Semiconductor manufacturers are set to pour a record $400 billion into chip-making equipment from 2025 to 2027, as the global industry association SEMI estimates. This surge is being driven by China, South Korea, and Taiwan, who are ramping up their production capacity in response to US-China trade tensions and soaring demand for AI and memory chips. Investment is expected to jump by 24%, reaching $123 billion in 2025 alone.
China is projected to lead the investment race, committing over $100 billion in the next three years as it strives for self-sufficiency in semiconductor production. South Korea, home to major memory chip producers Samsung and SK Hynix, is expected to spend $81 billion, while Taiwan, led by chipmaking giant TSMC, plans to invest $75 billion. Other regions, including the Americas, Japan, and Europe, are also ramping up investments, driven by government policies aimed at securing semiconductor supply chains.
Leading chip-making equipment suppliers, such as ASML, Applied Materials, KLA Corp, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron, are set to benefit significantly from this investment boom. By 2027, spending on semiconductor equipment in the US, Japan, and Europe is expected to more than double from 2024 levels as countries push to stabilise semiconductor supply chains for emerging technologies.
Uber Technologies and WeRide announced a partnership on Wednesday to integrate the Chinese self-driving technology firm’s vehicles into Uber’s rideshare platform, beginning in the UAE. This collaboration represents WeRide’s first foray with a global ride-hailing service. This allows Uber to expand its reach beyond China while continuing to incorporate robotaxis into its offerings. Earlier this month, Uber also expanded its partnership with Waymo to roll out robotaxis in Austin and Atlanta, and in August, it teamed up with General Motors’ Cruise to feature autonomous vehicles on its platform beginning next year.
The WeRide partnership is scheduled to launch in Abu Dhabi later this year, following the company’s acquisition of the UAE’s first and only national license for self-driving vehicles, which allows it to test and operate robotaxis on public roads across the country. WeRide had aimed to list its shares in the US, targeting a valuation of up to $5 billion; however, its initial public offering has been postponed as the firm completes the necessary documentation.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration recently proposed restrictions preventing Chinese automakers from testing self-driving cars on US roads, extending to vehicle software and hardware produced by other foreign adversaries, including Russia.
While South Korean memory giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix experienced a significant sales increase in China during the first half of this year, the report by the Korea Eximbank Overseas Economic Research Institute indicates that South Korea’s reliance on China for critical semiconductor raw materials is also growing. Key materials such as silicon, germanium, gallium, and indium have seen notable increases in demand, with South Korea’s dependence on silicon rising from 68.8% to 75.4% in 2022.
The report emphasises an increasing reliance on rare earth elements, crucial for semiconductor abrasives, and a slight uptick in dependence on tungsten, which is vital for semiconductor wiring. This trend is occurring against the backdrop of export restrictions enacted by the Chinese government on critical minerals such as germanium and gallium, in response to US sanctions. Currently, China dominates the global supply, producing 98% of the world’s gallium and 60% of its germanium, underscoring its pivotal role in the semiconductor supply chain.
Dependence on germanium rose significantly by 17.4 percentage points to 74.3% in 2022, and reliance on gallium and indium also increased by 20.5 percentage points to 46.7%. Despite the Chinese government’s export restrictions, local production among major Chinese firms has remained stable. For example, Samsung’s NAND flash facility in Xi’an has boosted its share of the company’s total NAND capacity from 29% in 2021 to 37% in 2023, with expectations to reach 40% this year.
During a visit to Washington, Netherlands’ economy minister Dirk Beljaarts emphasised the significance of China as a trading partner. They advocated for the semiconductor equipment maker ASML to operate with maximum freedom. His discussions with US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves were focused on enhancing bilateral trade rather than addressing export restrictions, which are not under his jurisdiction.
Beljaarts’ visit comes amid anticipation of expanded US export rules affecting semiconductor sales to China. ASML, a leading supplier to chip manufacturers, recently faced new export license requirements imposed by the Dutch government, influenced by US pressure.
While the US is a crucial ally of the Netherlands, Beljaarts highlighted that ASML’s main markets are in Taiwan, China, and South Korea. He stressed the need to maintain balanced trade relationships, arguing that ‘We have our economy to uphold,’ and expressed pride in ASML as a vital asset for the Dutch economy.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss deepening cooperation in AI and advanced technology. The UAE, a major oil producer and long-time US ally, has ambitions to build its own tech industry and seeks increased access to American technology. However, US officials are cautious about the UAE’s growing ties with China, which has led to restrictions on certain tech exports.
In response to US concerns, the UAE has taken steps to reduce Chinese influence in its tech sector, including removing Chinese hardware and selling off investments from Chinese companies. These moves came ahead of a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft into G42, a UAE-based tech firm. Despite concerns, the US sees potential to strengthen AI collaboration with the UAE, which is investing heavily in the field, with a focus on developing its own AI capabilities.
The UAE hopes that its investment in AI will secure its position as a global technology leader, well beyond its oil-producing years. While China also views the UAE as a potential long-term AI partner, Emirati officials have expressed a desire for closer alignment with the US, prioritising transparency and partnership in their AI ambitions.
