China tech companies draw up war plans for Asean battleground

In the second of a 7-part BT-Lianhe Zaobao series on China and Asean, we look at the strategies adopted and challenges faced by China’s tech companies in South-east Asia

Add BT as a preferred source

As China tech companies scramble to plant their flags in South-east Asia, they face competition from global giants and local players alike. ZB ILLUSTRATION: HO HAN CHONG
Megan Ong, director of Nanyang Polytechnic’s Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), expects e-commerce competition to only intensify. PHOTO: MEGAN ONG
PwC Singapore tax partner Lennon Lee sees existing competition in the region as posing a challenge to China tech firms scaling up quickly. PHOTO: PWC
Tham Tuck Seng, PwC Singapore’s China business network and capital markets leader, sees China tech companies’ experience in the consumer market back home as having given them a strong foundation. PHOTO: PWC

DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

Chew Boon Leong

Published Sun, Jun 26, 2022 · 10:00 AM

IN MAY 2014, Alibaba Group announced its acquisition of a 10.35 per cent stake in SingPost for S$312.5 million, to accelerate its e-commerce expansion across South-east Asia. This was Alibaba’s first investment in an overseas postal agency, in a prelude to the entry of China tech giants into the region.

Many investors then thought that Alibaba’s technological and financial clout meant that its domination was just a matter of time.

But reality proved otherwise. After 8 years, notwithstanding its continued expansion in the region, Alibaba is facing even fiercer competition.

Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.

China Alibaba Tencent ByteDance The Asean-China Connection

Reuse this content Feedback

TRENDING NOW

In this economy, the smartest bets might no longer be sitting an ocean away, but are waiting right here at home.

‘Boring’ is the new black: The stars are aligning for a Singapore stock market revival

Sales have rebounded in March after the year-end lull and seasonal Chinese New Year pullback.

Near sell-out launches in March boost developer sales to 1,300 units after four slow months

US President Donald Trump (left) with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Busan last October.

China pips the US if Asean is forced to choose, but analysts warn against reading it like a sports result

Lim's pay package includes about S$3.6 million as salary and around S$3.9 million as bonus, indicates the company's annual report.

Genting Singapore’s Lim Kok Thay receives S$7.5 million pay package for FY2025