11
Dec
11
Dec
China’s auto sector faces major reshuffling as subsidies end and sales slump
Passenger vehicle retail sales in China declined by 8% year-over-year in November 2025, the largest drop in nearly a year and the first negative growth period since 2023, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This downturn signals early signs of a significant industry reshuffle triggered by the withdrawal of longstanding subsidy programs.
11
Dec
Transcom secures military certification as Taiwan proposes significant defense budget
The Executive Yuan in Taiwan has proposed a NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget aimed at enhancing seven critical areas, including air defense, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity. A central focus of the “Taiwan Shield” initiative is to develop a multi-layered air defense system spanning high, medium, and low altitudes to improve national security.
11
Dec
Meta reportedly delays Llama successor, shifts to closed-source AI amid internal reorganization
Meta Platforms is reportedly delaying the release of its next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model, Avocado, to the first quarter of 2026, according to sources cited by CNBC. The move accompanies a strategic shift from open-source to closed-source AI development and a major restructuring of Meta’s AI division.
11
Dec
Nvidia says no concrete evidence yet in alleged DeepSeek GPU smuggling case
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is under scrutiny for allegedly circumventing US export restrictions by illegally acquiring thousands of Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture GPUs. Nvidia acknowledged the situation but said it had no concrete evidence and would investigate all available leads.
11
Dec
Fed rate cut sparks short-lived market rally, says Pegatron’s Tung
Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung said the Federal Reserve’s 25-basis-point cut matched market expectations and would inject more liquidity into financial markets, supporting equities, real estate, and other assets in what he described as a brief global upswing.
11
Dec
China’s polysilicon glut triggers US-backed supply chain realignment
China’s dominance of the global polysilicon market is forcing the industry into two divergent paths: domestic consolidation to manage a swelling glut, and US-backed overseas production to diversify supply chains. The trend highlights a deepening geopolitical divide over a material essential to both solar manufacturing and high-purity semiconductor applications.
11
Dec
ZTE hit by US foreign bribery probe with fines exceeding US$1bn
Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp. is again under regulatory scrutiny, as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates alleged foreign bribery that could lead to more than US$1 billion in fines, Reuters reported. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) probe covers ZTE’s activities in Latin America and other regions, raising the risk of fresh penalties and the possible reinstatement of export restrictions if talks fail.
11
Dec
AI boom drives memory surge: squeezes Switch 2 margins, pushes up PC prices
Nintendo’s stock price has fallen by 20% since reaching a recent peak in August 2025, mainly due to the artificial intelligence (AI) surge that pushed memory prices used in the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console up by 40%, putting significant pressure on its profit margins. In response to the rapidly increasing semiconductor demand driven by AI infrastructure expansion, the electronics and home appliance supply chains have also started feeling noticeable impacts.
11
Dec
Mexico breaks from free-trade tradition with sweeping tariffs on Asian imports
Mexico is preparing a major shift in its trade policy, approving broad tariffs on imports from Asian countries without free-trade agreements, including China, India, and South Korea. According to The Economic Times, the Senate passed the bill on December 10, 2025, with 76 votes in favor, 5 against, and 35 abstentions.