Month: February 2026

A massive sinkhole has suddenly opened on a busy road in Shanghai, China’s largest financial hub. What caused it?Two Chinese-American female athletes are in the spotlight—not for the medals they won, but for the paths they took. Alysa Liu won figure skating gold for the U.S., while Eileen Gu took freestyle skiing silver for China. A former NBA player calls Eileen Gu a traitor—but she says it’s more about opportunity, not loyalty.Lily Tang Williams, survivor, Mao’s Cultural Revolution: “I think Eileen Gu might consider becoming a Chinese citizen, living there, and seeing what it’s like.”Forty-eight hours after his release by ICE, a Chinese whistleblower with evidence of Beijing’s alleged human rights abuses sat down with us last week. He crossed the U.S. southern border in 2020–21, hoping to escape persecution by the Chinese regime.Takaichi wins big in Japan’s elections, and President Trump unveils a new ‘Board of Peace.’Retired Marine Colonel Grant Newsham joins us to break down what these moves could mean for global politics and China’s reaction: “You’ve seen so many things come out of the White House—this White House that everyone thinks are impossible—and then something happens. So I’m in the wait-and-see mode, but not willing to dismiss it.”00:00 Intro01:03 Subway Site Caves In, Causing Massive Sinkhole in Shanghai01:50 Is Eileen Gu a Traitor to the US?04:53 Eileen Gu Might Consider Living in China: Lily Tang Williams05:31 China Uses Soft Power to Infiltrate the US07:38 China Benefits From Pro-Beijing Celebrities Abroad09:26 Alysa Liu’s Family Has Been Spied on by CCP11:30 Xinjiang Camp Whistleblower Freed After US Asylum Win17:29 Japan’s Power Shift; China Reacts to Board of Peace | Analysis

Xi’s grip on power is being challenged from within the CCP. Who exactly is in the anti-Xi camp—and why are these forces emerging now? This episode breaks down the CCP’s hidden power blocs: the conservatives, the reformists, and Xi’s shrinking inner circle. We examine how the fallout from moves against Zhang Youxia reshaped the balance inside Zhongnanhai, why the PLA’s silence matters, and how internal rules are being used to restrain Xi Jinping without open confrontation.

A new war study warns the US could lose a conflict with China in just 30 days. Fuel shortages. Missile depletion in a week. Critical logistics failures. While Beijing builds the world’s largest navy and massive missile stockpiles, America’s supply chains and shipbuilding are stretched thin. Here’s what the Heritage Foundation’s “Tidalwave” report reveals—and why the US must prepare now to deter war over Taiwan.

On February 12, workers gathered outside Wuhu Shipyard in Weihai City, Shandong Province, demanding unpaid wages after not receiving salaries for three months. Instead of paying the workers, the company brought in police who violently drove them away and arrested multiple people on the spot.

US President Donald Trump said on Feb.16 he would decide soon on sending more weapons to Taiwan, after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against potential moveIn a phone call with Trump on Feb 4, Xi had called for “mutual respect” in relations with the US, while also warning Washington over arms sales to the democratically-run island#japan #china #usa #taiwan #trump 0:00 INTRO 2:34 US WEAPONS TO TAIWAN? TRUMP TO DECIDE “SOON”3:47 AS CHINA PULLS BACK, RUSSIA ‘FILLS GAPS’ IN JAPAN TOURISM5:25 ENCIRCLING US MQ-9 DRONES SPOOK CHINA?

00:00 Introduction 00:15 NYC Budget Showdown: Mamdani’s Tax Threat Highlights Deep Fiscal Strains02:53 Germany Faces Sharper Population Decline, Raising Long-Term Fiscal Strains05:46 Japan Commits $36 Billion to US Under Landmark Tariff-Linked Deal

Workers on a street in Shanghai watch as a street collapses near a construction site. LIttle did they know where they were standing wasn’t safe ground…

Where is Zhang Youxia—and why does Beijing need to “produce” him? Weeks after the shock inside the PLA’s top command, officials still won’t say where he is, how he was taken, or which agency is in charge. This episode explains why the silence matters: Xi Jinping’s move crossed long-standing rules, rattled military morale, and split elite factions. With the Two Sessions approaching, pressure is building—turning a missing-general mystery into a regime-level power struggle.

