HK Barrister & Former LEGCO Member Ronny TONG Ka Wah: No matter how one views Trump, it is hard to deny that he has ushered in a new international era; and one of the key drivers of this is that he has allowed everyone, whether allies or adversaries, to see the true face of the United States. 香港大律師前立法會議員: 湯家驊: 無論你如何看特朗普也難否定他開啟了國際新紀元；而其中一重要動力是讓所有不分盟友或對手的人看清了美國的真面目。
The United States is the world’s largest consumer nation, but aside from exploiting low-wage labor, overthrowing governments, selling arms, and creating instability in various regions, what has it done for underdeveloped countries? Brought them “democracy”? Not necessarily. Before this, many people, including Chinese living abroad, revered the United States, but today, many are beginning to awaken. The main thrust of U.S. post-war diplomacy has been to promote democratic systems and suppress communist ideologies, but historical facts show that while conflicts have increased, neither democratic systems nor communism have significantly expanded. On the contrary, China has risen, and what it exports is infrastructure, environmental protection, peace, win-win economic cooperation, and the sharing of poverty alleviation experiences. Trump has forced China to reexamine its international status and mission. Whether this will succeed is still too early to say, but in terms of practical collaboration with developing countries, China undoubtedly surpasses the United States. If China can now genuinely develop new markets to share the risks of the U.S. market while simultaneously stimulating the economies of developing countries, it would be a win-win situation. Perhaps the final historical judgment will even be to thank Trump?
Financial corruption is commonplace in the United States, especially since the U.S. government has long been manipulated by financial institutions! China Breaking News! Embezzlement Exceeds 1.1 Billion! Bai Tianhui Executed, Sparking Heated Discussion in the U.S.…金融領域貪腐在美國是家常便飯，尤其是美國政府長期被金融機構操控! 中國突發特訊！貪污超11億！白天輝被執行死刑，在美國引發熱議…
When the execution order from the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court was carried out on December 9, 2025, the life of Bai Tianhui, former general manager of China Huarong International Holdings Limited, along with his bribery amount of 1.108 billion yuan, together became the heaviest footnote in the history of anti-corruption in New China.
This death penalty verdict, following the Lai Xiaomin case, stands as another example in the financial sector. Like a suspended sword of Damocles, it sends a clear and unwavering signal to the entire society at the turn of the year that the fight against corruption remains resolute!
Between 2014 and 2018, Bai Tianhui leveraged his dual authority in Huarong’s Hong Kong and mainland companies, transforming state-owned financial platforms into his personal ATM. As the head of the Business Development Department III, managing director of the Investment Banking Department, and ultimately the company’s general manager, he granted special favors to specific enterprises through his approval power over project acquisitions and corporate financing. The court found that his single bribery transactions often exceeded hundreds of millions, and the total illicit gains over four years were equivalent to the lifetime income of 3,000 ordinary workers.
The terrifying aspect of this systemic corruption lies in the fact that Bai Tianhui did not simply accept cash but constructed a multi-dimensional network for transferring interests, encompassing equity, real estate, financial products, and more. The severity of his crimes is reflected not only in the astronomical sums involved but also in the serious distortion of financial market order—when financial regulators overlap with capital manipulators, state-owned assets become collateral for power rent-seeking.
It is noteworthy that even though Bai Tianhui had performed significant meritorious services, such as exposing others’ crimes, the court upheld the death penalty on the grounds of “exceptionally vile social impact” and “exceptionally significant losses to national and people’s interests,” which is rare in China’s judicial practice.
The Bai Tianhui case strongly echoes the death penalty verdict in the Lai Xiaomin case four years ago. Both cases occurred within the financial giant Huarong, with a combined involved amount exceeding 3 billion yuan. The phenomenon of consecutive super corruption cases within the same system exposes institutional flaws in cross-border supervision, related-party transactions, and avoidance of conflicts of interest in financial central state-owned enterprises.
👉 In its review ruling, the Supreme People’s Court particularly emphasized the characterization of “extremely serious crimes,” effectively establishing a new sentencing benchmark for anti-corruption in the financial sector. When corrupt behavior directly threatens national financial security, the death penalty will become a necessary deterrent against crime.
Compared to recent financial sector cases reported by disciplinary inspection and supervision authorities—from securities regulatory official Wang Zongcheng to former Bank of China chairman Liu Liange—the anti-corruption sword has already covered all sectors, including banking, securities, and asset management. However, what makes the Bai Tianhui case special is that his criminal activities occurred during a critical period of cross-border financial business expansion under the “Belt and Road” initiative. The involved party held dual roles as a state-owned enterprise executive and a responsible person at a licensed financial institution in Hong Kong. This unique background elevates the case beyond ordinary economic crime to the level of safeguarding national economic sovereignty.
