China in Focus

In China's Shanxi Province, authorities warn of more landslides to come as the region faces continued heavy rains. Another deadly infectious disease has appeared in China. The bacteria was transmitted from birds to humans. For the first time, a Chinese police officer is speaking out about the torture of Uyghur detainees—something he says he was routinely ordered to perform. Beijing might be ready for a "full-scale" invasion of Taiwan by 2025, based on a warning from the Taiwanese defense minister. But how are Taiwanese people responding? And what does President Joe Biden have to say? Japan is taking action to deter Beijing. The country has stayed strictly on the defensive after World War II. But it may soon update that strategy to cope with Beijing's aggression.

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.

Tit-for-tat sanctions strain relations between China and the West. The UK, Canada and the European Union join the U.S. in sanctioning Beijing for human rights abuses. Australia and New Zealand speak out to applaud their efforts. China retaliates against the European Union, only to face even more pushback. The Chinese ambassador to France has also been summoned by Paris lawmakers. That's after the Chinese embassy called a French scholar a "mad dog" and "little thug" for supporting Taiwan. Japan turns to its allied nations to bolster defense, amid a growing threat from the Chinese regime. And more Chinese people move to publicly reject the Communist Party. One entrepreneur in New Zealand shares his story on how he made the change.

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.

This year's Academy Awards ceremony will not be aired in China. Beijing banned its live broadcast because of two China-related documentaries that were nominated for awards. The Secretary of State urged South Korea to “stand up” for shared values alongside the U.S. That’s to prevent what he called a “dangerous erosion of democracy” in the region. U.S.-China tensions are escalating, ahead of the Biden Administration’s first meeting with Beijing. Chinese police arrested American students, while the U.S. slapped new sanctions on top Chinese officials. American drugmaker Pfizer plans to stop producing biosimilar products in China. It has plans to sell its China-based facility and assets to the country’s largest pharmaceutical research company. And cheap Chinese petroleum products are flooding the Australian market. It’s prompting domestic oil refineries to shut down, boosting reliance on imports and possibly impacting its military.

New U.S. legislation aims to counter communist China. The bill will confront nearly all of Beijing’s aggressive behavior. The White House says its upcoming renewable energy programs will create new U.S. jobs. But it seems the plan could make more jobs in China instead, and they could involve forced labor. The Philippines is invoking an old treaty with the U.S. It says an assault on Filipino territory is the same as an assault on U.S. territory. That’s as South Korea boosts its cost of hosting U.S. troops there. All of the new actions target Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea. A report says an enraged homeowner killed a high profile gang member in China. That’s after authorities asked a group of thugs to forcibly tear down local houses. Now, authorities are covering up the incident. And a heartbreaking story follows a 13 year old girl as she fights for justice. Police and even her parents failed to help her after a violent kidnapping and assault. So she’s turning to social media to get her message out.

More bad news for China’s version of Uber. Ride-share service DiDi’s stock shares plunged over 20% -- after a crackdown from Chinese authorities. It’s fall from stardom comes after a breakout listing in the U.S. stock market. An American city councilman, removed from his post. All because he vocally blames Beijing for the pandemic. And opposed a sister city agreement with China. Over 500 Chinese students have their U.S. visas denied. They’re hoping to study science and engineering abroad. An executive order by the Trump administration is in play. Did Chinese authorities know about the CCP-virus as early as fall of 2019? Months before China's alleged patient zero appeared, Wuhan held an 'emergency response' drill in case 'a new coronavirus' strain were to appear in Wuhan. And Japan may join the U.S. in defending Taiwan -- if Beijing invades the island. Japan’s deputy prime minister says his country could interpret a Chinese invasion as a 'threat to Japan's survival.'

China says they made a mistake in dealing with American diplomats. U.S. diplomats in China endured an invasive method of CCP virus testing. President Biden says it's important to work with Communist China on climate change. But carbon emissions data suggests the regime may not keep its promises. A Taiwanese company that makes semiconductors presents a possible Achilles heel for the United States. An over $90M settlement is reached in a U.S. court. Young tiktok users started the lawsuits to protect their privacy. And Taiwan’s President calls on her countrymen to eat more pineapples. This comes after China announced a ban on pineapple imports from the island.

