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China technology

China technology
Latest news, features and opinion on China’s technology industry, including AI, the US-China tech war, 5G, smartphone makers and apps, and issues surrounding China’s Great Firewall.
United States Vice-President J.D. Vance has proposed creating a new critical mineral trading bloc and coordinating pricing floors as Washington tries to loosen China’s control over rare earth mineral manufacturing. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

US pitches critical minerals plan to allies to halt Beijing’s dominance

More than 50 countries encouraged to back US-led framework using price floors and financing to blunt Beijing’s control of hi-tech materials.

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US-China relations

US and China defence sectors emerge as key battlegrounds in the race for AI

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Alibaba

From chatbots to replays: Alibaba rolls out AI suite for 2026 Winter Olympics

China airliners

New brainer: China’s C929 widebody lands partner to power next-gen flight mind

After Comac secures core flight-system supplier for its widebody jet’s ‘brain’, sourcing the ‘heart’ of the C929 remains a lofty challenge.

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A model of China’s in-development C929 aircraft is displayed at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
United States

Opinion | Chilling effect of US outbound investment rules will extend beyond China

Outbound investment rules introduced last year are expanding and hardening into law, chilling US investment across Asia’s tech ecosystems.

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Artificial intelligence

China’s chip champion Moore Threads sees beyond silicon with push into AI coding

Moore Threads is betting on AI coding software to complement its flagship GPU, as the battle for developer tools intensifies.

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Artificial intelligence

When context is everything, AI models still struggle in the real world: Tencent

Despite rapid advances, today’s top AI models are still “brittle” in messy, real-world environments, according to new Tencent research.

Tencent research says that AI models will remain ‘brittle’ until contextual learning is conquered. Photo: Shutterstock
Tencent

Tencent’s giveaway campaign for AI chatbot Yuanbao blocked – by WeChat

Units clash as super app blocks links from AI chatbot’s US$144 million promotion for ‘impacting user experience and causing harassment’.

Artificial intelligence

Chinese AI firms defend safety practices, push back on Western criticism

Chinese developers stress cultural context in AI safety, as domestic models narrow the gap with their US rivals to the closest level yet.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla, Xiaomi vie for Chinese EV buyers with cheaper, longer loans

Low interest rates and seven-year payback periods replace price discounts while EV sales drop and materials costs rise.

A potential buyer discusses a Tesla YL with a staff member in a showroom in Beijing on February 3, 2026. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Funding surge powers Chinese robotics firms as focus shifts to humanoid ‘brains’

State-backed funds, Big Tech drive fresh capital into robotics companies, betting on operating systems that underpin humanoid intelligence.

A humanoid robot at the Beijng World of Robots. A new wave of firms is emerging with capital directed towards robotic software and operating systems. Photo: Xinhua
China airliners

How a regulatory change could help China’s C919 jet take on Airbus and Boeing

Chinese regulators have opened the door to letting the C919 use narrow runways, which could boost the plane’s prospects in Southeast Asia.

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Artificial intelligence

Compact AI model from China’s StepFun outshines rivals from DeepSeek, Moonshot

StepFun says its lightweight model Step 3.5 Flash aims to redefine efficiency and reasoning in China’s growing AI race.

China GDP

China’s financial powerhouse Shanghai aims for 5% growth, ‘global influence’

Chinese megacity ranks in the world’s five most powerful metros after New York, Tokyo and Los Angeles, with a GDP of 5.67 trillion yuan.

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People walk at the Bund by the Huangpu river with skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district in the background, in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters
China economy

Opinion | China’s real constraint is where to direct limited fiscal resources

With Beijing focusing on spending priorities, Asian investors and businesses must watch which provinces, sectors and state firms are favoured.

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An employee works on a production line at a motorcycle company in Tongren city, in southwest China’s Guizhou province, on January 27. As part of its industrial upgrading, China must direct sustained state financing to support semiconductor ecosystems, advanced manufacturing and strategic technologies. Photo: Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

‘Value for money’: OpenClaw picks Chinese AI models for cost edge over US rivals

OpenClaw adds Moonshot AI’s Kimi and MiniMax as Chinese open-source AI models gain global appeal for cost and performance.

China-Latin America relations

China’s Chalco, Rio Tinto buy Brazil’s CBA for US$886 million to secure minerals

Acquisition of Brazilian flagship aluminium firm reinforces China’s growing footprint in the country’s strategic mineral assets sector.

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China's population

China’s brain gain: overseas grads plug into domestic frontiers, powering future

Record jump in returnees seen reflecting confidence in some domestic opportunities, particularly in areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing.

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A rising percentage of overseas-educated talent is returning to China to work after earning foreign degrees. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Red packet rumble: will Tencent’s cash giveaway work again in crowded AI market?

Analysts say strong competition from ByteDance, DeepSeek, Ant Group and Alibaba may prevent Tencent’s Yuanbao from repeating WeChat glory.

Science

China’s first-of-kind ABF crystal creates most energised solid-state laser beam

Breakthrough could open possibilities in quantum computing, space platforms, precision manufacturing and the chip industry.

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Robotics

Video | World’s first ‘biomimetic AI robot’ debuts in Shanghai

The robot, which is able to replicate human micro-expressions and walking postures, will be priced at 1.2 million yuan (US$173,000).

The robot, which is able to replicate human micro-expressions and walking postures, will be priced at 1.2 million yuan (US$173,000)
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China manufacturing

Stern rebuke: China shrugs off 2025 US threats to anchor shipbuilding dominance

Despite a market share dip, Chinese yards extend their commanding lead in key indicators, as high exports and lengthy backlogs signal resilience despite rivals’ gains.

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A vessel is seen under construction at a ship-building facility in China’s Jiangsu province on January 27. Photo: Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s Qwen ramps up AI app race with Spring Festival giveaway blitz

Alibaba unveils US$432 million campaign to push mass-market adoption of its AI as rivalry with Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance intensifies.

China airliners

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

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Artificial intelligence

China’s AI labs race to debut latest models before Lunar New Year

More firms expected to follow Alibaba and Moonshot with model releases, as the festival becomes a key period to establish visibility.

A mobile phone’s screen shows the logo of China’s Zhipu AI in Beijing on January 21, 2026. Photo: AFP
China trade

New expansion rules: Chinese firms seeking salvation abroad urged to ‘go local’

Industry stalwarts such as Gree stress cultural integration and warn against exporting insular enclaves – in other words, leave the personal chef behind.

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Many Chinese enterprises face a climate of rising geopolitical risks, and these affect how they do business abroad. Photo: Xinhua
Robotics

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

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US-China relations

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

As generative music tools surge, China turns to state oversight while the US relies on courts, copyright suits and settlements.

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