Podcasts about Beijing

Investors anticipate a Fed Christmas rate cut later this week with other central banks' final policy meetings potentially following suit. Soaring Chinese exports to the EU push the country's surplus beyond $1bn for the first time. Outbound shipments are up almost 6 per cent on the year with French President Emmanuel Macron threatening to slap tariffs on Beijing. Swiss lender UBS could soon benefit from the loosening of a banking regulation package which would otherwise require it to raise an additional $24bn in capital.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Travis sits down with blockchain VC and founder Harvey Liu, a China-born computer science grad turned global investor who has backed and built in crypto since the early 2010s. Harvey shares how early bets on Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin shaped his philosophy, why he now builds long-term in his own exchange, and how everyday investors can navigate crypto volatility with less emotion and more strategy. On this episode we talk about: Harvey's journey from gaming-obsessed kid in China to computer scientist, MBA, and venture capitalist in Beijing's early crypto scene Early wins and regrets: buying Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin early—and selling far too soon Core lessons about long-term thinking, missing “basic financial knowledge,” and why he builds for durability instead of quick flips Why he's still bullish on Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and government money-printing, despite current bearish price action Practical strategies like dollar-cost averaging, avoiding over-leverage, and how AI, CBDCs, and stablecoins may shape crypto's future Top 3 Takeaways Spotting disruptive tech early is powerful, but without deep understanding and a long-term framework, it's easy to sell too soon and miss the biggest upside. In a highly leveraged, volatile market like crypto, simple principles—no over-leverage, clear profit targets, and dollar-cost averaging—matter more than chasing the perfect entry. Bitcoin increasingly functions as “digital gold” and a hedge against inflation and fiat debasement, while stablecoins and CBDCs show how blockchain rails will power everyday money movement in the future. Notable Quotes "Taking profit at your set goals is never wrong—you don't go bankrupt by taking profit, you go bankrupt by over-leveraging." "Bitcoin started as a gamble when nobody understood it, but with institutions in the game it has become a long-term hedge against inflation and money printing." "In volatile markets, DCA and risk control beat trying to time the top or bottom—especially if you believe the asset will be here in 10 or 20 years." Connect with Harvey Liu: X: https://x.com/harveylevex levex.com ✖️✖️✖️✖️

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers' frustration with the administration's boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO's conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump's pressure on Japan's hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that's angered Beijing, the decision to not sanction Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin's trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Ralph welcomes Judith Enck (founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution everywhere) to discuss her new book “The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late.” Then, Ralph reflects on the 60th anniversary of “Unsafe at Any Speed.”Judith Enck is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution everywhere. In 2009, she was appointed by President Obama to serve as regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served as deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. She is currently a professor at Bennington College, where she teaches classes on plastic pollution. She is co-author (with Adam Mahoney) of The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late.I support recycling…But the sad reality is that plastic recycling has been an abysmal failure. Always has, always will be…You cannot really accomplish high levels of recycling with plastics because you would literally have to do hundreds, if not thousands of different sorting. The people who know this the most are the plastic manufacturers. Yet they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars confusing and deceiving the public into thinking: “Don't worry about all your plastic, just toss it in your recycling bin,” knowing that most plastic never gets recycled.Judith EnckA lot of people feel overwhelmed and that it's hopeless and what can one person do? And that fails to acknowledge that the reason we're not making more progress on climate change is because of the political power of fossil fuel companies. On the plastics issue, we're taking on fossil fuel, chemical, and consumer brand companies and plastics companies. So it's a lot. It's amazing we get anything done. But people around the country are coming together and they're getting victories.Judith EnckI do think if you start paying attention to plastic in your own life, you see that there are alternatives. And then you climb the civic ladder. So you try to reduce plastic in your own home. Then you look at your kid's school. Then you look at your faith community. Then before you know it, you're at your city council asking what can the city do to reduce plastics. You're going to get a couple victories there. And then you find the statewide environmental groups that are working on this. This is for the long haul.Judith EnckThe important thing about [Unsafe at Any Speed] now is: sure, it saved millions of lives and the laws are still on the books, and even Donald Trump can't tear seatbelts and airbags out of our cars. But if we tried to do this again today, it wouldn't happen. And that's because the concentration of corporate power over Congress and the media is so much more intense now. And it's also because the decline of civic institutions and democratic institutions has been very pronounced over the last few decades. And that is sobering us up.Ralph NaderNews 12/5/251. Our top stories this week are on Venezuela. First, the BBCis out with a report on the American military build-up around the Latin American nation, which includes “air and naval forces…a nuclear-powered submarine and spy planes...a range of aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships capable of landing thousands of troops.” So far, the Trump administration has sent mixed messages on whether they plan to launch a full-scale invasion of the Bolivarian Republic, but Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shows no signs of stepping down without a fight, having declared a “massive mobilisation” of 200,000 military personnel throughout the country. Most ominously, on November 29th, President Trump declared Venezuela's sovereign airspace closed, per the Wall Street Journal.2. However, American bellicosity towards Venezuela is unpopular at home. A CBS poll found that only 30% of Americans would favor the U.S. taking military action in Venezuela, compared to a whopping 70% opposed. Another question in this same poll found that only 13% of Americans consider Venezuela a “major threat” with 48% considering the country a “minor threat” and 39% report they don't think Venezuela is a threat at all. Unfortunately, the lack of popular support for war is unlikely to constrain the Trump administration much, but it is a notable difference from the lead-up to the Iraq War, when 70% of Americans favored an invasion. The American people want peace, even if the government does not. 3. Another key detail from the CBS poll is that “Three in four Americans…say Trump would need congressional approvalbefore taking military action in Venezuela, including just over half of Republicans.” In light of this fact, it is significant that a bipartisan group in Congress is pushing a War Powers resolution to “block strikes on Venezuela,” per the Intercept. This new push in the House is sponsored by stalwart progressive Congressman Jim McGovern and co-sponsored by dissident Republican Thomas Massie along with other progressives like Reps. Ro Khanna, Lloyd Doggett, and Joaquin Castro, among others. As the Intercept piece notes, this resolution must be acted on in the House within 15 days, but by then the administration may have already acted, pre-empting the resolution. A similar resolution has also been introduced in the Senate, primarily backed by Senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, with backing from other Senate Democrats, per the Hill.4. Of course, American aggression towards Venezuela is reverberating out into the international community in myriad ways. Generally speaking, while United Nations officials decry the actions, America's European allies have kept quiet – with many speculating that these countries would prefer Maduro's ouster in order to get ready access to Venezuelan oil and decrease their dependence on Russia. China however, has issued a stiff condemnation of American actions. The Iranian Students News Agencyquotes Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's statement at a Beijing press conference, which where in he stated, “China opposes any action that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter or infringes upon the sovereignty and security of other countries…[and] opposes foreign forces interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext.” He added, “We urge all parties to keep the Latin American and Caribbean region a peaceful zone and not allow the situation to escalate further.” However, beyond these condemnations, it remains unclear what, if anything, China will do to check American aggression.5. Despite all of this however, House Democratic leadership is typically feckless. In a corollary to the increasing likelihood of strikes against Venezuela directly, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stepped up the campaign of striking boats off the country's coast. Recently, the Washington Post revealed that after a strike in September which left survivors clinging to life, Hegseth ordered a second strike, directing Admiral Frank Bradley to “kill everybody.” This revelation led to calls for House Democrats to pursue impeachment against Hegseth on charges that he violated the laws of war. However, Axiosreports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will not pursue a Hegseth impeachment. While true that such a push would likely be DOA, it sends a dark signal that the administration can do something like this and face virtually zero official condemnation. 6. Nevertheless, Republicans have taken such unpopular actions that it seems Democrats will retake the House, perhaps by a wide margin, in the 2026 midterms – or perhaps before. So far, 31 House Republicans have announced they will not seek re-election, with some retiring and others running for other offices. Still others however are signaling that they will resign their offices before the midterms, shaving the slim House GOP majority ever slimmer. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced she will retire in January 2026. Now, Congresswoman Nancy Mace is reportedly considering resigning early as well, though she has denied such rumors, per KOMO News. Either way, Democrats should be taking this moment to prepare an agenda for if and when they retake control of the chamber. 7. Turning to consumer protection news, Jalopnik reports Senate Republicans are seeking to rollback decades of automobile safety regulations. In a recent hearing held by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation ostensibly to put the CEOs of the Big Three American car manufacturers, as well as Tesla, on the record as to why cars have become so expensive, Republicans on the committee used the opportunity to blame safety regulations. Jalopnik notes that Republican Senators specifically targeted “automated emergency braking, the requirements for which will not come into effect until 2029 and have no bearing on current car prices…[and] back-seat alarms to remind you if you've left a child or pet back there. According to Kids and Car Safety, since 1990 at least 1,165 children have sweltered to death in hot cars, and another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury.” The cost of these sensors will amount to about $50 per vehicle. In short, while there are many reasons cars have become considerably more expensive in recent years – including everything from tariffs to data centers buying up all electronic parts – blaming safety regulations is a tired canard. 8. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. is moving to kill a proposed Food and Drug Administration rule to test for asbestos in talc-based cosmetics, the Guardian reports. As this report notes, cosmetics companies have known about potential asbestos contamination of talc since the 1950s, but that fact, like so many other corporate secrets, was suppressed, only coming to light in the 1970s. Asbestos is a highly carcinogenic substance. It has been banned in over 50 countries and “No…level of exposure is considered safe.” However, attempts to ban the substance in the U.S. have been stymied by industry, beginning with the overturning of the EPA's 1989 ban.9. In more legal news, Reuters reports the British government has announced plans to “remove the historic right to trial by jury,” for defendants in criminal cases carrying potential sentences of under three years in jail. The government argues that this will help alleviate the tremendous backlog of cases before the British courts, despite the fact that the right to a jury trial in Britain dates back to the Magna Carta itself. Barbara Mills, chair of the Bar Council, which represents trial lawyers in the U.K., decried this move, stating ”there is no evidence that [the] removal [of jury trials] would reduce the backlog, nor has it been set out how an alternative system would be resourced…We urge the government to reconsider pursuing radical changes under the mistaken belief that radical equals effective.” 10. Finally, in local news, Washington D.C. Councilmember and Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George has officially launched her campaign to be the next mayor of the District of Columbia. Lewis George is the first serious candidate to announce a campaign to succeed unpopular three-term Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is retiring this cycle. Like Zohran Mamdani, Lewis George is prioritizing affordability in the increasingly expensive District as well as an emphasis on fixing city services like traffic safety improvement. According to the Washington Post, “Within hours of launching her campaign Monday morning, Lewis George's campaign said it had received enough money from enough D.C. residents to qualify [for the District's matching fund program], which provides public financing for campaigns that agree not to accept large-dollar donations and corporate contributions.” Within hours, “they had netted more than $110,000 in individual donations from 1,500 D.C. residents,” which after being combined with the matching funds, will total over $750,000.” However, many expect her main challenger to be Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, an ally of corporate interests and developers in the District, who will likely be bankrolled by those same interests. Whatever the future holds, this will surely be the most competitive citywide race the District has seen in decades. This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

