1. (Xinhua) The boundary between reality and science fiction is fading fast.  

    At a robotics company in Beijing, my morning began with a coffee made by a dual-arm robot. It expertly brewed the espresso, frothed the milk, and handed me a latte carefully topped with a decorative image of my choice. Coffee in hand, I stepped into an adjoining massage room, where another robot assessed my physical condition before gently placing its mechanical arm on my back to deliver a soothing massage.

    Behind this and other futuristic scenes are the collaborative robots, or "cobots," manufactured by AUBO (Beijing) Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. Unlike typical industrial robots, which generally operate within physically isolated units, cobots work directly alongside their human colleagues. In the commercial cobot sector, Denmark's Universal Robots is widely recognized as a pioneering leader.  

    Founded in 2015, AUBO Robotics is at the forefront of China's cobot industry, ranking first domestically and second globally in cobot sales for years. "Last year, our collaborative robot sales surpassed 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars), capturing over 36 percent of the domestic market," said Han Yongguang, chairman of the intelligent robot manufacturer.

    The company also takes pride in its full ownership of intellectual property (IP) rights, breaking decades-long monopolies held by foreign companies in the robotics sector. These IP rights are also recognized by its some 500 partners across more than 50 countries.  

    Compared to typical industrial robots, cobots offer far greater versatility, making them suitable not just for factories but also retail, health care and education settings.  

    "Cobots substantially boost efficiency," said Tian Hua, senior marketing manager at AUBO Robotics, speaking from the company's headquarters near Zhongguancun in Beijing, which is often dubbed "China's Silicon Valley."

    She cited massage businesses as an example: "Some of our business clients complained that skilled massage therapists are difficult to hire, train and retain. Cobots solve this problem with just a few button taps, performing physically demanding massage tasks tirelessly."  

    The consistency of robots is another advantage. "By late afternoon, human therapists can experience fatigue, affecting their performance. Robots, on the other hand, never tire," Tian explained.  

    Though hardly a Luddite, I nonetheless found myself reflecting, latte in hand, as the robot massaged my back: Are these cobots enhancing our lives, or quietly replacing us?

    "In fact, it is precisely market demand that has driven the creation of these versatile robots," noted Dr. Song Zhongkang, director of the AUBO Research Institute.  

    "These collaborative robots were never intended to replace people -- as their very name indicates. Humans still supervise robotic operations. More importantly, customers often just want someone to chat with," Song said, highlighting the irreplaceable value of human connection regardless of technological advancements.  

    Song considers cobots a revolutionary development in robotics: "Cobots are also seen as the first generation of intelligent robots."

    "Compared to traditional robots, cobots leverage and combine the strengths of both humans and machines, taking on physically demanding, repetitive and hazardous tasks," Song said. "This allows humans to focus on lighter, more creative tasks, ultimately improving work quality."  

    This calls to mind the philosopher Immanuel Kant's distinction between means and ends: instead of reducing people to mere means for completing tasks, technological progress -- such as the rise of cobots -- enables humans to become the true ends, placing their well-being and creativity at the center of innovation. At AUBO Robotics, I glimpsed the answer to questions of how technology could indeed serve humanity's greater good.

    Perhaps this trend is also a microcosm of China's -- and the world's -- shift toward intelligent transformation. Machines exist not to replace humans, but to enrich human life. This principle holds true not only here in China, but also around the world.  

    As cobots quietly enter factories, hospitals and cafes, China's journey toward intelligent automation has evolved beyond just enhancing efficiency. And amid this rising tide of technology, I am heartened to see human values not overshadowed, but illuminated -- guiding us toward a future where technology uplifts rather than replaces, and where humanity remains the true measure of progress. 

    Source: Xinhua  2025-08-09 16:05:16

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  2. (China Daily) The dazzling acrobatics of humanoid robots racing, kicking footballs and sparring dominated the recent World Robot Conference. Over 50 companies showcased their bipedal marvels, transforming the event into a veritable "World Humanoid Robot Carnival".  

    Yet, amid this sensory overload, a crucial reality check emerged: the relentless focus on humanlike form risks overshadowing a fundamental question — do these robots deliver genuine, cost-effective solutions for business?  

    Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation in the United States, said during a forum at the conference: "Commercial users only care about solutions. They don't care if it's a humanoid, a mobile robot, a collaborative robot, an industrial robot, or even if it's a robot at all. They need a tool that gets the job done quickly, efficiently, accurately and affordably."

