China in Focus

A team of scientists from the World Health Organization arrive in China. Their month-long trip aims to investigate the origins of the pandemic. That’s as Beijing repeatedly attempts to shift blame, claiming the virus is coming into China from abroad. Citizens from China’s Hebei province face a new kind of discrimination. It seems to be driven by fear of the virus, amid the country’s surging infection rates. Vegetable prices skyrocket in some regions, while others suffer from drought and water shortages. Questions rise about President-elect Joe Biden’s China policy. Some speculate he’ll seek to replace a number of Trump-era rules. And the U.S. blacklists a Chinese oil giant. The Commerce Department says it’s bullying other countries in the South China Sea.

Former US President Trump and former Secretary of State Pompeo respond to a recent Biden comment on China. Pompeo said the new president’s language echoes Chinese propaganda. A Chinese media mouthpiece reports on counterfeit vaccine doses. But experts say Chinese authorities may have an ulterior motive for publicizing the issue. A leaked document suggests Beijing officials knew the CCP virus was contagious, close to a month before warning the public. They reportedly discussed measures to stop the spread in advance. And two baltic countries take a hard line toward China. Estonia warns against a world silence by Beijing. While Lithuania bans a Chinese company’s equipment from scanning its airport.

The U.S. reveals new findings surrounding China’s Wuhan virus lab. That’s the facility some claim leaked the CCP virus. Leaked documents found by one outlet claim Canada may have helped Beijing cover up the pandemic. The Director of National Intelligence says China did interfere in the 2020 election. The statement comes just days before Biden's inauguration. Biden’s State Department picks signal a possible change in U.S.-China policy. Digital payment giant Paypal intensifies its business with China. It’s now the first overseas company to have full control over a Chinese e-payment platform. And a surprising translation error leaves some Chinese netizens suspicious. That's as the U-S accuses Beijing of breaking a major promise.

Five top athletes get disqualified from the Beijing Olympics ski jumping final. But the ski wear suit violations seem to be sparking more conversation than who got the gold. A Chinese speed skater trips a fellow women’s division competitor. Accusations are mounting over whether it was on purpose. But that’s not all. In the men’s category, another skater from Team China pushes his opponent, causing him to fall. Judges opted not to penalize him. A U.S.-born sports star is rising to fame on Team China–after she claimed a gold medal. Now, the Communist Party is urging her to thrive, all to support its national ‘glory.’ And a report dives into how American tech giants support Chinese military development. Top names on the list? Microsoft, GE, and Intel.

US President Biden pauses legal action against China-based social media platforms TikTok and WeChat. We look into China’s so-called tofu buildings. Complete with removable door frames, and walls brittle enough to crumble using just your hands. A face-changing photo app turns actress Scarlett Johansson into the star of a Chinese period drama. But it’s not all fun and games -- some raise concerns about the app’s hidden risk. President Biden is asked whether or not he’d punish China for withholding key information on the pandemic. And, the Biden Administration is seeking cooperation with European allies, especially in countering the Chinese regime.

A heated debate erupts over Biden's choice of UN ambassador. The disagreement stems from a speech the nominee gave at a Chinese Communist Party-backed Confucius Institute. America's power grid could be at risk. After Biden suspended an order that aimed to protect it. The Biden administration denounces using terms like "China virus" and "Wuhan virus" to describe the pandemic. Both have been used by former president Trump and his Secretary of State. And Canadian tech company BlackBerry has sold 90 patents related to key smartphone technology to Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

Some Chinese media reports use headlines to mischaracterize overseas vaccines. But internal documents show they haven’t had much success in promoting China’s version. A Chinese actress is left floundering after a scandal goes public. It involves her two children born from surrogate mothers -- and sheds light on the practice in the country. The Biden administration gives investors more time to toss their holdings in blacklisted Chinese firms. They now have until May, though President Trump’s original deadline expires Thursday. And a new Chinese law gives its coast guard permission to open fire. That’s when foreign vessels enter disputed waters.

Reports find U.S.-born skier Eileen Gu is cashing in on her fame in China. Following her victory in Beijing, she's expected to secure dozens more sponsorships and endorsements from Chinese companies. But experts warn of risks. More than half of China's Olympic hockey players are originally from somewhere else. But some are questioning why the mostly American and Canadian athletes are allowed to compete for Beijing at all, as one of them refuses to comment on his citizenship status. And we look into some of the seemingly extreme results of Beijing’s “zero-cases” pandemic policy. One man has reportedly taken over 90 tests in just a matter of months.

