of the US and EU, shedding light on China's unique pyramid model. Additionally, she examines the impact of COVID-19 on policy changes and explores the competitive dynamics in the US-China tech rivalry.
30:06

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • China's shift to stringent tech regulation post-2020, exemplified by the Ant Group IPO incident, has reshaped its tech industry's growth dynamics.
  • The 'dynamic pyramid model' of regulation in China reflects a volatile and hierarchical approach that contrasts with Western regulatory systems, impacting market stability.

Deep dives

The Regulatory Turning Point in China's Tech Sector

The Chinese government underwent a significant regulatory shift in October 2020, moving from a lax to a stringent approach in governing its tech industry. This was triggered by the controversial suspension of Ant Group's $34 billion IPO, which occurred just hours before it was set to launch. The abrupt intervention highlighted longstanding regulatory tensions between Ant and financial regulators, raising international scrutiny over China's motives. The incident not only underscored the complexities within China's regulatory landscape but also marked a turning point that drastically impacted the tech sector's growth and investor confidence.

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