Is China exporting surveillance under the guise of 'smart city'?

CHINA is one of the leading countries in "smart city" initiatives. Chinese companies are involved in more than half of the world's smart city initiatives. These companies, with the expertise of developing new cities and urban technologies at home, are expanding their businesses abroad.

As their aspirations align with the development interests of the emerging economy of various countries, Chinese firms are emerging as crucial players in development planning. For instance, in Southeast Asia, Chinese firms play significant roles in many existing or planned built-from-scratch smart cities. Beijing's launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, and its "Digital Silk Road" component, provide high-level support for Chinese companies' participation.