China connects everything to DeepSeek in nationwide plan – Asia Times

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China now connects everything to DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence ( AI ) model that developed last month and gained notoriety, from chatbots and smart vehicles to government departments and schools.

Baidu, a Chinese search engine, announced that its robot Ernie Bot 4.9 type now integrates with DeepSeek-R1 to strengthen students ‘ problem-solving capacity. Students can upload a photo of a problem to the robot, which will respond with a detailed explanation. &nbsp,

The business added that from April, it will charge high-end customers just for some custom-made services and will allow specific users and SMEs to use Ernie’s simple functions for free.

According to some Chinese media reports, Baidu could get more information by giving up its closed-source type and connecting with other AI models, but doing so would also need it to rely on external systems and risk losing its profitability over the long run. &nbsp,

Google announced on February 16 that Weixin messaging software users can now search using DeepSeek. Tencent is reportedly considering integrating various items with DeepSeek, according to a company spokesman.

Earlier this month, the Shenzhen-based Huawei said its Huawei Cloud has connected with DeepSeek-R1. Chinese manufacturers BYD and Geely added that DeepSeek-R1 is compatible with their electric vehicles.

Gong Zheng, an engineer at the Institute of Technology and Standards, a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ( MIIT ), said that the technical advantages of leading IT companies “open the door to free AI services.” &nbsp,

Clean basic AI companies may turn into a data-sourcing route for businesses. These companies may form a ‘ finished company loop’ and provide value-added services and enterprise-level solutions”, he said, adding that China wants to develop the industry standards for the next generation of human-computer interaction technology. &nbsp,

A company employs a closed business loop, which actively collects customer feedback and analyzes it to improve its goods and services.

Despite many nations forbid their students from using AI tools to do their homework, many states, including Xinhua, promoted the benefits of allowing primary and secondary school students to use DeepSeek on Tuesday. &nbsp,

Xi’s call

At a symposium in Beijing on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and corporate leaders met to discuss the rise of DeepSeek and related applications.

These company heads included Huawei Technologies ‘ Ren Zhengfei, Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Tencent’s Pony Ma, DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng and Unitree’s Wang Xingxing.

” In this new era, the development prospects of the private sector are broad and promising”, Xi said in a speech. ” It’s time for entrepreneurs and private companies to showcase their talents.”

” It is hoped that private firms and entrepreneurs will have the ambition to serve the country, be dedicated to development, abide by the law and do business well, promote common prosperity, and make new and greater contributions to promoting Chinese-style modernization”, he said.

Xi added that some of the difficulties and challenges currently faced by the private sector generally arise during China’s industrial upgrade, but they are partial, temporary, and resolvable.

The People’s Daily claimed that the central government values technological innovation based on DeepSeek and Unitree executives ‘ appearances at Xi’s symposium.

Before this, Chinese Premier Li Qiang had met some entrepreneurs, including Unitree’s Wang, at a symposium in Hangzhou on December 20, 2024. At China Central TV’s Spring Festival Gala on January 28, Unitree received applause for its dancing robots. &nbsp,

Li had also met other industrial experts, including DeepSeek’s Liang, at a symposium in Beijing on January 20, 2025.

The same day that DeepSeek launched DeepSeek-R1, which had surpassed ChatGPT to surpass it in popularity. 1 on the US free app download charts in a few days. Given that DeepSeek had developed its AI model at very low costs, US stocks significantly decreased on January 27 as investors worried that Nvidia and OpenAI might be overvalued.

The DeepSeek team claimed they used only 2, 000 Nvidia H800 chips to train its AI model.

However, no one really knows how many chips DeepSeek has used, nor who ultimately&nbsp, controls this company and offers it unlimited financial resources.

The 2030 goal

China’s State Council made its New Generation AI Development Plan public in July 2017 and pledged to make China a major AI innovation hub and a global leader in AI technology by 2030. &nbsp,

In February 2023, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP ) Central Committee and State Council&nbsp, published&nbsp, the Overall Layout Plan for the Development of a Digital China, calling for the integration of the nation’s digital and real economies. &nbsp,

Vice Premier Liu He at the time said that China should promote its semiconductor industry using a “whole nation” approach, allowing the government to use the resources of the country’s research institutions and businesses to fund technological advancements.

