Month: August 2026

Xi Jinping’s upcoming U.S. visit and expected meeting with President Trump are already drawing attention—but his unusually brief itinerary is raising an even bigger question: is Xi preparing to leave power? In this program, we examine the signs behind that possibility, including his decision to skip the UN, renewed talk of “voluntary” succession, the shifting Taiwan timeline, turmoil inside the PLA, and speculation over Li Qiang as a possible successor. None of these developments proves Xi is stepping down, but together they form a pattern that is becoming harder to ignore.

Source: The Signs Xi Jinping May Be Preparing to Leave

China Analyst Tony Fiddis breaks down the life sentence handed to Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan and examines why China's property crisis continues to deteriorate.

Source: The Greatest Con In The History of The World | Space Race | EU – China | South Korea

From Asia’s richest man to life in prison: Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan’s rise and fall mirrors that of China’s real estate industry—one of the pillars of the Chinese economy. A group of senators is calling on the U.S. attorney general and the secretary of state to investigate California’s policy ties with the Chinese Communist Party. Voter fraud in the 2024 presidential election: A Massachusetts man—a Chinese national—is accused of using someone else’s identity to cast a ballot … and then turning that person in to federal authorities. Here’s what prosecutors say happened next. The U.S. State Department is declaring that an American has been wrongfully detained in China. Here’s what this means—and why the timing matters. A major legal battle is unfolding over a proposed Chinese mega-embassy in London. A U.K. High Court ruling dealt a blow to residents fighting the project—but they’re not giving up. Why does the U.K. say the embassy could pose a national security threat? And how could it affect American financial services? American Thought Leaders host Jan Jekielek speaks with Luke de Pulford, co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. For the full interview, visit American Thought Leaders on Epoch TV. 00:00 Intro 01:01 Evergrande Founder Sentenced to Life in Prison 01:58 Evergrande’s Rise and Fall Mirrors China’s Crisis 03:02 CCP Infiltration in U.S. Universities 05:44 Senators Call on U.S. to Probe California-China Ties 08:02 Chinese National Charged With Voter Fraud 09:03 U.S. State Dept.: American Wrongfully Detained in China 10:16 Ford to Shift Some Production From China to U.S. 12:03 Documents Reveal CCP Interference in 2020 Election 14:50 Taiwan Proposes Record-High 2027 Defense Budget 15:38 Alibaba Net Profit Falls 76 Percent Due to AI Spending 16:26 Pulford: China’s London Embassy Could Endanger U.S. Finance

Source: Evergrande Founder Sentenced to Life in Prison | China in Focus

Zhu Rongji helped reshape modern China—but his real legacy is far more complicated than Beijing’s official obituary suggests. From Tiananmen and Falun Gong to SOE layoffs, the WTO and China’s rise as the world’s factory, we look at what Zhu changed, what it cost, and what Beijing left out.

Source: What Beijing Left Out of Zhu Rongji’s Legacy

When companies look at the China market, they see potentially 1.4 billion consumers. That’s a lie, says our guest David Day, who is the Chairman of the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation.

Source: China's Economy Is Built On A HUGE Lie

China analyst Tony Fiddis breaks down the latest economic distress signals emerging across China as state-driven capital accelerates a massive bubble in artificial intelligence and robotics. Read the full, in-depth analysis on China News Update: https://chinanewsupdate.com/chinas-ec… Please Support the Channel (It's just me making China Update): Patreon Link: / chinaupdate One-off Tips Here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chinaupdate Video Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 China’s Economy: Falling Bond Yields & Youth Unemployment 05:22 Black Forrest 07:01 Unitree’s ‘Blockbuster’ Shanghai IPO 10:10 Global Tech War: The AI Gap EPISODE SUMMARY & BREAKDOWN: In this briefing, China analyst Tony Fiddis examines the stark divergence currently defining the world’s second-largest economy. On one side, core macroeconomic indicators—including persistent deflationary pressures, sluggish domestic consumption, and mounting local government debt—continue to flash warning signs across traditional industrial and property sectors. On the other side, Beijing’s aggressive push into high-tech self-reliance has triggered an unprecedented surge of capital into artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, and advanced automation. While state directives aim to establish global technological dominance, market realities reveal growing risks of overcapacity, speculative valuation bubbles, and severe resource misallocation. Tony analyses whether these state-backed technological investments can realistically offset broader macroeconomic stagnation, or if the rush into frontier tech is masking deeper structural vulnerabilities. We explore the ripple effects for international investors, domestic employment, and global supply chain realignments as China navigates this high-stakes industrial transition.

