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.
China seeks stronger cooperation with Germany and EU / February 15, 2025
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Germany last week for the Munich Security Conference, promoting a stronger economic and strategic partnership with Germany and the EU as a whole. Wang also met with German officials to talk about peace talks for the war in Ukraine, and he spoke with the Foreign Ministers of Spain and France, as well (Reuters).
China celebrates Trump's talks with Russia / February 16, 2025
A former Chinese military colonel Zhou Bo spoke highly of President Trump’s interest in ending the war in Ukraine, saying that Trump himself asked China to take a part in the process. Zhou proposed three ways China could play a part: China could share in providing a security guarantee to Ukraine and Russia; China could provide a peace-keeping security force in Ukraine; and, China could participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction (DW News).
Sen. Tom Cotton explains China’s ‘ultimate goal’ / February 16, 2025
In his new book, Seven Things You Can’t Say About China, Senator Tom Cotton states that overall, China wants to replace the US as the world’s military and economic power, as can be seen by its behavior over the last few decades (Fox News).
Is China’s military really built for war? / February 17, 2025
While China may be building up its military to engage in war, perhaps over Taiwan, it has another frontline where it hopes to score a victory: the propaganda campaign over its own people. China’s CCP needs a powerful military to help justify its rule over the Chinese people (CNN World).
China angered as US amends wording on Taiwan independence / February 16, 2025
Last week, the US State Department removed a statement from its website that says the US does “not support Taiwan Independence,” causing China’s angry response, saying that the change would inspire “separatist forces” to advocate for an independent Taiwan. A US spokesperson stated that the US still supports the “One-China” policy (BBC).
Revealed: Google facilitated Russia and China’s censorship requests / February 15, 2025
According to information obtained by “The Observer,” a subsidiary of The Guardian, Google acquiesced to censorship requests from Russia, China, the Taliban, dictatorships, and democratic governments since 2011. Between 2020 and 2024, 60% of the requests for the removal of content came from Russia. Google removed over 200 videos about political corruption in China as well as critical impersonations of President Xi, at the government’s request (The Guardian).
China's Xi holds rare meet with business leaders amid US tech rivalry / February 17, 2025
President Xi held a rare meeting with Chinese business leaders on Monday to encourage more innovation among China’s privately held companies, both to inject new life into China’s struggling economy and to keep in the technological race with the US. Many were quick to notice both who was invited, and who was not (Reuters).
U.S. condemns Chinese maneuvers after close encounter with Philippine plane / February 19, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carson condemned the actions of a Chinese PLA navy pilot who flew his helicopter within ten feet of a Philippines Bureau of Fisheries plane that was flying over the Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday. The helicopter was attempting to force the plane out of the area but threatened the safety of everyone in both aircraft (NBC News).
Cook Islands gives some details of its China deal that has upset partner New Zealand / February 18, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed agreements with China recently, causing its constitutional partner, New Zealand, to cry foul because Brown did not provide details of the agreement before or after he signed on to the agreement. China has made deals with many South Pacific island nations over the last decade, but often the details are not made public. (AP News).
Cook Islands PM to face no-confidence vote amid protests over China pact / February 18, 2025
Opposition party leaders Teariki Heather and Tina Browne filed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Mark Brown in the Cook Island’s Parliament after Brown signed an agreement with China without the prior involvement of New Zealand and initially refusing to reveal the details of the deal (ABC News Australia).
As Melania Trump returns to the White House, she’s winning Chinese fans / February 19, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump is becoming a popular figure, especially among Chinese women as she returned to the White House in January. They respect her strength, independence, loyalty to her husband, and her ascension to global notoriety from her small Slovenian town origins. Her success even positively influences her fans’ appreciation of President Trump (AP News).
China seeks stronger cooperation with Germany and EU / February 15, 2025
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Germany last week for the Munich Security Conference, promoting a stronger economic and strategic partnership with Germany and the EU as a whole. Wang also met with German officials to talk about peace talks for the war in Ukraine, and he spoke with the Foreign Ministers of Spain and France, as well (Reuters).
