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Monthly Archives: June 2025 - 3. page

Japanese Consulates in China: Japanese Attendance at Chinese Schools Drops Significantly Following Attacks on Japanese Students

Japanese school enrollment across China has seen a sharp decline this year, with a 10.5 percent drop in registered students compared to 2024, according to data from Japanese consulates in China. The decrease reflects growing safety concerns among Japanese families following a series of attacks on Japanese schoolchildren in cities such as Suzhou and Shenzhen in 2024.

The total number of Japanese students enrolled in schools across China has fallen to 3,226 this year. The most dramatic decline occurred in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, where enrollment plummeted from 61 to 41 students – a drop of over 30 percent.

The attacks in Suzhou and Shenzhen triggered widespread fear within the Japanese community in China, significantly influencing families’ decisions about whether to remain in the country or enroll their children in local Japanese schools.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 4,000 Japanese children attended schools in China. This number fell to 2,888 in 2020 but had gradually recovered to 3,608 by 2024 before this latest downturn.

Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi has actively addressed these safety concerns. He recently met with Fujian Province Party Secretary Zhou Zuyi in Fuzhou to discuss measures to protect Japanese nationals in China.

In a speech at Renmin University in Beijing, Ambassador Kanasugi acknowledged that one of the most challenging aspects of current Japan-China relations is the deep-seated emotional tension between the two peoples. He noted that negative perceptions exist on both sides and that such sentiments cannot be easily changed overnight.

Meanwhile, the broader Japanese population in China has also declined significantly, dropping to fewer than 100,000 people as of October last year – a decrease of more than 50,000 from its 2012 peak, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry statistics.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), June 17, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202506170086.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

DW Chinese: China-EU Trade Friction Escalates on Medical Procurement Front

Deutsche Welle Chinese Edition recently reported that the European Union has announced a ban on Chinese companies from participating in EU government tenders for medical equipment worth more than 5 million euros, citing China’s “discriminatory market policies.” This move marks the latest escalation in trade tensions between the EU and China, following disputes over electric vehicles.

The ban applies to all categories of medical supplies, ranging from surgical masks to X-ray machines. The total EU medical supplies market is valued at approximately 150 billion euros. “We are taking these measures to ensure a level playing field for EU companies,” said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. “We remain open to dialogue with China to resolve these issues.”

The EU has long criticized China for excluding EU-made medical equipment from its public procurement processes. Nearly 90 percent of China’s government tenders for medical equipment reportedly include exclusionary or discriminatory clauses against EU firms.

In response, China accused the EU of protectionism and denounced Brussels’ action as “a typical example of double standards.” The European Commission noted that, despite a year of negotiations, no progress had been made in resolving the issue.

China remains one of the EU’s most significant trading partners. According to Brussels’ data, in 2024 China was the EU’s third-largest export market and its largest source of imports.

Source: DW Chinese, May 20, 2025
https://p.dw.com/p/4wE5G

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu Times: Chinese Experts Predict Iran’s Revenge and Regional Conflicts After U.S.’ Strikes on Iran

After the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites on June 21, Huanqiu Times interviewed several Chinese experts about future developments in the Middle East. Their views uniformly warn that Iran is unlikely to back down; instead, it may escalate retaliatory actions, potentially plunging the region into deeper instability.

  • Zou Zhiqiang, researcher at the Middle East Studies Center, Fudan University, stated that the U.S. airstrikes are unlikely to force Iran into submission. The strikes crossed a critical red line of Iran, likely provoking Iran to intensify its actions and possibly compel sustained U.S. involvement.
  • Ding Long, professor at the Middle East Institute, Shanghai International Studies University, warned that if Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is seriously or completely destroyed, Tehran may retaliate by targeting U.S. interests or attempting to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
  • Li Zixin, assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, predicted a serious escalation in regional security risks in both the short and medium term. Iran could strike U.S. military bases in the Middle East, increasing danger to neighboring Arab states and further destabilizing the region.
  • Zhang Junshe, military expert, noted that Iran had previously warned it would target U.S. military assets if its nuclear facilities were attacked. The U.S. has already moved aircraft and naval forces away from potential Iranian strike zones, indicating that it anticipates retaliatory actions and acknowledges its inability to fully protect its bases.

