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China Launches Global Center for Young Sinologists to Promote China’s Image and Chinese Culture

Chinese Communist Party media outlet People’s Daily recently ran an article on a new “Global Center for Young Sinologists” launched at the recent International Conference on Young Sinologists and Cross-Civilizational Dialogue held in Beijing; below are translated excerpts from the article.

Recently, the International Conference on Young Sinologists and Cross-Civilizational Dialogue was held in Beijing, jointly organized by the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of China’s Ministry of Education and Renmin University of China. At the conference, young Sinology researchers from 25 countries and regions exchanged insights on research methodologies, approaches, and practical applications, sharing their experiences of “walking with Sinology and journeying alongside China.”

During the event, the first Global Center for Young Sinologists was officially inaugurated. Simultaneously, a set of internationally collaborative open projects titled “World Sinology and China Studies” was launched, covering ten cutting-edge areas, including China’s poverty reduction practices, Silk Road cultural exchanges, the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, and digital Sinology development.

Over the past decade, China has implemented the “New Sinology Program”, establishing cross-civilizational research centers in multiple countries, supporting leading Chinese and foreign universities in recruiting and training 1,165 graduate students in China Studies, and organizing visits, study programs, and translation training for over 3,200 young scholars.

Source: People’s Daily, January 13, 2026
https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/pc/content/202601/13/content_30131815.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Former U.S. Defense Official Analyzes U.S. Indo-Pacific Military Deployment

Hu Zhendong, a former U.S. Department of Defense official, spoke at a forum hosted by Taiwan’s Institute for National Policy Research on January 15, offering an analysis of the current posture and future direction of U.S. military deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

Hu said U.S. national security strategy prioritizes maintaining military overmatch in the Western Pacific as a cornerstone for deterring conflict in the Taiwan Strait and preserving regional stability. He noted that President Trump’s approach continues to emphasize “peace through strength,” with substantial U.S. forces deployed across key locations including South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. Alaska, in particular, hosts robust fifth-generation air power capable of supporting operations across the Pacific theater.

To sustain naval operations, major U.S. bases on the West Coast house submarine forces and an active aircraft carrier strike group, while additional carrier strike capabilities and expeditionary sea bases are deployed throughout the Pacific. The U.S. military presence also extends to Singapore, Saipan, Palau, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Australia—locations relatively close to Taiwan—forming a first-island-chain security network supported by logistics hubs and mutual defense arrangements.

Hu noted that joint military exercises with partner nations have expanded significantly in both scale and frequency. He cited the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which in 2024 involved 29 countries, approximately 25,000 personnel, 40 ships, and more than 150 aircraft, and is expected to grow further in 2026.

He also outlined several key U.S. military modernization efforts, including:

  • Upgrading Pacific submarine forces with Virginia-class submarines;
  • Deploying advanced F-35 fighter aircraft while retiring older platforms at bases in Japan and South Korea;
  • Expanding amphibious and expeditionary sea base capabilities to support helicopters and unmanned systems.

In addition, Hu said the United States is refining arrangements to increase the flexibility of forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula, enabling them to respond rapidly across the broader Indo-Pacific rather than being confined to a narrow regional role.

Overall, Hu argued, these developments demonstrate that the United States is reinforcing its strategic military posture throughout the Indo-Pacific to deter aggression and strengthen collective security partnerships, continuing to rely on military strength as the foundation for regional peace and stability.

Source: Epoch Times, January 15, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/15/n14676384.htm/amp

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Xinhua: 2025, a “Wild Year” Under the New U.S. Government

A Xinhua analysis describes 2025 as a turbulent and unpredictable year under the new U.S. administration, portraying its governing style as “wild” and marked by unilateral decision-making. The commentary argues that Washington pursued an aggressive agenda at home and abroad, including strict immigration enforcement, contentious trade policies, and military actions involving countries such as Iran and Venezuela, while repeatedly asserting freedom from international legal constraints. It quotes a Chinese scholar for characterizing this approach as “bulldozer-style governance,” saying it has intensified social divisions, weakened institutional trust, and reignited debate over presidential authority and federal power.

On the domestic front, the article claims the administration implemented sweeping administrative changes, including large-scale federal job cuts and sharp budget reductions for agencies such as the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. It also highlights a record 43-day federal government shutdown triggered by budget disputes, arguing that these developments deepened political polarization and eroded public confidence in governance.

Internationally, the commentary criticizes what it describes as U.S. unilateralism, including withdrawals from international treaties and organizations and a reshaping of global alliances and trade relations. It argues that Washington has pressured allies to shoulder greater defense burdens, relied on tariffs and coercive trade practices that disrupt global supply chains, and framed foreign policy around ideological dominance. According to the article, these actions have increased global instability and weakened confidence in U.S. leadership, standing in contrast to principles of multilateral cooperation.

Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2026
https://www.news.cn/world/20260117/f9af53da5a194c64884793497ace5bfe/c.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua Commentary: Europe’s Vulnerability Extends Far Beyond Greenland

A Xinhua News Agency commentary argues that Europe’s strategic vulnerability is not just the Greenland issue, but rather in its long-standing dependence on the United States and NATO. The article opens by citing U.S. interest in Greenland and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s warning that any use of force by the United States against a NATO ally could fracture the alliance — a reaction the commentary portrays as cautious and resigned rather than firm and resolute.

According to the commentary, Europe’s security architecture has for decades been built on NATO and U.S. military dominance, severely constraining its strategic autonomy. Despite repeated calls to strengthen independent defense capabilities, European countries remain heavily reliant on Washington, a dependence further deepened by ongoing security pressures such as the war in Ukraine.

The commentary criticizes Europe for accepting U.S. dominance at its own expense, arguing that this imbalance allows Washington to leverage Europe militarily, economically, and geopolitically — from defense spending demands to broader strategic concessions. Europe’s failure to draw clear red lines, even on matters involving its own territory, is cited as evidence of what the article describes as a lack of genuine sovereignty.

Source: Xinhua, January 16, 2026
https://www.xinhuanet.com/20260116/750dd9b3ec1c43d2b060185a5ddecba6/c.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

CIA Releases New Video Outlining Secure Contact Methods for Chinese Sources

On January 15, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released a video on social media platform X providing step-by-step instructions for securely contacting the agency. The video states that the CIA “wants to know the truth about China” and is seeking individuals who have such information and are willing to share it.

The video outlines nine practical measures aimed at protecting anonymity and personal safety. These include purchasing communication devices with cash or gift cards to avoid identity disclosure, using public Wi-Fi locations for anonymous access, downloading web browsers and VPN software from U.S. or other Western providers, creating new email accounts, and contacting the CIA via the dark web. The agency also advises that, if circumstances permit, individuals should consider leaving the country before carrying out the first step.

This is not the CIA’s first outreach effort of this kind. In May 2025, the agency released two Chinese-language videos titled “Why I Contacted the CIA: To Take Control of My Fate” and “Why I Contacted the CIA: For a Better Life.” The short films portrayed fictional scenarios in which Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, concerned about their own and their families’ futures, ultimately chose to cooperate with the CIA.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that he believes such videos can penetrate China’s internet censorship and reach relevant audiences inside mainland China. A U.S. official added that the agency would not continue producing the videos if they were ineffective, underscoring that in the broader strategic competition between the United States and China, the CCP remains the CIA’s top intelligence priority.

Source: Epoch Times, January 16, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/16/n14677269.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS US-China Relations

Xinhua: South Korea Studies Restoration of 2018 Inter-Korean Military Agreement

A senior South Korean official said on January 14 that the government is reviewing the possibility of restoring the September 19, 2018 Inter-Korean Military Agreement with North Korea. The remarks were made by Wee Sung-lok, director of South Korea’s National Security Office, at a press conference in Nara, Japan, during a visit accompanying President Lee Jae-myung.

Wee said that reviving the agreement is a key policy direction and reflects guidance from President Lee, but emphasized that the issue is complex and involves multiple stakeholders, meaning no concrete decisions have yet been finalized.

President Lee previously signaled this approach on August 15, 2025, during a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day. He said South Korea would take the initiative in restoring the September 19 Military Agreement in a phased manner to prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas and to rebuild military confidence.

The 2018 agreement, signed following the Panmunjom Declaration, aimed to reduce military tensions across the Korean Peninsula and establish it as a “permanent peace zone.” South Korea suspended the agreement in June 2024, and discussions on its potential revival are now underway.

Source: Xinhua, January 14, 2026
https://www.xinhuanet.com/20260114/1e7dd8b7ca374dbe85d71ce5f93b4dd9/c.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

China Submits Record 203,000 Satellite Applications to ITU

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), between December 25 and 31, 2025, China formally submitted applications for frequency and orbital resources for an additional 203,000 satellites, covering 14 constellations, including low- and medium-Earth orbit satellites. This represents China’s largest coordinated international satellite frequency and orbit filing to date.

The Radio Spectrum Development and Technology Innovation Institute (the “Radio Innovation Institute”) submitted applications for the CTC-1 and CTC-2 constellations, each requesting 96,714 satellites—a combined total of 193,428 satellites, accounting for over 95 percent of China’s submissions. Other applicants include China SatNet, China Mobile, and Yuanxin Satellite.

This large-scale filing is expected to stimulate the entire satellite industry chain—including manufacturing, launch, and operations—and drive China’s aerospace sector toward both large-scale growth and breakthroughs in core capabilities.

Source: People’s Daily, January 12, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0112/c1004-40643364.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Information/Technology