10 h. ago What are China’s ‘future industries’ – and why they count in the global tech race

As the dust barely settles on “Made in China 2025”, Beijing is intensifying its quest for technological supremacy with a focus on “future industries” amid its escalating rivalry with the United States. Authorities are pushing boundaries in their pursuit of a new growth model centred on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades. What are “future industries”? First introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2020, the term refers to sectors with foundational technologies still in their infancy...

Politics

48 h. ago Beijing to Shanghai in 2½ hours: the maglev marvel redefining high

A Chinese-built maglev train that will be the nation’s fastest-ever ground transport vehicle has made its public debut in Beijing – an ambitious project that is expected to drastically reduce travel times and cement China’s reputation as a world leader in high-speed rail networks. The train – which can reach speeds of 600km/h (373mph) – was unveiled this week at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition, offering a futuristic glimpse of China’s rail transport aspirations. Developed by the China...

Politics

50 h. ago US may cut dependence on China rare earths by 2028, CEO says – but at what cost?

The United States is scrambling to reduce its dependence on rare earths from China, with the Pentagon splashing out US$400 million on Thursday to become the largest shareholder in American miner MP Materials. While some say the move will help wean the US off the Chinese supply, a senior American industry executive has warned that a variety of hurdles face US and European mining efforts – from securing the necessary midstream technology to obtaining government permits for what can be a highly...

Economics

58 h. ago How mainland standards will bring Hong Kong cheaper, faster northern rail line

Hong Kong’s move to use mainland standards for a cross-border rail project in the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment can set a viable precedent for the future, experts have said, as it capitalises on China’s established and rapidly growing railway sector. Although the Hong Kong government did not specifically set out which mainland Chinese standards would be applied to the construction of the Northern Link spur line, it forecast that the project could be completed two to four years earlier in...

Politics

58 h. ago How mainland China standards will bring Hong Kong cheaper, faster northern line

Hong Kong’s move to use mainland standards for a cross-border rail project in the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment can set a viable precedent for the future, experts have said, as it capitalises on China’s established and rapidly growing railway sector. Although the Hong Kong government did not specifically set out which mainland Chinese standards would be applied to the construction of the Northern Link spur line, it forecast that the project could be completed two to four years earlier in...

Politics

63 h. ago China expert Leland Miller announced as keynote speaker at FreightWaves' Future of Freight Festival

China expert Leland Miller announced as keynote speaker at FreightWaves' Future of Freight Festival  FreightWaves

Science

4 d. ago Surprise US copper tariff tests the mettle of China’s vast refining industry

Shockwaves from Washington’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on copper imports are still rippling across the Pacific, and China, the world’s largest consumer of the metal, is feeling the effects. Copper futures traded in the US rallied on the tariff threat, expanding a price gap with the London and China markets, where prices fell. The most active copper futures contracts traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell by 1.36 per cent on Wednesday following US President Donald Trump’s...

Politics

5 d. ago Meta’s AI lab scoops up two more Chinese experts from Apple, OpenAI

Facebook parent Meta Platforms is adding another Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) expert to its newly established research facility, underscoring how researchers from China are increasingly sought after in the competitive global race for top tech talent. The social media giant has recruited Pang Ruoming, who held the title of distinguished software engineer at Apple and was leading its foundation models team, according to a Bloomberg News report on Tuesday that was confirmed by Meta. Neither...

Politics

5 d. ago A third of chip supply threatened by climate change by 2035: PwC

Climate change could disrupt a third of the world’s semiconductor supply by 2035, as severe drought threatens the mining of copper – a critical material used in chip production – according to a new report from PwC released on Tuesday. The extraction of copper, essential for building the microscopic wires found on semiconductor circuits, requires substantial water resources. About 1,600 litres (423 gallons) of water were needed to obtain just 19kg of copper, the report said, citing data from the...

Events

8 d. ago Warship Shandong wows Hong Kong tour groups with fighter jets, military displays

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong has left many Hong Kong residents and visitors impressed with its contingent of fighter jets and overall military prowess, while tourism sector veterans have said they are looking at how to capitalise on “future warship visits”. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and other vessels in its strike group began accepting tours on Saturday morning while the ships were calling at the city. The tours offer the public the chance to explore designated...

Events

8 d. ago Hong Kong’s AI ambitions take shape with 90% of supercomputing capacity now in use

Hong Kong’s ambition to create an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is bearing fruit, with more than 90 per cent of the city’s flagship supercomputing centre at Cyberport now in use, according to officials. The AI Supercomputing Centre, which began operations in December, is a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to foster a vibrant local AI ecosystem. Authorities have earmarked HK$3 billion (US$418.6 million) in subsidies to support AI model development and applications. Cyberport said...

Politics

1 week ago Mainland China chipmaking capacity to outstrip Taiwan by 2030: report

Mainland China is on track to surpass Taiwan in semiconductor foundry capacity by 2030, according to a report from Yole Group, underscoring Beijing’s progress in its push for chip self-sufficiency amid ongoing US tech restrictions. The mainland’s share of global foundry capacity is projected to reach 30 per cent by the end of the decade, up from 21 per cent in 2024, the French market research firm said. Taiwan is currently the market leader with a 23 per cent share last year, while mainland...

Politics

1 week ago CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: A slowing economy meets a fast future

CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: A slowing economy meets a fast future  CNBC

Politics

1 week ago China boosts tech outreach to Global South as US collaboration dips: analysts

China is ramping up its science and technology outreach to the Global South while its collaboration with the US on the same front is receding, analysts said on Tuesday at an event hosted by the Institute for China-America Studies, a Washington think tank. “China is very heavily engaging with those countries,” said Caroline Wagner of the Ohio State University, noting Beijing has signed science and technology agreements with “dozens and dozens of countries”. That development marks a “critical...

Politics

1 week ago Webinar Recap: Powering the Frontier: China’s Nuclear Bet on an AI Future

Webinar Recap: Powering the Frontier: China’s Nuclear Bet on an AI Future  Asia Society

Events

1 week ago “China’s Hidden Weapon Unleashed”: Rare Earths Now Drive Global Power Shift as Beijing Tightens Grip on World’s Tech Supply Chain

“China’s Hidden Weapon Unleashed”: Rare Earths Now Drive Global Power Shift as Beijing Tightens Grip on World’s Tech Supply Chain  Visegrád Post

Events

1 week ago Beijing World Cup hosts groundbreaking Future Gen course in China

Beijing World Cup hosts groundbreaking Future Gen course in China  Paralympic.org

Politics

1 week ago Beijing: China's tech progress aims to benefit global development

Beijing: China's tech progress aims to benefit global development  news.cgtn.com

Politics

2 w. ago Trump Goes Haywire on AI Regulation After China Agrees to Major Trade Deal

Trump Goes Haywire on AI Regulation After China Agrees to Major Trade Deal  Futurism

Politics

2 w. ago Decoding the future of China’s C919 jet in a shifting aviation landscape

The C919, China’s first indigenous narrowbody jet, embodies Beijing’s progress in pursuing technology self-sufficiency and holds the potential to reshape the global aviation market, but it faces a host of difficulties in challenging established giants Boeing and Airbus. In the latest China Future Tech webinar, Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst, along with SCMP reporters Frank Chen, William Zheng and moderator Ralph Jennings, discussed questions surrounding the home-grown Chinese...

Politics