There is definitely strategy and direction coming from the top. CEOs have been summoned for conversations. There are new rules like no Ai lovers that certainly show they are thinking about things.

The AI CTO from The Linux Foundation, Matt White, spoke about his recent trip to talk to the Chinese Ai labs ~month ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHi0jy4MK4c

https://www.economist.com/china/2026/07/16/china-wants-to-en...