Month: May 2026

Living in China for so long, we would like to share some of the comparisons that we have found between China and the west, and shed some light on the situation. Every week, we take you to a new place in China on our bikes, cover a topic, and reply to your questions.

Source: China Really Hates Foreigners!

Source: The Most Shocking China Story I’ve Seen So Far This Year | China’s 150 Trillion Crisis | Taiwan

Poisonings. Car attacks. Fires. Explosions. Across China, a wave of violent and “accidental” incidents is unfolding at the same time—raising a deeper question: are these really isolated events, or something more systemic? In Beijing, a mass poisoning and ramming attack shocks the public. In multiple cities, vehicles plow into crowds. Factories erupt in fire and explosions. And in Shenzhen, over 100,000 electric mopeds are seized overnight—cutting off a basic survival tool for millions. This episode breaks down how economic pressure, collapsing local finances, and aggressive administrative control are converging into something far more unstable. From infrastructure failures to rising social resentment—and from information control to public backlash—this is a look at how pressure inside a system builds, distorts, and eventually breaks through. What we’re seeing is not random. It’s a pattern.

Source: China Is at a Breaking Point—Here’s Why

The Philippines, the US, Japan and Canada are testing advanced weaponry in maritime drills as part of this year’s Balikatan exercise. This marks the first time Japan’s Type 88 anti-ship missile system has been fired from Philippine soil. The exercises focus on regional stability and military cooperation.

Source: Balikatan Drill Tests Japan’s Type – 88 Anti – Ship Missiles in Philippines｜TaiwanPlus News

Recently, there’s been a trend on Chinese social media where people are testing their stainless steel kitchenware at home. Many netizens have used heavy metal testing liquids on their pots, spoons, bowls, and plates, only to find that the liquids quickly turn red, confirming that the manganese content is dangerously high. The testing liquid reacts with high manganese steel, turning red, while real food-grade 304 and 316 stainless steel show no reaction.

Source: Shocking! 95% of China’s Stainless Steel Cutlery is Fake! The Whole Nation Is Eating Toxic Products

Universities are a frontline for Chinese infiltration. Not only are they where the next generation of citizens and thought leaders are educated, but they produce cutting edge research that is key to America’s technological prowess. In this episode we talk to Michael Lucci, the founder of the company State Armor about how to rid American high education from Chinese interference.

Source: Universities in Crisis: China’s Infiltration Exposed

Taiwan’s defense ministry has released a new report detailing the growing and evolving pressure from Beijing spanning military, cyber and diplomatic domains. The defense minister, Wellington Koo, says Beijing’s strategy goes far beyond the traditional military threat.

Source: China’s ‘Gray Zone’ Squeeze Piles the Pressure on Taiwan: Report｜TaiwanPlus News

On March 21, 2022, China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 crashed in a valley in Teng County, Wuzhou, Guangxi, while en route from Kunming to Guangzhou. The plane quickly descended from its cruising altitude of 8,900 meters, almost vertically, and crashed, killing all 123 passengers and 9 crew members aboard. This became China’s deadliest air disaster in nearly 30 years. Four years later, the Chinese government has refused to release information on the cause of the crash, citing “state secrets.” The cause of the accident remains unknown to the outside world.

Source: Shocking! China Covers Up Its Largest Air Disaster: Everything Was Done On Purpose!

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that Taiwan is likely going to be a topic of discussion at a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next week.

Source: US: Taiwan Likely a Topic in Upcoming Trump – Xi Summit｜TaiwanPlus News

China’s economy is under pressure—but the real story is what comes next. After a key Politburo meeting, new signals are emerging: falling land revenue, rising debt, weak demand—and no major stimulus in sight. So how is Beijing responding?

Source: China’s Fiscal Crisis: How Beijing Is Reaching Into Private Wealth

The US and China might be meeting soon, but tensions are rising. China is furious over Japan’s militarization in the Pacific! And Taiwan gets a big military upgrade! That and more on this week’s China news headlines!

