Made in Vietnam, Is China's pain, Vietnam's gain?
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Posted:Jun 27, 2019 10:50 am
Last Updated:Jul 3, 2019 7:00 am 33819 Views
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Many international companies, i.e. Nike, Adidas, Air Jordan, ... are starting to shift production out of China due to the ongoing trade war between USA and China. Vietnam is the one of major beneficiaries of tensions between the world's two largest economics.
President Trump is set to meet with Chinese chairman, Xi Jin-ping at the G-20 summit in Japan on Friday, June 28, 2019, where the two leaders are expected to restart stalled trade talks.
However, if talks were to prove unsuccessful the White House has threatened to place 25% tariffs on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, essentially all remaining imports into the U.S. from China.
Some companies, such as Brooks Running — which is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway — are not waiting to see if the additional China tariffs will go into effect. CEO Jim Weber said back in May that Brooks would be “predominantly in Vietnam by the end of the year.” He also said about 8,000 jobs will move there from China.
Such relocation plans raise the question of whether Vietnam can become the new China. Vietnam’s manufacturing boom and whether it can be sustained.
Vietnamese firms are starting to grow to try to accommodate the influx of companies, mostly apparel and shoe makers.
Textile firm TNG Investment & Trading told Quintanilla that it’s never seen an expansion like this before. Last year, the firm hired 3,000 employees, bringing its total to 15,000.
TNG’s Linh Nguyen said it had to build an apartment complex just to accommodate the additional employees. “In order to grow the business, it’s more important for us to build a home for the people than actually building a factory.”
The demand for technical skills is growing in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese government has a goal of training 2 million people in vocational schools.
More than 90% of students trained in technical skills, such as welding or making electronics, can get hired, said professor Nguyen Quang Huy. He told CNBC that it’s “very easy to get a job, and a lot of companies need more people.”
However, Vietnam still lacks much of the infrastructure that has enabled China to become a manufacturing epicenter.
Ramping up the ability to transfer goods from Vietnamese factories to ports will be key. Across the country, railroad lines are sparse compared with China’s, highways are smaller, and it’s still an agrarian economy largely focused on rice.
Vietnam is building a deep-water port that can make transfers easier, but that won’t open for another 3 years.
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The maker of Apple electronic products (iPhone, iPad, iTV, ...), Foxconn (Headquarter in Taipei, Taiwan) promised President Trump to build factory in Wisconsin state in USA and manufacture electronics in USA.
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Google has suspended Huawei’s access to updates of its Android operating system and chipmakers have reportedly cut off supplies to the Chinese telecoms company, after the US government added it to a trade blacklist last week.
Photo 1: Clothing factory in Vietnam to make apparel for Nike, Adidas, Air Jordan, ...
Photo 2: Footwear factory in Vietnam to make shoes for Nike, Adidas, ....
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Weekend joke - Forrest Gump goes to heaven
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Posted:Jun 21, 2019 12:31 pm
Last Updated:Jun 27, 2019 12:42 pm 33728 Views
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The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.
He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.
However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.
St. Peter said, 'Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone.
The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.'
Forrest responds, 'It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir.
But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.'
St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First:
What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second:
How many seconds are there in a year?
Third:
What is God's first name?'
Forrest leaves to think the questions over.
He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, 'Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.'
Forrest replied, 'Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'?
Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow..'
The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, 'Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?' asked St. Peter.
'How many seconds in a year?
Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest, 'but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'
Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve?
Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?'
Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... '
'Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter. 'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point,
though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have to give you credit for that one, too.
Let us go on with the third and final question.
Can you tell me God's first name'?
'Sure,' Forrest replied,
'it's Andy.'
'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter.
'Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions,
but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?'
'Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,' Forrest replied. 'I learnt it from the song,
ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'
St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: 'Run, Forrest, run.'
p.s. As a reminder, I am NOT the original writer of all the "Weekend jokes", so I am NOT responsible for them. Those "weekend jokes" are from my Las Vegas real estate agent weekly.