Canada’s central bank has halted its plans to develop a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), focusing instead on research as other nations like China and Nigeria press ahead. The Bank of Canada initially launched the project in 2017 to explore the potential of a digital Canadian dollar. However, after years of investigation and public consultations, the bank has decided to rethink its approach due to low public interest and security concerns.
A recent survey revealed that 87% of Canadians said they would never use a digital currency, with 92% expressing a preference for traditional payment methods. Major concerns included cybersecurity threats and the privacy of digital transactions. Despite this, the central bank had maintained that the digital dollar would not replace paper currency but serve as a simplified way to make online payments.
While Canada shifts away from its CBDC project, other countries are making progress. China’s digital yuan pilot, for example, has already facilitated nearly $986 billion in transactions, making it the largest initiative worldwide. Global efforts to introduce CBDCs continue to grow, driven in part by geopolitical events and changing payment technologies.
The iPhone 16 series officially launches globally today, with Apple expanding production beyond China and India to include Brazil, where Foxconn is assembling the new model. This is the first time an Apple product is produced in South America at launch, helping the company avoid Brazil’s high import tariffs and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
Brazilian regulatory filings confirm that Foxconn’s factory in Jundiaí, São Paulo, is now mass-producing the basic iPhone 16 model. While the plant has previously assembled older iPhone models, this is the first time it is included in the launch lineup for a new release, although it will not produce the higher-end Pro variants.
Previous iPhone models, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, were assembled in Brazil after their initial production in China. In contrast, the iPhone 16 is being produced in Brazil much earlier in the release cycle, highlighting Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependence on China. The Brazilian facility is currently focused on the base model, as entry-level iPhones tend to be more popular in the region.
This year also marks a significant milestone for Apple as it launches India-made iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, showcasing the expanding manufacturing capabilities in India.
In response, Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, refuted the accusations, stating that China is the primary perpetrator of global cyberattacks. According to Koo, China frequently targets Taiwan and other democracies, and these latest allegations are just another attempt to shift blame. He emphasised that Taiwan’s military remains committed to defending the nation despite Beijing’s accusations.
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai echoed these sentiments, labelling China’s claims as fake news aimed at discrediting Taiwan. He stressed the importance of responding strongly to such disinformation, as it is part of Beijing’s ongoing strategy to undermine Taiwan.
Why does it matter?
The tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate, with China persistently asserting its claim over the island. Taiwan, however, maintains its independence, with its government repeatedly stating that only its people can determine their future. Relations between the two remain strained, especially with Beijing’s harsh stance toward Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, whom China labels a ‘separatist.’
China’s Ministry of National Security has accused a Taiwan-based hacking group, Anonymous 64, of orchestrating cyberattacks aimed at discrediting China’s political system. According to a blog post from the ministry, the group, allegedly tied to Taiwan’s military cyberwarfare division, has been targeting Chinese websites, outdoor screens, and television stations to broadcast content undermining mainland policies. In response, Taiwan’s defence ministry dismissed the accusations, claiming China is the natural source of cyber harassment, regularly attempting to destabilise the democratic island.
The allegations are the latest chapter in the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, has ramped up military and political pressure on the island in recent years. Taiwan, in turn, accuses Beijing of spreading disinformation and carrying out cyberattacks. Taiwan’s Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command responded to China’s claims, asserting that the Chinese government’s military forces are instigating regional instability through ongoing harassment efforts.
The hacking group, which surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) in mid-2023, has posted screenshots of their alleged efforts to infiltrate Chinese media. One video shared by Anonymous 64 featured a masked member likening China’s President Xi Jinping to an emperor, along with footage referencing past protests in China, including the Tiananmen Square demonstrations. However, China contends that many websites the group claimed to have hacked were fake or photoshopped, with minimal online traffic.
As part of its crackdown, China has opened investigations into Taiwan’s cyberwarfare tea members. It has called on citizens to report cyberattacks or anti-China propaganda, urging people to avoid spreading unverified information online. Despite the accusations, it remains unclear whether Anonymous 64 has any ties to the international hacking collective Anonymous or if their alleged actions have been as far-reaching as claimed.
Chinese multinational technology company, Alibaba, has intensified its push into the generative AI space by releasing new open-source AI models and text-to-video technology. The Chinese tech giant’s latest models, part of its Qwen 2.5 family, range from 0.5 to 72 billion parameters, covering fields like mathematics, coding, and supporting over 29 languages.
This marks Alibaba’s shift towards a hybrid approach, combining both open-source and proprietary AI developments, as it competes with rivals such as Baidu and OpenAI, which favor closed-source models. The newly introduced text-to-video model, part of the Tongyi Wanxiang family, positions Alibaba as a key player in the rapidly growing AI-driven content creation market.
The company’s new AI offerings aim to serve a wide range of industries, from automotive and gaming to scientific research, solidifying its role in shaping the future of AI across various sectors.
