Beijing

• Beijing is mandating that Chinese companies and consumers use domestic AI models from firms like DeepSeek, Alibaba, and Moonshot instead of global leaders like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude. • In a significant regulatory move in April, Chinese authorities ordered Meta to reverse its $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore-based AI firm Manus, citing national security concerns. • This protectionist approach risks stymying local innovation by depriving Chinese users of the world's most advanced AI tools during a critical global technological shift.

• DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng has reached a net worth of $36 billion, surpassing all Western AI creators following a funding round in June. • The company announced plans for a Chinese IPO in 2027, confirming that China’s state AI fund holds the sole investor vote in its governance structure. • This development clarifies that DeepSeek operates as a Chinese state asset rather than a commercially independent research lab, a key distinction for global developers and government agencies.

• India has formally backed the 2016 tribunal award that rejected China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, aligning with a joint statement issued by 14 other nations. • The joint statement, released on the 10th anniversary of the Philippines-China Arbitral Tribunal Award, emphasizes a commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. • To support this stance, the Indian Navy has deployed warships for coordinated patrols, joint exercises, and port visits with partners including Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.

• Chinese authorities have held meetings with leading tech firms over the past month to discuss restricting foreign access to the country's most advanced AI models, including those not yet released. • The move follows public concerns from state media and Zhou Hongyi, founder of cybersecurity firm 360, who argues that China must develop its own unique "Mythos" for AI. • This potential restriction reflects Beijing's growing desire to protect domestic technological sovereignty and prevent strategic AI capabilities from being utilized by overseas competitors.

• Beijing is considering implementing restrictions to curb overseas access to China's most advanced artificial intelligence models. • The move follows public concerns voiced by state media and Zhou Hongyi, the founder of cybersecurity firm 360 Security Technology. • This shift highlights a strategic push for China to develop its own independent "Mythos" and technological ecosystem to reduce external dependencies.

• Beijing is considering new restrictions to curb overseas access to China's most advanced AI models, according to internal sources. • The move follows a series of steps by the Chinese government to treat cutting-edge AI as a critical national asset that requires strict domestic controls. • These efforts align with concerns from state media and Zhou Hongyi, founder of cybersecurity firm 360, who advocates for China to develop its own "Mythos."

• The Chinese government in Beijing is considering restricting access to the country's leading AI models, with discussions held with AI companies. • China has taken steps this year to retain domestic AI technology, including vetoing Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus in April. • As part of the review, Chinese authorities prohibited Manus CEO Xiao Hong and chief researcher Ji Yichao from leaving the country.

• Beijing is reportedly considering new restrictions to curb overseas access to China's most advanced artificial intelligence models. • The move aims to tighten control over how domestic AI technology is utilized and distributed globally. • These limitations could disrupt international AI markets and significantly increase operational costs for businesses relying on Chinese models.

• Chinese authorities have held meetings with leading tech firms over the past month to discuss restricting foreign access to the country's most advanced AI models. • The proposed restrictions would apply to both currently available systems and upcoming models that have not yet been released to the public. • This move signals a tightening of control over strategic technology exports and a desire to prevent sensitive AI capabilities from being utilized by overseas entities.

• Beijing is considering new restrictions to curb overseas access to China's most advanced artificial intelligence models. • The move treats high-end AI as a strategic national asset, reflecting a broader effort to ensure homegrown technology remains within the country. • These discussions align with public concerns from state media and Zhou Hongyi, founder of cybersecurity firm 360, who advocates for China to develop its own "Mythos."

• The low-budget Chinese family drama "Dear You," performed in the Teochew language, has unexpectedly become a major box office hit in China. • The film explores themes of migration and identity, resonating with audiences despite being spoken in a dialect that many mainland Chinese viewers struggle to understand. • Beijing views the film's success as a strategic opportunity to strengthen cultural ties and court Chinese diaspora communities living abroad, such as those in Malaysia.

• The Chinese film industry is experiencing a period of growth and success, highlighted by the popularity of the film "Dear You." • The film's success is attributed to its organic feel and the fact that it does not appear to be a state-directed propaganda piece. • This trend raises critical questions about whether the Beijing government can resist the urge to intervene in creative processes to maintain artistic authenticity.

Official statement offers the most detailed official account yet of the highly unusual and fatal incident in BeijingChinese authorities said the man who flew a small plane into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper last week was a 66-year-old who had mental health problems.The statement published on Thursday offered the most detailed official account yet of the highly unusual incident that occurred in Beijing’s central business district on the evening of 26 June. Continue reading...

• Unprecedented demand for Chinese-made air conditioners has surged across Europe following a historic heat wave, highlighting the region's heavy reliance on Beijing's technology. • This trend underscores the difficulty the European Union faces in rebalancing trade, as Brussels struggles to increase its own exports while importing critical cooling infrastructure. • Industry experts, including Depoux, warn that this trade inversion could create a "financial systemic problem" and pose a significant threat to domestic European industries.

• Meta has begun unwinding its $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus following a divestiture order from the Chinese government citing national security concerns. • The co-founders of Manus are currently in early negotiations to raise approximately $1 billion from external investors to fund the buyback of the company from Meta. • This separation is critical as it allows Manus to potentially transition into a Chinese joint venture structure to comply with Beijing's regulatory requirements.

