Chinese AI developers are rapidly advancing to trillion-parameter foundation models, aiming to close the gap with US rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. This push occurs as the US implements export controls restricting access to leading AI software, impacting global availability of top-tier models.
China held a forum in Berlin to promote imports from the EU, aiming to ease trade tensions and address its growing trade surplus. The event, attended by officials and executives, sought to showcase China's market potential amid rising regulatory hurdles and geopolitical shifts in Europe.
China has strongly condemned the UK's imposition of sanctions on four Chinese companies as part of anti-Russian restrictions. The Chinese Embassy in the UK stated that the sanctions lack international legal basis and harm Chinese companies' interests, demanding their immediate revocation.
China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the US for "continuously overstretching the concept of national security" and suppressing Chinese companies, stating these actions harm the global economic order and supply chains.
Chinese biotech companies are pursuing global commercialization despite US regulatory barriers, leveraging cost advantages in markets like Europe. Insilico Medicine's Ren Feng highlighted the need for internationalization and the challenge of lacking overseas clinical teams, suggesting business development deals as a solution.
The US Defence Department has expanded its Section 1260H list to 188 entities, up from 134, targeting many Chinese tech and industrial giants. Companies like Wuxi AppTec, Unitree, and solar firms JA Solar and Trina Solar were included. China's foreign ministry criticized the move as discriminatory.
The Pentagon has added major Chinese tech firms including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, and WuXi AppTec to its "Chinese military companies" blacklist under Section 1260H. This expansion, bringing the total to 188 entities, increases reputational risks and raises concerns about future US investment restrictions, impacting investor sentiment and stock prices.
The US Department of Defense adds Alibaba, BYD, and 186 other Chinese firms to a list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military, citing national security risks, though inclusion does not imply immediate sanctions.
China's humanoid robot industry is rapidly expanding, with Lingyi iTech targeting 500,000 annual productions by 2030. Over 100 start-ups, backed by government incentives, are developing robots for various tasks, but concerns of a market bubble and global implications arise.
Chinese companies are openly advertising services to help businesses circumvent EU tariffs on low-cost imports. Practices include establishing manufacturing in 'gateway countries' like Morocco or modifying products to avoid classification. The EU's anti-fraud office (OLAF) is investigating, and the European Commission is expected to propose strengthening trade defence measures.
EU foreign ministers are set to approve a limited sanctions package against Russia and China on June 15. The package includes blacklisting four Chinese companies, restricting ships, and targeting individuals, while the EU continues to negotiate a more comprehensive 21st sanctions package against Russia.
Chinese companies like Zelostech are shifting away from Nvidia chips due to cost and a push for tech self-sufficiency. This trend is seen across the automotive and AI sectors, with local firms developing their own semiconductors and optimizing models for homegrown hardware, impacting Nvidia's revenue in China.
A new OECD report reveals Chinese companies received 3-8 times more state subsidies than Western firms between 2005-2024. The report warns of market distortions and excess capacity, as the EU investigates unfair trade practices.
Chinese and US businesses are capitalizing on a truce to foster deals, despite ongoing data security and branding challenges. Companies like AI Speech and Zeroth are expanding into US markets, exploring acquisitions and local hiring.
Russian Minister Alexey Chekunkov stated that large Chinese companies are showing significant interest in investing in and localizing production for large-scale renewable energy projects, measured in gigawatts, in Russia's Far East. Hydropower development, including the Kankunskaya Hydroelectric Power Station, is a particular focus.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ordered six Chinese-based companies and one from the British Virgin Islands to divest holdings in Northern Minerals in Western Australia, citing national interest and foreign investment framework compliance.
China's 'white monkey' industry hires foreigners to boost business prestige, appearing in ads, events, and even as fake CEOs. This unregulated practice leverages the concept of 'mianzi' (face) but faces scrutiny over visa violations and changing consumer attitudes.
As China’s role in Africa’s economy continues to grow, so do the opportunities for locals that can speak Chinese. The change is partially being driven by the expanding footprint of smaller Chinese companies, which would rather hire locally than bring their own staff from China, and by the increasing role played by African firms in trade. Few of the thousands of Chinese executives, managers and workers who pour into Africa every year are proficient in the languages of their host countries,...
The US State Department has launched a global diplomatic effort to address concerns that Chinese AI firms, including Moonshot AI, DeepSeek, and MiniMax, are illicitly distilling US AI models to train their own systems.
Time magazine has included three Chinese companies – Alibaba Group Holding, ByteDance and Zhipu AI – in its inaugural "10 Most Influential AI Companies of 2026" list, marking the first AI-specific sub-list under its Time100 ranking. The list features six US companies and one French company (Mistral AI), highlighting how AI has become a defining force in the global economy. Alibaba's Qwen models have surpassed 1 billion downloads, with the company emphasizing open-source strategies to drive adoption.
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., one of China's largest private refiners, over alleged links to Iranian oil. The 400,000-barrel-per-day facility in Liaoning province represents Washington's most significant action yet against China's refining sector. Hengli denies the allegations and plans to settle future crude purchases in Chinese yuan. The sanctions could disrupt supply chains across East Asia, affecting chemical, synthetic fibre, and textile manufacturers, with at least two Asian customers already canceling orders.
Beijing has warned Brussels that the EU will bear all consequences after the bloc included Chinese companies in its 20th sanctions package against Russia. China's commerce ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, accusing the EU of acting brazenly despite repeated objections. The package targets 20 Russian banks and includes anti-circumvention measures targeting third-country companies, including Chinese businesses. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europe faces pressure from the US, China and Russia simultaneously.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has condemned the EU's inclusion of Chinese companies in its latest anti-Russian sanctions package, vowing to take necessary measures to protect its businesses and demanding their immediate removal from the list.
Eight mainland China-based companies, including five biotech firms, passed listing hearings on the Hong Kong stock market in April. Metis, founded in 2020 in Hangzhou, uses three proprietary AI platforms to design drug delivery systems. Its revenue surged to 105 million yuan in 2025 from 1.48 million yuan in 2024, while net loss narrowed to 391.8 million yuan. Its leading drug candidate MTS-004 for pseudobulbar affect has completed phase three trials.
