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.
Why Viral Western Takes Still Misunderstand China’s Political Economy / Sept 17, 2025
Both the “engineering state” and the “mayor economy” framings obscure the critical mechanics of China’s growth machine.
China-Russia Gas Deal / Sept 17, 2025
China is negotiating with Russia over the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could reshape global energy markets. Xi Jinping is reportedly dragging his feet on finalizing the deal.
Nasa bans Chinese nationals from working on its space program / Sept 11, 2025
Earlier this month, Chinese nationals working with Nasa suddenly found themselves denied access.
Calm Realism, Not Cold War: Europe’s China Reset / Sept 17, 2025
The antidote to the flawed China policy of the past is not decoupling or moral grandstanding, but managed interdependence.
Xi Jinping and Trump start phone hotline 1 hour early / Sept 19, 2025
The United States and China reached a deadlock over trade restrictions in key industries such as semiconductors and rare earths, US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to have another phone call in the near future. This will be the first dialogue between the two since June.
US says 'framework' for TikTok ownership deal agreed with China / Sept 17, 2025
The deal will pave the way to US ownership of the social media platform's American operations, according to the US treasury secretary.
Is ChatGPT more accurate than Google Translate? / Sept 17, 2025
A post sparked heated discussion, with the most popular recommendation being ChatGPT, a popular AI software.
iPhone 17 Launch / Sept 19, 2025
Apple’s new iPhone 17 series is flying off shelves in China, but complaints are surfacing about scratched units—even before purchase. The issue has gone viral on Chinese social media.
GE Healthcare Exit / Sept 18, 2025
GE Healthcare is exploring selling its China unit due to declining revenue and rising political tensions.
Woody Island Expansion / Sept 19, 2025
Satellite images show China’s military buildup on Woody Island in the South China Sea, including nuclear-capable bombers and radar systems.
China's navy is expanding at breakneck speed - and catching up with the US / Sept 11, 2025
Beijing's shipbuilding capacity is 200 times that of the US, an expert says, calling the scale "extraordinary".
Deadly Naval Collision / Sept 19, 2025
Two Chinese sailors reportedly died in a collision between a Chinese navy destroyer and coast guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal, according to Philippine officials.
Chinese Students in U.S. / Sept 19, 2025
A congressional report warns that U.S. universities are training Chinese nationals linked to the PLA in sensitive fields like nuclear engineering, often funded by American taxpayers.
Illegal Marijuana Networks / Sept 18, 2025
Chinese criminal groups are allegedly behind illegal marijuana operations in several U.S. states, raising national security alarms.
🛢️ Geopolitics & Energy
Why Viral Western Takes Still Misunderstand China’s Political Economy / Sept 17, 2025
Both the “engineering state” and the “mayor economy” framings obscure the critical mechanics of China’s growth machine.
China-Russia Gas Deal / Sept 17, 2025
China is negotiating with Russia over the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could reshape global energy markets. Xi Jinping is reportedly dragging his feet on finalizing the deal.
Nasa bans Chinese nationals from working on its space program / Sept 11, 2025
Earlier this month, Chinese nationals working with Nasa suddenly found themselves denied access.
Calm Realism, Not Cold War: Europe’s China Reset / Sept 17, 2025
The antidote to the flawed China policy of the past is not decoupling or moral grandstanding, but managed interdependence.
Xi Jinping and Trump start phone hotline 1 hour early / Sept 19, 2025
The United States and China reached a deadlock over trade restrictions in key industries such as semiconductors and rare earths, US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to have another phone call in the near future. This will be the first dialogue between the two since June.
US says 'framework' for TikTok ownership deal agreed with China / Sept 17, 2025
The deal will pave the way to US ownership of the social media platform's American operations, according to the US treasury secretary.
Is ChatGPT more accurate than Google Translate? / Sept 17, 2025
A post sparked heated discussion, with the most popular recommendation being ChatGPT, a popular AI software.
iPhone 17 Launch / Sept 19, 2025
Apple’s new iPhone 17 series is flying off shelves in China, but complaints are surfacing about scratched units—even before purchase. The issue has gone viral on Chinese social media.
GE Healthcare Exit / Sept 18, 2025
GE Healthcare is exploring selling its China unit due to declining revenue and rising political tensions.
