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Artificial intelligence
Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles
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Alibaba
Tencent Holdings
Pinduoduo
Xiaomi
Baidu
JD.com
Kuaishou
The new rules prohibit e-commerce operators from forcing merchants to offer discounts. Photo: Shutterstock
E-commerce

China bans e-commerce platforms from forcing lowest prices or abusing algorithms

Beijing moves to protect consumers and merchants, with new 29-article regulation tightening oversight of the fast-growing digital economy.

Robotics

Unitree G1 humanoids go viral with synchronised frontflip and Musk endorsement

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s shock rise, China’s robot boot camps: 7 AI breakthroughs in 2025

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s approval for L3 self-driving cars to stimulate slowing mainland market

Chinese carmakers could sell about 270,000 semi-autonomous vehicles next year, representing 1 per cent of the total market, Daiwa says.

videocam
Semi-autonomous cars with L3 technology are likely to spur sales on the mainland next year. Photo: Reuters
Semi-autonomous cars with L3 technology are likely to spur sales on the mainland next year. Photo: Reuters
Moore Threads

Moore Threads unveils new AI chips to challenge Nvidia

The Shanghai-listed chipmaker launched the Huashan chip for AI and the Lushan chip for gaming, promising superior performance for both.

China’s soft power

From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year of China’s soft power?

Chinese lifestyle brands and other cultural exports proved to be a hit around the world this year, here are some of our most notable stories.

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Robotics

Building a humanoid robot without China? Then you better bring a bigger wallet

China has issued five times the number of patents related to humanoid robots than the US, says Morgan Stanley.

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A technician teaches a humanoid robot to use a wrench to tighten a bolt at a data collection pre-training center for humanoid robots in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province. Photo: Xinhua
A technician teaches a humanoid robot to use a wrench to tighten a bolt at a data collection pre-training center for humanoid robots in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province. Photo: Xinhua
ByteDance

ByteDance raises pay, boosts bonuses to retain staff amid AI talent war

The TikTok owner has announced higher bonuses, wider pay bands and faster equity payouts as it seeks to stay competitive in the global talent race.

United States

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

Robotics

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

Hobbs, Noetix Robotics. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

China’s Sugon launches AI infrastructure to rival platforms from Nvidia, Huawei

The Beijing-based supercomputer maker says its scaleX platform represents China’s first 10,000-card AI supercluster.

Supercomputer maker Sugon launches scaleX platform at an event in Kunshan, a city in eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout
Supercomputer maker Sugon launches scaleX platform at an event in Kunshan, a city in eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout
Ant Group

Alipay+ announces sponsorship deal with WNBA team New York Liberty

The sponsorship follows the designation earlier this month of Liberty player Sabrina Ionescu as Ant International’s global brand ambassador.

Semiconductors

China eyes mastery of EUV lithography, bolstering AI chip ambitions: analysts

‘As the semiconductor dream has become a national security issue, I would not underestimate China’s ambition,’ Natixis analyst Gary Ng says.

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Mobile gaming

China’s video game sales reach record amid overseas expansion, AI investment

In 2025, China is expected to surpass the US as the world’s largest gaming market, with revenue of US$53.2 billion, according to Newzoo.

China’s major studios have pivoted towards international markets with the success of titles such as Delta Force. Photo: Handout
E-commerce

Alibaba ramps up China instant commerce push with Cainiao and Tmall tie-up

Partnership designed to expand warehouse network and boost Taobao Shangou’s rapid service as rivals Meituan and JD.com scale up facilities.

Cainiao will launch new or expand instant commerce warehouses for Tmall Supermarket. Photo: Shutterstock
Cainiao will launch new or expand instant commerce warehouses for Tmall Supermarket. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

Chinese AI, chip start-ups court global investors with Hong Kong listing plans

GigaDevice and Montage are each aiming to raise as much as US$1 billion from Hong Kong listings as early as January, report says.

Semiconductors

US launches review of Nvidia’s H200 chip sales to China: sources

The inter-agency licensing review involves the US departments of Commerce, State, Energy and Defence.

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Made in China 2025

China’s pharmaceutical industry transforms into a global innovation powerhouse

The China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Invention Index, a new gauge, highlights top drug makers on the mainland for the first time.

China is gaining a solid reputation as a pharmaceutical innovation hub, according to global consultancy Idea Pharma. Photo: AP
China is gaining a solid reputation as a pharmaceutical innovation hub, according to global consultancy Idea Pharma. Photo: AP
Made in China 2025

Can rising lithium costs save China’s energy storage firms from a price war?

China’s battery makers raise prices amid lithium rebound and global AI energy demand.

Artificial intelligence

SenseTime pushes open-source AI model to provide a ‘smart brain’ for every robot

The Chinese AI pioneer also releases first robot dogs under new venture Ace Robotics.

Robotics

CATL marks trailblazing deployment of humanoid robots at scale in China plant

The initiative underscores the growing use of intelligent Chinese-made robots in the country’s manufacturing industry.

Built by start-up Spirit AI, the Xiaomo humanoid robot works on the assembly line of electric vehicle battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology. Photo: CATL
Alibaba

Alibaba deepens ecosystem with Qwen-Amap tie-up for routes, restaurants and more

The integration marks Alibaba’s first full tie-in for Qwen, as the company pushes for more synergy across its sprawling consumer platforms.

Amap has become the first Alibaba ecosystem service to be fully integrated with its Qwen app. Photo: Handout
Amap has become the first Alibaba ecosystem service to be fully integrated with its Qwen app. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

ByteDance AI model usage grows over tenfold on strong demand from Chinese firms

‘AI is being adopted at an unprecedented speed,’ Tan Dai, president at cloud unit Volcano Engine, says.

Artificial intelligence

AI agent maker Manus hits US$100 million revenue milestone in 9 months

Manus 1.5, launched in October, boasts improvements in speed and reliability across research and web development tasks.

IPO

Holiday rush: Hong Kong IPO market sparkles with busiest December in years

From biotech to AI, December’s listings – including at least 15 down the stretch – crown the city’s revival in equity fundraising.

Insilico Medicine says its listing could raise up to HK$2.3 billion. Photo: Shutterstock
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