It’s getting easier for visitors to China to pay for things, thanks to tie ups between Visa, Mastercard and Alipay. That could have implications for data security.
A customer presents their Alipay QR code to pay for their purchases at supermarket in Shanghai. Credit: Imaginechina via AP Images
The widening divergence between China and the West in recent years is not just about politics and ideology. Even the technologies that make everyday life possible have moved apart.
For years, foreign visitors to China have been unable to use Western credit cards to pay in many restaurants and shops. That’s because Chinese vendors typically require customers to pay using mobile payment systems available only to those with a Chinese bank account.
With tourist numbers to China now in
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
California-based Jupiter Systems sold high-tech wall screens to U.S. military and government clients. On June 14, The Wire China revealed how Jupiter was sold to a Chinese company in 2020 without the first Trump administration’s knowledge. Now Trump is back and on the case as Jupiter teeters on the verge of bankruptcy.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
