Supply Chains
Assessing the Chinese biotech supply chain risk: Proposed Biosecurity Act targets four Chinese biotech companies deemed to be U.S. national security concern
The proposed Biosecurity Act has been advanced to the Senate floor and specifically targets four Chinese biotech firms – WuXi AppTec, WuXi Bio, BGI Genomics, and MGI and its San Jose-Based subsidiary, Complete Genomics – from accessing U.S. funding and contracts with domestic biotech and pharma firms.
The U.S. is building a homegrown synthetic graphite supply chain for EV batteries
The U.S. is building a homegrown supply chain for synthetic graphite for use in the manufacture of EV batteries to minimize the risk from China’s global dominance in natural graphite production and its recent export ban on certain graphite products.
China claims progress in advanced chips as it seeks workarounds to export bans
China’s largest chip maker will start mass producing 5-nanometer chips for Huawei this year — and is also working on developing ‘chiplets’ as it seeks to become self-reliant in response to US export bans.
China’s Economy Faces Challenges Ahead
The World Bank and UBS expect China’s 2024 GDP will grow 4.5%; Moody’s projected 5% is similar to forecasts by most Chinese economists.
China Pharma Market Demand for Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs Expands
On 26 January China’s National Medical Products Administration announced that it had approved Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus treatment for Type-2 diabetes, making it the first orally administrated GLP-1 receptor agonist drug available in the burgeoning Chinese market.
China Ups Ante in Quantum Computing Global Competition
Chinese scientists believe the success of domestic firm Origin Quantum’s computer development has given China “a ticket” to global quantum computing competition, despite restrictions imposed by the US on quantum computing chip and technology exports.
China’s Demand for ASML Semiconductor Equipment Grows
China’s goal of becoming more self-reliant in semiconductor production has manifested as imports of foreign-made manufacturing equipment are rising, while purchases of foreign chips have dropped.
China Gains Competitive Edge in Sodium-Ion EVs
On 5 January Anhui Jianghua Automobile (JAC) began deliveries of its Yiwei electric vehicle, which it claims is the world’s first mass-produced car powered by a sodium-ion battery.
US Seeks To Deter Use of Chinese EV Batteries
Beijing has criticized as “protectionist” the December 2023 US decision to deny tax credits to electric vehicles equipped with battery minerals or components originating from “Foreign Entities of Concern”; designated countries are China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
President Biden’s historic Hanoi visit strengthens US-Vietnam relations
The United States continued its continued diplomacy around global geopolitics when President Biden visited Hanoi, Vietnam on 10 September to meet General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.
Japan follows the US and the Netherlands in restricting the export of chip-making equipment
After months of pressure from Washington, Japan has joined the US and the Netherlands in restriction the export of advanced chip-making equipment, as the technology race with China ramps up.
Growing calls for a Free Trade Agreement between the US and Taiwan
Taiwan is pushing for deeper institutionalized trade ties with the United States, as Taipei diversifies its trade ties beyond the mainland. At the same time, Washington’s economic policy toward Taiwan is changing as China’s growing military and political assertiveness continues to exacerbate the region’s risk environment.
Risk to civilian ships and aircraft in the South China Sea
In recent years, China has militarized several disputed islands in the South China Sea. As an essential artery for world trade, it poses an economic and political security threat to the world. Increasing skirmishes between China, the US, Australia, and other countries, is also increasing the risk of incidents involving civilian shipping and aircraft.