Category: Special Topics

Taiwan Reports Spotting 2 Russian Frigates Near Its Waters

Two Russian frigates were spotted sailing off the eastern coast of Taiwan on June 27, according to the Taiwanese defense ministry, a rare occurrence that could potentially escalate tensions in the region. The ministry said the Russian ships were seen “sailing from south to north through the eastern waters” of Taiwan at 11 p.m. (local…


3 Factors Continue to Drive Foreign Investment out of China: Experts

Foreign investments have continued to flee China as the country’s economy remains sluggish. Experts pointed out three major factors causing it. Since last December when Beijing abandoned the restrictive “Zero-COVID” policy, foreign investors were optimistic about the Chinese market. Foreign investment poured back into China in the first few months of this year, but this…


CCP Harvesting Open-Source Intelligence for Military Advantage: Report

China’s communist regime is investing in new ways to exploit open-source intelligence (OSINT) to undermine the United States and gain military advantage, according to a new report. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, is contracting new research and analysis services to compile actionable intelligence from publicly available sources throughout…


Software Engineer Imprisoned for Developing Application to Break China’s Internet Censorship

Two people, who were detained by Shanghai State Security Police in October 2021 for developing software that circumvents the Great Firewall, received six- and five-year prison sentences on June 12, 2023. He Binggang and his fiancée Zhang Yibo, together with several others, were arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for developing and maintaining software that helps people living…


Software Engineer Sentenced to Prison for Developing Application to Break China’s Internet Censorship

Two people, who were detained by Shanghai State Security Police in October 2021 for developing software that circumvents the Great Firewall, received six- and five-year prison sentences on June 12, 2023. He Binggang and his fiancée Zhang Yibo, along with several others, were arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for developing and maintaining software that helps people living…


Software Engineer, Fiancee Sentenced to Prison for Developing Application to Break China’s Internet Censorship

Two people, who were detained by Shanghai State Security Police in October 2021 for developing software that circumvents the Great Firewall, received six- and five-year prison sentences on June 12, 2023. He Binggang and his fiancée Zhang Yibo, along with several others, were arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for developing and maintaining software that helps people living…


Taiwan Says Chinese Air Force Approached Close to Island’s Coast

TAIPEI—Eight Chinese war planes crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line and approached close to the island’s contiguous zone that is 24 nautical miles (28 miles) off its coast on Saturday, the Taiwanese defense ministry said, in a further rise in tensions. China’s air force over the past three years has routinely flown into the air…


GOP Lawmakers React to US COVID Origin Report: ‘American People Deserve Better’

Lawmakers who have long pressed for transparency on COVID-19 origins said they are underwhelmed by the declassified U.S. intelligence report, saying that the administration hasn’t been fully transparent with what it knows. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) released the long-anticipated report on June 23 evening, days after missing a 90-day deadline…


TikTok Admits Storing Some US User Data in China: Senators

TikTok has admitted to storing some U.S. user data on China-based servers, which differs from its CEO’s previous testimony to Congress that “American data stored on American soil.” The Chinese video-sharing platform confirmed this in a letter dated June 16 made in response to questions raised by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)…


ANALYSIS: ASEAN to Hold First Joint Military Drills to Counter China Threat

News Analysis The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will conduct its first joint military exercises in the South China Sea in September. The move indicates that ASEAN is joining other countries pushing back against communist China’s hegemonic ambitions. Indonesia, the rotating president country of the ASEAN, made the announcement on June 8. In addition…