https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/319335/feed Founded in Shenzhen in 2006, DJI has gone on to become the world's No. 1 drone manufacturer, with a 70 per cent share of the global civilian drone market and a valuation of more than US$10 billion. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Indonesian officials, looking to alleviate poverty in their country and eyeing the rise of rural economies in China, are turning to Beijing for help that may include stoking the exports of a potentially lucrative durian crop. Indonesian Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara began a seven-day visit to China on Monday, with Indonesia’s state-owned Antara news agency saying consultations with Beijing’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, companies and academic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings TikTok owner ByteDance is China’s Going Global champion, according to a new SCMP Plus databank tracking mainland companies’ overseas expansion efforts. The social media giant topped the debut SCMP Plus Going Global 100 ranking ahead of Apple assembler Foxconn Industrial Internet, online fashion retailer Shein and electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD. More than 2,000 companies were assessed as part of the research project, which assigned each contender a weighted score based on overseas revenue,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:02:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Turkmenistan has added the FK-2000 missile-and-gun system to its growing arsenal of Chinese-made air defences, highlighting Beijing’s expanding role in the Central Asian weapons market once dominated by Russia. At least 10 FK-2000 vehicles – along with an array of other Chinese-made military equipment – could be seen in footage of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day parade in Ashgabat on September 27. Developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the FK-2000 is a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369869/turkmenistan-grows-its-arsenal-chinese-air-defences-russias-role-shrinks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369869/turkmenistan-grows-its-arsenal-chinese-air-defences-russias-role-shrinks Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese and US firms are “neck-and-neck” in the quality battle for the next generation of drone patents, despite China having a lead in volume, a study published on Thursday shows. Chinese companies accounted for 44 per cent of the world’s drone patent filings in 2024, against 17 per cent for American firms, according to a report published by LexisNexis. Measured by value, however, US drone patents were on a par with China’s, leaving the two countries roughly even in total global patent asset... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369466/china-leads-drone-patent-volume-us-matches-quality-start-ups-drive-innovation-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369466/china-leads-drone-patent-volume-us-matches-quality-start-ups-drive-innovation-study Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:24 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The United States is considering restrictions on some previously approved foreign-made drones, a move that could expand its push to build a domestic industry in a commercial market long dominated by Chinese manufacturers such as DJI. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering whether to prohibit the continued marketing and import of certain previously authorised models, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said. Speaking in a discussion with Lisa Ellman, CEO of the Commercial Drone... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369087/us-weighs-tighter-restrictions-foreign-drones-could-chinese-makers-lose-ground https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369087/us-weighs-tighter-restrictions-foreign-drones-could-chinese-makers-lose-ground Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:24 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese action camera maker Insta360 is deepening its US footprint with a flagship store opening in New York as it navigates escalating price competition with DJI and industry-wide memory cost pressures. The Chinese GoPro rival was slated to plant its flag in the heart of Times Square with its first flagship retail store in the US on Saturday, a marquee launch as the firm looked to “leap to the next stage of growth”, co-founder Max Richter said. “The US market plays a very important role for us... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368101/chinas-gopro-rival-insta360-opens-first-us-flagship-store-new-yorks-times-square https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368101/chinas-gopro-rival-insta360-opens-first-us-flagship-store-new-yorks-times-square Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Han Li Han Li Greg Reverdiau, an Arizona-based drone trainer, said he saw something highly unusual for politically polarised America when he waded through public comments on a US government proposal to restrict foreign-made drones: a consensus. Reverdiau, the founder of Pilot Institute, which helps aviators obtain licences, said he reviewed over 3,800 comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and estimates that about 98 per cent opposed the proposal or raised concerns about it. “Those... