Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Tibet on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region — the consolidation of Beijing’s long-contested rule over the Himalayan territory. Xi arrived by plane in Lhasa on his second visit to Tibet as president. Video broadcast by the Chinese government showed hundreds of people in traditional dress dancing with flowers and banging traditional drums as Xi walked the red carpet. Thousands more waved flags and white ceremonial Tibetan scarves along Xi’s motorcade route. tibet-xi-jinping-visit-lhasa-china…
Day: August 20, 2025
China turns against Nvidia’s AI chip after Lutnick’s ‘insulting’ remarks
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China turns against Nvidia’s AI chip after ‘insulting’ Lutnick remarks
Beijing’s move to restrict sales of Nvidia’s China-specific artificial intelligence processor was prompted by remarks from US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick about chip exports that officials found “insulting”. A group of Chinese regulators have mobilised in an effort to dissuade domestic tech companies from acquiring the H20 — a watered-down processor widely used for artificial intelligence in China. According to people with knowledge of the regulatory action, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) moved…
Magnetic attraction: China’s exports of permanent magnets surge again
China’s exports of permanent magnets rose to a six-month high in July, marking a second month of growth after the government pledged to accelerate export permit approvals for the rare earth derivative. Advertisement According to customs data, China exported 5,577 tonnes of permanent magnets last month, up 75 per cent month on month. Rare earth permanent magnets are an essential component in products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, aeroplanes and spacecraft. The European Union remained the largest buyer of Chinese permanent magnets last month, with the 2,140 tonnes shipped…
Can China’s hugely popular mini dramas find success in the US?
The massive success of China’s mini dramas at home has prompted the industry to set its sights more squarely on the global market, with ever more studios exploring potential in North America, Southeast Asia and beyond. Advertisement The productions going overseas include translated Chinese dramas and original ones made with local teams. The push comes as Beijing urges more mainland productions to improve the quality of on-air content. A document released on Monday said more support would be given for “outstanding micro and short series to be broadcast on TV”.…
Beijing turns against Nvidia’s AI chip after ‘insulting’ Lutnick remarks
Beijing’s move to restrict sales of Nvidia’s China-specific artificial intelligence processor was prompted by remarks from US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick about chip exports that officials found “insulting”. A group of Chinese regulators have mobilised in an effort to dissuade domestic tech companies from acquiring the H20 — a watered-down processor widely used for artificial intelligence in China. According to people with knowledge of the regulatory action, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) moved…
Chinese ‘dim sum’ bond issuance on track for record year
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Issuance of renminbi debt outside mainland China is heading for a record high this year, as low Chinese interest rates make the currency an attractive funding option and businesses and bond investors rethink their exposure to dollar assets. Offshore issuance of renminbi debt — known as “dim sum” bonds because most are issued in Hong Kong, where the Cantonese cuisine is popular — has hit Rmb475bn ($66.3bn) so far in…
Hong Kong’s rally has room to run on ‘reasonable’ valuations: Templeton
Hong Kong stocks remain favourable, as attractive valuations and easing tariff uncertainty have enhanced the predictability of corporate earnings on the city’s stock market, according to US fund manager Franklin Templeton. Advertisement The firm, which manages US$1.5 trillion of assets worldwide, was “constructive” on Hong Kong and mainland China’s stock markets, as the valuations remained reasonable and Beijing had introduced supportive policies, said Ferdinand Cheuk, portfolio manager at Templeton Global Equity Group, on Wednesday in a briefing. While the city’s benchmark Hang Seng Index had surged more than 25 per…
Is the PHL16 multiple rocket launcher China’s answer to the US Himars system?
As tensions intensify across the Taiwan Strait, Beijing has ramped up its firepower capacity to prepare for a possible war in the region. Advertisement One of the weapon systems key to these efforts is the PHL-16, a truck-mounted self-propelled multiple rocket launcher (MRL) that incorporates modular design and long-range precision-strike capabilities. The PHL-16 was developed by Chinese ground-based weapons manufacturer Norinco. Photo: handout Development and design The PHL-16 – also known as PCL-191 and regarded as China’s most advanced MRL system – was developed by Chinese ground-based weapons manufacturer Norinco.…
India successfully tests nuclear-capable missile able to reach deep into China
India has said that it has successfully test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile which, when operational, should be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of China. The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India’s eastern Odisha state on Wednesday, and authorities said it “validated all operational and technical parameters”. India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, are intense rivals competing for influence across south Asia and relations plummeted in 2020 after a deadly border clash. India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the…