According to the plan, China will form a nationwide system by 2025 to achieve its” Digital China” goal.

The Guangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, and Hohhot city governments said their computing networks are connected to DeepSeek-R1. &nbsp,

In Shenzhen, the Futian district government said it created 70 AI” staff members” with DeepSeek to handle documents and assist its civil servants. &nbsp,

More and more government departments will try to integrate with AI tools, according to Hu Guoqing, head of the 6G and AI artificial intelligence research group and associate researcher at Peking University’s Shenzhen Research Institute.

Yong Jian contributes to the Asia Times. He is a Chinese journalist who specialises in Chinese technology, economy, and politics. &nbsp,

Read: Where DeepSeek, Qwen’s AI engineers really come from

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Bangladesh unrest reveals bias at the heart of Google search engine – Asia Times

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Google’s search engine handles the vast majority of online searches worldwide. By one estimate, it fields 6.3 million queries every second.

Because of the search engine’s enormous scale, its outputs can have outsized effects. And, while Google’s search results are shaped by ostensibly neutral rules and processes, research has shown these algorithms often produce biased results.

This problem of algorithmic bias is again being highlighted by recent escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh and cases of violence against Bangladeshi citizens in India and violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. A pro-Indian misinformation and disinformation campaign is exploiting this algorithmic bias to further its agenda – an agenda that has been described as Islamophobic and alarmist.

This kind of misinformation has been implicated in several riots and violent incidents in Bangladesh.

All of this serves as an important reminder of the power Google’s search engine has in shaping public perceptions of any event – and its vulnerability to being exploited. It’s also an important reminder to anyone who uses Google’s search engine to engage critically with the results it dishes up, rather than accepting them at face value.

What is algorithmic bias?

The algorithms that power Google’s search engine are trained on massive amounts of data. Computer bots gather the data. The bots crawl billions of pages on the internet and automatically analyze their content and quality. This information is stored in a large database, which Google’s search engine relies on to serve up relevant results whenever it receives a query.

But this process doesn’t capture every website on the Internet. It is also governed by predetermined rules about what is high quality and what is low quality, and reflects existing biases in data. For example, even though only 16% of the world’s population speaks English, the language accounts for 55% of all written content online.

This means the reality of life on the ground in non-English-speaking countries is often not reflected in Google search results. This is especially true for those countries in the Global South.

This lack of representation perpetuates real-world biases. It can also hinder a nuanced public understanding of global issues.

What’s happening between Bangladesh and India?

Relations between Muslim-majority Bangladesh and neighboring India, which is currently led by the Hindu nationalist BJP government, have deteriorated recently.

In August last year, youth-led anti-government protests erupted in Bangladesh.

Those protests resulted in the downfall of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s long-lasting autocratic regime, which had been supported by the Indian government.

An interim government filled the void. But certain Indian media outlets have leveraged sensitive issues such as Hindu minority rights to undermine its legitimacy.

In November, Bangladeshi authorities arrested Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges over allegations he had disrespected the Bangladeshi flag. This triggered violent clashes between his supporters and police. These clashes resulted in the death of a Muslim lawyer.

Hindu activists also attacked a Bangladeshi consulate in India.

There have also been verified instances of mob violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. However, the Bangladeshi government claims these incidents are politically motivated rather than communal attacks.

The unrest intensified earlier this month, with thousands of protestors destroying the family home of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

Boosting a disinformation campaign

A disinformation campaign based in India has exaggerated some cases of religious violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

This campaign has been boosted by Google’s algorithmic bias.

For example, an analysis by the Tech Global Institute of Google search results about Chinmoy Krishna Das’s arrest between November 25 and December 20 last year found a “consistent pattern of bias”.

Specifically, Indian news outlets – including Hindu ultranationalist news outlets – “disproportionately” dominated the top search results. This overshadowed

factual reporting from credible Bangladeshi media outlets […] despite the search originating from within Bangladesh, the country where the incident originally occurred.

