China in Focus

Japan's Prime Minister becomes the first foreign leader to be hosted at the White House, since Biden took office. At the top of the agenda: Beijing's growing aggression. Hong Kong is sending some of its most influential pro-democracy figures to prison. The city that was once semi-autonomous now faces Beijing's crackdown on its remaining dissidents. An official document which appeared to be Taiwan’s Presidential name stamp was found to be fake. The island is accusing Beijing of trying to tear apart Taiwanese society. A loophole in a U.S. telecom ban. The head of the U.S. media regulator says there's a gap in the rules on Chinese tech giant Huawei. And it's allowed some U.S. network carriers to keep using the company's gear. And 20 million so-called "volunteers" aid the Chinese Communist Party in a digital public opinion war. The average age of the helpers is just 19, and some may not be who they say they are.

The removal of a Youtube video is sparking controversy -- and it all started with dumplings. One mother fights for justice, after her young son was killed in a fire. She blames China’s emergency response workers for shirking responsibility. The U.S., UK, and Canada take a stance against forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. They’re now blocking imports like cotton and tomato products. A congressional office is objecting to the delivery of Chinese propaganda. That’s as a Chinese, state-run publication is sent out to U.S. House members. And one expert draws parallels between what’s happening in the U.S., and events in communist China.

The U.S. says it won’t be deterred by China’s latest sanctions. Beijing recently penalized four American officials serving on a religious freedom commission. The move came after the U.S. levied its own sanctions. China plans to keep a steep tariff in place for at least another year. The tax impacts a certain U.S. product–and dates back to the Trump era. Stay away from Chinese meats. That’s the suggestion Germany’s Anti-Doping Agency made to athletes, as they venture to Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Taiwan offers a billion-dollar credit program to support projects in Lithuania. That’s after the island announced a $200 million investment fund, to help the Baltic country counter pressure from Beijing. And lockdown orders tighten in China. 35 million people are under stay-at-home orders, as cases of the Omicron and Delta variants paralyze certain cities.

The Olympic Flame is lit in Beijing. But this year, the world is focusing on more than just what’s happening inside the city’s stadium. Russia’s president is in Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics. But while there, he met in person with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time in two years. India announces a last-minute diplomatic boycott of the Olympics—but for a different reason than most. Beijing selected a Chinese commander to be an Olympic torchbearer—despite the man’s role in deadly border clashes with India. The House passes a bill to help the United States compete with China. But it remains to be seen how Washington plans to hold Beijing accountable. A video clip triggers outrage online and revives debate over a crime going back decades in China. A suspected victim of bride trafficking, one woman is found chained inside a shed.

A Chinese expert is warning Australia that other countries may target the nation for nuclear attacks—all because Australia signed a new security pact with its allies. China's neighbors are racing to purchase new weapons. They’re bolstering their defenses to counter China’s military expansion. The global stock markets respond to Chinese real estate giant Evergrande's potential collapse. How likely is it to happen? And how would it affect the global economy? NTD spoke with an economist to find out. The United States plans to reopen air travel to foreign passengers, but only when they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That includes those from China. But are Chinese vaccines effective enough to qualify?

An elderly woman fell unconscious on the spot after getting dosed with China’s homegrown vaccine. She suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma, but still was made to get the shot. Dozens of Chinese sailors are stuck on a cargo ship after testing positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The first of them to get sick was also the vaccinated person on board. A section of the world’s biggest port shuts down after one confirmed virus case was detected. A mother is in tears, begging for food to feed her child. Lockdown orders kept her inside and isolated from grocery stores, while local food delivery was suspended. A herd of wild elephants is finally heading home after wandering around in southern China for more than a year.

Top diplomats from the United States and Japan are working to build tighter defense ties. The growing partnership looks to counter Beijing. NTD interviews a Lithuanian member of parliament. We ask him about the Lithuanian president’s apparent regret over its de facto Taiwanese embassy. The Chinese regime fines retail giant 7-Eleven over $20,000. The penalty comes after the company website listed Taiwan as a country. Two Chinese vaccines equals an earning of over $10,000, and that’s enough to buy a decent house in some Chinese cities—that’s what the Chinese communist regime is trying to tell people with its propaganda script. Officials in China's Xi'an announced the city had reached "basically zero" COVID-19 cases. But citizens say there’s another explanation for the claim.

Chinese warships have entered America's exclusive economic zone. Chinese state-run media are calling it a countermeasure against the United States. A Chinese ship rams into a Japanese ship after coast guard ships from both countries had a confrontation over disputed territory. Wikipedia is banning a group of article editors from mainland China. The users reportedly threatened to doxx and report Hong Kong users over political disagreements. A Chinese man says he learned about Hong Kong's fight for freedom through foreign social media. But after he voiced his support online, something went wrong. A college graduate from Hong Kong tells NTD her story after fleeing to the United States to avoid the Chinese Communist Party's oppression.

