The economic promise and privacy dilemmas of hyper-connected urban zones. China has positioned itself at the forefront of smart city development, turning urban areas into testbeds for data-driven governance and digital infrastructure. By 2025, hundreds of pilot projects across the country, from Shenzhen
How Chinese platforms expand influence in Vietnam, Indonesia, and beyond. As U.S.-China tensions reshape global markets, Southeast Asia has emerged as the next battleground for Chinese tech firms. With a young, mobile-first population and fast-growing economies, countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand are
The state’s central bank digital currency strategy and its impact on global trade. China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan, has moved from pilot projects to broader implementation, reshaping both domestic finance and global trade dynamics. By 2025, the digital yuan
The struggle to innovate amid global supply chain restrictions. Introduction China’s semiconductor sector has long been dominated by state-backed giants like SMIC and Huawei, but an often-overlooked piece of the puzzle lies with startups. In 2025, smaller firms are at the frontlines of
The evolving rules shaping e-commerce, fintech, and AI firms. China’s technology sector has entered a new era of governance. After a decade of rapid, often unregulated growth, Beijing has tightened oversight of digital platforms, fintech companies, and artificial intelligence firms. By 2025, the
Investment trends in AI, clean tech, and biotech despite global headwinds. China’s venture capital (VC) landscape has undergone dramatic shifts in recent years. Once dominated by consumer internet investments, the focus in 2025 has turned toward sectors aligned with state priorities artificial intelligence,
Biotech, aerospace, and quantum computing emerge as new frontiers. China’s tech landscape in 2025 is no longer defined solely by consumer internet platforms or e-commerce giants. A new wave of startups focused on biotechnology, aerospace, and quantum computing is emerging as the next
Structural risks and opportunities in the world’s largest internet market. China’s digital economy has grown into the largest in the world, contributing more than one-third of the national GDP. By 2025, however, the sector faces a dual reality: resilience in scale and innovation,
From satellites to launch services, private firms compete with state giants. China’s space ambitions are often associated with state-led programs, but by 2025, private aerospace startups are carving out their own role. Companies like iSpace, Galactic Energy, and Deep Blue Aerospace are developing
Payment firms and lending platforms expand beyond domestic markets. China’s fintech sector, once primarily focused on domestic consumers, is now exporting its innovations abroad. By 2025, payment providers, digital lending platforms, and wealth management apps are gaining ground in Asia, Africa, and the