This bias was also evident in search queries coming from overseas. For example, roughly 90% of the top results about Chinmoy Krishna Das were from Indian outlets when searched from Australia and the United States. Bangladeshi news outlets featured on the thirteenth and fourteenth pages of results.

Indian news outlets – unlike their Bangladeshi counterparts – produce a substantial amount of content in English. They also employ more advanced search engine optimisation – or SEO – techniques, such as using effective keywords and sensationalist headlines. This gives them an advantage in Google search results compared to their Bangladeshi counterparts.

Another investigation by Bangladeshi fact-checking outlet Rumor Scanner in December 2024 found 72% of social media accounts spreading fake reports and misinformation are located in India.

The Conversation asked Google a series of questions about its search engine. It did not receive a response.

An illustrative case of a global problem

Bangladesh is an illustrative case of the global problem of algorithmic bias. It highlights how search engines can be exploited to promote disinformation and misinformation and powerfully shape people’s perceptions about what’s happening in the world.

It also highlights how everybody should think critically about the information they find online about the current situation in Bangladesh. Or about any news event, for that matter.

The case also reinforces the urgent need for policymakers, tech companies and governments to work together to effectively address algorithmic bias. This is especially urgent in the Global South, where marginal voices remain silenced.

Abdul Aziz is a lecturer in media and communication studies at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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High Court extends jail term of flooring company CEO who cheated 3 banks of S million

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SINGAPORE: The High Court&nbsp, on Wednesday ( Feb 19 ) extended the jail term of&nbsp, the former CEO of a timber flooring firm who cheated banks into disbursing over S$ 2 million ( US$ 1.5 million ) in loans.

Jason Sim Chon Ang, the leader of the now-defunct Jason Parquet Specialist, &nbsp, was convicted in 2023 on five claims of lying, but acquitted of a command under the Organizations Act. He received a three-year prison sentence.

The High Court on Wednesday overturned Sim’s conviction and increased his prison term by three years and eight months, according to the authorities in a media release.

WHAT HAPPENED

From 2012 to 2015, Sim applied for debts from three banks – DBS, Standard Chartered and Maybank– using fake invoices and shipping orders for&nbsp, forest.

The forged papers were prepared by a provider, Tati Trading, which led the bankers to receive a total of S$ 2, 035, 000 to the business.

Tjioe Chi Minh, a controlling director at Tati at the time of the crimes, gave the papers their recommendations.

In one of the five false software, a bank was deceived into paying S$ 535, 000 to Tati in September 2012. &nbsp,

Tjioe used the money to purchase 2.5 million shares in Jason Parquet Holdings ‘ initial public offering.

Sim was charged under the Organizations Act for this. &nbsp,

Tjioe faced&nbsp, five counts of abetment of lying and was &nbsp, acquitted in 2023.

After the panders, &nbsp, Sim’s and Tjioe’s prosecutions were overturned. Jioe received a two-year, six-month prison sentence. &nbsp,

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Budget 2025 will ease business costs but challenges remain, say firms and trade associations

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SINGAPORE: Like many in the food and beverage sector, Foreword Coffee has been feeling the heat from escalating company costs, especially for labor.

Co-founder Lim Wei Jie is relieved that some pleasure is coming with the expansion of the Enabling Employment Credit. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated in his Budget 2025 speech on Tuesday ( 18 February ) that the program would be extended until the end of 2028 ).

The scheme provides wage support of up to 20 per cent for workers with disabilities earning below S$ 4, 000 ( US$ 2, 980 ) a month, capped at S$ 400 for each employee.

The pay balances, disbursed on a half-yearly base, have been good for the social organization, which now has 21 workers with disabilities or special needs.

According to Mr. Lim, who founded Foreword Coffee in 2017 to combat social stigma and empower marginalized groups,” Extending the system may continue to support businesses that hire comprehensively and hopefully, encourage more to do so.”

Improvements to the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme, which co-funds available wage rises for lower-wage employees as they upskill and increase job performance, provide additional comfort.

The state will boost its co-funding levels to 40 per cent this year, up from 30 per share. Next time, this will be 20 per share, away from 15 per cent.

With the limited amount of training classes for workers with disabilities, Mr. Lim predicted that Foreword Coffee will be able to pay its employees more, despite the fact that it may not be easy to increase productivity.