    This cuts to the core of the industry's current dilemma. While the spectacle of humanoids captures headlines and public imagination, their path to widespread commercial adoption remains fraught with uncertainty.  

    Burnstein's caution extends beyond production numbers to the very concept's practicality: "Is a general-purpose humanoid the best solution? The industry hasn't reached a consensus." He argued that dedicated, task-specific robots — perhaps with multiple arms or fixed-base mobility — often prove more efficient and economical than a complex bipedal machine mimicking human locomotion, especially in structured environments like warehouses.  

    The shadow of unfulfilled promises looms large.

    Burnstein drew a sobering parallel to autonomous vehicles, where initial predictions of rapid adoption vastly underestimated the technical hurdles, leading to significant delays. He forecasts a similar timeline for viable, widespread humanoid solutions.  

    "It might happen, but it's unlikely in North America within the next three to five years."  

    While acknowledging China's investment and innovation push in the sector, he reiterated his core message: "Shape is irrelevant".  

    The relentless focus on bipedal form risks diverting resources from solving the actual, often less glamorous problems businesses face.

    Amid this caution, however, a significant development emerged, suggesting a potential shift from spectacle to substance.  

    Chinese company AgiBot announced a landmark deal with Mianyang Fulin Precision Machining Co Ltd on Aug 11, involving the deployment of nearly 100 of its wheel-based "Expedition A2-W "robots.  

    Dubbed by the company the world's first large-scale commercial implementation of embodied robots in smart manufacturing, this isn't about running marathons. These robots are tackling the gritty, essential work of materials handling — moving thousands of boxes daily, performing palletizing, de-palletizing, and feeding production lines across multiple factory zones. They are demonstrably boosting efficiency and shouldering significant logistical burdens within a real-world automotive parts manufacturing environment.

    The deal offers a crucial blueprint. It moves decisively beyond pilot projects and technical demonstrations to production-critical deployment.  

    The Expedition A2-W, while possessing an upper torso akin to a humanoid for manipulation, utilizes wheels for mobility — a pragmatic design choice prioritizing function over the pure bipedal aesthetic for its target industrial tasks. This is the essence we should champion: solving the problem efficiently, not conforming to a specific shape.  

    The World Robot Conference's humanoid circus is undeniably entertaining and serves as a powerful showcase for technological ambition. However, the true measure of success for this burgeoning field lies not in winning a robot soccer match or captivating social media, but in replicating the tangible, bottom-line impact seen in commercial deployment.

    For humanoid robots — or any robot — to transcend the hype, the industry must relentlessly focus on the imperative: Deliver the solution the business needs, in the most effective form possible, at a compelling cost.  

    The applause of the crowd is fleeting; the sustained hum of robots reliably solving real industrial problems is the sound of true commercial arrival. The race for relevance is won by utility, not just upright mobility.

    Source: By Ma Si | China Daily | Updated: 2025-08-18 09:14

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  3. (AP) Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Friday that the company is discussing a potential new computer chip designed for China with the Trump administration.  

    Huang was asked about a possible “B30A” semiconductor for artificial intelligence data centers for China while on a visit to Taiwan, where he was meeting Nvidia’s key manufacturing partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., the world’s largest chip maker.  

    “I’m offering a new product to China for ... AI data centers, the follow-on to H20,” Huang said. But he added that “That’s not our decision to make. It’s up to, of course, the United States government. And we’re in dialogue with them, but it’s too soon to know.”  

    Such chips are graphics processing units, or GPUs, a type of device used to build and update a range of AI systems. But they are less powerful than Nvidia’s top semiconductors today, which cannot be sold to China due to U.S. national security restrictions.

    The B30A, based on California-based Nvidia’s specialized Blackwell technology, is reported to operate at about half the speed of Nvidia’s main B300 chips.  

    Huang praised the the Trump administration for recently approving sales of Nvidia’s H20 chips to China after such business was suspended in April, with the proviso that the company must pay a 15% tax to the U.S. government on those sales. Chip maker Advanced Micro Devices, or AMD, was told to pay the same tax on its sales of its MI380 chips to China.

    As part of broader trade talks, Beijing and Washington recently agreed to pull back some non-tariff restrictions. China approved more permits for rare earth magnets to be exported to the U.S., while Washington lifted curbs on chip design software and jet engines. After lobbying by Huang, it also allowed sales of the H20 chips to go through.

    Huang did not comment directly on the tax when asked but said Nvidia appreciated being able to sell H20s to China.  