A recent espionage case involving active-duty military personnel has renewed concerns about internal security vulnerabilities in Taiwan. While the investigation is ongoing, the case highlights how modern infiltration rarely relies on a single actor, instead operating through overlapping roles spanning military access, media influence and information networks. Often described as a “fifth column,” these internal risks raise difficult questions for a democratic society under sustained external pressure. How can Taiwan deter infiltration without undermining civil liberties? In this episode, we examine the evolving nature of fifth-column risks, proposed national security law amendments, gray-zone pressure from China, and how Taiwan can strengthen democratic resilience while preserving openness and rule of law.

Taiwan’s armed forces are training with newly acquired US-made Altius-600M loitering munitions, often referred to as suicide drones, looking to bolster the country’s broader asymmetric defense strategy.

The Pentagon recently released a report detailing China’s “National Total War” strategy to overcome the “strong enemy” of the United States.After observing the global response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China is hardening not just its military, but also its economy to survive sanctions and global isolation. We break down the Pentagon’s report covering China’s military buildup, global supply chains, technology, logistics, and political considerations as 2027 fast approaches.

Storytime’s Over: Xi Jinping’s Tall Tales Crumble – And What Comes Next? | Digging into ChinaIn the grand theater of authoritarian rule, as Max Weber warned, legitimacy lives or dies by the stories we tell. China’s saga? Mao’s fiery revolutions birthed endless enemies and chaos; Deng’s pragmatic boom traded ideology for growth, buying decades of buy-in. Jiang and Hu fine-tuned the harmony, but Xi? He revived the struggle—anti-corruption crusades masking purges, prosperity myths masking slumps, zero-COVID victories masking trauma.

Start your morning with The National News Desk as Jan Jeffcoat sits down with China expert and author Gordon Chang to discuss the U.S.-Taiwan trade deal, bringing insight and context to the stories shaping the day.

China just suffered a major setback in the Western Hemisphere.Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that CK Hutchison’s concession to operate key ports at the Panama Canal is unconstitutional—a decision that could weaken Beijing’s strategic foothold at one of the world’s most critical trade chokepoints.Beijing is already threatening retaliation, pausing deals, and increasing inspections on Panamanian goods. But instead of intimidating its neighbors, China’s response may be pushing countries closer to the US—and even toward Taiwan.

An open letter calls for Zhang Youxia’s release. Leaks point to growing anger inside the PLA. Party elders are negotiating behind closed doors. This episode traces the escalating effort to free Zhang Youxia—and what it reveals about Xi Jinping’s weakening grip on China’s military. From unusual silence during New Year greetings to behind-the-scenes pressure from elite networks, the battle over one general exposes deeper fractures inside the CCP power structure. As rival camps maneuver, the question isn’t just Zhang’s fate—it’s who really controls the PLA.

Recently, Beijing Capital International Airport released its 2025 performance forecast, expecting a net loss of 600 million to 760 million yuan.

US: NIOMF This video was disseminated on behalf of North American Niobiumand was funded by Gold Standard Media LLC and/or affiliates. For our full disclaimer, please visit: https://portal.goldstandardir.com/dis…00:00 Introduction00:29 CIA Recruitment & China’s Military03:34 China’s Russia Support05:22 North American Niobium (US: NIOMF)09:31 Chinese Economy: Fifth Year of a Housing Crisis

Two Party Centers inside the CCP. Is Xi Jinping really back in control—or quietly losing grip on the military and Party elites? PLA editorials, coded warnings, and elite silence reveal a dangerous power split in Zhongnanhai. Three factions are now locked in a high-stakes standoff. Who breaks first—and who gets sacrificed when the balance tips?

The dust has settled on Japan’s House of Representatives election held on February 8, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) securing 316 seats on its own. This victory surpasses the two-thirds “supermajority” threshold needed to initiate constitutional amendments in the 465-seat legislature. When combined with the 36 seats won by its ally, the Japan Innovation Party, the ruling coalition now secures 352 seats, granting it absolute dominance. This marks the largest victory for a single political party in post-war Japan and sets a new record for the LDP’s most remarkable electoral performance in its 71-year history. Sanae Takaichi herself also won a landslide victory in her own constituency with 88.7% of the vote, providing her administration with a strong popular mandate.

