TMTPOST -- Tencent Holdings Ltd. has started marketing its first bond issuance in four years, joining a surge of borrowing by Chinese tech companies as global competition in artificial intelligence accelerates. The company plans to issue offshore yuan-denominated notes with maturities of five, ten, and thirty years. Initial price guidance for the bonds is around 2.6%, 3%, and 3.6%, respectively, according to a person familiar with the matter. The deal could be priced as early as Tuesday. This move reflects Tencent’s efforts to strengthen its financial flexibility as it invests in AI and other high-growth technology areas, following a broader trend of Chinese tech firms tapping debt markets amid rising industry competition.