China has long been recognized as a powerhouse in cultivating Big Tech firms, emerging as a formidable rival to the United States in the digital era. However, recent developments have marked a dramatic shift. The Chinese government has embarked on a massive regulatory crackdown, targeting its largest tech corporations such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Meituan. Many Western experts have perceived China’s tech crackdown as the government’s assault on private businesses, causing growing doubts among investors whether Chinese firms are still investable.

In this book talk, Professor Zhang will take us beyond the headlines to unravel the dynamic complexity of China’s regulatory governance. She argues that the crux of the matter lies not in why China needs to regulate but in how it goes about doing so. Drawing insights from her newly released book, “High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy,” she will introduce the dynamic pyramid model of regulation, an analytical framework that demystifies Chinese regulatory governance. Additionally, she will examine the impact of the tech crackdown on the administrative state, the competitive landscape, and global tech rivalry. Join Professor Zhang as she uncovers how China regulates on the high wire by navigating the intricate balance between innovation, regulation, and international competition. 

This event is co-sponsored by the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, the Institute for Technology Law & Policy at Georgetown Law, and the Georgetown China Law Society.

Speakers:

Angela Zhang is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong and Director of the Philip K. H. Wong Center for Chinese Law. Widely recognized as a leading authority on China’s tech regulation, Angela has written extensively on this topic. She is the author of “Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation” (Oxford, 2021), which was named one of the Best Political Economy Books of 2021 by ProMarket. Angela’s second book, “High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy,” was released by Oxford University Press in March 2024. In fall 2024, Angela will join the University of Southern California as a Professor of Law. For more information, please visit her website at AngelaZhang.net, and follow her on Twitter @AngelaZhangHK.

Mark Jia (moderator) is an associate professor of law at Georgetown law, and specializes in comparative and transnational law, with particular interest in the United States and China.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be sent to ld779@georgetown.edu. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill all requests made.