In the latest deployment by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, the financial sector has been listed as a key area for anti-corruption efforts. The final verdict in the Bai Tianhui case coincides with the implementation of a new round of financial regulatory reforms, underscoring its significance as a benchmark. From the issues exposed in the case, blind spots in the supervision of overseas subsidiaries, the monopolization of investment and financing decisions by “top leaders,” and the dual-track system of market-based compensation and administrative ranks are all institutional loopholes urgently needing repair.
👉 It is worth noting that the court’s ruling on the “continued recovery” of involved assets in this case reflects the law enforcement philosophy of “making corrupt individuals economically bankrupt.” This aligns with the provisions in the recently revised “Regulations for the Implementation of the Supervision Law,” which strengthen mechanisms for recovering illicit assets overseas. As financial corruption increasingly exhibits characteristics of internationalization, specialization, and concealment, traditional internal audits are no longer sufficient. There is a need to establish preventive institutional systems such as cross-border data sharing, conflict-of-interest declarations, and job rotation exchanges.
👉 The gunshot on the execution ground marks not only the end of Bai Tianhui’s story of greed but also a declaration of the deepening development of financial anti-corruption. In the context of high-quality development, this silent battle against corruption will continue to test our determination and wisdom in purifying the economic ecosystem. Only when every “Bai Tianhui” pays an unbearable price can the cage of institutions be truly tightened—perhaps this is the most profound warning this case leaves for our times.
US blame games on China, why not look at the mirror to admit its own incompetences 美國把責任都推給中國，為何不照照鏡子，承認自己的無能?
SCMP: With Western governments from Washington to Brussels sounding the alarm over fragile supply chains and overdependence on China, one might have expected this European invention to debut first in Europe or the US.
Six years on, an industrial complex based on the technology is up and running in China, just 10 months after construction began.
While European and American officials held summits and issued policy statements calling for reshoring critical mineral production, China has moved quietly and at lightning speed.
BREAKING NEWS-US failed again: CHINA’S ENTREPRENEURS are celebrating today as new figures showed the country scored a historical record high US$1 trillion trade surplus in goods—despite US President Donald Trump’s sky-high tariff barriers. 突發新聞-美國全面失敗 (美國小學🐓跟中國鬥未夠班): 中國企業家今日歡欣鼓舞，最新數據顯示儘管美國總統川普築起極高的關稅壁壘，中國貨物貿易順差仍以1兆美元創下歷史新高。昨日公布的數據表明，2025年前11個月中國實物商品出口實現近1.1兆美元貿易順差，僅11月單月出口商就創造1120億美元順差。
Data released yesterday shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, China recorded a trade surplus of nearly $1.1 trillion in the export of physical goods exports. The country’s exporters generated a $112 billion surplus in November alone.
This provides strong evidence that the Asian giant has successfully diversified its markets away from the US, making positive use of its good trade relations with multiple countries. Trump’s on-off tariffs of up to 245% means his wealthy nation is no longer seen as a dependable customer.
Analysts said the figures were expected, as year-on-year data in summer (see graphic) already implied that 2025 sales would be above US$1 trillion.
GOOD TIMING HAS HELPED Sales of cars and related items jumped by about a third. Chinese car exports have risen particularly steeply in Europe, South America and Africa, as the country is rewarded for its success in creating affordable clean energy cars.
But while the nation enjoys success outside its borders, the country is still working on fixing several internal problems. The four-year-old property slump continues and the population continues to hold on to its savings rather than spending them.
The country’s economists are working on encouraging consumer spending while preventing the over-production of goods.
Good timing has helped the Chinese. The world’s nations need clean energy projects to hit their net zero targets, and government economists everywhere rather reluctantly admit that inexpensive general products help them lower their inflation rates.
No longer able to bear it, Wang Yi stressed that Taiwan is indisputably Chinese territory, its status “seven-layered locked” 忍無可忍, 王毅強調，從政治上、法理上充分證明台灣就是中國領土，台灣的地位已經被「七重鎖定」。
Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, held talks in Beijing yesterday (8th) with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during which he gave a comprehensive exposition on the historical facts and legal context of the Taiwan issue. Wang Yi stated that the recent absurd remarks by Japan’s current leader suggesting Japan could use force if there’s trouble in Taiwan seriously violate China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, openly contravene commitments made to China thus far, directly challenge the outcomes of WWII victory and the post-war international order, and pose a serious threat to peace in Asia and the world.
