"What I think a lot of people don't understand about the Chinese market is that there are many aspects that require pure and utter hard work," he said.

Chinese tech firms do get help from their government, in the form of protection of the domestic market, which has allowed them to grow and dominate in China.

That's not to say they're not formidable players in their own right, though.

But China, and Chinese firms, are used to having a longer term view.

"No road that leads to a bright future is straight," says ZTE's Mr Yin in that leaked memo. "The company's internationalisation will also have its ups and downs… we will be stronger after weathering the storm."