00:00
尊敬的用户您好，这是来自FT中文网的温馨提示：如您对更多FT中文网的内容感兴趣，请在苹果应用商店或谷歌应用市场搜索“FT中文网”，下载FT中文网的官方应用。
{"text":[[{"start":11.65,"text":"Hello from Hong Kong. This is Cissy, and I will be taking you through #techAsia this week."}],[{"start":18.4,"text":"The biggest news in the Chinese tech sector these days has been around DeepSeek, as everyone is wondering whether the AI start-up will finally release its long-delayed V4 model this week, and of course, what kind of chips it will be trained on. If its model performance turns out to be as good as expected — or even better — and it is trained on domestic chips, that would mean China’s homegrown chipmakers have made another stride in overcoming US technology restrictions."}],[{"start":45.75,"text":"DeepSeek is also reportedly looking to raise funds externally for the first time, according to The Information. The US media outlet said the company was valued at $10bn a few days ago, but on Wednesday it reported that Alibaba and Tencent are both in talks with DeepSeek over investment at a valuation of $20bn."}],[{"start":65.8,"text":"The market reaction really showed how high expectations are for the upcoming V4. Following the report, even Alibaba’s ADR rose a bit. However, a senior executive from one of the companies, who was briefed on the situation, told me its contact with DeepSeek at this stage is “very initial” and no deep discussions have yet been held, adding that there are definitely those who would like to see the start-up’s valuation boosted."}],[{"start":91.5,"text":"DeepSeek was founded by Liang Wenfeng, the founder of quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer Quant, which had the strong profitability and cash flow to fund DeepSeek’s early model training. However, as model size and data scale grow exponentially, subsequent development such as V4 requires massive computing resources, making it increasingly difficult to proceed without external funding if DeepSeek hopes to move ahead in the AI race, particularly at a time when both domestic and overseas rivals continue to release powerful models."}],[{"start":123.75,"text":"What it will ultimately deliver remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Demand for state of the art chips will keep rising, driving record results for companies such as SK Hynix and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co."}],[{"start":136.85,"text":"An auto extravaganza"}],[{"start":140,"text":"Car dealers from around the world are gathering at the Beijing auto show, which kicks off this Friday. Their aim: to bring more China-made green vehicles back to their home markets as a hedge against soaring fuel costs driven by the US-Israel conflict with Iran, write Nikkei Asia’s staff writers."}],[{"start":158.5,"text":"The biennial event will showcase about 1,450 cars, including a record 181 global debuts. Chinese auto companies are really seizing the opportunity to raise their profiles and boost exports as domestic demands slow, including by inviting overseas influencers to promote their vehicles. For example, a video clip of foreign visitors packing Geely’s office building and campus this week went viral on Chinese social media. “We’re re-creating the Tang dynasty,” read a popular comment that has stirred national pride. The comment alludes to the ancient era when foreign delegations paid tribute to Chinese emperors in recognition of the empire’s power."}],[{"start":201.55,"text":"Geely sold a total of 203,000 cars outside mainland China in the first quarter, a 126 per cent jump from a year earlier. BYD has also taken advantage of the pressure on gasoline prices from the Iran war. The company sold nearly 120,000 cars abroad in March, up 65.2 per cent year-on-year."}],[{"start":223,"text":"A big deal"}],[{"start":224.8,"text":"Beijing described Meta’s $2bn acquisition of Manus as a “conspiratorial” attempt to hollow out the country’s technology base, write the Financial Times’ Zijing Wu and Hannah Murphy."}],[{"start":236.8,"text":"People familiar with the matter said the assessment was made by China’s National Security Commission, a body led by President Xi Jinping. It triggered a multi-agency effort to review the deal, shortly after it was announced in December last year."}],[{"start":250.20000000000002,"text":"Officials are examining the deal using a range of tools, from export control rules to foreign investment and competition laws, the people said. The case has become a test of Beijing’s approach to outbound tech talent at a time of intensifying rivalry with the US."}],[{"start":267.35,"text":"Prior to the acquisition, Manus had relocated its core team and headquarters from Beijing to Singapore. Beijing appears preoccupied with ensuring other local entrepreneurs do not consider a similar route for future exits to US Big Tech groups."}],[{"start":284.3,"text":"Meanwhile, Manus’ co-founders have been barred from leaving China while officials review the transaction, the FT has previously reported. One person close to the matter said the company’s management have considered leaving Meta as a potential solution, although it remains unclear whether even that move would satisfy Chinese authorities."}],[{"start":302.40000000000003,"text":"The price of growth"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":304.90000000000003,"text":"Founded in 2010 and often dubbed “Korea’s Amazon”, Coupang is mounting an aggressive push to consolidate its dominance in South Korea, expanding beyond core ecommerce into food delivery, fintech and streaming as it battles rivals including Naver and China’s AliExpress and Temu."}],[{"start":323.75000000000006,"text":"The company’s impact on the South Korean economy has been significant as it continues to reshape the retail and delivery sectors in the country. However, that growth has come with mounting scrutiny, writes Nikkei Asia’s Steven Borowiec."}],[{"start":337.05000000000007,"text":"Regulators have imposed fines over its alleged unfair practices, including manipulating algorithms and pressuring suppliers. Labour groups have also raised concerns over working conditions. Meanwhile, it has also been accused of abusing power over small and midsize enterprises, with founder Bom Kim — a Korean American — facing criticism for declining to return to South Korea for questioning."}],[{"start":360.05000000000007,"text":"Restrictions go local"}],[{"start":362.05000000000007,"text":"Japan is set to tighten cyber security controls at the local government level to exclude Chinese-made IT equipment from municipal procurement. The policy, expected to take effect in the summer of 2027, will cover PCs, servers, communications gear and cloud services, extending standards already applied to central agencies since 2018, writes Nikkei’s Hatsuna Karasawa."}],[{"start":385.95000000000005,"text":"This is how the Chinese products will be excluded: Manufacturers would need certifications based on schemes overseen by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the National Cybersecurity Office, but neither of them currently approve Chinese vendors."}],[{"start":402.00000000000006,"text":"Local governments will need to replace non-compliant equipment as certifications expire, with guidance from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The move follows a rise in cyber attacks on municipalities, including data breaches and service outages."}],[{"start":416.3500000000001,"text":"Suggested reads"}],[{"start":null,"text":"Chinese lidar maker building first overseas plant in south-east Asia (Nikkei Asia)
‘Why isn’t the energy used by people?’: China’s global AI push hits resistance (FT)
Samsung rolls out AI-equipped TVs, defending top spot against China rivals (Nikkei Asia)
Iran war spurs global demand for defence equipment, says Thales (FT)
SoftBank Group pivots to AI services with promotion of Arm CEO Haas (Nikkei Asia)
TSMC teases next-gen A13 and A12 technologies for 2029 production (Nikkei Asia)
SK Hynix Q1 profit jumps fivefold despite Middle East energy crisis (Nikkei Asia)
Taiwan overtakes UK in stock market value on AI chip boom (FT)