//The Wire//2300Z December 5, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: POTENTIAL TERROR PLOT HALTED IN DELAWARE AS INFORMATION WARFARE CAMPAIGN COMPLICATES THE CASE. WHITE HOUSE RELEASES NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR 2025.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Asia: President Macron continues his state visit to China, as part of France's growing desire to strengthen economic ties with Beijing. No major policy changes have been announced yet, however Macron is trying to smooth over the impact of EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles (which were implemented last year), in addition to securing other trade deals.Analyst Comment: So far, nothing major has been agreed upon, but France has indirectly reiterated support for the "One China" policy, namely the Chinese position that Taiwan should be under the control of the mainland. This is not surprising, but when it comes to security in the region it's becoming more clear that France (a big power-player within the EU) won't intervene in the event hostilities kick off with Taiwan.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Last night, the White House released the National Security Strategy for 2025. This is a standard document published every year which highlights the priorities for the United States in the international arena.Analyst Comment: Normally, this document is fairly boring and uneventful, but this year's document signaled some pretty significant shifts in policy interests. This year, the top priority is immigration, as one might expect. Other high priorities are countering hostile influence, rebuilding infrastructure, as well as domestic manufacturing. A sharp increase in military might was also heavily mentioned in the form of general military technologies, but also missile defense. In terms of focus on specific regions, the US is now less focused on security in Europe, shifting priorities to dominating our own American hemisphere. The Far East also a priority as the document specifically mentioned a strengthening of the First Island Chain defense strategy. The section on Europe largely revolved around how Europe can help itself, and the very short section on the Middle East more or less stated that the region is not really a concern anymore. Of course, all of this is quite subjective and thus will be debated for some time. However the more boring document releases like this one often provide the gameplan for where senior politicians are allocating resources.Delaware: Yesterday more details came to light regarding a potential mass shooting plot at the University of Delaware. A few days ago, a man was arrested after a routine traffic stop revealed his attack plot. The incident deteriorated once the officer discovered that the driver was Luqmaan Khan, an immigrant from either Afghanistan or Pakistan who came to the US when he was a child.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comment: Regarding the incident in Delaware, what happened on the night of the original arrest is not clear, and it's not known what caused the initial encounter. Either way, at some point Khan was approached by police in his vehicle and became uncooperative, at which point he was subsequently taken in to the station for further investigation. From there, his attack plan came to light. A notebook was found with sector sketches of the University of Delaware police station floor plan, as well as other attack planning details indicating that he was moving into the final stages of preparation before an attack.A search of Khan's vehicle on the night of the initial incident allegedly revealed a Glock with a pistol brace, and a search of his home discovered a Glock 19 with a switch and an AR-style rifle.The contents of the notebook were provided today, which helps round out the story. This bit of evidence is the most important to figure out what was going on here, and it's quite helpful when terrorists write down th

Það eru ekki nema tæp fimmtíu ár síðan kommúnistastjórnin í Kína þar ákvað að opna hagkerfið, leyfa erlendar fjárfestingar og sleppa markaðsöflunum lausum, þó með stífum skilyrðum. Það sem hefur gerst síðan þá er stundum kallað kínverska kraftaverkið: Kína breyttist úr því að vera eitt af fátækustu ríkjum heims í eitt af þeim ríkustu. Hagkerfið þar er nú samkvæmt sumum mælikvörðum það stærsta í heimi og búið að vera það undanfarin ellefu ár. Kína er þannig orðið að stórveldi í viðskiptum og þungavikt í heimspólitíkinni en hvað þýðir það fyrir önnur stórveldi, ekki síst á þessum viðsjárverðu tímum sem við lifum á? Við bregðum okkur til Beijing með Birni Malmquist. Bræðibeita er orð ársins hjá Oxford-orðabókinni en það er notað yfir efni á netinu sem er ætlað að kveikja bræði eða reiði lesenda til þess að fá fólk til að smella á efnið. Þetta er kallað rage-bait á ensku en notkun þess hefur þrefaldast síðustu tólf mánuði. Oddur Þórðarson segir okkur allt um bræðibeituna.

