America’s Legal Gambit to Curb China’s Technological Rise

Date & Time: May 14, 2025 (Wednesday) 12:00-13:00

Venue: Academic Conference Room, 11/F Cheng Yu Tung Tower, The University of Hong Kong

Language: English

(In-person event)

Abstract:

Amid the escalating Sino-U.S. tech war, the United States has built an unprecedented legal machine aimed at curbing China’s technological advancements. This campaign has encompassed sweeping export controls on advanced semiconductors, tough sanctions on leading Chinese tech firms, heightened scrutiny of cross-border investments, and the potential nationwide ban of TikTok. Simultaneously, steep tariffs have been imposed on high-tech Chinese goods, while enforcement against alleged espionage has disproportionately targeted ethnic Chinese scientists—contributing to a growing talent exodus. Through a deep dive into the institutional structure, policy process, and outcomes of U.S. legal strategies, I will unravel the dynamic complexities of the U.S. legal gambit to contain China , while offering predictions for the future of U.S.-China relations.

Speaker:

Angela Huyue Zhang is a Professor of Law at the University of Southern California. Widely recognized as a leading authority on Chinese tech regulation, her scholarship explores the intersection of law, technology, and geopolitics, with a focus on the U.S.-China tech rivalry and the global regulation of artificial intelligence. She is the author of two widely acclaimed books: Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation (2021) and High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy (2024).  Prior to joining the University of Southern California, Zhang taught at the University of Hong Kong for seven years and served as Director of the Philip K. H. Wong Centre for Chinese Law. Her personal website is here: Home | Angela Zhang | High Wire

Host:
Hui Jing is Assistant Professor of Law and Deputy Director of the Philip K. H. Wong Center for Chinese Law at The University of Hong Kong.

This is an in-person only event for the audience. Prior registration is required. Please visit https://bit.ly/4ivPlID to register. For inquiries, please email Louisa at .

To watch recordings of past CCL events, please subscribe to our newly launched YouTube channel: The Centre for Chinese Law – YouTube. To keep up with our activities, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CCLHKU. Philip K.H. Wong Centre for Chinese Law at The University of Hong Kong promotes legal scholarship with the aim to develop a deeper understanding of China and facilitate dialogue between East and West. For more information, visit: Philip K.H. Wong Centre for Chinese Law