One year after CSET first published an analysis of China’s progress in the global semiconductor manufacturing equipment market, we provide a new analysis based on updated 2025 data. We find that Chinese toolmakers continue to steadily gain market share in fabrication tools, particularly in ion implanters, deposition, and etch and clean tools. Lithography remains one of China’s weakest fabrication segments. At the same time, China lost some market share in all major assembly, test, and packaging tool categories.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick spoke with Sky News about China’s growing investment in humanoid robots and what it could mean for the future of warfare. The conversation explored China’s manufacturing advantage, its use of robotics to signal military strength, and whether humanoid robots could appear on the battlefield within the next five to ten years.

CSET’s Kathleen Curlee shared her expert insight in an article published by The New York Times. The article examines how Chinese aerospace companies are making progress toward reusable rockets, potentially lowering launch costs and helping China compete with U.S. companies like SpaceX in the global space market.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick shared his expert insight in an article published by Reuters. The article examines how President Trump’s crypto-backed World Liberty Financial is collaborating with WorldClaw, an AI platform offering models from Chinese companies that the U.S. government has flagged for national security and intellectual property concerns

CSET’s Sam Bresnick shared his expert insight in an op-ed published by Barron’s. In his piece, he examines how the Trump administration’s AI strategy could affect U.S. competitiveness with China, particularly as the administration seeks to promote AI and semiconductor exports while addressing national security concerns.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick shared his expert insight in an article published by Fortune. The article examines how uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s AI governance, combined with the lower cost and flexibility of Chinese AI models, is influencing businesses’ decisions and raising concerns about U.S. competitiveness and national security.

This piece offers a two-pronged framework for assessing sovereign AI based on why states pursue it and how they do so. Five country case studies trace the distinct pathways the United States, China, France, India, and Singapore have each taken toward sovereign AI.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick and Fanny Chao shared their expert analysis in an op-ed published by War on the Rocks. The article examines Taiwan’s challenges in adopting artificial intelligence for military applications, highlighting how the gap between Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor industry and its limited military AI readiness could affect its ability to deter Chinese aggression and future collaboration with partners.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick shared his expert insight in an article published by The Wire China. The article examines how Nvidia’s network of partners in China has supplied organizations linked to China’s military and other U.S.-restricted entities, highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcing export controls on advanced AI technology.

CSET’s Sam Bresnick shared his expert insight in an article published by The Washington Post. The article explores how rapidly advancing Chinese AI models are narrowing the gap with leading U.S. models, creating new challenges for the Trump administration as it seeks to balance technological leadership, innovation, and security.