News that caught our eye / The week ending February 7, 2025
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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.
Curated by James Getka.
Trump slaps tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, risking higher prices for U.S. consumers / February 1, 2025
President Trump made good on a campaign promise to set tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada until they stop the flow of fentanyl precursors into the US across the federal borders. He signed an executive order for the tariffs to go into effect on Tuesday. Some expressed concerns that the tariffs will increase prices for numerous products (NBC News).
Mexico, Canada and China respond to Trump tariff threats / February 2, 2025
Amid the concerns that Trump’s tariffs will spike prices in the US, it was also expected that China, Mexico and Canada will respond to Trump’s tariff volley with more tariffs of their own rather than address the border issues, the fentanyl crisis, and trade deficits (Fox 13-Seattle).
China denounces Trump tariff: 'Fentanyl is America's problem' / February 2, 2025
China’s government responded to Trump’s tariff executive order by filing a complaint with the WTO and criticizing the order as a violation of international trade rules, claiming that China has done everything necessary regarding anti-narcotics with the US, and that Fentanyl is not their problem (CNA).
China unveils US tariffs and Google investigation in response to Trump levies / February 4, 2025
China responded to Trump’s ten percent tariffs against China with tariffs of its own against US exports, and filed an anti-trust investigation against Google, as well, even though it accused Trump of breaking international trade rules with his tariffs. China’s tariffs were placed on fossil fuels, minerals, farm equipment, large vehicles and pickup trucks. Canada and Mexico, however, made deals with the Trump administration to halt tariffs at least temporarily (The Guardian).
Fast fashion, laptops and toys are likely to cost more due to tariffs on Chinese imports / February 5, 2025
Since China has not come to the table to deal with President Trump, the US administration’s 10% tariff on Chinese imports took effect on Tuesday, worrying Americans over rising prices for electronics, toys, cheap clothing, and even auto parts. Orders worth less than $800 are now also subject to taxes, causing the USPS to refuse packages from China until a process was developed to implement the tax. But some companies say they plan to absorb the extra cost for the short term, perhaps hoping that the situation will be resolved before the customer feels the pinch (AP News).
Why China has not retaliated more in Donald Trump trade spat / February 4, 2025
Observers have been quizzical over two things in the tariff spat that began this week. First, Trump was rather light-handed in dropping only a 10% tariff on Chinese imports while he stuck US allies Mexico and Canada with 25% tariffs. Second, China’s initial response has also been rather calm, perhaps because it knows how to work the system to avoid harm (Sky News).
China’s box office riding Lunar New Year wave to record Spring Festival haul / February 3, 2025
China’s Lunar New Year smiled on the Chinese movie industry as box office records were set for the first six days of the national holiday. Ticket sales surpassed $1.05 billion and bookings were up nine percent over last year. Like other economic sectors, the Chinese film industry has struggled since the Covid pandemic shut down society (SCMP).
Returnee Ministry: Reflecting on Developments / December 18, 2024
Returnee Ministry—the process of Chinese students and workers who became Christians abroad, then returning to China with their new-found faith—is the focus of this set of articles that describe the phenomenon since it was first focused on in 2016. Biblical “returnees” Jacob and Onesimus provide inspired guidance, and the church’s history also provides examples and support (China Source).
Catholic Church in China: The Strange Case of Bishop Ji Weizhong / February 5, 2025
The CCP’s oversight of the official church in China is well known, even over the Catholic church in China. But last year, the CCP appointed a new bishop over a completely new diocese, the Diocese of Lüliang, that it also created, and announced the appointment three months before the Vatican did. At the consecration ceremony, the Vatican’s appointment wasn’t even mentioned (Bitter Winter).
What DeepSeek Says about the Church in China / January 31, 2025
Users of DeepSeek’s AI model R1 have run into the system’s limits when asked questions on sensitive topics in Chinese culture as the chatbot often resorts to common CCP philosophy. But one user asked about whether he should attend a Christian house church, and the answer R1 gave was surprising, and likely, unsettling. The chatbot also reveals its processing thoughts, demonstrating its vast knowledge, but also its inability to speak freely (Christianity Today).
The Real Problem with DeepSeek / February 6, 2025
As the world—minus Italy—has jumped on the DeepSeek bandwagon, some, perhaps too few, have raised concerns that the new AI chatbot is nothing short of a socialist AI program for the world. DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot avoids providing information on the CCP’s “sensitive” subjects like human rights and Tiananmen Square. The CCP’s agencies for AI regulation even have duplicitous names to mask their real agenda (Bitter Winter).
DeepSeek coding can transfer users' data directly to the Chinese government / February 5, 2025
If there was concern over TikTok’s ability to provide the personal information of its users to the CCP, experts revealed that DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot can and does transfer users’ information directly to the CCP through CMPassport.com, the online registry for China Mobile, which is owned and operated by the Chinese government (ABC News).
U.S. lawmakers move to ban China's DeepSeek from government devices / February 6, 2025
Bipartisan congressional leaders have submitted a bill to ban DeepSeek’s AI program from US government devices as the program is an espionage risk, able to track and store users’ login and personal data as well as their online activity, and not just when using the ap. China Mobile, the CCP-owned entity that receives the data, was banned from operating in the US (NBC News).