This source, a newsletter titled "You Didn't Know! Keywords for Deeply Understanding Chinese IT," introduces the term BAT, representing China's major tech companies: Baidu (search), Alibaba (e-commerce), and Tencent (social media). It explains that BAT's significance isn't solely based on size, but on their control and distribution of internet traffic and their strategic investments that categorize many other tech companies as belonging to one of the three. The text illustrates this dynamic by detailing how Alibaba defended its e-commerce traffic from attempts by Tencent and Baidu to enter the space, highlighting the "Three Kingdoms" like power balance and competition in the Chinese internet landscape, though noting this structure is evolving.

This source, a newsletter by IT journalist Takemaki Makino, examines the rise of social commerce, specifically in China. It discusses how platforms like Pinduoduo and Yunji, which combine social interaction with online shopping, have achieved significant success and even listed on the U.S. Nasdaq exchange. The newsletter contrasts this model with traditional B2C e-commerce and explores whether social commerce is a uniquely Chinese phenomenon stemming from practices like "weishang" (micro-businesses), or a potential future trend for e-commerce globally. Ultimately, it invites the reader to consider the implications of this evolving retail landscape, particularly for countries like Japan.

This source, "Knowing More! Keywords for Deeply Understanding China's IT vol. 031" by Takemori Makino, examines the current state of autonomous driving in China. It highlights various implementations already underway, such as robotaxis, automated delivery vehicles, and self-driving buses operating in specific areas. The text emphasizes that China is moving beyond the testing phase and entering a practical deployment stage, driven by competition among cities and significant investment from companies like Baidu and Didi Chuxing. The author also touches on the regulatory changes that have facilitated this progress and the challenges still facing full autonomous driving, particularly in navigating unpredictable real-world scenarios and achieving widespread driverless operation.