As US-China tensions over artificial intelligence reach new heights in 2025, the tech conflict has entered a critical stage. The US Commerce Department has launched an export review of Nvidia's H20 AI chip, designed specifically for China, sending shockwaves through the global semiconductor sector. In response, Chinese tech giants are launching an unprecedented AI hiring and training drive, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign innovation and boost homegrown capabilities.

With US-China trade tensions escalating, the Trump administration has hiked tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 245%, sharply increasing pressure on Chinese exporters. In contrast, Indian goods entering the US still face a modest 10% tariff during the current grace period. This, combined with deepening US-India ties under the Indo-Pacific strategy, is driving a wave of Chinese companies to shift production to India as they seek localized manufacturing and alternative export bases.

Taiwan's semiconductor industry confronts growing uncertainty as the Trump administration escalates trade tensions with threats of new tariffs and investigations. Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo warned that any Taiwanese investments in the US must undergo government review based on national security considerations.

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, the US-China trade war is intensifying, prompting some analysts to warn of a new Cold War. As Washington rolls out sweeping import tariffs and pushes to reshore semiconductor and server production, global supply chains are already showing signs of realignment.

OpenAI has revealed plans to release an open-source AI model in the coming months, though it is still evaluating the appropriate scale for the release. The announcement comes alongside the launch of Codex CLI, an open-source development tool aimed at reinforcing OpenAI's developer ecosystem. While the move signals a growing push toward openness, the company faces two major hurdles: mitigating potential use by Chinese competitors and preserving its revenue growth trajectory.

Tenstorrent, a US-based semiconductor design firm, held a press conference on April 17 at its newly established Tokyo office to discuss its deepening collaboration with Rapidus in advancing 2nm semiconductor technology. During the event, the company also revealed plans to significantly expand its presence in Japan, aiming to increase its number of design engineers sixfold by the end of 2025.

Injection molding machine maker FCS Machinery has disclosed that it is gaining momentum from the reshaping of the global supply chain, with increases in orders from multiple sectors.

Turvo International chairman Chun-Chang Liu has declared 2025 the "year of the gear reducer," citing strong growth momentum in industrial automation and rising global interest in humanoid robots. The company is capitalizing on this trend with its precision gear reducers and liquid-cooled quick disconnect (UQD) connectors, both poised to drive revenue contributions next year.

Lens Technology exceeded market expectations in the first quarter of 2025, posting revenue of CNY17.063 billion (US$2.34 billion), a 10.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Net profit attributable to shareholders surged 38.71% to CNY429 million.

Jensen Huang's Beijing appearance in formal attire rather than his trademark leather jacket signals deeper strategic maneuvers as Nvidia navigates increasingly complex US-China tech tensions.

Taiwan's Artificial Intelligence Foundation (AIF) revealed in its 2025 Industrial AI Adoption Survey that implementation across Taiwanese industries remains disappointingly slow, with AIF Executive Director Yi-ling Wen warning that companies must accelerate AI integration amid global trade restructuring to maintain competitiveness.