Iran’s decapitation after a massive U.S.–Israel strike is sending shockwaves far beyond the Middle East — all the way to Zhongnanhai. With President Trump’s visit to Beijing just weeks away, the timing has major strategic implications. From China’s oil dependence on Iran to broader geopolitical alignments with Russia, Tehran’s crisis could reshape U.S.–China calculations. Is this just a regional conflict or a warning to authoritarian powers? We break down the strategic, economic, and psychological impact of Iran’s decapitation on global dynamics.

Source: Iran’s Decapitation Sends Shockwaves to Zhongnanhai

Source: Xiaomi and Huawei EV Fakes Shock the World! 4264 KM in 24 Hours, Car Burns 270 Seconds, No Damage

Rumors exploded across Chinese social media claiming that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli had died in detention. Beijing quickly pushed back — but the signals didn’t stop there. A nationwide “Delta Action” ad featuring decapitation imagery flooded major cities. Then Xinhua aired a carefully staged “bite the bun” video that many netizens read as dark political satire aimed at Xi Jinping. Coincidence? Or coded messaging in the middle of a high-level power struggle? In this episode, we break down the execution rumors, the symbolism, and the growing information war shaping China’s political atmosphere.

Source: From Execution Rumors to Decapitation Humor: Beijing’s Information War

00:00 Introduction 00:14 US-China Relations: Strategic Rivalry and Political Uncertainty 07:49 Military Purges: New Report 11:05 Chinese Economy: Consumption Debate

Source: China’s Military Purges: Shocking New Details Emerge | US – China Relations | China’s Economy

Americans lose an estimated $10 billion a year to Chinese crypto fraud schemes. U.S. authorities say they are working to seize and return stolen funds linked to scams run by transnational criminal organizations tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Three Chinese scientists are now off the hook after authorities in Beijing intervened in an alleged biological smuggling case in the United States.

Source: Americans Lose Billions to Chinese Crypto Scams | China in Focus

Four weeks after Xi Jinping moved against his two most powerful generals, Beijing remains locked in a dangerous stalemate. No official charges. No confirmed detention site. Not even confirmation of whether Zhang Youxia is still alive. As rumors swirl and red aristocratic families demand answers, the CCP’s silence itself has become the crisis. This episode breaks down why Xi’s camp can’t “produce” Zhang Youxia, how using public security to seize military leaders humiliates the PLA, and why elites are starting to build their own protection networks—an early warning sign of systemic breakdown inside the regime.

Source: Four Weeks After Xi’s Purge: Where Is Zhang Youxia?

For the first time, a local company is laying an undersea cable connecting Taiwan’s main island to the outlying Matsu islands. The project comes after the Matsu cables were severed over 20 times in the past five years, most notably in 2023 when Chinese ships cut both lines, leaving 13,000 residents without internet for 50 days.

Source: Taiwanese Firm Lays Undersea Cable for First Time Amid Frequent Cuts｜TaiwanPlus News

Japan says it plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island by 2030, just 110 kilometers from Taiwan. TaiwanPlus spoke to Professor Tsai Hsi-hsun from Tamkang University for more on what this could mean moving forward.

Source: Analysis: Japan To Deploy Missiles on Nearest Island to Taiwan by 2030｜TaiwanPlus News

Source: Finding Rare Earths in Japanese Mud | | Peter Zeihan

Peru’s president Jose Jeri has been ousted over a growing Chinese scandal. And with the Chinese fishing fleet massing around Peru’s waters, the question is becoming—has China already invaded?

Source: China Invaded. And A President Falls

Four weeks after Xi Jinping moved against his two most powerful generals, Beijing remains locked in a dangerous stalemate. No official charges. No confirmed detention site. Not even confirmation of whether Zhang Youxia is still alive. As rumors swirl and red aristocratic families demand answers, the CCP’s silence itself has become the crisis. This episode breaks down why Xi’s camp can’t “produce” Zhang Youxia, how using public security to seize military leaders humiliates the PLA, and why elites are starting to build their own protection networks—an early warning sign of systemic breakdown inside the regime.

Source: Four Weeks After Xi’s Purge: Where Is Zhang Youxia?

With the Fujian ship (Type 003) joining the fleet and undergoing intensive sea trials, both official media and online communities have entered an unprecedented “Three Aircraft Carrier Era” frenzy. In carefully edited promotional videos, set to dramatic music and slow-motion shots, and with overwhelming praise proclaiming “far ahead,” an inflated strategic illusion is spreading: it seems that as long as these three steel giants line up in the Western Pacific, America’s half-century of naval dominance will instantly vanish.

