China's EV dominance is already global, but the next front is autonomous driving. It's no longer just about the vehicle; it's about the AI-powered stack behind it: maps, sensors, monitoring, and infrastructure. For AI, smart cars aren't just another use case—they're the ultimate proving ground

What we see today with OpenAI and DeepSeek are just the foundational infrastructures and rule-makers of the early investment stage. The current investments are made to secure industry leadership and control in the next phase. For nations, this also involves issues of "sovereignty.

Compared to the wafer fabrication industry, which is highly restricted by equipment limitations, China's IC design sector—based on the opportunities within its domestic market—appears to have a more optimistic outlook. According to DIGITIMES, the output value of China's IC design industry reached US$35.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to US$73.2 billion by 2030, achieving double-digit annual growth. From autonomous driving chips to electronic design automation (EDA) tools, China aims to cover all aspects of the semiconductor industry and cultivate domestic leaders in each field. Huawei's HiSilicon, Cambricon (AI accelerators), Horizon Robotics (ADAS), and Silergy (often referred to as "China's Texas Instruments") all play key roles in this ecosystem

Over the past fifty years, China has driven its national progress through two key forces: economic growth and nationalism. Its rapid economic expansion has not only reshaped Chinese society but also played a crucial role in global economic development. Between 2009 and 2019, the world's total GDP grew from US$61 trillion to US$88 trillion, with China contributing a third of that US$27 trillion increase. This era was both China's "golden decade" and a time when the international community heavily relied on its economic engine