Brief

Despite ongoing trade tensions and US export restrictions on advanced chips, American semiconductor companies experienced a notable revenue increase in China last year. A report from the Hurun Research Institute indicates that 26 US chipmakers collectively saw their China revenue grow by an average of 20%. This growth is attributed to strong demand for AI computing power and the broader semiconductor industry supply chain within China. AI

Acclaimed researcher Da Bo, known for his contributions to TSMC's 3nm plant in Japan, has returned to China with his research team. Da, who previously worked at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science, aims to elevate China's semiconductor equipment, materials, and components to global standards. His return signifies a potential boost to China's domestic semiconductor industry capabilities. AI

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to deepen bilateral ties, signing over 20 agreements. The deals span various sectors including politics, trade, technology, education, and artificial intelligence. Both leaders emphasized strengthening their countries' historical "ironclad friendship" and enhancing cooperation on the global stage. AI

European map provider TomTom has seen a tenfold increase in orders from Chinese automakers looking to expand internationally. The company is focusing on providing essential mapping and intelligent driving data to support Chinese car manufacturers in navigating complex overseas regulations and diverse road conditions. TomTom's platform offers standardized, scalable location data and software solutions, crucial for both in-car infotainment systems and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) used in global markets. AI

China is implementing a national initiative to assign a unique digital ID to every humanoid robot. This program, led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aims to track robots throughout their entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal. The goal is to enhance industry standards, monitor for risks, and regulate the rapidly advancing field of humanoid robotics. AI

DeepSeek V4 has been fully adapted to run on Huawei's Ascend AI chips, a significant development for China's domestic AI infrastructure. This adaptation aims to reduce the country's dependence on foreign chip manufacturers for AI inference tasks. The successful integration represents a key step in building a self-sufficient AI ecosystem within China. AI

Several major European Union countries, including Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Lithuania, are advocating for a more stringent policy towards China. They propose a more aggressive use of EU safeguard measures to address what they describe as China's "systemic and structural industrial overcapacity." This initiative aims to shift from individual anti-dumping cases to broader, sector-wide responses, potentially including tariffs and quotas, and suggests a new "resilience tool" to counter concentrated supply sources. AI

China's XCMG, the world's third-largest construction machinery maker, aims to significantly increase its international sales, targeting 100 billion yuan (approximately US$14.7 billion) annually. The company plans to achieve this by focusing on green technologies and autonomous features for its equipment. XCMG's chairman stated the company is evolving into a global player, emphasizing its advanced technological solutions for international clients. AI

UBTECH Robotics is focusing on the industrial manufacturing sector for its humanoid robots, aiming to fill a significant labor gap in China's smart manufacturing industry. The company has achieved mass production and delivery of over a thousand full-sized humanoid robots, with plans to scale to ten thousand units this year. UBTECH believes humanoid robots are crucial for developing new productive forces and are essential for building a comprehensive world model by connecting AI with the real world through data from various scenarios. AI

AMD CEO Lisa Su anticipates continued strong growth in the CPU market, projecting over 35% annual expansion for the next five years. This growth is particularly significant as it aligns with AMD's core strengths. Meanwhile, China's National Development and Reform Commission is prioritizing the integration of AI with domestic industries and hardware, encouraging large AI models to adapt to Chinese-made computing chips to ensure secure and controlled development. AI

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is directing domestic large language models to increase their compatibility with locally produced computing chips. This initiative aims to ensure the secure and independent development of AI technologies while promoting widespread integration across various economic sectors. The NDRC emphasized a strategy of systematic planning, tailored policies, open sharing, and robust safety measures to achieve these goals. AI

The State Council of China has issued new guidelines to promote equal access to basic public services based on residency, rather than household registration. This initiative aims to ensure that all residents, regardless of their hukou status, receive the same public services, supporting a people-centered urbanization strategy. The move is expected to meet growing public needs, enhance urbanization quality, and stimulate domestic demand. AI

