Month: December 2025

China voiced deep concern on Dec. 19 after reports that a senior Japanese security official suggested acquiring nuclear weapons as a deterrent, stressing it was a personal view. The remarks come amid rising Japan-China tensions over Taiwan.00:00 – INTRODUCTION02:44 – JAPAN ‘MUST DO DEEP SOUL-SEARCHING’04:03 – CHINA’S MILITARY BUILD-UP ‘THREATENS’ JAPAN#china #japan #nuclearweapons #regionaltensions #eastasia #taiwan #defence #security #geopolitics #cruxcollabwithcnn

China’s extensive land reclamation campaign on the Spratly Islands created permanent, hardened military bases on seven coral reefs starting in 2013. Discover the true strategic gains of this massive undertaking, which lie less in kinetic firepower and more in achieving unparalleled Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage and robust logistical sustainment. These artificial islands function as critical forward operating bases, allowing the China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia to refuel and resupply, drastically expanding their operational endurance and enabling a sustained presence in the disputed South China Sea. Recent upgrades (2023–2025) have focused on enhancing Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and ISR radomes, demonstrating a strategy focused on information dominance and contesting the use of the electromagnetic spectrum by others. Furthermore, the bases host infrastructure for permanent Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities, including Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs), and facilities for fighter aircraft, effectively projecting Chinese military power across the disputed waterway.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:20 A Clash At Sea02:02 From Reef to Fortress03:32 The Kill Zone04:48 Grey Zone Warfare06:03 A Hardening Alliance#china #southchinasea #maritimedefense

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. X (Formerly Twitter): / tonychinaupdate Channel email: [email protected]:00 Introduction00:18 US Approves Record Arms Deal For Taiwan03:36 TikTok Sega Finally Concludes 06:57 Promoting ‘Native Police Dogs’08:52 MetaX & China AI Bubble?

Why does Beijing believe it can afford a war over Taiwan? This episode breaks down the debate surrounding Xi Jinping’s decision on war — examining six core reasons the CCP may be willing to risk military conflict, set against five major risks that argue against it. From regime legitimacy and internal power struggles to control of the Taiwan Strait, the analysis ultimately comes down to the numbers: war economics. Using a clear, data-driven framework, it explains how China’s wartime economic model prioritizes regime survival over growth — and why economic collapse alone may not deter Beijing from choosing war.

Made in China toys are telling kids to burn down their houses. Hong Kong is officially dead after Apple Daily’s Jimmy Lai is sentenced. And China attacks the Philippines yet again! That and more on this week’s China news headlines.

Why is it happening all at once? The streets are exploding, and buildings too. What is happening?

Nuclear reactors that use thorium as fuel have many advantages over those that use uranium. Thorium is common and easy to mine, its waste is safer to handle, and the material also can’t be used as easily in weapons. Recently, a team of scientists from China announced a breakthrough in their thorium reactor project – let’s take a look at just what they’ve done and what the rest of the world is doing for developing thorium nuclear reactors.

China Insights delivers sharp, data-driven analysis of China’s politics, economy, and society.We connect the dots behind breaking headlines — from Beijing’s power shifts to global market trends — helping viewers understand the real forces shaping modern China.

Please join the CSIS Defense and Security Department on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET, for a virtual discussion with David R. Shedd, former Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), on his new book, The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets. The book examines how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has carried out one of the largest-scale thefts of intellectual property, technology, and data in history.Mr. Shedd will sit down with Dr. Seth G. Jones, president of the Defense and Security Department, to discuss how China has carried out the biggest illegal transfer of capital, technology, and data in history over the past 30 years. They will discuss how the Chinese government-backed espionage to clone and steal American technology and economic power across many industries, including military equipment, microchips, and telecommunications.

In this video, I explain why calling Taiwan an “internal Chinese issue” isn’t neutral, isn’t diplomatic, and definitely isn’t about peace. It’s the most dangerous narrative in geopolitics today — one that quietly removes the legal, political, and alliance barriers preventing a war.This isn’t about provocation. It’s about framing. And once the framing is lost, the timing of war becomes a scheduling decision.

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang discusses China’s military moves near Taiwan, its 700% A.I. IPO surge, and new demands in the Panama Canal port negotiations as U.S.–China tensions intensify. #foxbusiness #morningswithmaria

China desperately tries to counter American tariffs and it’s not going very well for them!

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. X (Formerly Twitter): / tonychinaupdate Channel email: [email protected]:00 Introduction00:13 Tech War: Huawei’s “Manhattan Project”04:19 Meta’s China Scams Allegations 07:07 Hainan Free Trade Port 09:18 Housing Market Censorship Intensifies

Two Politburo members disappear from key meetings, corruption probes spread through elite circles, and Xi Jinping’s inner camp shows signs of strain. Why are Ma Xingrui and Li Xi suddenly in trouble? Is anti-corruption turning inward? This episode breaks down the signals coming from Beijing — and why many believe Xi’s power is being challenged from within.

The United States is moving forward with its largest ever arms sale to Taiwan—$11.1 billion—aimed at countering Beijing’s growing military threats.Taiwan is making a major change to its combat readiness. Its military can now immediately respond to any sudden attack from China instead of waiting for orders from above.A new report says Meta made billions from fraudulent ads linked to China in 2024. How did Meta manage it?Shen Yun Performing Arts is launching its 2026 global tour, with Europe as its first stop.The Chinese Communist Party has been trying to suppress the group for 20 years. Here’s what a principal dancer said in response: “They’re spending their time and effort to repress us. That means we are doing something very, very right.”The U.S. government has collected one billion dollars in new tariff revenue after closing a key shipping loophole—the so-called de minimis rule. Chinese eCommerce giants like Temu and Shein had been exploiting it to undercut competitors.00:00 Intro01:38 U.S. Approves Largest-Ever Arms Sale for Taiwan03:30 China Could Build a Military Base in Taiwan If Taken05:02 Taiwan Adjusts Defense to Respond to Sudden China Attack06:51 Report: Meta Permitted Fraudulent Ads From China09:20 Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Banned in China14:47 Shen Yun Kicks Off 2026 Tour in Europe15:27 CBP: $1B Collected Since End of De Minimis Loophole16:03 How Temu, Shein Exploited the U.S. De Minimis Rule16:43 Chinese Firms to Pay $7M to Settle DOJ Allegation18:38 Report: China Exploits U.S. Funds to Advance Nuclear Program20:26 Lawmakers Scrutinize Intel Over Its China Ties21:32 Airstrike Kills Four Alleged Narco-Terrorists

This comprehensive strategic assessment examines the unprecedented militarization of space and the three-way competition for orbital dominance between the United States, China, and Russia. Presented in congressional intelligence briefing format, this analysis explores China’s systematic development of anti-satellite weapons, Russia’s deployment of nuclear-powered space platforms, and America’s response through military space doctrine and private sector partnerships with companies like SpaceX. The briefing covers satellite warfare capabilities, lunar resource competition, space-based solar power systems, GPS warfare scenarios, and the integration of artificial intelligence with autonomous space weapons that could trigger conflicts beyond human control. Through detailed examination of Chinese space militarization strategies, Russian asymmetric space warfare doctrine, American space defense challenges, and the emerging threat of orbital debris cascades, this assessment addresses fundamental questions about maintaining space superiority while preventing conflicts that could destroy space-based infrastructure essential for global civilization and determine which nations control Earth’s orbital environment and lunar resources for generations to come.

In today’s show: US State Department Announces US$11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan China Sends 40 Planes, 8 Ships Near Taiwan as US Arms Deal Announced South Korean Court Sentences 3 Contractors Connected to Taiwan’s Haikun Sub Opposition Parties Aim To Impeach Premier, President for Not Countersigning Bill Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an Submits Reinstatement Papers, Says She’s “Back To Work” Japanese Prime Minister Says Diplomatic Dialogue Door Still Open for China Japan Could Be Panda-less as Loaned Animals Set To Return With No Replacements Lai Proposes Foreign Caregivers Law but Some Parents, Labor Groups Have Doubts📹 Anchor: Yvonne Yang#TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews-

Beijing declared victory.Then reality hit.China just posted a $1 trillion trade surplus, yet key economic indicators are deteriorating across the board — collapsing consumption, falling investment, and a property market still in free fall.So how is this “success” achieved?By manipulating the currency, suppressing wages, and forcing Chinese households to subsidize the rest of the world — hollowing out domestic demand in the process.Using China’s own official data and reporting from the Wall Street Journal, I break down why this model isn’t strength — it’s forced endurance — and why the cracks are now impossible to hide.Watch to the end. The numbers don’t lie.

00:00 Introduction00:23 Chinese Economy: Crashing To 25 Year Low05:05 Chinese Economy II: Consumption Wishes & Woes 07:38 Demographic Decline: Free Childbirth Policy 10:15 China vs Panama Canal Ports Deal

An international tea competition in France was disrupted when unidentified hecklers in the audience objected to Taiwan’s flag being shown on a screen.

China’s latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, made a transit through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry says, adding it believes the carrier was returning to port in Shanghai.

As Southeast Asian countries target scam centers, Beijing’s role is coming into focus. Is China helping in terms of cracking down on scammers or secretly siding with them?A South Korean company is unveiling a $6 billion plan to build a factory in Tennessee. The move could help the United States reduce its reliance on critical minerals from China, but the plan is already facing a major roadblock.The Texas attorney general is suing five TV makers, including two from China, over allegations that smart TVs are spying on Americans in their own living rooms.As oil prices fall this week, China is quietly stockpiling. It’s a move that could impact global markets.00:00 Intro00:59 Asian Scam Centers: Are Police, Kingpins Allies of CCP?04:07 Korea Zinc to Build Minerals Refinery in Tennessee05:03 Texas AG Sues Five Major TV Firms for Alleged Spying05:55 China Ramps Up Crude Stockpile as Oil Prices Fall07:20 Pres. Trump: I Spoke With Xi About Releasing Jimmy Lai10:31 500K Sign Petition Against Forced Organ Harvesting11:54 Forum: Indo-Pacific Instability Threatens World Order14:59 Former U.S. Army Pacific Chief on U.S.-Taiwan Strategy

According to the Kyiv Independent, leaked Russian documents suggest the Russian military may be assisting China in preparing for a potential Taiwan invasion in 2027. It comes four years after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Beijing-Moscow relations as having “no limits.” and nearly four years since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It comes as Russian and Chinese planes have conducted a joint patrol through Japanese and South Korean’s air defense identification zones (ADIZs). Meanwhile, the US’ annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has identified China’s as the Washington’s primary strategic competitor across military, economic and technological domains. Just how far does Moscow and Beijing’s security cooperation go? And what is the Trump Administration doing to counter it? In this episode, we discuss these latest developments and what they could mean for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. *Recorded on December 17, 2025 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time Our guests: Tony Hu Former US Department of Defense Senior Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia Charles Wu National Chengchi University Department of Diplomacy Professor and Chair Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Chinyeh Chiang Chapters: 00:00:00 – Moscow, Beijing Boost Security Ties 00:02:33 – Russia, China Resume Joint Air Patrols 00:11:52 – US NDAA Names China Top Rival 00:22:57 – Is Russia Helping China Train for Invasion? #ChinaRussiaRelations #XiJinping #VladimirPutin #DonaldTrump #ChinaMilitary #PeoplesLiberationArmy #PLA #RussianMilitary #RussianUkraineWar #RussianInvasion #DefenseCooperation #SecurityPact #MutualDefense #MilitaryAlliance #RussianAirForce #RussianArmy #PLAAirForce #PLAArmy #PLANavy #TaiwanInvasion #TaiwanConflict #TaiwanStrait #TaiwanContingency #TaiwanStrait #IndoPacific #WeaponSales #ArmsDeal #RussianExports #RussianWeapons #AmphibiousAssualtVehicles #BMD4M #SprutSDM1 #BTRMDM #Rakushka #AmphibiousAttack #AmphibiousWarfare #KSHME #KyivIndependent #RUSI #USMilitary #NDAA #USDefensePolicy #TaiwanUSRelations #TaiwanTalks #TaiwanPlus

Chinese billionaires are using surrogates around the world to build massive family dynasties—and the results are disturbing. From U.S.-born surrogate babies to trafficking scandals in Eastern Europe, this episode exposes how China’s elites are exploiting women, loopholes in the law, and global fertility markets to get what they want.

Pentagon war games show the U.S. would lose a conflict over Taiwan. But what if that’s not the story everyone thinks it is? Former U.S. Air Force strategist Guermantes Lailari explains what those simulations really mean.

We now find ourselves amid a new space race of sorts, with China’s military-led space program quickly developing the means to send its own taikonauts, or Chinese astronauts, to the moon’s strategically valuable southern pole, with a target date of 2030. But does that really matter? Is this new 21st-century space race a strategic competition, or is it little more than nationalism wrapped in media hyperbole? If America reached the moon 56 years ago, is there really any reason to invest billions of dollars into racing to prove it can do it again? The answer just might be yes.

0:00 Intro0:55 Crime Stat On Illegal Aliens Shows Concerning Trend9:47 Over Half NY Commercial Truck Drivers Are Illegals11:30 More Border Land Transferred to US Military18:00 CCP Puts Bounties On Heads of Overseas Influencers28:47 US Intercepts CCP Weapon Supplies to Iran34:01 Q&ACrime statistics are showing a concerning trend with illegal immigrants. It turns out that at least in New York, illegal immigrants commit crimes at about four times the rate of the overall population. And this could bring trouble for them, given that the Trump administration is now saying it will focus deportation efforts on people who commit additional crimes after illegally entering the country.

China can calculate the threat from 50,000 American troops in Japan, but what keeps Xi Jinping awake at night is Japan’s decision to double its defense spending and build hypersonic missiles. For 75 years, Japan’s pacifist constitution was China’s greatest strategic asset in Asia, and now Beijing is watching that advantage disappear in real time.As a military historian studying East Asian security, I see China facing a nightmare scenario they never planned for: Japanese rearmament. Xi Jinping’s aggressive behavior has triggered exactly the response Beijing most feared – awakening a military-industrial giant with the technology, geography, and historical motivation to challenge Chinese hegemony.

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. X (Formerly Twitter): / tonychinaupdate Channel email: [email protected]:00 Introduction00:30 Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai Found Guilty02:50 Tech War: $70 Billion Chip Subsidies 06:02 Chinese Billionaires Buying American Babies

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau is set to report to lawmakers on regional tensions and the country’s military preparedness. The report connects Chinese aggression toward Taiwan to similar problems faced by other countries and highlights US and allied deployments to counter it.📹 Reporter(s): Devin Tsai/Lery Hiciano#TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews-

U.S. Forces Raid Ship, Seize Cargo Headed to Iran From ChinaOff the coast of Venezuela, US forces have seized an oil tanker suspected of smuggling oil to China in violation of international sanctions. The seizure highlighted the links between Venezuela and not just China, but the Indo-Pacific region. As an energy-rich socialist dictatorship, Venezuela is key political partner of Beijing and Moscow in Latin America, as well as a major recipient of Chinese aid, investment and weapons. The US raid come as the Trump Administration moves to reassert American hegemony over the region. How important is Venezuela to China? Is Trump attempting to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine? And what does the new “China Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean” tell us about Beijing’s plans for the region? In this episode, we discuss Venezuela’s Indo-Pacific ties, Trump and Xi’s policies toward Latin America, and what it means for the Taiwan Strait and beyond.