Chinese AI Investment and Commercial Activity in Southeast Asia

Abstract

China’s government has pushed the country’s technology and financial firms to expand abroad, and Southeast Asia’s growing economies — and AI companies — offer promising opportunities. This report examines the scope and nature of Chinese investment in the region. It finds that China currently plays a limited role in Southeast Asia’s emerging AI markets outside of Singapore and that Chinese investment activity still trails behind that of the United States. Nevertheless, Chinese tech companies, with support from the Chinese government, have established a broad range of other AI-related linkages with public and commercial actors across Southeast Asia.

Contesting the intermediary power: How Chinese MCNs interact with platforms, creators, and advertisers

“…In the meanwhile, TikTok's global popularity drove the expansion of Chinese MCNs to establish themselves in many countries. With the gradual saturation of the MCN market in China, 26.6% of Chinese MCNs are trying to expand to overseas markets (Leng and Ding, 2023). This study contributes to understanding the potential risks that come along with the global expansion of China's platforms and how (both local and Chinese) MCNs can leverage these potential risks while creating other potential problems for the local societies.…”

Examining Singapore’s AI Progress

“…As noted in previous CSET research, the Chinese government has explicitly viewed large-scale deals--such as the 2019 acquisition of Singapore AI unicorn BIGO Technology for $1.45 billion by Chinese platform Joyy--as "a successful example of the Belt and Road Initiative in the region." 50 The same research found that in a 2020 Brunswick Group (advisory firm) survey, Singapore "showed the highest levels of trust in Chinese companies." 51…”

The PRC’s Efforts Abroad

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