https://www.scmp.com/rss/522574/feed The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is a prominent governmental body of the People’s Republic of China, headquartered in Beijing. Established to regulate and develop the nation’s industrial and information technology sectors, MIIT oversees areas including telecommunications, software, electronics manufacturing, and the automotive industry. Its mission encompasses formulating industrial policies, promoting technological innovation, and safeguarding information security.... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China is rolling out a campaign to sharply cut artificial intelligence computing costs for small businesses, as demand for processing power surges alongside a fresh round of price increases by domestic providers. The country plans to build an “inclusive computing service network” – offering broad coverage, lower costs and improved service quality – to reduce barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking access to computing resources, according to a notice published by the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348910/china-build-inclusive-ai-network-ease-cost-pressures-small-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348910/china-build-inclusive-ai-network-ease-cost-pressures-small-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng China’s science and technology awards system has been accused of being riddled with loopholes and misconduct, including serious exaggeration of achievements, cultivation of personal connections and even bribery, according to critics within the academic community. These flaws, though repeatedly addressed by the authorities, are said to remain deeply entrenched, casting a shadow over China’s rapidly advancing innovation sector that is widely regarded as a key pillar in its rivalry with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345080/chinas-science-awards-system-plagued-shadowy-practices-can-reforms-fix-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345080/chinas-science-awards-system-plagued-shadowy-practices-can-reforms-fix-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong is ready to discuss land, tax incentives and financial support for businesses setting up in the Northern Metropolis, the finance chief has told a trade seminar in Beijing, stressing a “flexible and innovative” approach will be taken with developing the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Thursday also met Xia Baolong, Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs, who underscored the central government’s support for the city’s efforts to bolster its competitiveness through... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:31:30 +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 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Beijing is launching a pilot programme to expand industrial use of hydrogen energy, at a time when war in the Middle East is exposing the risks of global reliance on fossil fuels. Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid its war with the United States and Israel – now in its third week – has disrupted oil and gas supplies, prompting some nations to re-examine their energy mix, with renewables emerging as a potential hedge against volatility. In a Monday notice, the Ministry of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346850/china-targets-hydrogen-push-strait-hormuz-crisis-jolts-energy-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346850/china-targets-hydrogen-push-strait-hormuz-crisis-jolts-energy-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:03:05 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang By the time software programmer Guo Cancan realised something had gone horribly wrong with OpenClaw – the task-executing AI agent that has ignited a fervour across China – the damage was already done. While on holiday over the Chinese New Year, Guo was tinkering with the autonomous open-source program. When he attempted to resolve an error that it had made, OpenClaw responded by deleting nearly everything on his computer’s D: drive – a major storage partition – wiping out years of personal data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Ann Cao,Ben Jiang Ann Cao,Ben Jiang China’s OpenClaw craze has taken an ironic turn, with social media platforms now flooded with paid services offering to uninstall the artificial intelligence (AI) agent after users initially paid to have it installed. On Xianyu, the second-hand marketplace under Alibaba, the keyword “uninstall OpenClaw” was trending on Thursday, based on a search by the South China Morning Post. Records showed that a Shanghai-based seller named “mojito lime water” charged 299 yuan ($43.55) to uninstall the agent... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346397/chinas-openclaw-users-paid-install-viral-ai-agent-now-they-spend-remove-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346397/chinas-openclaw-users-paid-install-viral-ai-agent-now-they-spend-remove-it?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Local governments across China have rushed to ride the OpenClaw AI boom in hopes of spurring economic growth, only for Beijing to step in swiftly to rein in the frenzy. Authorities in Beijing have issued a series of safety warnings that analysts say underscore the divide in priorities between local and central authorities. The rush to adopt the artificial intelligence (AI) software has seen major internet companies offer low-cost or easily accessible versions, while local governments have rolled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:57:44 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s central bank has called for heightened cybersecurity awareness and caution in the use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector, adding to a chorus of warnings over security risks amid the nationwide buzz surrounding the OpenClaw AI agent. At its annual technology conference in Beijing on Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China called for further efforts to “enhance the resilience of cybersecurity and data security”, according to a readout of the meeting posted on its website. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346352/amid-openclaw-frenzy-chinas-central-bank-adds-cybersecurity-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346352/amid-openclaw-frenzy-chinas-central-bank-adds-cybersecurity-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:15 +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 Coco Feng Coco Feng A unit of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued guidelines on best practices and prohibitions for adopting and using OpenClaw, the popular artificial intelligence agent that continues to dominate the market. The advisory, developed in collaboration with AI agent providers, vulnerability platform operators and cybersecurity firms, aims to address risks in typical use cases of “lobster”, OpenClaw’s mascot, according to a Wednesday statement from the MIIT-run... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346269/china-issues-new-safety-rules-openclaw-here-are-dos-and-donts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346269/china-issues-new-safety-rules-openclaw-here-are-dos-and-donts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:13:52 +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 Luna Sun Luna Sun Beijing should increase investment in early childhood education and lifelong learning as AI reshapes the world’s largest labour market, a prominent Chinese economist has said. The real policy test for China is whether it can shift decisively from investing in capital to investing in people, while policy and regulation must steer artificial intelligence (AI) towards empowering rather than replacing workers, according to Cai Fang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences focusing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345288/china-should-education-spending-help-population-adapt-ai-era-economist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345288/china-should-education-spending-help-population-adapt-ai-era-economist?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China should accelerate development of a space-based solar power station, as the technology could one day do far more than beam clean energy to Earth, it might even help tame typhoons, according to a senior Chinese engineer. Duan Baoyan, the lead scientist behind the ambitious “Zhuri” project – which aims to hold a megawatt-class demonstration in the Earth’s orbit by 2030 – said microwave beams generated by such a station to transmit electricity back to Earth could potentially be directed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345240/change-typhoon-intensity-and-path-china-team-mulls-hitting-cyclones-space-beam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345240/change-typhoon-intensity-and-path-china-team-mulls-hitting-cyclones-space-beam?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China widened its lead over South Korea in critical technologies in recent years, according to an official review by Seoul’s science ministry, as Beijing doubles down on strategic investment in advanced research. The expanding gap underscores the need for both countries to move beyond zero-sum competition and deepen cooperation in economic and technological development, according to analysts. Quantifying this trend, the latest technology-level assessment from the South Korean Ministry of Science... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344607/china-extends-tech-lead-over-south-korea-and-surpasses-japan-seouls-ranking-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344607/china-extends-tech-lead-over-south-korea-and-surpasses-japan-seouls-ranking-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:12 +0000 CNA CNA Hundreds of AI-generated Chinese-language YouTube videos have been targeting Singapore and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as part of an ongoing disinformation campaign. Seven in 10 videos attack Wong specifically, fabricating narratives about his leadership role being under threat and spreading conspiracy theories about political infighting in Singapore. The videos have racked up millions of views since surfacing late last year, though experts suggested that bot traffic or automation could be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:31:19 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Major Chinese carmakers have cut their lengthy supplier payment cycles – previously used to offset costs and stay competitive in the country’s vast auto market – from nearly a year to less than 60 days, a government-backed industry consortium said, following heightened efforts from Beijing to police the cutthroat sector. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in a statement on Thursday that the 17 assemblers it recently investigated took an average of 54 days to pay their... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343294/chinas-carmakers-cut-supplier-payment-cycles-amid-beijings-price-war-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343294/chinas-carmakers-cut-supplier-payment-cycles-amid-beijings-price-war-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore expects a surplus of S$15.1 billion (US$12 billion) or 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product for the 2025 financial year, more than double an initial projection of S$6.8 billion, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said as he unveiled an aggressive bid to pursue AI ambitions in his annual budget speech. The higher revenues came from corporate income tax and asset-related revenue collections, including stamp duty and vehicle quota premiums, Wong said on Thursday. For the 2026 financial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:30:30 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has begun operating a China-focused artificial intelligence training centre to enhance its cars’ self-driving capabilities in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, following Beijing’s deregulation of the technology. Grace Tao, vice-president of Tesla, told Shanghai-based financial news outlet Cailian on Friday that the centre had sufficient computing power to support development of assisted-driving features. However, she did not disclose details such as the centre’s location or... