2) The world trusts US companies because unlike China the US is not a dictatorship, has a functioning, independent judiciary and generally abides by international law. So there is a far greater level of trust there because there are legal mechanisms to prevent breaches.
Also, the discussion was about national security and you are giving different arguments here. How is this related to national security?
If you tell me you believe they are equal, I'll take your word for it. While the United States has plenty of flaws, I think they are still far more trusted when it comes to human rights.
Legal mechanisms exist everywhere and can be broken if not by selective enforcement but also by the voters.
In China they can do it anytime Xi Jinping snaps his fingers.
That's why countries do not trust China.
I feel like this always get short shrift in whataboutism discussions.
In China, everything is by law in service and subordinate to the Party.
In the US, not.
That seems like a pretty big difference.