Woody Island Expansion / Sept 19, 2025
Satellite images show China’s military buildup on Woody Island in the South China Sea, including nuclear-capable bombers and radar systems.
China's navy is expanding at breakneck speed - and catching up with the US / Sept 11, 2025
Beijing's shipbuilding capacity is 200 times that of the US, an expert says, calling the scale "extraordinary".
Deadly Naval Collision / Sept 19, 2025
Two Chinese sailors reportedly died in a collision between a Chinese navy destroyer and coast guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal, according to Philippine officials.
Chinese Students in U.S. / Sept 19, 2025
A congressional report warns that U.S. universities are training Chinese nationals linked to the PLA in sensitive fields like nuclear engineering, often funded by American taxpayers.
Illegal Marijuana Networks / Sept 18, 2025
Chinese criminal groups are allegedly behind illegal marijuana operations in several U.S. states, raising national security alarms.
📰 Major Political & Diplomatic Moves
🕊️ Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un Meet in Beijing / Sept 11, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held bilateral talks in Beijing during China’s Victory Day military parade. They reached an “important common understanding” on regional and global issues, signaling a renewed closeness amid North Korea’s growing ties with Russia.
China pilots village surveillance in Solomon Islands, seeks stability / Sept 12, 2025
China has implemented a pilot version of its domestic "Fengqiao" village surveillance model in the Solomon Islands (in “Fighter 1” village near Honiara). The project includes fingerprinting, palm print collection, household registration, and mapping of households/community data. Critics raise concerns about privacy, constitutional rights, and authoritarian overreach.
China’s DF-5C nuclear ICBM can reach anywhere at any time / Sept 12, 2025
A close-up of the new long-range missile during last week’s military parade in Beijing suggests a leap forward in fuel storage technology.
Alibaba’s answer to Google Maps, sees over 40 million users test new ranking service / Sept 11, 2025
Amap Street Stars uses AI algorithms to rank mainland destinations, including restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions.
Those caught in the dragnet of China’s digital cage enabled by U.S. tech / Sept 5, 2025
This isn’t a single person so much as several impacted families. It includes the story of the Yang family in Jiangsu province, who have been under repeat surveillance, alleged harassment, and predictive policing just for petitioning the government. The article puts human faces to the scale of digital surveillance and how people’s lives are changed by it.
Weight loss becomes the hottest new consumer craze in China / Sept 11, 2025
Young Chinese consumers are driving a booming weight-loss and wellness trend. This includes things like gyms, health foods, fitness influencers, and even semaglutide-type treatments. The movement ties into growing health awareness but also carries concerns over body image and mental health.
Green, healthy lifestyle gaining traction / Sept 12, 2025
There is growing momentum among ordinary Chinese people toward healthier, more environmentally conscious lifestyles. More people are valuing fitness, organic / functional foods, outdoor activity, cycling etc. One person profiled jogs regularly and spends on gym, meals, gear. The trend is having knock-on effects in related industries.
China pilots village surveillance in Solomon Islands, seeks stability / Sept 12, 2025
China has implemented a pilot version of its domestic "Fengqiao" village surveillance model in the Solomon Islands (in “Fighter 1” village near Honiara). The project includes fingerprinting, palm print collection, household registration, and mapping of households/community data. Critics raise concerns about privacy, constitutional rights, and authoritarian overreach.
📚 Liu Jun Leaves Harvard for China / Sept 11, 2025
Liu Jun, one of Harvard’s top mathematicians, announced his return to China, citing patriotism and a passion for education. His move comes amid U.S. research cuts and reflects a broader trend of Chinese scholars returning home
Knowledge upgrade in the Chinese apparel industry / Sept 5, 2025
This article investigates how Chinese apparel companies have been able to acquire and upgrade knowledge over the last four decades. Based on a broad range of published sources and official data, it identifies the dominant firms that enabled the industry's dramatic expansion during two distinct phases: export oriented in 1980–2005 and domestic market oriented in 2005–2020. (cited in Wall Street Journal)
🏛️ Hohhot House Church Sentences Upheld / Sept 12, 2025
On September 5, the Hohhot Intermediate People’s Court in Inner Mongolia upheld prison sentences for ten house church Christians convicted of “illegal business operations.” Their offense? Distributing legally published Bibles outside the state-sanctioned Three-Self Church. Despite selling at a loss and acting out of faith, the court reaffirmed sentences ranging from one to nearly five years, plus fines totaling one million yuan. Legal experts and human rights advocates have condemned the ruling as a stark example of China’s tightening grip on religious freedom.
