Day: December 26, 2025

China is loudly backing Venezuela at the UN amid rising tensions with the US—but not because it cares about Maduro. It’s because America seized a tanker carrying Chinese oil. So now the CCP is crying “unilateral bullying” while pretending this is about international law. Here’s what’s really behind China’s sudden concern for Venezuela.

Reviewing the year in Taiwan, from political divides to unity in the face of national tragedies. Forget about generative AI, come to TaiwanPlus to get the full story on Taiwan.

The U.S. Navy’s Underwater Threat China Can’t Track or Stop is reshaping the balance of power beneath the oceans. This video reveals why America’s Virginia-class submarine remains nearly invisible to modern Chinese anti-submarine warfare systems, despite massive investments in sensors, patrol aircraft, and seabed surveillance.Operating at extremely low acoustic levels, these U.S. Navy submarines exploit undersea warfare advantages that China still cannot counter. From the South China Sea to the Western Pacific, advanced acoustic stealth, pump-jet propulsion, and superior naval technology allow U.S. submarines to detect threats first — and strike without warning.We break down how this underwater threat China can’t track or stop impacts China Navy vs U.S. Navy planning, why passive detection claims fall short in real ocean conditions, and how American military technology continues to dominate the silent domain.As China builds more submarines, the United States builds quieter, smarter, and deadlier ones. In modern naval power competition, whoever controls the deep controls deterrence itself.#USNavy, #VirginiaClass, #ChinaNavy, #UnderseaWarfare, #MilitaryTechnology, #NavalPower, #SubmarineWarfare, #SouthChinaSea, #WesternPacific, #Geopolitics, #DefenseNews, #ModernWarfare, #StealthTechnology, #NavalStrategy, #militaryanalysis

China’s military is facing its most serious internal crisis in decades. After the purge of the Rocket Force and the downfall of Xi Jinping’s key political allies inside the Central Military Commission, the crackdown has now spread to the PLA Air Force. Senior commanders have disappeared, died while under investigation, or vanished from public view, pointing to a force being dismantled from the top down. This program then turns to Taiwan, where a deadly knife attack in central Taipei shocked the public on the same day political tensions surged over an impeachment move against President Lai Ching-te. By examining the attack’s strange timelines, missing evidence, and unanswered questions, the program explores how internal military collapse in China may coincide with rising political pressure and social shock in Taiwan — suggesting not preparation for open war, but a shift toward other methods.

Taiwan helped power the world’s tech boom in 2025, but it’s still navigating an increasingly contested global landscape. Under constant pressure from China, can Taiwan find the space not only to endure, but to thrive in 2026 – and maintain its critical role as a global tech hub? On this edition of #CorrespondentsOnTaiwanPlus, Reuters Taiwan Bureau Chief Ben Blanchard and CommonWealth Magazine Senior Managing Editor Silva Shih share the stories they’ll be watching in 2026. Hosted by Andrew Ryan. 00:00 – Intro 01:47 – Biggest stories for Taiwan in 2025 03:22 – Reporting from Taiwan’s frontline with China 05:10 – Making sense of a fading buffer zone 07:11 – Defense budget still a key issue in 2026 08:06 – What to expect from Han Kuang drills in 2026 10:46 – APEC in China: Where does Taiwan stand? 13:12 – Japan-China row over Taiwan: What’s next? 15:12 – 2026 Elections: What’s at stake for Taiwan 19:59 – Key domestic issues for Taiwan in 2026 20:43 – Taiwan’s hidden gems to visit in 2026 24:03 – Hopes for journalism in 2026Editor’s note: This episode was recorded on December 16, 2025.#TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews #Taiwan #LookAhead #2026 #Trump #Tariffs #TSMC #semiconductor #China #HanKuang41 #TaiwanDefense #DefenseBudget #TaiwanStrait #MediaLine #DadanIsland #JapanChina #2026Elections #DomesticConcerns #LittleMynamar #Matsu #Journalism2026

The U.S. seized two more oil tankers in waters near Venezuela. One, fully loaded with oil, was bound for China, while the other had previously been used to transport oil to China.A Chinese researcher at Indiana University has been charged with smuggling E. coli bacteria from China into the U.S. illegally.Japan is stepping up efforts to increase its defense budget amid escalating Chinese military aggression, plus pressure from Washington.Recently leaked footage from 30 years ago shows a Chinese general refusing Beijing’s order to fire on Tiananmen protesters in 1989. He lost his freedom for the rest of his life, but remained a hero in the eyes of many.Gold prices hit a record high—countries are quietly building up their reserves amid rising geopolitical tensions.00:00 Intro01:15 U.S. Seizes China-Bound Oil Tanker03:36 Chinese Researcher Charged for Smuggling E. Coli04:53 Japan Fast-Tracks Military Spending Increase06:28 Japan Reaffirms No-Nuclear Policy, China Fires Warning06:53 Video Goes Viral: Chinese General’s Refusal to Kill09:40 China Replaces Heads of Two Key Combatant Commands10:22 Countries Stockpile Gold Amid Global Tensions12:11 UK Gov’t Confirms Foreign Office Hacked Two Months Ago15:03 China Hits EU Dairy Products With Duties Up to 42.7:35 How Well Do Americans Recognize Cultural Marxism?19:36 Reconnecting With Traditional American Culture

Legal and political strategist Katie Zacharia joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down rising tensions with China, the Pentagon’s warning on Beijing’s military buildup and President Donald Trump’s strategy on tariffs, trade and global security.

China made something that royally backfired. Millions of people who are unified…