Source: China’s 3 Carriers Combined Can’t Beat U.S. Nimitz—Only 60 Sorties vs. Nimitz’s 240

In China, new players in energy storage, virtual power plants and smart microgrids are helping develop and expand the country’s new energy market. Officials from China Southern Power Grid say the total access capacity connected to virtual power plants exceed 14 million kilowatts.

Source: China is powering its AI era with new energy storage and smart microgrids

Source: China’s AI Slop is Hilarious!

Should Taiwan seek to join a mutual defense alliance with neighboring nations? How might Taipei fulfill such a role, while avoiding a direct provocation of Beijing? Watch our discussion and share your thoughts below.

Source: Should a Hypothetical ‘Asian NATO’ Include Taiwan? | Taiwan Talks

00:00 Intro 00:46 Unpacking China’s Mineral War, Global Response: Expert 01:25 Significance Of Rare Earth Minerals 03:53 Alliance Secures Rare Earth Supply Chains 05:49 How Did China Become The Dominant Player? 09:45 Why Beijing Fixates On Rare Earth Metals 10:30 Green Tech Boom Hinges On Mineral Supply 12:08 Global Security And Competition For Critical Minerals 12:34 Mining Is Ugly, But The West Needs It 14:49 Clean Tech Isn’t Really Clean 16:19 Critical Minerals To Shape The Next War 17:59 To Cut Reliance On China, Follow The Money 19:25 Japan Turns To Deep Sea Mining For Minerals

Source: Unpacking China’s Mineral War, Global Response | China in Focus

At a global disarmament conference in Geneva, the United States accused China of secretly conducting low-yield nuclear tests in 2020 — an allegation Beijing strongly denies. The claim comes at a pivotal moment, as the New START treaty between the US and Russia has expired and Washington pushes for a new trilateral arms control framework that China refuses to join. Are we entering a post–arms control era marked by renewed nuclear testing and unconstrained warhead deployments? In this episode, we examine the credibility of the US allegations, China’s strategic calculus, the collapse of traditional arms control regimes, and what a potential three-way nuclear competition could mean for the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan. *Recorded on February 12, 2026 at 3:15pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Chinyeh Chiang Our guests: Kitsch Liao Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub Associate Director K. Tristan Tang Pacific Forum Non-Resident Vasey Fellow Chapters: 00:00:00 – Talks Falter as US-Russia Treaty Expires 00:01:40 – US Accuses China of Secret Nuke Tests 00:09:00 – New START Treaty Lapses 00:14:00 – US Calls for Treaty With Russia, China

Source: Nuclear Deadlock: US Alleges Secret China Tests as New START Treaty Expires | Taiwan Talks EP780

China’s global image of strength—built on growth, infrastructure, and military spectacle—masks a system shaped by state control, distorted data, and strategic propaganda, raising urgent questions about how democracies should assess Beijing’s real power to avoid costly strategic miscalculation.

Source: China: Empire of Illusion | Frank Dikötter

China—along with other countries around the globe—is facing a new 15 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States. That’s on top of industrial tariffs President Donald Trump imposed last year. Trump says China will benefit if the Supreme Court rules against his birthright citizenship order. The court is set to consider the issue in April. Fake news sites tied to the Chinese Communist Party are the subject of a new report, which says a China-linked network is impersonating major U.S. media outlets. It’s targeting a New York performing arts company founded by victims of persecution under communism. An event in Nashville highlights the challenges Christian communities are facing worldwide and how believers are responding. Sam Brownback, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, said: “China’s at war with God. They will not win this war, but they could cause a lot of death and carnage 00:00 Intro 01:09 How Trump’s 15% global tariff will impact chinese goods 04:03 Trump: Any Change to Birthright Rule Could Help China 04:51 Report: CCP-Linked Fake Sites Mimic Major Media Outlets 07:40 Faith Groups Highlight Work Against Religious Persecution 10:24 India Joins Pax Silica to Challenge China’s Technology Sector 12:15 Trump Raises Global Tariffs From 10 Percent to 15 Percent | Analysis 🔵Tiffany Meier’s documentary Hollywood Takeover – how Beijing is rewriting the script in America’s film industry: hollywoodtakeover.com

Source: How Trump’s New 15% Global Tariff Impacts Chinese Goods | China in Focus

China Update provides the most up to date political, economic, and geopolitical news and analysis on China. Videos are based on hundreds of articles, think tank reports, government statements and other resources in English and Chinese. China Update is fully independent and I make the videos. X (Formerly Twitter): / tonychinaupdate Channel email: [email protected] 00:00 Introduction 00:17 US-China: Trump Visit & Taiwan Trade 04:32 China Investors Embrace AI Rally 07:21 China’s Auto Sector Slump

Source: 44% Crash: Taiwan Just Surpassed China | US – China Trade | China’s Economy | AI Trade

