On a busy stretch of water in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, a 12-meter-long maritime patrol vessel adjusted its course, followed its assigned route and scanned the surface for potential hazards — all without an officer having to steer it through every maneuver. The vessel, Haixun 14102, is China’s first maritime law enforcement boat to receive an integrated digital and intelligent upgrade. Equipped with an intelligent navigation module, multiple sensing devices and a platform linking the vessel with a shore-based control center, it entered trial operation in early July, according to the…
Posts published in “Technologies”
When future historians look back at pivotal moments in world history, July 16, 2026 will likely stand out as a red-letter day. On this day, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was established in Shanghai, uniting 29 nations and representing about half of humanity. Having closely observed China’s trajectory for over four decades, I have learned that the country’s resurgence on the world stage is best viewed through the lens of continuity. China’s major policy initiatives are not isolated events but are parts of a larger strategic vision. WAICO’s establishment…
A driverless robotaxi glides through the streets of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, slowing to pick up a passenger before merging back into traffic. Roughly 70 kilometers away in Dongguan, robotic arms work in harmony on an assembly line, while in Shenzhen, an engineer uploads a circuit design to an online platform, and within hours the first prototype is already entering production. Though these technologies appear to belong to different industries, they share one thing in common: many are being developed by private enterprises from Guangdong, China’s largest provincial economy and one…
As leading Chinese humanoid robot makers unveil increasingly affordable models, advances in manufacturing, supply chain localization and growing production volumes are pushing the sector into a new phase of commercial adoption. Unitree Robotics recently launched its dual-arm humanoid robot R1 with a starting price of 26,900 yuan ($3,968), making it the company’s most affordable humanoid robot to date. Earlier, Noetix Robotics introduced its Bumi robot for 9,998 yuan, becoming one of the first consumer-oriented humanoid robots priced below the 10,000-yuan threshold. Around the same time, Booster Robotics also launched its…
The half-marathon in Beijing’s E-Town economic and technological development zone on Sunday showcased a leap in the capabilities of Chinese-made humanoid robots. The winner of the race, autonomous-navigation robot “Lightning”, developed by Honor, completed the race in an impressive 50 minutes and 26 seconds, despite a minor mishap near the finish line, surpassing the human world record. “Lightning” incorporates Honor’s proprietary integrated joint modules, delivering a peak torque of 400 Nm. Its liquid-cooling system features cooling channels that penetrate deep into the motor’s interior like capillaries to dissipate heat, while…
Japanese companies will finance investments valued at $36 billion in energy and minerals projects in Ohio, Texas and Georgia as part of a trade agreement that will cut U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%, according to the Trump administration. The announcement is part of Japan’s 2025 agreement to invest $550 billion over the next four years at the direction of the U.S., with the funds aimed at rebuilding and expanding core American industries. In October, the Trump administration provided details on Japanese investments of up to $332 billion to…
The dazzling performances by humanoid robots at China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala made headlines on multiple overseas media outlets, and their video clips flooded social media platforms within hours. Reuters noted that the four companies showcasing their products at the Gala demonstrated the China’s cutting-edge industrial policy and push to dominate humanoid robots and the future of manufacturing. The report also mentioned that Elon Musk said he expects his biggest competitor to be Chinese companies as he pivots Tesla toward a focus on embodied AI and its flagship humanoid Optimus. …
Japan is preparing to lift long-standing restrictions on lethal weapons exports, marking another step in the erosion of its post-war arms export taboo. While the reform creates new diplomatic and commercial opportunities and allows deeper security cooperation with regional partners, Japan’s defence industrial base remains small, costly and capacity-constrained. Domestic procurement demands and labour shortages mean exports will likely remain modest, limiting the policy’s practical and strategic impact on regional military balances. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is looking to loosen Japan’s long-standing restrictions on weapons exports, marking another step…
China’s YH-1000S, a self-made hybrid unmanned cargo aircraft, the world’s first of its kind, has completed its maiden flight in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, its developer said on Tuesday. According to the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, YH-1000S was equipped with a high-performance hybrid power system, jointly developed with a new energy vehicle manufacturer, during the debut flight. This aircraft boasts shorter takeoff-landing distances, increased payload capacity and extended flight ranges, compared with its predecessor YH-1000, which made its maiden flight in May last year. Designed to meet the demands…
Some of China’s top military aviation products, including the J-35A stealth fighter and the J-10CE, are being exhibited at the Singapore Airshow that kicked off on Tuesday, with the J-10C fighters of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s Bayi Aerobatic Team making their flight-performance debut in Singapore. A Chinese aviation expert said Chinese warplanes offer high performance, reliability and reasonable pricing, giving them strong potential in the international market. At the indoor exhibition area, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) showcased a wide range of products including…