” It’s not as easy as bringing in new systems, but whether our employees are able to react to them”, he said. There are very few courses we can send them to right now, but it ends up with a lot of domestic coaching on our own.

On Tuesday, businesses made announcements that included measures to help businesses with rising costs as well as long-term initiatives that aim to promote productivity growth and industrial transformations.

CNA spoke to a number of businesses and business organizations, who generally welcomed these methods, but they also raised fears about how the consequences might be limited in some circumstances.

CORPORATE INCOME TAX Return

A 50 % corporate income tax return may be provided to businesses for another year, according to the announcement. Even if they are not successful, available businesses will also be awarded a S$ 2, 000 cash grant, as long as they are active and employ at least one regional worker by 2024. &nbsp,

A company may receive a maximum of S$ 40, 000 if the full benefit is combined with the tax discount and the grant.

While the measures will help, the impact will vary across businesses, said Mr Ang Yuit, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises ( ASME).

The tax return and funds offer will usually benefit successful businesses, he said. For those that are costly, the importance of the money grant, if they are available, will depend on the number of employees.

” If they are a one-man display, the cash award will be a huge help in terms of price defrayment. But if I have more team, a S$ 2, 000 offer isn’t going to support me much in the overall scheme of things”, he said.

” Unfortunately, the last group of companies is the one that needs the most financial aid”.

Mr Ang noted there could have been” a bit more granularity” in how the taxes return and funds offer are administered.

” I can get more money aid but with a cap on the top end if I am not making money and I have three staff members and more.” I believe this will help the businesses that are attempting to keep afloat and are most impacted by rising fees,” he said.

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Scoot brings back credit and debit card processing fees for flights from Singapore

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The Singapore-based budget airline Move has reinstated credit and debit cards processing fees for departures from Singapore. Six decades after it announced that it would abolish payment processing charges international, the company made the decision.

In addition to Singapore, airlines leaving from&nbsp, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand are also subject to these handling fees.

Answering on the need for these processing charges, Scoot said on its website&nbsp, that the airport “incurs a charge from credit card companies and settlement alternative providers for the popularity of credit/debit cards for transactions” from selected countries.

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Asian view on the AI Action Summit – Asia Times

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Most of the nation’s attention was next year’s AI Action Summit in Paris on the growing gap between US and Europe regarding AI technology versus rules.

However, the activities of several Asian nations demonstrate how the area uses a practical approach to address its problems while maximizing the economic opportunities presented by AI.

Asia’s largest locations and those most invested in the AI industry, such as Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea, joined over 100 different places in the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI for Citizens &amp, the Planet.

This contract supports efforts to use AI to decrease the modern divide, promote openness and safety, influence the workplace’s future, and promote economically sustainable AI.

A prudent response to fictitious affects

However, another deal that saw less involvement from Asia was the Paris Charter on AI in the Public Interest, with just co-chair India joining 10 different members. The Charter emphasizes the importance of having access to high-quality info and that “openness in AI is mostly driven by a few actors ‘ determination to partially opened their base models.”

In order to defend the common interest, it put a strong focus on accountability and strict application of regulations.

Japan was the first Asian nation to sign the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law on the outside of the Paris AI Action Summit, in a line of sight to the rights concerns. People are required to make sure measures are in place to stop AI systems from faking human rights and to take appropriate steps to correct any violations in the Framework.

No participants from Asia ratified the Paris Declaration to maintain animal control in AI-enabled weapons systems. This Declaration aims to provide scaffolding to AI-enabled arms, for instance by ensuring that AI systems are not tasked with delegating life and death decisions without the assistance of humans.

Most Asian nation participation at the Summit was at a number of side situations. To come together with those from the UK, Ireland, and France to agree to a joint declaration on creating reliable data management frameworks, creating regulatory sandboxes for companies to experiment with AI systems, and working with other regulators in the contest, intellectual property, and consumer protection spheres, recognizing that privacy regulators only cannot address all Artificial harms.

A Global AI Assurance Captain for best practices around specialized testing of GenAI applications, a joint statement with Japan on multicultural AI safety tests, and an AI red-teaming assessment report were some of the projects Singapore presented at the summit.

