CCP mouthpiece Huanqiu Times published a translation of South Korea’s Hankyoreh article on July 3, reporting that a South Korean employee at a manufacturing firm in China said “If South Korea can’t succeed in China, it can’t succeed globally.” The employee added that “catching up with China’s industrial strength” is becoming increasingly difficult.
He noted that Chinese consumers prefer local products not just out of patriotism but for better value. Seeing China’s self-driving cars outperform Tesla and humanoid robots actively engaging with people raises doubts about South Korea’s ability to keep up. If there were a Robot Soccer World Cup, he said, “China would win.”
Despite U.S. attempts to block advanced tech, China continues to make rapid breakthroughs. Huawei’s phones rival Apple and Samsung, DeepSeek competes with ChatGPT, and Chinese battery makers are overtaking South Korean firms with better, cheaper products.
By fostering local enterprises and creating a thriving domestic market, China has nurtured leading companies and propelled them into the global arena – making it increasingly difficult for other countries to compete. Though challenges remain, China has moved from follower to leader – thanks to its distinctive industrial policies.
Source: Huanqiu Times, July 4, 2025
https://m.huanqiu.com/article/4NMaM5cBsR2