Business & Markets

Many people say China interferes less than the US in other countries, and the survey indicates [item] Published July 15, 2026: According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, China is now viewed more positively than the US in many countries around the world. The research center found that in 25 of the 36 countries, there were more people who had favorable views of China than of the US.

Chinese users of AI-powered companion bots have bid heart-wrenching farewells to their virtual buddies as national regulations took effect Wednesday aimed at curbing the risk of emotional dependency. A 2025 study by Common Sense Media found that nearly three in four American teenagers had used AI companions designed for personal conversations, like those available on platforms such as Character.AI, Replika, and Nomi.

China's fourth-highest-ranking official, Wang Huning, held talks in Pyongyang with a top North Korean Workers' Party official. This visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June trip to North Korea and aims to strengthen ties. Wang affirmed the commitment to implement agreements made during Xi and Kim Jong Un's recent summit, emphasizing cooperation in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military matters. Both sides discussed enhancing strategic communication and tactical cooperation, with China remaining North Korea’s largest economic partner.

The article | emphasizes that Next Apple's Apple Intelligence (Apple AI) finally ushered in the whistle of admission. On July 15, the network information department announced a new batch of mobile phone side generative artificial intelligence service filing information, a total of seven products completed the filing, namely, Apple Intelligence, Huawei Xiaoyi AI, OPPO AndesGPT, vivo blue heart side big model, Xiaomi Pengpai AI, Samsung Galaxy AI and Nubian bean bag mobile phone big model. Ali then confirmed that Qianqian will participate in the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence, providing text understanding, image understanding, content generation and other capabilities. However, Qianqian is not the only underlying model for all of Apple's AI capabilities. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple's cooperation with Baidu focuses on AI search capabilities, which will also be used to upgrade the Chinese version of Siri voice assistant. In other words, the current division of labor is roughly: generative AI, Baidu search, and Siri. It is worth noting that Baidu has been Apple's Siri search service provider in mainland China for many years. However, filing solves the compliance qualification problem, which does not mean that the product is ready. It is reported that some of Apple Intelligence's image recognition functions still rely on Google's reverse image search, and Google-related services cannot be used normally in mainland China. This technical dependence needs to be further replaced with a local solution. So Apple still has a specific line of engineering to do....

Tie-Ying Ma, senior economist at DBS Group. (Photo by Reporter Wu Xintian) [Reporter Wu Xintian/Taipei Report] Ma Tieying, a senior economist at DBS Group, said today that the growth momentum of the AI supercycle has reached a peak. Between the second half of 2026 and 2027, the overall growth rate will gradually return to the normal track, and Taiwan's economy is expected to shift to a more sustainable growth track. Regarding the development prospects of AI, DBS Group said that at present, AI technology is growing from the first wave driven by generative AI to the next stage driven by proxy AI and physical AI. The scope of application also extends from content generation to a wider range of fields such as autonomous workflow, intelligent manufacturing and robotics. Read on... Despite the uncertainty around AI business models in the near term, governments, cloud service providers, and large enterprises will continue to support high capital expenditures due to the strategic need to maintain a competitive edge in global technology. However, the AI investment cycle also faces three major challenges, including commercialization and unknown profitability, the high dependence of infrastructure on external financing may face the risk of rising financing costs, and physical resource constraints such as power system stability and grid construction. DBS expects that the growth momentum of the AI supercycle is close to its peak, and the overall growth rate will gradually return to normal between the second half of 2026 and 2027. Taiwan's economy in the first half of 2026, driven by the AI super cycle, exports, investment and corporate activities remain hot....

On July 15, a technical trade measures work conference of the national market supervision system was held in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Guided by Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the meeting thoroughly implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the successive plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and earnestly followed the requirements of the national market supervision work conference. The meeting summarized achievements, analyzed current situations, and deployed key tasks. Zhang Siwei, a member of the Standing Committee of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and deputy director-general as well as director of the National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Hu Yabao, vice governor of the Hubei Provincial People's Government, also attended and delivered an opening address. The conference pointed out that last year, the market supervision system deeply implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and comments, united in collaboration and fulfilled their duties, achieving practical results in improving work systems, enhancing corporate response capabilities, and serving industrial development. The conference emphasized that at all levels of the market supervision departments, they should thoroughly implement the decisions and plans of the central authorities, firmly establish and practice the correct concept of achievements. They should raise political awareness, enhance a sense of the overall situation, deeply recognize the important role of technical trade measures work in serving high-level opening-up and promoting the construction of a quality power. They need to fully leverage the advantages of market supervision functions by taking more concrete actions to continuously improve corporate response capabilities, making greater breakthroughs in enhancing the compliance level of industrial chains, and actively shaping international economic and trade rules and standards.

Chinese users of AI-powered companion bots have bid heart-wrenching farewells to their virtual buddies as national regulations took effect Wednesday aimed at curbing the risk of emotional dependency. A 2025 study by Common Sense Media found that nearly three in four American teenagers had used AI companions designed for personal conversations, like those available on platforms such as Character.AI, Replika, and Nomi.

China's fourth-highest-ranking official, Wang Huning, held talks in Pyongyang with a top North Korean Workers' Party official. This visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June trip to North Korea and aims to strengthen ties. Wang affirmed the commitment to implement agreements made during Xi and Kim Jong Un's recent summit, emphasizing cooperation in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military matters. Both sides discussed enhancing strategic communication and tactical cooperation, with China remaining North Korea’s largest economic partner.

The article | emphasizes that Next Apple's Apple Intelligence (Apple AI) finally ushered in the whistle of admission. On July 15, the network information department announced a new batch of mobile phone side generative artificial intelligence service filing information, a total of seven products completed the filing, namely, Apple Intelligence, Huawei Xiaoyi AI, OPPO AndesGPT, vivo blue heart side big model, Xiaomi Pengpai AI, Samsung Galaxy AI and Nubian bean bag mobile phone big model. Ali then confirmed that Qianqian will participate in the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence, providing text understanding, image understanding, content generation and other capabilities. However, Qianqian is not the only underlying model for all of Apple's AI capabilities. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple's cooperation with Baidu focuses on AI search capabilities, which will also be used to upgrade the Chinese version of Siri voice assistant. In other words, the current division of labor is roughly: generative AI, Baidu search, and Siri. It is worth noting that Baidu has been Apple's Siri search service provider in mainland China for many years. However, filing solves the compliance qualification problem, which does not mean that the product is ready. It is reported that some of Apple Intelligence's image recognition functions still rely on Google's reverse image search, and Google-related services cannot be used normally in mainland China. This technical dependence needs to be further replaced with a local solution. So Apple still has a specific line of engineering to do....

Liang Wenjie, the spokesperson for the Cross-Strait Affairs Commission. After China's "Promotion Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress" came into effect, drawing global attention, bipartisan U.S. congressional members proposed the "Stop Transnational Repression Act." This act imposes up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000 for those involved in cross-border repression activities. Liang Wenjie, the spokesperson for the Cross-Strait Affairs Commission, stated today that they immediately studied the draft bill and believe there are many aspects worth Taiwan learning from. To counter China and Iran's cross-border repression threats, the United States will take its first step by passing federal legislation, defining as a serious criminal act and granting enforcement agencies stronger countermeasures. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000 (approximately NT$3.22 million). The bill defines "cross-border repression" as any attempt by agents or co-conspirators of foreign governments "to harass, intimidate, or threaten others, including the use of force or causing a reasonable fear of death." The bill notes that incorporating this term into U.S. law will exert greater deterrence on foreign actors...