The Biden administration denounces China’s apparent retaliation on the Trump administration. Calling Beijing’s recent sanctions on former White House officials "unproductive and cynical." China’s foreign ministry spokesperson says “the past few years weren’t easy.” The comment follows President Trump’s departure from the White House. Biden's administration intends to maintain U.S. membership in the World Health Organization. One U-S lawmaker says American taxpayers shouldn’t fund the organization. A Chinese messaging app is found to read users’ private information. Some of it is even uploaded to the web. And the Chinese Communist Party builds a village of more than 100 houses in a disputed area. The move further strains tensions on the China-India border.

Chinese authorities blow up a dam, flooding several villages—in order to protect wealthier areas. What's more, authorities banned all rescue efforts in the name of the pandemic. China’s flood season isn’t over yet, and an epidemic already seems to be around the corner. Amid the water-logging and damages, a number of villages are now hugely contaminated by dead livestock. Wuhan plans to test all of its 12 million residents for the virus. The city is facing a new round of rigorous pandemic prevention measures. American Airlines is offering some customers 30 minutes of free access to TikTok. But cybersecurity experts warn that Beijing has used the video app to spy on Americans. A nuclear power plant in China shuts down one of its reactors to fix a leak, more than a month after the problem was first announced to the public.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken makes his first visit to Australia to meet with the other Quad alliance member nations. He says they share mutual concerns over China’s increasing threat. A grassroots movement to quit the Chinese Communist Party comes under assault in New York City. A witness from the scene says she couldn’t fall asleep after seeing the attack. How many people died in Wuhan in the last two years? That question remains unanswered, since the pandemic’s epicenter stopped reporting cremation data after the outbreak hit the city. A hotel room gets drenched by a major ceiling leak. Despite rampant reports of building code problems in China, the video sparked discussion online, all because of the guest staying there. A Christian businessman faces a seven-year jail sentence after his appeal was denied. He was charged with selling uncensored Bibles in his store, versions that didn’t get the green light from communist authorities.

Severe flooding worsens in China. Drivers inside a road tunnel -- trapped inside amid rising water. Human remains later carried out in sealed foam boxes. Residents blame authorities for making flood conditions worse. That’s after they released water from an upstream reservoir--with no warning. An insider reveals the real story of what happened inside a Chinese subway. Revealing what’ve been called missed opportunities to save lives. News from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy front. Seven men that attacked pro-democracy protesters in 2019 are going to jail. But police are also arresting a media professional, and several book publishers. And American photography company Kodak bends to Beijing. It offered an apology to China related to the country’s Xinjiang region.

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.

A video showcases a number of curious comments from a pro-Beijing Chinese professor. One of the vague remarks praises China for its so-called achievements in "biological warfare.” A website sheds light on the links between Wuhan’s virus lab and the Chinese Communist Party. That’s as many question how deeply those ties go, and others speculate about the pandemic’s origins. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has just pleaded guilty. He’s among the most high profile arrests made under Hong Kong’s national security law. This, as the Taiwanese branch of his newspaper ends its print edition. New data shows the U.S. is now importing a lot less from China. It’s a sharp decline from before the pandemic started -- largely due to U.S. tariffs on the country. And a report says the Chinese regime is using forced labor to make solar panels. The Communist regime is allegedly making ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region work against their will.

The U.S. may soon ease trade restrictions on China's largest microchip maker. Former President Trump had put the company on a trade blacklist over its ties to the Chinese military. A Chinese internet censor says he helped the Communist Party track down and arrest six netizens last year. He boasted about his power to suppress others in a video shared online. An expert makes a major discovery while analyzing satellite images. He finds 16 new underground nuclear missile launchers built in China. Nearly three-quarters of Americans say the U.S. should stand up against China’s human rights abuses. A survey says they value it more than fostering economic ties with the regime. And U.S. colleges gain new power to resist Chinese influence. A new bill passes the Senate, targeting Beijing’s overseas Confucius Institutes.

A figure skater born and raised in the United States has come under fire in China—all over a fall she took during her Winter Olympics debut. Part of Team China, online critics are now attacking her unusual family ties. Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai denies accusing anyone of sexual assault, after posting on social media last year about an incident involving a former communist official. Now, some are questioning whether she’s speaking under duress. Outrage erupts online over one Taiwanese Olympian’s practice session. She was spotted wearing a Team China uniform. Quarantined Olympians report poor conditions in Beijing. Reports range from losing weight and lack of proper food, to sleeping in clothing out of fear. A Chinese telecom giant is protesting. The U.S. telecom watchdog banned the company from providing service inside the country, citing espionage concerns.

