Electricity is the "currency" of AI - Why China is accelerating with energy and infrastructure: The "Chinese-style AI national project" combining electricity, networks, and chips

China's acceleration in AI is supported not only by chips and models but also by a national-level infrastructure strategy that integrates power, communications, and data centers. A prime example is "Eastern Data, Western Computing." This system consolidates large-scale data centers in the western regions, close to renewable energy sources and surplus power, and transfers "computing power" to demand areas in the east via ultra-high-speed lines. The government encourages decarbonization through energy-saving targets like PUE<1.5 and a renewable energy tracking system (GEC), while addressing low utilization issues from overconstruction by redistributing through a nationwide computing power trading network. Massive projects like the "Data Island" in Wuhu are seen as attempts to counter U.S.-led large-scale AI, but they face challenges such as shortages of cutting-edge GPUs, latency in remote areas, and integration of heterogeneous chips. On social media, opinions are divided between support for "computing power equals national power" and concerns over farmland conversion and high power consumption.