THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 18, 2025 Page 11 Former Ambassador: China Cutting Corners on Technology C By Gary Locke hina rolls out some new world-changing, headline-grabbing technological marvel every month, it seems. Yet, at the same time that Chinese companies are introducing world-leading technologies, some Chinese policymakers and business leaders are flouting international law—and acting as if China were a poor developing country whose companies need special treatment. The problem revolves around the royalty rates for “standard-essential patents,” or SEPs. These are the patents on standardized technologies—like technology using Wi-Fi and 5G communications—that ensure high-tech products from different manufacturers can work with each other. SEPs are the reason different brands of smartphones and laptops can all access the same wireless networks, for instance. International agreements require the owners of the patents on standardized technologies to allow others to use them—to license them to any interested party on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This ensures that all firms—from industry giants to tiny startups—can incorporate the latest standardized technologies into smartphones, cars, appliances, and many other products. In recent years, however, China has upset this global order by unilaterally lowering SEP licensing rates that its domestic companies would pay. Beijing’s preferential treatment towards domestic firms has encouraged many Chinese companies to either underpay for patent licenses or not pay at all, and simply wait for legal challenges rather than seeking legitimate licenses at the outset. This is particularly noticeable in China’s burgeoning automotive industry. Modern cars include an array of features that rely on standardized patented technologies, including cellular-connected features that improve road safety, increase traffic efficiency, generate cost-savings, and more. Automakers in the United States, Europe, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Brazil, and elsewhere pay fair rates to inventors and patent holders to Employees work on a new energy vehicle (NEV) assembly line at a BYD Auto factory in Huaian in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on July 6, 2020. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) implement these standardized patented technologies in their connected vehicles. Yet Chinese automakers are demanding the sorts of discounts that a poor developing nation would conceivably receive. Through China’s industry trade association, CATARC, these automakers have effectively organized a group boycott of securing licenses for standard-essential patents. This behavior is illegal under the antitrust and patent laws of many countries, including China. But it is nevertheless pervasive. Of the roughly 200 million cars around the globe equipped with 3G, 4G, or 5G technology that have been properly licensed, only a tiny fraction were made in China, and most of those were made by affiliates of Western automakers. That doesn’t mean Chinese vehicles actually lack those technologies. Far from it. Chinese companies have been quick to incorporate new versions of key standards—such as 5G—into their vehicles. They just haven’t paid for the privilege, with vanishingly few exceptions. Ultimately, this practice will impede economic growth across the world. SEP owners— including Chinese innovators— need fair compensation in order to continue improving existing technologies and developing new ones. Just as Chinese companies expect to be paid fair rates for their technology used outside China, they should pay fair rates for the technology they use in China. Top policymakers in Beijing believe that China deserves more respect on the world stage. But respect is a two-way street. If China hopes to help shape the 21st century and steer the global economy, it has to stop acting like a poor developing nation that cherry-picks which international norms it will follow. It’s time to recommit to FRAND principles—and reaffirm that every company, regardless of its nationality, must pay its fair share in licensing fees for the technologies we all rely on. Gary Locke is the former U.S. Ambassador to China, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Governor of Washington State. This piece originally ran in Newsweek. This Summer, Be Your Kid’s Tennis Coach By Megan Rose A s summer vacation begins, parents across America face a familiar challenge: how to keep children active, engaged, and away from the hypnotic glow of screens. Among the many summer activities available, there’s a meaningful solution in your neighborhood -- one that offers lifelong benefits for you and your child. Become your child’s tennis coach. Parent coaching is common in sports like soccer and basketball, yet tennis is often overlooked. That’s a missed opportunity. Tennis is one of the few sports where parents and children can learn and play sideby-side for decades. Kids are spending more time behind screens than ever before. Studies show the average teen spends seven hours a day behind a screen. Only one in four adolescents meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. That combination -- more screens, less movement -- sets the stage for long-term health risks. Tennis offers a better path. It builds endurance, coordination, agility, and strength. A long-term study found that tennis players lived 10 years longer than sedentary individuals -- more than any sport evaluated. Tennis supports cardiovascular health, healthy weight, and increased bone density in critical areas like the hips and spine during key growth years. Just as important are the mental benefits. Tennis has been linked to lower levels of stress and anxiety, better focus, and improved sleep. Kids who play tennis consistently report higher self-esteem and stronger social connections than their non-playing peers. Unlike screen time, which can erode self-worth, tennis builds self-confidence through challenge, feedback, and progress. For parents, coaching your child in tennis is more than just a way to keep them active. It’s about being present. You’re not watching from the bleachers. You’re on the court with them. You laugh over mishits, celebrate clean shots, and navigate frustration together. These moments aren’t just recreational; they’re relationship-building. Research shows that parental involvement in youth sports boosts kids’ confidence, motivation, and enjoyment of the game. And unlike many team sports, where attention gets divided, tennis is just the two of you, with every rally strengthening your bond. Tennis also creates a rhythm that continues long after summer. It’s one of the rare multi-generational sports where a 12-year-old and a 70-year-old can compete and connect at all walks of life. The best part? Tennis welcomes beginners – players and coaches alike. Few sports offer the same “choose your own adventure” experience, where parents and kids can learn and grow together. For parents who want to begin their coaching journey, there’s no shortage of support. For instance, USTA Coaching – which launches in August – will offer free, easy-to-use resources for new coaches, including a modular learning curriculum. It’s designed with parents in mind and includes everything from day-to-day training plans to simple drills – like aiming a ball into a laundry basket – that make it easier to build your child’s skills and confidence. All you really need to get started is a racquet, a few balls, and time. With over 270,000 public courts across the country, most of them free, there’s a good chance one is nearby. And if not, a back wall or driveway will do just fine. So this summer, skip the screens. Grab a racquet and meet your child at the baseline. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner. What matters is that you’re there. Your child will never forget the summer you coached them through their first serve -- and the bond that came with it. Megan Rose is the Managing Director of USTA Coaching and a mom of two.
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