The Point with Liu Xin

The Middle East faces a historic turning point after Iran confirmed that its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in U.S.–Israeli strikes. Tehran has formed an interim leadership council as it prepares to select the next Supreme Leader. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliation, saying American forces would respond with force "never seen before." Reactions worldwide are sharply divided. What strategic endgame are the United States and Israel pursuing in the region? And how far could the shockwaves spread?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has just concluded his first official visit to China since taking office in May 2025. In Beijing, he expressed his commitment to deepening Germany's comprehensive strategic partnership with China. At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined three key areas for strengthening ties. This visit is about more than bilateral relations. It comes amid rising uncertainty over the U.S. trade and economic policies. So what are the real takeaways from Merz's trip? What signals does it send for China and Germany? And how might it reshape Europe and the wider international landscape?

Pure tariff chaos. On February 20, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority when he imposed tariffs last April under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, better known as IEEPA. Trump called the ruling "ridiculous." He struck back, announcing a new 10% global tariff, this time under a different law and warning it could rise to 15%. But here's the twist: These new tariffs can only stay in place for 150 days without congressional approval. So what is going on with U.S. trade policy? And what does this rollercoaster reveal about America's political system?

Spring Festival in Beijing is no longer just about temple fairs and red lanterns. This year, the celebrations also feature VR experiences, humanoid robots, and AI-generated performances. In this edition of our Year of the Horse special, we look at how emerging technologies are becoming part of the holiday atmosphere. We discuss what this integration of tech means for cultural expression, creativity, and public confidence. Is AI simply a tool, or is it reshaping how traditions are experienced?

In Beijing's 600-year-old Longfusi, a neighborhood recently visited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, tradition meets creativity as the city welcomes the Year of the Horse. From bustling festival fairs to red 'Fu' decorations, we explore what the horse symbolizes today: strength, vitality, and forward momentum—and how young people, longtime residents, and international visitors are celebrating.

The post-war international order is under unprecedented strain. At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, a stark warning has emerged: The United States is "taking an axe" to decades of established global norms. As the conference opens in Munich, Europe finds itself struggling to adapt to a rapidly shifting strategic reality, while global economic uncertainty continues to mount. What does this mean for transatlantic ties, international institutions, and the rules-based order built after World War II? How will Europe navigate this new normal, and how is China viewing the changes underway?

Over the past year, a massive release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has pulled back the curtain on one of the most disturbing scandals of our time. Following a law passed by the U.S. Congress in November demanding full transparency, the Department of Justice has published more than 3 million pages of material, including over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. These files implicate a web of powerful figures: business tycoons, government officials, and royalty. How did the system allow this to happen? Where did accountability fail? And how transparent or functional are Western political and social systems when power and privilege are involved?

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to publish seditious materials and collusion with external forces to endanger national security. The Hong Kong SAR government welcomed the verdict, saying the conviction demonstrates that righteousness is upheld by the law. Is the 20-year sentence justified? How did the court arrive at this decision? And what does the case signal for Hong Kong going forward?

Are you also living through a "very Chinese" phase of your life? From cooking Chinese food and using Chinese apps to declaring "I'm becoming Chinese," a viral trend is sweeping social media worldwide. At the same time, China is opening its doors wider than ever. In 2025, China welcomed 41 million inbound travelers, following the extension of its visa-free transit policy to 10 days, marking a 27% year-on-year increase. Transit visa arrivals alone surged by 60% compared with pre-policy levels. So what's behind this sudden wave of China enthusiasm? Why is China so cool right now? Is this just an internet fad, or the beginning of a deeper global shift in how China is perceived?

A growing number of world leaders have been traveling to China recently. From Spain's King Felipe VI to leaders from France, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Finland and the UK, a wave of high-level visits to Beijing is well underway. What's driving this surge?

