China Innovation Watch

Chinese internet companies face global expansion inflection point

$18.6B gaming exports and 46% short drama share face regulatory barriers. Next three years determine durability or temporary arbitrage.

Dec 3

November 2025

US startups adopt Chinese AI models for performance and cost gains

Airbnb has shifted heavily to Alibaba's Qwen over OpenAI, while 80% of American AI startups now deploy Chinese AI models including DeepSeek and Kimi.

Nov 27

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How Chinese consumer priorities shift in 2025

Accenture data reveals 86% now prioritize health monitoring while brand loyalty collapses and domestic products capture 43% of beauty market as Chinese…

Nov 25

China's Double 11: AI and subsidies mask weakening consumer demand

Deep dive into China's Double 11 2025: RMB 1.7T GMV driven by AI infrastructure processing 150B queries, instant retail's RMB 67B breakthrough, and RMB…

Nov 16

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China’s AI hardware playbook: measurable gains, record campaigns

Snapmaker, Rokid, and Anker secure record crowdfunding with quantified performance gains. Tool-changing tech and open platforms drive validation…

Nov 4

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October 2025

Two opposing AI strategies in China

Alibaba’s trillion-parameter Qwen3-Max battles DeepSeek’s 50% cost cuts as competing strategies reshape market dynamics

Oct 29

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Apple and Huawei tied at 15% as China smartphone market fragments

Three consecutive quarters produce three different leaders as 68.4 million unit market contracts 0.6% year-over-year, compressing top five vendors into…

Oct 21

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How BYD beats Tesla for fourth straight quarter

Chinese automaker sells 582,522 pure EVs in Q3 2025, beating Tesla by 85,423 units as overseas expansion accelerates

Oct 15

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How Chongqing overtakes Shanghai as China’s top consumer city

Mountain city records 830B yuan retail sales in H1 2025, beating Shanghai for three consecutive periods. Automotive production, nighttime economy, and…

Oct 9

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September 2025

China launches digital RMB hub to rival dollar dominance

The shanghai-based operations center integrates cross-border payments, blockchain services, and digital assets as china pushes its currency onto the…

Sep 29

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China’s middle class forces Arc’teryx to face ESG reality

Arc’teryx’s fireworks show in the Himalayas backfired. China’s middle class is redefining ESG expectations and reshaping premium brand loyalty.

Sep 23

Why JD doubles down on direct retail strategy

From delivery funnels to discount stores, JD deepens its direct retail push as profits fall.

Sep 16