HOT TOPICS
Tech giants raise AI model prices amid compute shortage
Facing a severe global computing power shortage, Alibaba Cloud issued three price hike announcements in four days for multiple products. This follows recent price hikes for large language models by leading Chinese tech firms, including Tencent and Baidu.
Kweichow Moutai reports first annual declines in over 20 years
Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. reported its first year-on-year declines in revenue and net profit since going public, signaling a deep adjustment in the liquor industry. Its 2025 annual report showed revenue fell 1.2% and net profit dropped 4.5%.
CATL market cap tops 2 trillion yuan
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) saw its A-share market capitalization cross the 2-trillion-yuan mark for the first time, reaching 2.07 trillion yuan by Thursday’s close. A day earlier, the battery giant reported a 52.5% year-on-year surge in revenue for the first quarter, alongside a 48.5% jump in net profit.
China advises citizens to avoid entering U.S. via Seattle
About 20 Chinese scholars holding valid visas were recently subjected to unreasonable interrogations and denied entry at a U.S. airport while traveling for academic conferences. The Chinese foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. reminded travelers to avoid entering through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport if possible, understand entry regulations in advance, and remain calm if interrogated.
U.S. launches ‘Economic Fury’ against Iran
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the U.S. military is ready to restart combat operations at any time if Iran makes the wrong choice and refuses to reach an agreement. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department is launching “Economic Fury,” mobilizing the government to apply maximum economic pressure on Iran, a move Tehran condemned as economic terrorism.
NEWS SUMMARY
AI token usage in China averaged more than 140 trillion tokens per day, up more than 40% from the end of last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
China’s top state-owned assets watchdog pledged to accelerate the development of internationally competitive low-altitude industry clusters.
The U.S.-Iran conflict has shifted global oil trade flows, pushing U.S. oil exports to a weekly record high.
Contact editor Lin Jinbing (jinbinglin@caixin.com)