Large scale annual military exercises in Taiwan. This time, the imagined scenario is a Chinese invasion later in the year. In an unusually harsh tone, Japan expresses serious concerns over Beijing’s human rights record and territorial disputes. South Korea seeks cooperation with the Quad alliance. That's the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India. At the same time, the German chancellor wishes for more cooperation with Beijing. The real death toll from the pandemic in Wuhan remains a mystery. Videos of packed cemeteries may tell a story different from the official version. And President Biden hasn't spoken with Xi Jinping about virus origins. His Secretary of State says the U.S. will continue to investigate where the virus really came from.

In a unique sighting in Beijing, a black swan appears in Tiananmen Square, the center of the city. A metaphor often associated with the bird’s presence is stirring speculation. A Hong Kong actor says he’s giving up his Canadian citizenship. Some call it a show of loyalty toward China’s communist regime. Beijing bans men it deems aren't masculine enough for TV—and labels them “girlie guns." Britain’s new aircraft carrier arrives in Japan for a permanent military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. This is countering China's territorial claims. Two Canadians have been held in Chinese prison for more than 1,000 days. Their supporters rally in Ottawa. The "Two Michaels" were accused of spying in a case that soured diplomatic ties between Canada and China.

China's real estate sector takes another hit. But this time, it isn’t Evergrande. Developer Kaisa is now making a desperate plea for help. Risk or opportunity? Investment bank Goldman Sachs is weighing those options—and buying up Chinese real estate debt. The United States is working to block American investments from funding China’s military. A ban on investing in nearly 60 Chinese companies gets an extension. Thirteen U.S. officials pay Taiwan a visit. In a meeting there, the delegation discussed Taiwan’s defense capabilities amid China’s growing military pressure.

A famous Chinese transplant surgeon’s death raises suspicions. It’s been ruled a suicide, but some are pointing to the Chinese regime’s practice of forced organ harvesting. China’s most important annual political meetings are scheduled for later this week. But authorities there seem to be ramping up suppression of activists and justice-seekers ahead of the event. A pandemic-control volunteer in China is asked to quarantine. But his stay quickly took an unexpected turn, when he witnessed people there being driven insane by the facility’s poor conditions. Almost 50 democracy activists are targeted by Beijing. They’ve been charged with what authorities call "conspiracy to commit subversion." And a Chinese TV show is in the hot seat after it aired a doctored photo. The photoshopped image replaces actress Selena Gomez’s face with that of a Chinese TV star.

U.S. aircraft carriers gather in the Indo-Pacific region on a scale not seen since World War II. Would the United States defend Taiwan if China launches an attack? A Chinese officer floats the prospect of nuclear war. Chinese aggression is now a hot topic for Japan. In response, the nation is teaming up with allies like the United States and France. No Chinese app, no Winter Olympics—that’s what Beijing has to say for athletes arriving for the Games. They’re required to upload health details to the software–but reports say the platform poses security risks. Another nation labels Beijing’s treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide. The move follows similar declarations from the United States, the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Amid strict lockdown measures in China’s Xi'an city, a local reports that authorities struck his face with a brick for visiting his grandmother. The city has deployed almost 30,000 virus prevention personnel to the streets, in an effort to completely eliminate the pandemic in the city. Tesla is opening a showroom in China’s Xinjiang region—the area at the center of Beijing’s human rights abuse allegations. China promises to use less coal starting 2025. But ahead of that deadline, the country put its largest coal-fired power plant into operation, armed with an ambitious 2025 production goal. One of the last remaining independent news outlets in Hong Kong shuts down, dealing another blow to press freedom in the city.

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.

Apple becomes the top-selling smartphone vendor in China, again. The previous leader, Huawei, is suffering major losses thanks to U.S. sanctions. Supply chain problems are expected to get worse, and soon. That’s because of two upcoming events in China: the Lunar New Year holiday and the Winter Olympics. The Chinese regime is making some edits to a Hollywood blockbuster—so that authorities, instead of anarchists, win the game. It’s one of the many examples of censorship foreign films face in China. Just a few days remain before the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Locals say the atmosphere in Beijing is growing tense amid rising virus cases. And outside Beijing, workers in full protection gear are seen testing tables, chairs, and more.

