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PLA Air Force Employs “Smart Dispatch” System in Aerial Refueling Operations

According to a report by People’s Daily, during a recent People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force exercise involving Y-20 tanker aircraft for aerial refueling operations, several fighter jets—located at similar distances—chose to refuel from the same tanker. This resulted in a queue forming near that aircraft, while other tankers in adjacent airspace remained largely underutilized.

To address this imbalance, a “smart dispatch” system was introduced to assist with operational coordination. The system processes real-time data, including aircraft fuel status, mission requirements, and airspace conditions, to generate optimized refueling plans and allocate tanker resources more efficiently.

The report states that the system enables faster decision-making and improves coordination during refueling operations, allowing multiple aircraft to carry out their missions more effectively.

Source: People’s Daily, March 16, 2026
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0316/c1011-40682662.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Turkmenistan Reaffirms Energy Partnership with China’s CNPC

Turkmenistan’s People’s Council Chairman Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Chairman Dai Houliang in Beijing, reaffirming his country’s commitment to deepening cooperation in the natural gas sector. The meeting took place during Berdimuhamedov’s friendly visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

During the talks, both sides emphasized that Turkmenistan-China cooperation in the oil and gas sector stands as a model of effective bilateral partnership. A key highlight of this relationship is the joint pipeline project delivering Turkmen natural gas to China. The two parties also underscored the significance of agreements reached regarding the next stage of development of the Galkynysh gas field, one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits.

Turkmenistan is a critical supplier of pipeline natural gas to China, delivering approximately 40 billion cubic meters annually through three pipeline routes — Lines A, B, and C — running through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

In terms of energy reserves, Turkmenistan holds the world’s fourth-largest proven natural gas reserves, trailing only Russia, Iran, and Qatar. The country’s total hydrocarbon resources exceed 71 billion tons of oil equivalent, including over 20 billion tons of oil reserves and more than 50 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.

In 2025, Turkmenistan’s total natural gas extraction exceeded 76.5 billion cubic meters, while oil production surpassed 8.3 million tons, reflecting the country’s robust and growing energy output.

The meeting signals both nations’ intent to further strengthen an already substantial energy relationship, with Turkmenistan positioning itself as a long-term and reliable supplier to meet China’s considerable and growing energy demands.

Source: Sputnik News, March 19, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260319/1070330307.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

CNA: China’s Share of the Global Economy has Shrunk Significantly

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, China’s export trade is robust, and many of its industries lead the world. However, due to the double blow of domestic deflation and a weakening yuan, China’s share of the global economy has shrunk significantly.

In dollar terms, China’s GDP accounted for a peak of approximately 18.5 percent of the global economy in 2021, at which time its economy was about three-quarters the size of the United States. Many economists predicted that China’s explosive growth would eventually make its economy surpass that of the United States. Contrary to expectations, China’s share of the global economy has now declined, falling to approximately 16.5 percent by the end of 2025. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China’s current economy is less than two-thirds the size of the United States.

However, the combined effects of domestic deflation and a weakening yuan have reduced the relative size of the Chinese economy, denominated in US dollars. Deflation has lowered the value of goods and services in the economy. As a result, even though China produces a record number of goods, the dollar value of its output has stagnated.

For multinational corporations, the shrinking share of China in the global economy is worrying, as the returns they receive from their investments in China have shrunk when converted into US dollars.

Source: CNA, March 20, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202603200296.aspx

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Europe’s Auto Giants Lose Ground as China Closes the Gap

For decades, European automakers dominated the global car market — but that dominance is now eroding fast. According to an analysis by Ernst & Young (EY), reported by Germany’s Der Spiegel, the European Union imported more cars and auto parts from China last year than it exported there for the first time ever. EU exports to China fell 34% to €16 billion (roughly $17.4 billion), having been cut in half since 2022, while imports from China rose 8% to €22 billion (roughly $23.9 billion). A trade surplus once worth tens of billions of euros has flipped into a deficit in just a few years.

German automakers are feeling the pressure too. Exports to China have dropped from a record €30 billion ($32.6 billion) in 2022 to €13.6 billion ($14.8 billion), while imports from China have grown by two-thirds to €7.4 billion ($8 billion). EY warns that if current trends continue, exports and imports could reach parity by 2026. Chinese brands have yet to make major inroads in Germany itself — Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have held their ground — but they have advanced significantly elsewhere in Europe, and further competitive pressure is expected.

The troubles extend beyond trade balances. Germany’s auto industry saw revenues fall 1.6% in 2025 to nearly €528 billion ($574 billion), with profits declining sharply in some cases. Employment dropped 6.2%, or nearly 50,000 jobs, to around 725,000 — the lowest level in 14 years. Major layoff plans are underway at Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and suppliers including Bosch and Mahle. Suppliers have fared even worse, with revenues down 4% and employment falling more than 10%. Since 2019, nearly one in four supplier jobs has disappeared — some 73,000 positions in total.