On January 27, 2026, the United States will officially withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time. Earlier, the Trump administration also signed an order to pull the U.S. out of 66 international organizations, including dozens of United Nations bodies. And yet U.S. foreign policy hasn't slowed down. Military operations involving Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro, tensions over Greenland, and threats against Iran—America appears to be shrinking in cooperation while expanding in power projection. How to make sense of these seemingly contradictory behaviors? How do these moves affect global politics and how should other countries respond?

At this year's World Economic Forum, a deepening rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders was once again thrust into the spotlight. Trump has ruled out the use of force for now and has walked back earlier rhetoric, but he continues to insist on the U.S. being granted "right, title, and ownership" of the Danish territory. Denmark, however, has pushed back swiftly and firmly, stressing that decisions concerning Greenland can only be made by Denmark and Greenland themselves, and that sovereignty is non-negotiable. How does the Trump administration currently view Europe and its allies? And what does this standoff mean for the future of U.S.-Europe relations?

January 20 marks one full year since Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States. The White House calls it "365 wins in 365 days," branding Trump's return as a "new era of success and prosperity." But outside the White House, the picture looks very different. Public opinion polls at home show a deeply divided America, while Trump's "Donroe Doctrine" is raising concerns about global stability, alliances, and the future of U.S. leadership. How should we evaluate Trump's second term so far? What has actually changed, and at what cost?

Once seen as seasonal and regional, ice and snow in China have become a year-round, nationwide engine of growth. With the ice and snow economy surpassing 1 trillion yuan, about 143 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, the story goes beyond impressive figures. Indoor ski resorts, global winter competitions...China is redefining how winter resources create lasting momentum.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Canada to advance the building of a new strategic partnership with a sense of responsibility toward history, the people, and the world, when he met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney is currently in China on a four-day visit, the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, meeting both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Ottawa has called the trip "consequential and historic" as Canada looks to reduce its reliance on the United States and strengthen ties with China. What signals does this visit send for the future of China-Canada relations? Can both sides ease tensions over tariffs and trade disputes? And will this visit pave the way for deeper cooperation in key areas such as trade, technology, and environmental policy?

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iranian demonstrators to keep protesting, promising that "help is on the way," while warning that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff on trade with the United States. Tehran, however, says the situation is under control. Iranian officials insist that communication channels with Washington remain open, while the country prepares for either dialogue or war. So what's really happening on the ground in Iran? What are the root causes of the protests? And how do ordinary Iranians view the U.S. offer of "help"?

When it comes to international dispute settlement, cities like The Hague, Geneva, and Singapore usually top the list. Now, there's a new name to add: Hong Kong. In October, the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was officially inaugurated there, the world's first intergovernmental legal body dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. Proposed by 19 countries including China, IOMed is already up and running. How will mediation here be different? And can it meet the expectations of developing countries?

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung has made a state visit to China, the first by a ROK leader since 2017. Beijing says the trip advances the China–ROK strategic cooperative partnership, while Lee has called the restoration of ties his government's "greatest accomplishment" so far. For decades, Seoul has balanced U.S. security alignment with deep economic ties to China. Since taking office last June, Lee has begun questioning that long-standing formula, and this China visit suggests the rethink has gone further. What does this signal for the future of China–ROK relations, and what lessons does it hold for countries navigating intensifying great-power competition?

President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores are reportedly facing serious charges in New York, while U.S. President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings to Venezuela's leadership. How far will the U.S. go to protect its sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere? And what will be the geopolitical repercussions for Latin America?

What defined China's story in 2025? Which moments truly mattered, and which trends are shaping the year ahead? In this special year-end edition of The Point, host Liu Xin is joined by leading thinkers to reflect on China's trajectory in 2025, its role in a changing world, and what lies ahead in 2026.

Days after the announcement of the largest U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched 'Justice Mission 2025' – the latest sophisticated military drills around Taiwan, as a stern warning to the separatist forces and external interference. Are these drills justified deterrence or sheer aggression, as often labeled by certain foreign critics? Has China abandoned its effort to seek peaceful development of cross-Strait ties? How to read U.S. President Donald Trump's real Taiwan policy?