Caribbean Geopolitical Shifts: Democratic Rightward Movement and Chinese Presence — Evan Ellis — Ellis reports on Caribbean political realignment, including rightward democratic electoral shifts in St. Vincent and expanded Dominican Republic security cooperation with U.S. military operations in regional counternarcotics and maritime enforcement. Ellis documents China's continued institutional presence throughout the Caribbean through hospital ship deployments and medical assistance programs in Jamaica, coupled with Beijing's political rhetoric opposing American hemispheric interventionism and reasserting Chinese claim to regional geopolitical influence. ST. VINCENT

Gordon Chang, author of Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China and found on Twitter @GordonGChang, joined The Guy Benson Show today with guest host Harry Hurley to break down China's deepening influence and infiltration inside American politics and government. Chang broke down the breaking story involving alleged Chinese operative Linda Sun and her boasting about having control and sway over NY Governor Kathy Hochul. Chang discussed past cases involving Chinese ties to American offices tied to Eric Swalwell and Dianne Feinstein. Hurley and Chang then turned to Beijing's economic pressure campaigns, and why Secretary Bessent does not need to make excuses for Chinese failure to fulfill soybean promises. Chang also assessed China's escalating aggression toward Taiwan and how the Trump administration has reinforced deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, and weighed in on the "Iron Lady" Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's tougher posture toward Beijing as a model for democratic allies. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bright but hopelessly out-of-his-depth Brit arrives in Beijing for a dream job and stumbles straight into a chaotic mix of surveillance, blackmail and very bad decisions. Packed off to Taiwan to keep him out of trouble, he must muddle through shady allies, confused loyalties and rising global tension, all while trying to pretend he knows what he is doing.George Tucker ….. Sam StaffordGabby ….. Saffron CoomberLily Wu ….. Crystal YuCharles Tucker ….. Clive HaywardDan ….. Windson LiongBradley Wagner ….. Joseph BalderramaAn Qi ….. Amber LinWritten by Jim Poyser Jim has written extensively for Radio 4 including the comedy series Stockport So Good They Named it Once, The Architects, Everyone Quite Likes Justin, 1834, 1835, The Cavity Within. He has written the plays The Joey, Too Up Too Down, Chopin in Manchester, The Downing Street Doppelganger, My Computer Told Me To Do It. He also adapted Vanity Fair and The Day of the Locust. He is also a well-known TV producer whose credits include Cold Feet, Brassic, Death in Paradise and Shameless.Produced and Directed by Tracey NealeTechnical Team, Keith Graham and Andy GarrattProduction Co-Ordinator, Jonathan PowellCasting Manager, Alex Curran

In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso welcome Peter Mattis, President of the Jamestown Foundation and former CIA analyst, to dissect the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "political warfare" against Taiwan. Mattis argues this is not merely diplomatic maneuvering, but "United Front work playing out on a global scale" - a comprehensive campaign to reshape the international order by recreating China's domestic political controls abroad.​War by Other MeansMattis grounds the political warfare concept in George Kennan's Cold War definition: the logical application of Clausewitz's doctrine in peacetime. For Beijing, unification is a political objective requiring total control over Taiwan's social, economic, and political life - goals that military force alone cannot secure. The CCP seeks to "pull in" global interests, ensuring they are mediated through Beijing rather than through alliances or international law.​The View from TaiwanFor the Taiwanese, this warfare is felt on a spectrum. It ranges from the overt "gray zone" harassment of military aircraft and sand dredgers to the psychological grinding of CCP-aligned media narratives. These narratives are designed to paint the U.S. as unreliable and unification as inevitable. Mattis specifically highlights the corrosive effect of espionage, noting that every spy scandal erodes the critical trust necessary for Taiwan's own bureaucracy and its security partners.​United Front: A Global DragnetA key mechanism discussed is the "Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China," which operates chapters globally, including in the U.S. and the Philippines. Mattis explains how these groups mobilize diaspora communities, often hijacking the voices of pragmatic businesspeople, to influence local politicians. He cites the recent indictment of former New York state official Linda Sun as a prime example of how these influence operations effectively bury engagement with Taiwan inside democratic institutions without leaving a public trace.​The Japan Example & Global SignalingWhen Japan's Prime Minister recently called a Taiwan contingency an "existential threat," China responded with fierce rhetoric and economic coercion. Mattis explains this reaction was double-edged: it aimed to punish Tokyo, but also served as a signal to the "Malaysias and Indonesias" of the region. The message is clear: if Beijing can inflict pain on a major power like Japan, smaller nations should fear the consequences of stepping out of line.​The Democratic DeficitWhy do democracies struggle to push back? Mattis argues our institutions are too siloed: the military ignores non-kinetic threats, diplomats fear rocking the boat, and law enforcement is jurisdiction-bound. China exploits these seams to operate without consequence. Mattis suggests democracies must stop looking for "symmetric" responses - which often don't exist - and instead pursue asymmetric, disproportionate measures to re-establish deterrence and uncertainty for Beijing.​

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers' frustration with the administration's boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO's conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump's pressure on Japan's hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that's angered Beijing, the decision to not Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin's trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

In this critical national security briefing, Dr. Jerome Corsi is joined by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Shaffer, former U.S. Army intelligence officer, Newsmax contributor, and national security expert, to expose why a deep-water port in Chile has become a major strategic flashpoint in the escalating U.S.–China global power struggle.China is moving aggressively to secure control over a strategically placed Pacific port in South America, cutting shipping time to Asia by over two weeks and giving Beijing direct access to rare earth minerals, lithium, agriculture, and energy resources. Dr. Corsi and Tony Shaffer warn this move is not commercial — it is geopolitical warfare disguised as trade. 

HEADLINE 1: Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing will provide $100 million to help with reconstruction and ease the humanitarian situation in Gaza.HEADLINE 2: The Pentagon deployed a new type of drone to the Middle East.HEADLINE 3: Iraq added Hezbollah and the Houthis to its asset freeze list.--FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow analyzes the latest headlines, followed by a pre-recorded conversation between Jon Schanzer and FDD Director of Impact and AI Research Fellow Leah Siskind.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"America needs to stop being naive in Gaza" - Bonnie Glick, Washington Reporter"China's Influence Operation in US Education Was Supposed To Be Shut Down, But Did Closing the Confucius Institutes Only Make It Stronger?" - Jennifer Richmond, The Washington Free Beacon"Is Qatari Money Corrupting American Education?" - Natalie Ecanow, Townhall

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?

US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet Ukrainian negotiators in Florida following talks with President Putin in Moscow. Mr Putin - who's visiting India - has already said some of the proposals for peace in Ukraine are unacceptable. The war is also on the agenda in Beijing, where the French President, Emmanuel Macron, is meeting the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. Also: the family of Colombian fisherman killed in a US "drug boat" strike files a legal complaint, alleging he was murdered. An LA doctor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry, the late star of the TV show Friends, is sent to jail for 30 months. And in Scotland, the remains of a deep-water creature have washed up on a beach -- and, no, it's not the Loch Ness monster.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Beijing's Economic Desperation: The Triangular Debt Crisis — Andrew Collier — Collier interprets Beijing'spublic calls for state-owned enterprise and private sector cooperation as unmistakable indicators of governmental financial desperation, as the Chinese state systematically fails to compensate private suppliers and contractors. Collier documents that China is experiencing a debt crisis structurally analogous to the "triangular debt" phenomenon of the 1990s, wherein private firms accumulate mounting insolvency as Chinese banking institutions systematically privilege lending to state-backed entities over private sector enterprises, constraining private sector growth essential for technological advancement. 1959

The Nuclear Threat: China's Arsenal Expansion and No First Use Abandonment — Peter Huessy — Huessy argues that China has effectively abandoned its official "No First Use" nuclear policy, evidenced through explicit nuclear threats against Japan regarding Taiwan intervention scenarios. Huessy documents massive American intelligence failures regarding Chinese nuclear arsenal size, with projections indicating Beijing will possess thousands of warheads by the 2030s rather than maintaining historically minimal deterrent levels. Huessy proposes that potential South Korean or Japanese nuclear weapons development could leverage coercive pressure compelling Chinese engagement in serious arms control negotiations. 1959.  US PAID $100.00 FOR A MIG-15 TO DEFECT

From the koan chants of monasteries tucked between Himalayan peaks, to wending caravan paths stretching endlessly across the arid expanses of the Taklamakan & trackless steppes of Dzungaria, we finish out our look at the four primary frontier regions of the Qing Empire as of 1800, where they'd come from, how they were operated, & the imperial tonnage of headaches for Beijing that came with both.Tibet - 00:01:21Xinjiang - 00:22:08 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