Beijing allows two American siblings to leave China and come home after three years. Their father is one of China’s most-wanted corrupt officials. Beijing accuses him of committing major bank fraud. Power shortages cause issues across China, and American businesses are feeling the pain. Coal shortages may play a role, but some say the real cause is the Chinese Communist Party’s global ambition. A China affairs analyst breaks it down. America is spending big bucks to kick Huawei out of U.S. networks. One government agency is now lending a hand to rural telecom carriers. Heavy rains drench northern China. The continued downpours have already caused flooding and mudslides. China’s real estate industry seems to be booming, but many buildings are being ripped down.

In another possible cover-up from the Chinese Communist Party, authorities claim there were no casualties as shockwaves from a massive explosion reportedly leveled houses in China. But residents say otherwise. Beijing works to quiet talk of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Hong Kong police raid the premises of a closed museum dedicated to honoring the massacre’s victims. A Chinese man is sentenced to prison by a U.S. court for smuggling submarine technology from the United States to China. Chinese regulators are now clamping down on foreign brands. This time, it's winter jacket manufacturer Canada Goose, hit with a $70,000 fine. The online gaming industry also takes a hit. No new online games have been granted approval in China, as authorities take aim at the sector.

The United States is opening for fully vaccinated travelers, including those from China. But a Hong Kong government expert raises concerns about the efficacy of some foreign vaccines. Parts of China are getting blasted by a snowstorm—almost a full month earlier than usual. A $200 million Marvel Studios movie wasn’t released in China this weekend, all because of remarks its director made years ago. Mockups of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier have been discovered in a desert. Satellite images suggest they could be part of new Chinese army training exercises. Beijing blacklists three Taiwan politicians. But instead of viewing them as punishment, those on China’s blacklist instead respond with statements of pride. A major meeting of the Chinese Communist Party has begun. Ahead of the event, the regime’s top media mouthpiece published a 12,000-word article, highlighting what it called Xi Jinping’s achievements.

A World Health Organization expert agrees with China’s narrative, that the virus can be transmitted via frozen food. That’s amid no reports of virus transmission via food packaging in China. China’s ambassador to the US echoed a claim pushed by Beijing: that the CCP virus may have originated from the US. A local Chinese official orders police to show ‘no mercy’ while beating petitioners, including pregnant women. China’s regulators met with Tesla over customer complaints. They instruct the carmaker to comply with Chinese law. And the US challenges Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. That’s as tensions rise between Japan and China over contested islands in the East China Sea.

American and European politicians condemn attacks against The Epoch Times printing house in Hong Kong. This after masked men smashed computers and printing machinery. Beijing is boosting pressure on Taiwan. It sent a record number of warplanes flying near the island, the largest incursion to date. A bold photo-message from the U.S. to communist China, warning the country's Navy not to step out of line. It was taken in the South China sea. Chinese authorities make over $800 in three minutes. And it's all thanks to a traffic camera and the regime's administrative power. And Australia’s new Defense Minister is taking a hard line against Beijing. He’s calling out the regime for cyber attacks against Australia.

Chinese residents liken a quarantine site to a concentration camp in the city of Guangzhou. The facility was set up to combat a surge in the CCP virus there. While under at-home quarantine, a group of Chinese citizens were seen crying out to nearby authorities for help. They explained they’d been stuck inside for days without food. A Communist party official, murdered at the university he works for. A lecturer is the main suspect, and police say he was motivated by employment issues. For the first time ever, a Chinese scientist is going on trial in the U.S. That’s for hiding his research work in China, while taking government grants. And another herd of elephants are on the move in southwest China. The group comes after a separate band of 15, who caught the public eye with a more than 300-mile march.

The highly contagious Delta variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus is challenging China. In the flood-hit city of Zhengzhou, a total lockdown leaves residents short on food at home. Some were spotted shouting for help from their buildings. Trust in Chinese-made vaccines seems low in China. Authorities are using every strategy to get people vaccinated—including incentives like cash rewards. For outside China, Chinese Communist Party head Xi Jinping promised to provide 2 billion doses of CCP virus vaccines to other countries this year. The Biden administration approves its first arms sale to Taiwan. The transaction is valued at $750 million. American investors are worried, as Beijing cracks down on Chinese-owned companies. We look into what’s behind the effort.

Asia’s arms race is growing. Aggression has led countries in the area into a deadly game of keeping up with the Joneses. Beijing is nearing an initial capability to invade Taiwan, warns a U.S. congressional advisory body. On the other side, Taiwan is preparing for all possibilities with an advanced model of fighter jet. A record-high number of Americans have died from drug overdose, and chemicals from China are playing a major role in it. Reports emerge of discrimination in China’s education sector. Practicing a spiritual meditation system may lead to teachers losing their jobs. The German chancellor says her country was naive at first—when it comes to dealing with China.