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Weekend joke - coughing
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Posted:Jun 15, 2019 7:57 am
Last Updated:Jun 26, 2019 10:51 am 35133 Views
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A doctor accidentally prescribes his patient a laxative instead of a coughing syrup.
Three days later the patient comes for a check-up and the doctor asks: “Well? Are you still coughing?”
The patient replies: “No. I’m afraid to.”
p.s. As a reminder, I am NOT the original writer of all the "Weekend jokes", so I am NOT responsible for them. Those "weekend jokes" are from my Las Vegas real estate agent weekly.
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Incredible Split-Second Photo of Bald Eagle with Symmetrical Reflection -2
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Posted:Jun 1, 2019 2:11 am
Last Updated:Jun 19, 2019 9:16 am 35804 Views
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Let’s talk about your incredible photo of the bald eagle reflecting in the water. Can you describe that day and what was happening when the photo was taken?
As you might know, this image was shot at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario. I had been there the year prior and had shot this handsome Eagle last year as well. The Eagle’s name is Bruce and he’s really amazing and fairly well behaved but also has a mind of his own too, sometimes squawking and mingling with the photographers.
When they brought him out again this year, I was so excited as the water was fairly calm and knew I might get a decent reflection. I snapped several images from the side and decided I wanted to get a vantage point where I might be able to shoot him more straight on. There was a large rock right at the water’s edge where I crouched down beside and rested my upper body on at times trying to get as low as possible. I love getting reflections from a low vantage point and hoped to get a couple of decent pics of Bruce.
He flew across the pond several times and was not happy where I was, which turned out good for me as he was staring right at me quite a bit! He also was flying close enough to my head for me to feel the breeze from his wings but I was determined to keep shooting.
I decided to move off the rock and get a few shots of him landing from further back and on his next flight he landed right on the rock I was perched on, looking straight at me as if to say, “This is my turf buddy, back off!”
Did you know right away that you had something special?
I definitely rank it as my top image and did not know when I shot it how it had turned out. It was only later when I went through my images and cropped in closer on him did I realize how fantastic it looked with him squared off perfectly and staring daggers at me.
How has it felt to have your photograph go viral?
To be honest, the response has been completely overwhelming and unexpected. I knew the image was good but it just seems to strike a chord and resonate with so many people. I’m humbled and thankful by all the love, comments and likes given. It’s very rewarding and exhilarating after so many thousands of hours in the field shooting to have an image go viral worldwide.
What’s next?
My next steps are to get a website up and running and set it up so I can take orders for prints and showcase some of my art. I’ll also keep traveling and shooting and posting to share what I see with the rest of the world.
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Incredible Split-Second Photo of Bald Eagle with Symmetrical Reflection -1
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Posted:Jun 1, 2019 1:29 am
Last Updated:Jun 15, 2019 8:43 pm 35073 Views
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A mature wildlife photographer Steve Biro has been photographing birds for the past 10 years. Intrigued by their behavior and pushed by his love for the outdoors, Biro spends hours each week honing his craft. On a recent trip to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario, an interaction with a feisty Bald Eagle resulted in a photo that’s been causing a sensation online.
Biro’s stunning photograph of Bruce the Bald Eagle gliding across the water, wings spread wide, is brought to another level due to the perfectly symmetrical composition. While the eagle stares dead on at the camera, his entire body is reflected in the calm waters below him. The tips of his feathers touch the surface, making a complete circle of body and reflection.
In just one frame, Biro has captured the power of the Bald Eagle and demonstrated his own technical skills in obtaining such a sharp, well-executed photo. Bruce, who is a photographer’s favorite at the Conservancy, is so perfectly poised that it’s as though he’s working in tandem with Biro to ensure that his best angle is captured.
We had a chance to chat with Biro about how the viral photograph happened, what he loves about photographing birds, and his next steps. Read on for our exclusive interview.
Can you tell us about your background in photography?