    He said such sales pose no security risk for the United States. Nvidia is also speaking with Beijing to reassure Chinese authorities that those chips do not pose a “backdoor” security risk, Huang said.

    “We have made very clear and put to rest that H20 has no security backdoors. There are no such things. There never has. And so hopefully the response that we’ve given to the Chinese government will be sufficient,” he said.  

    The Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s internet watchdog, recently posted a notice on its website referring to alleged “serious security issues” with Nvidia’s computer chips.  

    It said U.S. experts on AI had said such chips have “mature tracking and location and remote shutdown technologies” and Nvidia had been asked to explain any such risks and provide documentation about the issue.

    Huang said Nvidia was surprised by the accusation and was discussing the issue with Beijing.  

    “As you know, they requested and urged us to secure licenses for the H20s for some time. And I’ve worked quite hard to help them secure the licenses. And so hopefully this will be resolved,” Huang said.

    Unconfirmed reports said Chinese authorities were also unhappy over comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting the U.S. was only selling outdated chips to China.  

    Speaking on CNBC, Lutnick said the U.S. strategy was to keep China reliant on American chip technology.  

    “We don’t sell them our best stuff,” he said. “Not our second best stuff. Not even our third best, but I think fourth best is where we’ve come out that we’re cool,” he said.  

    China’s ruling Communist Party has made self-reliance in advanced technology a strategic priority, though it still relies on foreign semiconductor knowhow for much of what it produces.

    Source: Associated Press by Elaine Kurtenbach  Updated 12:08 AM PDT, August 22, 2025

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  4. (China Daily) Chinese electronic games are continuously thriving in global markets, and are increasingly becoming carriers of culture to promote cross-cultural understanding and exchanges as a new universal language, said industry experts during the recent 22nd China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, better known as ChinaJoy, in Shanghai.  

    By the end of June, China had a record 679 million gamers. In the first half, actual sales revenue of the domestic game market totaled 168 billion yuan ($23.3 billion), up 14.08 percent year-on-year, according to a report released on July 31 by Zhang Yijun, first vice-chairman of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association.  

    Overseas sales of Chinese games exceeded $9.5 billion in the first half, growing 11.07 percent year-on-year. The United States, Japan and South Korea continued to be the main overseas markets for Chinese games, accounting for 55.63 percent of total sales. European nations such as Germany, the United Kingdom and France are becoming emerging destinations for more Chinese games, said the report.

    From a global perspective, China continued to hold the position as the world's largest game exporter in the first half, ranking first with a share of 32.6 percent of global total, according to a report released by mobile analytics firm AppsFlyer.  

    Over the past five years, Chinese games have entered the markets of more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In particular, games such as Honor of Kings and Genshin Impact have accumulated hundreds of millions of users globally, said Ao Ran, executive vice-chairman of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association.  

    "China's gaming industry has shown a positive trend toward high-quality and sustainable development in recent years, since a large number of Chinese enterprises are collaboratively creating world-class innovative video games within the global supply chain. Notably, the fine traditional Chinese culture is becoming the unique source of innovation and a differentiating advantage for Chinese games," said Richard Yu, vice-president and editor-in-chief at Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group.

    The hit title Black Myth: Wukong, an action role-playing video game rooted in Chinese mythology, is a prime example of the worldwide appeal of Chinese video games with a strong cultural identity. Industry experts agree that games are rapidly developing beyond products for entertainment, and becoming a new cultural form integrating with advanced technologies and an important carrier of Chinese cultural aspects that keep expanding globally.  

    Yu pointed out that more Chinese game producers are ramping up efforts to make high-quality original games that draw both domestic and international players. Instead of simply putting cultural elements together, they explore deep into Chinese cultural connotations and strive to interpret them in innovative, globalized and modern ways.  

    "As a composite cultural carrier that integrates various art forms such as literature, music, film and fine arts, games naturally possess the potential to promote cross-cultural understanding and boast the advantage of crossing cultural boundaries. Their interactivity turns the players into 'interpreters' of different cultures," Yu added.

    Not only Chinese producers, but also foreign companies are eyeing opportunities in the global collaboration and cultural integration with games as a bond. Representatives of over 200 companies from nations such as Japan, South Korea, the UK, France and Finland gathered for potential partnerships at the China International Game Developers Conference, which was held on July 31 as part of this year's ChinaJoy.  

    "There were barely no really successful Chinese console and PC games 10 years ago, but recently we have seen game studios and producers instilling Chinese culture to create something different. China has a wonderful historical culture and that's part of the creativity. In France, we are very much into culture in general, and Chinese culture is no exception — it is something that resonates a lot with us," said Yves Blehaut, senior vice-president of strategic partnerships at Microids, a French video game publisher and developer.  

