China Uses American-Made Surveillance Technology: Who Should Be Alarmed?

U.S. media state that American companies like Cisco and HP could possibly get contracts to provide equipment to Chongqing, helping Chongqing place hidden surveillance cameras at 500,000 intersections and other public spaces. The Wall Street Journal strongly questions this “Safe Chongqing” plan, claiming that this equipment will be used for “political repression.” Coincidentally, Microsoft and Baidu recently agreed to team up to tackle English searches in China. U.S. media are also criticizing this by saying that American companies are surrendering to China’s internet monitoring.

The situation is completely opposite. If anyone is to question Chinese cities equipping themselves with U.S. surveillance technology, then it should be the Chinese people. Think about it, real-time image acquisition of a Chinese municipality will influence all of China’s security information. Generally speaking, there are too many places that rely on surveillance technology. Imagine if the surveillance technology set up at every intersection in New York or Los Angeles was made by the Chinese, wouldn’t U.S. Congressmen be afraid? American soldiers are not allowed to wear Chinese-made berets; China’s Huawei’s acquisition of U.S. companies is considered a potential threat to U.S. security, and thus it has been denied.

The Chinese have not had time to carefully look at the contract, and yet America’s public opinion is first to respond. Perhaps China should thank the Wall Street Journal. Time and time again America has used truth to teach China that a nation’s interests come above all else, and particularly when it comes to national security, negligence is not tolerated. According to this prompt, each Chinese city should perhaps be this vigilant: Surveillance cameras and equipment most likely are domestically made. If using imported equipment cannot be avoided, then China ought to ensure that this equipment will not be a security threat.

Of course one cannot ignore the other possibility that while Cisco and Chongqing are discussing specifics and America’s general public is making a fuss, this could cause the Chinese to urgently want this technology even more. The relationship between U.S. media and national interest is sometimes like a couple in China who, while dividing up property, fight and get a divorce.

America constantly takes control in Sino-U.S. business and public opinion wars; things are easily done when the conditions favor the U.S., thus the Chinese only need to think clearly and confidently to not be tricked or regard a disadvantageous situation as a bad thing. However, Americans are good at arguing, even when it is much ado about nothing, so it’s possible that the other country isn’t tricked, but instead America gets tricked.

Each type of sale between China and the U.S. is a win-win situation, this is a fact. Small loss and small profit are inevitable. However, if one side has the advantage and the other loses everything, the people of either country are not necessarily that smart or that stupid. There are some in the U.S. who always have a charitable attitude toward concrete Sino-U.S. cooperation; these people should be called a group of idiots, as some are bookworms and some are not backed by a party. They regard U.S. and Chinese companies that were originally equal as a charity and recipient relation. Regardless of whether this is real or fake, American society’s values are becoming more conservative, thus every aspect of the U.S.’ relations with the Chinese government falls short of U.S. expectations. U.S. society has become short-sighted; no ideological glasses can help it.

The U.S. continually puts on many expressive performances for China, which frustrates China, but gives China many important prompts. Through having a relationship with the U.S., Chinese people’s minds and analytical abilities are continually improving. Using American safety standards, each Chinese city has American-made “electronic eyes and ears,” a few significant strategic industries have been infiltrated or even monopolized by American companies, and America’s funding has influenced and guided a few Chinese academic institutions’ teaching and research programs. Chinese people ought to be so worried that they cannot sleep.

Perhaps while in front of the U.S., China is not absolutely safe; and so for increased security, China previously had to sacrifice some minor securities. As a result, China has developed and does not need to be nervous of implied sanctions from Washington. China should not get angry at Americans, be dazzled and confused by U.S. media attacks or be tied up by issues set up by the U.S. Instead, if China wants to interact with Americans, it can only do so is by identifying its own interests and goals.