BTN News: While much of the world faced a widespread technology problem on Friday, China stayed mostly unaffected. This surprising strength is due to the fact that China uses very little of CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company behind the issue. Unlike many other countries, Chinese organizations prefer their own tech solutions over foreign ones. This smart choice has protected China from the global tech troubles that hit other parts of the world. Additionally, China depends on local tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei for cloud services, which kept them away from the chaos that happened elsewhere.
CrowdStrike’s Minimal Presence in China Helped Avoid Problems
CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company responsible for the global outage, is hardly used in China. Chinese organizations usually avoid software from this American company, which has often talked about cybersecurity threats from Beijing. Also, China’s tech system does not rely on Microsoft as much as other countries do. Local firms control the cloud service market. Because of this, reports of outages in China mostly involved foreign firms or organizations.
Social Media Reports Highlight Issues With International Firms
On Chinese social media sites, some users said they had problems accessing international hotel chains like Sheraton, Marriott, and Hyatt. Over the years, China has replaced many foreign tech systems with homegrown alternatives in government offices, businesses, and infrastructure operators. This has led to the creation of what some experts call the “Splinternet,” a separate internet ecosystem.
Experts Praise China’s Management of Foreign Tech Operations
Josh Kennedy White, a cybersecurity expert based in Singapore, said, “China’s smart management of foreign tech operations is impressive. Microsoft operates in China through a local partner, 21Vianet, which handles services separately from the global system. This separation protects important services like banking and aviation from global problems.”
Reducing Reliance on Foreign Tech is Key for National Security
For the Chinese government, reducing dependence on foreign tech is very important for national security. This move is similar to actions by some Western countries that banned Huawei’s services in 2019, or the UK’s decision to ban TikTok on government devices in 2023. The US has also stopped the sale of advanced semiconductor chips to China and limited American investments in Chinese technology, citing national security reasons.
Editorial Criticizes Western Technology Restrictions
An editorial in the state-run Global Times indirectly talked about these restrictions. It argued that while some countries, especially the US, stress security and impose broad measures, they miss real security issues. The editorial suggested that the US tries to control global technology use, even though one of its own companies caused global chaos through negligence.
Global Times Criticizes Dominance of Major Internet Companies in Cybersecurity
The Global Times also criticized the dominance of big internet companies in cybersecurity. It stated, “Relying only on leading companies for network security, as some countries suggest, could hinder inclusive management practices and bring new security risks.” This reference to “inclusive management” likely alludes to the ongoing debate over intellectual property, with China often accused of copying or stealing Western technology. Beijing denies these claims and promotes an open global tech market while keeping strict control at home.
Some Workers Enjoyed the Unexpected Break
Despite its strength, China wasn’t entirely safe from the global outage. A few workers thanked Microsoft for the unexpected break, with “Thank you Microsoft for the early holiday” trending on Weibo, along with images of blue error screens.
China’s Approach to Technology Shows Emphasis on Security and Self-Reliance
In conclusion, China’s unique approach to technology, marked by a preference for local solutions and smart management of foreign tech, helped it avoid the widespread troubles that affected much of the world. This approach highlights China’s focus on national security and independence in the tech sector.