An unusually broad coalition of countries is calling out Beijing for its hacking practices. Its cyber-espionage campaign is believed to target sensitive technology. Rallies in support of Falun Gong are happening from North America to Europe. The Chinese Communist Party has been waging a brutal persecution against the spiritual movement for 22 years. A surprise addition to the line-up of this year's Cannes film festival. A documentary is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy protest movement. Heavy rains hit China's Inner Mongolia region. Two reservoirs have burst, destroying more than 20 bridges. And Chinese telecom company Xiaomi just leapfrogged Apple — becoming the world's second largest smartphone vendor. Former U.S. president Trump blacklisted the company. But president Biden removed the label.

Beijing responds to the situation in Afghanistan. Chinese officials describe the Taliban as more “sober and rational” than in the past. The United States is limiting passenger capacities for some Chinese flights. It comes after Beijing imposed similar limits on some American flights. Huawei faces a new lawsuit, filed by an American company. It accuses the Chinese telecom giant of espionage and stealing trade secrets. A Chinese Communist Party official breaks the country's embezzlement record, taking $460 million. But the true figure could be even higher. Chinese farmers who suffered flood damage receive little to no support from authorities. Only a few dollars are given as compensation for a land lot as big as an NBA basketball court.

The Treasury secretary says the U.S. will keep tariffs on Chinese goods in place, for now. Senator Cotton calls for targeted decoupling with Communist China -- saying the U.S. is once again at a crossroads of her destiny. Washington has an ace up its sleeve that could be used against Beijing. Without it, Chinese airplanes can’t fly. The lab in Wuhan at the center of pandemic controversy receives funds from American taxpayers. It’s set to continue until 2024. And a Chinese professor is found to live in the U.S. even though he’s known for making anti-American remarks.

Some solar panel production lines are moving out of China. The shift follows new U.S. import restrictions on products tied to forced labor. Supply chains are shifting back to the United States. A new bill aims to help boost that process, especially for American semiconductor manufacturing. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is calling on Americans to watch an award-winning film. He calls the movie an “honest, scathing indictment of the Chinese Communist Party.” The European Union takes action against China to back one of its member countries. Now, the organization is launching a case against the Chinese regime with the World Trade Organization. Thousands of blossoms go up in flames. A Hong Kong ​​flower farmer is cutting his supply in half ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday after strict pandemic measures sent demand on a downward spiral.

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.

A U.S. warship enters the East China Sea and heads close to China’s biggest city. That’s after a Chinese aircraft carrier passed through an important Japanese waterway. Amid Beijing’s increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific, the German defense minister says, the West “must not be the weaker one." The U.S. Major League Baseball expands its contract with a Chinese company with significant ties to the CCP. The NBA previously had some issues with programming in China. A Chinese couple lost their assets after volunteering for their community during the pandemic. One of them has been forced to quarantine for over 70 days. And a reporter in Malta was killed while investigating a potential web of corruption. Now investigations have found a Chinese man after piecing together the money trail she was following.

Authorities in China are taking harsh measures, working to control the country’s emerging virus outbreaks. Residents are reportedly sealed inside their homes if they don’t comply with harsh pandemic restrictions. The gate of a neighborhood is welded shut, soon after a confirmed virus case was discovered there. Residents living in some city highrises heard cries for help. Besides lockdown orders, the Swiss government calls out Beijing after Chinese media quoted a Swiss scientist who blamed the United States for the pandemic. But a background check revealed the person doesn’t seem to exist. A Chinese court sentences a Canadian citizen to 11 years in prison. But Canada’s prime minister calls it "unacceptable."

Thousands of Cuban citizens take to the streets, speaking out against the country’s communist regime. Many are losing their internet connections amid the protests -- and some suspect China is behind it. Beijing seems to have a new friend knocking on its door: the Taliban. A spokesman says they’re hoping for talks with Beijing, and promise to keep Chinese investments in Afghanistan secure. Could nuclear war erupt between China and Japan? A prominent Chinese military channel says that’s what the future holds, if Japan defends Taiwan. And the U.S. could be involved, too. And, Beijing is stepping up its crackdown on China's version of Uber. Now, 25 apps are set to be removed from the app store. It’s part of a series of control measures reining in China's internet giants.

It’s T-minus one day until the Beijing Winter Olympics. The State Department says American athletes have the right to protest—as more and more speak up against human rights abuses there. On the other hand, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is urging them to stay silent until they’ve left Beijing, for their own safety. In a last-ditch effort to get its human rights narrative under control, Chinese regime officials are arresting dissidents and reining in social media chatter. The goal? To prevent people from speaking out during the Games. An Olympian sheds tears while in Beijing, after she was sent into isolation for seven days. She had been blocked from entering the Olympic Village over a positive virus test, but was still kept out, even after testing negative. One Chinese man is headed to a U.S. prison. He’s sentenced to spend two years there, as punishment for his part in a million-dollar fake iPhone scheme.