This video exposes the hidden wealth empire of Xi Jinping’s family, shattering the official narrative of clean leadership. Despite claims since 2012 that relatives exited business, evidence shows no real severance—instead, assets moved into shadowy proxies and shell companies. Xi’s sister Qi Qiaoqiao quietly dominates lucrative sectors: Venezuelan oil deals netting billions annually via special quotas, rare earth monopolies in Jiangxi, concrete supply in Shenzhen-Guangzhou, and deep ties to China Ping An Insurance. Estimated family-controlled assets exceed 20 trillion RMB (~$3 trillion USD). The script details money-laundering via white glove Chen Zhi, whose 127,271 Bitcoin ($15 billion) and London properties were seized by US-UK authorities in 2026. His repatriation to China is portrayed as silencing to protect the family. Ultimately, the decade of “anti-corruption” is framed as a brutal wealth centralization, turning national resources into one family’s private fortune—while ordinary people pay the price.

Source: (4206) 20 Trillion RMB in the Shadows – The Xi Family Wealth Map Exposed | Digging into China

Since Xi Jinping’s arrest of Zhang Youxia, the second-highest-ranking military official, and General Liu Zhenli, the military has been in turmoil. A video uploaded by X users claims that an explosion occurred at a Chinese military facility in Zibo, Shandong on February 21. This incident is reportedly connected to dissatisfaction with Xi within the military.

Source: (4206) Breaking! Explosion Rocks PLA Shandong Base, Zhang Youxia’s Son Claims Father Was Killed

China has amassed vast “floating barriers” – stretching at least 200 miles – mobilising thousands of fishing vessels in a new threat to Taiwan.An animation created using ship-tracking data shows around 1,400 boats gathering in the East China Sea, in two recent operations that went largely undetected until now.Maritime analysts have warned that “a formation of this size and discipline has never been seen before.”The boats are seen forming wall-like parallel or L-shaped lines so dense, that some approaching cargo ships appeared to skirt around them or had to zigzag through.Such formations serve as a display of maritime coordination or a potential “gray-zone” blockade, known to be part of China’s harassment playbook at sea.

The Fujian aircraft carrier has officially joined the fleet. Since crossing the Taiwan Strait in December 2025, it has resumed its maritime training exercises. Expectations are high for its performance in this new round of training, with hopes of uncovering fresh highlights.Chinese military experts are also paying close attention. After carefully analyzing the latest official video, the results may disappoint some. They found that Fujian’s performance in this exercise showed no new breakthroughs and, in fact, highlighted some ongoing issues, with a few even becoming more evident.

Taiwan’s Cabinet says it will continue safeguarding the country’s industries and maintaining steady economic development as US tariff policy shifts. US President Donald Trump on Friday imposed a sweeping 10% global tariff to replace measures struck down by a US Supreme Court ruling, while the White House signaled some tariffs would be ended. 📹 Reporter(s): TaiwanPlus#TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews-

After the downfall of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, Xi Jinping hasn’t left Beijing for three months — breaking his New Year tradition of visiting frontline troops. Instead, he inspected the PLA by video from a heavily guarded hall, surrounded by only two senior figures. The empty optics and strange seating hinted at fear at the top. Then came a shock: the high-profile return of a once “politically radioactive” military seductress on CCTV platforms. This episode unpacks the body language, the staged visuals, and why her comeback sends a message Xi can’t ignore.

A Chinese company has been forced to sell land near a U.S. military site—a win for Utah’s government.Marrying U.S. military members to gain base access appears to be another Beijing-linked scheme. Lawsuits and arrests are underway.The CIA takes action: A Mandarin recruiting video targets Chinese officers after a rare military purge sparks backlash. The video says, “Anyone with leadership qualities is bound to be subject to suspicion and ruthlessly eliminated.”The United States and Taiwan have struck a trade deal—bolstering the island nation’s defense against Beijing’s threats.Japan seizes a Chinese fishing boat and arrests its captain, and China protests.China is also helping Russia sidestep U.S. sanctions, with tens of thousands of cars exported through China.00:00 Intro01:01 Utah forces Chinese Company to sell land01:44 Phony marriages for U.S. military base access04:02 CIA video recruiting Chinese officers as spies05:49 U.S. warns on China’s deals in Venezuela07:39 A declining China‑Venezuela relationship08:26 U.S.‑Taiwan reach reciprocal trade deal10:35 New NATO Arctic mission to defend against Russia, China11:07 Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat, arrests skipper11:41 2 Chinese nat’ls charged with spying on Buddhist group12:52 Foreign cars flow into Russia via China14:41 China deal offers zero tariffs to S. African exports15:12 Lessons from China’s Cultural Revolution: Xi van Fleet

China’s annual “Two Sessions” are set to open in early March, offering a critical glimpse into Beijing’s political priorities, economic direction and approach to Taiwan. This year’s meetings unfold amid exceptional uncertainty, following the dramatic purge of senior PLA leaders including Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, raising questions about civil–military relations and internal stability. At the same time, China is entering its 15th Five-Year Plan period, with growth targets, defense spending, and industrial policy under intense scrutiny. How will Beijing balance political control, economic strain, and mounting external pressure from Washington? In this episode, we preview the Two Sessions, examine key political and economic signals to watch, and assess what shifts in rhetoric may reveal about China’s intentions toward Taiwan and the evolving US–China relationship. *Recorded on February 6, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti SungProducer: Chinyeh Chiang Our guests: Titus Chen National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations Research Professor and Deputy DirectorWei-Feng Tzeng National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations Associate Research Fellow Chapters:00:00:00 – China Launches New 5-Year Plan amid Purges00:02:36 – China Loses Military Expertise in Latest Purges00:11:34 – Beijing’s Five-Year Plan Clings to 5% GDP Goal00:21:42 – Xi and Trump Discuss Taiwan on Phone Call#GovernmentWorkReport #EconomicGrothTarget #DefenseBudget #TaiwanPolicy #PLA #XiJinping #ZhangYouxia #LiuZhenli #JiangBin #ZhouXinmin #LuoQi #LiuCangli #ZhouChen #CentralMilitaryCommission #CMC #MilitaryPurge #ChinaPurge #PoliticalLoyalty #ChinaMilitary #CentralMilitaryCommission #RocketForce #AntiCorruption #TigersAndFlies #MilitaryModernization #ChinaDefense #DefenseBudget #ChinaEconomy #15thFiveYearPlan #5YearPlan #GDPGrowthTarget #5% #5Percent #ChinaDream #NewQualityProductiveForces #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIPlus #IoT #InternetofThings #HighTechIndustry #DomesticConsumption #RuralMarket #ChinaGrowth #NumberOneDocument #Agriculture #TaiwanStrait #TaiwanIssues #TaiwanAffairs #CrossStraitRelations #USChinaRelations #XiTrumpSummit #ArmSales #Geopolitics #ChinaForeignPolicy #InternationalAffairs #GlobalSecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #EVs #ElectricVehicles #Robotics #InternetOfThings #AerospaceChina #DefenseBudget #ChinaDream #EconomicMobilization #Technocrats #CentennialGoal #NDRC #NationalDevelopmentandReformCommission #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks

Recently, a peculiar trend has swept across the Chinese internet—an unusual fascination with “tearing paper.” However, this isn’t paper being torn, but a material known as “hand-teared steel.”According to Chinese state media, this 0.015-millimeter-thick steel is a “national powerhouse” that has “broken the Western monopoly,” representing the “pinnacle of industry.” On platforms like Douyin and Weibo, countless Chinese nationalists have expressed their heartfelt sentiments, as if tearing this steel somehow pierced the technological barrier imposed by the West.

While the headlines claim victory, China’s economy is quietly breaking. Official data shows Beijing met its 5% GDP growth target for 2025, but a closer look at the numbers reveals a system stabilizing under massive strain. In this video, we uncover the truth behind the Chinese property market crash, where new home prices are plummeting and state-owned firms are buying foreclosed assets at nearly half price.We break down why China’s manufacturing sector is hovering near contraction despite trillions in liquidity injections from the People’s Bank of China. The data exposes a terrifying reality: a deflationary spiral where producer prices are falling, consumer demand is weak, and businesses are refusing to borrow money. Is this the start of a financial crisis that could drag down the global economy?From the hidden youth unemployment numbers to the stalling belt and road momentum, we analyze why the world’s second-largest economy isn’t accelerating—it’s stalling. Watch to understand how this “silent slowdown” will impact global trade, commodity prices, and your portfolio in 2026.#ChinaEconomy #Geopolitics #Recession

A spectacular show at the Spring Festival Gala sub-venue in Yibin, China’s Sichuan, showcased China’s domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicles in their first clustered public appearance on the gala stage.

Japan’s recent election delivered a landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party, securing 316 seats in the lower house—the strongest ruling-party performance since World War II. This gives Takaichi unprecedented power to advance policies once championed by her mentor Shinzo Abe: raising defense spending to 2% of GDP, introducing nuclear-powered submarines, and ultimately amending the constitution to normalize Japan’s military as a full National Defense Force.Far from reviving militarism, these moves stem from deep alarm over China’s rise and military expansion. Takaichi is accelerating Abe’s strategy of building a values-based alliance—especially with the United States—to counter the CCP threat, with clearer commitments to Taiwan’s defense likely ahead. As Cold War 2.0 takes shape, Japan is welding itself firmly to the American camp, setting the stage for sharper Sino-Japanese confrontation in the years to come.