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3366976/us-drone-ban-proposal-combat-chinas-dominance-concerns-american-police-farmers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3366976/us-drone-ban-proposal-combat-chinas-dominance-concerns-american-police-farmers Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:48:20 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng As China’s southern tech hub Shenzhen gears up to host November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, its province, Guangdong, is making sure its technological prowess is also receiving global attention. At Saturday’s Asia-Pacific Media Forum, a major media gathering before the summit, a hall was packed with hi-tech products from the province, including a BYD car, DJI drones and Tencent Holdings’ artificial intelligence products, as well as smartphones from Honor and Vivo. Before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366713/byd-cars-dji-drones-guangdong-showcases-tech-prowess-ahead-apec-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366713/byd-cars-dji-drones-guangdong-showcases-tech-prowess-ahead-apec-summit Tue, 08 Sep 2026 05:00:14 +0000 Alexander Mak Alexander Mak From bustling 1960s workshops to next-generation AI labs, Hong Kong’s industrial landscape has undergone a remarkable evolution. In the mid-20th century, the city established itself as a global light-manufacturing hub, driven by crowded factory floors where textiles, plastics and consumer electronics were produced by hand. As production migrated across border to the mainland cities of the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong pivoted towards finance and trade while keeping its inventive edge. Home-grown... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/article/3365879/pictures-factory-floors-ai-evolution-innovation-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/article/3365879/pictures-factory-floors-ai-evolution-innovation-hong-kong Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Shenzhen, the southern Chinese city home to US-sanctioned telecoms giant Huawei Technologies and drone maker DJI, has seen an influx of investors and business leaders amid rising global interest in Chinese artificial intelligence and robotics. On Tuesday, the tech hub hosted investor conferences led by three international financial institutions – HSBC, UBS and Nomura – with AI, robotics and other emerging technologies featuring prominently on their agendas. More investors could arrive to chase... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365965/global-investors-descend-chinas-shenzhen-ride-wave-ai-and-robotics-opportunities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365965/global-investors-descend-chinas-shenzhen-ride-wave-ai-and-robotics-opportunities Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Leading chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has joined a growing list of Chinese technology companies suing the US government over their additions to Pentagon blacklists, as legal experts said US courts had shown a willingness to hold the Department of Defence to account. Recent rulings involving Chinese tech firms including lidar sensor maker Hesai Group, drone manufacturer DJI and biotech firm WuXi AppTec indicated that judges were prepared to scrutinise the US government’s evidence... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365751/cxmt-joins-growing-list-chinese-tech-firms-suing-us-pentagon-over-blacklists https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365751/cxmt-joins-growing-list-chinese-tech-firms-suing-us-pentagon-over-blacklists Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:46:26 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Facing a far larger Chinese military presence at sea, the Philippines is looking to drones not as a substitute for warships and aircraft but as a relatively low-cost way to make its forces harder to find, suppress and outmanoeuvre, analysts have said. The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has focused on expanding the military’s drone fleet as part of its external defence strategy. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr told lawmakers on Tuesday that Manila also needed to secure... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365320/philippines-eyes-drones-and-system-systems-boost-asymmetric-defence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365320/philippines-eyes-drones-and-system-systems-boost-asymmetric-defence Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Diplomats for China and the US in Latin America have traded brickbats on social media over alleged espionage risks posed by Chinese tech firms in the region, in the latest sign of the two powers’ unfolding strategic tensions in the western hemisphere. US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs Juan Pablo Segura named telecoms giants Huawei Technologies, ZTE and Hytera, surveillance equipment makers Hikvision and Dahua, and drone heavyweight DJI in a post on social media on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365055/us-china-diplomats-clash-over-tech-spying-and-trade-hub-claims-latin-america https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365055/us-china-diplomats-clash-over-tech-spying-and-trade-hub-claims-latin-america Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese carmakers’ reinforced push to produce more smart vehicles could sustain growth for hi-tech component suppliers, even as the broader automotive market remains lacklustre, according to Hesai Group chief financial officer Andrew Fan. “Orders for our lidar sensors [this year] were higher than in the same period last year,” Fan told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday. “An increasing percentage of new [car] models are now fitted with lidars as brands make them more intelligent.” Hesai –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3364636/hesai-rides-lidar-growth-smart-cars-gain-ground-despite-chinas-struggling-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3364636/hesai-rides-lidar-growth-smart-cars-gain-ground-despite-chinas-struggling-market Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:14 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US-China ‘Board of Investment’ stalls before expected Trump-Xi meeting The US-China Board of Investment, one of the key outcomes of the May summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is unlikely to be among the deliverables for their expected meeting next month... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364121/us-china-investment-chinese-schindler-dji-pentagon-battle-7-us-china-relations-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364121/us-china-investment-chinese-schindler-dji-pentagon-battle-7-us-china-relations-reads Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Han Li Han Li A US appeal court on Friday gave Chinese drone maker DJI another chance to challenge its inclusion on a Pentagon blacklist of companies allegedly linked to the Chinese military. DJI, a Shenzhen-based drone maker, has been engaged in a years-long legal battle with the US Department of Defence to be removed from the list. The latest ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit did not remove DJI from the list, but sent the case back to the lower court to reconsider one... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3364118/chinese-drone-maker-dji-gets-another-shot-pentagon-blacklist-removal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3364118/chinese-drone-maker-dji-gets-another-shot-pentagon-blacklist-removal Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:23:55 +0000 Sherry Wang,Coco Feng Sherry Wang,Coco Feng Tariffs of up to 100 per cent that Washington has announced on imported drones would result in a “lose-lose outcome” for the United States and China, analysts said, as the technology is increasingly taking centre stage in the countries’ tech and trade rivalry. The new levies will further complicate manufacturers’ efforts to shift production to third countries or regions, where supply chains are already affected by earlier trade restrictions imposed by both sides, they added. On Thursday, US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364062/china-trumps-new-drone-tariffs-threaten-deepen-trade-rift-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364062/china-trumps-new-drone-tariffs-threaten-deepen-trade-rift-us Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo To offset an ageing agricultural workforce and boost sustainable yields, China is aggressively accelerating the adoption of farm drones – a trend that analysts say could spread to more emerging markets despite trade restrictions imposed by the United States. Industry leader DJI said its global sales of agricultural drones had exceeded 700,000 units across China and more than 100 other countries and regions by the end of last month – more than a fivefold increase in just five years. Use of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362251/chinas-drone-farming-boom-eyes-emerging-markets-agriculture-automation-spreads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362251/chinas-drone-farming-boom-eyes-emerging-markets-agriculture-automation-spreads Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Beijing has launched a drone research hub in Tibet near Mount Everest in an effort to exploit its high-altitude advantage in the ongoing competition for technological dominance between the US and China. The Plateau Drone R&D Application Centre was recently unveiled by Xizang University, state news agency Xinhua reported earlier this month. Xizang is the official Chinese pinyin name for the Tibet autonomous region in western China. Situated on the Chinese side of the world’s highest peak, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362159/new-peak-us-china-tech-rivalry-tibet-drone-hub-launches-mount-everest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362159/new-peak-us-china-tech-rivalry-tibet-drone-hub-launches-mount-everest Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei For years, aerial drones frequently buzzed above the Huangpu River in Shanghai, capturing breathtaking views of one of China’s most iconic central business districts and the lights of thousands of homes. But the spectacular aerial photos that once defined one of the world’s largest commercial drone markets have now been heavily restricted along this picturesque stretch of the river, reflecting a nationwide tightening of rules on civilian drone use. Security concerns magnified by Ukraine’s drone... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361035/did-ukraine-war-spark-chinas-quiet-ban-most-civilian-drone-flights-cities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361035/did-ukraine-war-spark-chinas-quiet-ban-most-civilian-drone-flights-cities Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Photos and discussions about China’s recent use of heavy-duty drones to “airlift” villagers affected by flooding in Guangxi have gone viral but almost two decades ago, the disaster-prone country once relied on risky, low-tech means to fight natural calamities. China’s rapid tech advancement, represented by the development and deployment of drones, has helped it better handle emergencies, as shown by first responders rescuing residents from widespread rainstorms and floods since June. In the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3360449/viral-photos-heavy-duty-drones-rescuing-chinas-flood-victims-spark-debate https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3360449/viral-photos-heavy-duty-drones-rescuing-chinas-flood-victims-spark-debate Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:04:23 