China is becoming a major force in global drug innovation. In the first half of 2026, Chinese companies secured eight of the world's ten largest pharmaceutical out-licensing deals, worth a record $110 billion. It is happening despite growing US scrutiny over Chinese clinical data. 

Why is global drugmakers betting big on China? And where do cutting-edge AI and traditional medicine fit into the global race to treat disease? CGTN's Huang Fei explains.