China celebrates Trump's talks with Russia / February 16, 2025
A former Chinese military colonel Zhou Bo spoke highly of President Trump’s interest in ending the war in Ukraine, saying that Trump himself asked China to take a part in the process. Zhou proposed three ways China could play a part: China could share in providing a security guarantee to Ukraine and Russia; China could provide a peace-keeping security force in Ukraine; and, China could participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction (DW News).
Sen. Tom Cotton explains China’s ‘ultimate goal’ / February 16, 2025
In his new book, Seven Things You Can’t Say About China, Senator Tom Cotton states that overall, China wants to replace the US as the world’s military and economic power, as can be seen by its behavior over the last few decades (Fox News).
Is China’s military really built for war? / February 17, 2025
While China may be building up its military to engage in war, perhaps over Taiwan, it has another frontline where it hopes to score a victory: the propaganda campaign over its own people. China’s CCP needs a powerful military to help justify its rule over the Chinese people (CNN World).
China angered as US amends wording on Taiwan independence / February 16, 2025
Last week, the US State Department removed a statement from its website that says the US does “not support Taiwan Independence,” causing China’s angry response, saying that the change would inspire “separatist forces” to advocate for an independent Taiwan. A US spokesperson stated that the US still supports the “One-China” policy (BBC).
Revealed: Google facilitated Russia and China’s censorship requests / February 15, 2025
According to information obtained by “The Observer,” a subsidiary of The Guardian, Google acquiesced to censorship requests from Russia, China, the Taliban, dictatorships, and democratic governments since 2011. Between 2020 and 2024, 60% of the requests for the removal of content came from Russia. Google removed over 200 videos about political corruption in China as well as critical impersonations of President Xi, at the government’s request (The Guardian).
China's Xi holds rare meet with business leaders amid US tech rivalry / February 17, 2025
President Xi held a rare meeting with Chinese business leaders on Monday to encourage more innovation among China’s privately held companies, both to inject new life into China’s struggling economy and to keep in the technological race with the US. Many were quick to notice both who was invited, and who was not (Reuters).
U.S. condemns Chinese maneuvers after close encounter with Philippine plane / February 19, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carson condemned the actions of a Chinese PLA navy pilot who flew his helicopter within ten feet of a Philippines Bureau of Fisheries plane that was flying over the Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday. The helicopter was attempting to force the plane out of the area but threatened the safety of everyone in both aircraft (NBC News).
Cook Islands gives some details of its China deal that has upset partner New Zealand / February 18, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed agreements with China recently, causing its constitutional partner, New Zealand, to cry foul because Brown did not provide details of the agreement before or after he signed on to the agreement. China has made deals with many South Pacific island nations over the last decade, but often the details are not made public. (AP News).
Cook Islands PM to face no-confidence vote amid protests over China pact / February 18, 2025
Opposition party leaders Teariki Heather and Tina Browne filed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Mark Brown in the Cook Island’s Parliament after Brown signed an agreement with China without the prior involvement of New Zealand and initially refusing to reveal the details of the deal (ABC News Australia).
As Melania Trump returns to the White House, she’s winning Chinese fans / February 19, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump is becoming a popular figure, especially among Chinese women as she returned to the White House in January. They respect her strength, independence, loyalty to her husband, and her ascension to global notoriety from her small Slovenian town origins. Her success even positively influences her fans’ appreciation of President Trump (AP News).
New marriages in China crash to record low, while divorces on the rise / February 10, 2025
Marriages in China in 2024 fell 20.5% from the previous year, marking a continuous downward trend since marriages peaked in 2013. Sadly, divorces also increased in 2024 by about 28,000 over 2023. Despite a slight increase in the birth rate, China’s overall population decreased, as well, in 2024. Government incentives to marry and have children don’t seem to be working (CNN World).
Trump wants China to play a role in peace in Ukraine. Is Xi Jinping willing to help? / February 12, 2025
President Donald Trump wants the war in Ukraine to end, and he’s hoping China’s President Xi will assist in the process, utilizing his close relationship with President Putin of Russia. But that puts Xi in a difficult position, as he does not want to see Russia weakened by the outcome (CNN World).
China proposes Putin-Trump summit to end Ukraine war, WSJ reports / February 12, 2025
China has been working behind the scenes with the Trump team to organize a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Putin, although Trump had a phone call with Putin on Wednesday, directed his officials to start working on a peace deal in Ukraine, and proposed meeting with Putin in person in Saudi Arabia (Reuters).
