The US has initiated a Section 301 investigation into China's mature semiconductor processes and third-generation silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors. Supply chain operators state that the increasingly challenging environment seems to fuel the determination of Chinese manufacturers to break through barriers. Mainstream 6-inch SiC substrates from China saw significant price reductions in 2024, rapidly igniting internal competition. However, recent reports suggest that the aggressive pricing strategies have begun to slow down

China has officially designated embodied intelligence as a strategic pillar of future industrial growth, according to its latest government work report. This marks a significant policy shift toward fusing AI, robotics, and automation to accelerate technological innovation

At the Morgan Stanley Tech, Media & Telecom 2025, GlobalFoundries announced plans to explore manufacturing partnerships in China. The move responds to rising demand for localized semiconductor production, especially in the automotive sector, while ensuring the company retains control over its key technologies

China's latest AI sensation, Manus, is being marketed as the world's first general-purpose AI agent. Overnight, it became a trending topic, with many touting it as a groundbreaking leap in Chinese AI development. But is Manus truly a game-changer, or just another overhyped product

Japan's 2025 budget proposal is on the verge of approval, paving the way for government investment in Rapidus, a project focused on the mass production of advanced semiconductors. This legislative session is also set to introduce legal changes allowing debt guarantees for bank loans, thereby strengthening governmental support. Although public funding is progressing steadily, private investment is noticeably slow, placing a significant financial responsibility on state resources

On March 10, BOE Technology Group celebrated the mass production launch of its MLED (Mini/Micro LED) displays at Zhuhai BOE MLED Technology. The event, themed "Illuminating the Future, Mass Production Begins," welcomed over 50 international clients from the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, highlighting BOE's expanding footprint in the global MLED market

High bandwidth memory (HBM) major client Nvidia is said to have visited Samsung Electronics' advanced packaging plant again, just over a month after their last visit. Industry sources speculate that Samsung is supplying fifth-generation HBM3E and has entered the final stage of quality testing

Taiwan's Hiroca Automotive Trim Corp. continues to see strong sales in its major Chinese market, driven by the country's "trade-in for new" consumer policy and aggressive promotions by local automakers. Additionally, the company has successfully entered the supply chains of Japanese and South Korean car manufacturers, unlocking new growth opportunities

Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai stated that a recent high-level meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and top tech executives has strengthened business confidence in China. Following the meeting, Alibaba is accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence (AI)

China-based start-up Butterfly Effect claims to have launched the world's first General AI agent, Manus. The company aims to capitalize on the momentum of "Chinese-branded AI" following DeepSeek's success. However, industry response over the past week has been muted, as experts believe the startup lacks the crucial components needed to outshine its predecessor

Despite the relatively stagnant demand for mobile phones and PCs in the first half of 2025, Kioxia, the leader in NAND flash, anticipates that overall NAND shipments in 2025 will increase by 10-15% as consumer clients resume their NAND purchases, coupled with robust demand for AI servers. This could potentially result in a substantial supply shortage in the latter half of the year

Samsung Electronics is ramping up its advanced foundry push, targeting mass production of its fourth-generation 4nm process (SF4X) by late 2024. Designed specifically for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence applications, SF4X is seen as a critical play in reviving its foundry business

On March 11, Shanghai Guotou Pioneer Fund announced via its official WeChat account that its AI industry fund led a fresh investment round in Biren Technology (Biren), one of China's top GPU startups. Several leading institutional investors and industrial capital firms participated. This marks the fund's first-ever direct investment, signaling Shanghai's push toward a domestically controlled AI computing ecosystem

China has issued more licenses allowing copper smelters to export metal tax-free, aiding local producers and paving the way for greater overseas sales at a time of upheaval in the global market

Samsung Electronics' revenue from China soared 53.8% in 2024 to KRW64.9 trillion (US$448 billion), driven by concerns over potential tariffs under President Donald Trump's administration. Chinese manufacturers are ramping up semiconductor stockpiles in anticipation of trade restrictions, South Korea's iNews24 reported, citing Samsung's annual business report