https://www.scmp.com/rss/328479/feed The latest technology policy news, analysis and opinion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zhou Xiaoming Zhou Xiaoming In global discourse, a script has been handed to us: the United States and China are locked in a “tech race”. But this is really a misnomer. True competition requires a level playing field. When one runner trips the other to ensure victory, it’s not a competition; it’s cheating. So, when Washington deploys an arsenal of sanctions, export controls and diplomatic strong-arming to hamstring China’s technological ascent, it is not competing. It is an act of suppression. This reflects a deliberate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352098/how-us-tech-hegemony-locking-out-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352098/how-us-tech-hegemony-locking-out-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Ran Guo Ran Guo At the end of March, China inaugurated the World Data Organisation in Beijing, a body with a stated mission of “bridging the data divide, unlocking data’s value and powering the digital economy”. The move is the latest signal of a broader trend: over the past several years, Beijing has developed a distinct data governance strategy to drive artificial intelligence (AI) development as it reshapes the terms of technological competition. Since late 2025, Beijing has pursued an aggressive AI adoption... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351972/world-may-find-itself-very-chinese-time-data-governance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351972/world-may-find-itself-very-chinese-time-data-governance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Zongshuai Fan Zongshuai Fan Driven by intensifying competition in advanced manufacturing, the world is waking up to “China shock 2.0”. The first “shock”, associated with China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, focused on low-tech manufacturing. Of course, this latest “shock” isn’t framed as such by Chinese policymakers. They present it as an upgrade in export strength, often described as a shift from the “old three” of textiles, furniture and home appliances to the “new three” of electric vehicles,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351863/beyond-subsidies-whats-really-driving-chinas-industrial-climb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351863/beyond-subsidies-whats-really-driving-chinas-industrial-climb?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Hong Kong has made “significant” progress in its bid to transform itself into a technology hub, according to a Chinese venture capital investor, whose firm was recently selected by the city to invest in local start-ups under a HK$2 billion (US$250 million) government initiative. “You can see fundamental, significant changes are indeed taking place,” said Steve Sun, founding managing partner of Dalton Venture, in an interview on Thursday. “I believe that over the next decade, Hong Kong can... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3352173/hong-kong-tech-hub-progress-significant-dalton-ventures-steve-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3352173/hong-kong-tech-hub-progress-significant-dalton-ventures-steve-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese robotaxi firms from Pony AI to WeRide are accelerating global roll-outs of commercial fleets, leveraging cost competitiveness from the country’s world-leading new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain and improved operational efficiency, company executives have said. China’s NEV supply chain had helped reduce the total cost of Pony AI’s upgraded seventh-generation robotaxi – including the base vehicle, battery and autonomous driving kit – to below 230,000 yuan (US$33,700), making it cheaper... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Coco Feng,Vincent Chow Coco Feng,Vincent Chow Beijing has blocked the proposed purchase by Meta Platforms of artificial intelligence firm Manus, a start-up that is officially registered in Singapore but developed its products in mainland China. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planner, announced the ruling in a statement on Monday, and asked the parties involved in the deal to cancel the transaction. Neither Meta nor Manus immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday. A... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351552/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe-thwarting-purchase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351552/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe-thwarting-purchase?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:18:45 +0000 Xiao Qian Xiao Qian The United States House Select Committee on China recently released a report on artificial intelligence. Titled “Buy What It Can, Steal What It Must: China’s Campaign to Acquire Frontier AI Capabilities”, it captures a hardening view in Washington that Beijing’s artificial intelligence rise is closely tied to both market access and security concerns. Whether fully substantiated or not, such beliefs are increasingly shaping the policy lens through which technology competition between the two... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350871/us-china-ai-race-must-strike-balance-between-security-and-openness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350871/us-china-ai-race-must-strike-balance-between-security-and-openness?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Behind China’s landmark crackdown on the e-commerce and food-delivery sectors lies a darker narrative of resistance, secrecy and violence, after regulators uncovered a vast network of “ghost” bakeries and imposed a record fine on seven major platforms. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) levied a 3.6 billion yuan (US$528 million) fine on seven platforms run by PDD Holdings, Meituan, JD.com, Alibaba Group Holding and ByteDance, with the probe revealing a hidden office, violent... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3350891/hidden-office-fractured-bone-violent-resistance-behind-chinas-record-food-safety-fine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3350891/hidden-office-fractured-bone-violent-resistance-behind-chinas-record-food-safety-fine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong There is a tendency to portray the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape as consisting of two bitter rivals – China and the United States. The remaining 80 per cent of the world’s population, by virtue of their supposed dearth of scale, research and other critical overheads, are purportedly followers with no agency. The reality is more complex. The emerging global AI order is neither unipolar nor strictly bipolar. Instead, it is characterised by a swathe of middle powers hedging their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350129/hong-kong-can-advance-ai-beyond-confines-geopolitical-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350129/hong-kong-can-advance-ai-beyond-confines-geopolitical-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s leading LED chipmaker and its Malaysian partner have abandoned their US$239 million cash offer to purchase Dutch technology company Lumileds Holding after opposition from US authorities, marking the latest setback for Chinese tech investment overseas following the high-profile Nexperia saga. Sanan Optoelectronics, listed in Shanghai, said in a disclosure announcement on Friday that despite multiple rounds of discussions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350520/chinese-led-chipmakers-purchase-dutch-firm-collapses-after-us-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350520/chinese-led-chipmakers-purchase-dutch-firm-collapses-after-us-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Wency Chen Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Wency Chen China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has levied more than 3.6 billion yuan (US$527.3 million) in fines on seven e-commerce and food delivery platforms and their representatives following an investigation, the regulator announced on Friday. SAMR said the seven platforms, which included retail and food delivery mainstays Pinduoduo (PDD), Meituan and JD.com, failed to properly verify food vendor licences and knowingly allowed unverified “ghost” catering services to operate. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3350444/chinas-e-commerce-platforms-hit-36b-yuan-fine-food-safety-violations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3350444/chinas-e-commerce-platforms-hit-36b-yuan-fine-food-safety-violations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:11:57 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Silicon photonic computing chips – long overlooked in the artificial intelligence hardware stack – are emerging as a new focal point in mainland China’s semiconductor push, as domestic companies move towards public listings amid intensifying US-China competition and surging demand for next-generation computing infrastructure. Shanghai-based Lightelligence, the first company globally to achieve large-scale deployment of hybrid optical-electronic computing, passed its Hong Kong listing hearing on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350183/lightelligence-track-ipo-plans-chinas-ai-photonics-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350183/lightelligence-track-ipo-plans-chinas-ai-photonics-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:31 +0000 Jeffrey Wu Jeffrey Wu A quiet but consequential shift is reshaping the global artificial intelligence competition, and it has little to do with which country builds the most powerful model. Jensen Huang did not mean to describe a geopolitical strategy. But when Nvidia’s chief executive declared, “Your workload is inference, your tokens are your commodity, and that compute is your revenue,” he was articulating, from the supply side, something China had concluded from the other direction. To understand why, start with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349947/us-controls-chips-ai-race-china-controls-scoreboard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349947/us-controls-chips-ai-race-china-controls-scoreboard?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s internet regulator has introduced new rules for live stream tipping, banning children under eight from the practice and introducing a tiered system for older minors, as part of a broader effort to curb manipulative inducements and irrational spending behaviour. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced the live-streaming regulations on Monday after unveiling them on April 4, banning platforms from allowing children under eight to tip content creators. Under a new tiered... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349912/china-curbs-live-stream-tipping-new-rules-protect-minors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349912/china-curbs-live-stream-tipping-new-rules-protect-minors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:49 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has launched a national action plan to embed AI across its education system, in a strategic push to future-proof its workforce amid intensifying global competition in advanced technologies. The “AI+ Education” action plan, unveiled by the Ministry of Education and four other ministerial-level bodies, mandates the integration of artificial intelligence at every stage of learning – from primary schools to lifelong education. The initiative builds on China’s long-term education plan to the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349832/amid-fierce-global-competition-china-launches-national-plan-boost-ai-education?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349832/amid-fierce-global-competition-china-launches-national-plan-boost-ai-education?