Day: January 18, 2026

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on countries doing business with Iran and China’s growing role in funding Tehran.

Hundreds of protesters marched in London, urging the government to reject plans for a new Chinese embassy site. Critics say the city center site poses security risks due to nearby sensitive communications cables and warn it could be used for surveillance and intimidation of dissidents. Beijing has denied the claims though, saying the proposed site is only for diplomatic purposes. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a Jan. 20 deadline to approve or reject the project.

Population and economic data are key indicators in the competition between major global powers, but under the Chinese Communist Party’s rule, China has been accused of falsifying these figures, with many flaws exposed!

China has said it opposes a long-awaited trade deal between the US and Taiwan reached on Thursday. Taipei says Beijing has no right to interfere.

China and Russia have shown greater ambition in the Arctic in recent years by investing in military infrastructure and conducting naval operations. Our guests discuss the impact of these developments.

Hundreds of protesters marched in London, urging the government to reject plans for a new Chinese embassy site. Critics say the city center site poses security risks due to nearby sensitive communications cables and warn it could be used for surveillance and intimidation of dissidents. Beijing has denied the claims though, saying the proposed site is only for diplomatic purposes. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a Jan. 20 deadline to approve or reject the project.

Chinese Communist Party infighting is intensifying. Ten generals were absent from a significant meeting in Beijing this week—a step often taken before officials are formally ousted. Does this signal a delay in Beijing’s timeline to take Taiwan?High-stakes talks at the White House failed to reach a consensus. After meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, the Danish foreign minister said the potential U.S. takeover of Greenland is “absolutely not necessary.”Is the Chinese regime fearing protests like those in Iran and preparing for that possibility? Videos circulating online show Chinese police drilling for riot control, including simulated scenarios of shooting at civilians.Meanwhile, China’s planned embassy in London is raising international concerns. It would include more than 200 rooms underground, just one yard from the UK’s most sensitive communications infrastructure.00:00 Intro00:58 Expert: China’s Taiwan Takeover Plan Could Be Delayed01:34 10 Generals Absent From Top Anti-Corruption Meeting02:22 Expert: Xi Might Have Lost Control Over the Military04:00 Denmark: U.S. Takeover of Greenland Not Necessary05:39 China’s Trade Surplus Hits Record; Exports to U.S. Drop06:50 China EVs Face EU Tariffs or Sales Limits07:30 Trump: To Be Anti-Tariff Is to Be Pro-China08:12 U.S. Approves NVIDIA H200 Chip Exports to China09:12 Activists Urge Int’l Leaders to Support Iranian People11:16 Videos: Chinese Police Practice Shooting at Civilians11:53 Authorities Link China-Made Airbags to Fatal Crashes12:52 Crane Falls on Train in Thailand, China Involved14:58 Proposed Chinese Embassy in London Raises Security Concerns16:31 As Iran Protests Grow, Lessons From the Arab Spring

The arms race is a key part of the U.S.-China confrontation. Recently, the U.S. has taken multiple actions to strike back at China for stealing American military technology.On January 12, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick, was sentenced to 200 months in prison after being convicted of espionage. He was involved in a conspiracy to send defense information to Chinese officials.

The U.S. Marine Corps is reshaping modern warfare with the Lightning Carrier — a bold new concept that turns amphibious assault ships into fast, flexible mini-aircraft carriers. Equipped with F-35B stealth jets and designed for island and littoral operations in the Indo-Pacific, these ships offer speed, agility, and unpredictability the traditional supercarriers can’t. From rapid deployments to night operations, Lightning Carriers are redefining forward presence and distributed maritime power. Could this be the future of naval combat?

Over the last year China has had an epidemic of fires and it is crazy!

After the U.S. captured Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, attention is turning to another longtime CCP ally just 90 miles from Florida. From Chinese spy bases and PLA war planning to Cuba’s collapsing economy, the island may be more vulnerable than ever. Is Cuba next on the Trump administration’s list—and what would that mean for China’s influence in the Americas?

Prosecutors in southern Taiwan ordered the arrest of 6 individuals, including a reporter from a local media outlet, for their alleged roles in a Chinese spy ring.