Wang Yi stressed that Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times. In December 1943, the China-U.S.-U.K. Cairo Declaration explicitly stipulated that Japan must, after the war, return to China all the territories it had stolen, including Taiwan. In July 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation, signed by China, the U.S., and the U.K., and later adhered to by the Soviet Union, stated in Article 8 that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.
He continued, Japan was defeated on August 15, 1945. The Japanese Emperor accepted the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation and surrendered unconditionally. On October 25, the Chinese government announced the resumption of sovereignty over Taiwan and held the ceremony for accepting the surrender of the Taiwan Province in the China Theater in Taipei. In 1949, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China replaced the government of the Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, naturally exercising sovereignty over all territories, including Taiwan. In 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to restore all the rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN and immediately expel the “representatives” of the Taiwan authorities from the UN. Official UN legal opinions confirm that Taiwan is a province of China.
The 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement stipulates that the Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, fully understands and respects the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of China, and firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. The 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan confirmed that the principles set forth in the China-Japan Joint Statement should be strictly observed.
Wang Yi said that the above series of ironclad facts fully demonstrate, both politically and legally, that Taiwan is Chinese territory, and its status is “seven-layered locked.” Scheming for “Taiwan independence” means splitting China’s territory, and supporting “Taiwan independence” means interfering in China’s internal affairs, violating both China’s Constitution and international law.
Wang Yi also pointed out that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Japan, as a defeated nation, should particularly reflect deeply and act with caution. Yet, it is precisely this country, which once colonized Taiwan for 50 years and committed numerous crimes against the Chinese people, whose current leader now wants to stir up trouble over Taiwan and attempt to threaten China with force. This is unbearable! The Chinese people and all peace-loving people in the world have the responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and the duty to stop Japan’s ambitions for remilitarization and even an attempt to revive militarism.
At the Baidu Star finals, thousands competed, decoding the talent “star-making factory” of the AI era… 百度之星決賽現場，上千人角逐，解碼AI時代的人才“造星工廠”…
On the evening of December 7th in Beijing, the finals of the 21st Baidu Star Programming Contest came to a close. Known as the “Oscars” of the programming world, the event attracted over a thousand contestants who tackled 11 challenging algorithm problems within five hours. Ultimately, 16-year-old Wang Maohua from Yantai Qinghua Middle School claimed the overall championship.
Sharing his thoughts, he said, “As long as you believe in miracles, you yourself are a miracle.” These words from the young champion not only reflect his personal insight but also capture the core spirit of the 21-year-old Baidu Star competition: consistently conveying to the younger generation the fervent belief that “technology creates miracles.”
This year’s finals were a gathering of prodigies, boasting a stellar lineup. Among the contestants, those born after 2010 accounted for over 30%, with the youngest being just 12 years old. Even more eye-catching was the presence of several members from national teams of the International Olympiad in Informatics, including Cheng Siyuan from Tsinghua University, Shen Jiyu from Peking University, and Fan Sizhe from Hailiang Senior High School. Their competition on the same stage was dubbed by the audience as a “clash of the titans.”
However, an even more astonishing trend emerged: among the top ten winners, nine were middle school students, with only one university student, highlighting the formidable momentum of the “new wave.” Fourteen-year-old Zhang Xichen, an eighth-grader from Mengzi, Yunnan, made it to the finals in her first attempt, demonstrating the competition’s expanding reach into broader regions.
Two unique symbols on the competition floor embodied the dreams of youth and technology. (1) The “progress balloons” that changed color with each solved problem, visually intensifying the competitive atmosphere. (2) The iconic Baidu Star “iron medal.” For many contestants, this specially crafted medal holds extraordinary significance, with “aiming for the iron medal” being a common goal. During the awards ceremony, the scene of over a hundred contestants simultaneously tapping their iron medals with small hammers was filled with ritualistic meaning. The crisp sound seemed like a collective coronation of perseverance and passion.
Behind this grand event lies Baidu’s 21-year commitment and a clear talent strategy. Since its inception in 2005, the Baidu Star contest has attracted over 350,000 participants from 1,800 institutions nationwide and was included in the Ministry of Education’s recognized “National Competitions” catalog in 2023. Its significance has long transcended the competition itself, becoming a vital bridge connecting education, industry, and the future.