This reflects Singapore’s ongoing efforts to develop realistic AI management tools and to collaborate abroad on these attempts.

Threading the knife on creativity and regulation

Nevertheless, Asian nations did not conflict with one side of the AI development versus regulation discussion. Instead of ignoring the practical issues facing the recent Artificial use cases in private and testing, countries like South Korea and Singapore did so.

Although Japan and India had higher-level human rights and public attention issues, speculative and more important issues involving martial AI and human rights were stifled in more mindful and strategic areas.

These strategies demonstrate that Asiatic nations want to promote AI development while avoiding excessive regulation while also fixing dangerous AI with practical solutions.

Nations will want to see the overall positive economic and social benefits of AI balanced out with any bad outcomes as the AI industry expands in Asia; however, tightening the economy may result in more regulation in the form of greater rules in the years to come.

Seth Hays is an attorney and managing chairman of APAC GATES, a Taipei-based right firm. Additionally, he is in charge of the non-profit Digital Governance Asia, which promotes plan best procedures in all of Asia.

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Jail for firm director who embezzled more than S0,000 to fuel gambling habit

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SINGAPORE: Instead of gambling aside the majority of the money, a producer of a business used to finance an order. &nbsp,

Hendra Lim Yew Keng, 51, ultimately lost significantly more than what he had taken from his company affiliate. &nbsp,

Lim, a Singaporean, was sentenced to two years and 10 months ‘ jail on Wednesday ( Feb 19 ) after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust.

His statement was based on two charges brought against him by the Organizations Act. These were connected to how he changed customers ‘ behavior from his first business to a brand-new one he had established. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Lim set up Bavarian Motors, a firm which exported and sold mechanical oil, with two friends in January 2015. &nbsp, He held the position of managing chairman with 40 per cent of the company’s shares. &nbsp,

In 2016, Bavarian Motors was bought by another company, Xerone Solutions, which finally owned 100 per share of the business. &nbsp,

Lim was offered and agreed to purchase a 25 % stake in Xerone Solutions. He oversaw Bavarian Motors ‘ sales and operations and remained its controlling director. &nbsp,

Yet, concerned that his holding in Xerone Solutions had been diluted, Lim set up another firm, Exlube, in September 2016. This company also engaged in electrical lubricants. &nbsp,

He wanted Exlube to act as a intermediary between new clients and Bavarian Motors, so that they may acquire from Bavarian Motors and supply customers while earning an extra profit margin.

Even though Lim was the only person in charge of Exlube, Lim asked his friend to serve as its chairman. From Jan 1, 2017, Lim was the sole producer of Exlube and its sole investor. &nbsp,

Between late 2016 and quick 2017, Lim began to bargain strongly and lost money. He used Exlube materials to divert existing Bavarian Motors customers so he could get cash to kick his gambling habit. &nbsp,

Bavarian Motors did not learn of his engagement with Exlube. &nbsp,

Borrowed FUNDS FROM BUSINESS ASSOCIATE

Lim used business associates ‘ wealth to kickstart his gambling habit.

This company affiliate, Mr Ng Zu Sheng, was the chairman of a business that imported and exported automobile sections. &nbsp,

Mr. Ng and his business were Lim’s customers since 2012. &nbsp,

A user in China placed a sizable order for petroleum products in April 2017. At this point, however, Exlube only had S$ 6.05 ( US$ 4.50 currently ) in its account and did not have the funds needed to fulfil the order. &nbsp,

Lim approached Mr Ng to fund S$ 504, 468 towards this purchase, and the latter agreed. Mr Ng was promised the money up, along with a 5 per cent income.