US Chipmaker Micron says it has signed a letter of intent to buy a Powerchip Semiconductor (PSMC) facility in central Taiwan’s Miaoli County for US$1.8 billion, eyeing a boost to computer memory production amid a global shortage. The company expects the deal to close by mid-year, with significant production by the second half of 2027. The move follows a strong run in Micron shares after TSMC’s earnings update and after Micron broke ground on its New York megafab earlier this month.

Venezuela relied on Chinese and Russian military tech, yet it failed to stop the US capture of Maduro. What message does this send to the world, specifically to Taiwan? Join our discussion.

Two US Navy vessels passed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday and Friday in the first crossings since US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.

Taiwan scores big as tariffs drop to 15 percent, with some goods now duty-free. It is also partnering with the United States on artificial intelligence. In exchange, Washington has secured an additional $500 billion in investments.Canada is lowering tariffs on some Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in exchange for modest relief from economic pressures. But trade with China comes with complications, including demands from Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Twenty-six people have been indicted in a game-fixing scheme in men’s college basketball. Authorities say it started with rigged games in China, then expanded to NCAA games in the U.S.China unveiled new equipment designed to target Starlink terminals and disrupt internet signals. Could this be preparation for an invasion of Taiwan?Military presence in Greenland has expanded. Some European countries are sending soldiers there. Which country are they targeting?00:00 Intro01:03 US Gets $500B Taiwan Investment for 5% Tariff Cut03:21 Canada, China Slash EV, Canola Tariffs to Reset Ties05:16 CIA Recruiting Chinese Spies06:11 26 People Charged in Scheme to Rig NCAA Games07:48 China Unveils Portable System to Jam Starlink08:53 US Approves $1.5B Proposal for Naval Base in Peru10:13 Some European Nations Send Troops to Greenland12:27 Why President Trump Wants US Control of Greenland15:11 ‘Are You Dead?’ Chinese ‘Loneliness’ App Removed16:12 Why the ‘Are You Dead’ App is Going Viral in China17:00 Growing Scrutiny Over China-Linked Online Scam Ads

The Chinese Communist Party’s most prized “rare earth card” is no longer effective.On January 12, Japan’s research vessel, the Chikyu, set sail from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka Prefecture, heading toward the waters near the remote island of Minami-Torishima, located about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The vessel is embarking on a one-month deep-sea rare earth exploration mission.

The arms race is a key part of the U.S.-China confrontation. Recently, the U.S. has taken multiple actions to strike back at China for stealing American military technology.On January 12, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick, was sentenced to 200 months in prison after being convicted of espionage. He was involved in a conspiracy to send defense information to Chinese officials.

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 Introduction00:26 Rhodium Report: Growth Bet Won’t Pay Off 04:20 Rare Cross-Border Basketball Fixing Scandal 07:36 China’s Trade Surplus Reshapes Global Capital Flows

As winter sets in, Chinese cars exported to Russia are facing serious issues. Russian media reports that these vehicles, which dominate the Russian car market, are now being dubbed “mobile coffins.”

As protests erupt in Iran and Venezuela, Beijing quietly shifts into crisis mode. This program reveals how the Chinese Communist Party monitors foreign unrest, activates early-warning systems, and moves to prevent external political shocks from echoing inside China.Behind closed doors in Zhongnanhai, these crises revive a core CCP fear: the collapse of the Soviet Union. From real-time embassy reporting to tightened media control and pre-emptive domestic management, Beijing’s response exposes deeper fractures at the top of the regime.As Xi Jinping’s authority weakens and elite consensus breaks down, foreign crises begin intersecting with internal power struggles—and with quiet preparations for a post-Xi future.Watch to understand why Iran matters to China, who is really making decisions in Beijing, and what these signals reveal about the CCP’s next phase.

The New York Times reports that on two occasions in December and January, thousands of Chinese fishing boats grouped together in the East China Sea. Analysts say the unusual formation could be a test of using civilian vessels in coordinated military efforts. While it may not be enough to form a blockade, their presence could disrupt American military operations.

Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is moving forward with snap elections in the lower house, vying for the chance to win her Liberal Democratic Party a majority. She’s taking advantage of boosted approval ratings, as she’s held a firm stance despite mounting Chinese pressure in retaliation for her comments on Taiwan.