Month: March 2025

China has a history of concealing issues. Photos of rust on the Liaoning aircraft carrier emerged years ago, leading to the Chinese government’s ban on taking pictures of it. Professional cameras are now prohibited, and close-up images of fourth-generation fighter jets are rarely released to the public—possibly to avoid revealing defects.

Is AUKUS—the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—preparing for a Taiwan contingency? Join the discussion with our guests, Chenlung Kuo and Hoo Chiew-Ping.

RECAP or Rapid Emergency Construction of Armaments Project is simple, cheap, optionally manned supply ship that can aid Taiwan in the event of a blockade by “spamming the server” with hundreds or even thousands of relief ships.

CCP infighting has reached new heights! When it comes to losing power, no one seems to be struggling more than Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He appears to be under immense stress, seen anxiously rubbing his hands at the Two Sessions, and just days later, he emerged with a head full of white hair. Meanwhile, his most trusted military ally, CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong, remains missing, while Zhang Youxia appears poised to take control. At the same time, Xi’s longtime political enemy, Bo Xilai, is rumored to be making a comeback. Even Li Ka-shing’s sale of 43 ports to BlackRock hints at a fierce political struggle unfolding behind the scenes.

The Taiwanese military is finishing up a week of ‘rapid-response’ exercises, aimed at boosting the island’s ability to react to threats from China. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take the self-ruled democracy, even by force. Recently, there has been an uptick in tensions, after China sent dozens of military planes into areas near Taiwan. DW’s East Asia Correspondent James Chater reports now from Taipei.

China has executed 4 Canadians.

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun has posted a video of himself dropping a watermelon from a height to test what he described as a “bulletproof” coating developed by the Chinese tech giant. The widely shared video posted on March 19, 2025, shows the watermelon surviving intact after it was tossed from the sixth floor of the company’s car factory. Lei said a coating on the watermelon is the same applied to battery packs for the SU7 Ultra, Xiaomi’s latest electric car model.

China Eyes Russia-Ukraine War as Blueprint for Taiwan? | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18GChina could be watching the Ukraine war closely—studying how the world responds to aggression and drawing lessons for Taiwan. New footage from southern China shows unusual landing barges, believed by experts to be designed for a Taiwan invasion. These vessels act as floating bridges, allowing Chinese forces to deploy troops and military vehicles directly onto Taiwan’s shores. This comes amid a massive military build-up under Xi Jinping, aimed at modernising the People’s Liberation Army by 2027—the same year he reportedly set as the deadline for a potential invasion of Taiwan. Taiwan is preparing too, doubling the duration of its largest annual military drills. Meanwhile, China has responded with 59 aircraft and multiple warships near Taiwan, calling it “punishment” for promoting independence. With the PLA’s capabilities growing and tensions rising, is China laying the groundwork for a full-scale assault?—Russia Ukraine War | Xi Jinping | Putin | Zelensky | Donald Trump | USA | Taiwan | China | China Taiwan Tensions | Taiwan Military | Firstpost | World News | News Live | Vantage | Palki Sharma | News#donaldtrump #usa #taiwan #chinataiwannews #taiwanmilitary #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang discusses Hong Kong threatening a deal over the sale of Panama Canal ports and turmoil within the Chinese military

U.S. media reports say the Pentagon will scale back a planned expansion of U.S. forces in Japan to save over US$1 billion. The plan proposed by the Biden administration last year is being reexamined by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The United States sentences a Chinese national to a month behind bars. We have more on how he tried to smuggle people into Guam by boat—and failed.President Donald Trump is stressing that he doesn’t want to see China and Russia work together. Could he break the growing ties between the two nuclear powers?Tennessee condemns forced organ harvesting in China. The state unanimously passed a measure to prevent Americans from unwittingly supporting the crime.Taiwan is stepping up its defense game. For the first time ever, the island is planning annual drills based on a scenario of a Chinese invasion specifically in 2027.00:00 Intro01:05 Man Sentenced: Attempt to Transport Illegal Immigrants02:32 Trump: US Doesn’t Want China, Russia to Work Together06:56 Tennessee Advances Bill Against Forced Organ Harvesting07:54 Taiwan to Drill for Potential China Invasion 202709:24 Will Tariffs Force China to Stop Unfair Trade Practices?11:16 How Coal Plants Could Counter China’s Economic Edge?14:00 China Spending Billions to Get Citizens to Spend More15:24 Newsham on Nature of CCP: It Grabs Everything It Can

China Executes Four Canadians for Drug Crimes | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18GFour Canadians have been executed in China on drug-related charges, marking a rare use of the death penalty against foreigners. Canada has confirmed the executions but withheld their identities, citing privacy concerns. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly says Ottawa tried to stop the executions, with efforts involving former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, China insists due process was followed and has rejected Canada’s criticism, warning against “irresponsible remarks.”

Joining us in person for the first time is GUERMANTES ‘G-MAN’ LAILARI. He is a retired US Air Force Foreign Area Officer specializing in the Middle East and Europe, as well as strategy, irregular warfare, and missile defense. He’s also a visiting researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

China pushes back against BlackRock’s $23B bid for Panama Canal ports, a deal backed by Trump to counter China’s influence. The PBD Podcast breaks down the geopolitical and economic stakes.——

Militaries have a long tradition of using wargames to strategize. I went to a military think tank and played a wargame against Sam Ellis, guided by a panel of experts, about the conflict around Taiwan.

He Weidong is one of Xi Jinping’s most trusted military leaders, having built a close bond with him since their time in Fujian. In 2022, He was promoted to vice chairman of the PLA’s Central Military Commission, making him the third most powerful figure in the PLA. Recently, rumors suggest that He has been arrested and his homes searched, with multiple sources corroborating the claim. This raises a pressing question: Has Xi completely lost control of his military?

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 girl in the video is an international student studying in London, UK. She has posted several videos in which she films herself making loud noises outside her window in the early morning, disturbing her neighbors. At the end of one video, she suddenly says in Japanese, “Sumimasen” (meaning “Excuse me”), attempting to pass herself off as Japanese. The message is clear: the wrongdoing is attributed to the Japanese, and if there’s any anger, it should be directed at them.

Taiwan’s military is practicing how to respond to a sudden increase in aggressive Chinese activity, part of a new kind of training that mobilizes soldiers as quickly as possible.

Taiwan’s defense strategy is undergoing significant changes as President Lai Ching-te announces plans to increase Taiwan’s defense spending to surpass 3% of GDP, translating to a $26 billion budget. This decision comes as Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China and aligns with U.S. demands for stronger defense capabilities. How will Taiwan navigate its military challenges in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape?

President Donald Trump is warning Iran of dire consequences if Houthi attacks continue. We take a look at how the Chinese regime uses Iran to support the terrorist group.Trump’s tariffs: How do they impact small businesses in the United States? And what are the pros and cons?Meanwhile, is China preparing for another pandemic? Mobile pop-up hospitals have been reported inside China, along with large orders for bird flu test kits and medical drills across the country. The moves echo those from the COVID-19 pandemic.00:00 Intro01:11 How China Props Up Iran to Support Houthis03:40 Indiana Manufacturing Ceo Supports Trump Tariffs05:26 San Francisco Business Feels Pain from Trump’s Tariffs06:55 Mobile Hospitals, Testing Kits, Medical Drills in China09:18 Video: Chinese Vessels and Aircraft near Taiwan’s Coast12:30 Australia Raises Concerns Over Hong Kong Ransom Letter14:05 UK Opposition Leader Warns Against Reliance on China16:28 Labs: US Navy Capable, Must Address Geopolitical Risk

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Taiwan’s military is starting a new kind of exercise this week, which the defense ministry says is intended to handle emerging gray-zone threats from China.

Many middle-aged workers who lost their jobs have turned to food delivery, while others with unstable employment also take it on as a side gig. For example, in Beijing, the number of food delivery workers in the first half of last year surged by an astonishing 49.7% compared to the previous year. As a result, the industry has become saturated.Another concerning trend is the rising number of women entering nightclub jobs amid the wave of unemployment. A male vlogger, who has worked in nightclubs for 17 years, said that 2025 has seen the highest number of women in the industry, and even more are expected to join during the summer break.Join this channel to get access to perks:

China’s Belt and Road is becoming a noose for Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.

China’s PLA Commander has issued a fresh warning to Taiwan, escalating tensions in the region. The warning comes amid increasing concerns over military maneuvers and potential conflict.#china #taiwan #chinataiwanconflict