A prolonged disruption in rare earth magnet supplies could slow down India's electric vehicle (EV) rollout and impact the broader automobile industry, according to a recent assessment by CRISIL Ratings. The supply shortage, triggered by China's export restrictions and shipping delays, poses a critical risk just as automakers prepare to launch over a dozen EV models, many of which are built on permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) platforms, according to industry sources

To strengthen South Korea's development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, President Jae-Myung Lee has pledged to invest KRW100 trillion in AI as part of his campaign promise. In line with this commitment, the South Korean presidential office will establish a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) position and enhance the functions of the National AI Committee. South Korean media have also noted that the country is poised to foster a nationally representative AI company, taking inspiration from France's Mistral AI

As geopolitical tensions between China and the US continue to escalate, the Southeast Asian market has become a new strategic focal point for global semiconductor players—particularly in the microcontroller unit (MCU) segment. Industry players are eyeing Southeast Asia not only for its growth potential but also as a platform to diversify global applications and reduce political risk

Chinese processor developer Hygon Information Technology and supercomputing firm Dawning Information Industry Co. (Sugon) unveiled a CNY116 billion (US$16.2 billion) share-swap merger plan on June 9, 2025. Under the deal, Hygon will acquire Sugon by issuing new A-shares at a 0.5525:1 swap ratio. To raise complementary funding, a private placement to up to 35 qualified investors will also be launched. Trading in both companies' shares resumed on June 10, 2025

Several of China's state-owned automakers have pledged to standardize bill payment periods for their suppliers to 60 days after authorities raised concerns about supply chain financing

The US and China de-escalated trade tensions, agreeing to a preliminary deal on how to implement the consensus the two sides reached in Geneva, negotiators for both sides said

The Trump administration has escalated its tech crackdown on China with a sweeping ban on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software exports. On May 29, 2025, Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens EDA—who together dominate the EDA space—confirmed they had received orders from the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to cease all EDA-related sales and support to China without a license. Unlike the Biden administration's earlier node-specific controls, this latest action, classified under ECCN 3D991 and 3E991, represents a far more expansive push to undercut China's chip design capabilities

As nations worldwide race to attract semiconductor manufacturing, most have rolled out sweeping tax incentives targeting the industry. According to a 2025 policy proposal from the Semiconductor Division of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), tax breaks are proving even more effective than direct subsidies in spurring investment. Countries like the US and South Korea have introduced exceptionally generous tax regimes for chipmakers, giving them a competitive edge

Chinese memory chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) has filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, DC, accusing US-based Micron Technology of launching a disinformation campaign that falsely characterizes YMTC's chips as spyware-laden and a threat to national security

Japanese telecommunications company NTT is repositioning itself as a next-generation infrastructure provider, betting on optical communications and quantum technologies to regain prominence in global markets. The Tokyo-based firm has dropped its full corporate name, "Nippon Telegraph and Telephone," from external communications as part of its transformation from traditional telecom operator to technology leader

Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), a unit of Qualcomm Inc., has finalized its acquisition of Israeli vehicle-to-everything (V2X) chipmaker Autotalks, reinforcing its push into connected car communications. The long-anticipated deal, delayed by two years of regulatory scrutiny, will strengthen Qualcomm's position in automotive connectivity and safety, while sparking debate over potential impacts on market competition

Amid intensifying US-China tech rivalry and deepening supply chain fragmentation, Huawei is mounting a formidable response through a series of proprietary technologies and product launches, signaling its comprehensive breakthroughs in chip design, system integration, and hardware engineering

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, now refocused on company operations after stepping back from government affairs, has unveiled plans to build a fully vertically integrated battery supply chain in the US as part of a strategy to cut reliance on Chinese materials

China's largest cloud and internet companies are implementing backup supply chain strategies as bilateral trade uncertainties continue. Baidu Inc., Alibaba, Tencent and Huawei have developed contingency plans with domestic memory module manufacturers, beginning gradual localization in early 2025