1. TikTok faces a looming ban in the US on January 19, 2025, unless it is sold to a US buyer or granted a reprieve; 2. The US government views TikTok as a national security risk due to its Chinese ownership, despite ByteDance's denials; 3. Efforts to delay the ban through legal challenges or legislative action have so far been unsuccessful, and potential buyers face significant hurdles.

➀ The number of China's unicorns has dropped from 192 in 2021 to 106 in 2023. ➁ The decline is attributed to US restrictions on funding for startups in China. ➂ US dollar funds accounted for a smaller percentage of fundraising deals in 2023 compared to previous years.

➀ The US Department of Commerce plans to add 39 Chinese entities to the Entity List, accusing them of supplying components to Russian entities under sanction. ➁ Simultaneously, the US Treasury and State Department have added 42 Chinese entities to the SDN List under Russian sanctions. ➂ Both actions are based on allegations of violating US export regulations and threatening national security and foreign policy interests.

➀ Advanced IC packaging is emerging as a critical area of competition in the semiconductor industry, particularly in the context of US-China technological rivalry. ➁ China has a significant presence and advanced technology in 'back-end' assembly, packaging, and test (APT), making it less susceptible to US sanctions compared to 'front-end' wafer fabrication. ➂ TSMC is expanding its CoWoS packaging capacity to address supply constraints for leading AI processors, while Huawei leverages its own packaging technology to outperform restricted Nvidia chips. ➃ The shift towards Chinese-designed and manufactured ICs is accelerating due to US sanctions and the perceived risk of relying on US-designed chips. ➄ Both the US and China are investing heavily in advanced IC packaging and chiplet technology to gain a competitive edge and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.

➀ Despite US sanctions, Chinese semiconductor companies have reported significant revenue growth, with 40 out of 68 companies seeing revenue increases of over 50% in the first half of the year. ➁ The semiconductor sector has benefited from a rebound in the global consumer electronics market, with China playing a crucial role in the industry's recovery. ➂ China's semiconductor industry has expanded its production capacity, particularly in mature processes, leading to a surge in exports to Southeast Asian markets. ➃ The industry is expected to maintain an upward trend through 2025, driven by technological innovation, market demand rebound, and policy support.

➀ Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. (AMEC) has sued the US Department of Defense for listing it as a Chinese military company. ➁ California Senator Alex Padilla warns the Biden administration against unilateral export controls that could harm US semiconductor competitiveness. ➂ AMEC's CEO, Dr. Gwo-Ing Lih, is a leading figure in the semiconductor industry with significant contributions to etching technology.