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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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Semafor China

China’s AI ecosystem gears up to challenge US

ByteDance is reportedly developing an AI model rivaling Anthropic’s most advanced Mythos system, and DeepSeek is touting its efforts to build a Claude Code challenger.
People interact with a robot at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence conference
Go Nakamura/Reuters

Chipmaker CXMT becomes China’s most valuable company

The changeover occurred after Tencent reported it had doubled its quarterly AI spending.
CXMT company logo
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

China’s economic reformer Zhu Rongji dies at 97

Zhu’s signal accomplishment was steering China into the World Trade Organization in 2001.
Digital display of the late Zhu Rongji
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

AgiBot passes Unitree as China’s top humanoid exporter

Shanghai-based AgiBot surpassed the output of fellow Chinese robot maker Unitree in the first half of the year.
An AgiBot humanoid
Steve Marcus/Reuters

Taiwan beefs up civil, military defense in drills

Taiwan is conducting its largest-ever annual military preparedness drills alongside extensive civil defense exercises.
Taiwanese civilians conduct civil preparedness exercises
Cheng-Chia Huang/Reuters

Chinese chip giant plays down US curbs

CXMT is looking to ramp up its overseas business.
A man wearing a yellow protective helmet walks next to a production facility of China’s top memory chipmaker CXMT with company’s logo on the facade, in Beijing.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

China’s economic woes are deep, prominent economist argues

One of Beijing’s ‘truth-telling’ economists argued the problem is deeper than some think.

The US and China are driven by their own insecurities

As another tit-for-tat trade fight looms, the superpowers are projecting their doubts and apprehensions onto the other.

US senators move to rebuke China over Tibet

The legislation calls for a resolution of the dispute between Tibet and China, labeling it a “matter of strategic interest to the United States.”

Chinese Long March rocket explodes 90 seconds after liftoff

The failure was the “workhorse” rocket family’s second this year, as Beijing races to achieve launch parity with the US.

China’s AI giants target enterprise profits

Price wars could erode margins, as firms race to bundle their models and workplaces offerings.

Taiwan export boom marks return of ‘Tiger economy’

Propelled by chips and other AI-related exports to the US, the surge caps a decade-long pivot away from the mainland market.

China currency debate bursts into the open

Economists are sparring over the yuan’s value as China’s trade surplus continues to grow.

Trade tensions mount ahead of Trump-Xi summit

The US has imposed more tariffs on Chinese goods, blacklisted dozens more Chinese companies, and banned new Chinese humanoid robots.

China’s military unveils AI system for coordinating air strikes

The “intelligent strike planning system” helps commanders and pilots prioritize targets and allocate resources.

China’s maritime playbook for AI

Having sought to upend the global maritime order, Beijing is now trying to shape the digital one.

DeepSeek releases cheaper new AI model as China’s price war intensifies

A 50% cut in token costs suggests DeepSeek is competing for market share.

BYD sales rise for third straight month on exports surge

China’s BYD recorded a 22% year-over-year increase in EV sales in July.