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Chinese Military Expert: Why the Fujian Aircraft Carrier Leapt Directly to Electromagnetic Catapults

Among the aircraft carriers currently in service worldwide, no conventionally powered vessel has been equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. Why, then, did China’s Fujian bypass steam catapults and move straight to electromagnetic launch technology?

According to military expert Zhang Junshe, the breakthrough lies in the innovative application of a medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) integrated power system combined with advanced energy storage technology.

Adoption of a Medium-Voltage DC System

The Fujian is equipped with a highly efficient medium-voltage DC integrated electric power system. This system can directly power the electromagnetic catapult tracks, eliminating the need for mechanical energy conversion. As a result, the overall structure is simplified and the failure rate is significantly reduced.

Supercapacitors Overcome the Pulsed Power Challenge

Conventional carriers have long been questioned about whether they could meet the instantaneous high energy demands required by electromagnetic catapults. The Fujian addresses this challenge through the innovative use of supercapacitor energy storage technology. With extremely short charging times, the system can independently handle pulsed power loads, preventing strain or disruption to the ship’s main propulsion power system.

Source: CCTV, February 21, 2026
https://military.cctv.com/2026/02/21/ARTIRWfUdYlwFVZuRQPpgtmI260221.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Over Half of Japanese Believe A Tough Stance Should be Taken on China’s Maritime Behavior

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, Japan’s Foreign Ministry just released the results of a domestic opinion poll on diplomacy. Regarding the question of whether respondents believed the security environment in East Asia was becoming increasingly severe, 79.3 percent of respondents agreed.

Regarding the aspects that Japan should prioritize in its diplomacy with China, the most popular answer among respondents, at 52.9 percent, was “taking a tough stance against violations of territorial waters.” The survey results reflect the Japanese public’s vigilance regarding the activities of Chinese coast guard vessels around the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese).

This survey was conducted by telephone from February 10 to 18, targeting 1,000 people aged 18 and over throughout Japan.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, March 8, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260308-8698254

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: China’s Robotics Industry Entering a “Golden Opportunity Period”

An article published by People’s Daily reports that China’s robotics industry is entering what it describes as a “golden opportunity period,” driven by technological progress, expanding applications, and growing market demand. The article highlights the appearance of robots from Unitree Robotics during the China Central Television Spring Festival Gala, where dozens of machines performed synchronized dance and martial arts routines. The performance attracted widespread public attention and was presented as a symbol of the rapid advancement of China’s robotics technology and manufacturing capabilities.

The article also emphasizes the expanding role of robotics in scientific research and industrial innovation. It describes the emergence of so-called “scientist robots,” which combine automated laboratory equipment with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to conduct experiments, analyze data, and accelerate scientific discovery. Companies such as XtalPi are developing robotic laboratory platforms capable of supporting research in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and energy technologies. These systems integrate robotic “hands” that carry out experiments with AI “brains” that design and optimize research processes.

According to analysts cited in the report, China’s robotics sector is developing along two major tracks: consumer-oriented robots that capture public attention and high-end industrial or research robots that generate long-term technological and economic value. Together, these developments are described as elevating China’s position in global technological competition.

Source: People’s Daily, February 18, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0218/c1004-40667251.html

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Former U.S. Air Force Pilot Arrested for Allegedly Training Chinese Military Pilots

Voice of America reports that U.S. authorities have arrested former U.S. Air Force pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. on charges related to providing unauthorized training to Chinese military pilots. According to the United States Department of Justice, Brown was taken into custody in Indiana in February 2026 after returning to the United States from China. Prosecutors allege that he conspired with others to provide combat aviation training to pilots from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force without obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. government.

Brown served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 24 years. During his career, he was involved in sensitive nuclear weapons delivery missions and served as an instructor pilot on multiple aircraft platforms, including the F-4, F-15, F-16, A-10, and F-35 fighter jets.

The Justice Department alleges that Brown began negotiating in 2023 to train Chinese military pilots and later traveled to China in December 2023 to provide such training. U.S. law requires American citizens to obtain a license from the State Department before offering military training or defense services to foreign armed forces under the Arms Export Control Act. Authorities say Brown failed to obtain the necessary authorization. The case highlights growing concerns in Washington that China has sought to recruit former Western military pilots to help enhance its air combat capabilities. Similar investigations in recent years have involved retired military aviators accused of training Chinese pilots through overseas flight schools or private contracts.

Source: VOA, February 27, 2026
https://www.voachinese.com/a/us-arrests-former-air-force-pilot-for-allegedly-training-chinese-military-pilots-20260226/8117849.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military US-China Relations

LTN: China Banned the Export of Gasoline and Diesel

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that, due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the Chinese government has ordered the country’s largest oil refinery to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline.

Officials from China’s National Development and Reform Commission met with oil refinery executives and ordered an immediate halt to refined oil exports. The companies were instructed to stop signing new contracts and negotiate with buyers to cancel shipments. Aviation kerosene and marine fuel oil stored in bonded warehouses, as well as fuel destined for Hong Kong and Macau, were exempt from this restriction.