China has launched what it claims is the world's first operational undersea data center near Shanghai, powered by a nearby wind farm. This $226 million facility houses approximately 2,000 servers, including GPU clusters, to develop local large language models and process big data. The underwater location utilizes the cool ocean temperatures for server cooling, aiming to reduce energy consumption compared to traditional land-based data centers, though long-term durability concerns remain. AI

Shandong Province in China has released a plan aiming to significantly boost its artificial intelligence industry by 2028. The initiative targets an annual revenue of over 250 billion yuan for the AI sector, representing more than 10% of the national total. Key objectives include developing industrial large models, establishing specialized industry models, and creating numerous high-level industrial intelligent agents and advanced manufacturing applications. AI

Futu Holdings announced it has repurchased approximately $160 million of its American Depositary Shares as of May 23, 2026, under its previously disclosed share repurchase program. Separately, China's Ministry of Commerce reported that in January-April 2026, the country saw a 6.8% increase in newly established foreign-invested enterprises, totaling 20,113. However, actual utilized foreign capital decreased by 10.3% year-on-year to 287.69 billion yuan, though investment in high-tech industries surged by 20.3%. AI

China saw a 10.3% decrease in foreign direct investment during the first four months of the year, totaling 287.69 billion yuan. Despite the overall decline, the high-tech sector experienced significant growth, with investment increasing by 20.3% to 116.33 billion yuan. This surge in high-tech investment, which now accounts for 40.4% of the total, was particularly driven by growth in research and development services, and the manufacturing of computer, electronic, and communication equipment. AI

China is proactively establishing advanced standards in the data sector to support the growth of artificial intelligence. The National Data Administration has developed 12 technical documents for a national integrated computing power network and 7 national standards for high-quality dataset construction. Further, over 100 standard research projects are underway, focusing on areas like本体模型 (ontology models) and integrated electricity-computing coordination, aiming to solidify the data foundation for AI development in the country. AI

The United States and China are engaged in a new technological competition focused on establishing space as a computing platform. This race involves developing infrastructure like satellites, networks, and sensors, with the ultimate goal of creating orbital data centers. While the US currently holds a lead, particularly with companies like SpaceX, China is emerging as a significant player in this evolving digital frontier. AI

The European Union is planning to create its first joint stockpile of critical minerals, including tungsten, rare earths, and gallium, to lessen its dependence on China. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Western nations to secure supply chains for elements essential to defense, technology, and the energy transition. The EU is also in discussions with major ports like Rotterdam to house these strategic reserves. AI

A new report from Omdia indicates that the Chinese AI cloud market has experienced significant growth, reaching 56.7 billion RMB in 2025. Alibaba Cloud leads this market, holding a 38.1% share and ranking first in both AI Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Model as a Service (MaaS). This dominant position surpasses the combined share of the next three competitors, highlighting a strong concentration among top providers. AI

Chinese real estate developers are diversifying into the semiconductor industry as a strategy to revive their struggling businesses. This move has led to significant share price increases for some companies, attracting retail investors who view chip-related stocks as crucial for national technological advancement. However, analysts caution that this trend may be driven by speculation rather than sound company fundamentals, with some firms facing scrutiny from stock exchanges regarding their financial health and the specifics of these new ventures. AI

The 2026 APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting commenced today in Suzhou, China, focusing on four key areas: the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, multilateral trade systems, digital cooperation, and the green economy. Concurrently, China's National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration issued a notice to expand green electricity direct connection policies from single users to multiple users, aiming to facilitate local consumption of new energy and provide cost-effective green power solutions for emerging industries like computing facilities and green hydrogen. AI

China has launched a national pilot base for embodied robot applications in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. This facility showcases over 130 robots engaged in more than 30 vocational scenarios, such as catering, retail, and power line inspections. The initiative aims to advance robot integration in various industries, leveraging Hangzhou's existing robotics ecosystem which includes over 700 companies. AI

