China’s growing influence on the global technology market reflects Beijing’s desire to become a leading player in digital technology. Chinese President Xi Jinping They have called for control of advanced technology manufacturing by 2025.
Launched in 2015 as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Digital Silk Road (DSR) reflects the goal of building digital infrastructure at home and abroad.
The world has seen China’s digital transformation in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, satellite navigation systems, submarine cables and surveillance systems. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated DSR, increasing China’s digital projects and high-tech investment abroad.
Chinese technology companies have a large presence in the Middle East and North Africa. Industry analysts describe Huawei as the world’s largest telecommunications provider, the second largest smartphone manufacturer, and the global leader in fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications networks.
Since 2018, Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu have invested heavily in regional trade and telecommunications.
Huawei in 2010 In 2018, it became one of the first technology companies in Qatar, contributing to the development of 5G technology and enabling better communication between individuals, vehicles and devices.
In the year In 2019, Huawei signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia’s leading telecommunications provider Zain to launch the first 5G local network in the Middle East and North Africa.
UAE telecommunications companies DU and Etisalat have signed an agreement with Huawei to provide 5G network services.
In the year In 2017, Huawei partnered with several universities in the region to serve as a research and development center in North Africa, the Cairo Open Lab, to train local students.
In Tunisia and Algeria, China has been using the Beidou navigation satellite system in agriculture, telecommunications, maritime surveillance and emergency assistance.
China wants a superior technological presence in many regions through DSR – making it difficult for Western companies to compete. In the post-epidemic period, the Middle East and North Africa will be more dependent on China, especially in the digital telecommunications industry.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the relationship has become more pronounced. Similar to the rest of the world, the use of the Internet for online education, shopping and healthcare has become essential to daily life in the region.
Inequality of Internet access continues to be a critical challenge in the region, particularly in countries with weak infrastructure. By 2021, the number of internet users in the region will exceed 300 million, and by the end of 2022, 50 percent of the population will have access to the internet.
Affordability is one of the main reasons for the expansion of Chinese smartphones in the region. Phone brands like Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi are the most popular choices for consumers. Competition between Chinese phones and other brands is limited by the cheap prices and 5G technology offered by Chinese brands.
The application of Chinese technology in the Middle East and North Africa will not only improve the economies of countries, but also contribute to improvements in education, health, transportation, agriculture and services.
The adoption of Chinese technology will have economic and political implications for the region. On the economic front, China is expanding its tech companies, creating more opportunities for China to dominate the digital market in the region. That could affect the ability of local and Western companies to compete.
In the political arena, the Internet was an important tool used in the fight against autocratic regimes during the Arab Spring of 2011. As local politicians perceived the Internet as a threat to their power, the level of Internet censorship escalated.
DSR is an attractive proposition for many countries looking to improve their economic growth and move towards digital transformation. But the security issues behind engagement with China in this sector remain a critical issue.
Information security is a key concern for countries using Chinese technology. Huawei has helped deploy surveillance systems across Africa and was accused of helping African governments spy on citizens for political reasons in 2019.
As China develops stronger political and economic ties with countries in the Middle East and North Africa, policymakers should consider the implications of embracing China’s technology system.
Given the region’s history of political repression, these systems can be used to hinder political freedom.
Passant Mamdouh Ridwan is a post-doctoral researcher at the Belt and Road and Global Governance Institute at Fudan University.