Ministry says on WeChat that animals fitted with sensors by foreign agencies are ‘collecting sensitive marine data’China’s ministry of state security has claimed that foreign espionage and intelligence agencies are using innovative new methods to monitor the country’s waters, including deploying “spy” animals fitted with sensors.In a post on the Chinese platform WeChat on Friday, the ministry warned that an “invisible secret war” was quietly playing out in the seas around China as foreign agencies were collecting sensitive data “through a variety of new spying devices” to produce underwater maps that pose a “serious threat to our national security”. Continue reading...

• Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike reports that China-based entities are responsible for over half of all state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting AI assets within technology firms. • These espionage efforts are aimed at bypassing U.S. restrictions on AI training chips to accelerate Beijing's own technological development and reduce operating costs. • The attacks have specifically targeted government communications in Southeast Asia and exploited vulnerabilities to maintain persistent access to North American tech organizations.

• Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike released a report on Tuesday, January 9, identifying China-backed hackers as the single greatest espionage threat to global technology companies. • The report, which tracked global cyber threats from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, notes that the tech sector is the primary target for state-sponsored spies and cybercriminals. • These actors are specifically targeting intellectual property and economic secrets, with a heightened focus on the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

• China’s Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, with both leaders touting a “new type” of world order and closer coordination after Trump’s recent China visit. • The meeting underscored continuing alignment on diplomacy, security, and trade as both countries seek to blunt Western pressure over Ukraine and wider geopolitical tensions. • The visit matters because it signals Moscow and Beijing are keeping their partnership intact even as Washington explores renewed engagement with both powers.

‘China has already eaten much of German industry’s lunch and is preparing to start on dinner,’ thinktank saysBusiness live – latest updatesGermany must stop admiring China’s success in the EU or it will sleepwalk into the kind of deindustrialisation the US experienced 25 years ago, a leading Brussels thinktank has said.With China’s surplus with Germany having doubled between 2024 and 2025 from $12bn (£9bn) to $25bn, creating a $94bn trade imbalance, the Centre for European Reform (CER) said Europe’s largest economy risked a repeat of what happened in the US in 2001 when a sudden surge in imports permanently hollowed out towns in the American midwest. Continue reading...

Russian leader says relations between two countries have reached ‘unprecedented level’ on eve of 25th visit to ChinaVladimir Putin is due to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for a state visit, four days after Donald Trump left China.Putin’s visit to China – his 25th, according to Chinese state media – reflects Beijing’s growing confidence on the world stage as a centre of global diplomatic activity. Continue reading...

US president said he and Chinese leader ‘settled a lot of different problems’ but gave little detail on solutionsTrump China visit live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s whirlwind trip to Beijing – the first US presidential visit in nearly a decade – wrapped up with much fanfare but little clarity about what was actually achieved.Trump said on Friday that he and Xi Jinping, China’s leader, “settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve”. But he didn’t provide much detail on what those solutions were. Continue reading...

Mirroring of each other’s attire may signal alignment – though the look wasn’t a huge departure for either leaderWhen Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met for a welcome ceremony in Tiananmen Square this week with the world’s gaze on them, they mirrored one another in strikingly similar suits.Both were blue, single-breasted with flap pockets. Both had two buttons with only the top one done up. Both wore red ties. Continue reading...

• President Trump is in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leaders, and reaction across Asia has ranged from cautious optimism to concern about regional stability. • The NPR report notes that governments and observers are watching how the talks could affect trade, security, and diplomatic alignment in the region, especially amid tensions involving China and the United States. • The summit matters because decisions made in Beijing can ripple through Asian markets, alliances, and policy planning, particularly for countries balancing ties with both Washington and Beijing.

• President Trump arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 14, 2026, amid geopolitical tensions including the ongoing Iran war that began in February and disputes over Taiwan's status. • Xi warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan could lead to "an extremely dangerous situation," while Trump stated that Xi ruled out providing military equipment to Iran during their talks, calling it "a big statement." • The summit focuses on trade demands, with Trump pressing Xi to "open" China to U.S. business, though breakthrough agreements appear unlikely as both sides prioritize stability over major concessions.

• President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks in Beijing focusing on resolving escalating trade tensions, technology competition, and coordinating responses to Middle Eastern developments. • The two leaders discussed tariff rollbacks, semiconductor supply chain restrictions, and potential joint initiatives on artificial intelligence regulation, with both nations seeking to avoid further economic deterioration. • The summit marks a critical pivot point in US-China relations, with observers noting that agreements reached could reshape global trade dynamics and influence the trajectory of broader geopolitical competition.

• U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday to discuss U.S.-China relations, Taiwan, and economic cooperation, with no major breakthroughs expected by analysts. • Asian markets were mixed: Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1% to 62,654.05 after hitting an intraday record above 63,700; South Korea's Kospi rose 1.8% to a record 7,981.41 driven by AI tech stocks; Shanghai Composite dropped 1.5% to 4,177.92 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng flatlined at 26,389.04. • The leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz must remain open amid the ongoing Iran war over two months old, with hopes Beijing could leverage ties with Tehran; U.S. crude dipped 0.2% to $100.86 per barrel.

US president says he and his Chinese counterpart have ‘known each other for a long time’ and Xi is ‘great leader’Trump in Beijing – latest updatesFive key issues for Xi-Trump summitThe US president, Donald Trump, has met China’s leader, Xi Jinping, for a momentous summit that will pack negotiations on global conflict, international trade and the future of artificial intelligence into just over 24 hours.Trump arrived at the Great Hall of the People, an imposing Mao-era building that borders the western edge of Tiananmen Square, on Thursday morning for an opening ceremony followed by an hour of face to face talks with Xi. Continue reading...