China’s heat engine, counter-sanction on US biotech: SCMP daily highlights
From Chinese social media reeling about Covid to rail contracts in East Africa, here’s a round-up from today’s China and economy coverage
1. China’s first counter-sanction on US biotech industry a turning point in tech war
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday the inclusion of a major US biotech company on its “unreliable entity list” while stating that the firm’s “discriminatory measures against Chinese enterprises” harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
2. Thailand approves China rail link plan in boost to bilateral ties
Following in the successful tracks of a railway linking China and Laos, Thailand’s cabinet gave the green light to US$10.2 billion project, with construction set to be completed by 2030.
3. From ‘robot school’ to DeepSeek, how China leads the charge for tech supremacy
DeepSeek, a half-marathon of running robots, and ‘sexbot’ advancements are just the tip of the iceberg as China goes all-in on innovation that will reshape local economies. Humanoid robots lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing and embodied intelligence – fields critical to China’s aspiration for global technological supremacy.