I started photography roughly 10 years ago, deciding it would complement my love for the outdoors, traveling, and hiking. I took a series of basic courses with a local photographer and very quickly took a serious interest and started learning more as time went on. I’m very prolific, normally shooting about 2,000 per week on average.
I believe my skills have improved greatly just from getting out there and shooting and trying to find unique perspectives. A huge part of what drives me is when people say how much joy my images bring them almost daily because they don’t have the ability to travel and see the things I’m very fortunate to see. Others enjoy my local images as well because many can’t even get out of the house much. It’s heartwarming when someone tells me I’ve brightened their day or stirred fond memories for them.
What is it about birds that inspire you as a photographer?
Birds are wonderful to observe and are always so animated, you learn so much about birds and animals just by photographing them. I could sit all day and watch birds while trying to capture fleeting moments. I love how colorful they are and how they interact with each other—it’s so fascinating. The challenge of getting great bird images is also part of the attraction!
When you’re photographing birds, what aspects of the animal are you trying to highlight?
For me, the eyes are almost always what I want to be in focus, and capturing birds in flight or catching prey is always exciting. But it’s also the unique shots that I strive for, like a duck looking in a puddle or a squabble between species or a baby goose running to its mother or tucking under her wings.
What’s your biggest challenge with bird photography?
The biggest challenge is catching birds in flight while getting their eyes in sharp as well, freezing the motion is also a challenge requiring fast shutter speeds and proper conditions.
What equipment do you use?
I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark IV and normally for birds a Tamron 150-600mm lens which gives me great range. Bruce the Eagle was shot with a Canon 100mm L Macro as I didn’t want to keep chopping off his wings. I also have several wider angle lenses for landscape, portrait, and nature photography.
( to be continued )
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97-Year-Old Grandpa Saves Village by Painting Buildings with Colorful Art
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Posted:May 31, 2019 11:52 pm
Last Updated:Jun 13, 2019 12:11 pm 35762 Views
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A little over 10 years ago, a then-86-year-old Huang Yung-fu faced a dilemma. The Taiwanese government was threatening to knock down his village, as he was the last remaining resident, in attempts to build a more modern apartment complex. He was offered money to pack up his home and move elsewhere, but couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the only home he’d ever known in Taiwan. That’s when he started painting.
Huang, now affectionately known as “Rainbow Grandpa,” was born in China. After fighting in the Sino-Japanese War and World War II, he fought for the Nationalist Party over Mao Zedong’s Communist government. When the Nationalists lost, he and 2 million others fled to Taiwan. It was here that he was housed in a makeshift village put together hastily for incoming members of the military and their families. What was meant to be a temporary solution eventually became home.
So, it came as a shock when, 40 years later, it looked like his home was going to be obliterated. “When I came here, the village had 1,200 households and we’d all sit and talk like one big family,” Huang shared with BBC. “But then everyone moved away or passed away and I became lonely.” With nowhere to go, he turned to art to ease his suffering.
First, he painted a small bird on his bungalow. It continued with cats, birds, and people that began flowing across the vacant buildings in the village. Then, in 2010, a local university student stumbled upon the village and after hearing Huang’s story, vowed to help. He snapped a few photos of the village and began a fundraising campaign and petition to save it from destruction.
The news quickly went viral and “Rainbow Grandpa” was born. Capturing the heart of the nation, the colorful village became a huge draw for tourists and it continues to bring over a million visitors each year. Best of all, Huang gets to keep his home.
“The government has promised me they will keep this house and this village,” he said. “I was so happy and thankful.”
Photo 3: 97-year-old Huang Yung-fu is known as “Rainbow Grandpa” for the colorful paintings he has created in his village.
Photo 4: This temporary military settlement once housed 1,200 families but was at risk of being demolished.
Photo 5: Huang, who was the only remaining resident, refused to move. Instead, he picked up a paintbrush…
Photo 6 & 7: …and started painting every surface of the village.
Photo 8 & 9: After his story caught the eye of the public, the government decided to save the buildings.
Photo 10: Now, over 1 million people a year come to visit this Rainbow Village.
