Huawei

In this episode of Acquired, Ben and David delve into the history, facts, and current geopolitical situation surrounding Huawei, China's largest private company and a global leader in smartphone manufacturing and telecom equipment. They trace Huawei's origins from the early 1980s, highlighting founder Ren Zhengfei's background and the company's strategic growth within China's evolving economic landscape. The discussion covers Huawei's rise to international prominence, its innovative products, and its unique ownership structure, which involves a trade union committee tied to the Chinese Communist Party. The hosts also address the recent U.S. government restrictions on Huawei, including the arrest of its CFO, Meng Wanzhou, and the implications of a potential technological divide between China and the rest of the world. They speculate on Huawei's future, considering its strengths in the Chinese market and the challenges it faces in the global arena due to geopolitical tensions and technological dependencies. The episode also features sponsors such as Claude, ServiceNow, and Vanta.