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:57:32 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Artificial intelligence has emerged as the driving force behind global trade growth, fuelled by a surge in data-centre buildouts at a time when geopolitical tensions are redrawing trade flows, according to McKinsey & Company. Global trade grew 6.5 per cent last year, outpacing the world economy, with AI-linked goods accounting for about one-third of that increase, McKinsey’s research showed. The category – including semiconductors, graphics cards, routers and servers – has been propelled by the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3349424/ai-fuels-global-trade-growth-china-us-flows-shift-mckinsey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3349424/ai-fuels-global-trade-growth-china-us-flows-shift-mckinsey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Chinese artificial intelligence company Zhipu AI open-sourced its latest flagship model, GLM-5.1, on Wednesday while raising application programming interface prices by 10 per cent, signalling a shift towards monetising advanced AI capabilities as competition with US rivals intensifies. The move marked Zhipu’s second price increase this year, following a broader overhaul in February that lifted rates for its coding subscription plans by more than 30 per cent. While the latest adjustment was more... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349422/chinas-zhipu-ai-open-sources-flagship-model-raises-prices-narrow-gap-us-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349422/chinas-zhipu-ai-open-sources-flagship-model-raises-prices-narrow-gap-us-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:27 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow DeepSeek has introduced new “instant” and “expert” modes to its chatbot, the most significant update to its user interface since the Hangzhou-based start-up gained global recognition. The changes come ahead of the much-anticipated release of DeepSeek’s next-generation flagship model V4 this month, more than a year after its R1 version made it a household name. On Tuesday, the company added the two modes to its website and mobile app, giving users the choice of settings. Instant mode was designed... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349345/chinas-deepseek-adds-instant-and-expert-chatbot-modes-ahead-much-awaited-v4-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349345/chinas-deepseek-adds-instant-and-expert-chatbot-modes-ahead-much-awaited-v4-release?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Traditional corporate culture and hierarchies are slowing down artificial intelligence adoption in Chinese enterprises, leaving them trailing their US peers, even as China’s savvy consumers embrace AI agents at a breakneck pace, says Zack Kass, former head of go-to-market at OpenAI. China has a very “techno-centric consumer”, while the US has a very “techno-centric enterprise”, Kass told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview. Highlighting this contrast, Kass said typical Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese companies engaging in artificial intelligence activities are required to set up internal “AI ethics review committees” under new rules released by Beijing on Thursday, effective immediately. The notice comes as policymakers look to ensure that fast-paced AI progress can continue in a “healthy” manner amid growing consumer and enterprise adoption. Jointly released by 10 government bodies and institutions including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Development... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:54:53 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As global supply volatility intensifies, Premier Li Qiang has called for faster development of a “new-type power system” to accelerate the green transition and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. During a three-day visit to the southwestern province of Sichuan, Li stressed the need to expand green electricity supply and optimise the energy mix to bolster security and support economic growth. He urged market players to explore new grid architectures, improve system-wide... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:10:42 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Apple’s accidental roll-out on Tuesday of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature in mainland China – which has yet to receive regulatory approval – before swiftly pulling it could raise the ire of regulators and expose the US tech giant to potential penalties, an industry expert warned. The brief release could have violated local rules on artificial intelligence security evaluations, algorithm filings and data protection, according to You Yunting, a Shanghai-based intellectual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:39 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen A string of Chinese analogue chipmakers have announced price increases in step with their international peers, as a broader pricing wave sweeps across the semiconductor supply chain – a shift that analysts say could hand China’s mature-node producers a rare window to gain ground. Novosense Microelectronics, SG Micro, Fortior Technology, Halo Microelectronics, Silan Micro and Kiwi Instruments are among the domestic firms recently raising prices, in line with global leaders including Texas... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348284/chinese-analogue-chipmakers-join-wave-global-price-rises-mature-node-firms-eye-gains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348284/chinese-analogue-chipmakers-join-wave-global-price-rises-mature-node-firms-eye-gains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow ByteDance has bolstered its controversial video-generation model Seedance 2.0 with “advanced” watermarking and intellectual property (IP) protection guardrails ahead of its global roll-out, the TikTok owner has said. The much-anticipated international release comes amid intense scrutiny from Hollywood studios over alleged IP theft after numerous Seedance-generated videos featuring famous Hollywood actors and characters went viral in February. On Wednesday, ByteDance said its global safety and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348290/bytedance-bolsters-seedance-20-watermarking-ip-safeguards-ahead-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348290/bytedance-bolsters-seedance-20-watermarking-ip-safeguards-ahead-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Elina