How does China's economy affect US policy? US policymakers have responded to perceived dangers from China by using industrial policy, export controls, and attempting to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities. Some analysts have concluded that China is developing a sizable technological capacity that poses a challenge to the US economy, and potentially constrains US foreign policy. How much leverage has the Chinese economy purchased for policymakers in Beijing? What does the ceasefire in the US-China trade war tell us about the future of US-China competition? Finally, what do these questions about China's economy tell us about the security threat China potentially poses?Getting the answers to these questions right is essential for crafting an effective US grand strategy. This policy forum brings together two leading experts on Chinese political economy to discuss what China's economy really looks like and what the implications are for US grand strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the China Power Project, Chad Sbragia joins us to discuss the current state of U.S.-China mil-mil relations and the overall defense relationship between the two countries. He provides his insight into the continuities and changes in defense ties between the countries from the first Trump administration until now and the current opportunities that exist for greater engagement and increased understanding between the two sides. Sbragia also discusses his key takeaways from this year's Xiangshan forum, Beijing's premier defense and security forum, and what he is looking out for in the upcoming release of the U.S. National Defense Strategy and China Military Power Report. Chad Sbragia is currently a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Previously he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

In this special live pod, Ray and Jim were joined by two distinguished guests: Former Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami and Bonnie Glaser, Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. Together, they unpack China's escalating diplomatic offensive against Japan following PM Sanae Takaichi's recent statements about Taiwan.​What Sparked the CrisisEp. 114 centers on Takaichi's remarks in the Japanese Diet, where she responded to a hypothetical question about a Taiwan blockade scenario. She stated that if China imposed a blockade around Taiwan and the U.S. intervened, Japan could classify the situation as an "existence-threatening situation" under its national security legislation-potentially allowing deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Shingo emphasized this was not a policy change but a restatement of Japan's longstanding legal framework established a decade ago. Nevertheless, Beijing has reacted fiercely, labeling her comments an "unacceptable intervention" in China's domestic affairs.​China's Strategic CalculusBonnie explained that China's strong reaction stems from multiple factors: Xi Jinping's perceived loss of face after meeting Takaichi at the APEC summit, the 80th anniversary of WW2 amplifying anti-Japanese narratives, and concerns about Japan's military buildup in its Southwest Islands. China's broader message, she notes, is "kill the chicken to scare the monkey"-punishing Japan to deter other nations from challenging Beijing's red lines on Taiwan. China is also testing whether the United States will stand firmly behind its allies, seeking to drive wedges in the U.S.-Japan and other alliances.​The Stakes for Japan and the RegionShingo underscored Taiwan's vital strategic importance to Japan. If Taiwan falls under CCP control, the entire East China Sea would become contested territory, potentially forcing U.S. forces to retreat from Okinawa and fundamentally weakening Japan's defense posture. As former Prime Minister Abe famously stated: "A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency." Shingo also discussed the shocking details about a Chinese consul general's social media post threatening that Takaichi's "dirty neck will be chopped off"-unprecedented diplomatic intimidation that has only strengthened Japanese public support for the new prime minister, whose approval ratings have surged into the mid-70s.​The One China Policy vs. One China PrincipleThe discussion clarifies a critical distinction often misunderstood: The U.S. "One China policy" and those of other Western nations are fundamentally different from China's "One China principle." Neither the U.S. nor Japan has ever agreed that Taiwan is part of China-they merely "acknowledged" or "understood and respected" Beijing's position. China is now aggressively pushing countries to abandon their individual policies and adopt its principle, which holds Taiwan as an "inalienable" part of China.​Looking AheadBoth guests anticipate a prolonged chill in China-Japan relations. However, Shingo noted that China's economic vulnerabilities limit its coercion options-Beijing needs Japanese investment for its struggling economy. If Takaichi maintains her popularity and secures a strong political mandate, China may eventually be forced to engage with her government, as it did with the long-serving Abe administration. Glaser warns that China sees opportunity in a perceived U.S. decline and will continue pressuring allied coalitions, making unity among democratic partners more essential than ever.​

European markets are cautiously optimistic as weaker U.S. payrolls data overnight boosted hopes of a Fed rate cut next week. It's a heavy day for geopolitics – French President Emmanuel Macron is in Beijing for a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with focus centered on expanding partnership and deepening understanding amid increased trade tensions. Elsewhere, the European Commission presented the details of its plan to use frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite their support for Ukraine, European countries have been a significant market for Russian energy. But an agreement has now been reached between the European Council and the European Parliament to phase out imports of Russian gas. The announcement came as it emerged peace talks between the US and Russia had failed, once again, to produce a breakthrough. Also in this episode - France's President, Emmanuel Macron, has arrived in Beijing for an official visit that will also take him to the city of Chengdu. The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH-370 will resume this month. A new draft law on conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jews has sparked uproar in Israel. The American city of San Francisco is to file the nation's first government lawsuit against manufacturers of ultra-processed food. The BBC investigates the dramatic rise in online abuse towards football players and managers in the Premier League and Women's Super League. And a man in New Zealand is being questioned after allegedly swallowing a Faberge diamond pendant, in an attempt to smuggle it out of a jewellery store.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

PREVIEW — Peter Huessy — China Adopts Russia's Tactical Nuclear Doctrine. Peter Huessy analyzes the rapid expansion of non-strategic nuclear arsenals by Russia and China, documenting Beijing's strategic adoption of Moscow's"escalate to win" doctrine emphasizing tactical battlefield nuclear weapons. Huessy explains that China is systematically developing tactical nuclear capabilities explicitly designed to function as instruments of military coercion and diplomatic leverage intended to deter American military intervention in potential Taiwan conflict scenarios. Huessy emphasizes that this doctrinal shift represents a fundamental escalation in regional nuclear threat posture, creating unprecedented strategic instability and raising the prospect of tactical nuclear weapons employment in conventional military operations contrary to decades of international non-use norms.

Help us keep the conversations going in 2026. Donate to Conversations with Tyler today. Dan Wang argues that China is a nation of engineers while America is a nation of lawyers, and this distinction explains everything from subway construction to pandemic response to why Chinese citizens will never have yards with dogs. His prescription: America should become 20% more engineering-minded to fix its broken infrastructure, while China needs to be 50% more lawyerly so the Communist Party can stop strangling individual rights and the creative impulses of its people. But would a more lawyerly China constrain state power, or just create new tools for oppression? And aren't the American suburbs actually sterling achievements where the infrastructure works quite well? Tyler and Dan debate whether American infrastructure is actually broken or just differently optimized, why health care spending should reach 35% of GDP, how lawyerly influences shaped East Asian development differently than China, China's lack of a liberal tradition and why it won't democratize like South Korea or Taiwan did, its economic dysfunction despite its manufacturing superstars, Chinese pragmatism and bureaucratic incentives, a 10-day itinerary for Yunnan,  James C. Scott's work on Zomia, whether Beijing or Shanghai is the better city, Liu Cixin and why volume one of The Three-Body Problem is the best, why contemporary Chinese music and film have declined under Xi, Chinese marriage markets and what it's like to be elderly in China, the Dan Wang production function, why Stendhal is his favorite novelist and Rossini's Comte Ory moves him, what Dan wants to learn next, whether LLMs will make Tyler's hyper-specific podcast questions obsolete, what flavor of drama their conversation turned out to be, and more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video on the new dedicated Conversations with Tyler channel. Recorded October 31st, 2025. Other ways to connect Follow us on X and Instagram Follow Tyler on X Follow Dan on X Sign up for our newsletter Join our Discord Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here. Timestamps 00:00:00 - American infrastructure and suburban life 00:05:18 - American vs. Chinese infrastructure buildouts... 00:12:25 - And health care investment 00:17:52 - Chinese suburbs 00:20:10 - The existing lawyerly influence in East Asia  00:25:12 - China's lack of a liberal tradition 00:29:35 - Why China's won't democratize 00:33:49 - China's economic disfunction  00:38:44 - China's expansionism  00:41:55 - Chinese pragmatism and bureaucratic incentives 00:46:50 - Chinese cities and regional culture 00:59:44 - James C. Scott, Zomia, and elite culture 01:06:27 - A 10-day Yunnan itinerary 01:11:57 - On Chinese arts, literature, and cultural expression 01:18:23 - The Dan Wang production function 01:30:34 - Tyler's grand strategy, or lack thereof  