Taiwan’s vice premier says it’s impossible to move 40 percent of semiconductor production to the United States. More on the tug-of-war between Washington and Taipei over this critical technology.U.S. military forces pursued a sanctioned oil tanker from South America halfway across the globe before boarding it in the Indian Ocean. The ship was carrying oil bound for China.Visiting Bath Iron Works, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called for faster U.S. manufacturing. He says the Pentagon is pushing to rebuild the defense industrial base and prioritize U.S.-made weapons to meet battlefield demands.Four years in prison for a former campaign adviser to a Southern California city council member. He’s been convicted of acting as an agent for China.A strategic Australian port has become a battleground for U.S.–China tensions. Australia’s prime minister aims to regain control of the Darwin port—triggering possible trade retaliation from China.Some of China’s high-ranking military officers have been purged. Insiders reveal a quiet pushback spreading through the Chinese military and into the civilian bureaucracy.00:00 Intro01:26 Taiwan: Moving 40 Percent of Chip Production to U.S. ‘Impossible’03:24 U.S. Forces Board Venezuelan Oil Tanker Bound for China04:20 U.S. War Secretary: ‘Go Fast. We Win.’06:49 California Man Gets 4 Years for China Agent Role07:43 U.S. to Deploy 4 Submarines to Naval Base in Australia08:52 Australia Aims to Reclaim Darwin Port From China10:35 Insiders: Passive Resistance Spreading in China’s Military11:20 Jimmy Lai’s Verdict Reveals CCP’s True Nature: Cella11:43 Starmer Calls for Strategic Partnership With China14:01 Jimmy Lai’s Last Interview Before Arrest16:29 Independent Media in Hong Kong Under Pressure18:38 Air Canada Suspends Flights to Cuba

What are the obstacles to accurately assessing China’s economy? Our guests explain the limitations of analyzing China’s official statistics.

Taiwan and the US are deepening military cooperation with the establishment of a Joint Firepower Coordination Center, designed to improve target integration and precision strike planning amid rising pressure from China. Supporters argue the move strengthens deterrence by denial in the Taiwan Strait, while critics warn it could narrow strategic ambiguity. At the same time, questions have emerged over Washington’s priorities after Taiwan was not explicitly mentioned in the latest US National Defense Strategy, even as officials emphasize the First Island Chain. How should this omission be interpreted? And what does growing US–Taiwan operational integration mean for regional security? In this episode, we examine the Joint Firepower Coordination Center, evolving US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, and how Taiwan fits into shifting US defense planning under renewed US–China rivalry. *Recorded on February 5, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti SungProducer: Chinyeh Chiang Our guests: Bryce C. Barros GLOBSEC’s GeoTech Center Associate FellowKitsch Liao Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub Associate Director Chapters:00:00:00 – Taiwan, US Build ‘Joint Firepower’ to Deter War00:01:38 – Taiwan and US Integrate Military Systems00:10:56 – Why Did US Omit Taiwan in Official Strategy?00:19:21 – Trump and Xi Talk Trade, Security Ahead of Visit

FBI Director Kash Patel says President Donald Trump is backing the return of the China Initiative. The program, which ended under the Biden administration, targeted criminal activity tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Arrests for Chinese espionage reportedly rose 40 percent during the first year of Trump’s second term.A major shift in Japan’s political landscape. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a sweeping supermajority victory. Reactions are coming in from Trump and China’s Foreign Ministry.Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the city’s most severe national security case to date. World leaders are condemning the ruling.The White House is backing Taiwan’s $40 billion push to boost defense spending. Details on infighting among the island’s political parties over the proposal.“Appearance violations.” That’s the official reason a Chinese singer has been repeatedly banned on Chinese social media. His resemblance to Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has become an issue for the regime.00:00 Intro01:12 FBI’s Focus Returns to CCP-Related Threats02:59 Takaichi Wins Snap Election; Trump, China Respond05:53 Hong Kong Jails China Critic Jimmy Lai for 20 Years07:41 WH Backs Taiwan’s Plan to Raise Defense Spending08:46 Honduras Weighs Taiwan Ties After Trump Meeting10:10 Singer-Actor Repeatedly Banned for Resembling Xi Jinping11:15 Farmers Seek Land Pay, Workers Demand Owed Wages12:11 Japan’s Takaichi Secures Landslide Win in Snap Election | Analysis15:43 U.S. to Bring China Under New Nuclear Arms Control?18:36 What’s Next in U.S.-China Relations?🔵Tiffany Meier’s documentary Hollywood Takeover – how Beijing is rewriting the script in America’s film industry: hollywoodtakeover.com