✝️ Pastor Zhao Huaiguo Passes Away / Sept 10, 2025
Pastor Zhao Huaiguo, founder of Bethel Church in Cili County, Hunan, died after years of persecution. Since founding the church in 2007, he and his wife faced repeated harassment, including raids, detentions, and pressure to join the Three-Self movement. His death marks the end of a life devoted to serving marginalized believers, especially elderly Christians who avoided state-sanctioned churches.
⚙️ Geopolitical and Military Developments
Military Parade and Alliances / September 3, 2025
China held a large military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event showcased new military hardware, including hypersonic missiles, drone submarines, and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying multiple warheads. The parade was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a meeting that has been widely interpreted as a show of defiance towards the United States and a signal of a new geopolitical bloc.
Hacking and Espionage / September 3, 2025
U.S. officials reported a massive cyber operation, codenamed "Salt Typhoon," attributed to China. The hacking campaign allegedly stole data from millions of Americans, including high-profile political figures, by infiltrating telecommunication networks. This is seen as part of a two-pronged strategy by Beijing, which also includes "Volt Typhoon," a separate effort to compromise critical U.S. infrastructure like power and water systems.
Chinese Laser Weapon Fails Test in Desert / September 5, 2025
Saudi Arabia's high-tech gamble on Chinese laser weapons is faltering. In a bid to shield vital oil facilities and billion-dollar Patriot batteries from drone swarms, Riyadh turned to China's SkyShield, one of the world's first integrated laser-based air defense systems.
US Doubles Down on Missile Power Near China / September 5, 2025
The United States is continuing to boost its military presence near China, with a new anti-ship missile system being the latest weapon to be deployed on a Japanese outlying island on the front lines of the Western Pacific.
Has Xi Lost Control of the Military? / September 5, 2025
The September 3rd Military Parade Again Proves Xi Has Lost Control of the Military — Zhang Youxia Appears on Tiananmen Rostrum
🏛️ Politics & Diplomacy
Xi’s Vision of Destiny and Global Power / September 4, 2025
Xi is portrayed as a modern emperor with ambitions to reshape global order. The article discusses China's assertiveness and its implications for Western democracies.
Xi Declares China ‘Unstoppable’ at Parade / September 3, 2025
Xi emphasized peace vs. war in a speech, while showcasing advanced military tech. The parade featured hypersonic missiles, underwater drones, and symbolic gestures like releasing 80,000 “peace birds”.
Donald Trump Laments Loss of India, Russia to 'Deepest, Darkest China' / September 5, 2025
🧬 Culture & Leadership
Hot Mic Moment: Leaders Talk Longevity / September 4, 2025
Xi, Putin, and Kim discussed organ transplants and living to 150 years. Raises questions about succession plans and long-term leadership in authoritarian regimes.
🌍 Global Influence
Why Ecuador Turned to China for Help / September 5, 2025
Ecuador’s president visited China for economic support amid U.S. pressure. Highlights China’s growing role in Latin America and its strategic investments.
China moves to boost electronics self-sufficiency / September 5, 2025
US tightens chip curbs. Beijing’s new action plan focuses on creating resilient, self-sufficient supply chains for vital telecommunications and electronic equipment.
China’s vision of new multipolar order depends on yuan-based system / September 4, 2025
Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire and Putin associate says Beijing’s caution on ending the dominance of the US dollar has frustrated Moscow.
⛪ Religious Landscape & Policy Update
How Should Churches Address Consumerist Faith Fueled by Digital Resources? / August 20, 2025
Pastor X observed that the challenges of ministry today are more complex than in the past. One of the most notable is the strong consumerist mindset with which believers approach biblical teaching.
Kenneth Mtata: From Charity to Justice in Ecumenical Diakonia / September 4, 2025
To commemorate the centenary of the 1925 Life and Work Conference in Stockholm, the Church Councils of Sweden hosted an Ecumenical Week in Stockholm from August 18-25.
Zhejiang Bans 19 Illegal Social Organizations, Including Religious Groups / August 28, 2025
The Zhejiang Civil Affairs Bureau has released its second batch of illegal social organizations for 2025, aiming to enhance public awareness and prevent fraud.