This week on Sinica, I speak with Zhong Na, a novelist and essayist whose new piece, "Murder House," appears in the inaugural issue of Equator — a striking new magazine devoted to longform writing that crosses borders, disciplines, and cultures. In January 2024, a young couple, both Tsinghua-educated Google engineers living in a $2.5 million Silicon Valley home, became the center of a tragedy that captivated Chinese social media far more than American outlets. Zhong Na explores how the case became a collective Rorschach test — a mirror held up to contemporary Chinese society, exposing cracks in the myths of meritocracy, the prestige of global tech firms, and shifting notions of gender, class, and the Chinese dream itself. We discuss the gendered reactions online, the dimming of America's appeal, the emotional costs of the immigrant success story, and the craft of writing about tragedy with compassion but without sentimentality.5:06 – How the story first reached Zhong Na, and the Luigi Mangione comparison 7:05 – Discovering she attended the same Chengdu high school as the alleged murderer Chen Liren 8:10 – The collaboration with Equator and Joan Didion's influence 10:30 – Education, class, and the cracks in China's meritocracy myth 16:01 – Tiger mothers vs. lying flat: two responses to a rigged system 19:12 – The pandemic and the dimming of the American dream 22:49 – Chinese men as perpetrators: immigrant stress and the loss of patriarchal privilege 25:56 – The gender war online: moral autopsy and victim-blaming 30:25 – The obsession with the ex-girlfriend and attraction to the accused 34:37 – The murder house, Chinese numerology, and the rise of Gen Z metaphysics 37:08 – Geopolitics, the China Initiative, and rethinking America as a destination 39:42 – Craft and moral compass: learning from Didion and Janet Malcolm 42:31 – Zhong Na's fiction: writing Chinese experiences without catering to Western expectationsPaying it forward: Gavin Jacobson and the editorial team at EquatorRecommendations: Zhong Na: Elsewhere by Yan Ge Kaiser: Made in Ethiopia, documentary by Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan (available on PBS)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can Emmanuel Macron strike a balance with Beijing on his state visit? Then: The US carried out a deadly “double tap” strike on a Venezuelan boat but who was responsible for the order? Plus: The top global cities for cyclists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Dr. Frank Contacessa is a board certified internist who has been providing personalized, concierge care to his patients for over 25 years. He preaches lifestyle and nutrition, rather than drugs and quick fixes.

Interview recorded - 2nd of December, 2025On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Warwick Powell. Warwick is an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Professor working at the intersection of China, digital technologies, supply chains, financial flows and global political economy & governance.During our conversation we spoke about Warwick's overview of 2025, accelerating shift away from US hegemony, BRICS institution, currency and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction0:57 - Overview of 20256:50 - Accelerating US hegemonic shift?12:25 - Drivers of Western challenges18:28 - Real capital investment into US23:44 - AI impact on employment28:18 - Shifting alliances33:25 - BRICS institutions39:03 - European type alliance42:01 - BRICS currency48:33 - One message to takeaway?Warwick began his career in academia, teaching Chinese history and European cultural history at Griffith University. He graduated with First Class Honours and is the recipient of the prestigious University Medal for Academic Excellence. Warwick was also awarded a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade scholarship to undertake postgraduate studies at People's University, Beijing. He deferred his studies to begin work for Kevin Rudd in the Queensland Government.He is the chairman and founder of Sister City Partners Limited, a not-for-profit investment bank focusing on developing links between regional Australia and the markets of Asia. Through this work, Warwick has experience in diverse industries including cattle and sheep production and processing, information and communication technology, infrastructure, energy, natural resources, travel and tourism and property development.He is a director of a number of funds management companies responsible for funds established under an ASIC-approved Australian Financial Services License. He is a member of the Central Highlands Accelerate Agribusiness Advisory Board and was the founding Treasurer of Innovation NQ Inc., a not-for-profit innovation incubator in North Queensland.He continues to teach professional courses in areas such as innovation, creativity, regional economic development and blockchain technology with James Cook University, QUT and Edith Cowan University.Warwick Powell: LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/warwickpowellSubstack - https://substack.com/@warwickpowell Twitter - https://x.com/baoshaoshanWTFinance -Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Las recientes declaraciones de la primera ministra de Japón, Sanae Takaichi, sobre una posible intervención de la nación nipona en un eventual conflicto entre la República Popular China y Taiwán, indignaron a Beijing. Australia, debido a sus acuerdos y tratados de defensa con otros países, podría verse arrastrada a un conflicto bélico en la disputada zona del Indo-Pacífico.

AP correspondent Naeun Kim reports on French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival in Beijing for a three-day visit to China focused on trade talks and global crises.

Welcome back to Part 2 of our interview with Professor Phil, teacher educator and mentor who moved to China to work with international schools. Phil worked for 16 years in teacher training and leadership development with his international school consortium now called LifePlus. As he approached the age where he might not be offered a visa to stay in China, he and his wife returned to the U.S. on a recruiting trip and to also consider moving back. That was the time the coronavirus was starting to spread in China, so they decided to stay in the U.S. without having said good bye to their home in Beijing.https://lifeplusworldwide.com/See photos of our guests and sign up for our email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠roundtripstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow @roundtripstoriespodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

The European Union will release an updated plan this Wednesday to end its dependence on China for rare earths. These critical minerals are considered crucial in a number of high-stakes supply chains, notably in the defence, renewable energy and auto sectors, yet Beijing dominates both their mining and refining globally. Also in this edition, we look at how deforestation may have helped exacerbate recent floods in Indonesia.

In this episode of China Decode, hosts Alice Han and James Kynge break down China's accelerating push for self-sufficiency — from tech to industrial goods — and what that means for a global trading system that once relied on Chinese demands. They unpack a tense week in Asia, with Washington, Beijing, and Tokyo navigating security warnings, diplomatic pressure, and Taiwan's massive new $40 billion defense buildup. And they look at Beijing's latest experiment to revive spending: using school holidays to turbocharge travel and jump-start the services sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan exposes a billion-dollar Somali fraud ring in Minnesota, breaks down Washington's new terror finance investigation, and explains how decades of immigration, politics, and cultural denial allowed the scheme to flourish. He then turns to global flashpoints involving Venezuela, Ukraine, deep-sea espionage, and a major warning from the CIA to Britain about Chinese infiltration. Minnesota Meltdown and Somali Fraud Network: A sweeping federal and state investigation has uncovered more than one billion dollars in fraud committed by Somali-run nonprofits in Minnesota. Money meant for disabled children, addicts, and food assistance was instead funneled into luxury lifestyles and sent to al-Shabaab in Somalia. State officials knew years ago that the organizations were bogus, yet Democrat leaders like Governor Tim Walz expanded funding and backed off oversight after Somali activists accused them of racism. Bryan cites the New York Times report confirming the scale of the crime and the cultural norms behind it.   Treasury Department Opens Terror Finance Probe: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has launched a new national security investigation into Minnesota's Somali crime rings after evidence showed U.S. taxpayer cash was being carried in suitcases to Mogadishu to fund Islamist clan conflicts. Bryan notes that virtually all offenders are naturalized or U.S.-born citizens, which means deportation will require de-naturalization rather than standard immigration enforcement.   Judges and Police Under Pressure: Minnesota's political climate has made honest policing and prosecution nearly impossible. The Minneapolis police chief apologized after acknowledging Somali youth crime, and a local judge overturned a jury verdict in a seven-million-dollar Medicaid fraud case despite overwhelming evidence. Bryan argues that political fear of offending a key voting bloc has paralyzed the state's justice system.   Venezuela Double Tap Controversy: New reporting confirms that eleven cartel boat operators were killed during a U.S. strike in early September, including a possible second strike that hit wounded survivors. The White House says the second hit was ordered lawfully by SOCOM's Admiral Mitch Bradley, not by President Trump or Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democrats insist it is a war crime, and Republicans say they will investigate.   Ukraine Turmoil and Russian Advances: Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned after corruption raids, deepening Ukraine's internal crisis. Russia captured the key city of Pokrovsk and is now striking deeper into Ukraine's interior. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Vladimir Putin today for a high-stakes round of peace talks.   Russian Spy Network Under the Arctic: French and British media uncovered a fifteen-year Russian operation called Harmony that built an underwater surveillance web of cables and sensors in the Barents Sea. The network tracks NATO and U.S. submarines near Russia's nuclear bases. The CIA and European services have been secretly countering the effort for years.   CIA Warns Britain Over Chinese Water Takeover: The CIA and senior Trump officials privately urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to block a Chinese purchase of Thames Water, the utility that supplies London. U.S. intelligence warns that Chinese ownership could jeopardize American troops in Britain and give Beijing control over critical UK infrastructure.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Minnesota Somali fraud one billion dollars, Feeding Our Future scandal, Tim Walz political pressure, Scott Bessent terror finance probe, Somali de-naturalization debate, Venezuela cartel boat double tap, SOCOM Admiral Mitch Bradley decision, Zelenskyy Yermak corruption resignation, Pokrovsk Russian advance, Operation Harmony Barents Sea, CIA warns UK Thames Water China