Competing territorial claims, overlapping maritime zones, resource competition, and intensifying major-power rivalry are reshaping how countries interact at sea. In this episode of the special series Managing Maritime Disputes: Regional Practices and International Experience, experts examine how different regions manage maritime tensions through dialogue, regional mechanisms, and international adjudication, and what practical lessons can help prevent disputes from escalating.

From territorial disputes to resource competition and major-power rivalry, tensions at sea are on the rise worldwide. But conflict isn't the only option and is not inevitable. In many regions, countries have found practical ways to manage differences, shelve disputes, and pursue peaceful coexistence through dialogue and cooperation. In Part One of our special series "Managing Maritime Disputes: Regional Practices and International Experience", we take a closer look at real-world examples that show how maritime disputes can be handled constructively.

Nothing says "peace" quite like building a technology bloc. Pax Silica is said to be Washington's "flagship effort on AI and security initiative," which was unveiled at its inaugural summit on December 11, bringing together the U.S., Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK, Australia, Israel, Singapore, the UAE, and the Netherlands, with others also in the room. What does "Pax Silica" mean? Well, "pax" is Latin for peace while "Silica" refers to silicon. Put together, it sounds like a gift to global coordination, a positive-sum partnership, as the U.S. puts it, which is not about isolating others. But is that really the case?

Over the past 15 years, Cameron's "Avatar" series has built a vast and devoted audience in China. Three years after "Avatar: The Way of Water", Cameron is back with his longest-ever work. Audiences are once again stepping into Pandora, this time, to experience something new, something deeper. Why does the Avatar story continue to resonate across cultures and generations?

As 2025 draws to a close, the National Bureau of Statistics of China has released economic data for the month of November, with indices pointing to a sustained "steady development momentum with progress". But a recent Wall Street Journal analysis, based largely on the same official data, argues that China's growth momentum has weakened across the board, that consumer demand is faltering, and exports are now doing most of the heavy lifting for the world's second-largest economy. Which story is closer to reality? Is China's economy stabilizing, or as some Western media outlets claim, quietly losing steam?

On December 18th, China's Hainan Province will officially launch its island-wide special customs operations. What does this move mean in China's pursuit of high-standard opening-up? What tangible opportunities will it bring to local residents, entrepreneurs, and international investors? How will it shape Hainan's economic and social development, as well as its cooperation with the Chinese mainland and neighboring regions?

On Dec. 18, the island-wide special customs operation of Hainan Free Trade Port, or FTP, will be officially launched, giving outside investors the most open access to China's economy to date. Sweeping trade and tax liberalization policies will be in place to boost investment, trade, and industrial development on China's southernmost tropical island. What sets the Hainan FTP apart? What opportunities will Hainan bring to international investors, consumers, and business people in general?

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, which reciprocates Xi's state visit to France last year on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. What brings Macron to China this time? What outcomes is the French President hoping to achieve? How might this visit shape not only China–France relations, but the broader international landscape?

In this special edition of The Point, world-renowned leftist scholar, writer, and historian Vijay Prashad talks about the rising Global South on the sidelines of a forum dedicated to the subject held in Shanghai.

Are Okinawans, or Ryukyuans, indigenous people of Japan? For decades, the local people of Okinawa, in southern Japan, have been advocating for their human rights as indigenous peoples, yet the Japanese government has failed to recognize them as such, against repeated calls from the local people, countries around the world and the United Nations. What's the story?

Remilitarization under the guise of self-defense? Japan has been pushing to break away from the pacifist constitution set up after WWII, while refusing to renounce its militarist past. It is expected that the right-wing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may visit a notorious shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including Class-A war criminals. This would exacerbate an already strained relationship following her refusal to retract a dangerous remark about Taiwan on November 7 in parliament. How has Japan been inching towards realizing its remilitarization ambitions? Why does Japan consider Taiwan to be crucial to its own survival? Could the current tensions escalate into more than just a war of words?