EY attributes the crisis to a combination of rising Chinese competition, weak export markets, sluggish economic growth, geopolitical instability, and underwhelming electric vehicle demand, compounded by Germany’s high operating costs and bureaucratic hurdles.

Source: Radio France International, March 21, 2026
https://rfi.my/CY3R

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Highlights Combat Capabilities of Type 055 Destroyers

China’s Ministry of National Defense reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s Type 055 guided-missile destroyers have developed large-scale, system-level combat capabilities. The Type 055, often referred to as a “10,000-ton-class destroyer,” is considered a milestone in the modernization of China’s naval forces, with a full-load displacement exceeding 12,000 tons.

According to the report, the warship is equipped with an advanced universal vertical launch system (VLS) capable of deploying multiple types of missiles, providing robust capabilities in air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land-attack operations. The platform is designed to serve as a core component of carrier strike groups and to support integrated naval operations, reflecting China’s growing emphasis on modern, network-centric warfare.

The article highlights that Type 055 destroyers have entered scaled deployment and operational integration, signaling a transition toward more mature and coordinated naval combat power. Notably, two new “10,000-ton-class” destroyers, hull numbers 109 and 110, have recently begun combat-oriented training, further underscoring the PLA Navy’s expanding operational capabilities.

Source: China’s Ministry of Defense Website, March 21, 2026
http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/qwfb/16450238.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Chinese “Wolf Warrior” Diplomat Geng Shuang Reassigned from Key Post

An article by Creaders reports that Chinese diplomat Geng Shuang, formerly China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, recently made his first public appearance after being reassigned as Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association. During the event, he met with the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, marking his first official engagement in his new role.

The report notes that Geng’s transfer from a frontline diplomatic position at the United Nations to a role in a semi-official organization has drawn attention. Although the move is considered a lateral shift in rank, it places him outside direct involvement in China’s core diplomatic activities. Geng previously served as a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was associated with the country’s “wolf warrior” style of diplomacy, known for its assertive and often combative responses to international criticism.

Observers cited in the article suggest the reassignment may be intended to create a softer diplomatic environment ahead of a potential visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China, indicating a possible shift away from a more confrontational approach following recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and the ongoing war with Iran.

Source: Creaders, March 16, 2026
https://news.creaders.net/china/2026/03/16/2982402.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

OpenAI Report Raises Concerns Over Alleged Chinese Overseas Intimidation Campaign

The Epoch Times reports that a recent OpenAI report uncovered an alleged large-scale overseas influence and intimidation campaign linked to Chinese authorities. According to the report, details of the operation were inadvertently exposed when a Chinese law enforcement officer used ChatGPT as a logbook, recording information about these activities.

OpenAI stated in its February report that it identified the covert operation through these records. One case reportedly involved impersonating U.S. immigration officials to intimidate Chinese dissidents living abroad. In another instance, Chinese operatives used fabricated documents purporting to be from a U.S. county court in an attempt to persuade a social media company to shut down a dissident’s account—although the effort was unsuccessful, it illustrated a potential tactic. The report also noted the use of AI tools to generate large volumes of deceptive or fabricated content, including false death reports and defamatory messages targeting Chinese dissidents.

The findings raise concerns that such activities could extend beyond traditional propaganda into more direct forms of intimidation and transnational repression. Analysts cited in the report warn that the use of artificial intelligence in this context highlights broader risks regarding the misuse of AI in global political and security environments.

Source: Epoch Times, February 26, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/2/25/n14706053.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics

UDN: Apple Sales Bucked the Chinese Market Trend, Surging 23 Percent

United Daily News (UDN), one of the primary Taiwanese news groups, according to data released by market research firm Counterpoint, Apple’s smartphone sales in China surged 23 percent in the first nine weeks of this year, bucking the trend of an overall market downturn and price increases by some Android phone brands due to rising memory chip costs.

From January to early March this year, China’s overall smartphone market shrank by four percent compared to the same period last year. Even with government subsidies introduced at the beginning of the year, it was unable to effectively boost weak consumer demand.

The Counterpoint report indicates that Apple’s strong control over its supply chain allows it to withstand the pressure of soaring memory chip costs more effectively than its competitors. Counterpoint anticipates that Apple will maintain its current pricing while competitors raise prices. The report stated “Apple is unlikely to follow suit with price adjustments; instead, it will absorb some of the profit pressure itself, thereby expanding its market share.” The Chinese smartphone market is expected to continue facing pressure between March and May.

Source: UDN, March 19, 2026
https://money.udn.com/money/story/5599/9390143

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Information/Technology