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Disappearance | Paranormal Podcast In this episode, we dive deep into one of aviation's most perplexing mysteries: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. On March 8, 2014, the Boeing 777 vanished from radar just 40 minutes after takeoff with 239 people on board, scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. We walk through the timeline of that fateful night—from the captain's routine "good night" at 1:00 AM to the plane disappearing completely at 1:20 AM—and explore the frantic scramble that followed as Malaysian officials, search teams, and grieving families desperately sought answers. What makes this case so compelling is the mountain of conflicting evidence: military radar detected an unidentified object crossing Malaysian airspace in a bizarre zigzag pattern, satellite systems pinged the aircraft for six hours after it vanished, and family members reported that calls to passengers' phones rang instead of going straight to voicemail. We examine multiple theories that have emerged over the past decade, each with its own compelling evidence and glaring holes. From the discovery of a suspicious flight simulator in the pilot's home that matched the plane's alleged route, to debris found on beaches thousands of miles away, to claims of Russian hijackers and American military involvement—nothing adds up cleanly. We discuss the work of independent investigators, including a group of engineers who theorized how someone could deliberately make a jetliner disappear, and "Cindy" from the Tomnodders who claims to have found wreckage in the South China Sea that was largely ignored.

John Helveston of George Washington University discusses why a U.S. pullback from China on EVs is risky, and why engagement could strengthen America’s auto industry. --- China has rapidly become the center of global EV innovation, producing cars that are cheaper, faster to develop, and increasingly competitive in international markets. The United States, by contrast, is pulling back, eliminating incentives and pursuing policies that distance the country from China just as the global EV transition accelerates. George Washington University’s John Helveston, whose work focuses on global EV markets and China’s manufacturing system, argues that this course risks sidelining the U.S. from the technologies and supply chains shaping the automotive future. On the podcast, he explains why a more pragmatic approach that protects national security and workers while engaging with China’s central role in the EV ecosystem may be essential for America’s long-term position in the global auto industry. John Helveston is an associate professor in the department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at George Washington University. Related Content Electric Vehicle Penetration and Urban Spatial Restructuring: A Case Study of Beijing with Geospatial Machine Learning https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/electric-vehicle-penetration-and-urban-spatial-restructuring-a-case-study-of-beijing-with-geospatial-machine-learning/ Battling for Batteries: Li-Ion Policy and Supply Chain Dynamics in the U.S. and China https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/battling-for-batteries-li-ion-policy-and-supply-chain-dynamics-in-the-u-s-and-china/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erika Elvander served her country as a federal career health diplomat for 27 years, including as the U.S. Health Attache in Beijing from the spring 2021 until the end of 2024. Her Asia passion ignited while a student in Hong Kong and traveler to Beijing in the late 1980s. And carried forward for the following decades. As Health Attache in Beijing during COVID, she witnessed China “digging in,” pursuing its 18 months of the fierce controls imposed under “static management.” "Achievements with China are incremental.” She was able to maintain dialogues with Chinese health officials, despite the fraught US-China relationship. Today, the COVID origins quagmire does persist and impede the U.S.-China relationship, six years after the advent of Covid. But “there has to be a path forward,” built on many opportunities in health.

Hong Kong’s worst fire disaster in decades has stirred up public anger over negligence, safety standards and official accountability. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Shawna Kwan and Jenni Marsh about the devastation, the political fallout and how the public outcry is causing unease in Beijing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of The China Desk features Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, in a deep, candid conversation with host Steve Yates. They break down how China targets American states, the vulnerabilities inside U.S. supply chains and critical infrastructure, the threat of Beijing's political warfare operations, and why state-level stress tests and new legislation are becoming essential defensive tools. Lucci explains real-world cases — from foreign land purchases near military bases to spyware-enabled tech in hospitals — and outlines what lawmakers, governors, and citizens must do to confront the CCP's growing influence. Essential viewing for anyone tracking national security, state resilience, and U.S.–China policy. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@ChinaDeskFNW