A Chinese state-owned media is using its strongest language yet to threaten the U.S. This, after Beijing simulated an invasion of Taiwan in a military exercise. The President of the Philippines announces his country’s friendship with Communist China is over. He tells Beijing: “Kill me if you want to kill me, I will be here.” One Chinese mother suddenly goes radio silent -- after vocally demanding justice for her late son. What's behind the dramatic change? The U.S. suspends visas for certain Chinese Communist officials and their families. Reports say one Chinese undergraduate just got rejected for an American visa, because that student's father works for China's Ministry of Public Security. And two of five American businessmen in Hong Kong want to leave the city. The biggest reason? The Chinese Communist Party’s suppression of freedom there.

A new bill introduced in the House looks to sanction thousands of China’s top officials, including Xi Jinping and his family. A quarantined journalist longs for a cup of coffee, after more than a week in Olympic isolation. We look at what athletes say about the scene in Beijing. The Olympics seek to build a more peaceful world. But China may be using the Games for another purpose. We hear from a Chinese American architect about what the Beijing Games have cost his family. A map shows just how close visitors to China are to the country’s human rights abuses. It reveals Beijing detention centers are just minutes away from Olympic stadiums. A dissident and former torchbearer for the 2008 Summer Olympics speaks out after China selected a Uyghur athlete to carry the 2022 Olympic flame.

A new report shines the spotlight on Dr. Anthony Fauci. The White House's chief medical adviser is now accused of holding significant investments that were poured into Chinese companies. China’s virus death toll may be over 300 times higher than official figures claim, according to a new machine learning program developed in the UK. ​ Countries in the Indo-Pacific region are teaming up. The United States and Japan agree to stockpile munitions, focusing on the area around Taiwan, while the Philippines buys new weapons from India to discourage would-be foreign intruders. Beijing has been eyeing a key port in the Indo-Pacific region. But what makes it different from the rest? We look at its strategic implications and how the regime has gained control. China’s real estate crisis is still plaguing the country’s economy. Now, it’s hit sales numbers for China’s biggest home builder.

Nations are scrutinizing a Chinese-made genetics test. The test is used on pregnant women around the world. And the company that produces it has ties to the Chinese military. When exactly did the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak begin in Wuhan? A top epidemiologist reveals he first heard about it back in mid-December 2019—two weeks before it was reported to the World Health Organization. China's Three Gorges Dam sees a 23-year record high water level. Landslides strike China in at least three areas, destroying homes and killing several people along the way. NATO voices concerns about China’s nuclear expansion. And a European country no longer wants its ambassador in China. This comes after a disagreement with Beijing over Taiwan’s opening of a de-facto embassy.

Beijing’s true intentions revealed in a speech. An expert suggests the real motivation behind a Chinese diplomat’s outburst, during China’s first in-person meeting with the Biden Administration. Tit-for-tat sanctions between China and the European Union. Beijing seemingly takes revenge over European sanctions, imposed over human rights abuse in Xinjiang. Communist China takes new action in the South China Sea. Beijing sends over 200 vessels into waters claimed by the Philippines. The Pentagon comments on China's military. A top defence official says the U.S. must approach China as the country’s primary challenge. That’s as Beijing continues to boost its military, and shows a willingness to take risks. And public outcry erupts over calls for special privileges. Extra luxuries are usually reserved for China’s high-ranking officials. But now, a few claiming to be relatives of China’s elites are making demands.

President Biden says he’ll confront China’s abuses. But says he’s also willing to work with the Regime. That’s as a former Trump administration official warns of a negotiation trap. A pandemic control volunteer in China is fatally stabbed. He was attacked after trying to block a resident from leaving his locked-down neighborhood. $400 billion in foreign exchange reserves are missing from China’s official data. We look into where that money ended up. And a failed rocket launch in China. Some say it could be related to a shortage of high-end microchips.

The Chinese Communist Party is celebrating the departure of Donald Trump as US president. Beijing authorities impose sanctions on 28 Trump administration officials. US President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State proposes a new approach to countering Chinese influence. We look into the differences between the new approach, and his predecessor’s. Founder Jack Ma, of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has resurfaced. It's the mogul's first appearance since October, after he offended the Communist regime. And 10 years ago, China's former dictator Mao Zedong's grandson wished the CCP a long life of 100 Years. This year, his comment is going viral, as the Party marks its 100th anniversary.

On the second day of a military drill, the Taiwanese army is simulating a scenario where its cities are under attack amid ongoing concerns of a Chinese invasion. Democracies in the Indo-Pacific region are coming together. Australia and Japan sign a historic defense deal in face of the Chinese communist regime’s threat. A Chinese real estate company has defaulted on loans—and it’s not Evergrande. Property developer Shimao Group missed a $100 million payment. Four people in California died of opioid overdose within an hour. Police suspect fentanyl is to blame, a drug primarily sourced from China. Another pregnant woman has lost her unborn baby after hospitals in one Chinese city turned her away. That’s as humanitarian concerns circle the city’s strict lockdown.

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.