Year: 2025

Iran’s Trump card – quick overview of How Iran could close the Straits of Hormuz. Reports indicate that the Iranian Parliament has agreed to do it. Unscripted and unedited.

The funeral of Chinese General Xu Qiliang not only laid to rest a vice chairman of the country’s Central Military Command (CMC) who helped consolidate Xi Jinping’s power over the military, it also signaled that another CMC vice chairman had been purged. Among the Politburo member wreaths on display at the ceremony, He Weidong’s was conspicuously absent, nor did He attend in person. He Weidong oversaw China’s military operations around Taiwan as head of the People Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Eastern Command, and orchestrated the large-scale drills following former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. He has not been seen in public since the National People’s Congress on March 11. While he is one of more than 70 PLA generals purged since Xi took power, his position as vice chairman marks the most senior purging of a CMC member since China’s Cultural Revolution. Is Xi Jinping simply strengthening the military’s combat readiness, or are there other motives at play? Could the latest purges of those closest to and fast-tracked by Xi suggest the erosion of his power in a factional war, as some CCP scholars say?

Global investors are stunned. What’s happening in China right now isn’t just a slowdown — it’s a full-blown collapse, and somehow, it’s worse than 2008. Factories are closing, real estate is crumbling, consumption is vanishing — and yet, almost no one in the mainstream media is talking about it. This isn’t a projection, it’s happening right now — and it’s already hitting markets from Wall Street to Frankfurt to Tokyo. If you thought the 2008 crisis was bad, brace yourself. Because this time, the engine of the global economy is breaking down in silence.What are global banks suddenly pulling out of — and why is no one sounding the alarm? Why are investors dumping Chinese assets faster than they did during the COVID panic? And how did China’s entire economic model collapse… without a single bomb dropped?To understand the scale of this disaster, we have to start where the cracks became impossible to ignore…

Once upon a time, “Long Live China-Pakistan Friendship” was a diplomatic slogan used by Chinese state media to spread across the globe. From helping build dams and high-speed rail projects to jointly developing fighter jets, Pakistan has long been China’s most trusted “iron brother” and a core customer for military exports.But this time, Pakistan has not chosen China.On May 29, Pakistan’s second “Babur-class” corvette, PNS Khaibar, ordered from Turkey, completed port testing and left Istanbul, officially starting sea trials. This was not an ordinary ship trial; it represented a $1.5 billion strategic shift: four corvettes were all ordered from Turkey, leaving Beijing with nothing.What’s even more ironic is that Pakistan has indeed used Chinese ships in the past. Back in 2017, they introduced four 054A/P class frigates from China—larger, more powerful, and delivered more quickly, at a cheaper price. But this time, they chose the inferior, assembled “Babur-class”. So, the question arises: why did China lose to an “assembled product” when their ships had better performance, lower prices, and quicker delivery?

The coast guards of Japan, the United States and the Philippines have held joint exercises, amid concern over growing Chinese maritime activities.

00:00 Introduction00:23 China’s Rare Earths Leverage Game05:40 New Zealand-China08:19 China Reopens STAR Market to Loss-Making Tech Firms09:37 Second China-Central Asia Summit

China sharply increased military activity near Taiwan this week. Beijing sent dozens of warplanes across the median line of the Taiwan Strait just days after a British warship passed through the sensitive waterway. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported Friday, June 20, 50 Chinese military aircraft operating around the island, with 46 crossing the median line that separates Chinese and Taiwanese airspace.

China’s population is collapsing to the point that preschools and kindergartens are shutting down. It’s only a matter of time…

Who really governs China today? Former CCP leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao are quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes. This program traces Hu’s stunning political comeback following his public humiliation in 2022, and explores Wen’s improbable longevity as the CCP’s ultimate survivor. From emotional crisis manager to behind-the-scenes kingmaker, Wen’s path reveals both the limits and hidden mechanisms of power in China’s opaque system. A Capricorn, Hu’s survival instincts have kept him in the game. And the comeback of the “Hu juniors” says it all. The question now is: Where will they take China in the post-Xi Jinping era?

Israel and Iran have entered their ninth day of conflict as Tehran launched a wave of missiles into Israel on Saturday morning.

Pro-Russian Telegram videos and Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest that China has armed Russia with a laser gun to shoot down drones. It’s called the “Silent Hunter” system, and it’s a pretty sophisticated piece of weaponry.Operation Honey Pot: Paste this emoji 🍯 in your comment below.

A former U.S. Army sergeant could face up to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to offering key U.S. defense secrets to communist China.Chinese signal jammers are flooding the United States, with seizures soaring by more than eightfold since 2021. Officials warn these devices pose serious threats to public safety and could even disrupt military operations.Florida is cracking down on two firms over Chinese-made medical devices. Officials warn patient data could be funneled overseas through hidden backdoors.Over 1,200 mystery seeds from China are intercepted in Texas. We hear from the state’s agriculture commissioner on the potential risks and why planting them could be dangerous.Nearly half of China’s oil imports are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the escalating Israel-Iran conflict is putting this vital lifeline for the Chinese Communist Party at risk. We break down what’s at stake.00:00 Intro01:15 Ex-US Soldier Admits Attempted Espionage for China03:06 Chinese Signal Jammer Seizures Up 830% Since 202104:40 Florida Subpoenas Medical Firms Over China-Made Devices05:32 Texas AG Commissioner Warns of Crop-Infecting Fungus09:56 Rollback of Green Energy Credits Divides GOP12:26 CCP Threatened by Iran-Israel Conflict15:09 South China Floods Spark Questions Over Dam Release17:33 Sourcing Rare Earth Magnets for US Fighter Jets

Israel strikes Iranian nuclear research facility Saturday and says they are preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign.

The funeral of Chinese General Xu Qiliang not only laid to rest a vice chairman of the country’s Central Military Command (CMC) who helped consolidate Xi Jinping’s power over the military, it also signaled that another CMC vice chairman had been purged. Among the Politburo member wreaths on display at the ceremony, He Weidong’s was conspicuously absent, nor did He attend in person. He Weidong oversaw China’s military operations around Taiwan as head of the People Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Eastern Command, and orchestrated the large-scale drills following former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. He has not been seen in public since the National People’s Congress on March 11. While he is one of more than 70 PLA generals purged since Xi took power, his position as vice chairman marks the most senior purging of a CMC member since China’s Cultural Revolution. Is Xi Jinping simply strengthening the military’s combat readiness, or are there other motives at play? Could the latest purges of those closest to and fast-tracked by Xi suggest the erosion of his power in a factional war, as some CCP scholars say?

China brings 2 surveillance ships and radar to the Persian Gulf approaching Iran. What’s going on?

China’s military activity around Taiwan is raising alarms about a possible invasion, but Beijing has plenty of options for seizing the island without firing a shot.

00:00 Introduction00:10 China on Israel-Iran Conflict03:31 Chinese Economy: Consumption Subsidies 07:16 China’s New Global Currency Order Ambitions

Zhang Youxia was once Xi Jinping’s most trusted man in the military. Their fathers had fought together during the revolution, and the two families were close. Xi even entrusted Zhang with his personal security. But one day, Xi suddenly realized that Zhang had grown too powerful. Their relationship began to sour—and what followed seemed like fate. An old prophecy had predicted that a warrior with a bow would dethrone Xi. During the power struggle, one retired vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (Xu Qiliang) died, and an active-duty one (He Weidong) went missing.

Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, 412th Test Wing commander, delivered a sobering assessment of China’s growing military capabilities during a recent briefing for local leaders at Antelope Valley College. The production quality is not that great, as it was not meant to be shared in this forum, but I felt the information itself was worth sharing, even with the poor production quality.

At MADEX 2025, LIG Nex1 was showcasing for the first time the K-SAAM II medium range surface-to-air missile (함대공유도탄-II in Korean). The South Korean defense company was also showcasing the in-service K-SAAM (해궁 or Hae-gung) short range SAM and the future CIWS-II currently under development. With all three systems, LIG Nex1 will provide a multi-layered defense solution for surface vessels.

China is very angry about Israel’s recent actions, creating a complex situation in terms of geopolitics. Chris Chappell explores what might happen to China if Iran’s government collapses in this episode of China. This war has caused tension, impacting international relations and conflict.

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 Introduction00:19 Chinese Economy: Housing Demand Collapses 75:45 Has China Now Fully Alienated the EU on Trade?09:09 New Zealand-China

Did the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meddle in the 2020 U.S. election? The FBI just unveiled what it calls “alarming allegations” of Beijing’s involvement. How deep does the alleged interference go?To dig deeper into China’s influence on the U.S. political system, we spoke with an expert.A top aide to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is drawing scrutiny. He’s the son of a man with official ties to Beijing-backed groups. We take a closer look.The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok is getting another 90-day reprieve. President Donald Trump is set to push back the deadline for the third time.A Chinese medical student’s mysterious death is raising questions online. His father believes his son is a whistleblower and his death may be tied to a major scandal inside China’s transplant industry.00:00 Intro01:18 FBI: China May Have Interfered in 2020 US Election03:10 Lucci: China’s Interference in US Politics Is No Surprise08:01 Report: LA Mayor’s Aide Tied to China’s Spy Agency09:31 Trump to Extend TikTok Sale Deadline for Third Time10:27 Mystery Surrounds Death of Whistleblower Med Student14:26 China’s Antimony Restrictions Stun US Battery Makers15:33 World Anti-Doping Agency in Question Ahead of Olympics18:35 Trade War Boosts India’s High-Tech Ambitions

On June 16, Israel announced it had taken control of the airspace over Tehran, the capital of Iran, and issued an emergency alert telling people in the city to evacuate immediately. That same day, US President Trump posted on social media urging everyone to evacuate from Tehran. After Trump’s message, traffic leaving Tehran came to a complete standstill. Millions of people rushed out of the city overnight. A trip that normally takes two hours turned into a seven-hour nightmare. It reminded many of the scenes right before the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

China has sailed two aircraft carriers east into the Pacific, conducting simultaneous drills. Could this complicate or force a rethink of U.S. strategy in the region? And was this reflected in the war games? Our guest, Tony Hu — former senior director of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of China, Taiwan, and Mongolia — shares his insights.

Your local elementary school probably just had “Teach Truth Day,” a.k.a. “Culture War Day” on June 7, 2025. The kids learned no math, no science, no reading, and no writing. If you sat in on one of these classes, you’d be shocked by what was being taught. You’d be less shocked by who’s funding these programs.

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang breaks down the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on China, their threat to global supply chains and a bipartisan bill aiming to combat foreign ownership of American farmland. #foxbusiness #china #iran #supplychain #americanfarmland

Taiwan has signed a partnership deal with US and Germany-based Auterion for drone software that has been tested on the battlefield in Ukraine. The technology was expected to be used to strengthen the self-ruled island’s defences. According to information released about the deal signed on June 17, 2025, the Auterion software has been used in Ukrainian drones operating combat missions against Russian forces. The agreement could eventually lead to the technology being used in millions of drones deployed by Taiwan. The island is actively engaging both local and international defence innovators to showcase uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) technologies with potential military applications. As part of Taiwan’s efforts, 12 companies – including seven from Taiwan and the others based in the US – are taking part in a two-day USV demonstration at Suao port in Taiwan’s northeastern Yilan county. The government-backed National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which organised the event, said data collected would be used to develop a standardised control system and modular platforms adaptable to missions, including patrol, search and rescue, environmental monitoring and logistics.

Xi Jinping may still hold the title, but behind closed doors, power has shifted. After a stroke, failed coup attempts, and a silent purge of his loyalists, Xi is now under the shadow of a far more powerful figure—General Zhang Youxia. Backed by the PLA and Party elders, Zhang has dismantled Xi’s inner circle, reversed his military reforms, and seized control of Beijing’s security apparatus. A late-night armed patrol through the capital sent an unmistakable message: Xi no longer commands the military. This is the story of how one man rose from Xi’s trusted ally to the architect of his downfall.1. 3 reasons why Xi is not in power2. Xi’s troubled relations with his vice chairmen of CMC3. Xi’s troubled relations with his secrete service chief4. Zhang Youxia’s rise to dominance

The main content of the program:0:00 Intro0:43 Xi Jinping to ‘Gracefully Exit’? Zhang Youxia Decides to Take Action Himself3:57 Iran on the Brink of Upheaval, CCP Seeks to Spark Nuclear War? U.S. Heightens Vigilance and Prepares11:33 As Ceasefire Deadline Nears, Chinese Firms Ramp Up Origin Laundering, Targeting Singapore and Egypt15:23 Deflation Signals China’s Economy May Enter a ‘Lost Era’18:33 Beijing Judge Suspected of Fleeing to Japan Reappears, Claims to Be a Scapegoat

[email protected]:00 Introduction00:10 Chinese Economy: Property Crisis Worsens | EVs05:47 Beijing on Israel-Iran War09:23 US-China: Rare Earths

Defense companies from the U.S. and Taiwan are in eastern Taiwan showing off their sea drone designs in the hope of securing contracts and partnerships.📹 Reporter(s): Luffy Li/Jaime Ocon #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanPlusNews #TaiwanNews-

Gordon Chang Wasn’t Wrong — The China Collapse Is Finally HereFor years, Gordon Chang was mocked for predicting the collapse of China. In this video, I break down why Gordon Chang wasn’t wrong—he was just early. From the bursting of China’s real estate bubble (Evergrande, Country Garden) to Xi Jinping’s authoritarian missteps, everything Gordon warned about is now unfolding in real time.This is not just another “China doomer” video. I share personal stories about being ridiculed for calling out China’s property crash years ago—until the cracks became too big to ignore. I compare China Inc. to a hyped-up stock with bad fundamentals, one that eventually crashes under the weight of its own lies. Just like the CCP’s one-party rule under Deng Xiaoping and Hu Jintao worked—until Xi Jinping broke it.Whether you’re an investor, China watcher, geopolitical analyst, or just tired of the media worshiping the Chinese growth model, this video pulls back the curtain on the slow-motion collapse of China’s economy.🔻 Timestamps:00:00 – Gordon Chang: The Punchline Turned Prophet00:55 – Why Everyone Laughed at China Bears02:02 – The Real Estate Crash I Saw Coming03:14 – China Inc. Is the Overvalued Stock Ready to Crash04:27 – The Xi Jinping Factor: How One Man Broke the System05:45 – Slow Collapse, Not Sudden—But Still a Collapse06:36 – Final Thoughts: Being Early Isn’t Being Wrong