Day: September 22, 2025

The iPhone 17 series officially began pre-sales in China on September 12, overwhelming Apple’s website with traffic. All models sold out immediately on launch day. Online platforms experienced long queues, while offline stores saw crowds scrambling to make purchases. Despite the Chinese government’s push to promote domestic smartphones and discourage Apple use, a significant number of Chinese consumers are not swayed by the anti-American propaganda. Meanwhile, Huawei, long known for its high-end models and market dominance, is facing a sharp decline in sales. In a desperate move, the company announced price cuts for several flagship phones, including the Mate X6, Pura 80 series, and Mate 70 series, with discounts reaching up to 2,000 yuan.

Hong Kong police have successfully disabled a 454kg (1,000lb) wartime bomb found at a construction site in the city’s Quarry Bay neighbourhood. The discovery prompted a mass evacuation of 6,000 residents from nearby apartment buildings.

China is preparing for war with robot dogs and next-gen tanks. Rick Fisher reveals how Beijing’s new “Tesla of tanks,” hybrid-powered and AI-linked, could dominate urban combat—and why armed robot dogs may lead the first wave of an invasion of Taiwan.

Living in China for so long, we would like to share some of the comparisons that we have found between China and the west, and shed some light on the situation.Every week, we take you to a new place in China on our bikes, cover a topic, and reply to your questions.

On September 12, massive fireballs lit the skies over Weifang, while tanks rolled through Tangshan and explosions rocked Shijiazhuang. Analysts linked these PLA live-fire drills to the 80th and 82nd Group Armies, forces loyal to Zhang Youxia, signaling pressure on Beijing itself. But the following day, Xi Jinping’s camp responded. The Eastern Theater Command released a propaganda song, “Plant the Flag of Victory on Taiwan,” showcasing amphibious landings and missile strikes on Taipei. The timing suggests dueling messages: Zhang’s faction flexing around Beijing, and Xi’s faction brandishing the Taiwan front. Far from unity, the PLA is now split by politics.

00:00 Introduction00:11 Chinese Economy: Returning To Infrastructure Investment? 02:36 US-China: U.S. Lawmakers Make Rare Visit05:04 Tech War: Huawei’s AI Chip Ambitions