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

Summary

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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

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[A]

This episode is sponsored by Morgan Stanley's Thoughts on the Market. Today's Financial markets move fast. Morgan Stanley moves faster with their daily podcast, Thoughts on the Market. Thoughts on the Market covers daily trends across the global investment landscape with actionable insights from Morgan Stanley's leading economists and strategists. And with most episodes under five minutes long, staying informed has never been easier. Listen and subscribe to Thoughts on the Market wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

Are we ready? Hello and welcome to the what's New Sunday Podcast. I'm Lin Lin Wei, your host. Today. I'm the Chief China Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. Every week I dive into the world's second largest economy and its complex relationship with the US in my newsletter, WSJ. And recently I asked my readers what are your biggest questions about the US China technology race? The response has been enormous and the questions cut right to the heart of what makes this one of the most defining stories of our time. When we talk about China today, we're really telling a tale of two Chinas. One story is about China's economic struggle. The country's 40 year investment driven boom is over. It's grappling with a collapsed property market, soaring youth unemployment and deepening deflation. But the other story is about its technological progress in fields like AI, quantum computing, telecommunications and clean energy. China isn't just a competitor. In some cases it may be setting the pace. To help answer some questions, I'm bringing in my colleague Peter Landers, Wall Street Journal's Asia Business Editor based in Singapore. This year. He's taken a few trips to China and has very recent first hand knowledge of the technology landscape there. Thanks for joining me Peter. You bet Peter. Our first question is from Glenn Loveland from Scottsdale, Arizona.

[C]

Hi Ling Ling. My question is China is moving at an extraordinary pace in applied AI, EV infrastructure and integrated mobility, building smart cities at a scale that reflects powerful alignment between industry policy and talent. New visa policies are also drawing in foreign expertise to accelerate this momentum. At the same time, some expatriates, including those from China, are fleeing the US under Trump 2.0. My question for you based on what you're seeing, in which of these domains is China not just catching up, but setting new global standards? Thank you.

[B]

Excellent question, Glenn. Look, China's progress is most visible in areas like electric cars, infrastructure and application of AI. They're doing incredible things. Whether they're actually writing the global rule book for those industries, that's another matter entirely. A lot of China's changing technologies, they are often proprietary or they're just flat out incompatible with the system we use here in the United States or in Europe. But here's the kicker. 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. Peter, what are you seeing on the ground in China?

[D]

When I was in Beijing this summer, I had a chance to ride in a couple of Chinese robo taxis. And to your point, Ling Ling, 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 like Weride, Pony, AI, Apollo Go, they're definitely watching Google very closely. And any paper that Google might publish about its algorithms for robo taxis, those are sure to be scrutinized carefully by the Chinese robotaxi companies. And so it's a race really to get global markets. The US Market is not really open to these Chinese companies, but other global markets are, and it's a race who can get there first and spread their technology. And I got the sense that China might ultimately win, can set the global standard five to ten years from now, just because their robotaxis are more affordable and companies are more active even than Waymo in trying to set up demonstration projects and experimental projects in the Middle east, in European countries. 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.

[B]

Seems to me that what China is adopting here is really a good enough strategy.

[D]

I think that's right. And with robo taxis, of course, safety is the overriding determinant. I think if a Chinese robotaxi can get from point A to point B safely, then why not go for the cheaper Chinese model?

[B]

Let's tackle the next one. Nicholas Misakos from San Francisco.

[C]

Does Beijing believe the west has reached kind of its pinnacle? And there's a fulcrum point where now China is now intentionally positioning itself to be the center of gravity for new economic, technological, and even energy development that would be directly competitive with US led systems?

[B]

That is a fantastic question because it gets at the heart of Beijing's long term strategic mindset. Beijing has been working under a fundamental assumption that the relative power of the west, and specifically the United States, is in a decline. They say the east is rising, the west is declining right now. The Chinese see a historical opportunity and 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. And with tech, they're aiming to be self sufficient in critical technologies like semiconductors and AI. Not just to catch up, but to be the global leader and setter of standards. What do you think, Peter?

[D]

What you said is entirely right. And so many fields that China is taking the world lead in. I had the opportunity when I was in China to take the bullet train from Beijing South Station to Hangzhou. It's 4 hours and 20 minutes roughly. As someone who lived in Japan for a long time, it took a lot of bullet trains that are very fast and efficient and clean and enjoyable. I was just bowled over by how pleasant this train was as well. Certainly when it comes, for example, anybody around the world who wants to build a high speed rail system would probably want to consider relying on Chinese technology, Chinese trains and the operation system. And whenever we talk about China dominating or hoping to dominate so many different fields, whether it be AI chips, bullet trains, robo taxis, you name it, and the world gets nothing. Only the right to buy these Chinese technologies and kind of be subservient to Beijing's leadership. One wonders whether the rest of the world really wants to be in that position. There is a contradiction in trying to dominate everything without thinking of what the rest of the world needs and also what the rest of the world can give China in return for these technologies.

