Chinese nationalism was exemplified once again following Huawei executive John Suffolk's defense at the British Parliament on Tuesday. Netizens took to Weibo to stand behind their country's leading tech behemoth - a move that some analysts believe will have an effect on Chinese buying behavior in terms of American brands.
Chinese citizens have been rallying behind Huawei ever since the White House unleashed a banning order that restricts U.S. firms from working with the Honor maker. On Wednesday, Weibo was flooded with comments praising Suffolk for defending the company amid scrutiny.
Due to the attacks on Huawei by Washington, some economists noted that the consequences of the U.S. government's tirades have started to show. Last month, many Chinese oil buyers expressed that they will halt potential deals of purchasing oil from American oil suppliers.
At that time, Enterprise Products Partners LP CEO Jim Teague said it is unlikely oil purchasing giants from China will sign agreements for long-term purchases due to the escalating trade spat between Beijing and Washington.
Professor Yan Xuetong of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University, Beijing, explained that for the Chinese people, Huawei is "a symbol of the national future of China."
Chinese netizens have also called for a country-wide boycott of Apple since the Huawei blacklisting was declared. Weibo users said they will drop their iPhones and shift to Honor smartphones. Others expressed dismay over the arrest of CFO Meg Wanzhou in Canada under U.S. pressure.
While Suffolk's efforts to defend the company brought a wave of applause and joy for the Chinese people, it is expected that calls for boycotting other U.S. products will continue as long as the U.S. government keeps going after Huawei.
The latest American sector to experience the brunt of high emotions and triggered nationalism among the Chinese people is automotive. Bloomberg reported that the overall market share of American auto brands dropped to 9.6 percent for the past five months.
Carmakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler are those that could suffer in sales and popularity as more Chinese buyers turn to automakers from their home turf, experts said.
It's not just the auto industry suffering from the brunt of the trade war. Fashion brands from the U.S. are also feeling the heat as share prices slumped for J. Jill, Nordstrom, A&F, and GAP.
It is unclear up to what extent the consequences of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods and the constant tirades against Huawei will reach, but what's clear is the unity that China exemplified through the endeavors.
