Vivian Toh is the chief editor of techtechchina, a Chinese tech news startup.

Chinese technology giants, once synonymous with rapid, aggressive expansion, are now embracing a more calculated, cooperative approach in Southeast Asia’s fintech landscape. At the recent Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF), Tencent, Alibaba and Huawei showcased strategies that reflect a recalibrated pursuit of growth, which is focused on local integration, privacy, and collaboration rather than dominance.