Mr Ng’s organization transferred the amount on May 4, 2017. Lim also deposited$ 200, 000 into his profile at Resorts World Sentosa casino on the same day, placing the remaining$ 2,500 in his profile. &nbsp,

He withdrew another S$ 304,000 the following morning to play at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa gambling. In full, Lim misappropriated S$ 404, 000 to overspend. &nbsp,

Lim lost more than S$ 800, 000 through wagering from May 5, 2017, to May 8, 2017. &nbsp,

When Mr. Ng inquired about the purchase, Lim then claimed that the offer of the goods had been delayed. Then, under false pretenses, he claimed the funds were being used to purchase the goods from Bavarian Motors but that the firm had intervened because he had a business partner’s domestic conflict. &nbsp,

He frequently lied about the transfer of the money to Bavarian Motors. &nbsp,

In the end, Mr. Ng’s business sued Lim for the payment of the income, and Lim declared debt. &nbsp,

The legal suit was therefore discontinued, with Mr Ng filing a police statement on Sep 18, 2019, over the theft. &nbsp,

Lim has certainly made reparation to Mr Ng’s organization. &nbsp,

General and specific punishment, according to region judge Salina Ishak, are Lim’s main sentencing principles.

She noted that Lim had lied to a company associate numerous times and that no compensation had been made. &nbsp,

For legal breach of trust, Lim could have been jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both.

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Trump’s playing right into China’s hands – Asia Times

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Only one month into his second term, President Trump 2.0 has angered America’s historic allies and wreaked havoc on Uncle Sam’s thoroughly cultivated soft-power politics.

The result could hardly be more obvious: Trump is making it easier for China to overtake the US as the world’s top power.

How is Trump excluding the rest of the world? Let us count the way.

Initially, he has alienated yet close friends with tariffs and political braggadocio. Trump threatened its closest relatives and two of its biggest trading partners, Mexico and Canada, with 25 % taxes if they didn’t comply with his expectations on border control, alerting all US allies.

However, the plainly non-threatening state of Denmark, a NATO alliance no less, may struggle with Trump’s stated desire to acquire Greenland. And, for good measure, Trump has claimed that Taiwan” stole our device business”, threatened to “take up” the Panama Canal and left Zelensky out in the warm while he and Putin personally negotiate an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Trump isn’t really turning over all the rocks in his search for enemies. He is giving them a hurl. In the face of like an onslaught, who would blame also America’s closest friends for second-guessing their partnership with Washington?

Next, Trump is pitting Silicon Valley against the earth. At the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris next week, Vice President JD Vance declined to sign a commitment to “ensuring AI is empty, inclusive, open, honest, healthy, safe and reliable, taking into account global frameworks for all”. Unfortunately, Vance proclaimed the US as the “leader” in AI. In fact, the US was the obvious fool in Paris.

Next, Trump has declared war on green energy. He renounced the US$ 7,500 tax credit for EV purchases and curbed funding to install domestic electric vehicle ( EV ) charging stations. Once, the US is an exception, prioritizing the conservative mantra “drill, baby, chisel” over the alternative energy revolution.

Naturally, many countries have great reason to be disillusioned with the US. But is China really able to position itself as a desirable alternative partner? The answer is certainly – and these, too, we can count the ways.

First, China now has an entry in the area of international commerce. Trump 1.0, which ended badly in his first spit with China, is now a progression. After signing what Trump called a “historical trade agreement” in 2020, China never even managed to purchase an additional$ 200 billion in US imports.

China’s imports in the Global South almost matched those of the US and the EU combined, owing to impure relationships with the US.

Xi wants to be the world’s biggest trading partner for its quick companions, but that is what he wants to become. Canada has precisely what China needs: hardwood, wheat, gas and crabs. Additionally, Chinese foreign direct investments in Mexico have increased by 50 % annually since 2018, from$ 43 billion in 2016 to$ 100 billion in 2023.

Next, when it comes to AI, China has become the companion of global collaboration. The recently released relational artificial intelligence model from Chinese company DeepSeek is open source and open to the public for free.

Also, China’s largest tech firms – Huawei, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent – are violently developing, investing and promoting open-source technology. This is in striking contrast to American companies like OpenAI, Google and Meta that rely on finished, propriety technology.

China is aware that the global energy balance is also in the hands of those who win the high-tech arms competition. Its strategy to AI is a new form of “ping-pong diplomacy”. China is eager to take the lead in developing and implementing the rules for how AI (among other technologies ) will be implemented.

Third, unlike the US under Trump, China grasps the link between green power, high technology and world identity ( both economic and geopolitical ).

