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Sunday 1 June 2025
DeepSeek’s stealth upgrade inches closer to OpenAI in code race

Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has quietly released a minor update to its R1 model, uploading the latest version to open-source platform Hugging Face without an official announcement or documentation. According to Chinese outlet Jiemian News, the updated R1 became available in the early hours of May 29. DeepSeek informed users through its official discussion group and encouraged testing via its website, mobile app, and WeChat mini program

Friday 30 May 2025
D-Link sidesteps China rivalry with a Taiwan-first supply chain
D-Link Corporation is defying the slowdown in global networking demand triggered by inflation and geopolitical tensions. Backed by its global distribution network, the company continues to post stable revenue. Its "Made in Taiwan" strategy—anchored in the belief that "cybersecurity is national security"—recently secured a five-year supply deal with a US client
Friday 30 May 2025
Samsung activates crisis planning, lines up US$7.27 billion in bank credit
Facing mounting pressure from high US tariffs and a prolonged global economic slowdown, Samsung Electronics has reportedly activated a crisis management framework and signed a credit line agreement worth approximately KRW10 trillion (US$7.27 billion) with several of South Korea's leading commercial banks
Thursday 29 May 2025
Nvidia, AMD to launch China-ready AI chips in 3Q25—cut down, not counted out
Nvidia and AMD are set to launch a new wave of downgraded AI GPUs for the Chinese market starting in the third quarter of 2025, according to supply chain sources. These compliance-driven chips are engineered to meet tightening US export rules while still supporting popular Chinese AI models like DeepSeek
Thursday 29 May 2025
OpenAI establishes Seoul office as South Korea emerges as key AI testing hub
OpenAI expanded its Asian presence to Seoul in May 2025, marking its third regional office after Japan and Singapore as the ChatGPT maker seeks to capitalize on South Korea's rapidly growing AI adoption and comprehensive technology ecosystem
Thursday 29 May 2025
US reportedly targets EDA exports to China; vendors push back on disruption claims
China's semiconductor sector was abuzz in late May 2025 by reports that Siemens EDA received a notice from the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) instructing it to halt all electronic design automation (EDA) services and support to Chinese clients. Several Chinese media outlets and local industry sources alleged that Siemens had already begun blocking regional access to its technical websites
Thursday 29 May 2025
Commentary: China's AI computing system ditches Nvidia—Jensen Huang faces new reality
Amid the escalating US-China tech war and supply chain risks, the trend of "de-Nvidia-ization" is rapidly spreading within China's computing power industry. This shift represents not only a technological transformation but also a comprehensive change encompassing policy, technology, ecosystem, and market dynamics
Thursday 29 May 2025
Trade war fallout: US delays EU tariffs, China's PMI slips, Taiwan retreats
The US has once again delayed the imposition of a 50% tariff on European imports, following a phone call between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The tariff implementation date has been postponed to July 9, 2025. However, Trump's broader tariff strategy faced a significant legal setback when the US Court of International Trade ruled on May 28, 2025, that the president lacked authority to introduce his April 2nd "liberation day" tariff scheme using emergency economic powers legislation, potentially throwing the administration's global trade policy into disarray. Meanwhile, the existing US tariffs on Chinese goods—currently totaling around 40%—are expected to remain in place for now, with China maintaining reciprocal tariffs of approximately 25% on American imports. Despite this temporary détente, China's manufacturing sector continues to suffer, with GDP growth for 2025 projected to fall below 5%
Thursday 29 May 2025
Leadframe maker CWTC upbeat about market, with capacity expansion on track in Malaysia
Taiwan-based leadframe maker Chang Wah Technology (CWTC) is upbeat about 2025 as demand recovers, and will continue to expand its production capacity in Malaysia, according to company chairman Chuen-Sing Hung
Thursday 29 May 2025
Hanmi Semiconductor wins US$5.8 million ASE supply contract
Hanmi Semiconductor has secured a major supply agreement with Taiwan's ASE Technology Holding Co., marking another strategic win in its global expansion drive. Under the contract, Hanmi will export semiconductor back-end process equipment valued at approximately KRW8 billion (US$5.83 million) to Taiwan
Thursday 29 May 2025
Jensen Huang: China's AI moves on with or without US chips
Nvidia Corp. today reported robust financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue reaching US$44 billion, a 69% increase year-over-year. However, the company highlighted the significant and immediate impact of new US government export controls on its data center business in China, affecting both the past quarter's performance and future outlook
Thursday 29 May 2025
China's 5nm workaround: DUV tricks push limits as EUV blockade bites
Huawei's HiSilicon and Lenovo have reignited global debate over China's semiconductor ambitions by launching AI PCs and tablets powered by 5nm chips, despite the country's lack of access to advanced EUV lithography equipment. Huawei's Kirin X90 was unveiled in a high-profile spot on CCTV, while Lenovo's self-developed 5nm SS1101 SoC surfaced quietly inside the new YOGA Pad Pro 14.5 with minimal fanfare. The contrast reflects not just divergent publicity tactics, but different survival strategies under China's chipmaking constraints
Thursday 29 May 2025
Japan plans major US chip purchases as leverage in tariff talks
In ongoing tariff negotiations between Japan and the US, the Japanese government has proposed purchasing semiconductor products from American manufacturers worth several billion US dollars. This move aims to serve as a bargaining chip for reducing the US trade deficit with Japan
Thursday 29 May 2025
Hygon–Sugon merger retools China's AI backbone with full-stack compute integration
Hygon Information Technology and Dawning Information Industry Co. (Sugon) announced a strategic merger on May 25, 2025, a move widely seen as aligning with Beijing's agenda to consolidate its computing infrastructure and fast-track technological self-reliance. Hygon, valued at roughly CNY316 billion (US$43.95 billion), focuses on domestic CPUs and data processing units (DCUs), with five chip generations in use across finance, telecom, artificial intelligence, and enterprise data centers
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Gtoc bets on Vietnam and ultra-thin glass in push for display dominance
As global display technologies pivot toward thinner, lighter, and more flexible form factors — especially for automotive and smart device applications — Taiwanese glass processor Gtoc Optoelectronics is making a bold move into next-generation materials. The company announced a strategic expansion into the ultra-thin rollable glass cover market, positioning itself as a key supplier for high-end automotive displays and precision glass applications
Research Report Database
Intel signals overhaul of IDM 2.0 and foundry strategy with Lip-Bu Tan's appointment, says DIGITIMES