OpenAI has flagged Chinese startup Zhipu AI as a fast-emerging player in global AI, citing its deep ties with the Chinese government and its expanding role in Beijing's Belt and Road and Digital Silk Road strategies

NAND flash producers are reaping windfall profits from discontinued older chips as supply shortages push prices for legacy products to levels rivaling advanced semiconductors. The crunch mirrors previous DDR4 DRAM phase-outs and positions Taiwan's Macronix International to capture redirected orders

China's auto sector faces intense pressure from a cascade of crises, including deepening price wars and mounting scrutiny over "fake used car" export practices. Recent exposés by Chinese and international media reveal systemic dysfunction that analysts say may be testing Beijing's tolerance threshold

CarUX, a tier 1 supplier of smart cockpit integration solutions and subsidiary of Taiwanese panel giant Innolux, announced on June 26, 2025 that it has signed a formal agreement with global investment organization EQT to acquire a 100% stake in Japanese electronics manufacturer Pioneer in a deal valued at JPY163.6 billion (US$1.13 billion)

Benefiting from stable shipments of specialized new copper products from its Luzhu plant in Kaohsiung, along with China's pending implementation of updated safety standards for electrical plugs, GEM Terminal Industry is optimistic about a significant boost to its operations beginning in the third quarter of 2025

The US and China finalized a trade understanding reached last month in Geneva, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, adding that the White House has imminent plans to reach agreements with a set of 10 major trading partners

The bankruptcy of Aptos Technology, a subsidiary of Taiwan Mask Corporation, underscores the cautious approach Taiwanese chipmakers are taking toward India's semiconductor ambitions, following the collapse of a tech transfer deal with Kaynes Semicon and amid broader skepticism about India's readiness to support a competitive chip industry

Senior executives from Nvidia, AMD, and Microsoft have frequently visited Japanese manufacturer Nitto Boseki to secure a critical raw material for AI servers: low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) glass, known as T-glass. Nitto Boseki, also called Nittobo, is currently the sole global supplier of the highest-grade fiberglass cloth crucial for AI chip production, according to multiple outlets, including Nikkei

Xiaomi unveiled a suite of new hardware on June 26 at its "Human x Car x Home" ecosystem launch, led by its first AI smart glasses and electric SUV. The event highlighted Xiaomi's bold push to reshape China's consumer tech and mobility sectors

Huawei is accelerating its push into China's premium EV segment, targeting legacy German brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Its new Maextro S800, co-developed with JAC Group, secured 2,600 orders within 72 hours and topped 5,000 by mid-June. Monthly sales are projected to reach 3,000 in September and 4,000 by year-end

Samsung Foundry is reportedly adjusting its roadmap by postponing development of its 1.4nm (SF1.4) node and reallocating resources to improve yield and service quality across its 2nm and 4nm process technologies. According to industry sources, the company has briefed partners on the shift as it seeks to address mounting operational and market challenges

HTC announced on Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan's NTT Communications (NTT Com) to jointly develop large-scale location-based immersive entertainment (LBE) experiences in Japan, signaling a broader push into the next generation of XR-driven entertainment

Tesla has secured its first gigawatt-hour-scale energy storage project in China — a rare breakthrough for a US firm in the country's increasingly closed clean tech market. Valued at CNY4 billion (US$558 million), the deal highlights diverging fortunes as Chinese energy and solar firms face escalating barriers in the US

Despite a pledge made at the Geneva talks to lift export restrictions on rare earth materials, China has yet to follow through. According to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese authorities have recently instructed domestic rare earth companies to submit detailed personnel rosters, including technical qualifications, research experience, and personal data. The move is part of a broader effort to establish a national-level database aimed at preventing technology leaks

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is drafting new cybersecurity guidelines for semiconductor manufacturers and is considering making compliance a condition for receiving government subsidies. The final version of the guidelines is expected to be released in the fall of 2025