China announced sanctions against five US subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean on October 14, 2025. The move comes on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, and signals China's growing retaliatory actions against the US, which are now beginning to affect South Korean companies

China Mobile announced at its global partner conference in Guangzhou that it plans to exclusively use domestically produced chips across the country's largest artificial intelligence (AI) computing network by 2028. The move seeks to accelerate AI autonomy and reduce reliance on foreign technology amid growing geopolitical tensions

Shenzhen state-owned SiCarrier Technologies Co. is intensifying its efforts to localize semiconductor equipment production by integrating manufacturing capabilities with advanced testing instruments. The company plans to unveil new products at the 2025 SEMiBAY beginning October 15, 2025, signaling strong local government support for expanding China's domestic semiconductor equipment sector

Vivo has positioned itself at the forefront of advancing smartphone photography by incorporating teleconverter lenses as standard accessories in its flagship devices. Oppo is expected to adopt a similar approach with its upcoming Find X9 series, signaling a potential shift among high-end Android manufacturers to prioritize telephoto lens enhancements in premium models

Vivo unveiled its new X300 flagship series in Shanghai on October 13, 2025, highlighting deepened collaboration with Zeiss to differentiate and enhance imaging and video recording capabilities. The company also launched OriginOS 6, optimizing the user interface and AI integration to strengthen brand and product competitiveness

Tensions are flaring yet again between China and the US. China has reportedly made plans to impose export controls on certain lithium batteries, key anode and cathode materials, and manufacturing equipment starting November 8, 2025. If China enforces the controls, consumer electronics like notebooks will be significantly impacted. However, data center Battery Backup Unit (BBU) systems primarily use Japanese and Korean cells, making the impact there relatively limited

Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) Division, responsible for its semiconductor business, is reportedly crafting a new strategic blueprint tailored to each segment's characteristics. The goal is to restructure and realign its operations to build a stronger growth foundation

In a milestone for Taiwan's growing space ambitions, Japanese space startup ispace announced it has been selected by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) to transport scientific instruments to the lunar surface aboard its 2028 mission

Memory module manufacturer Apacer Technology has, in recent years, been actively expanding into full-color cholesteric liquid crystal electronic paper (ChLCD ePaper). Recognizing that Japan has a strong demand for sustainable solutions, the company has joined forces with IRIS Optronics for CEATEC 2025 in Japan, showcasing the latest applications that combine low power consumption, reflective display, and outdoor visibility

Tata Electronics has acquired the India operations of Chinese industrial automation firm Justech Precision for nearly US$100 million, according to a report by CNBC, citing unnamed sources. The transaction, completed in August 2025, was advised by HSBC Bank and HDFC Bank and marks a key step in Tata's strategy to expand its role in Apple's global supply chain

In an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, Chinese tech giant Wingtech and its core subsidiary Nexperia are facing several trade barriers

Samsung Electronics has officially joined Nvidia's NVLink Fusion ecosystem, marking a significant step in the two companies' collaboration within the semiconductor foundry sector. Under Nvidia's open-standard strategy, Samsung is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening the global competitiveness of AI infrastructure

As South Korea prepares to host APEC 2025 Korea in Gyeongju on October 31, attention is focused on a potential high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, rising tensions over China's expanded REE export controls and special port fees imposed on US-flagged vessels have intensified the trade conflict ahead of the summit. If unresolved through negotiation, these escalating trade barriers risk inflicting severe economic damage that could leave both the US and China worse off, while also harming Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea as collateral victims

Amid China's toughest-ever rare earth export controls, China's Ministry of Commerce on October 14, 2025, reiterated a firm stance against the US, stating that if Washington continues tariff hikes and escalates export restrictions, Beijing will "fight to the end," but "if there's talk, the door is open." This signals a tougher posture in ongoing trade negotiations

Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that the new iPhone Air will open for preorder in China on October 17, with official sales beginning on October 22. The announcement was made during Cook's public appearance in China, where he promoted the device through a live stream on the popular platform Douyin, known internationally as TikTok