Month: February 2025

The U.S., China and Russia are taking part in Indonesian military drills that are non-combative and serve to boost humanitarian response cooperation.

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.

Representatives from the Philippines and China quarreled Sunday over the South China Sea during a roundtable discussion at the 61st Munich Security Conference. Speaking at the “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific” roundtable, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo asserted the Philippines remains steadfast in defending the rules-based international order and the rule of law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Former Chinese vice-foreign minister Fu Ying, U.S. Senator Christopher Coons, Singapore Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen completed the panel.

The Cessna Caravan turbo-prop plane of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, defied the Chinese navy’s order for it to leave and continued its routine patrol over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines. The plane was carrying an Associated Press journalist and other invited foreign media representatives, who witnessed the tense 30-minute standoff.

Taiwan is seeking to acquire a massive new weapons package from the U.S. worth US$10 billion to boost its military capabilities and show the new Trump administration its commitment to self-defense. Taiwan’s legislature fails to reach a consensus at a tense meeting to clarify parts of its controversial new central budget before passing it on to the Cabinet for approval. And European leaders meet in Paris for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine after being excluded from talks between the U.S. and Russia. Plus: Authorities investigate the crash of a Delta Air Lines flight that flipped over when landing at a Toronto airport, injuring at least 18. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with tech industry leaders, signaling a possible end to its crackdown on tech companies. A deadly explosion at a Taichung department store may have been caused by illegal renovation work, and investigations into the blast continue.

As Donald Trump’s first weeks in office steal international headlines, is China quietly making diplomatic gains in Asia amid the region’s uncertainty about the return of a transactional US president? In his summit with the new Thai leader, Xi Jinping was reported by China’s CCTV as saying China and Thailand should deepen trust in each other to counter growing global uncertainties. Meanwhile Brunei and China agreed that the world has entered “a new period of uncertainty and transformation” as they announced oil and gas joint development in “mutually agreed areas” of the South China Sea.

This is absolutely crazy. Right now, there might not be any other asset in the world that’s being snapped up like gold—by central banks, global investors, businesses, and regular people all at the same time. And the key here is, they’re all going after physical gold. This could be the biggest scramble for real gold we’ve ever seen. And with this frenzy, global gold prices just keep climbing, hitting new record highs almost every day.

The Chinese state news outlet Global Times has described the new “Sichuan” Amphibious Ship as a “Light Aircraft Carrier.” What are its practical military implications? Or is it only for China to show it is a great power on the rise? Watch the analysis from our guests, Yen Tieh-Lin and Chenlung Kuo.

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.

The opposition Kuomintang says it wants to extend the use of nuclear power in Taiwan, citing results from a think tank survey that found nearly three quarters of respondents are in favor of doing so.

Taiwan’s coast guard drove away four Chinese coast guard vessels that entered restricted waters near the Kinmen islands on Friday, marking the 57th such encroachment in the past year. The incident came exactly one year after two Chinese seafarers died when their boat capsized while being pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard, sparking a months-long diplomatic row between Taipei and Beijing.

Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. from March 12. Are allies like Canada, South Korea, Japan and the EU his targets, or does Washington have a very different target in mind? Our guests: Alexander Huang Council on Strategic & Wargaming Studies Chair and Kuomintang (KMT) International Affairs Director Stephen Tan International Advisory Group Managing Director Chapters00:00:00 Trump’s New Tariff Era Roils World00:00:34 China’s Steel & Aluminum Dominance00:07:47 China Strikes Back: Tariffs & More00:18:36 Trump: Lower U.S. Trade Deficit

Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. from March 12. Are allies like Canada, South Korea, Japan and the EU his targets, or does Washington have a very different target in mind? Our guests: Alexander Huang Council on Strategic & Wargaming Studies Chair and Kuomintang (KMT) International Affairs Director Stephen Tan International Advisory Group Managing Director Chapters00:00:00 Trump’s New Tariff Era Roils World00:00:34 China’s Steel & Aluminum Dominance00:07:47 China Strikes Back: Tariffs & More00:18:36 Trump: Lower U.S. Trade Deficit

Luke Radel covers the Chinese ownership of cranes at ports across the country and why Congress is concerned about a potential spying operation. The Trump administration says they want the cranes to be made in America, but for now, 80% of this important infrastructure is owned and operated by Chinese companies. The details on this national security risk.#china #trump #business #economy #biden #crane #congress

Footage of a freight train in China “wriggling” on tracks, resembling a snake, has gone viral on the country’s social media.

Xiaomi is taking the tech world by storm with its latest chip, and it’s sending shockwaves to Apple and Qualcomm’s camps! In this video, we’ll dive into the details of Xiaomi’s new chip and explore how it exposes the secrets of its biggest competitors. From performance benchmarks to power efficiency, we’ll compare Xiaomi’s chip to Apple’s A15 Bionic and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 to see how it stacks up. Is Xiaomi’s new chip a game-changer, or is it just a flash in the pan? Watch to find out!

Delve into the complex and compelling history of the China-Taiwan issue, starting from the Chinese Civil War to the present-day geopolitical tensions. This video dissects the contrasting political systems across the Taiwan Strait, the implications of the One-China policy on international relations, and the military posturing that underscores the conflict. Understand Taiwan’s economic interdependence with China and how it seeks to diversify its partnerships. Explore the strategic significance of the Taiwan Strait and the global ramifications of potential conflict in the region. Finally, consider the delicate balance the U.S. maintains through its policy of strategic ambiguity. #ChinaTaiwan #Geopolitics #OneChinaPolicy #InternationalRelations #TaiwanStrait #USChinaRelations

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.

