Global Scans · China · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Any disruption in economic activity between China and the United States will necessarily affect other Asian and world economies. How China handles Donald Trump's administration, its relationship with Russia and develops its leadership ambitions will be key areas to watch intently in the coming years.

• [New] As tensions with China escalate, the storage of nuclear materials will set a precedent to allow for the potential arsenal of U.S. nuclear weapons on Philippine soil. Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition
• [New] China, the world's largest oil importer, led that spending charge and is also fast approaching 'peak demand' which will have ramifications for global oil markets. Morgan Stanley Investment Management
• [New] China's first dedicated commercial spaceport in Hainan, recently opened, will alleviate infrastructure bottlenecks. Caliber.az
• [New] Chinese providers are aggressively underpricing services internationally, threatening Western remote sensing firms. Caliber.az
• [New] China maintains a declared doctrine of no first use and pledges never to use or threaten nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. Big News Network.com
• [New] After decades of ambition, China now operates two aircraft carriers - Liaoning and Shandong - soon to be joined by the domestically designed Fujian, currently undergoing sea trials and expected to enter service in late 2025. Big News Network.com
• [New] China's domestic AI chip share will rise from 17% in 2023 to 55% by 2027, reducing reliance on U.S. suppliers. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] North America and China will likely experience the largest economic gains from AI, while developing countries - with lower rates of AI adoption - will register only modest economic increases. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] China released a national AI development plan in 2017, intended to help make the country the world leader in AI by 2030 and build a national AI industry worth of US$ 150 billion. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] The PRC is likely concerned that the addition of short take-off and vertical landing-capable F-35Bs will give Japan greater flexibility in intervening in a Taiwan contingency or obstruct the PRC's claim over disputed islands in the East China Sea. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The rivalry between the U.S. and China is expected to escalate economic and cyber conflicts driven by AI competition. Futureuae
• [New] China excels in adoption (e.g., AI in manufacturing and EVs), adding 0.2-0.3% to growth starting 2026, but US export controls on chips limit its high-end AI. NextBigFuture.com
• [New] The official warned that rapidly analyzing data and extracting insights to develop new tactics, techniques and technology or make improvements to the present force will be crucial in a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2027. Executive Gov
• [New] In China, live commerce has morphed into a multi-billion, impulse-buying habit, where consumers will purchase from influencers in seconds. Boston Institute of Analytics
• [New] Donald Trump's decision to let Nvidia and AMD export AI processors to China in exchange for a cut of their sales will have repercussions far beyond the U.S. Fortune
• [New] China plans to launch multiple satellites into low Earth orbit to demonstrate quantum communication and data encryption technology. AST Networks
• Chinese growth would slow from 5% last year to 4.7% in 2025 and 4.3% in 2026. World Socialist Web Site
• With a goal of welcoming 7 million arrivals from China by 2026, Malaysia is preparing for a record tourism season that will further embed its stature within the global travel ecosystem. Travel And Tour World
• The Ministry of Tourism's objective of attracting 7 million Chinese visitors by 2026 constitutes a serious challenge, yet it simultaneously catalyses a significant enlargement of tourism infrastructure, service delivery, and supporting economic platforms. Travel And Tour World
• Western export controls could limit Chinese access to advanced semiconductors, slowing deployment of 5G and AI infrastructure. Christopher Sanchez & Co.

Last updated: 22 August 2025