Hi-tech manufacturing

US President Joe Biden (second from left) makes a toast with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong (second from right) during a State luncheon at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on 11 September 2023. (Nhac Nguyen/AFP)

Stronger US-Vietnam economic ties could also trigger China

The historic upgrade in Vietnam-US relations has more to do with economics than defence and security. The recent visit by US President Joe Biden was an opportunity for both sides to strengthen cooperation in areas such as high-tech manufacturing, including semiconductor production. This is part of the US's "de-risking" strategy in dealing with China.
People walk past a Huawei store with advertisements for the Mate 60 series smartphones, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, on 30 August 2023. (Yelin Mo/Reuters)

Is China emerging from the chip chokehold with Huawei's Mate 60 Pro smartphone?

Amid the China-US tech war, US sanctions dealt a great blow to Huawei's growth and development. However, the company's launch of a new, apparently 5G, phone was announced during US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visit to China. Is it sending a message to the US that China’s technological development cannot be stopped? Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong gives her take on the issue.
Dreame Technology’s second-generation bionic robot dog and general-purpose humanoid robot. (Photo: Chen Jing)

China’s humanoid robots catching up with US and Japan?

Humanoid robots have become the latest trend in the tech industry, with US and Chinese tech firms trying to beat each other to the punch in releasing their robots. While China is still lagging behind in software, the hardware gap between China and the US and Japan is expected to shrink.
Singapore has become a significant source of investments in Vietnam. (SPH Media)

Big Read: Singapore a key driver of foreign investment in Vietnam

Singapore has become Vietnam’s biggest source of foreign investment amid the China-US rivalry and disrupted global supply chain. Several Singaporean companies have established themselves in Vietnam and are playing important roles in helping the local government attract foreign investors. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Yush Chau interviews Singapore entrepreneurs in Vietnam to find out more.
A smartphone with a displayed Micron logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken on 6 March 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

China’s ban on Micron roils domestic memory chip market

US giant Micron Technology Inc. is facing a series of setbacks in China. With Chinese companies unlikely to take the risk of purchasing Micron products, who will fill the gap?
A central processing unit (CPU) semiconductor chip is displayed among flags of China and US, in this illustration picture taken 17 February 2023. (Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

China’s new export controls on rare metals for chipmaking: Latest tit-for-tat in US-China tech war

The China-US tech war has heated up again as China imposes export restrictions on two rare metals widely used in strategic emerging industries. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu notes that this is a tit-for-tat move against the US for its export restriction of advanced chips and chipmaking technology to China. How will this latest move in the tech war affect the semiconductor industry and China-US relations?
Robotic arms assemble cars in the production line for Leapmotor's electric vehicles at a factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, 26 April 2023. (China Daily via Reuters)

Homegrown robots are marching into Chinese factories

China is the world’s largest industrial robot market, accounting for 51.9% of the global industry with 268,200 robots newly installed in 2021. The greatest use of industrial robots is in the electronics and electrical industry, with demand growing since the pandemic. International manufacturers have long dominated the sector, but Chinese manufacturers of industrial robots are catching up. What obstacles would they need to tackle?
The chip battle wears on amid greater technological rivalry between China and the US. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

Micron ban: Will there be a winner in the China-US chip war?

With China barring domestic operators of critical information infrastructure from procuring products from US chipmaker Micron as the latest move in the China-US chip war, there are concerns about whether moving too strongly might lead to China hurting itself instead. Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing takes a look at how the chip war might play out.
The ZTE logo and a sign for 5G are seen at the World 5G Exhibition in Beijing, China, 22 November 2019. (Jason Lee/File Photo/Reuters)

US sanctions forcing Chinese firms to switch to made-in-China tech

According to a development plan for China’s software and information technology (IT) service industry from 2021 to 2025, China is expected to significantly expand its capacity for developing key software and build two to three open-source communities with international influence by 2025. Meanwhile, China’s giant state-owned enterprises are also rushing to crank up domestic purchases of innovative IT applications under government pressure.