WSJ's Take On the Week Inside China’s Pursuit of Tech Dominance–and What It Means for the U.S.
11 snips
Dec 18, 2025 Peter Landers, Asia business editor for The Wall Street Journal, shares insights on China's tech landscape. He discusses the rapid advances in AI and robo-taxis, emphasizing how affordability could set new global standards. The conversation explores China's ambition to become a self-sufficient tech leader, focusing on high-speed rail and the complexities of U.S.-China relations regarding chip production. Challenges in reporting from China are also addressed, highlighting the tight restrictions faced by journalists.
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Two Chinas: Economy vs. Tech Momentum
- China shows two divergent trends: economic struggle and rapid tech progress.
- In areas like AI, quantum, telecoms, and clean energy, China may be setting the pace.
China's Tech Is Often Incompatible Abroad
- Chinese tech often differs in standards and is tightly coupled with centralized data control.
- That makes it unlikely many countries will adopt China's smart-city blueprint wholesale.
Riding Robo-Taxis In China
- Peter Landers rode Chinese robo-taxis and found them affordable and widely deployed.
- He suggests cost and deployment breadth could let China win global markets in five to ten years.