Source: China Just Woke Up To Very Bad News | Unitree’s Blockbuster IPO | China Closing The AI Gap?

Taiwan has announced that its US tariff rate has been reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent, matching Japan, South Korea and the EU, as part of a sweeping trade and investment framework with Washington. The deal includes large-scale Taiwanese investment in the US semiconductor, AI and energy industries, along with government-backed credit guarantees and new industrial parks. Supporters argue the agreement strengthens economic integration and resilience, but critics warn it could hollow out Taiwan’s chip industry and weaken its so-called “Silicon Shield” that theoretically deters Chinese aggression. How does Taiwan’s model differ from Japan’s and South Korea’s? And what lessons should Taiwan take from the rise and sudden fall of Japan’s DRAM chip industry in late 20th century? In this episode, we discuss the US–Taiwan trade deal, comparisons with Japan and South Korea, historical lessons from past chip wars, and what the agreement means for Taiwan’s security and future position in global supply chains.

Source: Trump Deal Infuriates China – Taiwan's New Move To Counter Beijing? | Taiwan Talks EP758

A warning one day. A confrontation the next. China has escalated tensions in the South China Sea, warning the Philippines and telling Australia to stay out.

Source: China Warned the Philippines. Within 24 Hours, Beijing Acted in the South China Sea

China's coastal city of Xiamen is proposing 12 measures to deepen ties with Taiwan, including a bridge linking one of Taiwan's outlying islands to the Chines

Source: Taiwan Dismisses China’s New Measures To Strengthen Ties

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang discusses China's push for 'digital sovereignty' and the threat of Chinese-made products slipping into U.S. government procurement supply chains.

Source: CRACKDOWN: Harvard – China ties come under FIRE as Pentagon orders audits

In this exclusive episode, the nephew of the 14th Dalai Lama and former Tibetan parliamentarian Khedroob Thondup joins us to discuss one of the most consequential moments in his country’s modern history. Beijing insists it has the authority to approve the next Dalai Lama, even as the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader has made clear that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust can recognize his future reincarnation. The dispute follows decades of failed dialogue between Tibetan leaders and the Chinese government, as well as the controversial disappearance of the Panchen Lama recognized by the Dalai Lama in 1995 and Beijing's appointment of its own successor. With the US and India voicing support for Tibetans' religious freedom, questions are growing over the future of Tibetan leadership, identity and international support. Can Tibet preserve its religious traditions and political aspirations in the face of increasing Chinese control? In this episode, we examine the succession challenge, Beijing's strategy and what the future of Tibet means for China, India and the wider region.

Source: Why Tibet Will Outlive China’s Communist Party | Taiwan Talks EP907

Japan is preparing for war—and it says China is the biggest reason why. In this episode of China Uncensored, we break down Japan’s latest defense strategy, China’s growing military pressure around Japan, the expanding China-Russia partnership, and why Japan is rapidly strengthening its military alliances and capabilities. Japan says the world is entering its greatest period of crisis since World War II. And it’s making sure it’s ready.

Source: Japan Must Fight or Die

Watch the full podcast! https://chinauncensored.tv/programs/p… China was once the land of milk and honey for multinationals that wanted a hardworking and low-paid labor force with all the infrastructure (and lack of environmental regulations) to manufacture their products. That’s changing for various reasons, but for the ones who are still in China, such as Tesla, they’re in one big Chinese trap.

