China's biggest apps are inviting the West closer into its insular internet economy

China's once insular internet economy is showing signs of opening up to foreign users. Platforms such as WeChat Pay and Bilibili have recently taken steps to welcome international users into their ecosystems. As of August 11, PayPal has enabled US PayPal users to make QR code payments at WeChat Pay merchants throughout mainland China, using their home wallets without needing to download additional apps or set up a Chinese bank account. This move aims to make paying as a tourist in China more convenient.

Similarly, Bilibili, a popular Chinese content platform popular among anime, comics, and gaming enthusiasts, has launched its international app, with plans to expand to more countries soon. The platform is actively recruiting staff in Japan, the US, and Europe, indicating its commitment to attracting non-Chinese users.

These developments come amid a broader trend of Chinese tech companies competing with US counterparts in areas such as AI, robotics, and electric vehicles. Moonshot AI, a Chinese AI startup, has gained attention with its Kimi K3 open-weight AI model, which offers frontier intelligence at a lower cost compared to Western models. Chinese tech companies are actively seeking growth opportunities in foreign markets, driven by stagnating domestic consumption and a desire to tap into new sources of revenue.