The US has quietly rolled back some restrictions on selling advanced chip design software to China, according to major industry players like Siemens and Cadence. These tools—critical for developing cutting-edge semiconductors—no longer require special government approval for export, hinting at a slight thaw in tech trade tensions between the two nations.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about software—it’s a small but telling shift in the high-stakes tech cold war. Easing these controls could help Chinese firms access vital design tools, but it also raises questions: Is this a strategic concession, or just the US refining its restrictions? Either way, it’s a ripple in the larger battle over who controls the future of semiconductors.

A Chinese fintech company that's worked on China's digital yuan is teaming up with a Hong Kong firm to explore stablecoin and crypto projects. This signals growing mainland interest in Hong Kong's push to regulate and license cryptocurrency businesses.

Editor’s Note: Hong Kong is trying to position itself as a crypto-friendly hub while keeping things regulated, and this deal shows that mainland firms are paying attention. It could mean more collaboration—or competition—between China’s tightly controlled digital currency system and Hong Kong’s more open approach to crypto. Worth watching if you're into how digital money evolves in Asia.

Baidu, China’s top AI player, is shaking up its search platform with the biggest overhaul in 10 years. The mobile app’s search bar is now a "smart box" that understands longer, more complex queries and can do more than just fetch basic info—think of it as a smarter, more versatile assistant built right into the search bar.

China is rapidly expanding its semiconductor production and is expected to overtake Taiwan in chipmaking capacity by 2030, according to a new report. Right now, Taiwan leads the market, but China’s aggressive push for self-sufficiency—especially under U.S. tech restrictions—means it could soon control nearly a third of global foundry capacity.

Honor just dropped a foldable smartphone that’s claiming two big bragging rights: the world’s thinnest and lightest design, plus built-in AI smarts. The Magic V5 starts at around $1,256, squeezes down to just 8.8mm when folded, and weighs less than most regular flagship phones. It’s Honor’s first big swing in the high-end foldable market, and they’re clearly trying to stand out in China’s ultra-competitive phone wars.

While all eyes were on a flashy military parade in Washington, a quieter but potentially far-reaching development unfolded: Silicon Valley bigwigs like Palantir’s CTO were sworn into a new U.S. Army reserve unit for tech executives. Dubbed Detachment 201, this move signals a tighter embrace between the military and the tech industry—and it’s making Asia nervous. The region, already wary of U.S. tech dominance, sees this as another step toward "tech nationalism," where innovation gets weaponized in great-power rivalries.

Alibaba is throwing a massive $7 billion into subsidies for its instant shopping service, Taobao Shangou, over the next year. The move ramps up an already cutthroat battle in China’s on-demand delivery market, where rivals like JD.com and Meituan are also fighting for dominance. Shoppers and sellers will get perks like cash vouchers and free coupons, but it’s clear this is about winning market share—not just generosity.

Chinese tech companies are rushing to list or raise funds in Hong Kong, riding the wave of a massive buying spree by mainland investors. These investors poured a record HK$731 billion into Hong Kong stocks in the first half of the year, lured by cheap valuations and renewed optimism in China's tech sector. The trend suggests Hong Kong's market is heating up as a go-to destination for mainland capital.

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin, just rolled out a new AI chatbot called Tanfan (which means "discover meals") that acts like a foodie sidekick. It suggests restaurants, summarizes reviews, and even lets users book tables or order food—all within Douyin. So far, around 35,000 people have given it a try.