In recent years, Chinese companies have faced increasing challenges in the international business environment. At home, they are subject to strict government regulation and policy pressures; abroad, many companies have encountered cold reception and hostility due to geopolitical tensions. This article will deeply analyze this complex situation and its roots, and explore how Chinese companies can achieve balanced development on the international stage in the future.

Authoritarian pressure at home

In April 2018, Zhang Yiming, founder of Beijing ByteDance, received an order from the Chinese government to shut down its funny short video app. Zhang Yiming not only carried out the order, but also apologized in a public statement and reflected on his failure to meet the requirements of regulators. He promised to carry out party building education within the company to encourage employees to look at problems from the perspective of the party and the government. This situation is not an isolated case, and reflects the reality that many Chinese companies need to face at home - while operating business, they also need to maintain close relations with the government, and even need to obtain survival space through self-censorship and policy coordination.

Against this background, ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has gradually expanded its international market, but at the same time, it has also encountered unprecedented pressure in the United States. The US government has required ByteDance to sell its TikTok business on the grounds of national security, otherwise it will face a ban. This bilateral regulatory game between China and the United States has forced ByteDance and its founder to deal with the different requirements of the two superpowers at the same time.

Anti-China sentiment heats up overseas

As distrust between China and the United States intensifies, the living space of Chinese companies abroad continues to shrink. Chinese multinational companies such as TikTok, Temu, and Shein face doubts and boycotts from the government, media, and the public in the United States. They are labeled as "Chinese companies" and become victims in international games.

According to data from China's Ministry of Commerce, Chinese investors will invest $130 billion globally in 2023, but this growth is accompanied by more and more national security reviews. Some Chinese entrepreneurs have to face strict national security scrutiny and uncertain legal risks when trying to expand their businesses in developed countries. In the United States, political suspicion of Chinese companies has continued to escalate, and some politicians have repeatedly questioned the nationality of TikTok's CEO and even suggested that Chinese citizens be banned from purchasing US real estate under certain circumstances. This series of policies has hindered the inflow of Chinese capital into the US market. Data shows that China's new investment in the United States has plummeted from $46 billion in 2016 to less than $5 billion.

As globalization cools, Chinese investors turn to emerging markets

Faced with tough measures in Europe and the United States, Chinese investors are gradually turning their attention to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other regions. Emerging markets such as Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have become "safe havens" for Chinese capital, and more and more Chinese investors are looking for new business opportunities in these places. However, this transfer trend also faces many challenges: the policy environment in the Middle East and Southeast Asia is volatile, and different countries have different attitudes and regulations towards Chinese capital, making the investment risks in these regions not to be ignored.

Academia and legal circles' views: national security and economic openness should be balanced

Scholars and experts generally believe that countries have the right to be cautious about foreign investment, especially for national security considerations. Experts who study China's Internet industry point out that as China puts national security first and gradually implements a policy of self-sufficiency, the process of globalization is facing resistance. Democratic countries need to find a balance between openness and national security. Online platforms such as TikTok are regarded as potential national security threats in the United States due to their large number of users and data influence, prompting the government to take preventive measures. However, experts say that unlike China's quick response, Western countries need to go through more complicated procedures to deal with similar issues, which makes future Sino-foreign relations more complicated.

Future Outlook: Multilateral Cooperation and Adapting to the New Environment

In the new global environment, Chinese companies need to find a balance between compliance and innovation if they want to gain a solid position internationally. By complying with the laws and regulations of different markets and maintaining transparency, companies can improve trust and ease the concerns of host countries. At the same time, exploring diversified market layouts and cooperating with international companies will also become an important strategy to avoid risks.

In short, the globalization dilemma faced by Chinese companies reflects the complexity of the current geopolitical and economic landscape. At home, they have to accept the strict requirements of regulators; abroad, they suffer unfair restrictions and suppression due to nationality factors. In the future, how to find a way out of multiple pressures will become a continuous challenge for Chinese companies.