Source: Musk Is In Trouble…

In June 2026, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning deployed to the western Pacific, drawing analysis from defense observers regarding its air wing composition. Footage released by CCTV shows folded-wing carrier-based aircraft parked along the angled flight deck. A launch bar on the front landing gear indicates these aircraft are the updated J-15T variant, designed for catapult-assisted takeoff. Based on visual examination of the deck, all visible fighters appear to be J-15Ts.

Source: China’s Carrier Fighter Nightmare: A “Joke” With Less Than 12 Years Of Life

Zhu Rongji’s death comes at a highly sensitive moment for Xi Jinping—just after the Beidaihe meetings, during Jiang Zemin’s centennial, and ahead of the Fifth Plenum. But the bigger problem may be what Zhu’s passing forces China to remember: the reform era, rapid growth, greater openness, and a very different direction from Xi’s China.

Source: Why Zhu Rongji’s Death Is Bad News for Xi Jinping

Newly declassified FBI files reveal more about the relationship between former California Congressman Eric Swalwell and Chinese spy Fang Fang. Thirty U.S. academic institutions are under Pentagon scrutiny for possible ties with foreign entities, especially those with China and Russia. Researchers and a former U.S. defense official accuse a Chinese robotics giant of using innovations funded by the U.S. military. China is showcasing the future of humanoid robots. But can the industry actually turn a profit? We take a closer look at what’s at stake for these high-tech machines. The Navy is taking a major step to strengthen America’s long-range firepower. A new deal could push Tomahawk production above 1,000 missiles a year. China is seeing zero investment deals from 10 of the world’s biggest private capital firms this year, compared with a dozen deals just five years ago. What’s driving the sharp decline in foreign private investment? 00:00 Intro 01:16 FBI Files Detail Former Rep. Swalwell’s Ties to Chinese Spy 02:44 Pentagon Orders Audits of 30 Academic Institutions 03:35 China: Private Firms Must Serve Beijing’s Priorities 04:42 How US Military Funding Propelled China’s Robot Dogs 08:24 FCC Aims to Keep US Ahead in Next-Gen Tech 08:36 China’s Humanoid Robots Face Profitability Challenge 10:00 Waymo Imports China-Made Robotaxis Despite Tariffs 11:45 US Navy Signs $22.9 Billion Deal to Boost Tomahawk Output 13:14 Biggest Global Private Equity Firms Make No China Deals 16:07 China Faces Risk From Export-Driven Economic Growth 17:24 Trump Orders South Korea Drill Cuts 18:14 Iran Dispute Tests US–South Korea Ties

Source: New Details on Chinese Spy 'Honey Trap' | China in Focus

A viral 17-minute interview between Christopher Nolan and Chinese podcaster Chong Shu framed the director as a modern bard singing to a civilization in its twilight. Where Homer sang of a collapsed Mycenaean past from a rising Greece, Nolan works at the height of technological power yet senses deep moral and institutional fracture. The video traces this anxiety through Nolan’s films and his *Odyssey*, centering the Greek idea of *xenia*—sacred hospitality—as the foundation of civilized order. Its violation, most starkly in the Trojan Horse as the weaponization of trust, mirrors Oppenheimer’s atomic bomb: technical brilliance that races ahead of moral and institutional restraint. Personal guilt changes nothing. Only structural limits on power can prevent catastrophe. Technological progress, the piece argues, does not guarantee civilizational health. It critiques both authoritarian systems that erase memory and suppress accountability, and Western democracies weakened by polarization, civic illiteracy, and algorithmic outrage. Twilight does not arrive with sudden ruin, but through the quiet abandonment of the rules that keep power in check and humanity from turning on itself.

