https://www.scmp.com/rss/501904/feed Semiconductors are the cornerstone technology of the information age. These tiny electronic devices, usually smaller than a postage stamp, power the modern economy by acting as data-processing brains for products, from smartphones to cars and spacecraft. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding expects its annualised recurring revenue from AI models and applications to hit 30 billion yuan (US$4.42 billion) by the year’s end, as the company ramps up its AI commitment. AI products are projected to generate more than 50 per cent of Alibaba’s cloud-computing revenue within the next year, as the tech giant looks to step up its AI monetisation efforts. Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming said the company was likely to “overshoot” the original capital-expenditure target of 380... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353451/alibaba-ai-revenue-logs-triple-digit-growth-11th-quarter-amid-strategic-reshuffle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353451/alibaba-ai-revenue-logs-triple-digit-growth-11th-quarter-amid-strategic-reshuffle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:57:52 +0000 Coco Feng,Ji Siqi Coco Feng,Ji Siqi Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has joined US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week – boarding Air Force One during a stop en route to Beijing – with Trump dismissing earlier reports that the tech leader had been snubbed as “incorrect”. The White House confirmed that Huang had boarded Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. It added that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was also travelling on the presidential plane. “Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353346/nvidias-jensen-huang-joins-trumps-trip-china-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353346/nvidias-jensen-huang-joins-trumps-trip-china-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 02:06:44 +0000 Howard Liu Howard Liu Chinese chip designer Loongson Technology has shipped more than 1 million units of its flagship desktop processor, marking a milestone for China’s efforts to build a self-sufficient semiconductor industry and move domestic central processing units (CPUs) beyond basic usability towards broader commercial adoption. The 3A6000 processor, designed for desktop computers, was built on Loongson’s self-developed LoongArch instruction set architecture, proprietary IP cores, and domestic manufacturing... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3353309/loongsons-flagship-chip-hits-1-million-units-boosting-chinas-tech-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3353309/loongsons-flagship-chip-hits-1-million-units-boosting-chinas-tech-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 23:30:05 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Driven by global appetite for artificial intelligence, China’s computing hardware exports have emerged as a pivotal new engine for growth, providing Beijing with strategic leverage as US tech titans accompany President Donald Trump on a high-stakes visit to the Chinese capital this week, according to analysts. Chinese trade received another significant boost from the technology sector in April, as integrated circuit (IC) export value doubled year on year to US$31.09 billion, according to data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353300/ai-engine-chinas-booming-tech-exports-give-beijing-wind-its-sails-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353300/ai-engine-chinas-booming-tech-exports-give-beijing-wind-its-sails-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 15:30:05 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao The founder of China’s largest contract chipmaker has urged the country’s semiconductor industry to pursue breakthroughs in niche markets such as mature chips, citing their importance for “supply chain security”. Richard Chang Rugin, 78, former CEO of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), cautioned against blindly chasing industry hype around cutting-edge process nodes. The industry veteran stressed the value of investing in mature nodes and specialty processes, which accounted... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353188/chinese-chip-pioneer-calls-focus-pragmatic-breakthroughs-over-chasing-2nm-hype?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353188/chinese-chip-pioneer-calls-focus-pragmatic-breakthroughs-over-chasing-2nm-hype?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:30:06 +0000 Ann Cao,Ji Siqi Ann Cao,Ji Siqi US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In this story, part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we examine how artificial intelligence (AI), chip controls and competing technology ecosystems are redefining US-China rivalry. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353180/chinas-ai-ascent-leaves-trump-stark-choice-escalate-or-relax-chip-controls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353180/chinas-ai-ascent-leaves-trump-stark-choice-escalate-or-relax-chip-controls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies’ little-known chip research lab has been thrust into the national spotlight as Beijing flexes its technology muscles ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China later this week. The Chip Fundamental Technology Research Laboratory was featured for the first time on national television on Friday, when Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei hosted Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang at the firm’s Lianqiu Lake campus in Shanghai, according to footage aired on China Central... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3353161/huaweis-secretive-chip-lab-featured-prime-time-tv-ahead-trumps-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3353161/huaweis-secretive-chip-lab-featured-prime-time-tv-ahead-trumps-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called for stability with Beijing days before US President Donald Trump’s closely watched trip to China, saying the US was not out to reshape the Chinese economy but to rebalance trade. The trade chief told Fox News on Friday that while the world’s two largest economies “always had a really robust trading relationship … it’s been wildly unbalanced with China exporting just vast amounts of goods to the United States and largely blocking a lot of US imports... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 18:57:54 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin At a New York City ballroom late last month, a crowd of hi-tech luminaries gathered at an honours ceremony. The biggest draw for the assembled tech geniuses was Nvidia founder Jensen Huang, the superstar head of one of the world’s most valuable companies, set to receive the night’s top award. In some ways, engineers have been at the centre of every industrial revolution, Huang told the crowd, from steam to electricity to information technology. But this one, artificial intelligence (AI), will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352950/china-and-us-ai-revolution-race-tech-rivals-battle-global-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352950/china-and-us-ai-revolution-race-tech-rivals-battle-global-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 14:01:56 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Chipmaking giant Nvidia’s deepening partnership with US fibre optics maker Corning to replace copper links in next-generation rack-scale artificial intelligence systems is shining a spotlight on mainland China’s optical communications supply chain. The domestic optical value chain is also doubling down on AI scenarios, emerging as the global bedrock for the high-capacity components required to power AI infrastructure. “The global optical fibre and cable market had entered a period of both rising... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352907/how-nvidias-corning-pact-shines-light-chinas-dominant-role-global-fibre-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352907/how-nvidias-corning-pact-shines-light-chinas-dominant-role-global-fibre-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Kunlunxin, the artificial intelligence chip unit of Chinese tech giant Baidu, is seeking a valuation of at least 100 billion yuan (US$14.69 billion) for its Hong Kong stock exchange listing, according to two people familiar with the matter. The valuation could change based on market conditions and final terms, according to one of the sources, who requested anonymity as the information was private. Baidu and Kunlunxin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Separately,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352891/baidu-chip-unit-kunlunxin-eyes-us146b-valuation-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352891/baidu-chip-unit-kunlunxin-eyes-us146b-valuation-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 09:08:12 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that his country’s rare earth reserves are open to investment from China and any other nation willing to process the minerals on Brazilian soil, resisting pressure to side with Washington in its contest with Beijing over critical mineral supply chains. “We have no preference. What we want is to share with whoever wants to invest in Brazil,” Lula said at a press conference at the Brazilian embassy in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352824/lula-wont-sideline-china-or-anyone-rare-earths-tells-trump-refining-stays-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352824/lula-wont-sideline-china-or-anyone-rare-earths-tells-trump-refining-stays-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 23:01:58 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday it would end sales of all home appliance products in mainland China, retreating further from a consumer market increasingly dominated by domestic rivals as the group doubles down on its far more profitable semiconductor business. Samsung’s home appliance portfolio in China includes televisions, monitors, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, vacuum cleaners and air purifiers. In a notice published on its official... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3352690/samsung-halts-all-home-appliance-sales-china-pivot-ai-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3352690/samsung-halts-all-home-appliance-sales-china-pivot-ai-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 02:48:28 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The scheduled summit next week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will almost certainly include proclamations about cooperation, friendship and respect between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, but beneath the surface, major trade conflict is building, said trade experts on Wednesday. In the past, a weaker China was forced to grit its teeth and grudgingly accept US tariffs, export restrictions and other restrictions, but Beijing has quietly and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 21:11:48 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng While the world’s largest memory-chip makers are reaping record profits from the artificial intelligence boom, traders in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market are being left to deal with the fallout of a speculative frenzy that has sharply reversed, wiping out much of the value of their inventories since late 2025. “The market surge last year became so frantic that everyone from shoemakers to fishmongers piled into memory-chip speculation,” a trader surnamed Liu said from his cramped stall... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352642/after-frenzy-fallout-why-chips-are-down-shenzhens-tech-traders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352642/after-frenzy-fallout-why-chips-are-down-shenzhens-tech-traders?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang The release of DeepSeek’s latest large language model, V4, has been followed by a wave of adoption among domestic semiconductor manufacturers and artificial intelligence chipmakers, with firms racing to support the model on local hardware platforms. The shift comes amid rising geopolitical tensions over advanced semiconductors. Here are some of the key players enabling the model’s deployment on domestic hardware. Huawei Huawei Technologies was among the first to act, with the V4 fully adapted to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352644/chinas-chipmakers-rush-embrace-deepseeks-v4-which-names-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352644/chinas-chipmakers-rush-embrace-deepseeks-v4-which-names-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Wency Chen,Vincent Chow Wency Chen,Vincent Chow China and the United States are taking divergent paths to developing artificial intelligence (AI), putting their technology ecosystems increasingly at odds. This divergence was on show on April 24 when start-up DeepSeek launched its next-generation V4 AI models that were optimised for use with the Ascend chips and associated software tools of tech giant Huawei Technologies. China has for years been pursuing technological self-reliance, a policy reiterated by the Communist Party’s Politburo at... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-war/article/3352563/ai-ecosystems-china-and-us-grow-apart-amid-tech-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-war/article/3352563/ai-ecosystems-china-and-us-grow-apart-amid-tech-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 04:15:04 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s chip champions channelled a larger proportion of revenue into research and development (R&D) than their US peers, first-quarter earnings show, as Beijing presses ahead with its tech self-reliance drive amid an artificial intelligence boom. Beijing-based Moore Threads spent half of its revenue on R&D in the quarter ended March 2026, while Shanghai-based MetaX spent 45 per cent over the same period, according to exchange filings. By contrast, US chipmakers such as AMD and Intel have... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352533/chinas-chipmakers-pour-revenue-rd-outpacing-us-ratios?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352533/chinas-chipmakers-pour-revenue-rd-outpacing-us-ratios?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 02:30:05 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao In China, computing facilities have emerged as a new form of infrastructure over the past two years, sparking an arms race among cities and technology companies to build 10,000-card computing clusters. These clusters – which link 10,000 or more artificial intelligence accelerator chips – enable faster iteration of AI capabilities and significantly reduce model training times. Domestic champions, from tech giants such as Huawei Technologies and Alibaba Group Holding to graphics processing unit... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352200/supersized-and-scaling-china-pushes-10000-card-computing-clusters-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352200/supersized-and-scaling-china-pushes-10000-card-computing-clusters-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China has unveiled a new supercomputer built from entirely home-grown CPUs, with the aim of beating the world’s fastest machine while sidestepping US export controls. Known as Lingsheng or LineShine, it is designed to reach 2 exaflops – or two quintillion calculations per second – edging past the 1.8-exaflop El Capitan, the current record holder at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Unlike other exascale supercomputers, which rely on graphics processing units (GPUs),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352514/china-targets-top-spot-supercomputing-fully-domestic-machine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3352514/china-targets-top-spot-supercomputing-fully-domestic-machine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 12:05:34 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings US technology companies should stay in China, despite persistent political pressure for their exit, to capitalise on revenue potential and stifle local competition while monitoring consumer trends, according to a Washington-based policy think tank. Sales generated by American firms within China can be reinvested in research and development back in the United States, thereby helping “sustain US innovation leadership”, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) said in a new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352371/us-tech-can-use-china-listening-post-global-edge-washington-think-tank-explains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352371/us-tech-can-use-china-listening-post-global-edge-washington-think-tank-explains?