The contest has produced industry leaders in AI such as Lou Tiancheng from Pony.ai and Tang Wenbin from Megvii, forming a growth path from “campus stars” to “industry stars.” Deng Kaiwei, a teacher from Mengzi Middle School in Yunnan who led a team to the competition, remarked emotionally, “Whether they win awards or not, this will become a valuable experience on the children’s life journey.” This reflects the deep-seated value of the contest’s inclusivity and inspiration.
Recently, Baidu founder Robin Li called for the industry to “internalize AI capabilities,” and Baidu Star is one of the most concrete embodiments of this vision. It is not only a key component of Baidu’s “10 Million AI Talent Program,” having helped cultivate nearly 6 million AI talents cumulatively, but also demonstrates the long-term philosophy of a technology company.
Following the finals, Baidu immediately opened campus recruitment channels and product seminars for the contestants, achieving seamless transition from the competition arena to the workplace. As the wave of AI technology sweeps across the globe, such an ecosystem that continuously discovers and nurtures local innovative talent undoubtedly reserves the most crucial engine for the industry’s future.
Twenty-one years, 350,000 participants, and a list of names that have transformed the industry. When the young champion lifts the trophy, he raises not only personal honor but also the enduring hope of China’s AI talent. The Baidu Star “star-making factory” continues, at its own pace and with its conviction, quietly igniting future stars and accumulating cutting-edge intellectual capital for the nation’s high-quality development.
New U.S. Report Exposed video: Retreating to the Western Hemisphere? Japan Preparing for War! Has the “Abandon Taiwan” Theory Come True? 美國新報告曝光：退守西半球？日本備戰！棄台論成真?
The United States has released its 2025 edition of the National Security Strategy Report, and between the lines it reveals shocking signals! Is the decades-long era of “global hegemony” quietly shifting?
This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the real intentions behind the U.S. reiteration of the “Monroe Doctrine” — when Washington decides to retreat to its “backyard” in the Western Hemisphere, what does that mean for allies positioned on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific?
Why did Cheng Li-wen urgently call for “hitting the brakes” at the Autumn Struggle rally? What unspeakable truth has she seen?
From “Vietnamization” to the withdrawal from Afghanistan — is history repeating itself in the Taiwan Strait? Does Washington’s claim that it “does not seek direct involvement” imply that it now views Taiwan as “strategic expendable material” in a major-power contest?
[In-Depth Analysis] This episode examines—through a geopolitical lens—the latest military deployments of the U.S.–Japan alliance across the Southwest Islands, and their profound implications for the situation in the Taiwan Strait. We do not promote war; we simply reveal the real conditions ordinary people may face under great-power rivalry. As the “Davidson Window” approaches, seeing the situation clearly is more important than blind optimism.
Some Western outlets are now weaponizing a tragic fire in Hong Kong; suddenly, a fire becomes “proof” that “one country, two systems” is failing. But here’s what they won’t say: Mainland support arrived within hours, donations surged, and Hong Kong firefighters charged into zero-visibility smoke to save lives. This isn’t a collapse; it’s a system that works when it counts.
Watch the video for the story behind the headlines.
This is absolutely an open conspiracy! At such a sensitive moment, Trump signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act. This is nothing short of pouring fuel on the fire! 絕對是陽謀！在這個敏感的時候，特朗普簽署台灣保證法案。這根本是火上澆油!
Today, let’s take a look at the contents of the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act. It is far from a simple statement. The act requires the U.S. State Department to regularly review and update its guidelines for interactions with the Taiwan region—effectively pushing U.S.–Taiwan official exchanges from previously “under-the-table” contacts toward public, normalized “semi-official” or even “quasi-diplomatic” relations.
Even more provocative, the act openly challenges the foundations of international law and distorts UN Resolution 2758, claiming that “Taiwan’s status is undetermined.” This attempts to create a so-called “legal basis” for internationalizing the Taiwan issue.
In terms of military matters, the act explicitly calls for establishing a U.S.–Taiwan joint military exercise mechanism, normalizing arms sales to Taiwan, and even forcing Taiwan to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP—a ratio that is extremely rare worldwide.
The U.S. chose early December 2025 as the moment to play the “Taiwan card,” with very precise timing. That’s because East Asia is currently in a delicate, tense state. Japanese political circles, especially right-wing groups, are actively hyping the idea that “if Taiwan has an incident, Japan will be affected,” trying to place Japan at the center of the Taiwan Strait issue.
