China’s five-year plan - Asian Tech Roundup

Plus: Singapore’s new AI work pass

Welcome to Computing's weekly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at China’s five-year plan, Singapore’s drive to attract AI talent and Vietnam positioning itself as a China alternative.

China is moving ahead with its drive for technological self‑reliance, with AI, semiconductors and other emerging technologies at the centre of its economic strategy.

As part of its five-year plan for the economy, the government said it would boost domestic industries including semiconductors, aerospace and AI, while nurturing so‑called “future industries” such as quantum technology, humanoid robots, and 6G networks. It also plans to promote the application of AI across key sectors of the economy.

According to reports, China will also be launching new datacentre projects, will be working on preventing and controlling AI security risks.

The push comes at a time of intensifying competition with the US. While US tech firms still have the edge in many cases, Beijing is counting on its extensive supply chains, low‑cost manufacturing and rapid R&D cycles to scale new technologies quickly, as they have done already with robots and EVs.

Australia

• Amazon has lost a battle to keep its Australian greenhouse emissions data confidential. The Clean Energy Regulator has now released data from 2019, the final step in a years-long legal fight. Source
• Approximately 31,000 technology-related jobs were lost in Australia in the year to May 2025, leaving the country behind in its ambition to grow the tech workforce to 1.2 million jobs by 2030. Source

China

• China's new five-year plan sets a GDP growth target of 4.5%–5% and outlines increased spending on chip manufacturing, AI and scientific research. Source1 Source2
• Nvidia has reportedly stopped manufacturing AI chips destined for China. Source
• Alibaba has launched Qwen 3, an upgraded AI model with hybrid reasoning capabilities, as competition intensifies in China’s AI sector. The new model aims to improve efficiency for developers and follows the rise of cost-effective models from local startup DeepSeek. Source
• But the head of Alibaba's Qwen AI division has resigned, becoming the third senior Qwen executive to depart this year. Source
• China’s humanoid robot industry is gaining an early lead in the global market, driven by rapid innovation and government support for robotics and AI. Source
• Xiaomi has launched the 17 Ultra smartphone, an AirTag clone, and an ultra-slim powerbank. Source
• In more Xiaomi news, the company is trialling humanoid robots in its electric vehicle factory. Source
• DeepSeek has withheld its latest AI model from US chipmakers, including Nvidia, highlighting growing tensions and competition in the AI sector. Source
• Key leaders from Alibaba and Ant Group, including Jack Ma, met with teachers in Hangzhou to discuss the challenges and opportunities stemming from AI in education. Source
• OpenAI has revealed evidence of a large-scale Chinese campaign using ChatGPT to suppress online dissent domestically and abroad. Source
• Elon Musk has praised China's approach to technology development, suggesting other countries should emulate its policies and innovation strategies. Source
• Chinese cyber-espionage group APT41 has targeted organisations in Asia with sophisticated attacks in a campaign dubbed Silver Dragon. Source
• China-linked hackers have deployed the Terndoor malware in targeted cyberattacks. Source

India

• India has disrupted access to the popular developer platform Supabase following a government blocking order, affecting thousands of developers. Source
• The India AI Impact Summit has launched a sovereignty initiative, focusing on building a scalable and independent AI ecosystem with strategic pillars including silicon, data and capital. Source
• MIT professor Dwaipayan Banerjee's new book argues that India's reliance on technical solutions has increased dependence on major tech firms and failed to address core social issues. Source
• Meta has signed a content licensing deal with News Corp in India, which will enable its AI models to use the media giant's news content for training. Source
• TRAI has directed telecom operators in India to share customer KYC data across networks for AI-based spam detection. Source

Japan

• Car parts supplier Denso has proposed an acquisition of chipmaker Rohm in a deal that could reach $83 billion, signalling a major consolidation in Japan's semiconductor industry. Source
• Tokyo Electric Power Co has unveiled a robotic arm designed to remove nuclear debris from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, with trial operations scheduled for later this year. Source
• The Japanese government is to expand support for post-IPO startups in AI and robotics, offering loan guarantees and subsidies. Source

Malaysia

• Telekom Malaysia has terminated its wholesale pact with Digital Nasional Berhad and signed a RM2.4 billion 5G agreement with U Mobile, marking the first major switch under Malaysia’s dual 5G network model. Source
• Malaysia’s 5G network speeds dropped 46% in 2025 as the single wholesale model struggled with surging demand; the dual-network strategy is now being tested for its ability to resolve capacity issues. Source
• Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the government’s MYR1.1 billion (£208.7 million) deal with SoftBank’s Arm. Source

Singapore

• Singapore is exploring barge-based hydrogen power for datacentres, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources as well as supporting sustainable infrastructure. Source
• Singapore is launching a new AI work pass to attract global tech talent to address the country's shortage of skilled professionals in this area. Source

South Korea

• South Korea will invest $2.2 billion to expand the use of robots beyond factories, targeting sectors such as healthcare and logistics. Source
• $48 million in cryptocurrency was stolen after the Korean tax agency exposed a wallet seed. Source

Vietnam

• Washington's decision to lift export controls could transform Vietnam from a chip assembly hub into a manufacturing partner, positioning it as a strategic alternative to China in the semiconductor industry. Source
• Vietnam’s 90% spectrum discount triggered the fastest 5G rollout in Southeast Asia, with rapid adoption and improved connectivity. Source

Elsewhere in Asia

• Asia: Asian tech stocks have fallen sharply as the US-Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies and logistics, impacting supply chains across the region. Source
• Indonesia: Indonesia has limited access to Wikimedia after delays in registration compliance. Source
• Iran: The Iranian crypto market has experienced multi-million dollar outflows following US and Israeli military strikes. Source
• North Korea: North Korean hackers have published 26 malicious npm packages targeting developers, using Visual Studio Code projects as lures to deliver backdoors. Source