CNA: China’s Crude Oil Imports Hit A Four-Year Low in April
Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, China’s crude oil imports fell to their lowest level in nearly four years in April, affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Data released today by China’s General Administration of Customs shows that China’s crude oil imports in April decreased by 20 percent year-over-year to 38.471 million tons.
As the world’s largest oil importer, China imports about half of its crude oil from the Middle East. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the number of tankers transporting crude oil and refined petroleum products has decreased significantly, impacting global energy transportation. The official Chinese data did not differentiate between seaborne crude oil and crude oil imported via pipeline. However, the cited data from ship tracking company Kpler showing that China’s seaborne crude oil imports in April totaled 8.03 million barrels per day, also a new low since July 2022.
The turbulent situation in the Middle East has also prompted China to strengthen controls on exports of refined oil products such as gasoline and aviation fuel in order to ensure domestic market supply. Under the influence of these policies, China’s refined oil exports in April fell to 3.119 million tons, a decrease of about one-third compared to March, marking the lowest level in nearly 10 years.
Source: CNA, May 9, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605090175.aspx
Taiwan Advisory Body Warns of Chinese Religious Infiltration Tactics
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) held its 77th advisory committee meeting, focused on Beijing’s suppression of religious freedom and its use of religious exchanges as a tool for political influence operations targeting Taiwan.
Scholars at the meeting reported that China’s recent religious policies have trended toward “Sinicization” and tighter administrative control. Regulations such as rules governing the online behavior of religious clergy have further restricted religious freedom. Beijing continues to use religion as an influence channel, drawing Taiwanese to the mainland through temple pilgrimages, tourism, forums, institutional visits, and cultural performances.
Advisory members stressed that despite being an officially atheist state with no genuine religious freedom, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long exploited religious and ethnic issues for social control. Cross-strait religious exchange, members argued, is in practice an instrument of political influence operations against Taiwan. The CCP systematically uses imagery of “ancestral temples” and “shared roots across the strait” to erode Taiwan’s religious and cultural autonomy.
The committee warned that the CCP uses these exchanges to build grassroots networks within Taiwan’s temple communities, establishing personal ties that can later be leveraged for infiltration. Members urged the government to screen applications from mainland Chinese individuals seeking to participate in religious exchange, and to intervene when activities exceed religious boundaries, ensuring that cross-strait religious exchange remains healthy and orderly.
Members also cautioned that the risks to Taiwanese citizens traveling to China for religious purposes are increasing, citing the detention of Taiwanese followers of Yiguandao on the mainland as an example of the legal uncertainty posed by Chinese religious regulations.
The Ministry of the Interior, which oversees religious affairs, attended the meeting and advised religious groups to register travel plans on its dedicated information portal before visiting China, enabling the government to provide assistance if needed.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 6, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605060331.aspx
Beijing Auto Show Highlights Excessive New Models Amid Shrinking Market
Xinhua News Agency reported that the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition showcased both scale and novelty, with 1,451 vehicles on display, including 181 debut models and 71 concept cars. According to Xinhua, the wide variety of models reflects automakers’ strategic focus on identifying user demand and building competitive advantages through product differentiation.
However, a commentary on Sohu questioned whether the market can absorb such a large number of new releases.
The commentary argued that industry executives have underscored the pressures created by increasingly rapid product cycles. William Li, chairman of NIO, noted that the technology lifecycle of smart electric vehicles has shortened to as little as six months, leading to significant financial waste—often amounting to hundreds of millions of yuan—when models fail to capture brief market windows. Similarly, Zhu Jiangming, chairman of Leapmotor, stated that a new model requires at least 1 billion yuan in investment.
Data indicate that new model launches in China have steadily increased, with approximately 1,278 vehicles introduced in 2025 alone—averaging about 3.5 per day, including around 200 entirely new models. Yet within each segment, such as large SUVs or family sedans, only one or two models tend to achieve strong sales, leaving most others with limited prospects. At the same time, domestic demand has weakened. Industry data show that first-quarter vehicle sales totaled 4.823 million units, down 20.3 percent year-on-year, while passenger vehicle sales declined 23.4 percent. Retail sales in April and year-to-date figures also continued to fall. Although exports grew significantly—reaching 2.226 million units in the first quarter, up 56.7 percent—they have only partially offset domestic weakness, and overseas markets face increasing trade barriers.