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Mueller breaks his silence (full statement)
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Posted:May 29, 2019 9:32 pm
Last Updated:Jun 4, 2019 7:53 pm 34483 Views
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Two years ago, the Acting Attorney General asked me to serve as Special Counsel, and he created the Special Counsel's Office.
The appointment order directed the office to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This included investigating any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.
I have not spoken publicly during our investigation. I am speaking today because our investigation is complete. The Attorney General has made the report on our investigation largely public. And we are formally closing the Special Counsel's Office. As well, I am resigning from the Department of Justice and returning to private life.
I'll make a few remarks about the results of our work. But beyond these few remarks, it is important that the office's written work speak for itself.
Let me begin where the appointment order begins: and that is interference in the 2016 presidential election.
As alleged by the grand jury in an indictment, Russian intelligence officers who were part of the Russian military launched a concerted attack on our political system.
The indictment alleges that they used sophisticated cyber techniques to hack into computers and networks used by the Clinton campaign. They stole private information, and then released that information through fake online identities and through the organization WikiLeaks. The releases were designed and timed to interfere with our election and to damage a presidential candidate.
And at the same time, as the grand jury alleged in a separate indictment, a private Russian entity engaged in a social media operation where Russian citizens posed as Americans in order to interfere in the election.
These indictments contain allegations. And we are not commenting on the guilt or innocence of any specific defendant. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The indictments allege, and the other activities in our report describe, efforts to interfere in our political system. They needed to be investigated and understood. That is among the reasons why the Department of Justice established our office.
That is also a reason we investigated efforts to obstruct the investigation. The matters we investigated were of paramount importance. It was critical for us to obtain full and accurate information from every person we questioned. When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government's effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable.
Let me say a word about the report. The report has two parts addressing the two main issues we were asked to investigate.
The first volume of the report details numerous efforts emanating from Russia to influence the election. This volume includes a discussion of the Trump campaign's response to this activity, as well as our conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to charge a broader conspiracy.
And in the second volume, the report describes the results and analysis of our obstruction of justice investigation involving the President.
The order appointing me Special Counsel authorized us to investigate actions that could obstruct the investigation. We conducted that investigation and we kept the office of the Acting Attorney General apprised of the progress of our work.
As set forth in our report, after that investigation, if we had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that.
We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the President did commit a crime. The introduction to volume two of our report explains that decision.
It explains that under long-standing Department policy, a President cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view—that too is prohibited.
The Special Counsel's Office is part of the Department of Justice and, by regulation, it was bound by that Department policy. Charging the President with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider.
The Department's written opinion explaining the policy against charging a President makes several important points that further informed our handling of the obstruction investigation. Those points are summarized in our report. And I will describe two of them:
First, the opinion explicitly permits the investigation of a sitting President because it is important to preserve evidence while memories are fresh and documents are available. Among other things, that evidence could be used if there were co-conspirators who could now be charged.
And second, the opinion says that the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting President of wrongdoing.
And beyond Department policy, we were guided by principles of fairness. It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of an actual charge.
So that was the Justice Department policy and those were the principles under which we operated. From them we concluded that we would not reach a determination -- one way or the other -- about whether the President committed a crime. That is the office's final position and we will not comment on any other conclusions or hypotheticals about the President.
We conducted an independent criminal investigation and reported the results to the Attorney General—as required by Department regulations.
The Attorney General then concluded that it was appropriate to provide our report to Congress and the American people.
At one point in time I requested that certain portions of the report be released. The Attorney General preferred to make the entire report public all at once. We appreciate that the Attorney General made the report largely public. I do not question the Attorney General's good faith in that decision.
I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak about this matter. I am making that decision myself—no one has told me whether I can or should testify or speak further about this matter.
There has been discussion about an appearance before Congress. Any testimony from this office would not go beyond our report. It contains our findings and analysis, and the reasons for the decisions we made. We chose those words carefully, and the work speaks for itself.
The report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.
In addition, access to our underlying work product is being decided in a process that does not involve our office.