    Sony Interactive Entertainment (Shanghai) Ltd and its PlayStation gaming platform are also actively looking to contribute to China's console game ecosystems. Following the success of Black Myth: Wukong on its platform, the company is expecting to cultivate more local game developers in China and better connect the nation's gaming industry and culture with the world. In 2016, the company established the "China Hero Project" to support Chinese console game developers, connect with global counterparts, and help them grow globally with games featuring Chinese culture.

    "China has the world's most game users and is one of the most critical and potential markets for PlayStation. We have noticed very early the potential and passion of Chinese game developers. Collaborating with over 400 Chinese game developers and publishers, we aim to introduce good Chinese games to the world," said Tatsuo Eguchi, chairman and president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, at the conference.  

    To better navigate Chinese game developers in overseas markets, the Research and Service Center for Game Globalization was inaugurated in Shanghai at the conference. It aims to provide one-stop services such as overseas market analysis, compliance guidance, financial services, legal protection and copyright protection.  

    Moreover, a first batch of guidelines targeting the Japanese, South Korean, British and French markets were also released at the event to support Chinese games' global expansion, comprehensively covering sectors including policies, regulations, market environment, culture, customs and user preferences. More guidelines on other countries in regions such as North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East will also be released this and next year.

    "The globalization of games ultimately involves a two-way cultural exchange. Games themselves are self-contained digital worlds where different cultures meet and spark inspiration. So while publishing Chinese games overseas, we also help introduce global cultures into China," said Yu of Tencent Interactive Entertainment.  

    "We obviously see more foreign friends and international participation at ChinaJoy this year. With games building a globalized platform, we expect to enhance exchanges, reduce barriers and accelerate integration, which will carry us all farther," he added.  

    Running from Aug 1 to 4, this year's ChinaJoy attracted over 790 business exhibitors from 37 countries and regions including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

    Source: By Wang Xin in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2025-08-20 09:54

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  5. (China Daily) China is accelerating investment in the new and fast-growing space information — or "space computing" — sector which it sees as a future trillion-yuan driver of economic growth, with leading firms joining forces to develop the futuristic technology, which aims to process massive volumes of satellite and aerial data while in orbit.  

    Geovis Technology Co Ltd, a Chinese geospatial services provider, recently signed a framework agreement with supercomputer manufacturer Sugon to jointly build what they call an "open and inclusive space computing network". The planned network will connect users' devices to satellites, space-based infrastructure and ground platforms, forming a space-ground integrated intelligent computing architecture.  

    Shao Zongyou, president of Geovis, said in a recent interview with China Daily that computing in space could soon move from concept to reality. "Once the space computing network is completed, it will enhance global internet access capacity and stability, supporting applications such as remote work, telemedicine, online education, emergency communications and rural digital development," Shao said.

    The ambition is driven in part by the rapid expansion of satellite constellations and the rising sophistication of payloads.  

    "With tens of thousands of satellites planned in the coming years and ever-higher payload and resolution demands, massive data — and thus computing needs — will surge," Shao said.  

    "Transmission methods like microwaves are slower than many home networks, while laser communication is too weather-dependent. The ideal is to compute in space, then send only the processed results back to earth," he added.

    The space information sector, which spans navigation, weather forecasting, urban planning and resource exploration, has been developing rapidly under policy support, alongside China's push into the low-altitude economy and commercial spaceflight.  

    Over the past year, China has introduced a group of policies to stimulate low-altitude industries. These include regulations on unmanned aircraft flight management that took effect in January and a roadmap released in March for upgrading general aviation equipment through 2030.  

    Wu Yirong, academic dean and researcher at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "China's aerospace information industry is integrating into all aspects of social production and everyday life at an unprecedented speed and depth. It is creating enormous economic value and social benefits."

    For Geovis, the deal with Sugon marks a strategic shift from its established strengths in digital earth, AI, big data and cloud integration into the more technically demanding realm of space-based computation.  

    The two companies plan to develop high-performance, low-power high-reliability core components, build a space computing network, and integrate with China's national computing platforms. They will also explore industry standards and work to coordinate an ecosystem of partners.  

    Shao said the aim is to upgrade the current one-way satellite "data collection service" into a two-way "computing-as-a-service" model. This would allow for in-orbit intelligent processing linked to deep ground-based applications, potentially opening new commercial opportunities in areas such as real-time Earth observation, emergency disaster response and global broadband coverage.

