The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

By Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

For decades, China’s rise has been an uncomfortable truth for the West. Once dismissed as a manufacturing hub for cheap electronics, the country rapidly evolved into a technological powerhouse, a global economic force, and a genuine rival to Western dominance. By 2019, China was on the brink of leading the world in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor development. Huawei, the jewel in China’s technological crown, was on course to overtake Apple and Samsung, while its 5G infrastructure was set to define the next generation of global communication networks.

Then, in late 2019, a virus emerged in Wuhan.

What followed was a global crisis that reshaped economies, rewired political landscapes, and ultimately exposed the fragility of Western dominance. The official narrative of COVID-19 remains debated—whether it was a natural outbreak or an accidental lab leak. But beyond the speculation, a clear pattern emerges, Western nations used the pandemic as a tool to intensify economic warfare against China. From the Huawei ban to the surge in anti-Asian rhetoric, the pandemic provided the perfect pretext to curb China’s rapid ascent.

Yet, as the dust settles, one undeniable truth remains—if this was an attempt to stall China’s rise, it has backfired spectacularly.

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The Huawei Threat, Why the West Couldn’t Let It Win

Huawei was never just another tech firm competing with Apple or Samsung. It was on track to dominate the global telecoms market, not just in smartphones, but in 5G, cloud computing, and AI-driven technology. Unlike Western firms that relied on supply chains controlled by the US and its allies, Huawei was almost entirely self-sufficient. It produced its own chips, developed its own software, and had R&D investments far exceeding many of its Western rivals.

This independence made it a serious threat to Western control over global technology. If Huawei had continued its trajectory, it would have:

• Surpassed Apple and Samsung as the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer.

• Dominated global 5G infrastructure, leaving Western telecoms behind.

• Reduced China’s reliance on US chipmakers, making American sanctions ineffective.

The response from Washington and London was swift and decisive. Under the guise of national security concerns, a coordinated effort to cripple Huawei’s dominance began. The US pressured its allies to ban Huawei from 5G networks, despite failing to provide clear evidence of espionage. Google was forced to cut Huawei off from Android services, crippling its smartphone business overnight. Sanctions targeted Huawei’s supply chain, particularly in semiconductors, where the US effectively blocked its access to advanced chip manufacturing.

It was an economic assassination, designed to remove a competitor that Western firms simply couldn’t match.

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COVID-19: A Convenient Crisis?

Just as Huawei was being strategically dismantled, a new crisis unfolded. The emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, whether by accident or otherwise, created the perfect storm for the West to escalate its economic war on China.

The virus brought global trade to a halt, throwing supply chains into disarray and exposing the over-reliance on Chinese manufacturing. Western governments, slow to react, downplayed the threat, while China swiftly locked down cities, ramped up production of medical supplies, and regained control of its economy.

But as the pandemic spread beyond China’s borders, it was the West that suffered the most. The US and UK, caught unprepared, experienced some of the highest death tolls and longest economic shutdowns. The very economies that had sought to use COVID as a geopolitical weapon against China ended up falling victim to their own mismanagement.

As frustration mounted, governments needed a scapegoat.

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The Anti-China Narrative, A Smokescreen for Western Failure

Rather than acknowledging their failures, Western leaders turned to the age-old tactic of demonising a foreign enemy. From Donald Trump labelling it the “China virus” to British tabloids blaming Chinese eating habits, anti-China rhetoric exploded across mainstream media.

A surge in racist attacks against East Asians followed, with Chinese communities in the West facing increased hostility. This narrative conveniently served two purposes:

• It deflected public anger away from government failures.

• It justified harsher economic policies against China.

The hostility wasn’t limited to political rhetoric. Trade sanctions escalated, Chinese companies were blacklisted, and investment restrictions tightened. Huawei, already under attack before the pandemic, was further isolated from global markets under the pretext of national security concerns.

But despite the bans, China was adapting at a rapid pace.

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The Huawei Comeback and China’s Resurgence

The West’s expectation was clear—cripple Huawei, isolate China, and maintain technological superiority. But what happened instead was the opposite.

Faced with sanctions and supply chain restrictions, Huawei did something extraordinary—it built its own semiconductor industry. After being blocked from purchasing US-made chips, China accelerated its own chip development programme, with Huawei’s latest Mate 60 Pro smartphone now powered by an entirely Chinese-made processor.

Meanwhile, Apple’s market dominance in China began to decline, as more consumers turned to Huawei’s new devices. The ban that was meant to kill Huawei’s smartphone business instead forced it to become fully independent from US technology.

At the same time, China’s economy rebounded faster than expected. While the US and UK grappled with inflation, supply chain disruptions, and political unrest, China strengthened its global trade ties. The Belt and Road Initiative expanded, new alliances were forged, and Western economic pressure failed to slow China’s progress.

What was intended as a coordinated effort to cripple China’s rise only made it stronger.

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A Failed Western Power Play

There was a time when the US and its allies could dictate who won and who lost in global markets. When economic power could be wielded like a weapon, forcing competitors into submission. But China has rewritten the rules.

The Huawei ban, the COVID blame campaign, and the escalating trade war were all part of a larger strategy to contain China. Yet, rather than crushing its progress, these policies have instead:

• Accelerated China’s push for technological self-sufficiency.

• Weakened Western economies, exposing their dependence on globalisation.

• Revealed that economic warfare against China no longer guarantees victory.

Western leaders may claim success in isolating Huawei or slowing China’s access to certain technologies, but the reality is far different. The world is shifting. Power is shifting. And while the West is still dealing with the consequences of its own actions, China continues to move forward.

In the end, this wasn’t just about Huawei, or COVID, or trade wars—it was about the fear of losing control. The real pandemic was never a virus, but the West’s refusal to accept that its era of unquestioned dominance is coming to an end.