China lashes out at US after Panama declines to renew infrastructure agreement / February 7, 2025
When Panama pulled out of an arrangement with China concerning two ports on each side of the Canal, China snapped at the US, accusing it of coercion. China has invested in the Canal ports as part of its Belt and Road initiative, but President Trump sees China’s position in the Canal region as a threat to national and regional security (AP News).
China's tit-for-tat tariffs on US take effect / February 9, 2025
As the trade war escalates between the US and China, China started charging new tariffs on US imports last Monday. The move had been announced on February 4th just as President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese exports went into effect. China also went into “harass mode” against US companies Google and clothing designer PVH (BBC).
Why China could benefit most from Trump's tariffs / February 10, 2025
On the same day China’s counter-tariffs went into effect (Monday), President Trump announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the US, affecting not only China but a number of other nations that are also allies of the US. Trump’s tariffs, however, could backfire on him if China presents more favorable trade options to countries that don’t want to bend to Trump’s will (Sky News).
Trump’s assault on USAID leaves China soft power opening in Southeast Asia / February 13, 2025
President Trump’s pause on USAID’s funding of foreign aid projects may open a door for China to step in with its own form of “soft power” in providing humanitarian aid to Southeast Asian nations. But China’s own economic health is limiting what it can do outside of its borders (Al Jazeera).
Tesla's Chinese rival widens lead / February 11, 2025
Tesla had a difficult year in 2024 with auto sales down in the US, Europe, and China. And January’s numbers this year are strikingly lower with US sales down 13%, around 60% in France and Germany, and nearly 40% in Norway. Sales were also down over 11% in China. But BYD, Tesla’s biggest rival in China, enjoyed a surge in sales with the start of the new year (LinkedIn).
Chinese cranes at U.S. ports raise homeland security concerns / February 11, 2025
“Made in China” may show up on the imprinted tag on your new dress shirt, but it also is the source of 80% of ship-to-shore cranes in US ports. And because the cranes are automated, many are concerned that they could be remotely shut-down by a foreign adversary (CBS News).
Hundreds protest in London against proposed 'mega embassy' for China / February 8, 2025
China’s efforts to move its UK embassy into a larger facility met with protestors on Saturday with many citing concerns about economic espionage and harassment against Hong Kong and Chinese citizens living in Britain. As the UK’s leadership looks to improve ties with China, the protestors have even more cause for concern (VOA).
One dead, 28 missing after China landslide / February 9, 2025
A landslide in the Sichuan province’s village of Jinping claimed the life of at least one person, with twenty-eight missing and another 200 relocated as investigators assess potential dangers in the area. President Xi called for an “all-out” rescue of those who were trapped in the slide. The mountainous region in south-central China suffered similar landslides in the past (BBC).
China says US naval patrol of Taiwan Strait poses security risk / February 12, 2025
Two US naval ships passed through the Taiwan Strait between Monday and Wednesday this week, sparking a response by China condemning the move as a threat to regional security. The US ships, however, were passing through international waters, a somewhat routine procedure by the US and other countries’ naval ships (Al Jazeera).
Australia says Chinese fighter jet’s flares almost hit spy plane over South China Sea / February 13, 2025
A Chinese jet fighter dropped flares within 100 feet of an Australian military surveillance plane flying over international waters in the South China Sea. China claimed that the Australian plane was flying over the Paracel Islands, which it claims for itself. The two countries have sparred occasionally over such surveillance conflicts in the last few years (CBS News).
Chinese animated film shatters box office records as it heads overseas / February 12, 2025
A new animated movie, Ne Zha 2, has shattered box office records in China and on a global scale as the movie that was completely produced in China drew crowds during the Chinese New Year holiday. It has become a source of national pride for the people of China as it draws on a popular Chinese cultural legend and weaves in modern cinematic technology and art forms (NBC News).
'DeepSeek moved me to tears': How young Chinese find therapy in AI / February 12, 2025
Professional counseling and psychiatric care are limited or overly costly in China, and a stigma looms over the concept of mental health care. So, many Chinese citizens are finding solutions and emotional care in DeepSeek, which appears to be incredibly empathetic, practical, and responsive (BBC).
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).