    Yet the road ahead is challenging. Shao said that deploying the same computing power in space could cost up to 1,000 times more than on the ground. Moreover, "space weather", including high-energy particles, radiation and temperature extremes, can damage electronic components and degrade performance over time.  

    Despite these difficulties, Geovis sees space computing as a strategic imperative with long-term returns. "Three to five years may yield no returns," Shao said. "But for national capability and the future of space industries, this must be done."  

    Deng Maicun, former secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China's role in the field has transformed. "In recent years, China's aerospace information sector has made a remarkable leap from a follower to a front-runner, and in some areas even a leader, becoming a new engine for the development of the digital economy."

    Source: By Cheng Yu | China Daily | Updated: 2025-08-15 09:16

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  6. (China Daily) Chinese tech giant Baidu Inc reported on Wednesday that its total revenue reached 32.7 billion yuan ($4.57 billion) in the second quarter of this year, with artificial intelligence-powered cloud business delivering robust revenue growth.   

    Revenue from Baidu's core businesses came up to 26.3 billion yuan during the April-June period, while the net profits from core businesses stood at 7.4 billion yuan, up 35 percent year-on-year.   

    Mainly propelled by the AI initiative, the revenue of AI new businesses, including Baidu AI Cloud, exceeded 10 billion yuan for the first time, an increase of 34 year-on-year growth.

    "We remain focused on AI initiatives that offer the greatest long-term value creation potential, where our technology and innovation can make the most meaningful and lasting impact," said Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, in a statement.  

    Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, accelerated global expansion while actively exploring new business models. It provided over 2.2 million fully driverless rides in the second quarter, representing a 148 percent year-over-year increase. As of August, the cumulative rides provided to the public by Apollo Go surpassed 14 million.  

    The company inked strategic partnership with global mobility platform Lyft Inc earlier this month to deploy Apollo Go's fully autonomous vehicles across key European markets, starting with Germany and the United Kingdom, and scaling to thousands of vehicles across Europe.

    Source: By Fan Feifei | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-08-20 20:55

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  7. (China Daily) Alibaba said on Thursday that autonomous-driving software firm Banma Network Technology is planning a separate listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.  

    Alibaba will retain a 30 percent stake in Banma after listing, down from its current holding of 44.72 percent.

    "It is currently proposed that the proposed spin-off will be effected by way of the global offering of the Banma shares," Alibaba said.  

    Alibaba said the Banma listing was still to receive approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for the deal to go ahead.

    The e-commerce giant did not say when the listing was expected to go ahead or give a valuation on Banma in its announcement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.  

    Alibaba said a stand-alone listing of Banma would give the firm a higher profile, allow it to win more business and independently access equity and credit markets.

    Source: China Daily/Reuters  Published: 19:52, August 20, 2025

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  8. (Xinhua) Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday called for high-quality sci-tech empowerment and policy support to boost the quality and promote the upgrading of China's bio-medicine industry.  

    Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a fact-finding and research tour in the Chinese capital of Beijing.  

    While visiting Changping Laboratory, Li called for efforts to focus on global forefront and key fields, achieve further major original results, and nurture more high-caliber talent in the life sciences, thus enhancing the basis for the development of China's bio-medicine industry.

    During tours of a bio-tech enterprise and an international innovation center, Li stressed the importance of encouraging domestic companies to deepen international cooperation and boost their creativity and competitiveness, as well as the importance of optimizing the country's platform construction and operations model.  

    At a seminar, Li called for efforts to boost original innovation and core-technology breakthroughs in key fields, and to boost the industry's development through comprehensive AI empowerment.  

    He also urged more effective guidance for the application of high-quality, innovative medicines, and called for efforts to promote the modernization and industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine.

    Source: Xinhua  2025-08-20 23:46:00

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  9. (Xinhua) Game Science, the Chinese studio behind the critically acclaimed video game "Black Myth: Wukong," unveiled its next project on Wednesday, a surprising new chapter that signals its ambition to build a broader franchise rooted in Chinese mythology.  

    The new game, titled "Black Myth: Zhong Kui," was announced with a teaser trailer, a nearly two-minute computer-generated (CG) short video. The announcement comes exactly one year after the release of "Black Myth: Wukong," which achieved breakout global success.  

    The choice of Zhong Kui, a mythical ghost-queller from Chinese folklore, instead of a direct sequel focusing on the Monkey King, represents a deliberate creative shift.