So beyond what I have said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further about the investigation or to comment on the actions of the Justice Department or Congress.
It is for that reason that I will not take questions here today.
Before I step away, I want to thank the attorneys, the FBI agents, the analysts, and the professional staff who helped us conduct this investigation in a fair and independent manner. These individuals, who spent nearly two years with the Special Counsel's Office, were of the highest integrity.
I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments—that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election.
That allegation deserves the attention of every American.
Thank you.
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MacKenzie Bezos to give half of her $36 billion fortune to charity
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Posted:May 28, 2019 7:15 pm
Last Updated:May 31, 2019 8:37 am 35643 Views
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MacKenzie Bezos, worth more than $36 billion after divorcing Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos, announced on Tuesday that she will give at least half of her fortune to charity.
Bezos’s promise came by signing the Giving Pledge, an initiative founded in 2010 by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett that encourages the world’s wealthiest people to donate more than half of their wealth to charitable causes.
“There are lots of resources each of us can pull from our safes to share with others,” the fiction author stated in a letter published on the Giving Pledge website.
“In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” MacKenzie Bezos added. “My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.”
Bezos previously funded cancer research, and founded the anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution. She is one of 19 signatories of the Giving Pledge announced on Tuesday.
“The generosity of this group is a reflection of the inspiration we take from the many millions of people who work quietly and effectively to create a better world for others, often at great personal sacrifice,” Warren Buffett said in a statement.
Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos announced their divorce in January, after 25 years of marriage. One month later, Bezos alleged that the National Enquirer tried to blackmail him using intimate photos of him with his mistress, Lauren Sanchez, who was revealed to have been having an affair with the Amazon CEO.
On April 4, MacKenzie Bezos announced that she would give him 75% of her Amazon stock as part of their divorce agreement.
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Humorous toilet signs
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Posted:May 23, 2019 8:52 am
Last Updated:Jun 17, 2019 10:16 am 34389 Views
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Photo 1: REST ROOMS DOORS ARE IN THIS GREAT SALOON,"THE DARK ", IN BOULDER, COLORADO!
Photo 8: AND FINALLY PLEASE DO NOT ARGUE!!!...
MEN to the left because WOMEN are always right!
Those photos are hilarious smart signs!!! Hope you will laugh!!!!
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As Huawei Loses Google, the U.S.-China Tech Cold War Gets Its Iron Curtain
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Posted:May 21, 2019 1:03 am
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2024 11:54 am 31524 Views
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China has spent nearly two decades building a digital wall between itself and the rest of the world, a one-way barrier designed to keep out foreign companies like Facebook and Google while allowing Chinese rivals to leave home and expand across the world. Now President Trump is sealing up that wall from the other side.
Google on Monday began to limit the software services it provides to Huawei, the telecommunications giant, after a White House order last week restricted the Chinese company’s access to American technology. Google’s software powers Huawei’s smartphones, and its apps come preloaded on the devices Huawei sells around the world. Depending on how the White House’s order is carried out, that could come to a stop.
For Huawei, the big impact will be abroad, since Chinese customers already have limited access to Google’s services. Google’s move will have its biggest effect in places like Europe, where it has emerged as a big smartphone seller. Other companies will inevitably follow. In effect, the move puts pressure on Huawei’s international expansion dreams.
If China and the United States have begun a technological Cold War, then the Huawei order can best be seen as the beginnings of a digital Iron Curtain. In this potential vision of the future of technology, China will continue to keep out much of the world. The United States and many other countries, goes this thinking, will in turn block Chinese technology.
The tougher American stance is closing off many of the ways that the United States and China exchanged ideas and did business despite the strict Chinese censorship regime. Those closed doors could have profound effects not only on the business of technology, but also on how the world will use and understand the devices and services of the future.
Already, China’s censorship and tight control of its citizens’ digital lives have effectively isolated one-fifth of the world’s internet-using population, giving rise to a generation that doesn’t know what it means to Google something or to subscribe to a YouTube channel.
