Innovation reshapes China's digital landscape

Nation defining global tech surge on own terms; now 'originator', not just mere 'follower'

As China recently rang in the Year of the Snake, three unexpected stars dominated the headlines both at home and abroad.

These were — the meteoric rise of Chinese AI model DeepSeek, which is poised to challenge Silicon Valley's dominance; 16 humanoid robots performing the traditional yangge dance at the country's most-watched TV event, and the record-breaking box-office performance of Ne Zha 2, a film powered by cutting-edge animation technology.

While each of these represents a different facet of China's technological rise, their popularity underscores how innovation, ambition and resilience are reshaping China's tech landscape amid rising political suppression from Western countries.