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng New restrictions on Chinese technology will come into effect in the US next month following a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision on legacy equipment used in the country’s public safety and telecommunications infrastructure. The upcoming rules, finalised late last week, will expand the current import ban to include older equipment models from major Chinese manufacturers, including Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua. While a ban in 2022 blocked new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358773/us-fcc-expands-import-ban-older-huawei-zte-gear-continued-crackdown-chinese-tech https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358773/us-fcc-expands-import-ban-older-huawei-zte-gear-continued-crackdown-chinese-tech Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Growing demand for pocket-sized imaging gadgets has allowed DJI and Insta360 to tighten their grip on the global smart camera market, with the two Chinese brands accounting for nearly 90 per cent of total shipments as they squeeze out US pioneer GoPro. Worldwide shipments of handheld smart cameras – defined by IDC as consumer-grade portable devices with onboard computing, stabilisation, and 2K-or-higher resolution – reached 4.14 million units in the first quarter, according to the market... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3358742/chinas-dji-insta360-tighten-grip-global-smart-camera-market-supply-chain-edge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3358742/chinas-dji-insta360-tighten-grip-global-smart-camera-market-supply-chain-edge Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, it confronts a new world order dominated by its relationship with China. In this wide-ranging series, we examine the pressure points and possibilities in those ties, from hard tech to soft power. Here, Khushboo Razdan separates the signals from the noise in the US debate over drones. Whether responding to a wildfire or searching for a missing person, Battalion Chief William Marsiglio of Chesterfield, Virginia, relies on one tool... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358331/us-banning-drones-china-until-it-can-make-better-ones-itself https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358331/us-banning-drones-china-until-it-can-make-better-ones-itself Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Chow Chung-yan Chow Chung-yan Our report that China’s landmark Pinglu Canal is set for trial operations in September was one of the most read the week it was published. Interestingly, most of those who read the report were from the United States, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. The report had three times as many Singaporean readers as local ones. I find this disparity concerning and not for reasons of editorial vanity. While the Pinglu Canal is a global story – representing one of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3355865/why-hong-kong-should-be-very-interested-pinglu-canal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3355865/why-hong-kong-should-be-very-interested-pinglu-canal Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Hilton Root Hilton Root The post-summit detente between Washington and Beijing has moved from diplomatic language to institutional design. Less than three weeks after the summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the US Trade Representative (USTR) asked companies to identify “non-sensitive” Chinese goods that might qualify for tariff relief under a new US-China Board of Trade. On the same day, the USTR also proposed Section 301 duties on imports from 60 economies, including China, after its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356369/how-drones-tariffs-and-rare-earths-could-test-us-china-detente https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356369/how-drones-tariffs-and-rare-earths-could-test-us-china-detente Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huaqiangbei, home to the world’s largest electronics marketplace in southern China’s tech hub Shenzhen, is reinventing itself as the world’s artificial intelligence showroom, drawing back foreign traders and tourists hunting for the latest gadgets. For first-time visitors like Abigail Slagveer from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the sheer scale of Huaqiangbei’s electronics market is overwhelming. “I came here one and a half hours ago through that front door,” she said, pointing to an entrance just... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3352938/chinas-huaqiangbei-bets-ai-innovations-revive-global-appeal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3352938/chinas-huaqiangbei-bets-ai-innovations-revive-global-appeal Sat, 09 May 2026 07:00:05 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm ZYT is edging closer to mass production of semi-autonomous trucks that can improve fuel efficiency and save logistics costs, likely to benefit the country’s manufacturing businesses amid a global energy crisis. The Shenzhen-based start-up, a spin-off from drone maker DJI, has formed partnerships with mainland China’s top six heavy-truck makers to produce models fitted with its navigation on autopilot (NOA) systems, with the first deliveries expected as early... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3352396/chinese-start-zyt-eyes-mass-production-semi-autonomous-trucks-year https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3352396/chinese-start-zyt-eyes-mass-production-semi-autonomous-trucks-year Mon, 04 May 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s top tech hub, Shenzhen, saw retail sales grow by just 0.