China is establishing a large-scale AI computing token factory in Wuxi, utilizing Huawei Ascend 384 supernode servers. This initiative aims to commodify computing power by producing AI tokens, which are now being offered to consumers by major telecom providers. The project seeks to integrate these tokens into existing networks, potentially reaching billions of users. AI

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has stated that its door remains open to foreign tech investment, despite recently blocking Meta's proposed acquisition of AI startup Manus. The NDRC spokesperson clarified that domestic tech firms are not required to reject foreign capital, emphasizing the importance of integrating into the global innovation network. However, any foreign investment must comply with China's regulations and not compromise national security or interests. AI

China's three major telecom operators are launching a large-scale sale of AI tokens, aiming to commoditize computing power similarly to electricity or internet access. This initiative targets both individual consumers and businesses, representing a bold strategy to make AI resources widely available. The move could significantly alter how computing power is accessed and utilized within the country. AI

French AI startup Mistral has achieved a valuation of $14 billion, emphasizing technological independence from both the US and China. The company's strategy focuses on developing its own advanced AI models. AI

The price of DDR5 RAM has reportedly tripled due to high demand from the AI industry, leading to chip shortages. Corsair is now sourcing these critical components from China, a move that could potentially alleviate the supply constraints and stabilize prices for consumers. AI

China's National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration have expanded green electricity direct connection policies to support multiple users, moving beyond single-user arrangements. This policy shift aims to facilitate the local consumption of renewable energy and provide cost-effective green power solutions for emerging industries like computing facilities and green hydrogen production. The initiative is expected to significantly contribute to China's energy transition and high-quality industrial development. AI

Chinese stock exchanges are investigating recent market surges attributed to AI optimism. Regulators are requesting more information from companies and investment funds regarding their specific strategies and applications in AI technology. This scrutiny aims to understand the drivers behind the rallies and ensure proper disclosure. AI

China is reportedly operating an AI-powered "dark factory" that produces stealth fighter parts with minimal human intervention. This highly automated facility runs 24/7, suggesting a future where military power can be generated at machine speed. The development could signal a significant shift in defense technology and the future of warfare. AI

Microsoft has announced Azure Linux 4.0, aiming to strengthen its cloud infrastructure dominance. Concurrently, China has launched the world's first operational underwater data center. NTT has also advanced its AI model, "tsuzumi 2," enabling it to understand charts and accelerate business applications. AI

China has successfully put into operation its first domestically developed 1,000-Megawatt Unit Turbine Control and Protection System. This achievement signifies a major step towards the country's self-sufficiency in nuclear power technology. Additionally, a dedicated large-scale AI model for nuclear safety supervision has been established to enhance the efficiency of licensing and review processes. AI

Nvidia reported strong quarterly revenue growth driven by AI demand, exceeding expectations with $81.6 billion in earnings. However, the company faces uncertainty regarding sales of its H200 chips in China, despite having received licenses for shipment. Nvidia has not yet generated revenue from H200 sales in China and is unsure if imports will be permitted, highlighting the challenges posed by US export controls and China's domestic semiconductor development. AI

China's lithium battery industry is experiencing a new wave of expansion after a two-year adjustment period. Numerous A-share listed companies have announced plans to increase production across various stages, from upstream lithium salts to downstream battery manufacturing. This new round of expansion is seen as more rational than previous periods, driven by improved supply-demand dynamics, evolving demand structures, and a reshuffling of profitability within the industry. AI

Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC), a leading Chinese manufacturer of 3D NAND flash memory, has begun the process for an initial public offering (IPO) in China. The company, founded in 2016, is a key player in China's drive for semiconductor self-sufficiency. Citic Securities and China Securities are serving as the tutoring institutions for this IPO, which is being closely watched by investors. AI

China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the country will implement export controls on critical minerals like rare earths, while still reviewing applications for compliant and civilian use. This move comes as part of preliminary trade discussions with the United States, where both sides aim to address mutual concerns and ensure global supply chain stability. In a separate development, Chinese airlines are set to acquire 200 Boeing aircraft, with the US committed to providing necessary engine and parts support. AI