[B]

All right, Peter, thank you so much for staying up late to answer those questions.

[D]

I really appreciate your inviting me. Ling Ling.

[B]

Coming up, the US and China have been negotiating and renegotiating their terms on critical minerals used to make your iPhones, laptops, military jazz, and more. We'll have more questions from my newsletter subscribers after the break.

[E]

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[B]

Welcome back. Now let's get our question from Rem Ramanasan in Houston, Texas regarding the the.

[C]

Recent compromises between the US and China about critical minerals. But given these compromises are short term, what do you think is the long term resolution of this tariff and critical minerals and chips access issues that the two nations are grappling with.

[B]

Thank you Rem for your question. So let's be blunt rem. There is no simple resolution here. The compromises you see now, those are very temporary measures essentially for both sides to just buy time to build up their respective industrial independence. The US is investing billions of dollars in things like chips manufacturing and cutting critical mineral deals with partners like Australia and Canada. And the goal for the United States is a China free supply chain for the most sensitive technologies. And for China it is simultaneously pouring billions if not trillions into its own self sufficiency. So in the long run it appears as though the two systems are simply going to drift apart in the most strategic areas. A managed economic divorce. I also posed rem's question to Victor Wang, the founder and managing partner of aimtop Ventures in Silicon Valley. Victor's firm invests in early stage technology startups focused on AI and robotics, among other areas. So Victor, what do you think in.

[F]

Terms of AI race? The most important foundations are three things. Number one, AI chips. Number two, the electricity or power availability. Number three, the AI model capability. On the model side, it's really hard to monopolize because there's a lot of publications and exchanges. Academically, the power side, I think China is having more power available than the us. The US really have an advantage in the AI chips, maybe a couple of generations ahead of China. So that's a strategic interest for the United States. On the other hand, China, they've been investing a lot of money to build their own supply chain. So what I will see will be two parallel technical system. China will develop their own chips and US and the rest of the world will be another system.

[B]

So in terms of the Chinese strategy, obviously in the long run what they're aiming for is a system that doesn't require imports of a lot of foreign stuff. But in the near to medium term, they still need access to advanced American technology. So their strategy right now is, you know, let's slow down the decoupling for as long as possible so that they can keep getting the stuff.

[F]

Yes. Similarly, from the US side, the reason US are willing to make a compromise over the rare earth element is because US still cannot produce enough rare earth minerals.

[B]

Right.

[F]

So once they can produce enough, they probably don't care anymore. Similarly, if China can produce their own advanced AI chips, they probably don't care about the export control anymore.

[B]

Fascinating. Thank you so much Victor for your time. Really appreciate it.

[F]

You're welcome.

[B]

Lining since we recorded the interview with Victor, a concession was made by Washington on the chip front. President Trump is allowing Nvidia to sell its higher performing H200AI chips to China. For Beijing, this could be a big win because right now it's still lagging in the air race. Having a high quality chip like that could give the country a chance to catch up. And finally, our last question comes from Eugene Grace from Paoli, Pennsylvania.

[C]

What is the quality of information coming out of China? Are journalists given sufficient freedom to gather information or are there limitations placed on them which would make their reporting less credible?

[B]

That's a question that hits right at the core of what we do, Eugene, and I truly appreciate you asking it. The short answer is yes, there are significant limitations and makes our reporting incredibly challenging. I won't sugarcoat it. In China, journalists operate under an environment where press freedom is consistently rated as one of the most restrictive in the world. Journalists face routine challenges like being blocked or followed by officials or plainclothes security. The irony is that as China has become harder to cover, it has also become more vital for us to get it right. So how do we tackle this challenge and ensure our reporting remains credible and meaningful? We stay humble and we get creative. We don't just rely on official data or statements. We combine deep dives into policy documents with relentless sourcing from people inside and outside the mainland. And it's a team effort. Our colleagues like Peter, who have decades of collective experience, are constantly cross referencing information and vetting every detail. 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. Eugene, thank you so much again for that powerful question. And that's it for this week's special edition of what's New Sunday. Today's show was produced by Anthony Bensi with supervising producer Jenna Herron. Philana Patterson edited this episode. I'm Ling Ling Wei and thank you for joining me on this little experiment. Let me know if you'd like to ask me more questions. You can send an email to wmpodsj.com or leave a voicemail at 212-416-4328. What's news? We'll be back tomorrow morning with a brand new show. Until then, thank you for listening.

[E]

This episode is brought to you by Charles Schwab. Decisions made in Washington can affect your portfolio every day. But what policy changes should investors be watching? Washington Wise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab that unpacks the stories making news in Washington and how they may affect your finances and portfolio. [e-mail] WashingtonWise.