NEWS / the week of Dec 21 to 27, 2025
Current news about China and the Chinese people
NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. There is often a time lag in their reaching the US and in gaining our attention. These reports reflect the opinions of a variety of news sources.
Christian Repression
‘Is this real?’: wife of detained pastor describes anguish / Dec 23, 2025
Reports a significant crackdown on unofficial (“house”) churches, including the arrest of Pastor Gao Yingjia and a dozen other leaders tied to Zion Church — one of China’s largest underground Christian networks. Observers say this may mark the most severe suppression since 2018.
Local repression in Zhejiang / Dec 22, 2025
In Wenzhou, Zhejiang, security forces conducted large-scale raids ahead of Christmas, reportedly celebrating the arrests after a local Christian community resisted government demands like flag-raising.
⛽Economics & Technology
Exclusive: Nvidia aims to begin H200 chip shipments to China by mid-February / Dec 22, 2025
Nvidia plans to ship AI chips to China before Lunar New Year. Shipments contingent on Beijing's approval.
China to impose up to 42.7% provisional tariffs on EU dairy products / Dec 22, 2025
The elevated duties, which take effect Tuesday, were based on preliminary results from an investigation opened by China’s Commerce Ministry in August 2024 as tensions between Beijing and Brussels flared.
China sanctions U.S. defense firms over arms sales to Taiwan / Dec 26, 2025
China announced sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 executives in retaliation for a large U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan, freezing assets and banning business engagements.
DeepSeek AI "Wake-Up Call" / Dec 26, 2025
The release and rapid global adoption of the DeepSeek R1 AI model continued to ripple through the industry this week. Its high performance at a fraction of the cost of U.S. competitors has triggered intense debate in Washington regarding export controls and the effectiveness of current AI hardware restrictions.
⚖️ China Lawsuits & International Relations
Fire Safety Crackdown / Dec 22, 2025
Following recent high-profile disasters, including a deadly fire in Hong Kong, authorities have initiated a nationwide safety inspection of high-rise commercial buildings. Reports indicate stricter enforcement of "political discipline" among local officials responsible for safety oversight.
China passes revised foreign trade law / Dec 27, 2025
China’s legislature approved major revisions to the Foreign Trade Law, broadening tools for trade war response, digital/green trade, and export controls, effective March 2026.
UN Marine Treaty Ratification / Dec 27, 2025
China formally deposited its instrument of ratification for the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) on December 24. This makes China one of the first major powers to ratify the "High Seas Treaty," aiming to demonstrate global leadership in marine conservation.