I Had a Choice the Other Day in Shanghai: Which Tomorrowland to Visit?
A Fascinating and Impressive but Ultimately Disturbing Experience
I had a recent opportunity to visit Huawei’s massive new research center in Shanghai, which is roughly the size of 225 football fields and is home to 104 individually designed buildings, with manicured lawns, connected by a Disney-like monorail, housing labs for up to 35,000 scientists, engineers, and other workers, offering 100 cafes, plus fitness centers and other perks designed to attract the best Chinese and foreign technologists.
Huawei’s Response to the U.S. Attempt to Choke It to Death
The Lianqiu Lake R. & D. campus is Huawei’s response to the U.S. attempt to choke it to death beginning in 2019 by restricting the export of U.S. technology, including semiconductors, to Huawei amid national security concerns. The ban inflicted massive losses on Huawei, but with the Chinese government’s help, the company sought to innovate its way around the ban.
A.I. Technology and Electric Vehicles
Huawei also went into the business of creating A.I. technology for everything from electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and even autonomous mining equipment that can replace human miners. Huawei officials said in 2024 alone it installed 100,000 fast chargers across China for its electric vehicles; by contrast, in 2021 the U.S. Congress allocated $7.5 billion toward a network of charging stations, but as of November this network had only 214 operational chargers across 12 states.
It’s Downright Scary to Watch this Close Up
President Trump is focused on what teams American transgender athletes can race on, and China is focused on transforming its factories with A.I. so it can outpace all our factories. Trump’s "Liberation Day" strategy is to double down on tariffs while gutting our national scientific institutions and workforce that spur U.S. innovation. China’s liberation strategy is to open more research campuses and double down on A.I.-driven innovation to be permanently liberated from Trump’s tariffs.
Beijing’s Message to America: We’re Not Afraid of You
Beijing’s message to America: We’re not afraid of you. You aren’t who you think you are — and we aren’t who you think we are.
A Strategy for the Future: Made in America by American Workers in Partnership with Chinese Capital and Technology
I prefer to express my patriotism by being brutally honest about our weaknesses and strengths, China’s weaknesses and strengths, and why I believe the best future for both of us — on the eve of the A.I. revolution — is a strategy called: Made in America by American workers in partnership with Chinese capital and technology.
Trump’s Magical Thinking
I agreed with Trump regarding his tariffs on China in his first term. China was keeping out certain U.S. products and services, and we needed to treat Beijing’s tariffs reciprocally. For instance, China dragged its feet for years on letting U.S. credit cards be used in China, waiting until its own payment platforms completely dominated the market and made it a cashless society, where virtually everyone pays for everything with mobile payment apps on their phones.
A Better Strategy for the Future
My problem is with Trump’s magical thinking that you just put up walls of protection around an industry (or our whole economy) and — presto! — in short order, U.S. factories will blossom and make those products in America at the same cost with no burden for U.S. consumers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article discusses the recent visit of the author to Huawei’s massive new research center in Shanghai, which is a testament to China’s rapid technological advancements and its ability to innovate its way around U.S. restrictions. The article also highlights the need for a new strategy for the future, one that combines the strengths of both the U.S. and China, and is based on mutual cooperation and benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the purpose of Huawei’s massive new research center in Shanghai?
A: The purpose of Huawei’s massive new research center in Shanghai is to house up to 35,000 scientists, engineers, and other workers, offering 100 cafes, plus fitness centers and other perks designed to attract the best Chinese and foreign technologists.
Q: Why did Huawei build this research center?
A: Huawei built this research center as a response to the U.S. attempt to choke it to death beginning in 2019 by restricting the export of U.S. technology, including semiconductors, to Huawei amid national security concerns.
Q: What is the significance of Huawei’s A.I. technology?
A: Huawei’s A.I. technology is significant because it allows the company to transform its factories with A.I. so it can outpace all U.S. factories.
Q: What is the strategy for the future?
A: The strategy for the future is to combine the strengths of both the U.S. and China, and is based on mutual cooperation and benefit.
Q: Why is it important to have a new strategy for the future?
A: It is important to have a new strategy for the future because the current strategy is not working, and a new approach is needed to ensure the continued prosperity of both the U.S. and China.
Q: What is the author’s conclusion?
A: The author’s conclusion is that the best future for both the U.S. and China is a strategy called: Made in America by American workers in partnership with Chinese capital and technology.
