China’s growing technological dominance: what does China want?

In a matter of decades China has transformed itself into a technological superpower. Once a byword for low quality, cheap manufacturing, today Chinese technology products are desired not only for their price, but also their world leading capabilities. Yet the Chinese state hasn’t overseen the rapid rise of its technology giants solely for the purpose of its own domestic development. Rather, the Chinese government plans to use its growing influence to cement the leading position of its technology firms and extend its governance model globally. Two examples of this campaign are its Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative and its attempts to revamp the global processes of technology standards and norm setting.