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureGermany is following the green new scam and their economy is breaking down. They are now reporting that it is to expensive to light the Christmas lights. Trump new economic system is working, gas prices are falling, in 20 states they are below $3. The [CB] is pushing Bitcoin down using ETF’s, this will fail. Trump’s new system is getting more powerful. The [DS] is now coordinating to stop Trump, Trump is dismantling their criminal syndicate world wide and the money flow is coming to an end. Trump is following the rule of law every step of the way and in the end he will put those people in that will follow the rule of law to bring these people to justice. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together and the [DS] is panicking. Economy https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1995421655469052033?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995532756097388760?s=20  Trump Bump: Black Friday spending soars as 2025 poised to be first quarter trillion dollar season Black Friday spending surged this year to new highs, fueled by record-breaking online spending that reached $11.8 billion on Black Friday alone, according to market data.  Online sales made on Black Friday made up about 10% of total sales for the month of November, more than $111 billion dollars, according to Adobe Analytics's report on holiday shopping trends. This represents a 9.1% increase in online sales compared to last year. Adobe tracks over 1 trillion U.S. retail site visits.     Adobe predicts that the 2025 holiday season, which continues through Christmas, is poised to become the first quarter trillion dollar season online in U.S. history. The firm forecasts that a record $253.4 billion will be spent on online purchases this year. Source: justthenews.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1995295289268371468?s=20 Issuer (Company) ETF Ticker Net Flow (US$M, November 2025) BlackRock IBIT -1,935.3 Grayscale GBTC -168.4 Fidelity FBTC -138.7 VanEck HODL -107.8 Ark/21Shares ARKB -84.0 Bitwise BITB -73.0 ProShares (Bruce) BTC -29.0 WisdomTree BTCW -6.0 Franklin Templeton EZBC -2.4 Valkyrie BRRR 0.0 Invesco/Galaxy BTCO +5.0   November 20: -$903.2 million (largest single-day outflow). November 13: -$866.7 million. November 14: -$492.1 million. Since November 30, 2025, was a Sunday with no market trading, there were no ETF flows or outflows on that specific day. However, on the most recent trading day (November 28, 2025), the overall universe of ETFs experienced net outflows totaling $2.6 billion, though certain categories like corporate debt ETFs saw inflows. https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1995492405685129297?s=20 Political/Rights https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1995184800320082100?s=20 https://twitter.com/KennethRWebster/status/1994952935391019481?s=20 https://twitter.com/ScottMechkowski/status/1995217213918228872?s=20  manufactured chaos is putting people in danger, and if it continues, it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt… or worse https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/1995226723122897014?s=20 https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1995297340052144415?s=20 I'm glad that these emails are available for your review. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1995320096940552330?s=20   His first directive: forward all earlier email threads exchanged before his start date so he could review progress and accelerate the release. The emails outline pending redactions and confirm the Bureau was responsive. Far from hesitating, Bongino treated the release as a day-one priority for the Trump administration. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1995564133526225391?s=20 DOGE https://twitter.com/Real_RobN/status/1995350937360380071?s=20   • 2,095,247 in 2024 — on it's way out the door. With 1.4 million illegal aliens on Medicaid. And Millions received driver’s licences, registered to vote, and have already voted. https://twitter.com/X22Report/status/1995486921905356986?s=20 Geopolitical Trump-Backed Tito Asfura Wins Massive Electoral Victory… But Potential for Election Fraud Remains National Party of Honduras (PNH) presidential candidate Tito ‘Papi' Asfura won a massive electoral victory on Sunday, defeating his leftist competitors in a huge vindication of President Donald Trump's bold foreign policy moves in Latin America. President Trump's emphatic endorsement of Papi last week, where he indicated he would support the country substantially moving forward, only if the PNH was successful against “communist” parties in the national elections. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1995544957323456880?s=20 War/Peace    important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous State. The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together. This is a historic opportunity, and adds to the SUCCESS, already attained, for PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST! https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/1995203244516315424?s=20 Pete Hegseth Post of Cartoon Meme on Targeting Narco-Terrorists Outrages Liberals  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a cartoon meme Sunday about the Trump administration's military campaign targeting South American drug boats that drew outrage from liberals upset about the attacks. The post has gone viral with over five million views as of late Sunday night. Hegseth posted a cartoon meme of Canadian children's book character Franklin the Turtle titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists”, that features Franklin on a military helicopter firing on drug boats, with the message, “For your Christmas wish list”: https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1995291042346852861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995291042346852861%7Ctwgr%5E0d100b50e564a16ab61377137acc8f821f5fdaaa%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fpete-hegseth-post-cartoon-meme-targeting-narco-terrorists%2F https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1995378734694842656? https://twitter.com/drawandstrike/status/1995175663498637524?s=20 Source: thegatewaypundit.com Trump Reportedly Gave Venezuela's Maduro an Ultimatum: Resign and Leave, or Face the Consequences Trump Told Maduro to Leave: Save Yourself, Your Family  Trump has reportedly told Maduro how it's going to be. https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1995439376319308137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995439376319308137%7Ctwgr%5Eb76bda1788ef546b30960efae726f61e9c980e0a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Ftrump-reportedly-gave-venezuelas-maduro-ultimatum-resign-leave%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com  https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/1995237384242508193?s=20 https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1995503150518747250?s=20  Iran, and Nicaragua are too weak economically. Russia is bogged down in the war with Ukraine, while China is preoccupied with its own problems. Moscow and Beijing are focused on building relations with Trump and are unwilling to spend political capital on Maduro. Trump names ‘difficult problem' for Ukraine “The corruption situation going on is not helpful,” the US president has said Corruption remains one of Ukraine's main problems,  Trump added that both Russia and Ukraine would like the conflict to end, and that “there's a good chance we can make a deal.”Ukraine was rocked by a major corruption scandal last month involving figures in Vladimir Zelensky's inner circle. The country's Western-backed anti-corruption agencies alleged that Timbur Mindich, the Ukrainian leader's former longtime business partner, was the ringleader of a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector, which relies heavily on foreign aid. Mindich fled the country to evade arrest, apparently after being tipped off. Source: rt.com https://twitter.com/GhostEzraQ/status/1995513424957067375?s=20  Popcorn ready? https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/1995501750816825413?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1995230383743312004?s=20   still another side to consider, that being Russia. Zelensky and Macron Meet in Paris Again Amid Peace Talks Flurr   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday at the Elysée presidential palace in Paris, part of a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at brokering the terms for a potential ceasefire in the nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit to Paris followed a meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Florida on Sunday, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as productive. The two sides have worked to make revisions to a proposed U.S.-authored plan that was developed in negotiations between Washington and Moscow but criticized as being too weighted toward Russian demands. Source: breitbart.com Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1995403047300927907?s=20https://twitter.com/tracybeanz/status/1995468595128627471?s=20 https://twitter.com/tracybeanz/status/1995468595128627471?s=20 [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995188426786885670?s=20 https://twitter.com/GhostEzraQ/status/1995567208445977021?s=20  https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995266775810740620?s=20 OUTRAGE ON CAPITOL HILL: Rogue Judges Boasberg and Boardman Now Refuse to Testify Before the Senate U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman have both turned down invitations to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week at the explosive hearing titled “Impeachment: Holding Rogue Judges Accountable. Their absence should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention. These are not neutral judges, they are political operatives wielding federal robes as weapons against the will of the American people.  In a statement shared on X, investigative commentator Mike Benz laid out three specific criminal charges that Attorney General Pam Bondi could immediately bring against Judge Boasberg in connection to the Arctic Frost scandal. 1. Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law (18 U.S.C. § 242):The prosecution alleges that by issuing the gag order, Judge Boasberg willfully deprived U.S. senators of their statutory right under 2 U.S.C. § 6628 to receive notification of legal processes seeking disclosure of Senate data, thereby violating their constitutional protections under the Speech or Debate Clause and separation of powers principles. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1995513956643885253?s=20   thousands of judges in climate litigation, supplying them with the arguments, case law, and “approved” scientific narratives to ensure rulings against oil companies. The New Venture Fund also trains prosecutors to deliver the very arguments these judges have been primed to accept. Legal experts warn this turns climate lawsuits into scripted show trials with predetermined outcomes, placing America's energy sector at an engineered disadvantage. https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1995531341975449748?s=20   NGO's, I'd be panicking too. The Democratic National Committee raised a total of $685,840,729 in 2024. Did you really think that Americans gave that much money to a party who wanted to defund the police, who stopped arresting criminals, hellbent on aborting babies, wants to mutilate children, and allow men into women's bathrooms? https://twitter.com/pepesgrandma/status/1995361098409619725?s=20 https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1995274712734216328?s=20  Kelly's stratospheric balloon startup, World View, in 2013 and 2016. Kelly quietly moved the Chinese investment into a secretive blind trust when he ran for Senate. Now he's part of the Seditious Six telling US troops to ignore President Trump's lawful orders and warning they could be prosecuted once Democrats are “back in control.” Critics note the irony: a senator with CCP-linked funding undermining the chain of command of the U.S. military. The Sedition 6: All Roads Lead to Ron Conway Report https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/1995545363999326341?s=20 https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/1995528879050719506?s=20 https://twitter.com/SaltyGoat17/status/1994389697188217270?s=20 https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/1995153965651223012?s=20  It is Section 2387 of Title 18, Chapter 115, which falls under general federal criminal law governing crimes like treason, sedition, and subversive activities President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1995512799133655450?s=20   Next steps could be for the administration to ask a full panel of 3rd Circuit judges to reconsider the decision – or going right to the U.S. Supreme Court. https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995270338826076313?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1995567423077106141?s=20  https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1995512909351530925?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

In Episode 451 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with author and long-time China analyst Dinny McMahon about the Chinese leadership's efforts to redesign China's economic model in the face of structural headwinds to growth, mounting trade barriers, and growing concerns in Western capitals about Chinese economic and military domination. The first hour is spent exploring why McMahon believes that China is at a transformational moment. He details the kind of economy that Beijing intends to build by 2035 and the internal debate over whether China should rebalance toward household consumption through welfare and redistribution or double down on its investment-driven growth model as the primary mechanism for raising household living standards. The second hour is devoted to understanding China's evolving industrial strategy that Dinny describes as a potential "China Shock 2.0" driven by legacy industry upgrading, innovation at the technological frontier in sectors like batteries and electric vehicles, flying cars, and humanoid robots, and import substitution in areas like machine tools and semiconductors all while pushing intermediate manufacturing offshore to circumvent Western trade barriers. McMahon lays out his best and worst case scenarios, as well as what China's economy is most likely to look like by the middle of the next decade; he and Demetri examine the risks of further deindustrialization and strategic dependency by the United States and Europe on Chinese manufacturing; and discuss how all of this collides with global climate goals, the energy transition, and a world in which China's state-driven capitalist model is increasingly setting the pace for innovation, growth, and material abundance. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Joining our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 11/24/2025

From the BBC World Service: Factories in China have long been an engine of economic growth, so it's worrying for leaders in Beijing that a new survey shows activity unexpectedly contracted in November. It's the eighth straight month that production has shrunk. What's it telling us about the world's second biggest economy? And later, Iran is experiencing an unprecedented drought, with rainfall at record lows and reservoirs nearly empty. Officials are pleading with citizens to conserve water.

