China approves string of ‘telepathy’ devices amid push to leapfrog Elon Musk

China’s health regulators have granted approvals for a string of brain-technology products this year, as domestic start-ups push to transform the treatment of conditions ranging from paraplegia to Alzheimer’s and depression.The approvals come as Beijing bids to lead the world in brain-computer interfaces – devices that allow patients to control digital devices using thought alone – offering generous policy support to help Chinese firms compete with overseas players such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink.The sector in China has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with local governments across the country offering financing support and private investment surging as investors eye a spiralling need for novel health tech solutions in an era of rapid population ageing.