RADM Studeman (Ret.) was former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence. He also served as Director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) and as principal advisor to the Director of National Intelligence as National Intelligence Manager-Maritime, as well as the Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Honolulu and Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Southern Command, Miami (2017-2019.)

Taiwan’s industries association for steel and iron expects U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on all steel imports to put Taiwan on equal footing with its global competitors. Taiwan ranks in the top ten importers of steel to the U.S. and has faced a 25% tariff on its products since 2018.Meanwhile, concerns still loom over the U.S. president’s pledge to tariff Taiwanese semiconductors. Reporter(s): Howard Chang/Joyce Tseng#TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews #Trump #EU #semiconductor #Canada #tariff-

A jury finds a Boston man not guilty of acting as an agent of the Chinese Communist Party, freeing him of charges that he handed over information on dissidents to Beijing.China sends naval forces around Taiwan in a combat readiness patrol after U.S. Navy ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.00:00 Intro00:36 Boston Man Acquitted of Acting as CCP Agent02:07 China Deploys Forces Around Taiwan After US Transit02:54 US, Australia Commit to Free and Open Indo-Pacific08:35 Estonia: China Smuggles Drone Parts for Russia09:51 S. Korea’s Intelligence Agency Raises Deepseek Data Concerns10:43 Report Finds China Waging Cold War-Style Campaign

Despite numerous challenges, such as economic decline, social unrest, and political instability, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) remains convinced that it can beat the U.S. and establish itself as the world’s only dominant power. What gives the CCP this confidence is the regime’s asymmetric warfare strategy—leveraging the control and manipulation of its populace against the West. This strategy has served the regime well and helped it win the civil war in the 1940’s. Countering such a tactic is particularly difficult because it involves confronting the people of the adversary rather than just its leadership. But the West must develop a strategy or risk losing the war. Lei offers two strategic suggestions for the West, designed to avoid controversies.Watch the full video here: • Asymmetric Warfare: How Beijing explo…

President Donald Trump hosted Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi at the Oval Office Thursday. The two are also set to hold a joint news conference Thursday evening.

Major Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is under scrutiny for cost-cutting measures that have reportedly caused some cars to make tractor-like noises.Join this channel to get access to perks:

They were seen as a restrained response to Donald Trump’s tariffs against China.Beijing’s retaliatory duties on nearly $14bn in United States imports have come into effect.That’s after Donald Trump recently fired the opening salvo in a trade dispute.Trump has slapped an additional 10 percent tariff on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports.But, despite the tit-for-tat measures, tensions between the world’s two largest economies appear to be restrained – for now – leaving room for negotiations.Trump wants to shut down the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID) the US’s main foreign aid agency.And he’s halted aid to South Africa. Is aid being weaponised?

“China’s Long March 8A Launches Guowang Satellites—13,000 for Global Internet!” China just made history with the first-ever launch of the Long March 8A! On February 11, 2025, this powerful new rocket successfully delivered the latest batch of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit. This mission is a huge step forward in China’s space program, marking the expansion of a 13,000-satellite network aimed at global broadband internet, challenging SpaceX’s Starlink.With advanced hydrogen-oxygen engines, a larger payload fairing, and 7,000 kg capacity, Long March 8A is set to play a key role in China’s commercial spaceflight and satellite internet ambitions. Is this the beginning of a new space race? Watch now to find out!References:

Marine exploration could be redefined with China finally giving the green light to a deep-sea research facility. The facility will be anchored 2,000 meters below the surface of the strategically significant South China Sea, which is also subject to a number of competing territorial claims. Watch this report for more details!

Did China cut undersea cables near Taiwan? Former CIA Paramilitary Officer Nick Thompson tells The Cipher Brief the other explanations don’t add up. “If I’m on a 20-foot sailboat by myself, setting the anchor is a little bit of an art. So when you’re talking about vessels that are 700 feet long, 100 feet wide, that is a big piece of machinery going to the sea floor. The whole anchor theory of, ‘We accidentally did this,’ is frankly just absolutely ridiculous.”Nick Thompson is a former CIA Paramilitary Case Officer and Naval Special Warfare Development Group operator. With over 20 years of experience in the national security space, Nick has conducted countless clandestine operations and combat deployments with a primary focus in the Middle East and Asia. He has regularly navigated and led foreign intelligence collection and covert action initiatives by building networks with a diverse range of stakeholders. He now works in Washington D.C. at Anduril Industries, a leading defense technology company, seeking to bring cutting edge capability to intelligence and defense professionals alike.

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.

Two U.S. navy ships passed through the Taiwan Strait from Monday to Wednesday, the first such transit under the new Trump administration. The action triggered a burst of Chinese military activity in the area.

After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino immediately announced that Panama would not renew its Belt and Road Initiative memorandum with China. He further stated that he is considering allowing Panama Canal technical teams to directly dialogue with the U.S. What prompted this major policy shift in Panama, and how will it reshape the geopolitical landscape in Latin America? Our guests are: Yen Chen-shen National Chengchi University Professor of Political Science Tsai Jung-hsiang National Chung-Cheng University Political Science Professor Chapters 00:00:00 – Panama Rethinks Belt and Road Deal 00:00:43 – Panama Ends Belt and Road Agreement 00:01:27 – How Will Panama’s Change Affect China? 00:06:27 – The Price of Panama’s Move 00:10:20 – Panama Canal Security: U.S. Concerns Rise 00:10:58 – U.S. V.S. China: Battle for Canal Influence? 00:15:03 – Where Will Latin America Tensions Rise? 00:23:33 – U.S.-Latin America Ties Grow Under Trump 00:24:06 – Taiwan’s Role: Impact of U.S. Support