Noor Elina Noor On March 1, after Israel and the United States initiated attacks against Iran, Amazon Web Services reported drone strikes against data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The strikes caused structural damage to the company’s infrastructure, impairing cloud services for those countries. Iran warned that US tech companies with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Nvidia and Oracle, were on Tehran’s list of “legitimate targets” for countermeasures. Strikes on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3347725/ai-infrastructure-front-line-lessons-asean-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3347725/ai-infrastructure-front-line-lessons-asean-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 21:30:10 +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/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Shares of Chinese short-video platform Kuaishou fell more than 13 per cent to HK$45.96 by midday in Hong Kong on Thursday, a day after reporting strong sales growth, as analysts warned that its core advertising and live-streaming businesses could face mounting pressure this year. The sharp decline reflected investor concerns over a cautious growth outlook for the Beijing-based firm, compounded by its heavy spending on artificial intelligence, according to Zhang Xueru, an analyst at investment... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:28:50 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China is stepping up its efforts to build Beijing and its environs, along with other major city clusters, into “international technological innovation centres”, according to a high-ranking official – part of the country’s accelerated push for tech self-sufficiency. Speaking at the opening of the state-backed Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said the country would intensify its campaign to achieve “high-level self-reliance in science and technology”... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347816/china-names-beijing-other-city-clusters-global-tech-hubs-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347816/china-names-beijing-other-city-clusters-global-tech-hubs-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:15:20 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Tencent Holdings is rolling out a “ClawBot” plug-in for China’s most popular app WeChat as it seeks to capitalise on the OpenClaw craze, even as authorities continue to warn about risks. The move announced on Sunday will allow WeChat’s more than 1 billion monthly active users to command their OpenClaw artificial intelligence agents directly through the app, which is deeply embedded in daily life in China. In recent weeks, almost every Chinese tech giant has announced new offerings based on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen “Tokens are the new commodity,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, clad in his iconic leather jacket, at the company’s annual flagship developer conference, GTC, last week in San Jose, California. The chip designer’s helmsman wants to recast his company not as a silicon vendor but as the architect of what he calls “AI [artificial intelligence] factories”, whose standard product is “token”. While Nvidia is busy writing the rules of a new token economy, a parallel debate is emerging in China around the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347495/how-china-could-dominate-ai-eras-tokenomics-vast-power-grids-and-low-cost-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347495/how-china-could-dominate-ai-eras-tokenomics-vast-power-grids-and-low-cost-models?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:22 +0000 Themis Qi,Julie Zhang Themis Qi,Julie Zhang Chinese authorities have renewed their push for stricter oversight of the electric vehicle (EV) market, urging carmakers to move away from aggressive discounting and focus instead on technological innovation. The directive comes as domestic manufacturers struggle with cooling demand and the phasing out of long-standing government subsidies. At a high-level meeting on March 17, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and the State... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347145/china-presses-ev-makers-end-price-war-and-focus-innovation-demand-cools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347145/china-presses-ev-makers-end-price-war-and-focus-innovation-demand-cools?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:50:48 +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/tech/article/3346874/china-leads-world-anti-drone-patents-us-and-south-korea-far-behind-law-firm-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346874/china-leads-world-anti-drone-patents-us-and-south-korea-far-behind-law-firm-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency is shifting from broad aspiration to a precision strike on chokepoint materials, with photoresist – the light-sensitive chemical essential for etching microscopic circuits onto silicon wafers – emerging as a new battlefield. The sector, which provides the key material for lithography, was expected to enter a critical stage of “accelerated breakthroughs and large-scale application” over the coming years, according to Fu Zhiwei, chairman of Xuzhou... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346555/precision-strike-china-targets-us-japan-stranglehold-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346555/precision-strike-china-targets-us-japan-stranglehold-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Wency Chen,Ann Cao Wency Chen,Ann Cao A wave of caution is sweeping through China’s financial and state institutions over OpenClaw, the open-source artificial intelligence (AI) agent that has recently gone viral. Several brokerages, banks and government bodies have moved to restrict staff access. At one of China’s leading brokerages, an employee, who asked not to be named, said the firm had issued an explicit risk warning earlier this week, banning OpenClaw from company computers. Staff who had already installed it were told to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346331/chinas-financial-institutions-regulators-draw-line-openclaw-ai-frenzy-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346331/chinas-financial-institutions-regulators-draw-line-openclaw-ai-frenzy-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:20:55 +0000 Clarissa Lui Clarissa Lui In late February, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data co-signed, alongside 60 overseas organisations, a statement to bring attention to the rising misuse of deepfakes. With rapid technological developments, growing AI integration and lower barriers to access, swift action is needed to safeguard women and girls against growing forms of technology-facilitated violence. Technology-facilitated violence is not new; it has simply evolved. What began as pre-internet... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346126/make-ai-safe-put-women-and-girls-heart-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346126/make-ai-safe-put-women-and-girls-heart-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma China’s computer chip exports surged 72.6 per cent in the first two months of the year, far outpacing broad export growth, as technological advances help the country tap into a demand boom fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI). Shipments of integrated circuits totalled US$43.3 billion, with volumes jumping 13.7 per cent to 52.5 billion units, according to customs data released on Tuesday. Overall exports rose by 21.8 per cent, the most in four years. Memory chip prices have surged worldwide... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3346219/chinas-ai-led-technology-drive-carries-hidden-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3346219/chinas-ai-led-technology-drive-carries-hidden-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:00:21 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Some local governments in China have rushed to support the adoption of OpenClaw, the artificial intelligence agent sweeping the country, even as warnings about privacy and security risks linger in the background. In Shenzhen, China’s southern tech hub, the AI and robotics agency of Longgang district published a draft on Saturday proposing sweeping measures, including subsidies of up to 2 million yuan (US$290,000) for approved projects. The initiative came a day after nearly a thousand people... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345986/chinese-local-governments-offer-openclaw-project-subsidies-security-questions-linger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345986/chinese-local-governments-offer-openclaw-project-subsidies-security-questions-linger?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:30:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Mia Nurmamat,Coco Feng Xiaofei Xu,Mia Nurmamat,Coco Feng China has outlined a basket of measures to support its technology sector, from creating a more flexible and inclusive fundraising ecosystem to boosting demand for hi-tech products. During a high-profile press conference in Beijing, the country’s top economic officials laid out plans to deepen reforms to ChiNext – China’s board for start-ups – and make it easier and quicker for companies to refinance. “Technological innovation requires high investment, long cycles, and carries significant risks,”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345764/china-pledges-full-support-tech-sector-broad-range-new-policies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345764/china-pledges-full-support-tech-sector-broad-range-new-policies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:05:08 +0000 Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao China’s policymakers want the digital economy to account for 12.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030, as Beijing accelerates its push to build a modern industrial system anchored in advanced manufacturing. The goal represents a significant increase from the 10.5 per cent share achieved in 2025, which was announced on Thursday during the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings and exceeded the initial target. A large part of China’s digital economy – activities facilitated by data,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Vincent Chow,Wency Chen,Enoch Yiu Vincent Chow,Wency Chen,Enoch Yiu Beijing has emphasised the safe and orderly development of artificial intelligence amid growing global anxiety about the disruptive impact of the rapidly advancing technology, as the country’s leaders put the final stamp of approval on China’s next five-year plan at this year’s “two sessions”. The 15th five-year plan elevates China’s AI Plus initiative as a top national priority, according to a draft version of the document submitted for review to the National People’s Congress, China’s top... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345586/chinas-five-year-plan-emphasises-orderly-ai-development-amid-global-tech-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345586/chinas-five-year-plan-emphasises-orderly-ai-development-amid-global-tech-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:30:08 +0000 Wency Chen,Ann Cao Wency Chen,Ann Cao China’s tech leaders, including Xiaomi’s Lei Jun, 360 Security Technology’s Zhou Hongyi and Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng, have put forward policy proposals ahead of the “two sessions”, as Beijing seeks to accelerate development in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The executives aim to promote the industrial use of humanoid robots, speed up the deployment of AI agents and expand computing infrastructure – areas increasingly viewed as key battlegrounds in the global... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:37:05 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi On the eve of the Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television broadcasts, delivered more than just festive entertainment. It served as a high-definition manifesto of China’s “embodied AI” supremacy. International observers, from Reuters to El Pais, watched as humanoid robots from start-ups such as Unitree performed complex martial arts, backflips and synchronised dances. As Beijing-based tech analyst Poe Zhao noted, these humanoids represent the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344742/how-us-ceded-robotics-economy-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344742/how-us-ceded-robotics-economy-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Artificial intelligence has become a stronger force on the battlefield, with the US military’s use of AI-assisted strikes on Iran underscoring what analysts say is the “urgency” for China to accelerate its push for tech self-reliance. The US Department of Defence deployed Anthropic’s systems in the Iran campaign even after their deal collapsed, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The technology was used for intelligence assessments, target identification and battle... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Adam Au Adam Au In January, Hong Kong’s financial regulator warned the public about an unlicensed “AI-based quantum high-frequency trading” scheme. While this was a case of old-school fraud dressed in new-tech clothing, it highlighted a deeper truth: where sophisticated technology meets finance, the potential for both innovation and harm grows exponentially. The real challenge is not these crude scams, but the legitimate, powerful AI agents now arriving in the marketplace. When this digital delegate makes a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344608/ai-agents-advance-hong-kong-should-shape-rules-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344608/ai-agents-advance-hong-kong-should-shape-rules-now?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow WeRide, one of China’s big three robotaxi companies, has cut research and development (R&D) costs by “millions” of US dollars by using artificial intelligence to train its fleet in virtual worlds, its CEO said. While rivals had also developed AI models simulating the physical world, WeRide’s efforts stood out as it was using its world model Genesis to support its global expansion strategy, said Tony Han. “It’s the first real marriage between physical AI and generative AI,” Han told the South... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:38 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Nvidia has yet to generate any revenue from its H200 chips in China and does not know if any sales will be allowed in the country, the company said, as the US chip giant reported record quarterly revenue on surging demand for data centre processors. While the Santa Clara-based tech giant remains the primary beneficiary of the global generative artificial intelligence boom, its ability to navigate the US-China tech war has become a challenge, with the pipeline for the H200 – Nvidia’s second-most... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344663/china-freeze-h200-chip-sales-clouds-nvidias-record-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344663/china-freeze-h200-chip-sales-clouds-nvidias-record-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:00:05 +0000 Gerui Wang Gerui Wang The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television events, featured a dazzling array of humanoid robots. They performed martial arts, executed intricate sword dances and even took part in a comedy skit alongside human celebrities. While parts of the world still view humanoid robots with a mixture of fear and suspicion, as potential job-stealers or sci-fi villains, China is increasingly embracing them as partners in work, entertainment and daily life. Amid the escalating... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan I travelled to Zurich, Switzerland, last month to attend the Asia Leaders Series, a forum designed to foster candid exchange between Europe and Asia, offering policymakers, economists and business leaders a trusted setting to engage seriously with global challenges. The event took place on the eve of the World Economic Forum meeting. I was asked to moderate a session on a topic that was hardly novel: US-China rivalry. I approached the event with modest expectations. Strategic competition between... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343913/us-and-china-can-again-find-common-ground-ais-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343913/us-and-china-can-again-find-common-ground-ais-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Eric Stryson Eric Stryson Artificial intelligence (AI) is eroding the very capabilities young professionals need to remain valuable in a machine-automated era. That is the real challenge facing graduates entering the workforce. It is not simply a case of AI destroying jobs – though it is – but that it is undermining our cognitive and interpersonal skills. The numbers are starting to confirm what we suspected. Hong Kong graduates in 2025 found 55 per cent fewer job opportunities than the year before. Over 12 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3343333/how-recent-graduates-entering-job-market-can-outperform-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3343333/how-recent-graduates-entering-job-market-can-outperform-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Chee Yik-wai Chee Yik-wai After a series of roller-coaster rides in financial markets, serious concerns remain about the long-term profitability of major artificial intelligence (AI) companies that mostly rely on circular financing – investing in each other to prop up demand. This volatility is worrisome when many Americans’ retirement pensions are closely tied to AI stocks, which have contributed to 80 per cent of the US stock market’s rise and 40 per cent of US GDP growth last year. Amid fears of a bubble, polls... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342808/china-leading-holistic-ai-development-can-us-catch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342808/china-leading-holistic-ai-development-can-us-catch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:30:08 +0000