What are they even saying??? Card obviously flows aff

Do China’s 5G networks “export” its version of authoritarianism? There is a well-established narrative that the societal impacts of a nation’s 5G network infrastructure reflects the values of that network’s creators. This narrative contends that the values of those who design a technology are embedded in that technology. Moreover, China’s first-mover advantage in 5G not only secures economic benefits but also allows Chinese values—through the network’s technological design—to shape how societies live. These scholars call for “free-market economies” to coalesce and establish principles, particularly freedom of expression, that highlight the ways in which 5G can be developed to advance Western liberal values and emphasize their importance to emerging economies. Beyond market share, the competition in establishing technological infrastructure concerns a nation’s rights and values and can be exploited by authoritarian agents. This narrative suggests that Huawei’s 5G networks are both designed and deployed in such a way (relative to other 5G vendors) to enable authoritarian governments to better control their populations.34 A related narrative advances an even more direct connection between Beijing’s digital authoritarianism at home and how it is practiced abroad. Should liberal democracies fail to offer a compelling and cost-effective alternative to Chinese 5G infrastructure, Beijing’s own digital governance norms and practices will spread increasingly to other countries.35

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Rethinking China’s “export strategy.” On the other hand, China’s export strategy is more complicated in practice. Surveillance technology is provided by liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes alike.36 Therefore, China is not simply propagating a digital authoritarian model to export an alternative form of governance. As its actions depend on political context, bilateral relations, and mutual economic interests, China appears more opportunistic than strategic with respect to exporting advanced surveillance technologies. Beijing may not be linking these technologies to a specific political use.