Source: When the Trojan Horse Meets the Atomic Bomb | Digging into China

Washington is racing to cut its reliance on rare earths from China. We take a look at the pressure—and opportunities—facing a U.S. company at the center of that push. Boosting efforts to reduce America's reliance on China: $162 million is going toward new technologies to recover rare earth elements from industrial waste and byproducts. Japan is feeling the squeeze from Beijing’s rare earth restrictions. Here’s what Tokyo is doing to tackle the problem. More light has been shed on the controversy surrounding the origins of COVID-19 and the lab-leak theory. A former top adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is now facing possible prison time. China is blocking a European Union probe into e-commerce giant JD.com. The investigation is looking into whether Chinese state-backed subsidies are distorting competition in European markets. Barred from leaving South Korea, a former U.S. ambassador speaks out. Morse Tan joins us to discuss his experience, South Korea’s political shift, and the Chinese Communist Party’s influence. 00:00 Intro 01:00 U.S. Lab Competes W/ China Over Minerals Needed for Jets 03:40 U.S. Invests $162M in Critical Minerals Projects 04:27 Korea Zinc to Boost U.S. Critical Mineral Supply 05:46 Japan's Imports of Two Rare Earth Elements Plunge 70% 06:39 NSA Blocked Intel of CCP Election Influence From Trump 08:58 Former Fauci Adviser Pleads Guilty 11:36 Dr. Fauci Under Fire Over COVID-19 Answers 11:56 China Orders Entities Not to Aid EU's JD.com Probe 13:32 Japan Reaffirms Military Ties With U.S., S. Korea 14:48 Fmr. U.S. Ambassador Barred From Leaving South Korea 17:47 U.S. Citizen Arrested for U.S.-Based Speech 18:50 Fmr. U.S. Ambassador on CCP Influence in South Korea

Source: How a US Firm Is Breaking China’s Dominance in Rare Earths | China in Focus

China’s middle class faces a growing threat to its primary source of wealth: expiring land leases. Under China’s system, citizens buy homes but only lease the underlying land—typically for 70 years for residential properties and 40 years for commercial ones. A quiet directive from Shanghai recently revealed how local governments plan to handle expiring commercial leases: requiring owners to extend their rights by paying at least 70% of current benchmark land prices. Driven by severe local government debt and a collapsed market for new land sales, this policy creates a precedent for extracting revenue from existing property. While residential leases officially renew "automatically," the law omits whether renewals are free. As 70-year residential leases begin to approach their expiration dates in the coming decades, millions of families risk being forced to pay exorbitant fees simply to retain the value of their homes.

Source: From Homeowners to Permanent Tenants: The End of China’s Housing Miracle | Digging into China

In June 2026, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning deployed to the western Pacific, drawing analysis from defense observers regarding its air wing composition. Footage released by CCTV shows folded-wing carrier-based aircraft parked along the angled flight deck. A launch bar on the front landing gear indicates these aircraft are the updated J-15T variant, designed for catapult-assisted takeoff. Based on visual examination of the deck, all visible fighters appear to be J-15Ts.

Source: China’s Carrier Fighter Nightmare: A “Joke” With Less Than 12 Years Of Life

CCP leaders seem all powerful in China right now, but they know their days are numbers, and that makes them very insecure. In this episode we discuss what Chinese leaders fear most, why China is desperately seeking sanctions relief from the US, and how the CCP is shooting itself in the foot.

Source: The CCP's Days Are Numbered…

The United States is cracking down on a Chinese strategy for avoiding U.S. tariffs. A new White House report zeroes in on what it calls the “transshipment scam”—moving Chinese-made goods through another country before they reach America. A separate big win for President Donald Trump—and bad news for some Chinese online retailers. A U.S. court is backing his decision to impose duties on goods worth $800 or less entering the country. Microsoft has shut 15 offices and joint ventures in China as the country’s economy slows. Plus, U.S. tariffs are driving Ford to move some SUV production from China back to the United States. Taiwan’s biggest annual war games are entering their final two days. We take a look at how civilians in the island’s capital are preparing. A new flashpoint in Northeast Asia. Vladimir Putin is making his first visit as Russia’s president to a disputed island claimed by Japan, triggering strong protests from Tokyo. 00:00 Intro 01:16 $60B Lost to Transshipment Scams Annually: WH Report 01:55 China Builds Transshipment Network to Evade Tariffs 02:56 White House Announces AI System to Detect Transshipment 03:48 Court Backs Trump’s End to ‘De Minimis’ Loophole 06:29 Microsoft Shuts 15 Offices, Joint Ventures in China 07:50 Ford to Move Some SUV Production Back to U.S. 08:24 On the Ground During Taiwan’s Air Raid Drill 09:11 What Is Taiwan Preparing for in Air Raid Drill? 10:32 Xi Orders China Military: Be Ready for Taiwan by 2027 10:44 Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands; Japan Protests 13:14 Taiwan Thwarts AI Cyberattacks 13:58 U.S. Must Rebuild Hard Power to Counter China: Col. Newsham 14:16 Philippines Wakes Up to China’s Political Warfare 18:50 “Don’t Help Them”: A Reagan Strategy for Today

