China in Focus

One of Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy media outlets is forced to close down. Police raided its office and arrested senior staff members. In the southern Chinese region of Guangxi, it looked like a scene from the Cultural Revolution. Police paraded four people through the streets displaying large photos of themselves. Critics are warning of the danger of another Cultural Revolution. Winter heating is cut off in some cold northern areas because the authorities banned residents from burning coals, hoping to create a clear sky for the Olympics. But they're ignoring the residents who cannot afford the alternative. Germany’s foreign minister says she won’t go to Beijing for the Winter Olympics after countries call for boycotting the games due to Beijing’s rights abuses. Walmart could be facing a boycott from China. The retailer attracted anger on Chinese social media after posts appeared to show that it had stopped stocking products from China’s Xinjiang region.

China is sending over a hundred military personnel to the city of Xi’an. The northern Chinese city is currently under what’s being called the strictest lockdown since Wuhan. Australia’s prime minister opens a Tiktok account, despite his warnings last year that the app may pose security risks. Is the United States still boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics? The Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing received visa applications from the U.S. government to attend the Games. China gets ready to send officers and equipment to the Solomon Islands to help train the nation’s police force after turmoil erupted there last month, protesting a change in diplomacy. Australia is bolstering its defenses amid Beijing’s military aggression. The nation down under is now on track to cut red tape so it’s easier to buy new weapons.

A key U.S. ally in the Middle East is reportedly making its own missiles with Chinese technology. A move that could complicate the regional power struggle. A sudden change of China's virus control policy sent a U.S. flight turning back in midair. The incident put some of the passengers in limbo—most of whom are Chinese. 13 million people were locked down in one northern Chinese city. The move follows a pandemic surge, sparking panic buying and other forms of chaos. In an unprecedented move, a Chinese province is offering 'baby loans' to address population problems. That means couples with multiple children can apply for as much as $31,000. And in a Christmas Eve announcement, Japan revealed it won’t be sending government officials to the Beijing Olympics. But, they’re not calling it a boycott.

In this episode, we take a look at the biggest China news stories in 2021. We begin with the virus outbreaks in China, where the regime has taken the so-called “zero tolerance” control philosophy. It has not stopped outbreaks from sporadically springing up once in a while, but it has caused pushback among Chinese citizens—although such pushback often disappears from the public eye very quickly due to the regime’s strong censorship. And what about the political leadership? Communist leader Xi Jinping wants to steer the future of China. In doing so, he's presenting a new interpretation of the past. The Communist Party approved a summary of its 100-year history in November—called the “historical resolution.” It's a big deal, as this marks only the third time ever the Party has released such a document. And each time it happened in the past, the Party changed its direction. And speaking of politics, 2021 was another big year for U.S.-China relations.On the U.S. side, the Biden administration’s China policy is a mix of tough and soft measures. On the Chinese side, the regime has tested hypersonic weapons among other military aggressions. They lobbied U.S. businesses to prevent China-related bills from getting passed in Congress, and more. Another big story this year was Evergrande and the role China's real estate sector plays in China's economy.The sector accounts for about a quarter of China's GDP and is a major force driving economic growth. A renowned Chinese economist estimated in November that if the regime doesn't change its policy direction, in another three to six months, more than 60 percent of Chinese private real estate firms may face abnormal cash flow or even debt defaults. It's not just real estate; 2021 was a bad year for Chinese tech and education companies. Starting late 2020, the Chinese regime kicked off an unprecedented onslaught against big tech in China. At its most extreme, the clampdown caused a sell-off that erased $1.5 trillion from Chinese stocks. And what about natural disasters? Record rainfall, combined with bad policies, took the lives of over 300 local residents, according to official data. The actual death toll is suspected to be higher. Despite warnings of heavy rainfall, local authorities did not close businesses or the subway system as experts say they should have. That led to 14 people drowning in a subway tunnel. And2021 was an eventful year for the power game between the United States, China, and Taiwan. Beijing has never made an invasion of Taiwan look this real. And Taiwan has never enjoyed this much international support since the 1970s—when countries broke their ties with Taiwan to recognize communist China.