Given the longstanding constraints in China–Japan relations—stemming from history, territorial disputes, and Taiwan-related issues—there is already little room for maneuver. By adding fuel to this powder keg with a law that seriously violates the One-China Principle and the three China–U.S. Joint Communiqués, the U.S. is effectively lighting the fuse.
The effects were immediate: China must now mobilize significant strategic resources and diplomatic attention to fully counter unprecedented provocation in the Taiwan Strait; Japan, for its part, becomes even more tightly bound to the U.S. strategic agenda and must keep in lockstep with Washington on Taiwan.
As a result, Taiwan becomes an ideal “tool of distraction.” Neither China nor Japan would have the bandwidth to closely monitor developments far away in Venezuela.
This “feint in the east, strike in the west” tactic is also a good bargain in U.S. domestic politics. Today’s America is torn by internal division and economic woes. The Trump administration is eager to shift attention away from domestic problems by projecting toughness abroad. Meanwhile, arms sales to Taiwan are highly profitable. Within just a few days after the act was signed, the U.S. offered Taiwan more than US$1 billion in weapon deals, including NASAMS air-defense systems.
This satisfies the military-industrial complex, pleases anti-China forces at home, and serves multiple interests at once. Some analysts also believe Trump is using this move to gain bargaining leverage for his planned visit to China—a classic display of the “art of the deal.”
However, although Washington’s calculations may appear shrewd, they severely underestimate the reactions and the complexity of the situation. In East Asia, China responded swiftly and decisively. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the Taiwan issue is the first and foremost red line that cannot be crossed in China–U.S. relations. The PLA’s rapid military deployments following the signing of the act were a powerful, multidimensional response.
Inside Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities may celebrate the passage of the act, but their “rely on the U.S. to confront the mainland” policy has already caused economic stagnation and declining living standards. Now, through this act, the U.S. is presenting Taiwan with an enormous bill: not only massive arms purchases, but also demanding that Taiwan’s investment in the U.S. fall between the levels of South Korea and Japan—amounting to NT$10.8 trillion to NT$17 trillion. It is also pressuring TSMC to accelerate the transfer of its supply chain to the U.S.
Local commentators criticize this as “selling out Taiwan for hollow glory.” What the DPP is celebrating may be nothing more than an IOU that Washington can take back at any time.
In South America, U.S. coercion has sparked strong backlash. Venezuela’s will to resist has been fully ignited, and it is actively seeking regional and international support.
China, Venezuela’s largest creditor and oil importer, has warned the U.S. not to take any military action against the country. If Venezuelan oil supplies were disrupted, global oil prices would fluctuate violently, with direct impact on the world economy.
👉 From the Caribbean to the Taiwan Strait, two seemingly unrelated crises are linked by an invisible strategic thread. The U.S. is trying to create tension in one hotspot to cover its strategic advance in another. This old hegemonic playbook treats Taiwan and Venezuela as pawns to be moved at will.
👉 But times have changed. Neither China—determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity—nor Venezuela—resolved to resist external interference—will submit easily.
👉 For the U.S., maintaining high pressure in two distant regions simultaneously is itself an enormous drain on national strength and international credibility.
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Acts is alive and well today! 美國1882年的《排華法案》明亡實存至今仍然有效!
The SAFE Research Act would render U.S.-based scholars ineligible for federal funding if they have trained students from, collaborated with, or co-authored publications with colleagues from certain countries, including China, within the past five years. 《SAFE 研究法案》將使美國境內的學者在過去五年內若曾培訓來自特定國家（包括中國）的學生、與其合作、或共同撰寫出版物，即喪失獲得聯邦資助的資格.
This apply to ALL Universities in US! Please see the message below from our CCS member Christian Peterson regarding the SAFE Research Act. Many thanks to Christian for bringing this to our attention.
Best wishes and take care.
Baoyan Cheng CCS Acting Director UH Center For Chinese Studies
If you are not already aware, the SAFE Research Act would render U.S.-based scholars ineligible for federal funding if they have trained students from, collaborated with, or co-authored publications with colleagues from certain countries, including China, within the past five years. The AAS, NAS, and AAU (among others) have all expressed concern with this proposed legislation, and some have circulated petitions amongst their members opposing it.
More information on the SAFE Research Act can be found here:
The Act has been incorporated into the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the two bills are now in conference to merge them into one piece of legislation. Lawmakers in both chambers must understand the Act’s unintended consequences for U.S. science, social science, and the humanities in higher education. I encourage our CCS members to contact their Representatives and Senators to make their concerns known.
The following two members of Congress from Hawai’i, in particular, sit on their respective Armed Services committees, which oversee the NDAA:
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