Sources:
1. Xinhua, April 26, 2026
https://www.news.cn/tech/20260426/214efab62ef747378c26a7b0142124d2/c.html
2. Sohu, May 1, 2026
https://www.sohu.com/a/1017128170_455225
Former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu Sentenced to Death with Reprieve
On May 7, China’s military court issued first-instance verdicts in corruption cases involving former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu. Both were convicted of accepting bribes, with Li also found guilty of offering bribes. The court sentenced each to death with a two-year reprieve, along with life imprisonment without the possibility of commutation or parole. The ruling represents one of the most severe penalties imposed on senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officials in recent years.
A commentary republished by Xinhua News Agency, originally from the PLA Daily, emphasized that the cases involve not only corruption but also political loyalty. The article stated, “The military must not tolerate individuals who are disloyal to the Chinese Communist Party. “Since the 18th Party Congress, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Xi Jinping, authorities have intensified efforts to investigate high-level corruption and eliminate ‘political risks.’” “The armed forces must align closely with Xi Jinping and uphold the Central Military Commission Chairman responsibility system, … building a strong military first requires being ‘politically strong.’”
The verdict noted that Li Shangfu’s offenses included both accepting and offering bribes. Li previously served as head of the PLA General Armaments Department, whose predecessor was Zhang Youxia, prompting speculation that the bribery charge could be linked to Zhang.
Separately, overseas commentator Yuan Hongbing cited sources claiming that Wei and Li were viewed as politically unreliable because their views are different from Xi Jinping on a potential Taiwan Strait war. According to these claims, they outwardly expressed support for the official position of being willing to wage the war, but privately doubted the likelihood of success. They worked on contingency preparations to control China in case of such a failure, not only reaching out within the PLA system, but also to officials in the Party and government organs. This was why Xi Jinping couldn’t tolerate them and imposed such severe punishment on them.
Sources:
1. Xinhua, May 8, 2026
https://www.news.cn/politics/20260508/705866aafb3841a68c165a4fbeaa4dca/c.html
2. Epoch Times, May 8, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/5/8/n14759168.htm
Wang Yi Calls for Sino-French Strengthen Strategic Communication
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Emmanuel Bonne, French President Macron’s diplomatic adviser, in Beijing on May 8, calling for strengthened strategic communication and coordination between the two countries to jointly address global challenges. Bonne, in turn, expressed France’s willingness to play an active role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China.
Wang Yi noted that Macron’s visit to China last year demonstrated the high level and special nature of the bilateral relationship, and said China hopes to work with France to achieve greater progress in cooperation and bring more benefits to both peoples.
Wang Yi emphasized that in a world increasingly marked by disorder, China and France — as permanent members of the UN Security Council and independently minded major powers — bear significant responsibility for maintaining international peace, stability, and development. He called on both sides to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, push their comprehensive strategic partnership forward free from interference, and ensure its healthy and stable development.
Wang Yi also reiterated that the foundation of China-France relations rests on firm political mutual trust and mutual respect for each other’s core interests. He urged France to uphold the one-China principle in practice, refrain from any form of official exchanges with Taiwan’s authorities, and avoid sending any wrong signals to pro-independence forces.
Bonne affirmed that France fully understands the importance and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, adheres to the one-China policy, and that this position will not change. He also stressed that under the current international situation, dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China are essential, and that the EU needs China as a trustworthy partner. France, he said, is willing to play a constructive role in advancing that relationship.
The two officials have spoken by phone twice previously this year — once in January to discuss global instability, and again in March to address the situation in the Middle East.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 9, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605090114.aspx
U.S. Rejected Beijing’s Invitation to U.S. Companies Accompanying Trump’s Visit to China to Meet with Chinese Leaders
Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, the U.S. government is inviting CEOs of major companies such as Nvidia, Apple, ExxonMobil, and Boeing to accompany President Trump on his visit to China next week, but they have reportedly declined the Chinese side’s invitation to arrange special talks between the accompanying company executives and senior Chinese officials. Executives from Qualcomm, Blackstone Group, Citigroup, and Visa were also among those invited.