Tech giant Intel is apologizing to China after backlash from Chinese shoppers. At issue is the company’s statement about avoiding forced labor in Xinjiang. The first day of lockdowns has begun in Xi’an, the harshest in China so far. Life in the megacity seems to have stopped, except for the long queue of people waiting for virus tests in the snow. The Chinese foreign ministry says that Lithuania will be swept into the trashcan of history. A Lithuanian lawmaker responds by saying communism is already in the trash can. A new Hong Kong government-backed study finds that three doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine is not effective at protecting against the Omicron variant. Most of China is vaccinated with Chinese vaccines. A leading Hong Kong university has dismantled and removed a famous statue from its campus—one that commemorates the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

One of America’s top research chemists could now face over a decade in prison after he lied to prosecutors about being involved in Beijing’s talent recruitment program. But that’s not the only new sentencing—a former U.S. Navy sailor is also headed to jail. Her 30-month mandate comes after she, with the help of her husband, secretly sold sensitive U.S. military equipment to China for profit. The Chinese communist regime says "no" to religious events ahead of Christmas. The regime is laying down new rules and restrictions on religious activity held online. Beijing is reportedly broadcasting millions of dollars’ worth of propaganda to the United States, according to new U.S. federal disclosures. Dozens of Taiwanese officers have been convicted for spying for China in the last decade. Experts say Beijing could be trying to undermine the democratic island’s military and civilian leadership.

Florida is on track to kick Chinese investments out of the state’s retirement funds—one of the largest in the country. A group of Chinese students on an American college campus are protesting. They say the university's defense of a communist regime critic has offended the entire Chinese student body. But some suggest that Beijing's long arm lies behind the student protest. A northern Chinese city is virus testing millions of residents after more than 40 new cases were detected in the city. The outbreak prompted officials to suspend classes and seal off high-risk districts. A teacher from southern China has been forced to a mental hospital—all because she showed support to another teacher who challenged the Chinese Communist Party’s official narrative about a historic event. Chinese police are hiring private contractors to make hundreds of fake Twitter and Facebook accounts. A new report says it’s part of China's campaign to shape public opinion overseas.

The pandemic isn’t the only disease plaguing China. State media outlets are reporting an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in a northwestern province. Tennis player Peng Shuai reemerges after vanishing for weeks. But she’s now singing a different tune, walking back on the statement that started it all. Now, she claims she never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her. Beijing is asking German auto-part maker Continental to turn away from Lithuania. It's one of dozens of German companies Beijing is trying to sway. Unease is rippling through many of China’s biggest industries, as tens of thousands lose their jobs. Tech, education, real estate are all hurting and trying to cope with the Chinese regime’s clampdown. A voice from a Hong Kong activist highlights those willing to fight for democracy—even at great personal risk.

U.S. lawmakers are asking NBC to do its part when broadcasting the Beijing Olympics and avoid spreading Chinese propaganda. The station has also been urged to include the communist regime’s human rights abuses. The president of Purdue University is asking those who suppress freedom on campus to “continue their education elsewhere” after a student was allegedly harassed by Chinese students after he spoke out about Chinese politics. Chinese authorities revoke a famous human rights lawyer’s license. He has a history of representing cases that have touched Beijing’s nerves. The United States is slapping sanctions on more than 40 Chinese companies. Among them is the world’s largest drone maker and supplier to several law enforcement agencies. Taiwan is holding its fourth-ever referendum. But as citizens prepare to visit the polls, a report suggests Beijing may be getting its hands dirty.

One person you won’t see at the Beijing Olympic–the Japanese Prime Minister. He announced today that he has no plans to personally attend the games. A Chinese state media chief is retiring, after years of defending Beijing’s policies. A college instructor lost her job in China over comments about the Nanking, now known as Nanjing, Massacre. Her firing comes amid the 84th anniversary of the incident. Recently-leaked documents suggest that Chinese telecom giant Huawei has closer ties to the Chinese communist party than it’s led on. And public outcry over tennis star Peng Shua has kicked China’s censorship machine into overtime. But Chinese netizens are getting creative in their attempts to out-smart it. We examine the Communist Party’s toolbox for blocking online discussion it deems sensitive.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it has no regrets over awarding the Winter Games to China. But the comment is colored by international backlash over the county’s human rights record. America’s top diplomat vows to defend Indo-Pacific freedoms. Amid China’s ongoing aggressiveness in the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is backing the need for rules-based order. A Harvard University professor is facing the music, appearing on trial for hiding his ties to China. Officials accuse him of accepting thousands in funding through Beijing’s infamous Thousand Talents Program. Starbucks serves up an apology this week after an investigation found some stores in China using expired ingredients. Concerning footage suggests Chinese police are using a revamped policy to turn a profit. Locals say the officers are confiscating scooters and motorbikes without cause, and selling them overseas.

