Lenovo Confirms Chinese SSD Was Used Only in Non‑U.S. Market Laptops

ASIA IN BRIEF Lenovo has clarified that it does not sell laptops containing Chinese solid‑state drives in markets where such components are restricted.

Notebookcheck recently reviewed a ThinkBook 14 G9 IPL and discovered an YMTC‑made SSD inside. Some analysts linked the finding to a U.S. national‑security ban on the Chinese firm, imposed under the Biden administration, suggesting potential compliance issues for Lenovo.

Lenovo investigated the matter and determined that the laptop was intended for the German market, not for sale in the United States. Because Notebookcheck is based in Romania and its review team operates from Austria, the machine’s movement across EU borders does not constitute a regulatory breach.

Lenovo’s decision to use a Chinese SSD is noteworthy for two reasons.

First, Beijing promotes domestic sourcing among Chinese enterprises, encouraging them to purchase components from local manufacturers.

Second, the artificial‑intelligence surge has driven up prices for memory and storage, positioning YMTC as a key alternative to industry leaders Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix. Apple has urged the Trump administration to reconsider the U.S. ban on YMTC to secure the parts needed for its product line.

China recovers a rocket for the first time

China’s National Space Agency (CNSA) successfully recovered the first stage of a Long March‑10B carrier rocket on Friday, using a ship‑borne net to catch the stage after it detached following a satellite launch. This marks the first time China has achieved such a recovery, mirroring SpaceX’s reusable‑rocket program and offering potential cost savings for future missions.

Japan also demonstrated reusable‑rocket technology on Saturday, launching a small rocket that ascended to an altitude of 11 meters, hovered briefly and safely returned to the ground.

CNSA additionally reported that its Tianwen‑2 probe rendezvoused with asteroid 2016 HO₃, approaching within 20 kilometers to begin a sample‑return mission aimed at bringing material back to Earth.

Australia signals strong AI regulation – including copyright protection

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to outline a revised artificial‑intelligence policy this week, emphasizing robust regulation that includes copyright safeguards. The announcement follows comments by Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton, who warned that AI’s “social licence is precarious” and stressed the need to keep technology aligned with human values. Albanese has also highlighted the importance of public trust in AI development, while concerns remain over proposed amendments that would grant AI firms broad access to copyrighted content for model training. Music artist Holly Rankin has assured radio listeners that such changes are not part of the government’s current AI agenda, setting up a potential clash with major technology companies.

A datacenter for Bhutan, serving India, via Canada

The AI data‑center boom has arrived in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Canadian developer Sato plans to build a facility in Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a district bordering India, powered entirely by the nation’s abundant hydroelectric resources. The local authority operating GMC will allocate up to 100 MW of firm power to the project, with the option to expand to 500 MW in the future. The datacenter is designed to provide low‑latency AI computing for Indian clients, a market with strong demand for AI services but limited local power infrastructure. Sato says the initiative will help address India’s data‑center shortfall while delivering renewable‑energy‑based computing capacity.

APNIC to Malaysia: Your own NIR would change nothing

The Asia‑Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC) has submitted a detailed response [PDF] to Malaysia’s consultation on establishing a national internet registry (NIR), concluding that such a move would be largely ineffective. APNIC argues that cybersecurity, IPv6 adoption, cost management and local support are not dependent on a Malaysian NIR, and that the registry would not increase IPv4 address availability, alter IPv6 allocation criteria, or provide preferential access to Malaysian entities. The organization states its goal is not to oppose the NIR but to help Malaysian regulators set realistic expectations for its impact.

Crims targeting Chinese VPN users

Security firm Threatlocker identified malicious software masquerading as an installer for the Kuailian VPN (also known as LetsVPN), a tool popular among Chinese internet users seeking to bypass the Great Firewall. The malware drops and executes an encrypted remote‑access Trojan, giving attackers full control over the compromised device and its data. Separately, China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Center (CVERC) reported a new Android education‑app‑styled Trojan that can intercept text messages, steal contacts and passwords, activate cameras, record the screen and capture ambient audio. The malicious links are distributed via text messages and social‑media platforms.

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