Source: Missiles Have Been Deployed

Taiwan’s outreach to Africa hit a new obstacle after President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini was temporarily blocked by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar. The move has fueled speculation that China is expanding its pressure campaign beyond diplomacy into control over airspace and travel routes. Some analysts warn this could signal a new form of “aerial blockade,” leveraging third countries to restrict Taiwan’s global engagement. But how sustainable is this tactic — and could it backfire? In this episode, we examine the geopolitical forces behind the decision, China’s influence in Africa and how Taiwan can respond to tightening constraints on its international presence. *Recorded on April 30, 2026 at 1:45pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Tina Hsu Our guests: Lai I-chung Prospect Foundation President Marc Cheng Tamkang University Department of Diplomacy and International Relations Adjunct Lecturer Chapters: 00:00:00 – China’s African Allies Block Lai’s Eswatini Trip 00:01:26 – Is China Weaponizing Airspace Against Taiwan? 00:12:30 – Beijing’s Economic Leverage over African Allies

Source: China Attempts To Contain Taiwan With ‘Aerial Blockade’ by African Allies | Taiwan Talks EP 825

Over in the South China Sea, a dispute is flaring between Manila and Beijing. The Philippines said Chinese vessels were conducting illegal marine scientific research in its waters, warning that aircraft and boats would be deployed to remove the Chinese ships. Cha Yun-kyung reports. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday, local time, that Chinese vessels were conducting illegal marine scientific research in its waters. The PCG spokesman Rear-Admiral Jay Tarriela posted a statement on Facebook, saying the “PCG has determined that they are conducting illegal marine scientific research without the legal authority or prior consent of the Philippine government, in clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” He revealed the spots where the Chinese ships were spotted: Itbayat in the northernmost province of Batanes, near Rizal in Palawan within the vicinity of the disputed Jackson Atoll and another site close to the Scarborough Shoal. Tarriela warned that the aircraft and boats would be deployed to protect the sovereign rights of the Philippines. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the Philippines to “immediately cease its dangerous actions” and keep its distance from Chinese boats. It said the Chinese research ships “are conducting normal scientific research activities and navigating normally in waters under Chinese jurisdiction, in accordance with Chinese domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” The two countries are at odds over sovereignty issues regarding the South China Sea. A Chinese coastal guard said on Sunday, local time, that Philippines crewmen landed on a rock in the South China Sea illegally, and it would deal with them under the law. Bloomberg reported that the Philippines has strengthened military ties with the U.S. to safeguard its claims in the disputed area, leading to repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels. Reuters said, “The Philippines and China have criticized each other in the South China Sea, raising tensions in the area.”

Source: Philippines accuses Chinese vessels of illegal marine research in South China Sea

While the Chinese military isn’t yet prepared to build a battleship, Chinese media and military enthusiasts have already crafted one in the comment section of Tencent News.

Source: Hilarious! China Falls for U.S. April Fools’ Joke, Plans to Copy 30,000 – Ton Ship and Name It “BALLS”

Marcos Responds to China’s Scarborough Shoal Barrier Amid Threats to Philippine Sovereignty Scarborough Shoal’s lagoon has a new floating rope-and-buoy barrier, satellite images show, prompting Manila to accuse Chinese cutters and maritime militia of blocking Filipino fishermen. The Philippines …

Source: Marcos Responds to China’s Scarborough Shoal Barrier Amid Threats to Philippine Sovereignty

Beijing is now blaming the CIA for China’s “lying flat” trend among young people. Officials say foreign forces are spreading pessimism and discouraging hard work. But on the ground, the reality looks very different. Rising unemployment, shrinking opportunities, and mounting social pressure are pushing many young people to step back—not because they want to, but because they feel they have no way forward. This episode breaks down the stories, the data, and the growing disconnect between official narratives and lived experience—and why this quiet withdrawal is becoming one of the most sensitive issues in China today.

Source: Beijing Blames the CIA for its Youth Crisis. But the Reality Is Worse