Part 14/15:
China’s current approach to the AI race exemplifies a nuanced blend of industrial policy, energy leverage, and protectionism. By subsidizing domestic chips, restricting foreign hardware, and building massive digital infrastructure, Beijing is channeling its energy advantage into technological independence and industrial resilience. The US and its allies remain dominant in several areas, but Beijing’s efforts suggest a determination to challenge that dominance, focusing on strategic self-reliance rather than immediate technological parity.