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 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 Chinese Communist Party leader is pushing for more military deterrence. In a speech, he claimed China has the upper hand amid the current global situation. The world’s biggest power players are debating how to deal with China. America’s top diplomat is making his position clear. The Pentagon is calling for a "new vision" for U-S defense. It’s top official says the country should use technology to address threats from China. The Philippines’ Foreign Minister seems to have had enough. He told China to "get out" in a Twitter post, complete with vulgar language. This as Chinese ships continuously show up in Filipino waters. And the sea level is rising along China’s coast. A number of cities could be at risk, including financial hub Shanghai. New reports disclose the unusual reason why.

While Congress is divided on whether to modernize America’s nuclear forces, defense leaders say America’s biggest rivals are upping their nuclear game. Suspected Chinese hackers have been spying on the U.S. defense industry for months. This, according to a cybersecurity firm. Japan is beefing up its efforts to counter communist China in the South China Sea. A photo is drawing attention online, showing a Japanese warship cruising next to a Chinese aircraft carrier. A Tesla owner protests against the company's quality issues on the first day of the Shanghai auto show. Some people say she was trying to defame the car-maker, and that the Chinese regime is backing her up. And Beijing is lending Sri Lanka $500 million, as the country is struggling financially. But the loan may have strings attached.

Beijing furthers its narratives in the West, with help from Western faces. A Chinese state-owned media is recruiting overseas internet personalities to do it. A Chinese city dubbed “the World’s factory” struggles to control the pandemic and flooding. A state of emergency announced on Tuesday. While schools, kindergartens, and nurseries are shuttered. The U.S. lifts its ban on TikTok and WeChat. The Trump-era rule had tried to block Americans from downloading the Chinese-owned apps, citing national security concerns. The first person charged under Hong Kong’s new national security law is going to trial. But the city’s Court of Appeal says no jury is required. The move breaks away from a nearly 200-year old precedent. And, another blow strikes Chinese telecom giant Huawei, this time in Europe. A Swedish court upholds a ban, blocking the company from selling 5G equipment there.

A new security deal forms between the United States, the UK, and Australia, seemingly to counter communist China. Under it, Australia acquires nuclear-powered submarines. The European Union boosts efforts to rival the influence Beijing has gained through its Belt and Road Initiative. International voices calling to support Taiwan are getting louder, as more push to help defend the island. At the same time, Beijing is seeking a new national image. Officials are even trying to create so-called "new forms of human civilization."

America’s longest war is over. But why did the United States pull its troops out of Afghanistan? President Joe Biden says it’s to shift priorities to meet the China challenge. The Taliban describes the Chinese Communist Party as an old friend and says it hopes to foster even stronger relations. Another of China’s friendly relationships is deepening, too. Military leaders from Burma, also known as Myanmar, invited a Chinese representative to visit for the first time since the country's coup earlier this year. One of China's largest real estate companies is deep in debt, to the tune of $300 billion. But if the company goes bankrupt, it would send shock waves through China's economy.

Chinese fentanyl is pouring into the United States. It’s moved through Mexican cartels, and with implicit permission from the Chinese Communist Party. The White House appeals to the private sector to beef up defenses against cyberattacks, while experts say China is actively engaged in war with the United States. China revives old claims about the origin of the pandemic. Beijing accuses the U.S. military of bringing the infection to Wuhan, but one report says otherwise. The United States is reportedly allowing Huawei to buy auto chips, even though the blacklisted Chinese telecom firm was flagged over concerns Beijing could use it for spying. The pressure to get citizens vaccinated is rising in China. Some governmental organs and state-owned companies are now ordering employees to persuade others to get the shot. If they fail, they can expect a pink slip.

A letter is adding fuel to one of the most controversial debates in the United States: whether American taxpayers' money was used to fund dangerous research inside the Wuhan lab. An energy initiative is up for discussion at the next G20 summit. It suggests cutting CO2 emissions in half by 2030. But an expert says it could harm Europe, all for China’s benefit. Beijing claims the United States is sending a majorly wrong message to Taiwan. That's after the U.S. Secretary of State urged U.N. members to support Taiwan and its possible participation in the organization. TikTok says it doesn’t hand American user data over to China. But one company executive’s testimony didn’t make the grade, according to one senator. A Chinese language song has become an internet sensation. It’s a satire against the Chinese regime, posed as an innocent romance tune. We dissect the lyrics and examine what its metaphors really mean.