Huawei developed a 'plan B' operating system for smartphones in case it was banned by the US government from using Google products.
The aggressive new stance by the United States will only speed up that process, opening a potential window to a day when Chinese people can use only Chinese phones and gadgets powered by homegrown chips and software. All this is happening with a speed that has shocked many in China.
“The move by the Trump administration is much more comprehensive than many Chinese expected,” said Nicole Peng, an analyst at technology research firm Canalys. “It also came much earlier. Many people only realize now that it’s for real.”
It is far from clear whether the Trump administration’s moves will truly isolate Huawei from the rest of the world. The White House has struggled to persuade other countries to stop buying Huawei’s telecommunications equipment, citing potential espionage concerns. (Huawei denies that it spies for the Chinese government.) Huawei has already developed its own chips and other capabilities, and has said that it has stockpiled equipment for a day when it would lose access to American know-how and equipment.
The attack on Huawei is also taking place against the backdrop of a worsening trade war, making it one piece on a larger game board. Just as it did last year, when the White House relented on a similar order that crippled Huawei’s rival ZTE, the United States could lift its pressure on Huawei to ease tensions between Washington and Beijing.
China has ways it could retaliate. On Monday, China’s state media reported that Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, visited a site that mines and processes rare earths, which are essential minerals for a number of manufacturers in low-carbon technologies. His visit was a none-too-subtle reminder that China has a commanding presence in rare earths and could shut off global supplies — something it has done once before.
The digital Iron Curtain has been long in the making. From its earliest days dealing with the internet, the Chinese government has squelched content it didn’t like. Today, the Chinese internet at first glance doesn’t look much like the one the rest of the world uses. It has different platforms, ideals and business strategies, all tended carefully by censors.
But the wall was mostly one-sided. American chips and software power Chinese servers and mainframes. China has been a big revenue driver for Apple, Oracle, Intel, Qualcomm and other big names in tech. Much of this was by necessity, since China couldn’t make all this stuff itself, but it still gave American companies a role in the direction of the Chinese digital future.
The ties go deeper. Many of the founders of China’s most successful technology companies were educated in USA. American investors helped them get established, and some of those Chinese companies turned around and invested in American companies. Academics from the two countries regularly teamed up and swapped notes.
Now the United States, concerned about securing intellectual property, is working to block some of those channels. It has tightened limits on Chinese investment in American companies. Some Chinese students who focused on science and technology have had problems getting visas to the United States. Some Chinese scholars have had their American visas revoked over spying fears.
With the Huawei limits, the Trump administration cited safety. The Commerce Department announced last week that it had placed Huawei and its dozens of affiliates on a list of firms deemed a risk to national security. The listing will prevent Huawei from buying American parts and technologies without seeking United States government approval.
The executive order, issued after trade talks with China collapsed this month, could ripple through all parts of Huawei’s business. It has said American suppliers account for nearly one-fifth of its procurement spending. Even small parts could be crucial. Nobody wants to buy a high-end Huawei router that is only 95% complete.
But in international expansion, companies like Google give Huawei a common platform for customers outside China. Its phones come loaded with Google Play, the app and media store, as well as popular apps like Gmail and YouTube. Its license to use Android gives Huawei access to security updates and new features.
Without Google’s cooperation, Huawei would have to come up with its own version of Android or use its own homegrown operating system. Many customers in places like Europe would rather not deal with that fuss. China has been trying to build its own operating systems over the past 3 decades but has not had much success.
In China, many people see the American moves as a naked ploy to stop a rising Chinese competitor. The United States can’t beat Huawei’s innovation and moxie, goes this thinking, so it will use the power of government to keep a Chinese rival down.
Others in China point to the country’s own barriers against competitors as a strategy that was going to provoke retaliation sooner or later. At some point, the United States was bound to use reciprocity in dealing with a closed Chinese internet market. One popular blog post explained that reciprocity has been translated into “mutual benefit” in Chinese, which explains why many in China didn’t understand that the idea could be used in retaliation.
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