The first case of the Omicron variant has been detected in China. ​​The discovery comes just weeks ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. A building dubbed China’s “Little Red Mansion” is shocking Chinese society after a brutal sex slavery case was exposed within its walls. The details are shedding light on the ugly truth of Shanghai police corruption, and those linked to it. The Chinese Communist Party says its economy is on the up and up. But a number of state employees are reporting pay cuts up to 20 percent. Extensive U.S. sanctions are angering Beijing. The regime’s foreign ministry warns of retaliation, while the penalties seek to address human rights abuses in the country. Two long-time allies agree to strengthen their ties. The United States and Japan are upping their deterrence and response capabilities, looking to combat tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

The United Nations chief plans to visit Beijing for the Olympics. The decision comes amid a diplomatic boycott by the United States and some of its allies. Friday is International Human Rights Day. Numerous abuses have been reported as commonplace inside China and under other regimes. But now, people are standing up to offer a message of hope. Chinese authorities are blocking human rights supporters from leaving their homes. But it’s nothing new, and has been happening annually for years around Human Rights Day. A massive wave of unemployment is coming for China, warns a renowned professor. Chinese regulators remove some 100 apps from the country’s app stores. They say the software bans result from collecting “excessive personal information.” That’s as the regime ramps up its grip on user data. A central American nation turns away from Taiwan to embrace Beijing. But Taiwan’s president says pressure from authoritarian countries proves the island is on the right path.

More countries are joining a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, and mixed messages are coming out of Beijing. On one hand, it accuses the nations of politicizing the Games. On the other, Beijing says it doesn’t care if they attend. But that’s not the only boycott happening. China is now snubbing Lithuania for strengthening its ties to Taiwan. The European Union responds, saying it's ready to stand up against all types of political pressure from China’s communist regime. Members of China’s Communist Party have a new personal obligation: to have three kids. That's according to a state media editorial, requiring party members to help boost the country's birth rate and relieve its population crisis. Chinese authorities are disqualifying independent candidates from running in an election, as Beijing claims it embraces a better style of democracy than the United States.

In a blow to China’s cyber-spying network, Microsoft shut down 42 websites from a Chinese hacker group on Monday. The websites run in nearly 30 countries, including the United States. The United States won't send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Are the United States' key allies following suit? Beijing thought the European Union would lift its sanctions on blacklisted human rights abusers, but Brussels proves them wrong. The Chinese Communist Party claims China is also a democracy, called "Chinese style democracy." At the same time, it launched a campaign to discredit the U.S. democracy. Is there any direct election in China? The communist regime says yes, but not every resident agrees.

The United States says it will not send an official delegation to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics over the regime's human rights abuses. The United States chooses a clearer rhetoric toward China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific. It’s set to help maintain America's competitive upper hand over the communist regime. Another nation in Europe sends politicians to Taiwan. This follows last month’s visit by members of the European Parliament. China is putting U.S. officials on high alert, as the country seeks to build its first-ever naval military base on the Atlantic Ocean. More than 13,000 counterfeit products are seized after arriving from China. If the designer goods had been real, they’d be worth a combined total of over $30 million.

In this special episode, we sat down with Arthur Herman, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative. He talks about the race for AI and Quantum Computing between the United States and China, the dangers around that, and how it'll play out going forward.

Americans seem to be changing their minds about the Chinese communist regime—drastically. For the first time ever, half of Americans consider it the top threat to the country. The Chinese Communist Party says China is a democracy in its own form, as Beijing complains about a freedom summit hosted by the United States. One nation in Europe is boycotting the Beijing Olympics. Its announcement comes while China blocks exports from the country. iPhone sales have taken the lead in the Chinese market. Apple is snapping up market share left behind by Huawei, as the tech giant has remained on the decline for two years. A major Chinese company plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange. It’s now feeling the pressure on two sides, from both the United States and China. Half of China’s workforce reports a monthly income of less than $160. Communist Party officials, on the other hand, are getting rich.

