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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.
Alibaba Cloud staff working at one of the venues for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. Photo: Handout
Alibaba

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

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled AI assistants for the 2026 Winter Olympics, integrating its Qwen model into Games operations.

China airliners

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

United States

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

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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.

Moore Threads’ MTT S400 GPU. Photo: Handout
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

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’.

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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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Concerns about the risks of Chinese AI models held back some global users from adopting them, with DeepSeek banned or restricted in more than 10 countries. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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.

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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A C919 passenger jet performs a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow in 2024. Photo: Xinhua
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.

Chinese AI developers are rushing to launch new models around the Lunar New Year to capitalise on the festive season. Photo: Shutterstock
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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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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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.

Chinese open-source AI models, including Moonshot AI’s Kimi, are known for their competitive pricing. Photo: Shutterstock
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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A worker checks coiled aluminium plates at a factory in China’s eastern Shandong province. China’s aluminium giant Chalco and Rio Tinto have agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Brazilian flagship aluminium firm CBA. Photo: Imaginechina
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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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.

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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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The ammonium fluorooxoborate (ABF) crystal is at the heart of a breakthrough by Chinese scientists who say they have attained the shortest wavelength of a laser beam generated from a crystal. Photo: Handout
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).

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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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.

Alibaba’s Spring Festival campaign will be launched across its ecosystem that includes shopping platform Taobao and on-demand retail and food-delivery service Shangou. Photo: Simon Song
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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Models of C19 and C929 aircraft are displayed during the eighth China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
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.

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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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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Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is seen on display at a company showroom in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Shutterstock
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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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
E-commerce

China slaps US$3.7 million fine on Kuaishou for live-streaming e-commerce breach

The penalty reflects a broader regulatory crackdown on content and operations deemed undesirable or harmful on Chinese online platforms.

Semiconductors

China’s Wingtech, owner of Nexperia, expects wider loss amid row over chipmaker

Wingtech projects a loss of up to US$1.9 billion in 2025, owing to the Dutch government’s takeover of Nexperia.

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