In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, digital sovereignty has become a focal point in the strategic rivalry between the United States and China. Both governments are seeking greater control over domestic digital infrastructure, data governance, and technology ecosystems, trends that some analysts suggest could contribute to a bifurcated global order. The struggle is not only about markets and supply chains, it also touches national security, international influence, and competing ideas about how cyberspace should be governed. Taken together, these moves are shaping what critics sometimes describe, cautiously, as a nascent, bipolar “technofeudal” world.

China has pursued a sustained drive to reduce reliance on foreign hardware, software, and cloud services, especially in sectors deemed critical. Policies to localize key technologies, encourage indigenous innovation, and tighten data controls point to a broader effort to enhance technological autonomy. In 2024, Beijing issued updated rules on cross border data flows that, in many cases, require companies to undergo security reviews before transferring certain information abroad. While some provisions appeared to streamline compliance for routine transfers, the direction of travel aligns with longstanding goals of limiting external dependencies. These........

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