As Jessy Wu's Beijing-based AI startup geared up for its overseas expansion last year, it confronted a conundrum familiar to many Chinese tech entrepreneurs: Should the company conceal its Chinese roots? Over the past few years, amid European and American governments' restrictions on Chinese apps and technologies, rooted in national security concerns, numerous companies have adopted a "de-Chinesization" approach. This strategy involves downplaying their Chinese origins in foreign markets to attract investors and customers, aiming to steer clear of potential political and economic pitfalls and ensure seamless overseas growth.
