WSJ What’s News: "Inside China’s Pursuit of Tech Dominance–and What It Means for the U.S."

Host: Lingling Wei (WSJ Chief China Correspondent)
Guests: Peter Landers (WSJ Asia Business Editor), Victor Wang (AImtop Ventures)
Date: December 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves deep into China’s drive for technological dominance, exploring the country’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, smart infrastructure, and its ambitions to become a global standard setter. Lingling Wei, joined by WSJ’s Asia Business Editor Peter Landers and tech investor Victor Wang, field questions from listeners about where China is excelling, how it’s positioning itself against the United States, the struggles over critical minerals and chips, and the unique constraints facing journalists reporting on China.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Two Chinas”: Economic Struggle vs. Technological Momentum

• [00:37–03:17]
  • Lingling Wei outlines the dual narratives:
    • Economic slowdown (property market collapse, youth unemployment, deflation)
    • Technological advancements in AI, quantum computing, telecommunications, clean energy

“When we talk about China today, we're really telling a tale of two Chinas. One story is about China's economic struggle... But the other story is about its technological progress...”
— Lingling Wei [01:08]

2. Setting Global Standards: Is China Leading or Just Competing?

• [03:17–05:46]
  • China excels in electric cars, infrastructure, and applied AI but often uses proprietary or non-compatible systems
  • Lingling: Skeptical whether China's "Smart City" surveillance-heavy model will set global rules
• Peter’s insight:
  • On the ground in China: Robo-taxis are advancing quickly and becoming more affordable
  • U.S. tech (e.g., Google’s Waymo) still leads in AI for autonomous driving, but Chinese firms are fast followers
  • China’s pragmatic “good enough” approach, prioritizing affordability and rapid deployment, may help set global standards in emerging markets

“Even the Chinese robotaxi companies and experts in the field say that Google sister Waymo is probably ahead in the latest technology for autonomous driving. The Chinese companies...they're definitely watching Google very closely.” — Peter Landers [04:18]

“So I think it's a race in many areas, not just robo taxis. I offered that as one example. And it's also in AI and things like LLMs. So it's a race to set those global standards for AI and also be the most widely used.” — Peter Landers [05:26]

3. Beijing’s Strategic Mindset: “The East Is Rising, the West Is Declining”

• [06:06–08:40]
  • Listener asks if China sees itself as the new “center of gravity”
  • Lingling explains Beijing’s outlook:
    • China believes U.S./West are in decline and is building infrastructure and policy to bypass Western systems
    • Push for self-sufficiency in semiconductors, AI, high-speed infrastructure
  • Peter shares bullet train experience: China delivers top-tier infrastructure, prompting global buyers to consider Chinese providers
  • Raises concern: If China dominates across sectors, will the world want to be “subservient” to Beijing’s standards without reciprocal benefit?

“They’re intentionally positioning themselves to become the new center of gravity for the world. They’re basically building infrastructure and trade networks that literally seek to bypass the systems long established by the United States.” — Lingling Wei [06:39]

“Whenever we talk about China dominating or hoping to dominate so many different fields...one wonders whether the rest of the world really wants to be in that position.” — Peter Landers [08:16]

4. Critical Minerals & Chips: Managed Economic Divorce?

• [09:44–13:38]
  • Listener asks about long-term prospects for U.S.-China cooperation on minerals, chips
  • Lingling: Current compromises are “temporary measures”—both sides using time to achieve independence
    • U.S.: Investing billions in chip manufacturing; forging alliances with partners like Australia, Canada
    • China: Massive investments toward self-reliance
    • Likely outcome: Parallel systems and a managed “economic divorce”

“The goal for the United States is a China free supply chain for the most sensitive technologies...for China it is simultaneously pouring billions if not trillions into its own self sufficiency.” — Lingling Wei [10:37]

• Victor Wang’s perspective (AImtop Ventures):
  • Three foundations for AI race: chips, power, model capability
  • U.S. maintains advantage in AI chips; China’s edge is power supply
  • Due to open academic exchange, models are hard to monopolize
  • Predicts formation of two separate technological ecosystems
  • Temporary deals (like U.S. concessions on rare earths) reflect mutual dependency—each side seeks to plug supply gaps until their own production is sufficient

“What I will see will be two parallel technical systems. China will develop their own chips and US and the rest of the world will be another system.” — Victor Wang [12:33]

5. Press Freedom and Reliable Reporting from China

• [14:22–16:29]
  • Listener asks about the credibility of information coming from China
  • Lingling gives a candid view of challenges:
    • Routine restrictions, surveillance, limited access
    • Yet, coverage is vital—WSJ practices rigorous sourcing and verification
    • Relies on inside and outside sources, deep dives into policy, collective fact-checking

“In China, journalists operate under an environment where press freedom is consistently rated as one of the most restrictive in the world... As China has become harder to cover, it has also become more vital for us to get it right.” — Lingling Wei [14:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Smart City exports:

  • “Is the world really going to adopt a Smart City blueprint that is built on China’s very specific model of mass surveillance and centralized data control? I’m highly doubtful on that one.”
    — Lingling Wei [03:37]

• On China’s “good enough” tech:

  • “What China is adopting here is really a good enough strategy.”
    — Lingling Wei [05:41]

• On parallel tech ecosystems:

  • “China will develop their own chips and US and the rest of the world will be another system.”
    — Victor Wang [12:33]

• On information integrity:

  • “We understand the risk, and that deep commitment to verification is what allows us to stand by our reporting, to give you the clearest, most nuanced and most credible picture of China that we possibly can.”
    — Lingling Wei [16:15]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:37] — Episode introduction & dual narrative of China
• [03:17] — Where is China setting global standards in tech?
• [04:14] — Peter’s first-hand account: Robo-taxis and bullet train
• [06:06] — Does China see itself as new center of economic/tech gravity?
• [09:44] — U.S.-China negotiations over minerals/chips—what’s next?
• [11:36] — Victor Wang: Anatomy of the AI race; twin systems
• [14:22] — Are journalists given sufficient freedom in China?
• [14:38] — Lingling’s reflection on reporting and verification

Summary & Takeaways

• China’s tech ambitions are massive and often strategic, focusing both on leapfrogging in key sectors and setting global standards—but face the challenge of international compatibility and skepticism of its governance models.
• The U.S. and China are moving steadily towards “managed economic divorce” in strategic technologies, resulting in parallel but competing tech ecosystems.
• Both countries engage in strategic maneuvering for supply chain security, with current trade-offs being seen as temporary until technological self-sufficiency is achieved.
• Journalistic access in China remains highly constrained. Reliable reporting demands creative, rigorous approaches to overcome censorship and lack of transparency.

For listeners seeking a nuanced, on-the-ground look at the tech rivalry between China and the U.S., this episode is filled with candid analysis, informed skepticism, and cross-border perspectives.