China’s Power: Up for Debate 2021: Debate 2

This special episode of the ChinaPower Podcast is the third of six featuring the audio from the China Power Project’s sixth annual conference. The second debate took place on December 6, 2021 and featured two experts debating the following proposition: Beijing’s crackdown on technology firms will significantly stifle Chinese technological and scientific innovation.

Over the last year, Beijing initiated a sweeping crackdown and regulatory reform campaign targeting major technology firms. The Chinese government not only intervened to stop Chinese technology companies from listing abroad, but also issued steep fines and put in place new laws and regulations aimed at controlling the flow of data. While some analysts believe these crackdowns will deter technology investors and stifle innovation in China, others forecast that the crackdown may ultimately improve the innovative capabilities of Chinese companies and outweigh any short-term drawbacks.

Mr. Matt Sheehan, a Fellow for the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, argued that Beijing’s crackdown on technology firms will significantly stifle Chinese technological and scientific innovation. Ms. Rui Ma, a China Tech Analyst and the Main Writer and Co-Host for Tech Buzz China, argued that Beijing’s crackdown on technology firms will not significantly stifle Chinese technological and scientific innovation.

This event was made possible by generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.