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Friday 9 January 2026
China tightens export controls on rare earths, alarming Japan and South Korea
China has stepped up export controls affecting military and civilian sectors, with potential restrictions on rare earth products to Japan causing significant unease. Japanese industries, particularly automotive and electronics, are evaluating the possible consequences amid uncertainties about the scope of the new Chinese measures
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Monday 12 January 2026
Weekly news roundup: AI memory effects in DRAM, HBM4, and TSMC's global expansion
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories of the first full week of 2026: January 5-11
Monday 12 January 2026
Beijing pulls out rare earth card against Japan; Murata says production unaffected so far
On January 6, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that, to safeguard national security and interests, it would strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan. It also initiated an anti-dumping investigation on specialty gases exported to Japan's chip industry. This goes far beyond its previous rare earth controls, with vague definitions for military and civilian applications
Monday 12 January 2026
Samsung eyes BOE OLED panels for Galaxy S series
Samsung Electronics is reportedly evaluating whether to source OLED display panels from China's BOE Technology Group for its flagship Galaxy S smartphone lineup, as it looks to rein in component costs while weighing legal and quality risks
Monday 12 January 2026
Chinese AI startups face 'go global or decouple' dilemma after Manus deal
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on January 8, 2026, that it supports lawful cross-border business and international technology cooperation, emphasizing that overseas investments, technology exports, data transfers, and mergers and acquisitions must comply with applicable regulations and complete required procedures. The ministry is currently reviewing Meta Platforms' acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) startup Manus, working with other authorities to assess whether the transaction aligns with export control rules, technology import-export governance, and outbound investment regulations
Monday 12 January 2026
Samsung reportedly lands US$550 million state loan for chipmaking equipment
Samsung Electronics has reportedly secured KRW800 billion (US$550 million) through a low-interest loan program from the Korea Development Bank, according to sources cited by Korean media
Monday 12 January 2026
TEL expands AI memory capex, targets etching equipment market share
Japanese semiconductor equipment maker TEL is ramping up investments to capitalize on a supercycle in memory demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) servers. With DRAM and other memory prices expected to surge roughly 10x starting fall 2025, rapid global data center expansion is fueling explosive demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing tools
Sunday 11 January 2026
Realme and OnePlus return to Oppo: Three-brand integration to counter supply chain and market pressure
China's smartphone industry opened 2026 with a major consolidation move, as Realme formally returned to the Oppo group as a sub-brand and integrated with fellow sub-brand OnePlus. The restructuring is intended to strengthen competitiveness through shared resources and coordinated brand strategy amid mounting supply chain pressure and intensifying market competition
Sunday 11 January 2026
CATL teams up with Nio to tackle the next phase of China's EV boom

China's largest battery maker, CATL, said it had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio, deepening ties between two of the country's most influential players in the EV ecosystem

Sunday 11 January 2026
Seeking independence from Starlink, Japan backs homegrown satellites

Japan has formally committed to building its own low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, marking a significant shift in how the country approaches communications infrastructure and national security

Sunday 11 January 2026
China's humanoid robots outsell US rivals in 2025 shipments
Chinese humanoid robots made a high-profile debut at CES 2026, demonstrating capabilities ranging from table-tennis play to kung fu routines. For many exhibitors, the Las Vegas show was less about spectacle and more about securing overseas customers and accelerating commercial orders
Saturday 10 January 2026
China semiconductor leaders urge caution on Nvidia H200 deals
Following the US government's decision to ease restrictions on Nvidia H200 chip exports to China, Wei Shaojun, vice chairman of the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA), warned domestic firms to exercise caution when placing orders, saying Washington's true strategic intent remains unclear
Saturday 10 January 2026
LG Display sets transparent OLED as next growth pillar for automotive, XR
LG Display president Jeong Chul-dong has pledged to make transparent OLED a core growth priority in 2026, aiming to lift panel transparency from 45% to 70% as the company targets XR devices and next-generation automotive displays
Friday 9 January 2026
Iluvatar CoreX IPO highlights China's race to scale general-purpose GPUs

Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor, a Chinese general-purpose GPU developer, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Main Board on January 8, 2025. Shares were priced at HKD144.6 (US$18.5), raising about HKD3.7 billion (US$474 million). The stock jumped 31.5% at the open to HKD190.2, lifting its debut valuation above HKD47.5 billion, signalling investor demand for China's domestic compute hardware

Friday 9 January 2026
AMIES Technology acquires SMEE affiliate in US$32m deal, clarifying China's lithography split
China's domestic lithography sector is entering another phase of internal restructuring, with AMIES Technology consolidating industrial assets originally spun out from Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (Group) Co., Ltd. (SMEE). Corporate filings and Shanghai Securities News show that AMIES has acquired 100% of Shanghai Weiyao Industrial Co. for CNY228.5 million (US$32.5 million), replacing SMEE as the sole shareholder. The transaction completes SMEE's exit from Weiyao while keeping the asset within the SMEE-origin corporate structure
Friday 9 January 2026
China turns to rare earths in escalating Japan dispute
China said on January 6, 2026, that it would tighten export controls on so-called "dual-use" goods bound for Japan, a move that state media suggested could extend to rare earth materials, intensifying concerns about supply disruptions across Asia's industrial supply chains