Navigating Geopolitical Headwinds: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Globalization Strategies for Chinese Enterprises

Abstract

In an era defined by intensifying geopolitical volatility, Chinese enterprises find themselves at a precarious strategic crossroads, compelled to navigate the paradoxical currents of persistent technological globalization and accelerating political de-globalization. This paper offers a comprehensive critical analysis of how these firms are recalibrating their internationalization strategies amidst the escalating Sino-American systemic rivalry and the post-pandemic restructuring of global supply chains. By synthesizing and contrasting perspectives from leading industry analyses, specifically juxtaposing the reactive, survival-oriented narrative presented by investigative journalism with the proactive, capability-driven “third wave” perspective offered by business academia, this study elucidates the complex mechanisms of corporate adaptation. The research integrates these firm-level observations with broader academic frameworks, specifically the theory of “De-Globalization and Fragmentation” and the critique of decoupling myths. The findings indicate that Chinese enterprises are not retreating from the global stage. Instead, they are executing a sophisticated, structural reconfiguration of their global value chains. This involves a strategic pivot towards “slow-balization,” characterized by regionalized production in geopolitically neutral territories (such as ASEAN) and a shift from rigid vertical integration to flexible, multi-polar global layouts. The paper concludes that while these strategies offer necessary resilience for individual firms, they inadvertently reinforce the very geopolitical fragmentation they seek to circumvent, fundamentally reshaping the nature of sustainable competitive advantage in the 21st century.