Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chips

• China is making significant steps towards technological independence: Huawei is actively developing the Ascend series of chips (including 910B, 910C), comparable in performance to Nvidia products, despite sanctions .

• The country has invested about $8.2 billion in the National AI Development Fund - a major step towards its own AI infrastructure .

• In response to US export restrictions, Chinese companies are forming alliances (Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance) to strengthen the AI ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign technologies .

• China leads in publications and research of highly cited works in many promising topics: according to ASPI, in 19 out of 23 critical technologies, China is ahead of the United States and Europe .

• With its long-term strategy since 2017 (the “Next Generation AI” plan), China has achieved significant growth in the number of AI patents and models, surpassing those of Meta and Anthropic.

Manufacturing, Energy and Green Technologies

• As part of the Made in China 2025 initiative, China has become a leader in the production of high-speed rail, solar panels, electric vehicles and batteries: 5 out of 13 key technologies have achieved world dominance .

• China is the world leader in solar module installations (about 70% of the world volume) and in the production of lithium-ion batteries (60-75% of the world share), and also controls up to 80% of the commercial drone market and over 50% of the industrial robots market .

• In the field of offshore wind energy: China has connected more than half of all such capacities in the world to the grid - about 39 GW as of Q3 2024 .

• China is also solving innovative engineering problems: for example, soundproof “buffers” have been developed for maglev high-speed trains to reduce the shock wave (the “tunnel blast” effect) by up to 96%.

Robotics and the retail of the future

• The world’s first fully robotic shopping and entertainment center, the “robo-mall,” has opened in Shenzhen, where androids not only sell products, but also manage stores, cafes, and entertainment areas.

Production and financial measures

• The state is increasing financing for high-tech sectors: banks must more actively lend to key industries (integrated circuits, industrial software, new materials, and medical equipment), and companies with technological advances have access to “green corridors” for listing and mergers.

• The 2025 national budget for science and technology includes ¥398 billion ($55 billion), up 10% from 2024. This is one of the largest budget areas after defense and debt servicing.

Infrastructure and Internet Technologies

• China's high-speed rail network reached 48,000 km by the end of 2024, and is planned to reach 60,000 km by 2030.

• IPv6 is being actively deployed: by 2025, it is planned to provide up to 70% of traffic via IPv6 and up to 800 million IPv6 addresses, which creates the foundation for large-scale network technologies, IoT and 5G.

Conclusion

China is not just catching up - in many areas it is already leading. Thanks to comprehensive policies, strong government support, and a focus on import substitution and innovation, the country is making steady progress in AI, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. The US, forced to tighten export restrictions, often accelerates China’s process of technological autonomy. This is not a race to victory, but a strategically calculated move: China is creating its own technological ecosystem, less dependent on external factors and focused on long-term sustainability.