26 h. ago In Japan, fears of China’s antibiotics dominance spur calls for self

Medical professionals in Japan are concerned that China could dramatically ramp up trade pressure on Tokyo by adding antibiotics and ingredients for medicines to its list of exports subject to restrictions. Despite efforts over the last three years to increase domestic production of a range of commonly used medicines in Japan, the domestic medical sector still relies heavily on imports from China and restricting or halting imports would cause “huge trouble”, according to the experts. “Japan...

Politics

42 h. ago China dominates global humanoid robot market with over 80% of installations

China accounted for more than four out of five humanoid robot installations globally in 2025, driven by domestic start-ups AgiBot and Unitree Robotics, as mass production and commercialisation accelerated, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. A total of 16,000 humanoid robots were installed globally in 2025, mainly for data collection and research, as well as in the logistics, manufacturing, and automotive sectors, according to Counterpoint data released on Wednesday. The market was...

Politics

50 h. ago Wyoming vs China? JAC Advances $16M Rare Earths Loan In Budget To Counter China

Wyoming vs China? JAC Advances $16M Rare Earths Loan In Budget To Counter China  Cowboy State Daily

Economics

54 h. ago US lawmakers propose US$2.5 billion agency to boost production of rare earths

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed creating a new agency with US$2.5 billion to spur production of rare earths and the other critical minerals, while the Trump administration has already taken aggressive actions to break China’s grip on the market for these materials that are crucial to hi-tech products, including mobile phones, electric vehicles, jet fighters and missiles. It is too early to tell how the bill, if passed, could align with the White House’s policy but whatever the...

Economics

3 d. ago OpenAI expects another ‘seismic shock’ from China amid speculation of new DeepSeek release

The race between the US and China to dominate the world’s artificial intelligence industry has become “complex and challenging to forecast”, according to ChatGPT creator OpenAI. In a blog post this week, published ahead of the first anniversary of DeepSeek’s release of breakthrough reasoning model R1 on January 20, OpenAI said another “seismic shock” from China could be on the cards, as anticipation heightened about a potential new major release from the Hangzhou-based start-up around the Lunar...

Events

3 d. ago Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet’ shipbuilding push to give US military and strategic advantage

The US Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday outlined US President Donald Trump’s “Golden Fleet” initiative, stating that revitalising the American shipbuilding industry is essential for restoring strategic maritime dominance over China. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium, Secretary John Phelan emphasised the importance of a strong industrial base, warning that the US Navy is currently unable to compete with Beijing’s production capacity. “To be a superpower, you need a dominant...

Events

3 d. ago Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet’ shipbuilding push ‘to give US military and strategic edge’

The US Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday outlined US President Donald Trump’s “Golden Fleet” initiative, stating that revitalising the American shipbuilding industry is essential for restoring strategic maritime dominance over China. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium, Secretary John Phelan emphasised the importance of a strong industrial base, warning that the US Navy is currently unable to compete with Beijing’s production capacity. “To be a superpower, you need a dominant...

Events

3 d. ago ‘Wartime footing’: US Navy chief unveils Trump’s Golden Fleet shipbuilding push

The US Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday outlined US President Donald Trump’s Golden Fleet initiative, stating that revitalising the American shipbuilding industry was essential for restoring strategic maritime dominance over China. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium, Secretary John Phelan emphasised the importance of a strong industrial base, warning that the US Navy is currently unable to compete with Beijing’s production capacity. “To be a superpower, you need a dominant...

Politics

3 d. ago China’s Rare Earth ‘Monopoly’ — and Why Markets Will Break It

China’s Rare Earth ‘Monopoly’ — and Why Markets Will Break It  The Daily Economy

Politics

3 d. ago China's 2025 rare earth exports hit highest since at least 2014 despite restrictions

China's 2025 rare earth exports hit highest since at least 2014 despite restrictions  Reuters

Events

4 d. ago Harvard Study Says China's Rare Earth Restrictions Drive Innovation Abroad

Harvard Study Says China's Rare Earth Restrictions Drive Innovation Abroad  NDTV

Transport

4 d. ago What are the implications of China’s latest rare earth export restrictions on Japan?

What are the implications of China’s latest rare earth export restrictions on Japan?  Benchmark Source

Politics

4 d. ago Bessent, allies discuss diversifying rare earth supply chains away from China

Bessent, allies discuss diversifying rare earth supply chains away from China  Seeking Alpha

Politics

4 d. ago US moves for AI dominance to outpace China with new ‘overwhelming’ military strategy

America’s top defence official declared that the US must achieve unquestioned AI “dominance” to prevent adversaries from gaining a technological edge, as he unveiled a strategy that includes integrating Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s announcement did not mention China by name, but it came a month after a report to the US Congress in which the Pentagon warned of Beijing’s accelerating use of AI to reach its military modernisation goals. On Monday, Hegseth said the...

Events

4 d. ago US moves for AI dominance to outpace China with new ‘overwhelming’ strategy

US moves for AI dominance to outpace China with new ‘overwhelming’ strategy  South China Morning Post

Politics

4 d. ago China’s position on maintaining stability, security of critical mineral supply chains unchanged: FM on G7 Finance Ministers' request to reduce China rare earth dependence

China’s position on maintaining stability, security of critical mineral supply chains unchanged: FM on G7 Finance Ministers' request to reduce China rare earth dependence  Global Times

Politics

4 d. ago Foreign media ties US critical minerals meeting to China's rare earths, exposing deep Western anxiety: expert

Foreign media ties US critical minerals meeting to China's rare earths, exposing deep Western anxiety: expert  Global Times

Politics

5 d. ago G7, other allies discuss ways to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earths

G7, other allies discuss ways to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earths  Reuters

Politics

5 d. ago G7 finance ministers agree to cut reliance on China for rare earths

G7 finance ministers agree to cut reliance on China for rare earths  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

5 d. ago Japan firms seen ‘stockpiling’ rare earths as Tokyo looks to G7 in face of China controls

Fears of China choking off exports of critical minerals to Japan amid a deepening political dispute have set off industry alarms and prompted Tokyo to elevate the issue at a G7 gathering of finance ministers this week, despite Beijing’s assurances that civilian trade would be spared. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said last week that she would attend the Group of Seven event in Washington on Monday with the “risk of a rare-earth-supply interruption from China in mind”, the...

Politics