China has a massive oil refining industry, with most of its production used to meet domestic demand, thus it is not a key source of supply for the Asian market. However, as the Middle East crisis intensifies, Beijing’s preventative restrictive measures reflect the efforts of the entire import-dependent region to prioritize domestic needs. Nearly half of China’s oil imports come from the Gulf region, including almost all of Iran’s oil shipments.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Sinochem Group, and Zhejiang Petrochemical Corporation regularly receive fuel export quotas from the Chinese government. None of these five companies responded to the aforementioned news.

Source: LTN, March 5, 2026
https://ec.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/5360359

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

The Iran war: China Once Again Gives the Impression of “Too Little Action and Too Late Response”

Radio France Internationale (RFI) recently summarized, in Chinese, a commentary by Le Monde, the most widely read paid national daily newspaper in France. The commentary said that China, a supporter of the Iranian regime and the largest buyer of Iranian oil, expressed anger following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. However, China once again gives the impression of “acting too little and reacting too late”.

Despite Western sanctions against Iran, China continues to support the Iranian economy by purchasing oil. China also provides Iran with technical support in population surveillance and internet control. China has provided ongoing diplomatic support to Tehran, pushing for its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. The Chinese military regularly conducts joint military exercises with Iran and Russia as well.

However, when Iran encounters national security problems, they cannot truly rely on China as a “backer.” China does not see itself as obligated to intervene. China is once again giving the impression of “acting too little and reacting too late,” just as it did in June 2025.

In the meantime, Tehran has not fully heeded Beijing’s advice. China has criticized Tehran’s inefficiency in developing its economy and creating a favorable business environment, and has long criticized Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. In a sense, Iran is also a burden on China.

Source: RFI, March 3, 2026
https://tinyurl.com/56pmedzc

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese State Media Highlight U.S. Anti-War Protests; Some Organizers Linked to CCP-Connected Donor Network

A report by Voice of America states that Chinese state media have extensively highlighted anti-war demonstrations in the United States following U.S. strikes against Iran. Major outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, People’s Daily, and the Global Times (Huanqiu Times) reported on protests in multiple American cities and emphasized calls from activists urging Washington to halt military action. Their coverage portrayed the demonstrations as evidence of significant domestic opposition within the United States to the conflict with Iran and framed the protests as reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with U.S. foreign policy and military involvement abroad.

The article notes that some U.S. media outlets and analysts have raised questions about the organizations involved in organizing the protests. Groups such as the ANSWER Coalition, The People’s Forum, and Code Pink were identified as key organizers of the demonstrations. Previous investigative reporting by The New York Times indicated that several of these groups have financial or organizational links to a funding network associated with businessman Neville Roy Singham, who has lived in Shanghai and supported initiatives promoting narratives favorable to China. According to the report, these connections have drawn increasing scrutiny in Washington, where policymakers and analysts are concerned about potential foreign influence networks that may amplify political messaging aligned with the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: VOA, March 5, 2026
https://www.voachinese.com/a/chinese-state-media-promotes-anti-war-demonstrations-in-the-us-us-media-protest-organizers-linked-to-a-donor-with-ties-to-ccp-20260304/8121283.html

Briefings | | |   @CS US-China Relations

China’s Solar Industry Battles Severe Overcapacity Amid Calls for Structural Reform

China’s solar energy sector is grappling with one of the most acute cases of “involution” — the term used to describe destructive, low-return competition — in the country’s economy today. While global annual demand for new solar capacity stands at approximately 700 gigawatts (GW), China’s domestic production capacity has ballooned to around 1,400 GW, roughly double what the world needs each year.

During China’s annual “Two Sessions” legislative meetings, Zhong Baoshen, chairman of leading solar manufacturer LONGi Green Energy and a delegate to the National People’s Congress, called for the establishment of a capacity exit mechanism to help the industry escape its current downward spiral. He warned that after China’s newly installed solar capacity peaks at over 300 GW in 2025, installations could face a cyclical decline in 2026, with the structural imbalance between supply and demand still unresolved.

Zhong proposed using efficiency standards as a benchmark — specifically photovoltaic conversion rates — to guide the retirement of outdated production capacity and align industry-wide output with actual market demand. He also criticized companies that lack genuine innovation, relying instead on poaching talent for quick capacity expansion while using non-competitive resources to undercut prices, ultimately squeezing out firms that invest in real technological advancement.

In a notable policy parallel, Zhong urged regulators to apply a framework similar to the real estate sector’s “three red lines” — a set of financial thresholds introduced to curb excessive borrowing among property developers. He recommended monitoring solar companies’ debt-to-asset ratios, net debt levels, and short-term repayment ability, imposing financing restrictions on non-compliant firms and encouraging industry consolidation.

On the policy front, China’s Ministry of Finance has already announced the elimination of VAT export tax rebates for solar products, effective April 1, a measure industry experts view as a signal against cutthroat, low-price competition in overseas markets.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), March 4, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202603040248.aspx

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources