India has reportedly instructed a state-run miner to suspend rare earth exports to Japan under a 2012 bilateral deal, aiming to secure a domestic supply and reduce reliance on China amid tightening Chinese export controls and rising global demand for critical minerals like neodymium used in electric vehicle magnets

Despite recent consensus between Washington and Beijing on a trade framework agreement in London, escalating US export restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chip design tools have prompted Chinese antitrust regulators to delay approval of Synopsys's proposed US$35 billion acquisition of simulation software firm Ansys

On June 16, 2025, China officially completed the commercialization and delivery of the ez-QREngine 2.0, its first superconducting quantum computing measurement and control system designed to operate at a scale of 1,000 qubits. This system, developed by QuantumCTek, has been deployed on quantum computing platforms in Hefei and other locations across the country. It supports measurement and control requirements for over 5,000 qubits, providing a critical technical foundation for China's ambitions to develop indigenous, error-correctable, large-scale quantum computers

Amid the global shift in technology dynamics, China's semiconductor industry stands at a critical strategic turning point. As the 15th Five-Year Plan approaches, semiconductor equipment—being the core of the upstream supply chain—is no longer just about catching up but is entrusted with the mission of achieving stronger technological breakthroughs and securing self-reliance

The artificial intelligence (AI) wave led by Nvidia has continuously driven rapid development in data centers and advanced semiconductor supply chains in recent years. As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated, the company is no longer just a chip design firm but an integrated hardware-software solution provider. The rise of sovereign AI has become a core strategy for countries competing on the global AI stage. DIGITIMES recently conducted an in-depth field investigation in Singapore to observe its AI ecosystem development and government strategies, trying to provide deep insights into the AI race through the Taiwanese perspective

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has added Huawei and SMIC to its newly updated export control list, requiring domestic firms to secure a license from the Bureau of Foreign Trade before shipping goods to either company. However, Taiwanese suppliers of Huawei smartphone components say the rule has little immediate impact, as most shipments are currently fulfilled from manufacturing sites located in mainland China

South Korean display technology firms have intensified patent litigation against Chinese competitors, reflecting growing tensions in the sector. Following Samsung Display's ongoing patent infringement lawsuits against Chinese companies BOE Technology Group and TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology (TCL CSOT), LG Display has also initiated legal action targeting Chinese panel manufacturer Tianma in the US

Just across the narrow Johor Strait from Singapore lies Malaysia's Johor state, a region that for decades has shared deep economic ties with the city-state. Yet despite their geographic closeness and complementary strengths, integration between the two economies has remained superficial — a missed opportunity that, until now, has prevented the area from reaching its full industrial potential

Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc., China (AMEC) Chairman Gerald Yin announced that the company is entering a new strategic expansion phase. Over the next five to ten years, AMEC plans to double its share of the high-end semiconductor equipment market from 30% to over 60% to establish itself as a leading global platform supplier

In a significant move for China's consumer electronics sector, Insta360, a leading provider of smart imaging devices, has officially listed on the Sci-Tech innovation board (STAR Market) of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company's success can largely be attributed to the strategic support of Zhong Yang, a Taiwan-based optical module manufacturer, which has played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in the company's rise

Nissan Motor Co. is set to reduce its stake in French automaker Renault, a move that could generate approximately JPY100 billion (US$692.29 million) if the company sells 5% of its Renault shares, according to Nissan President Ivan Espinosa. The funds raised will be reinvested in new vehicle development and other proactive projects aimed at addressing recent challenges, including increased tariffs from the US and declining sales, reported Nikkei and Sankei

Unitree Robotics Limited, a Chinese startup specializing in high-performance humanoid and quadruped robots, has raised its registered capital from CNY2.594 million to CNY2.889 million (US$361,000 to US$402,100), marking an 11% increase. The capital boost, registered on June 16, 2025, strengthens the company's financial foundation as it expands its footprint in humanoid robotics, international markets, and research and development collaborations

SK Group is set to partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data center in South Korea, targeting the deployment of 60,000 graphics processing units (GPUs). This move follows similar investments by Samsung SDS, Naver, and Kakao, highlighting the increasing competition in South Korea's AI infrastructure sector

China's first clinical trial of a technology that allows signals from the brain to control an external device has proved successful, making it only the second country after the US to reach this stage, according to the Global Times