Source: U.S. Cracks Down on China’s Tariff Scam | China in Focus

Newly released documents reveal how evidence of Chinese penetration of voter registration files and plots to interfere in the election were withheld or downplayed. The new files reveal one of the intelligence officers said they “deliberately massaged” the presidential daily briefing in 2020 to downplay election-related information, with another stating, “I’m basically running a shadow government across the FBI at this point.” John Solomon is chair of the White House Government Transparency Task Force, an award-winning journalist, and founder of Just the News. He breaks down key documents his task force has released—and what more we can expect to see in the coming days and months. Newly declassified documents also upend the prevailing narrative on the Biden–Ukraine story, revealing how the FBI allegedly ran a secret operation known as Round River. According to the documents, it labelled whistleblowers as Russian “conduits” and dismissed the evidence they provided on the Biden family as “Russian disinformation.” John Solomon places Round River within a broader sequence of FBI operations targeting Trump that included Crossfire Hurricane, Plasmic Echo, and Arctic Frost. This is “a wash, rinse, repeat cycle," he said, going all the way back to the 2016 election and the debunked “Trump–Russia collusion” narrative. In this episode, we examine questions of accountability, the extent of the cover-up, and whether FBI Director Kash Patel will be successful in building a “grand conspiracy” case. Note: This interview was filmed before the latest document drop related to former Rep. Eric Swalwell and alleged Chinese operative Fang Fang. 00:00 FBI’s Secret Election Operations 03:30 "Round River" Revelations 07:40 Mirror Image of "Crossfire Hurricane" 10:32 New Book: Killed To Order 11:34 The Intelligence Community’s Election Secrets 15:13 Election Machine Vulnerabilities 16:43 China’s Access to US Voter Data 19:38 Fake Registrations and Noncitizen Voting 23:00 The Maricopa County Breach 26:14 Politics Over National Security 39:33 The Grand Conspiracy Case 34:03 Operation "Oxferd C0mma"

Source: How Our Spy Agencies Hid Chinese Election Interference Operations | John Solomon

Zhu Rongji’s death comes at a highly sensitive moment for Xi Jinping—just after the Beidaihe meetings, during Jiang Zemin’s centennial, and ahead of the Fifth Plenum. But the bigger problem may be what Zhu’s passing forces China to remember: the reform era, rapid growth, greater openness, and a very different direction from Xi’s China.

Source: Why Zhu Rongji’s Death Is Bad News for Xi Jinping

The true frontline of U.S.-China rivalry is the American stock market, the core of U.S. wealth, consumer confidence, and political legitimacy. Beijing views Wall Street as a strategic vulnerability and seeks to crash it through asymmetric means: leveraging Iranian proxies to spike oil prices, reignite inflation, force higher interest rates, and amplify panic via financial intermediaries. Yet the campaign fails. Proxies prioritize their own interests—mirroring a real 2013 Guangxi hitman case where successive subcontractors diluted a contract until it collapsed. China spends heavily for only temporary market dips, accelerating its own fiscal strains while creating discounted buying opportunities for U.S. investors. American market depth and corporate resilience consistently absorb the shocks and rebound, turning Beijing’s costly effort into an unintended subsidy for Wall Street.

Source: The Ultimate Backfire: Why China’s Financial Warfare Is Bleeding Its Own Treasury

When companies look at the China market, they see potentially 1.4 billion consumers. That’s a lie, says our guest David Day, who is the Chairman of the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation.