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter after reporting gross domestic product growth of 5.8 per cent for the same period, casting a spotlight on its unbalanced development as mortgage and living costs weigh heavily on residents’ sentiment. A policy analyst said the city, in southern China’s Guangdong province, could have already seen retail sales decline if not for the rising number of bargain-hunters from Hong Kong crossing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang A sweeping rule change for drones in Beijing, which bars sales in the Chinese capital and requires identity registration linked to each device from Friday, has left sellers and consumers scrambling to cope with some of the country’s toughest regulations on the sector. At a flagship retail store operated by DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, in Beijing’s bustling Guomao area, a shop assistant said that the store had been preparing to clear its shelves of all drone products in accordance with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3352070/no-drone-zone-dji-consumers-grapple-beijing-sales-ban-and-registration-rule https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3352070/no-drone-zone-dji-consumers-grapple-beijing-sales-ban-and-registration-rule Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny 2. Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered? 3. Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies 4. 3 killed in Japanese Type 10 tank blast that has military... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3351509/dji-insta360-rivalry-nuclear-hint-chinas-next-carrier-5-weekend-reads-you-missed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3351509/dji-insta360-rivalry-nuclear-hint-chinas-next-carrier-5-weekend-reads-you-missed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:28:08 +0000 Iris Deng,Coco Feng Iris Deng,Coco Feng In the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a simmering rivalry between DJI and Insta360 has transformed their shared neighbourhood into a high-stakes corporate battleground. Both companies have long been hailed as the city’s poster children for Chinese innovation. DJI dominated the skies as the world’s undisputed leader in consumer drones, and Insta360 captured the niche market of panoramic cameras. Now they find themselves locked in a crosstown struggle for market supremacy that some say could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3351291/dji-duels-insta360-china-sharpens-global-hardware-edge-amid-us-scrutiny https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3351291/dji-duels-insta360-china-sharpens-global-hardware-edge-amid-us-scrutiny Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang As the new Communist Party chief of China’s southern manufacturing hub Shenzhen, Jin Lei is facing his first major test as the city prepares to host the Apec leaders’ summit in November. Beijing is seeking more cooperation with the bloc in areas like artificial intelligence, and the key regional forum is an opportunity to show the potential in tech-driven Shenzhen, where Jin took the helm last month. In recent weeks, the 56-year-old economist and former Sichuan official has been focused on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) is lagging behind China’s national average in basic research, despite showing strong potential in sectors such as semiconductors and smart manufacturing, according to Deloitte. The cluster of cities in southern China, which included Shenzhen, spent about 28.9 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) on basic research in 2024, accounting for just 5.67 per cent of total spending in research and development (R&D), the consulting firm said in a report... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng China’s DJI announced its first 360-degree drone on Thursday, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a nascent market segment that is now at the centre of an escalating patent war. The new product, the DJI Avata 360, marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography. The drone features a front-mounted omnidirectional camera capable of capturing high dynamic range (HDR) images at 8K resolution and 60 frames per second, according to official... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347983/dji-unveils-its-first-360-degree-drone-amid-patent-dispute-crosstown-rival-insta360 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347983/dji-unveils-its-first-360-degree-drone-amid-patent-dispute-crosstown-rival-insta360 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei aims to leverage geopolitics by positioning itself as an Asia-Pacific drone hub built on a supply chain decoupled from mainland China, though challenges relating to scale, politics and timing threaten its ambitious industrial strategy. The push reflects a broader effort by the administration of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te to position the island as a node in what officials have described as a “democratic supply chain” free of mainland Chinese components amid rising geopolitical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3347745/can-taiwan-fulfil-its-asia-pacific-drone-hub-goal-non-red-supply-chain-push https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3347745/can-taiwan-fulfil-its-asia-pacific-drone-hub-goal-non-red-supply-chain-push Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese drone giant DJI has filed a lawsuit against its crosstown rival Insta360 for alleged patent infringement, a move that was made public three days ahead of the launch of DJI’s first 360-degree drone, a niche pioneered by its smaller competitor. The lawsuit, filed recently with the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in the southern tech hub where both companies are based, involved six patents covering critical technologies including drone flight control, structural design and image... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347580/chinas-dji-sues-rival-insta360-alleged-patent-infringement-ahead-new-drone-launch https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347580/chinas-dji-sues-rival-insta360-alleged-patent-infringement-ahead-new-drone-launch Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China leads the world in patent applications for anti-drone technology, which has drawn heightened attention during the wars in Ukraine and Iran and a spate of suspicious sightings in the West, according to intellectual property law firm Mathys & Squire. Patent applications for anti-drone systems rose 27 per cent over the past year, with China submitting 82 compared with 22 from the US, the second-largest filer, the 115-year-old UK-based law firm said on Monday. South Korea ranked third with six... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3346874/china-leads-world-anti-drone-patents-us-and-south-korea-far-behind-law-firm-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3346874/china-leads-world-anti-drone-patents-us-and-south-korea-far-behind-law-firm-finds Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng A US trade panel investigating a patent dispute between GoPro and Chinese rival Insta360 found a violation involving design applied to outdated cameras of the Chinese firm, effectively allowing it to remain in the US market without any restrictions. The case centred on six patents held by GoPro. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Thursday determined violation of one patent relating to camera design, and issued orders “prohibiting the unlicensed importation by Insta360 of certain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3344875/us-trade-panel-rules-insta360-infringed-gopro-design-no-impact-current-offerings https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3344875/us-trade-panel-rules-insta360-infringed-gopro-design-no-impact-current-offerings Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has handed in a glowing report card of technological and economic development, surpassing Shanghai and Beijing as the nation’s largest manufacturing and exporting city while solidifying a lead in artificial intelligence and start-up cultivation, its mayor has revealed. Shenzhen’s economy grew from 2.83 trillion yuan in 2020 to 3.87 trillion yuan (US$560 billion) in 2025. The city’s annualised growth rate of 5.5 per cent over that period also... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3344481/shenzhen-dethrones-shanghai-beijing-chinas-top-industrial-powerhouse-mayor-boasts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3344481/shenzhen-dethrones-shanghai-beijing-chinas-top-industrial-powerhouse-mayor-boasts Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Chinese ⁠drone maker DJI said on Tuesday that it had ⁠filed suit challenging the US Federal Communications Commission decision to bar imports of all of its new models and critical components. The ban also includes products from Autel, another China-based drone maker. DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, said in a statement ‌it had challenged the FCC decision in the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. “It carelessly restricts DJI’s business in the US and summarily denies US customers access... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344513/chinese-drone-maker-dji-sues-challenge-us-import-ban-new-models https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344513/chinese-drone-maker-dji-sues-challenge-us-import-ban-new-models Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:07:46 +0000 Nicole Chan Nicole Chan Across social media, a curious phrase has been circulating: “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” It appears under videos of hotpot dinners, DHGate hauls, Chinese streetwear fits and users joking about switching their phone interfaces into Chinese “for the aesthetic”. It has even spawned an ecosystem of spin-offs: “Chinamaxxing”, “you will turn Chinese tomorrow” and countless posts where people half-joke about becoming “more Chinese” by the day. But beneath the humour of what looks... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342421/becoming-chinese-memes-reflect-world-shaped-chinas-ascent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342421/becoming-chinese-memes-reflect-world-shaped-chinas-ascent Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng In an intensifying giveaway war among artificial intelligence apps in China, TikTok parent ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot has joined the fray to offer robots and drones, following multibillion-yuan campaigns from Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings to hand out cash and bubble tea. ByteDance said on Tuesday that it planned to give more than 100,000 tech products as gifts, as well as red packets of up to 8,888 yuan (US$1,284), through lucky draws on the Doubao app on the eve of Lunar New... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3343104/bytedance-joins-alibaba-tencent-offer-freebies-bid-acquire-ai-app-users https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3343104/bytedance-joins-alibaba-tencent-offer-freebies-bid-acquire-ai-app-users Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:19 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese electronics companies Insta360 and Vivo are preparing aggressive moves into the gimbal-stabilised camera market, setting up a direct challenge to DJI’s dominance, though analysts warn the newcomers may struggle to match the drone maker’s entrenched content ecosystem. Insta360, a key rival to GoPro, is planning a handheld gimbal camera aimed at DJI’s popular Pocket series, currently slated for release in the first half of the year, according to people familiar with the matter. Separately,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3342930/insta360-vivo-challenge-djis-turf-eyeing-slice-gimbal-camera-boom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3342930/insta360-vivo-challenge-djis-turf-eyeing-slice-gimbal-camera-boom Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang,Coco Feng Ben Jiang,Coco Feng DJI, a dominant force in the global drone and camera-stabiliser markets that has come under siege from fierce competition and a protracted trade war, is navigating an unprecedented situation: as it grapples with expanded US tariffs and tightened scrutiny, products bearing striking resemblances to its own designs are emerging in the market under other brands. The next “clone” may be a wearable action camera – the Xtra ATTO – which is expected to enter the US market in the first half of the year.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/article/3341027/new-dji-clones-raise-eyebrows-china-tech-giant-battles-us-scrutiny https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/article/3341027/new-dji-clones-raise-eyebrows-china-tech-giant-battles-us-scrutiny Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The municipal government of Shanghai will open “free-to-fly” zones in the city for drones from February 1, as part of streamlined regulations designed to support the country’s development of a low-altitude economy. According to Shanghai’s new guidelines for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), consumer drones will be allowed to fly in certain “suitable airspace” in the city without prior declaration, provided these devices are registered. These include UAVs categorised as micro, light and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Aridge, the affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng formerly known as AeroHT, is likely to spearhead a listing bonanza of flying car businesses in Hong Kong as its share offering plan edges closer to the runway. The Guangzhou-based company, controlled by Xpeng co-founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, confidentially filed an initial public offering (IPO) plan with the Hong Kong stock exchange and hired JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley to underwrite the share sale, according to two people with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339601/xpengs-flying-car-unit-readies-hong-kong-ipo-take https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3339601/xpengs-flying-car-unit-readies-hong-kong-ipo-take Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:31:47 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan The US Commerce Department has revoked a plan to slap restrictions on Chinese drones, originally proposed to address national security concerns, the latest example of the Donald Trump administration avoiding actions that might fuel tensions ahead of a planned summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping this spring. “This decision underscores President Trump’s desire to sustain the trade framework that he and President Xi approved this past October and ensure a cordial meeting between the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339412/us-commerce-department-drops-plan-crack-down-chinese-drones https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339412/us-commerce-department-drops-plan-crack-down-chinese-drones Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:45:18 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The former autonomous driving unit at DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, is gearing up to serve the heavy vehicle industry in 2026, in the latest example of Chinese innovation spilling over from Big Tech firms to start-ups. Chinese self-driving tech firm ZYT plans to move into heavy-duty lorries and unmanned logistics vehicles, expanding its footprint from city streets to highways, as the race for commercialisation intensifies in the sector. The Shenzhen-based company, known as Zhuoyu, will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338311/former-dji-self-driving-unit-seeks-edge-adapting-drone-tech-lorries-logistics https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338311/former-dji-self-driving-unit-seeks-edge-adapting-drone-tech-lorries-logistics Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Chinese household appliances maker Dreame Technology will present gifts of gold and a trip to Antarctica to employees, on top of their year-end bonuses, as the company boosted its position as one of the world’s leading vendors of robot vacuum cleaners. The additional largesse was revealed over the weekend by Dreame founder and CEO Yu Hao in two WeChat Moments posts. Yu said every employee will receive a one-gram gold bonus in addition to their standard year-end payout. The company also planned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338029/chinese-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-gives-gifts-gold-and-trip-antarctica-employees https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3338029/chinese-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-gives-gifts-gold-and-trip-antarctica-employees Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:00:10 +0000