From the BBC World Service: Factories in China have long been an engine of economic growth, so it's worrying for leaders in Beijing that a new survey shows activity unexpectedly contracted in November. It's the eighth straight month that production has shrunk. What's it telling us about the world's second biggest economy? And later, Iran is experiencing an unprecedented drought, with rainfall at record lows and reservoirs nearly empty. Officials are pleading with citizens to conserve water.

Alastair Crooke : How Beijing Sees the World's Hotspots .See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1/4  Author Charles Burton Recounts MSS Interrogation; Details Canada's Decade of Failing to Counter Chinese Malign Activity — Charles Burton — Burton recounts his 2018 interrogation by China's Ministry of State Securityregarding his academic research on Chinese political democratization. He asserts that successive Canadian governments have consistently failed to challenge Beijing's malign operations. Burton cites slow responses to Huawei 5G concerns, government secrecy surrounding the Wuhan-Winnipeg laboratory connections during COVID-19, and current resistance to subsidized BYD electric vehicles, which function as surveillance and data collection tools.

SHOW 11-26-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1959 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT STEE WITKOFF FIRST HOUR 9-915 Trump Envoy's Leaked Negotiations Undermine Ukraine Sovereignty; NATO Grapples with Political Will and Manpower Gaps — Colonel Jeff McCausland — Colonel McCausland analyzes leaked details revealing Trumpenvoy Steve Witkoff coaching Russian negotiators and proposing Ukrainian territorial concessions, violating fundamental negotiation principles. McCausland believes the war's continuation is the most probable outcome given these dynamics. McCausland assesses NATO readiness, concluding that while economic components exist, political will remains crucial. He condemns the DoD's attempt to prosecute Senator Kelly for citing Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) principles. C915-930 CONTINUED Trump Envoy's Leaked Negotiations Undermine Ukraine Sovereignty; NATO Grapples with Political Will and Manpower Gaps — Colonel Jeff McCausland — 930-945 Hyper-Individualism Since 1968 Has Fractured Civic Communion, Demands Rebuilding of Formative Institutions— Richard Reinsch — Reinsch argues that American politics is fundamentally undermined by a culture of hyper-individualism—a concept emerging around 1968—that divorces citizens from duty, sacrifice, and relational belonging. This cultural fragmentation has destroyed "civic communion" and social cohesion. To reclaim the republic, Reinschcontends citizens must actively resist the breakdown of formative institutions and work to restore loyalty and commitment through religion, education, family, and military service. 945-1000 SECOND HOUR 10-1015 China's Property Crisis Deepens as State-Owned Giant Vanke Plunges; Export Model Creates International Friction — Fraser Howie — Howie documents the deepening property market crisis, evidenced by the financial collapse of state-owned developer Vanke. The central government avoids massive bailout commitments, converting acute sectoral problems into chronic structural drags that leave municipal and regional banks dangerously exposed. Howie notes that the government's current strategy—relying on massive export volumes—is generating significant international friction and pushback, as other nations fear being "swamped by cheap Chinese imports" and demand market access reciprocity. 1015-1030 PLA Anti-Submarine Warfare Grows, But Taiwan Conflict Will Immediately Escalate to Total War for Ryukyu Islands — Rick Fisher — Fisher notes that the PLA Navy has invested heavily in advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. However, Japan maintains a meaningful deterrent margin through its new lithium-battery powered submarines. Fisher warns that China cannot impose an effective blockade of Taiwan without invading and occupying the Sakushima Islands (part of the Ryukyu chain), guaranteeing that any conflict over Taiwan's status will immediately transition into total, wider warfare involving Japan and the United States. C 1030-104C Canada's PM Carney Pursues China Trade Ties Despite Warnings of Beijing's Malign Influence and Elite Capture— Charles Burton — Burton analyzes Prime Minister Carney's efforts to strengthen trade relations with China, potentially to offset escalating tensions with the U.S. Burton suggests Carney assumes China will reward policy concessions by opening its markets, though historical precedent demonstrates China routinely offers empty promises. Burton expresses concern that the government is delaying implementation of a Foreign Influence Registry to appease Beijing, enabling continued espionage, infiltration operations, and the "elite capture" of Canadian policy makers. 1045-1100 China's AI War Planning Focuses on Deception, Raises Global Thermonuclear Risk — General Blaine Holt — General Holt examines China's PLA war planning, which prioritizes using artificial intelligence for grand deception operations. He argues that fifth-generation warfare, leveraging deepfakes and large language models, is potentially more destructive than nuclear weapons. Holt warns that autonomous AI systems adjudicating warfare decisions—analogous to WarGames—represents a probable future scenario. He assesses NATO as "slow and archaic," underscoring the urgent need for advanced indicators, warning systems, and diplomatic frameworks to manage emerging technological threats. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Author Charles Burton Recounts MSS Interrogation; Details Canada's Decade of Failing to Counter Chinese Malign Activity — Charles Burton — Burton recounts his 2018 interrogation by China's Ministry of State Securityregarding his academic research on Chinese political democratization. He asserts that successive Canadian governments have consistently failed to challenge Beijing's malign operations. Burton cites slow responses to Huawei 5G concerns, government secrecy surrounding the Wuhan-Winnipeg laboratory connections during COVID-19, and current resistance to subsidized BYD electric vehicles, which function as surveillance and data collection tools. 1115-1130 1130-1145 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 UK Tax Hikes Reach All-Time High, Fueling Entrepreneur Exodus and Political Turmoil for Labor Party — Simon Constable — Constable reports that the UK Labour budget under Rachel Reeves will raise the aggregate tax burden to an all-time high of 38% of GDP. This approach is viewed as fundamentally anti-business, with over two-thirds of entrepreneurs reporting that the government lacks genuine support for wealth creation and private enterprise. Constable predicts this environment will trigger an exodus of new wealth creators and capital. Constable suggests the resulting political turmoil positions Nigel Farage as a credible contender for future UKleadership. 1215-1230 Sanctions Hit Russian Economy Hard as Middlemen Charge Massive Premiums for Imports and Demand Huge Energy Discounts — Michael Bernstam — Bernstam details how countries including China and Turkey exploit Russia's economic isolation through sanctions. China demands oil discounts of up to $19 per barrel while simultaneously charging an 87% premium for manufactured goods exported to Russia. This arbitrage mechanism has contributed to a severe recession in Russia's civilian economy (5.4% contraction). Russia has increasingly relied on gold reserves to cover government budget deficits and sustain essential spending. 1230-1245 1245-100 AM SpaceX Explosion, Chinese Stranding Highlight Private Space Successes and Major Space Failures — Bob Zimmerman — Zimmerman reports on a SpaceX Super Heavy prototype explosion during testing, emphasizing that engineering failures are vital mechanisms for program advancement and refinement. In stark contrast, the Chinese space program's lack of transparency regarding capsule damage resulted in taikonauts being stranded without functional lifeboat capability—a historic first in crewed spaceflight. Boeing's Starliner manned capsule program was downgraded to cargo-only operations due to persistent technical deficiencies, resulting in substantially reduced contract valuation.