Autonomous driving, for example, can only be implemented in EVs, fossil-fuel cars would have to eat too much energy to move the appropriate number of cameras, computers and electronics.

And only the most advanced AI models that can operate autonomous vehicles successfully with billions ( if not trillions ) of data points. China now garners 76 % of the world’s EV market share, and much of the technology is open source.

In brief, China gets it. Providing cheap, open-source Batteries and AI models isn’t really – as Trump sees it – about the almighty dollar. Instead, it’s sweet energy in the form of 1s and 0s. China may say that it wants to make the planet great again, but Trump emphasizes making America great again.

Trump recently signed an executive order outlawing the use of paper straws in all federal buildings, briefly putting aside his obsession with Greenland ( not to mention Gaza ). ” We’re going back to plastic”, he explained, adding that paper straws “explode if something’s hot”. The rest of the world is, to be honest, concerned about other types of bombs.

America’s friends today face a choice. Do they choose free industry over taxes, open source over finished systems, and green power over fossil fuels? Amazingly, Trump has allowed China to seize the mantle of improvement in all three areas.

His strategy is shock-inducing but no awesin’. He is aiming for second position for America.

Stanley Chao is the author of&nbsp,” Selling to China” &nbsp, and has lived and worked in China for over 20 years.

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Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation, Kintone formalise partnership to boost digital adoption among Malaysia’s SMEs

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  • The Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 and business development are fueled by association.
  • Collaboration supports Sarawak’s perception for a tech-driven, green circular economy

Left to Right: Shingo Hiraki, first secretary, Telecommunication & IT, Embassy of Japan in Malaysia;.Tsubasa Nakazawa, managing director Kintone Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd; Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, chairman of SDEC

Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation ( SDEC ) and Kintone Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd ( Kintone ) have joined forces to drive Sarawak’s digital future. In an effort to advance Sarawak’s modern economy through the use of cutting-edge technologies, the two businesses recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration is in line with Sarawak’s desire for a round, green economy based on technological advancement and responsible growth.

To support Sarawak’s small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in their digital transformation journey, SDEC and Kintone successfully co-hosted the inaugural SME Digital Transformation Seminar in Kuching, Sarawak, on 18 February. The seminar made a major step forward in providing Sarawak’s small and medium-sized businesses with the resources, expertise, and tools necessary to grow their businesses and stay competitive in an increasingly electric world.

Sarawak’s attempts to digitalize have attracted more attention, and the state government is actively investing in digital equipment. The partnership between SDEC and Kintone is in line with the growing need for versatile, available options for local organizations and supports the goals set out in the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.

SMEs account for approximately 97 % of all businesses in Malaysia, making them the backbone of the nation’s economy. ” Kintone’s no-code platform simplifies sophisticated process techniques, enabling SMEs across industries—including hospitality, building, and retail—to develop user-friendly custom programs tailored to their needs at a fraction of the cost. This reduces the stress of high-cost IT investments that many small companies struggle to maintain, according to Tsubasa Nakazawa, Kintone Southeast Asia’s managing director.

” Our final goal is to help businesses of all sizes connect this answer, transform their business processes, and promote flexible growth,” said the company. Kintone now serves over 37, 000 customers worldwide, empowering businesses, government agencies, and communities to improve productivity, engagement, and performance. This action reflects our broader commitment to supporting SMEs across Sarawak, Borneo, and Malaysia as a whole”, he added.

The SDEC by Kintone workshop brought up senior government officials, business leaders, and business owners, offering enterprises of all sizes an opportunity to understand how online tools can simplify operations and travel cost-efficient improvements—without requiring IT expertise. Attendees gained practical knowledge of how Kintone’s simple software aids organizations in managing workflows and enhancing collaboration at a reasonable pace. Additionally, the occasion provided networking opportunities for individuals to exchange ideas and link.

This workshop reinforced the shared idea that technology should be an innovator as Sarawak’s market continues to be shaped by modern change. Through practical demonstrations and expert-led discussions, participants witnessed firsthand how Kintone’s flexible platform can streamline workflows, reduce operational bottlenecks, and empower businesses to adapt to a rapidly digitising world.

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