Forget the 'tech war' narrative. The real story of China's global expansion is one of surprising codependence, with its firms becoming the biggest customers of their American rivals.
“Digital Vine” strategy: clinging to the established trunk of Western tech to sprout new, highly competitive branches. - Beautifully said, but invasive vines can kill healthy trees rather quickly. I don’t think this is what Poe Zhao is trying to say, but this is what might happen.
You raise a crucial point about the metaphor’s darker implications. You’re absolutely right - invasive vines can indeed strangle their hosts.
The key difference here is **mutual dependency**. Chinese firms are paying Google/Meta billions in ad revenue and using AWS/Azure for global reach. This creates economic incentives for coexistence rather than destruction.
But your concern is valid for the long term. If China achieves technological independence in core infrastructure (chips, OS, cloud platforms), the symbiotic relationship could shift toward direct competition or even displacement.
The real question becomes: How do Western platforms maintain their competitive edge while benefiting from this interdependence? It’s not just about defense - it’s about continuous innovation to stay ahead of the curve.
The “vine” might be growing fast, but it still needs the “tree” to reach sunlight. The challenge is ensuring the tree keeps growing too.
What’s your take on where the tipping point might be?
“Digital Vine” strategy: clinging to the established trunk of Western tech to sprout new, highly competitive branches. - Beautifully said, but invasive vines can kill healthy trees rather quickly. I don’t think this is what Poe Zhao is trying to say, but this is what might happen.
You raise a crucial point about the metaphor’s darker implications. You’re absolutely right - invasive vines can indeed strangle their hosts.
The key difference here is **mutual dependency**. Chinese firms are paying Google/Meta billions in ad revenue and using AWS/Azure for global reach. This creates economic incentives for coexistence rather than destruction.
But your concern is valid for the long term. If China achieves technological independence in core infrastructure (chips, OS, cloud platforms), the symbiotic relationship could shift toward direct competition or even displacement.
The real question becomes: How do Western platforms maintain their competitive edge while benefiting from this interdependence? It’s not just about defense - it’s about continuous innovation to stay ahead of the curve.
The “vine” might be growing fast, but it still needs the “tree” to reach sunlight. The challenge is ensuring the tree keeps growing too.
What’s your take on where the tipping point might be?