Day: October 18, 2025

The Chinese Communist Party said Friday that it has purged several top military officials from its party ranks and core government units, including general He Weidong, formerly China’s second-highest ranking general. The removals come ahead of a major CCP meeting on Oct. 20. He was reported to have close ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently imposed unprecedented export controls on rare earths, escalating the U.S.–China trade war.How is it that the Chinese regime managed to gain control of many of the most essential supply chains, from critical minerals to pharmaceuticals? How should the Trump administration approach this threat to national security?In this episode, we sit down with Lee Smith, author of “The Plot Against the President,” and the soon-to-be-released book, “The China Matrix: The Epic Story of How Donald Trump Shattered a Deadly Pact.”“It was simply American corruption that has allowed all of this to happen. And that’s certainly the point that [U.S. President] Donald Trump makes in the book,” Smith says.What is Trump’s strategy when it comes to China? How does he actually view Chinese leader Xi Jinping?Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. CHAPTER TITLES0:00:00 The CCP’s Rare Earth Controls and U.S. Dependency 0:01:02 Introducing Lee Smith and “The China Matrix” 0:02:03 U.S.-China Technology Transfers and National Security 0:02:40 The Velvet Glove: U.S. Elites and the CCP’s Rise 0:04:36 Chinese Dominance in Strategic Industries (Pharma, Steel) 0:06:13 American Corruption and Bi-Partisan Complicity 0:08:02 Industrial Policy and State-Subsidized Dumping 0:08:27 Unrestricted Warfare and Economic Targeting 0:10:00 Trump’s Trade Deal Negotiations with China 0:11:58 Xi Jinping’s Power Dynamics and Internal CCP Forces 0:14:40 CCP’s Supremacy Over Individuals—U.S. Demands for Change 0:17:36 Deep U.S.–China Economic Integration and Trade Deficit 0:20:00 The Persistence of the China Lobby 0:22:32 The Role of Henry Kissinger and Elite Interests 0:25:00 State and Local Level Influence; “Chinagate” 0:28:57 Trump’s Policies to Reshore American Industry 0:30:17 Student Visas and National Security Risks 0:34:04 Communicating the Trade War to the American Public 0:35:15 Human Rights, Slave Labor, and Moral Implications 0:38:22 China’s Economic Fragility and Export Focus 0:39:02 U.S. Corporate Involvement and “Too Big to Fail” 0:41:13 Trump’s Legacy and the Call for Economic Realignment 0:45:00 Final Thoughts: Good vs. Evil, the Epic U.S.–China Story

The Chinese Communist Party has ousted nine top generals—including its No. 2 general—ahead of a key meeting. What does this leadership shakeup say about Party leader Xi Jinping’s grip on power, and could it affect Beijing’s ability to take Taiwan?President Donald Trump says his 100 percent tariffs on China would not be sustainable, adding that Beijing’s rare earth export curbs forced him to implement them.Major American tech firms are racing to move production out of China as trade tensions between the two nations escalate. We bring you the details.The United States and Australia are teaming up to operate a facility that produces missiles on Australian soil, strengthening regional defense in the Indo-Pacific.In a second serious warning in one week against China, the UK’s intelligence agency has labeled China a “hostile state.”00:00 Intro00:59 Top Generals Ousted Ahead of Key Leadership Meeting02:41 Unpacking Military Shakeup Ahead of Key CCP Meeting07:20 Trump: 100% Tariffs on China Not Sustainable08:20 New Yorkers Name Preferred Candidates, Reject Socialism10:22 Google, Microsoft, Amazon Move Production Out of China11:21 US-Australia Missile Factory to Boost Defense12:26 Trump Meets Zelenskyy Regarding Ukraine War15:15 MI5 Chief: China Is a Daily Threat to UK Security16:10 Sydney Court Delays Yang Lanlan Case to Mid-Nov.20:13 Unclear if India Has Stopped Buying Russian Oil

Why did Xi Jinping suddenly launch a rare-earth blitz against the world? In this episode, we uncover Xi’s true motives — to reassert control, silence rumors of failing health, and prove he’s still in charge before the Fourth Plenum and APEC summit. But the move backfired. Trump’s sharp response exposed divisions inside Beijing and deepened Xi’s “bad moment,” both politically and psychologically. As APEC approaches, uncertainty looms: will Xi show up to face Trump, or hide behind the Fourth Plenum’s chaos? This rare-earth offensive may have set the stage for Xi’s biggest political reckoning yet.

🕒 Timestamps:00:00 🚀 Introduction – The Global Shift03:42 🎓 Education as a Weapon08:25 ⚙️ Technology and Transformation13:10 💡 The Silent Strategy18:45 🔄 Adapting to Change22:30 🧠 Competing with Wisdom25:01 🎯 Final Lesson – The Future Belongs to the Prepared

The Philippines has actively expanded its network of security partnerships, including an upcoming Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with Australia. The two countries also announced that Australia would build eight defense infrastructure projects at five sites across the Philippines. Manila previously signed a mutual defense treaty with the US in 1951, but it has recently sought to boost its military links with other like-minded countries in the face of illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive (ICAD) actions from Beijing. What does this EDCA involve? Why is Australia so keen to expand its presence in the South China Sea? And could this help deter a conflict in the Taiwan Strait? In this episode, our guests discuss the Philippine’s deterrence network, Australia’s expanding military role, and what it means for Indo-Pacific peace and stability. *Recorded on October 17, 2025 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time Host: Yin Khvat Our guests: Renato Cruz de Castro National Chengchi University MOFA Taiwan FellowWen-Ti Sung Atlantic Council Global China Hub Non-Resident Fellow Chapters:00:00:00 – Australia, Philippines’s Security Ties00:01:43 – What Will ECDA Entail?00:09:52 – What Motivates Australia To Counter China?00:16:48 – Philippines Expands Deterrence Network00:22:54 – Could Beijing, Manila Reach Consensus?

00:00 Introduction + Taiwan Meetup00:38 Trade War Update03:56 China’s Industrial Master Plan & EV Industry

#philippines #china #asia What began with water cannons and ramming has now turned into full maritime standoffs. Chinese warships are aggressively confronting Philippine patrol vessels in the West Philippine Sea. In this video, we examine how the Philippines is escalating its naval capabilities to defend its sovereignty. #WestPhilippineSea #PhilippineCoastGuard #SouthChinaSea #ChinaPhilippinesTension #MaritimeSecurity #UNCLOS

China controls the world’s largest reserves of rare earth elements, and now it’s tightening its grip. Andrew Chang unpacks how China’s export restrictions are giving it powerful leverage over the United States, and why U.S. President Donald Trump is determined to catch up.Images provided by Getty Images, The Canadian Press and Reuters.00:00 – Intro1:56 – A race worth running4:40 – All-in on rare earths9:13 – Rare earths, weaponized

China announced it will hold new trade talks with the United States “as soon as possible” amid rising tensions. The discussions follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese exports and strict controls on critical software. Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a video call described as “candid, in-depth, and constructive.” Trump confirmed he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in two weeks. Both leaders aim to stabilize trade relations despite the escalating economic pressures, with Trump emphasizing his personal rapport with Xi as a negotiating advantage.#ChinaUSTrade #Trump #XiJinping #TariffWar #TradeNegotiations #100PercentTariffs #SoftwareBan #EconomicPressure #GlobalMarkets #HeLifeng #ScottBessent #SouthKoreaSummit

As China approaches the Fourth Plenum and edges closer to conflict, a deeper war is raging behind the scenes — not over territory, but over power. Xi Jinping needs war to save his rule. General Zhang Youxia uses war to expand his control. Each man is playing the other — and the real battlefield may not be Taiwan, but Beijing itself. From the rare-earth shock to the military purges and nationwide war mobilization, this episode uncovers the silent struggle shaping China’s future. Xi’s call for war has become a double-edged sword — empowering Zhang while eroding Xi’s own grip on power.So who’s really using the war to win? The answer could determine not just Xi’s fate, but the fate of the world.

The Chinese Communist Party’s use of rare earth export restrictions as a trade war tactic highlights their strategic leverage, driven by the metals’ critical role in industries like chip manufacturing. Lacking standardized contracts due to their complex composition, rare earths are supplied through point-to-point channels, with low industrial volumes but rigid demand. Despite price hikes, downstream industries can absorb costs, prioritizing supply stability. The CCP’s repeated use of this card reveals a depleting toolbox, accelerating Western efforts to rebuild supply chains. Political shifts, reduced environmental barriers, and global supply chain concerns drive investments in regions like the U.S., Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Historical parallels, like Europe’s energy decoupling from Russia, suggest a two-to-four-year timeline for restructuring. By 2027, the CCP’s rare earth dominance may wane, decentralizing pricing power and stabilizing global supply, as the West capitalizes on this industrial catalyst.