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen A Hong Kong government-backed artificial intelligence lab is preparing to launch a new model built on DeepSeek that can run entirely on Chinese-made chips. The Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre (HKGAI) plans to unveil its HKGAI-V3 model in the first half of this year as it looks to export its “sovereign AI” capabilities to overseas markets. The system was based on DeepSeek V4 architecture with “full-parameter fine tuning for localisation”, and had been optimised to operate... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352364/hong-kong-puts-its-own-spin-deepseek-china-chip-ai-push-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352364/hong-kong-puts-its-own-spin-deepseek-china-chip-ai-push-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 11:30:07 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Monday questioned former economy minister Rafizi Ramli over a billion-ringgit semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, escalating a politically sensitive inquiry that has swept up ministers, senior officials and one of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s most outspoken former allies. Rafizi, the Pandan MP and a former senior figure in Anwar’s reformist People’s Justice Party, arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 03:23:53 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong DeepSeek’s launch of its latest artificial intelligence model could likely trigger a broad reassessment of stocks across the industry chain from chipmakers to large language model developers, analysts say, with the breakthrough poised to drive demand for computing power and more commercial adoption. The unveiling of the V4 series marked another milestone for the Hangzhou-based start-up, which described the model as the most powerful open-source platform capable of challenging US rivals such as... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352126/who-could-gain-deepseeks-v4-china-chips-poised-stronger-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352126/who-could-gain-deepseeks-v4-china-chips-poised-stronger-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has built a state-driven campaign to harvest American data and weaponise it as a strategic asset that could prove critical in a conflict with the US, including over Taiwan, a key advisory committee to the US Congress heard. Experts told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday that Washington was falling short in countering Beijing’s data-collection drive, one that could have far-reaching implications for American society and the economy, as well as US wartime... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352089/apps-autos-chinas-data-reach-sparks-us-espionage-and-sabotage-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352089/apps-autos-chinas-data-reach-sparks-us-espionage-and-sabotage-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:05:19 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, South Korea’s two memory chip giants, are warning of a prolonged and severe global supply crunch, weeks after the two companies disclosed increased investments in their China wafer fabs to meet surging artificial intelligence demand. During Samsung’s first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, the company said its order fulfilment rate had plunged to a “record low”. In a rare move, customers worried about shortages were already pre-booking memory capacity for 2027,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352001/samsung-sk-hynix-flag-record-supply-squeeze-memory-market-ai-demand-soars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352001/samsung-sk-hynix-flag-record-supply-squeeze-memory-market-ai-demand-soars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:30:28 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Wingtech Technology, the Chinese owner of chipmaker Nexperia, is facing the risk of delisting from the Shanghai Stock Exchange due to an audit failure, as the company remains embroiled in a power struggle for control of its Dutch subsidiary. The risk was triggered after Wingtech’s auditor issued a “disclaimer of opinion”, citing restrictions in verifying the financial records of Nexperia’s overseas operations, according to a company filing to the Shanghai bourse on Wednesday. The audit failure... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3351967/wingtech-faces-delisting-risk-due-audit-failure-wake-nexperia-saga?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3351967/wingtech-faces-delisting-risk-due-audit-failure-wake-nexperia-saga?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The United States is stepping up pressure on China across multiple strategic fronts, in moves analysts say could strengthen US President Donald Trump’s hand ahead of his planned high-stakes mid-May meeting with President Xi Jinping. But they cautioned that Beijing was likely to remain unfazed because it had already adapted to earlier curbs by reducing its reliance on the American market. US lawmakers in the House Foreign Affairs Committee have advanced 20 new export control measures this month... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351891/chips-oil-and-iran-why-us-raising-pressure-china-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351891/chips-oil-and-iran-why-us-raising-pressure-china-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Cambricon Technologies, dubbed “China’s little Nvidia,” on Thursday became the costliest stock in mainland China’s equities market after it reported substantial growth in the first quarter amid an artificial intelligence boom and China’s tech self-sufficiency push. Cambricon shares rose as much as 18 per cent to nearly 1,680 yuan (US$245) on Thursday, beating optical chipmaker Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology, which traded at around 1,660 yuan. On Wednesday, Cambricon announced a 160 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351894/revenue-jumps-chinas-cambricon-metax-amid-thirst-domestic-ai-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351894/revenue-jumps-chinas-cambricon-metax-amid-thirst-domestic-ai-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:15:23 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The impact of sky-high costs for memory chips is spreading from smartphones to cars, as China’s electric vehicle (EV) king BYD announced a 21 per cent price increase for its high-end driver-assistance system. Starting on Friday, the price of the optional DiPilot 300 assisted-driving system would rise to 12,000 yuan ($1,757) from 9,900 yuan, BYD said on Tuesday, attributing the decision to “the sharp rise in global storage hardware costs”. The system, which allows cars to navigate themselves on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351842/hit-memory-costs-spreads-phones-evs-chinas-byd-raises-driving-tech-price?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351842/hit-memory-costs-spreads-phones-evs-chinas-byd-raises-driving-tech-price?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:30:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has cleared the way for a landmark visit by the Dutch trade minister – signalled by Beijing’s quiet removal of long-held sanctions on the official – at a time when their bilateral relations need some attention, according to people familiar with the matter. Beijing has agreed to host Sjoerd Sjoerdsma for a visit and has removed him from the sanction list, a source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. “No date is fixed yet [between Beijing and The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351671/un-sanctioned-china-welcome-dutch-trade-minister-amid-nexperia-asml-discord?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351671/un-sanctioned-china-welcome-dutch-trade-minister-amid-nexperia-asml-discord?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:57:56 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Lightelligence, the first mainland Chinese photonics chipmaker to go public in Hong Kong, saw its share price surge by nearly 400 per cent in its trading debut on Tuesday, as investors banked on the country’s quest for a fast-growing alternative to conventional electronic semiconductors in artificial intelligence data centres. The Shanghai-based company opened at HK$880, versus the offer price of HK$183.20 – the top of its marketed range of HK$166.60 to HK$183.20. It raised HK$2.4 billion... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351551/lightelligence-jumps-hong-kong-debut-amid-ai-driven-demand-photonics-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351551/lightelligence-jumps-hong-kong-debut-amid-ai-driven-demand-photonics-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:03:55 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese optical chipmaker Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology reported an elevenfold surge in first-quarter profits as domestic firms capitalise on soaring demand for computing power amid the artificial intelligence boom and the country’s tech self-sufficiency drive. Net profit in the three months ended March 31 jumped 1,153 per cent year on year to 179 million yuan (US$26.2 million), while revenue grew 321 per cent to 355 million yuan, the Shanghai-listed company said in a stock-exchange filing on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351605/optical-chipmakers-profit-soars-1153-ai-demand-chinas-tech-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351605/optical-chipmakers-profit-soars-1153-ai-demand-chinas-tech-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:00:35 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma DeepSeek is touting its ultra-low charges for models unveiled last week, stoking price competition as China challenges the United States in artificial intelligence (AI). Developers are being offered 75 per cent discounts on the newly released DeepSeek V4 Pro. Fees for input cache hits across the Hangzhou-based company’s AI platforms have also been slashed to 10 per cent of the original price. That provides a cost saving for users who frequently make similar or repeat requests. The V4 Pro and the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351567/deepseek-takes-step-away-nvidia-amid-export-curbs-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351567/deepseek-takes-step-away-nvidia-amid-export-curbs-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:07:47 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Shares of Moore Threads, one of China’s Nvidia challengers, jumped as much as 12.5 per cent on Monday morning on the back of a swing to a profit in the first quarter, as domestic graphics processing unit (GPU) champions capitalised on surging computing demand amid Beijing’s push for chip self-sufficiency. The Beijing-based firm reported a net profit of 29.4 million yuan (US$4.3 million) for the January to March 2026 period, compared with a net loss of 112.5 million yuan a year earlier, according... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351492/moore-threads-posts-us43m-profit-nvidia-rival-surges-amid-beijing-chip-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351492/moore-threads-posts-us43m-profit-nvidia-rival-surges-amid-beijing-chip-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng OpenClaw has adopted DeepSeek’s new V4 Flash as the default model for the popular artificial intelligence agent, while the global tech community scrutinises the implications of the Chinese AI firm’s major update optimised to run on Huawei Technologies’ chips. In an update on Sunday, OpenClaw said it had expanded its catalogue to include DeepSeek’s V4 Flash and its flagship V4 Pro models, and had integrated other capabilities such as Google Meet into the agent. OpenClaw also optimised how... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351471/openclaw-adds-deepseek-v4-models-tech-world-assesses-huawei-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351471/openclaw-adds-deepseek-v4-models-tech-world-assesses-huawei-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:24:39 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Senator Steve Daines will lead a bipartisan US Congressional delegation to China next week, just ahead of a visit by President Donald Trump. The five-member group will arrive on May 1 and visit Beijing and Shanghai, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The delegation will include first-time visitors to China, the report said, without elaboration. Daines, a Trump ally, said last month that he planned to take a group to China to explore the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351305/trump-ally-visits-china-deepseek-releases-v4-ev-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351305/trump-ally-visits-china-deepseek-releases-v4-ev-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:05:56 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen The central processing unit (CPU) – the chip technology that drove Intel’s sales and profits for decades but was overshadowed by the graphics processing unit (GPU) in the AI age – is making a comeback. That’s according to Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, speaking on the company’s latest earnings call. “The CPU is [reasserting] itself as the indispensable foundation of the AI era,” he said. “This isn’t just our wishful thinking, it’s what we hear from our customers.” Intel shares rose about 20 per cent in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351277/how-intel-riding-cpu-comeback-ai-shifts-and-where-china-stands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351277/how-intel-riding-cpu-comeback-ai-shifts-and-where-china-stands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:00:21 +0000 Vincent Chow,Wency Chen Vincent Chow,Wency Chen DeepSeek has finally released its much-anticipated next-generation foundational artificial intelligence model, the open-source V4, which it said was competitive with leading US closed-source models from the likes of OpenAI and Google DeepMind. The Hangzhou-based AI start-up released two versions of the model on Friday, with the V4-pro model boasting 1.6 trillion parameters, making it the company’s biggest-ever model by that metric, while the smaller V4-flash model has 284 billion parameters. A... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351239/deepseek-releases-next-gen-ai-model-world-leading-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351239/deepseek-releases-next-gen-ai-model-world-leading-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:25:33 +0000 Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and supply-chain vendors, from Tesla rivals Xpeng to Nio and lidar sensor producer Hesai Group, will display their technological advances on a new front – in-car chips – at the Auto China show in Beijing as the country’s automotive industry makes rapid progress. Carmakers and vendors are designing and developing chips to power autonomous driving and in-car entertainment systems. These chips boast computing power on par with blockbuster products made by chip... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow US lawmakers have advanced 20 new export control measures – including the controversial Match Act – to further restrict Chinese access to US technology and bar Chinese chipmakers from gaining access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In the latest salvo in the US-China tech war, the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed the measures through the committee stage to be deliberated by the rest of the House, describing the action as the “largest significant export... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351199/tech-war-us-congress-rolls-out-largest-export-control-upgrade-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351199/tech-war-us-congress-rolls-out-largest-export-control-upgrade-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Ann Cao,Iris Deng Ann Cao,Iris Deng The distant geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is sending shock waves through Asia’s semiconductor industry, exposing fresh vulnerabilities in the supply chain as shortages of photoresist – a critical chipmaking material – emerge as the latest weak link. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since early March, supplies of naphtha – a key feedstock for specialty chemicals used in semiconductor production including photoresist – have been sharply curtailed. Produced during the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s top market regulator will launch a six-month crackdown on the country’s internet advertising sector, targeting malpractices including the misuse of artificial intelligence, in what it described as its first campaign to clean up the broader online advertising ecosystem. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said on Thursday that the campaign comes as new risks – from AI misuse to traffic-driven marketing tactics – emerge alongside long-standing issues, even as data and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351202/beijing-moves-clean-online-ad-ecosystem-first-its-kind-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351202/beijing-moves-clean-online-ad-ecosystem-first-its-kind-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:03:24 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The US visa system rolls out the “red carpet” for spies and aids China’s alleged efforts to steal American innovation, senators charged at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, as Washington and Beijing intensify competition for dominance in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Through its permissive legal channels, the US is “inviting, welcoming, come on in with the red carpet rolled out” people who steal military and commercial secrets, Republican Senator Ashley Moody of Florida... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:37:28 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sought to quell fears in Senate testimony on Wednesday that American technology was aiding China’s military, but drew scepticism given the US president’s willingness to sell advanced semiconductors. Lutnick asserted before the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee that US President Donald Trump was striking a “delicate balance” on the technology transfer issue given his cordial personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, claiming that China had... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3351059/china-bought-zero-h200-chips-today-says-lutnick-he-cites-delicate-balance-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3351059/china-bought-zero-h200-chips-today-says-lutnick-he-cites-delicate-balance-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:46:17 +0000 Ann Cao,Xinmei Shen Ann Cao,Xinmei Shen Say “open source” and “China” and most people will think of its world-conquering artificial intelligence (AI) large language models. Its open-source computer chips are just as significant. These chips are based on the RISC-V architecture (pronounced risk-five). At last month’s Zhongguancun Forum science festival in Beijing, experts celebrated the establishment in China of a complete RISC-V ecosystem. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) researchers recently unveiled their latest Xiangshan processor... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3350802/china-bets-risc-v-global-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3350802/china-bets-risc-v-global-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:44:47 +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 Coco Feng Coco Feng Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on a recent podcast that if Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek optimised its new models on chips from Huawei Technologies, it would be “a horrible outcome” for the US. If “future AI models are optimised in a very different way than the American tech stack”, and as “AI diffuses out into the rest of the world” with Chinese standards and technology, China “will become superior to” the US, Huang said on the Dwarkesh Podcast on Wednesday. The conversation... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350460/nvidias-jensen-huang-warns-huawei-chips-deepseek-ai-models-would-be-horrible-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350460/nvidias-jensen-huang-warns-huawei-chips-deepseek-ai-models-would-be-horrible-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin At a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday, lawmakers and experts accused China of buying “what they can” and stealing “what they cannot” in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, while warning the United States’ immigration and research policies could be hindering innovation necessary to stay ahead. “The pattern is clear. China is dependent on our tech stack to continue their AI development. China is willing to buy what they can, and steal what they cannot, to advance their... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350380/china-willing-buy-or-steal-us-tech-get-ahead-ai-race-congress-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350380/china-willing-buy-or-steal-us-tech-get-ahead-ai-race-congress-told?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:26:36 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) expects a revenue surge of more than 30 per cent in 2026 as the world’s largest contract chipmaker “pulls in all equipment” to ramp up supply, as management downplayed the impact of memory price hikes and Middle East tensions. During its first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, company executives voiced optimism for the year ahead anchored by the global AI frenzy, attributing the expected revenue surge to strong demand for artificial intelligence and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350346/tsmc-targets-over-30-revenue-surge-2026-ramps-capex-amid-booming-ai-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350346/tsmc-targets-over-30-revenue-surge-2026-ramps-capex-amid-booming-ai-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:07:11 +0000