Source: China’s Hidden Economy

India is transforming Great Nicobar Island into a major maritime and military hub, betting that its strategic location near the Strait of Malacca will strengthen its security and its role in the Indo-Pacific. The multi-billion US dollar project includes a deep-water transshipment port, a dual-use airport and expanded military infrastructure, giving India a stronger presence near one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The development has also drawn attention in China, where prominent analysts warn that India's growing capabilities could deepen Beijing's "Malacca Dilemma" by increasing the vulnerability of China's vital energy and trade routes. Is Great Nicobar primarily an economic development project — or a strategic counterweight to China's expanding influence across the Indian Ocean? In this episode, we examine why the island matters, how it could reshape the regional balance of power and what it means for China, Taiwan and the wider Indo-Pacific region. *Recorded on August 6, 2026 at 4pm Taiwan Standard Time Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Producer: Suvam Pal Videographer: Celest Kao Our guests: S. B. Asthana Retired Indian Army Major General Roger Chifeng Liu Taiwan Thinktank DIMEs Center Comprehensive Diplomacy Team Director Hindol Sengupta O. P. Jindal Global University Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) Executive Dean and Jindal India Institute (JII) Director Chapters: 00:00:00 – India Unveils Big Nicobar Investments 00:03:04 – Is India Complicating China’s Plans? 00:09:26 – New Delhi Builds Dual-Use Infrastructure

Source: India's Great Nicobar: Why Island 74km From Malacca Worries China | Taiwan Talks EP903

Cameras on British naval drones are sending data back to China. A look at how the West is trying to break free from a Chinese-dominated drone supply chain. A Chinese national pleads guilty to trying to smuggle U.S. military equipment to China. Cryptocurrency was also part of the case. A Chinese rocket exploded shortly after liftoff. Is it an isolated setback—or a systemic problem? Vietnam’s top leader is meeting with his Australian counterpart amid growing tensions across the Indo-Pacific. The two nations are deepening security and economic ties, with critical minerals and the South China Sea high on the agenda. One of Washington’s major allies in Asia is changing its defense strategy, with the Chinese Communist Party in its sights. What’s next for the U.S.-Japan alliance? Retired Marine Colonel Grant Newsham, a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy, says: “Now we do have the prospects of Japan becoming a much better ally, not just politically, but in concrete operational terms.” 00:00 Intro 01:14 Cameras on UK Naval Drones Sending Data Back to China 02:06 U.S. Reliance on Chinese Drones, Components 03:09 Chinese Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted U.S. Arms Smuggling 04:17 Chinese Rocket Explodes After Liftoff 05:12 AUS, Vietnam Deepen Security, Critical Mineral Ties 06:56 Japan Signals Urgency in Defense Shift: Newsham 08:43 Japan Moves to Become a Stronger U.S. Ally 09:59 Newsham: China Is Looking for a Fight With Japan 11:20 Beijing Views Iran as Proxy: Gaub 13:28 New Meta AI Model Aims to Compete With Chinese Rivals 14:37 China Uses AI to Influence U.S. Voters: Expert

Source: Cameras on Naval Drones Sending Data Back to China | China in Focus

China has built an arsenal of “carrier killer” missiles designed to threaten US aircraft carriers—but what happens if the US and its allies flip the script? A new CSIS report lays out five ways the US and its allies could put China’s growing aircraft carrier fleet at risk, from submarines and chokepoints to drones, cyber warfare, and long-range strikes. China may be building more carriers, but getting them safely out of its own backyard could be a much bigger problem.

Source: What If We Just Like, You Know…Sunk China’s Aircraft Carriers?

China’s military is facing growing questions over leadership, vacancies, and disappearing senior commanders. This video examines the deepening power struggle inside the PLA and Xi Jinping’s increasingly unusual relationship with China’s military. Are military orders going unsigned, and is Xi Jinping losing control of the Chinese military? As uncertainty grows inside the PLA, the biggest question may be whether anyone is truly in control.

Source: Why Are China’s Top Generals Disappearing?

While taking questions from reporters on Monday, President Donald Trump spoke about attempts to connect with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

Source: 'Did You Speak To Him?': Trump Pressed By Reporters On Request To Speak With Kim Jong Un