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342726/tesla-launches-china-ai-training-centre-self-driving-race-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342726/tesla-launches-china-ai-training-centre-self-driving-race-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:07:39 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China is charting a course for a major increase in domestic gold output over the next five years, while also advancing a new round of mineral-exploration breakthroughs, to bolster self-sufficiency amid a global shift away from the US dollar and heightened geopolitical tensions that underscore gold’s role as a financial haven. The proposal, outlined by the China Gold Association, aims to upgrade mining and smelting technologies during the country’s 15th five-year plan period (2026-2030) while... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342532/china-eyes-gold-production-surge-amid-de-dollarisation-drive-aiming-hedge-global-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342532/china-eyes-gold-production-surge-amid-de-dollarisation-drive-aiming-hedge-global-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China aims to make breakthroughs in artificial intelligence chips, accelerate 6G development and establish key benchmarks for humanoid robotics, as the country kicks off its new five-year plan prioritising innovation as a key driver of economic growth. To promote the development of the AI industry, the government was targeting breakthroughs in core technologies such as training chips and heterogeneous computing, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said at a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340692/beijing-outlines-tech-push-focus-ai-6g-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340692/beijing-outlines-tech-push-focus-ai-6g-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:08:14 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s industry regulator has pledged to provide more fiscal support for small-scale innovative firms in specialised industries – such as the country’s “little giants” – as part of a basket of measures designed to boost the country’s technological self-reliance and upgrade key industries. Li Lecheng, the head of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told Xinhua that central authorities would implement a fresh round of fiscal support policies for small and medium-sized firms... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339608/china-vows-more-support-little-giant-firms-amid-self-sufficiency-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339608/china-vows-more-support-little-giant-firms-amid-self-sufficiency-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:30:20 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s drive for chip manufacturing equipment self-sufficiency advanced so rapidly in 2025 that even the country’s planners were caught by surprise, as the ratio of domestically developed semiconductor equipment surged to 35 per cent by the year’s end, up from 25 per cent in 2024. The ratio was higher than Beijing’s target of 30 per cent, set in early 2025 to encourage China’s semiconductor industry to favour local suppliers over US rivals such as Applied Materials, Lam Research and KLA,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339366/great-chip-leap-chinas-semiconductor-equipment-self-reliance-surges-past-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339366/great-chip-leap-chinas-semiconductor-equipment-self-reliance-surges-past-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:00:28 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Shanghai, mainland China’s commercial and financial hub, has pledged to step up policing its manufacturing sectors to curb prolonged payment cycles that affect thousands of supply-chain vendors. Gu Jun, deputy secretary general of the municipal government and director of the city’s development and reform commission, told a press conference on Thursday that a task force had been set up to ensure money owed to vendors would be paid promptly. “Supervision will be strengthened to avoid delayed... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339235/shanghai-steps-oversight-delayed-payment-practices-hurting-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339235/shanghai-steps-oversight-delayed-payment-practices-hurting-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:30:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Alice Li Sylvia Ma,Alice Li China’s economy has successfully weathered mounting shocks, including US tariffs and technology curbs, and continues to innovate despite a challenging environment, according to the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party. “Practice has fully demonstrated that China’s economic fundamentals are solid and its resilience strong, and that it is fully capable of withstanding rough waters and even stormy waves,” the People’s Daily said in an editorial on Thursday, published at the start of the first... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339170/china-says-us-trade-war-tech-curbs-have-spurred-independent-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339170/china-says-us-trade-war-tech-curbs-have-spurred-independent-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:08:27 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has vowed to achieve a “safe and reliable supply” of bedrock artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by 2027 as the global race for leadership in cutting-edge tech heats up. A plan published on Wednesday by eight government agencies, led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, listed the main areas of work to reach the goal, including promoting the deep application of three to five general-purpose large AI models in the manufacturing sector. By 2027, the plan said, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339123/china-seeks-safe-and-reliable-ai-supply-global-tech-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339123/china-seeks-safe-and-reliable-ai-supply-global-tech-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:00:26 +0000 Reuters Reuters Nvidia is scrambling to meet strong demand for its H200 artificial intelligence chips from Chinese technology companies and has ‌approached contract manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) to ramp up production, sources said. Chinese tech companies have placed orders for more than 2 million H200 chips for 2026, while ‍Nvidia currently holds just 700,000 units in stock, two of the people said. The exact additional volume Nvidia intends to order from TSMC remains unclear, they... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3338308/nvidia-asks-chipmaker-tsmc-ramp-h200-production-china-demand-jumps-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3338308/nvidia-asks-chipmaker-tsmc-ramp-h200-production-china-demand-jumps-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:03:29 +0000 Reuters Reuters Nvidia has told Chinese clients it aims to start shipping its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February, according to three people familiar with the matter. The US chip designer plans to fulfil initial orders from existing stock, with shipments expected to total 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules – equivalent to about 40,000 to 80,000 H200 AI chips, the ⁠first and second sources said. Nvidia has also told Chinese clients that it plans to add new... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337479/nvidia-aims-start-h200-ai-chip-shipments-china-mid-february-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337479/nvidia-aims-start-h200-ai-chip-shipments-china-mid-february-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:33:48 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Nearly 270,000 cars with self-driving systems that allow drivers to be “hands off” under certain conditions will be sold in China next year as Beijing allows carmakers to build such vehicles, according to Daiwa Securities. This volume is projected to represent about 1 per cent of China’s total new car sales in 2026, as the expanding adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is poised to stimulate the world’s largest automotive and electric vehicle (EV) market amid waning... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337224/chinas-approval-l3-self-driving-cars-stimulate-slowing-mainland-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337224/chinas-approval-l3-self-driving-cars-stimulate-slowing-mainland-market?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 23:30:12 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s energy storage firms, battered by a three-year price war, have been jolted by lithium battery maker Deegares, which has announced plans to raise prices by 15 per cent, a move that is sparking debate over whether the sector could be the first to break free from the “involution” cycle. Rising lithium costs were the immediate trigger, with at least three other battery makers reported in recent weeks to be planning similar increases. Prices of the metal, crucial to rechargeable batteries,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336932/can-rising-lithium-costs-save-chinas-energy-storage-firms-brutal-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336932/can-rising-lithium-costs-save-chinas-energy-storage-firms-brutal-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) leader BYD has reinforced its push to build and sell more cars fitted with level 3 (L3) autonomous driving systems after Beijing took its first step towards deregulating the technology. The company collaborated with authorities in Shenzhen, where it was based, to test some of its cars ahead of mass production, according to China Business News. BYD confirmed the report, adding that it had completed more than 150,000 kilometres of real-world L3 testing. The company... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336841/byd-ups-ante-l3-autonomous-cars-begins-testing-models-mass-production?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336841/byd-ups-ante-l3-autonomous-cars-begins-testing-models-mass-production?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:11:51 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Australia’s new restrictions on social media use by children under 16 take effect this month, governments across Southeast Asia are rolling out or weighing their own measures aimed at protecting young users online. From platform licensing rules in Malaysia to age-based access limits in Indonesia, the moves reflect a broader global push to rein in tech companies over child safety, cyberbullying and harmful content. But analysts say such policies can also open the door to wider regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336820/southeast-asia-follows-australia-tightening-social-media-rules-safety-or-censorship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336820/southeast-asia-follows-australia-tightening-social-media-rules-safety-or-censorship?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:24 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Lisa Su, chair and chief executive of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), on Wednesday met the Chinese minister of industry and information technology (MIIT), where she affirmed the US chipmaker’s “commitment to deepening its investments” in China, the ministry said. On her second day of a China trip, Su exchanged views with MIIT head Li Lecheng on “strengthening cooperation in the digital economy and artificial intelligence sectors”, according to a statement issued by MIIT on Wednesday. Su reportedly... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336818/amd-chief-lisa-su-commits-deeper-china-investments-meeting-industry-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336818/amd-chief-lisa-su-commits-deeper-china-investments-meeting-industry-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:04:37 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Two leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, Xpeng and Li Auto, have been granted licences to test their level 3 (L3) autonomous driving technologies in designated urban areas, the latest sign that Beijing is encouraging wider use of advanced driver assistance systems amid a slowing automotive market. The green light came just one day after the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) gave another two carmakers – Changan Automobile and BAIC – approvals to start assembling new... