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I have no idea if it's a legitimate security risk, but regardless, if China wants to play the game with us that they are currently playing (banning non-Chinese
by NickC25 4y ago
I have no idea if it's a legitimate security risk, but regardless, if China wants to play the game with us that they are currently playing (banning non-Chinese apps from their country) we have to play that game, too. It makes no sense to play the "we'll take the high road" approach with them. If they ban our applications and services in their country, we need to ban their applications and services in our country. Full stop. The surveillance aspect isn't even a starter here, it's larger than that. If we have to play by their rules in their country, they have to play by our rules in our country.
I don't give a shit if it pisses off GenZ. GenZ's ability to share stupid videos of themselves dancing to crappy music is completely irrelevant to the wider geopolitical threats that China poses.
In full disclaimer: I helped build a service that was partially aimed at Chinese users, and had Tsinghua University as a client. When the trade wars started, our relationship was "ended" and Tsinghua took our idea & software and essentially cut us out of the equation completely. (Yes, their copycat version of our software and idea was completely useless and didn't work, but that's besides the point)
- standardUser 4y ago"if China wants to play the game with us that they are currently playing (banning non-Chinese apps from their country) we have to play that game, too" That's not the American way. The United States became the center of the modern global economy because it said "you can sell your goods here, and we're gonna push really hard to make you let us sell our goods there, too. But if you don't, fine, you can still sell your goods here". It's basically the opposite approach of a trade war.
- NickC25 4y agoI don't care if it isn't the American way. This is an economic cold war. China views all trade as a zero-sum-game war, and currently, we've ceded the fight completely. They can collect info and revenue in our markets, but we can't in theirs. If appeasing them is how we decide to continue, we've lost the fight and will continue to lose the fight. Remember, to the Chinese government, a Win-Win situation is not when both parties walk away happy, it's when the Chinese side wins twice.
- standardUser 4y ago"China views all trade as a zero-sum-game war" No, they don't. That's an absurd statement. China has become a great power by virtue of engaging with the global trade system.
- NickC25 4y agoYes, they do. Go read Sun Tzu's "Art of War". That's their playbook. They played along because it was advantageous to them, and now that they have a shot at taking the driver's seat, they will do as they please. They will also do as they please once they get in said driver's seat. I've worked around Chinese people for a long time, have studied their culture extensively, and have done business with some of their top institutions, including tutoring students from Tsinghua, most of whom are the children of Party elite.
- glitchc 4y agoSorry to hear you got shafted by Tsinghua U. But this is a race to the bottom. GenZ is our future. They will be in charge of our country and will make their own choices.
- NickC25 4y agoYes, and GenZ needs to be educated on the geopolitical ramifications of a foreign power wielding control of a popular communications application.