Smart Cities in China: Data, Sensors, and Urban Control

The economic promise and privacy dilemmas of hyper-connected urban zones.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst China has positioned itself at the forefront of smart city development, turning urban areas into testbeds for data-driven governance and digital infrastructure. By

Semiconductor Squeeze: How Chinese Startups Navigate Sanctions and Shortages

The struggle to innovate amid global supply chain restrictions.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst Introduction China’s semiconductor sector has long been dominated by state-backed giants like SMIC and Huawei, but an often-overlooked piece of the puzzle lies with

Huawei’s Satellite Internet Play: A Rival to Starlink?

China builds space-based connectivity to secure digital sovereignty.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst Huawei has quietly expanded its ambitions beyond smartphones and 5G networks into space-based internet. In 2025, the company is spearheading projects to develop satellite constellations

EV Export Surge: China Challenges Europe and the U.S. on Electric Mobility

BYD, NIO, and Geely intensify competition in global car markets.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst China has become the world’s largest exporter of electric vehicles (EVs), overtaking Japan in 2023 and continuing to expand its global footprint in

E-Commerce 3.0: Beyond Alibaba and JD, New Players Reshape Online Retail

How Pinduoduo, Douyin, and Shein are redefining China’s digital marketplace.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst China’s e-commerce landscape has entered a new phase in 2025. For years, Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall, alongside JD.com, dominated online retail. But a

Cross-Border E-Commerce: China’s Export Engine in the Digital Age

Rising overseas demand and the policy shifts enabling global reach.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst China’s cross-border e-commerce sector has become a vital pillar of the country’s trade strategy. Once seen as a niche for small exporters, it

China’s Digital Yuan and Its Global Ripple Effect

The state’s central bank digital currency strategy and its impact on global trade.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan, has moved from pilot projects to broader implementation, reshaping both domestic

China’s Hydrogen Gamble: Building a Clean Energy Ecosystem

Pilot projects and industrial policies signal a new wave in renewable technology.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst Hydrogen has emerged as a key pillar of China’s clean energy transition. Long viewed as a niche technology, hydrogen is now

China’s Role in the Global Supply Chain of Critical Minerals

Export controls and strategic dominance in materials for EVs and semiconductors.✍️ By Dr. Alan Hughes | Telecoms & Space Policy Analyst Critical minerals have become the backbone of modern technology, powering electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced semiconductors. China’s dominance in this

China’s Chip Supply Chain in 2025: Can Self-Reliance Match Global Standards?

Beijing doubles down on semiconductor independence as U.S. export bans tighten. China’s ambition to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency has accelerated sharply in 2025. With the U.S. and its allies tightening restrictions on advanced chip exports, Beijing’s strategy of investing billions into domestic foundries, design