China is increasingly a home to major brands

Relative Data & Security Threats: US vs China

• Several commenters argue that, as ordinary Western users, Chinese access to their data is a lower-priority risk than US-based surveillance and data brokerage, which can directly affect employment, policing, and social standing.
• Others counter that this underestimates foreign intelligence work: even “unimportant” people (e.g., janitors) can be targeted if they have access to facilities or people of interest.
• One anecdote describes Chinese blackmail activity against a US government employee, used to argue that the threat is not “silly” in sensitive contexts.
• There’s debate over proof of domestic firms (e.g., analytics platforms) assisting law enforcement and whether that inevitably leads to profiling and persecution, especially of minorities.

“Both Sides Spy” vs Moral Asymmetry

• Some insist the US also conducts economic and political espionage, citing historical examples and Snowden-era revelations about infiltrating foreign tech firms.
• Others respond that, while no state is innocent, China’s authoritarian system and behavior toward regions like Tibet and Xinjiang make it categorically more dangerous and dystopian.
• A recurring theme: which government you fear more depends on where you live and which state can actually coerce you.

Consumer Choices, Loyalty, and Apathy

• One line of discussion reframes the watch purchase as “betraying yourself” through unnecessary consumption rather than betraying a country.
• Others note that smartwatches are no longer about timekeeping but fitness, notifications, etc., making “just buy a Casio” only partially comparable.
• Some criticize the “I’m already compromised anyway” attitude toward Chinese data access as apathetic and risky.

Chinese Brands, Quality, and Global Presence

• Multiple commenters note the dramatic improvement in Chinese manufacturing quality and service over the last 20 years, across electronics, cars, and even construction/medical equipment.
• There’s recognition that Chinese brands now occupy major positions in smartphones and are increasingly visible in autos and luxury consumption.
• Touristic and retail infrastructure in places like Thailand, Malaysia, and Shanghai visibly cater to Chinese tourists and buyers, suggesting a shifting global center of gravity.

Cars, Prices, and Market Structure

• The $15k Chery car comparison triggers a long subthread:
  • Some argue Americans choose expensive vehicles for status and comfort, with dealers engineering financing around monthly payments.
  • Others stress many low-income buyers would welcome truly cheap new cars; constraints include safety/emissions rules, profit structures favoring SUVs, and competition from used cars.
  • Debate continues over new vs used (features vs reliability, TCO, complexity) and whether there is genuine “room at the bottom” in the US market.

Industrial Trajectory and Western Response

• Several comments note that China’s quality climb follows a familiar pattern seen earlier with the US and Germany: initial cheap/low quality, then globally competitive.
• Some expect this should spur a US/EU manufacturing revival; instead, they mostly see lobbying for sanctions and defensive policy, not proactive competition.