February 2022 Tech Buzz China Newsletter
Join Insider and use the coupon YEAROFTIGER for $10 off; Upcoming Livecast on the e-CNY and China Markets & Macro
Hi everyone, hope you’re ready for the Year of the Tiger 2022. For those of you looking to learn more about China tech and meet like-minded fellows in our Insider community, we have a special coupon for you: enter “YEAROFTIGER” for $10 off! To join, take our Quiz, apply directly or get a fellow Insider to refer you.
Besides posts in the Insider forum every week and our active Discord channel, we had LIVE webinars on the e-CNY and China Markets & Macro last December. They will be later edited and made available to the public. Think of them as our effort to open-source our network so you can be a part of the conversations that we would typically have when we do our research! Please subscribe and give us a review!
And now, two selected posts from our paid, premium community for serious China tech nerds: Tech Buzz China Insider. Designed for investors and operators, we go in depth on China tech analyses that don’t typically make it into English language coverage. If you want to join us, click here to take our Insider Quiz, apply directly, or get referred by a current Insider.
As discussed on Discord, I found myself agreeing with a lot of the below transcript of GGV GR SVP Mr. Wang Lidong's assessment of the 2022 China tech regulation landscape. (Edit: The NDRC document released today doesn't contradict what he's said at all and I think affirms some of it quite nicely.) The comments were made on January 5, 2022. I thought it to be quite interesting, although as always, do remember that this is just one person's opinion. I should also emphasize though that this is an informed opinion - Mr. Wang had spent 11 years at MOFCOM after graduation and subsequently worked for a few years at Alibaba as well in its government relations department. So especially with regards to Alibaba and platform economies, I'd regard him as credible. The full document is quite long, so I've summarized it more succinctly below and attached the complete Chinese version at the end for those who want to wade through the original. My personal comments in italics below: Click here and read the full article…
Ahhh, VIEs. You thought the last word had been uttered on these squishy, slippery things, but alas, that isn’t the case. I’m not one of those people who have been proclaiming the death of the VIE — but I’m also not as optimistic as the lawyers I’ve spoken to who make their living on VIEs and cling onto the status quo. “The government will never do anything about it,” they say, “deaths of the VIE come around every few years and it’s never been overturned.” It’s thus perfectly safe, they reason. But is it really? Let’s look at what the new rules actually say: On December 24, 2021, CSRC and State Council came out with two documents: Click here and read the full article…
As you know, we are regularly featured in media. Here is a selection of our appearances in the last month! Take a read or listen and let us know what you think!
Business Insider, January 20, 2022. What's next for TikTok? Insiders say look to China, where its sister app offers clues of what's to come.
Protocol, January 10, 2022. China’s tech startups raised a record $131B in 2021 despite crackdown.
Protocol, November 30, 2021. Does Beijing’s tech crackdown threaten China’s entrepreneurial sphere?
The Economist, January 10, 2022. The Rise of Asian Digital Innovation.
China Power Podcast, January 7, 2022. Up for Debate 2021: Debate 2.
Your Undivided Attention, December 10, 2021. A Fresh Take on Tech in China.
Value Investing College, January 22-23, 2022. The Changemakers.
Asia Society, January 13, 2022. 2022 Future of U.S. and China Annual Conference.
Center for Strategic & International Studies, December 7, 2021. China’s Power: Up for Debate 2021 - Debate 2.
That’s all everyone! Thanks for reading this February 2022 issue of our newsletter. Let us know if you have any questions or comments, and we’ll see you in a few weeks!