The U.S. rejected China’s invitation to organize industry-specific talks between senior Chinese leaders and U.S. company CEOs, believing that such a move could make U.S. companies appear to have too close a relationship with Beijing. The White House has not formally invited the business executives, and the initial list of 24 proposed executives to accompany the visit may eventually be reduced by half. However, sources say Boeing CEO John Ottberg and Citigroup CEO Richard Fraser are indeed scheduled to visit, with Boeing set to finalize its largest aircraft order in nearly a decade with China.
Trump visited China in 2017 during his first presidential term, accompanied by nearly 30 executives. The two sides signed agreements worth over US$250 billion, setting a record for Sino-US economic and trade cooperation.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, May 8, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260508-9015326?ref=global-top-news-13
China–Canada Tensions Rise Over Taiwan Issue Following Chinese Diplomat’s Remarks
On May 1, Canada’s Globe and Mail published an interview with Wang Di, China’s ambassador to Canada, who stated that the Taiwan issue constitutes a non-negotiable “red line” in China–Canada relations and that Ottawa must clearly articulate its position if bilateral ties are to advance. Wang criticized actions such as Canadian naval vessels transiting the Taiwan Strait and contacts between Canadian parliamentarians and Taiwanese officials, arguing that these violate the “One China” principle.
In response, Taiwan’s representative to Canada, Tseng Hou-jen, rejected Wang’s remarks in an interview with iPolitics, calling them “absurd” and counterproductive. Tseng argued that Wang’s statements reflect China’s tendency to “weaponize trade,” which could provoke backlash within Canadian political circles. He emphasized that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, not China’s internal waters, and that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, all countries are entitled to freedom of navigation there.
Wang’s comments have drawn criticism from figures across Canada’s political and academic communities, who urged the government to uphold its principles in its engagement with Beijing. Those voicing concern include Senator Leo Housakos, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman, former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, and Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
The controversy comes amid efforts to revive bilateral ties following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January visit to China, during which six agreements were signed to restart an eight-year-suspended “strategic partnership.” However, the visit also sparked domestic criticism after two Liberal lawmakers visiting Taiwan cut short their trip on government advice, with some politicians accusing Ottawa of yielding to pressure from Beijing.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 2, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605020092.aspx
Beijing’s Youth Exodus: The Capital Is Growing Old
China’s capital is aging rapidly. The number of residents aged 20 to 29 living in Beijing has nearly halved over the past decade, dropping from 4.618 million in 2015 to 2.489 million in 2024 — a loss of 2.129 million young people. Their share of the city’s total population fell from 21.3 percent to 11.4 percent, now barely above the national average of 10.56 percent. Over the same period, residents aged 60 and above grew from 3.405 million to 5.14 million.
The trend is drawing concern. Scholar Wang Mingyuan wrote in a widely circulated social media post that Beijing’s young population is now far smaller than those of Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. He warned that if the demographic trend continues, Beijing risks becoming a city without vitality by 2030. At Peking University, the share of graduates choosing to stay in Beijing dropped from 72 percent in 2013 to just 42 percent in 2024, with growing numbers heading to Shanghai and Guangdong instead.
High living costs, limited opportunities for small and mid-sized businesses, and a rigid household registration system are widely cited as the culprits. Resources in Beijing increasingly concentrate among a few large tech firms, squeezing out the kind of growing startups that create opportunities for young workers. Wang noted that families earning over 1 million yuan (~$137,500 USD) annually have lived in Beijing for over a decade and still cannot obtain permanent residency, forcing some couples into long-distance marriages or relocation to Shenzhen.
Wei, a 34-year-old from Shandong who moved to Beijing in 2016, told a reporter that young people typically leave after five years if their income remains modest. “This city doesn’t encourage you to stay,” he said, adding that post-pandemic economic fatigue has left many unwilling to keep competing.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 4, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605040304.aspx