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Washington has warned companies worldwide that using Huawei’s Ascend chips could violate export controls, citing US technology in their production. Th…

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CHENG Zi is based in China, covering technology and business-related events. She works with her colleagues at 36Kr Global to provide coverage in both English and Chinese.

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An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

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KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

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Washington has warned companies worldwide that using <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei’s</a> Ascend chips could violate export controls, citing US technology in their production. The move adds pressure as Huawei chips challenge <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia’s</a> dominance in China.

Tmall’s 618 sales event kicked off on May 13 with Chinese influencer Li Jiaqi’s live stream, which featured nearly 500 products across multiple categories and recorded a 10% YoY GMV boost in the first hour. Chinese brands, including beauty labels like Kefumei and Proya, collectively accounted for over 40% of total sales, with more than 600,000 units sold.

Chinese firms in the US cite US-China tensions as their top business risk, with 90% reporting material impact, a recent survey shows. Amid rising regulatory barriers and anti-China sentiment, cited by 73% and 67% respectively, companies are turning to localization and third-market pivots. Further expansion depends on US political stability, the report says.

Neta Auto and Toyota have both denied rumors of a takeover, even as court filings show a creditor has initiated a bankruptcy review of Neta’s parent company, Hozon. Despite a proposed RMB 4.5 billion funding round and a debt-to-equity deal with suppliers, key financing has yet to materialize, deepening the EV maker’s financial crisis.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> has released Wan2.1-VACE under its Tongyi Wanxiang model family, providing an all-in-one model for text-to-video, image-based video synthesis, and localized editing. The open-source release includes both lightweight and large-scale versions, enabling use across industries such as film, marketing, and short-form content production.

China and the EU concluded two days of financial talks in Brussels, pledging deeper cooperation on market access, cross-border payments, data flows, and sustainable finance. Officials agreed to formalize regular dialogue and build on the working group's momentum since 2024, as both sides seek greater financial stability and innovation amid global uncertainty.

<a href="http://kormee.com/en/">Ruili Kormee</a>, a Chinese vehicle safety systems maker, has cleared its listing application as it seeks to fund R&amp;D and a new headquarters in Guangdong. The company is moving forward with its IPO following strong growth in brake electronics, reporting nearly RMB 2 billion in 2024 revenue and RMB 257 million in profit with a 29.7% gross margin. It aims to raise RMB 1.5 billion from the offering.

China sold over 11 million <a href="/industry/ev">EVs</a> in 2024, accounting for 60% of global sales and producing 70% of the world’s total. It also emerged as the top EV exporter, responsible for 40% of global exports, with Chinese brands expanding aggressively into emerging markets such as Brazil and Thailand.

Thailand’s Muu has raised new backing from A2D Ventures and Japanese partners to scale its precision fermentation tech for animal-free dairy. The startup reportedly produces milk proteins without cows, using 90% fewer resources, and aims to supply sustainable, lactose-free ingredients to Asia’s dairy alternatives market.

Zhipu AI is leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand globally, pitching sovereign AI agents to governments and setting up innovation centers in Asia. The firm, planning an IPO in October, faces rising competition as <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> eyes its own international data center footprint.

Chinese exporters are seeing a surge in demand on <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba’s</a> international platform after the US cut tariffs on certain goods to 30%, with some US buyers already stocking up for Christmas. Alibaba launched a flash sale to support sellers, as analysts predict a sharp export uptick during the 90-day tariff reprieve.

How is healthcare going digital? Investigate telemedicine, wearable sensors, and data-driven platforms improving patient experiences.

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With real-time radar tracking and predictive AI, Tsingray lets families care from afar without wearables, cameras, or compromise.

How radar sensors—and a son’s worry—sparked a smarter eldercare system

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Bookings sink as US importers halt orders, raising fears of empty store shelves.

Trump's China tariffs spark shipping disruptions comparable to Covid-19

Trump&#8217;s China tariffs spark shipping disruptions comparable to Covid-19

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Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, operates online retail marketplaces, cloud computing services, and digital payment networks across Asia and beyond.

Alibaba Cloud powers scalable cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity solutions, supporting businesses’ digital transformation worldwide.

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China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

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From learning tools to ad engines, teams prototyped AI applications aimed at solving practical challenges across industries.

AI in action: Inside the innovations from Alibaba Cloud’s Singapore hackathon

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US warns firms on Huawei AI chip use

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How radar sensors—and a son’s worry—sparked a smarter eldercare system

Trump’s China tariffs spark shipping disruptions comparable to Covid-19

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