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:45:56 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Beijing has approved China’s first two cars with level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capability, taking a leap towards widely deploying self-driving technology in the world’s largest automotive market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on Monday that Changan Automobile and BAIC were given the go-ahead to build electric vehicles (EVs) that would allow drivers to be hands off in some circumstances. But the cars, both pure EVs, could only navigate urban streets and... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336522/beijing-approves-first-two-l3-autonomous-cars-leap-towards-hands-driving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336522/beijing-approves-first-two-l3-autonomous-cars-leap-towards-hands-driving?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. Chinese biotech companies are expected to make major international advances over the next decade, industry leaders said, but cautioned that weak patent... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335582/major-breakthroughs-chinese-biotech-firms-plan-global-expansions-after-domestic-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335582/major-breakthroughs-chinese-biotech-firms-plan-global-expansions-after-domestic-success?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Home appliance maker Midea Group has developed MIRO U, a six-armed industrial humanoid robot scheduled to be deployed at its Wuxi washing machine plant by the end of this month. Speaking at the launch event last week, Midea’s chief technology officer Wei Chang said the “super humanoid” was a potential driver of industrial efficiency. The robot was expected to improve production line changeover efficiency by 30 per cent once it begins operating at the facility in Wuxi city, southern Jiangsu... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3335721/chinese-home-appliance-giant-midea-unveils-six-arm-robot-factory-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3335721/chinese-home-appliance-giant-midea-unveils-six-arm-robot-factory-work?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:59:48 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a sailor who shoots an albatross is forced to hang it around his neck as penance, with the bird becoming a heavy burden and a reminder of his guilt. This metaphor was invoked by Goh Keng Swee, widely regarded as the “economic architect” of modern Singapore, as his code name for Malaysia in his file of personal notes on Singapore’s separation from its northern neighbour in August 1965. Almost all of the newly declassified... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335477/singapore-launches-book-malaysia-separation-declassified-files-lee-kuan-yew-quotes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335477/singapore-launches-book-malaysia-separation-declassified-files-lee-kuan-yew-quotes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 05:01:08 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar What happens when a democracy begins to fear its own internet? In Indonesia, that question is no longer hypothetical, as the government threatens to pull the plug on major online platforms many of its people rely upon. When Jakarta warned last month that it could block major platforms like Cloudflare and Wikipedia, the move was justified as a crackdown on online gambling – a vice officially outlawed in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. But for tech industry players and free-speech... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335389/jakarta-vs-internet-indonesias-gamble-digital-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335389/jakarta-vs-internet-indonesias-gamble-digital-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 07:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese shipyards, facing a drop in orders, plan to divert more capacity towards new-energy and advanced vessels to maintain profitability as they face mounting challenges from South Korean counterparts, industry officials say. The country’s shipbuilding firms, from gargantuan state-owned China State Ship­building Corp (CSSC) to privately owned shipyards, held 65 per cent of global orders in deadweight tonnage terms during the first three quarters of 2025, compared with about 75 per cent a year... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335104/chinese-shipyards-shift-focus-advanced-vessels-south-korean-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335104/chinese-shipyards-shift-focus-advanced-vessels-south-korean-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Beijing is extending an olive branch to overseas companies as it seeks to build a more integrated global supply chain for the shipbuilding industry, in its latest push to project goodwill and support free trade. Gao Dongsheng, chief economist at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said on Tuesday that China was committed to further opening up its shipbuilding sector. Mainland shipyards, which currently have a capacity to build about 65 million deadweight tonnes of large... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334950/beijing-woos-foreign-firms-china-seeks-bigger-role-global-shipbuilding-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334950/beijing-woos-foreign-firms-china-seeks-bigger-role-global-shipbuilding-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China is betting on bio-manufacturing to boost technological self-reliance and drive economic growth as part of the next five-year plan, elevating the sector on par with electric vehicles and semiconductors. Beijing is upgrading and expanding a nationwide bio-ecosystem, with 43 companies and research institutes selected in the first batch of pilot-scale manufacturing platforms for products ranging from biopharmaceuticals to food additives and enzymes to cosmetics, according to a statement from... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334538/china-bets-bio-manufacturing-new-growth-engine-bid-tech-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334538/china-bets-bio-manufacturing-new-growth-engine-bid-tech-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:00:16 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Chinese regulations that propose tighter technical specs for portable power banks are stirring unease among producers and consumers, as they could mean passengers are no longer allowed to bring such products on board flights. According to a draft document from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is soliciting feedback until December 11, all Chinese portable power banks would be required to disclose their battery type, production date and offer a recommendation for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334511/will-power-banks-be-banned-flights-chinas-draft-regulations-worry-producers-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334511/will-power-banks-be-banned-flights-chinas-draft-regulations-worry-producers-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has launched a 19-point plan to better align the supply of consumer goods with demand, as Beijing steps up its efforts to rebalance its economy towards a consumption-driven growth model. A document outlining the plan issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and five other departments on Wednesday laid out goals that included the cultivation of three “trillion-yuan-level consumption sectors” and 10 “hundred-billion-yuan-level consumption hotspots” by 2027. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334318/chinese-plan-spur-consumption-aims-3-sectors-each-worth-us141-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334318/chinese-plan-spur-consumption-aims-3-sectors-each-worth-us141-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:25:30 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen UBTech Robotics, one of China’s top robot manufacturers, said on Tuesday it had secured a major contract to deploy humanoids at border crossings to perform tasks such as guiding travellers, conducting inspections and handling logistics, as the country intensified efforts to apply robotics in the real world. The company has struck a 264 million yuan (US$37 million) deal with a humanoid robot centre in Fangchenggang, a coastal city in the southern autonomous region of Guangxi, which shares a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334081/ubtech-wins-us37-million-deal-deploy-humanoid-robots-china-vietnam-border-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334081/ubtech-wins-us37-million-deal-deploy-humanoid-robots-china-vietnam-border-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) appointed Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing and AgiBot co-founder Peng Zhihui to a national humanoid robotics committee, alongside other entrepreneurs and scholars. Wang and Peng – hailed as robotics’ “twin stars” – joined as vice-directors of the Standardisation Technical Committee for Humanoid Robots, which would be led by MIIT chief engineer Xie Shaofeng, according to an announcement on Monday. The committee’s 65 members... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3333964/unitree-agibot-founders-chinas-robotics-stars-join-panel-shape-industry-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3333964/unitree-agibot-founders-chinas-robotics-stars-join-panel-shape-industry-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:16 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao A “state-level” testing platform for automotive semiconductors has opened in Shenzhen in China’s latest effort to boost technological self-reliance, as a Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts the global car sector’s supply chains at risk. The platform, which commenced operations on Tuesday, was jointly established by two state-owned enterprises: China Reform Holdings, an investment vehicle focused on industries related to national security and the economy, and research institute China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330764/chinese-state-owned-firms-launch-car-chip-testing-platform-shenzhen-amid-nexperia-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330764/chinese-state-owned-firms-launch-car-chip-testing-platform-shenzhen-amid-nexperia-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:12 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing expelled a former senior official with an aerospace background and a military auditor from the top national legislature on Tuesday amid its deepening anti-corruption drive. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress said on Tuesday that five officials had been removed from their NPC duties. The most senior of them is Xu Dazhe, former Communist Party secretary of Hunan province. The NPC did not say if he was under investigation for corruption but Xu, who left the party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330743/china-expels-former-aerospace-boss-and-military-auditor-top-legislature-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330743/china-expels-former-aerospace-boss-and-military-auditor-top-legislature-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:06:15 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. After China’s ruling Communist Party concluded the fourth plenum of its powerful Central Committee on Thursday, a press conference was held on Friday morning to review the events of the conclave and the committee’s conclusions. Among those who attended the briefing were the head of the country’s top economic planner, the minister of commerce, the minister... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3330134/chinas-communist-party-meets-press-after-fourth-plenum-wraps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3330134/chinas-communist-party-meets-press-after-fourth-plenum-wraps?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:50:18 +0000