For over a decade, Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant, has been under relentless scrutiny and pressure from the United States. However, recent analysis by The Economist suggests that these efforts may have inadvertently strengthened Huawei's position in the global market.
Titled \"America's assassination attempt on Huawei is backfiring,\" The Economist highlights how U.S. sanctions, intensified since 2019, aimed to curb Huawei's growth but only achieved limited short-term setbacks. In response, Huawei strategically shifted its supply chain away from Western dependencies, bolstering in-house capabilities and collaborating with domestic suppliers.
This strategic pivot has led to the successful launch of new smartphone series like the Mate 60 and Pura 70, enabling Huawei to compete closely with Apple’s iPhones within the Chinese market. Moreover, Huawei's development of its proprietary HarmonyOS is emerging as a formidable competitor to Android, positioning the company as a significant player in consumer software.
In addition to consumer markets, Huawei maintains a strong foothold in the carrier and enterprise sectors globally. The U.S. sanctions have, paradoxically, driven Huawei to become more self-reliant and innovative, enhancing its competitive edge against industry leaders such as Apple, Cisco, and Ericsson.
The Economist's analysis aligns with warnings from Chinese authorities about the detrimental effects of U.S. sanctions. China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly criticized the U.S. for exploiting national security concerns to pressure foreign companies, arguing that such measures ultimately harm the U.S. economy itself.
The overarching lesson from Huawei's experience, as highlighted by The Economist, is that severing ties with Western technology has not stifled Huawei but has instead accelerated its innovation and self-sufficiency.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
