China's biggest apps are inviting the West closer into its insular internet economy
Major Chinese internet platforms like WeChat and Bilibili are beginning to integrate international services to accommodate foreign users. Recent partnerships, such as WeChat Pay's integration with PayPal, signal a shift toward opening China's historically insular digital economy.
Why it matters
This shift could significantly improve the experience for international tourists and businesses operating in China, potentially signaling a broader economic opening.
China's insular internet economy shows signs of opening up to foreigners. Cheng Xin/Getty Images China's internet has long been difficult for non-Chinese users to access. But this month, WeChat Pay is integrating PayPal, and content site Bilibili launched an international app. These are signs that China is opening up its famously insular internet economy. For decades, China's internet economy has been a gated-off party. Now, some of its biggest companies are cracking the door open to outsiders. While China has long since invited foreign businesses to set up shop within its borders, its internet has been closed off. Dominated by a handful of local players — such as Tencent's messaging app WeChat, ByteDance's TikTok-equivalent Douyin, the X-like Weibo, and the lifestyle content app Xiaohongshu — the country's internet has been difficult for non-Chinese users to access.
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