India, Sept. 29 -- Two developments in Asia have recently put Elon Musk's technology ventures in an unusual spotlight. China has approved a string of brain-computer interface (BCI) devices as its firms seek to establish themselves in a field closely associated with Musk's Neuralink. In Japan, telecom operator Rakuten Mobile is preparing to launch satellite-to-cell services with US-based AST SpaceMobile, providing an alternative to Musk's Starlink in satellite-based mobile connectivity.

At first sight, brain chips and satellite communications have little in common. Nor are China and Japan pursuing the same strategy. China's push into BCIs is about building indigenous capability and securing an early position in a technology whose commerci...