Over the past half-century, Chinese companies have steadily expanded their global reach, though the journey has been winding and often turbulent. With narrowing domestic profits and expanding production capacity, firms are widening overseas footprints in search of lucrative markets. This explainer charts the evolution of China Inc.'s global expansion.
The emergence of Chinese companies on the global stage has been one of the most important business stories of the past 50 years. From engineering contractors to toy brands like Pop Mart's wildly popular Labubu figures, China Inc. now has a highly visible presence in countries around the world. On the surface, it has often looked like a gradual, steady ascent, as Chinese firms in sector after sector started to find success outside their home market. But in reality, it has been a winding and often turbulent journey, with companies continually having to adapt to shifts in global markets, policies and new technologies.
In this story, the Post charts the history of China Inc.'s global expansion, exploring how Chinese firms' motives, business models and strategic priorities have evolved over the decades – and what may lie ahead in 2026.
Phase one: aid projects in the developing world (1970s-1990s). At the same time, foreign investment began flooding into China, enabling domestic enterprises to gain knowledge of modern corporate management from multinationals setting up Chinese outposts. But few domestic companies were ready to globalise their operations at this stage.
With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets.