Day: January 7, 2026

Maduro’s capture wasn’t about drugs. It wasn’t even about oil. It was about China. For years, Beijing used Venezuela to expand its influence, intelligence, and power in the Western Hemisphere. Trump’s move didn’t just take down a dictator—it sent a message directly to the CCP. Here’s what everyone else is missing.

China’s northeastern region, once called the nation’s “eldest son” for being the country’s industrial backbone, now posts the country’s lowest birth rates, the highest divorce rates, and sharply rising mortality. Over the past decade, the combined permanent population of the three northeastern provinces has declined by more than 11 million.

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 Land Use Sales Revenue Collapse05:44 China Escalates Japan Tensions10:06 South Korea-China

#InsightfulChina #USMilitary #AirDefenseSystems #Radar #Venezuela At 3:29 AM on January 3rd, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, dressed in their pajamas, were captured alive by US forces in their fortified residence and taken to the United States. What shocked the world was that Venezuela’s Chinese-made JY-27 “anti-stealth” radar, which it had invested heavily in and heavily deployed over a long period, as well as its Russian-made S-300 air defense system, showed no response to the US operation.

China’s relations with the Global South have been thrust into the spotlight following the US special operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro. As China is one of Venezuela’s largest economic and political partners in Latin American, other developing countries awaiting how Beijing reacts to this act of brazen US aggression against its so-called “all-weather” friend. What do these developments mean for China’s other allies and trading partners? And what are the lessons for Taiwan? In this episode, we examine China’s economic and political links with the Global South and the implications for the Taiwan Strait.

China just can’t convince anybody that Taiwan is their territory, especially Japan!

Living costs are rising across Taiwan in 2026, with cafe chain Louisa Coffee raising prices about 5% on several items starting Wednesday, citing higher raw material, labor and electricity costs. Taiwanese PC maker ASUS is also increasing prices due to supply chain pressure.

In late December 2025, a comic convention in Hangzhou banned all Japanese manga IPs and cosplay, highlighting the deepening rupture in China-Japan relations—the most severe since 1972. This move backfired spectacularly, boosting Japanese Prime Minister Takamichi Sanae’s approval rating to a historic 67.5–75%.Japanese society now views China primarily as a security threat, with over 70% supporting a hardline stance. This consensus is accelerating Japan’s strategic decoupling: major firms like Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, Canon, and Sony are exiting China, pulling supply chains with them. Satellite companies—20,000 to 24,000—face collapse, threatening millions of jobs in manufacturing hubs.The exodus ends the “flying geese” model of economic interdependence. With profitability plummeting and geopolitical risks rising, Japan’s withdrawal is permanent. Beijing’s aggressive tactics have only strengthened Japan’s resolve, leaving little room for reversal.

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the boarding and seizure of M/T Marinera and why the long pursuit along with the taking of M/T M Sophia.#supplychain #venezuela #marinera #bella1 #MSophia #sanctions 00:00 Introduction 07:02 How the US Could Have Seized Marinera 10:59 Seizure of M Sophia in the Caribbean12:36 What does this mean going forward?

China is ordering its banks to review billions in Venezuela-linked loans after Washington’s capture of Nicolás Maduro, reflecting rising concerns over geopolitical shocks to lenders.China’s economic growth slowed to its weakest pace in six months last December.Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges at his first New York court appearance on Monday. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, saying she would “face a situation probably worse than Maduro” if she failed to “do what’s right.”The United States’ capture of Venezuela’s Maduro is sparking debate over whether Beijing could attempt something similar against Taiwan’s president.South Korea’s president is visiting China this week, hoping to boost ties and economic cooperation. How will negotiations play out? A geopolitical expert breaks it down.00:00 Intro01:33 China Orders Banks to Assess Venezuela-Related Loans03:26 China’s December PMI Hits the Slowest Point: Survey06:05 Maduro Pleads Not Guilty to Drug and Weapons Charges09:27 Switzerland Freezes Maduro and Associates’ Assets09:57 Venezuela Orders Police to Arrest U.S. Operation Supporters10:28 Trump Issues Stern Warning to Interim Venezuelan Leader12:24 U.S. Ambassador Defends Maduro Capture at U.N.13:59 Experts Debate Whether Beijing Could Capture Taiwan’s President17:30 China, S. Korea Seek to Boost Ties Amid Regional Tensions18:51 China–S. Korea Dialogue | Analysis

Since Xi Jinping began his third term, China’s military has been shaken by an unprecedented purge. Open-source tracking shows that around 69% of active-duty PLA full generals have been removed, expelled, or placed under investigation. This program breaks down who has fallen, who remains, and what recent promotion ceremonies quietly revealed—empty seats, frozen promotions, and single-digit survivors. What does this level of turmoil mean for Xi’s control of the military and China’s stability?

Foreign investment in Taiwan has reached record highs, with total holdings exceeding US$320 billion and US$37 billion in inflows in 2025. TaiwanPlus spoke with Alan Tseng, Executive VP of The Capital Group, to explore the factors behind the surge and its implications for Taiwan’s economy and outlook.