    In a personal Weibo post on Wednesday, studio founder Feng Ji, also known as Yocar, revealed the emotional backdrop to this decision, describing how he experienced "confusion, emptiness and anxiety" following the success of "Black Myth: Wukong."  

    While acknowledging that creating downloadable content (DLC) would have been "a safe and clear choice," Feng explained that he and co-founder Yang Qi were instead drawn to a fresh creative direction -- deciding to make a new "Black Myth" game with "new heroes, new gameplay, new visuals, new technology and new stories."  

    "This new project has officially entered development," Game Science announced in a statement, assuring fans it aims to deliver "refreshing changes and novelty" while reflecting on the shortcomings of its first project. The studio also had a clear message for fans of the original Wukong game: "The Journey to the West will not end here."

    While promising a new story and protagonist, Game Science confirmed that "Black Myth: Zhong Kui" will remain a "standard single-player, action role-playing game" featuring an identical business model.  

    No release window was given, with the studio admitting that even Yocar has no timeline yet for the new game -- which is for "PC and mainstream console platforms." The studio did announce rebranding of all its social media accounts from "Black Myth: Wukong" to simply "Black Myth" to serve as a unified hub for all future games in the series.  

    Further details on gameplay and story were scarce, with the studio joking that the outline isn't even finished -- but promising an experience that will feel both familiar and surprising to fans. 

    Source: Xinhua  2025-08-20 17:23:15

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  10. (China Daily) TikTok's appeal and effectiveness as a communication channel has not been lost on even the White House.  

    Uploading three short videos featuring highlight moments of the US president at home and abroad, the White House launched its own official TikTok account on Tuesday.  

    The account had garnered more than 73,200 followers and over 120,700 "likes" within less than 24 hours, demonstrating the platform's value as a shortcut for the US administration to get its message across to the app's users.  

    But while it is not surprising that the White House should seek to leverage the popularity of the app in the United States, the blase way that the White House introduced the account is.

    "The Trump administration is committed to communicating the historic successes President Trump has delivered to the American people with as many audiences and platforms as possible," White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said, as if TikTok is no different from any other app that the administration treats as a "reliable" channel to connect with the public.  

    For a long time some politicians in the US have smeared TikTok as a "threat" to US data security, and the app still faces a "sell or ban" law that requires its parent company ByteDance to divest its US operations or see the app banned in the country.  

    That the White House now has its own TikTok account undoubtedly contradicts the "national security threat" rhetoric that claims ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government and that the app could be used to influence US citizens.

    Well aware of the platform's importance as a means to reach young people, the US president opted not to enforce the aforementioned law that was passed last year after he began his second term as president on Jan 20; first extending the deadline to early April, then to June 19 and then again to Sept 17.  

    That the White House launched its own account on the app less than one month before the third extended deadline expires only serves to expose the hypocrisy of the US side's alleged "security" charges against TikTok.  

    ByteDance is not the only Chinese company US politicians have smeared with unwarranted "security threat" allegations. The electronics companies Huawei and ZTE, as well as those related to shipbuilding and port equipment, have also been unjustifiably targeted. DJI, a Chinese drone maker, was put on the US government's blacklist and then removed simply because its US clients could not find substitutes for its products.

    But it is the company's algorithm — which constitutes its core competitiveness and helps it achieve the popularity — that has really triggered Washington's covetousness.  

    TikTok has 170 million US users and has become integrated into business operations across the country. A study commissioned by TikTok's US operator and conducted by Oxford Economics in late 2024 through early 2025, found that approximately 7.5 million businesses maintain active TikTok accounts. These businesses collectively employ more than 28 million people and 4.7 million more jobs in the US benefit from the platform's business accounts.  

    As Chinese foreign and commerce ministries' spokespersons have said on different occasions, the operation and acquisition of enterprises should be based on market principles and decided independently by the enterprises concerned. If Chinese enterprises are involved, they must comply with Chinese laws and regulations.

    Notably, the Chinese authorities have issued a catalogue of technologies prohibited and restricted for export. This explicitly prohibits the export of core technologies such as short video algorithms, drawing a red line for the TikTok transaction.  

    It is to be hoped that the launch of the White House's TikTok account signals that the administration will listen more to the voices of businesses and the public and provide a fair and just business environment for the development of companies from all countries, including Chinese companies, in the US.  

    Calling a halt to the wanton targeting of Chinese companies would be conducive to economic and trade cooperation between China and the US and thus would be in the interests of both countries.

    Source: chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-08-20 21:56

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