The United States reiterates its "rock solid" commitment to Taiwan's defense. And the former Japanese prime minister said Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan. Hundreds of Taiwan nationals abroad are being extradited every year—not to Taiwan, but to China. And it’s all linked to Beijing's "One China policy." U.S. Congress members are working to teach children about the truth of communism. They tell NTD why they see it as a bigger threat now than ever before. Facebook and Twitter are taking action on accounts linked to Chinese propaganda campaigns. Thousands have already been removed. The deaths of nearly 40 women prisoners of conscience over two decades have been linked to a single prison in China—most recently, a woman close to 80 years old.

The new Omicron strain is starting to spread around the world, and vaccine-maker Moderna says existing doses will be less effective against it. Why is the new virus variant called Omicron? Because the World Health Organization skipped two other choices. The latter option has the same pronunciation as a common Chinese surname. A new report says at least seven countries are quietly supporting a Taiwanese military project, as a 10-day U.S. military drill concludes near the region—all in effort to deter a Chinese invasion. China’s Taishan nuclear power plant has taken damage, but exactly how much? A whistleblower says it’s nearly 15 times worse than the communist regime’s report suggests. The UK is listing its defense priorities, and China is at the top. In a rare speech, the chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service labeled China as its “single greatest priority.”

Another tale of forced demolition strikes a family in China. The victims say authorities railroaded them—and now they’ve lost everything. An over $400,000 fine, over a rule-breaking gain of $300—the Chinese Communist Party ramps up its clampdown on the country's fintech industry. Parts of northern China are seeing renewed lockdown orders amid a surge of new virus cases. Businesses are closed; flights are canceled; and residents aren't allowed to leave the city. Lawmakers from three European countries meet with Taiwan’s president. But the talks come alongside growing ire with Beijing. In another blow for the global supply chain, the majority of cargo ships in China have vanished from a global system used to track shipping data.

The United States is grappling with the global microchip shortage. And at the center of the crisis is Taiwan—home to the world's biggest chipmaker. China’s debt-trapped real estate developer is back in the spotlight. Evergrande’s chairman sold his shares to save the company, while another shareholder sold to save himself. Beijing takes new action in its clampdown on Chinese internet giants. This time, it’s targeting China’s version of Facebook. The Chinese Communist Party is covering things up, again. Photos and videos about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai were made public outside China. But in China, they are censored. A Seattle man returns home after being held hostage in China for four years. Alongside his return, the United States released seven prisoners back to China. In the waters surrounding Taiwan and Japan, five countries are holding a joint military drill. They’re looking to counter Beijing’s aggression there.

Chinese real estate company Evergrande's crisis isn’t over. Hundreds of home buyers are protesting, as construction on their future homes has been suspended for months. Reports of China’s so-called tofu buildings strike again. Four are dead after a residential workers' dorm collapsed in the middle of the night. China's birth rate plummets to its lowest point in four decades, despite authorities' efforts to encourage a baby boom. A young man from Wuhan announces his decision to quit the Chinese Communist Party. He’s one of around 400 million Chinese people that have abandoned their ties to the CCP. China is exerting pressure on a small European country related to tensions over Taiwan. But the United States is defending the country and is offering a trade deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai reappears after vanishing from the public eye. The International Olympic Committee confirmed her whereabouts, but her return is only prompting more doubts. Reporters or special agents? Some Chinese reporters appear to be tasked with special objectives. One professor, who worked in China, shares details about his unexpected interactions with them. A new U.S. project, aimed at countering Chinese military aggression, will develop new technology to defend against weapons that could bring nuclear warheads to America. China calls Australia "naughty," while Australia responds by calling China "silly" and "funny," over nuclear submarines.

In the thick of preparing for the Winter Olympics, Beijing is suffering from a scandal exposed by a top Chinese athlete. The United Nations is concerned about her whereabouts—and an international tennis association is considering cutting business ties with China. NBA player Enes Kanter is speaking out, pointing the spotlight on the widespread killing of Chinese prisoners of conscience for their organs. U.S. President Joe Biden is considering a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, meaning U.S. government officials wouldn't attend, though American athletes would still compete. Beijing rolls out new technology for use in its Xinjiang region. It’s a kind of emotion sensor, reportedly used to detect potential terrorists. A top university in Europe is found to be leaking technology to China’s military, all because of one staff member there.