[CALS Book Discussion] Governing China’s Digital Transformation: Industrial Policy, Regulatory Governance, and Innovation

The Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS), National University of Singapore, hosted a book discussion titled “Governing China’s Digital Transformation: Industrial Policy, Regulatory Governance, and Innovation” on Friday, 10 October 2025, from 12.00 p.m. to 1.15 p.m. at the Lee Sheridan Conference Room, NUS Bukit Timah Campus.

The session featured Dr. Qian Jiwei, Senior Research Fellow at the East Asian Institute, NUS, as the speaker. The discussion was moderated by Associate Professor Lin Lin from NUS Law.

Dr. Qian presented key insights from his recent book, which examines China’s evolving digital policy landscape and explores the intricate relationship between technological innovation and regulatory governance. He discussed critical themes such as digital industrial policies, data governance, competition policy, and artificial intelligence development. The presentation also addressed the dynamics of “digital amplification of fragmentation” and the “technology-policy recursive loop,” shedding light on how China manages the challenges of governing its fast-changing digital sector.

The talk was followed by an engaging Q&A session, during which participants discussed topics such as China’s regulatory crackdown on major technology firms, cross-border data flows, and the implications of China’s technological self-reliance for global digital governance.

The event drew an audience of academics, researchers, and students interested in technology policy, governance, and East Asian studies, fostering thoughtful discussion on the interplay between innovation and regulation in China’s digital transformation.