Two opposing waves at the peak of their powers—the United States and China. These countries seem to constantly compete with one another in terms of political, economic, and social power. Now in the 21st century, both desire dominance in technology: Instagram vs. TikTok, ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek. When they collide, who will come out on top?
Panelist Ian Shin used the metaphor of contesting waves to describe the historical relationship between the U.S. and China at the event: TikTok, DeepSeek, and the Fear of Chinese Tech in Nationalist Times. The panel was hosted by the DISCO Network, which is housed within the Digital Studies Institute and is dedicated to challenging digital social and racial inequalities. Shin was joined by panelists Tara Fickle and Jeff Yang to discuss the concerns of power and control held by the U.S. due to the current prevalence of Chinese technology.
However, as Shin points out, this fear of Chinese power is nothing new. Although the U.S.-China dynamic has experienced moments of cooperation, their relationship has historically been viewed as one of tense competition: two opposites competing for dominance on the world stage. Despite the conception that the capitalist U.S. and communist China could not be more different, there are striking similarities and parallels between these nations. According to The SAIS Review, “Both societies strongly emphasize money and wealth, consumerism, hard work, competitiveness, and individualism.” Their shared pursuit of wealth and power has been the driving force behind their competition in technological innovation.
And China isn’t the only Asian country that the U.S. sees as competition. We can look to Japan’s power in the automotive industry as another source of fear. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the automotive industry increased in Japan with the rise of brands like Toyota and Honda. Americans feared Japan as a looming force, about to take over vehicle production. This fear of Japanese dominance fueled anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. Yang remarked, “We’ve seen that same anti-Asian sentiment cyclically, across other markets and sources. It’s always this combination of aspiration and appeal, exotic fascination combined with the counterpoint of, maybe they’re too good.”
Japan is currently the third most prominent automotive industry in the world, following closely behind the U.S. in second. China surpassed the U.S. in vehicle production in 2010, and in 2024, China produced almost three times more vehicles than the U.S. Having lost the top place in vehicle production, the U.S. seeks to retain power in other markets. Now, these nations are fighting for dominance in the era of platform power.
Fickle explained that China goes all-in on new technologies, quickly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare, urban development, and security. To maintain control, many Americans feel that the U.S. needs to be the country running AI and all media platforms.
DeepSeek is an AI software by a company founded in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. China’s large language model is often compared to ChatGPT, which was initially released in 2022 by a company based in San Francisco, California. Fear about Chinese AI stems not only from security concerns, but also from the potential superiority in DeepSeek’s manufacturing and abilities. Fickle explained that DeepSeek represents innovation as it was made with fewer resources and tighter constraints than American AI models, which makes many Americans uncomfortable as they are reminded that China could out-innovate the U.S.
According to Pew Research Center, in 2024, 81% of adults in the United States viewed China unfavorably, a historic low. Fear over Chinese control has also reinforced preexisting xenophobia against Asians. A report from Stop AAPI Hate shows that nearly half of Asian Americans were victims of hate acts in 2023. Unfortunately, with the current administration’s policies, these statistics are unlikely to improve. Recently, organizations that fight against racism, like Stop AAPI Hate, have faced budget cuts and lost grants. The “China Initiative” was also revived by the House as a program to prosecute perceived Chinese spies. Instead of embracing the challenge of technological innovation, many turn to hatred.
So, what can we do moving forward? This anti-asian sentiment is nothing new; it’s a cycle we’ve seen across time. Racism in technology and the media doesn’t stay on screens; it has a direct impact on the lives of minorities. Fickle expressed that we need to continue having these conversations and stay up to date on new legislation that is passed. Diversity, equity, and inclusion do not just come from programs. DEI comes from individuals; it comes from people.