The daily average number of Chinese military aircraft coming near Taiwan last month was the lowest since President Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024, according to defense ministry figures. TaiwanPlus spoke to INDSR’s Su Tzu-yun for his thoughts on what could be driving this decline.

Fujian, the third Chinese aircraft carrier, was commissioned at the Sanya military port in Hainan in November 2025. Just three months later, it became embroiled in another scandal. Chinese media exposed its significant flaws, stating that Fujian not only falls short of American aircraft carriers but also fails to compare to the unfinished Soviet aircraft carrier.

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.

Global pressure is building to free Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai after a Hong Kong court sentenced him to 20 years in prison under a controversial national security law.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer discusses President Donald Trump’s critical minerals deals and the framework for the U.S.-India trade deal on ‘Mornings with Maria.’ #foxbusiness #morningswithmaria

A significant industry has emerged of expectant mothers flying from China to states such as California or U.S. territories such as Saipan to give birth to American citizens, says investigative reporter Peter Schweizer.As soon as the newborn is old enough to fly, mother and child travel back to China with their babies. Chinese state-run media began promoting such services years ago, Schweizer says.“They are exploiting this on a massive scale,” Schweizer said. “It’s industrial, and we are completely oblivious to it.”He estimates there are tens of thousands of such cases per year. When the child turns 21, their parents can then potentially claim green cards through them.There are also growing anecdotes of surrogacy as another preferred route.“Politically connected elites in China … are hiring women in the United States to carry their children. They call them carriers. And these women are American citizens,” Schweizer says.Schweizer is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, including most recently “The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon.”In this episode, he breaks down some of the incredible findings of his book.Over the course of history, “migration has oftentimes been used as a weapon: a weapon of subversion, a weapon to overwhelm an enemy, a weapon to divide an enemy, a weapon to sow chaos,” he says.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

After Zhang Youxia was taken down, large-scale PLA troop movements appeared across China—tanks, missile launchers, armored vehicles, and helicopters on city streets. Is the PLA surrounding Beijing to pressure Xi Jinping? This video breaks down what’s really happening inside the Chinese military: who authorized these deployments, why a real coup is unlikely, and how factions inside the PLA are using troop movements as pressure, signaling, and intimidation—not war mobilization.

First order of business: No, this isn’t financial advice. Second order of business: taking a loan out in Yuan to profit from a Chinese collapse is a very bad idea.

China’s economy is slowing dramatically under Xi Jinping’s leadership, but this may not be a failure—it’s deliberate. Prosperity is no longer the top goal; absolute Party control is. By crushing private giants like Alibaba and Tencent through golden shares and regulations, Xi has eliminated independent power centers that threatened regime security. Deflation and downturns are tolerated—even welcomed—because they drive people toward secure government jobs, concentrating resources in state hands.This “birdcage economy” prioritizes political reliability over growth, redirecting funds to state firms, military tech, and war-ready industries. Innovation suffers under tight control, yet Xi bets digital tools can make a modern planned economy work where the Soviet Union failed.The cost: a shrinking middle class, lost vitality, and a society designed for survival, not thriving. In the name of eternal red rule, China is trading wealth and freedom for fortified control.

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 Introduction00:12 Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years02:01 Chinese Economy: Lunar New Year Cash Crunch03:24 Tech War: Humanoid Robots 07:15 PRC Connected Cars: “Smartphones on Wheels”