On November 7, during a parliamentary debate, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, implying the possibility of Japan's armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. This has sparked a wave of unprecedented reactions from China, including stern diplomatic protests and live-fire drills at sea. The situation shows no sign of easing as Takaichi has refused to retract her remarks so far. What exactly did she say? Why is China so angry? Has China overreacted, as some suggested?

Over the last few days, the economic and trade agreements reached between China and the U.S. in Kuala Lumpur last month have started to take effect. The U.S. has removed the 10% so-called Fentanyl tariff and suspended, for one year, the 24% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods, and China has reciprocated by adjusting its tariff countermeasures. Both sides have also suspended port fees against each other for one year. Will the truce hold? Do we need to manage our expectations? How to keep things on the right track?

The UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, kicks off on Monday in Belém, Brazil. This milestone event marks three decades of United Nations climate negotiations and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, highlighting a pivotal moment for global climate action. At this critical juncture, China released a white paper to share its approaches, actions, and experience in addressing climate change. Yet, with the U.S. government absent from the conference and Europe's resolve showing signs of wavering, the road ahead remains full of challenges. Ten years on, how well have the goals of the Paris Agreement been implemented? What obstacles and bottlenecks does global climate governance still face? What are China's key positions and actions in the global fight against climate change?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the system built around it, and yet, this international order has been undergoing tremendous pressure tests. Against this backdrop, the international community has been looking for consensus and finding ways to deal with the growing uncertainties. And China, most recently, proposed the Global Governance Initiative. The Initiative emphasizes sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centered development, and focuses on real results and pragmatism. What role can the media play? Can the media help in filling the deficit in global governance? In what ways can we achieve more with united effort?

The China International Import Expo returns to Shanghai for its eighth installment. Taking place from November 5 to 10, the annual expo has generated a total of tentative revenues of 500 billion USD, and this year is set to be the biggest one ever. How has this relatively young expo become one of the major highlights on the international business calendar? Why does it continue to gain influence each year, and what does this reveal about China's commitment to expanding high-level opening up, and what is its impact on global trade?

Promoting a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and building an Asia-Pacific community: That's the message Chinese President Xi Jinping sent to the world on Friday during a speech at the first session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. What specifically did President Xi say during the informal leaders' meeting? What exactly was achieved during the meeting between President Xi and President Trump? How will all this impact the region and the wider global economy?

Connect, Innovate, Prosper. This is the theme of the upcoming APEC summit later this week in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump will both attend and deliver keynote speeches to the 21-member economies that make up half of the world's trade and 60 percent of the world's GDP. What is expected to come out of the 32nd APEC Leaders' Meeting? With much speculation about what will happen on the sidelines between China and the United States, could APEC become a platform for facilitating strategic diplomacy among the world's largest powers?

As the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee concluded on Thursday, the curtain over China's 15th Five-Year Plan is gradually being lifted. Serving as a critical link between the past and the future, this five-year period aims to reinforce foundational strengths and advance China toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. What signals did the plenary session send? What might the next five years hold for China and the world?

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is convening its fourth plenary session to set the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, the national blueprint through to 2030. Although details are yet to be released, signals have been sent that fostering "new quality productive forces" will be the strategic focus. Ahead of the meeting, the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs published 8 articles in China's leading newspaper, the People's Daily, with "technological innovation" being a keyword. Why such emphasis on technological innovation? And how will this impact China's economy and beyond?

As China approaches the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, all eyes are on the new blueprint that's being drawn up to guide the nation's next five years. From the first edition to the upcoming 15th cycle, these documents have informed China's socio-economic development for more than seventy years. How did it all start? How has the system not only survived but thrived in China? What can the next five-year plan mean for you?