{Editor’s Note: Chinese political and military experts express opinions aligned with the Communist Party’s propaganda policies. For instance, during the Second Gulf War, Chinese military experts predicted fierce Iraqi resistance. When U.S. forces entered Baghdad with little opposition, a Chinese military analyst famously asked live on TV, “Where did the Iraqi army go?”}

Source: Huanqiu Times, June 22, 2025
https://m.huanqiu.com/article/4NC9HaPOPkW

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing Reversed Its Stance on Fentanyl – Wang Xiaohong Expressed Willingness to Cooperate with the U.S.

Since taking office, Trump identified China’s supply of materials used to produce fentanyl as a key issue and imposed a 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods. China consistently denied involvement and refused to address the problem, claiming it was solely a U.S. issue. Fentanyl has been responsible for over 70,000 American deaths annually.

However, China has recently shifted its stance significantly.

On June 19, China’s State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, met with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing and expressed China’s willingness to cooperate with the United States on anti-drug efforts.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Wang stated during the meeting that Beijing is prepared to work with Washington to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. Based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, both sides will carry out practical cooperation in law enforcement areas such as drug control and the repatriation of illegal immigrants, striving to achieve outcomes that benefit the peoples of both countries.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, June 20, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20250620-6903140

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Consul General’s Anti-Israel Post Sparks Outrage from Israeli Ambassador in Japan

Sankei Shimbun reported that on June 14, Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, posted on the social media platform X, juxtaposing the Nazi German flag and the Israeli flag with the caption:
“The Nazis (1933–1945) massacred Jews; Israel (1948– ) is a Jewish massacre (of others).”

Xue further stated: “For Nazi Germany, the U.S. was an enemy; for Israel, the U.S. is an ATM.” He also criticized Israel for “regarding themselves as a particularly sacred people,” “devoting much of their national power to the military,” “disregarding international law,” and “continuously expanding settlements on occupied land.”

On June 19, Gilad Cohen, Israel’s Ambassador to Japan, reposted Xue’s comments and issued a strong condemnation:
“The Chinese Consul General in Osaka has crossed every line. His incitement, using Nazi symbols to attack Israel, is not only disgraceful but also blatantly antisemitic, dangerous, and a severe insult to the memory of the Holocaust.”

Cohen added:
“Israel is currently defending itself against a genocidal Iranian regime that openly calls for Israel’s annihilation with nuclear weapons and possesses a vast arsenal of ballistic missiles. I urge Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate and decisive action. Antisemitism and incitement to hatred must not be tolerated in Japan.”

Source: Radio France International, June 20, 2025
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/国际/20250620-中国驻大阪总领事批以色列如纳粹德国-以大使-是对大屠杀记忆的严重侮辱

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

China Debuts Jiutian Stealth UAV with 6-Ton Payload and Swarm Strike Capabilities

China’s “Jiutian” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has completed its maiden flight. An article on China.com described its “superior capabilities”:

“This UAV goes beyond the traditional roles of reconnaissance or attack, emerging as a large-scale multi-role unmanned combat platform.

“With a wingspan of up to 25 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, and a payload capacity of 6 tons, the Jiutian drone boasts a range of 7,000 kilometers and endurance of over 12 hours. It features 8 heavy-duty weapon hardpoints under its wings and an internally integrated heterogeneous hive mission bay, capable of carrying hundreds of swarm drones or loitering munitions, enabling multi-target strikes and coordinated combat operations.

“The drone uses advanced stealth materials and a unique aerodynamic design to reduce its radar cross-section, making it difficult to detect.

“With a maximum flight altitude of 15,000 meters, it operates above the range of most air defense systems, significantly enhancing its survivability.

“The Jiutian UAV’s payload capacity is up to 6 tons, comparable to China’s mainstay fighter jet J-10C, and even greater than the combined payload of the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones. It can be equipped with a wide variety of munitions, including 1,000 kg guided bombs, air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, and loitering munitions, achieving comprehensive strike capabilities against air, ground, and maritime targets.

“The Jiutian UAV is highly versatile, capable of reconnaissance, surveillance, precision strikes, fire support, information operations, and electronic warfare. With its modular payload system, it can switch mission types within two hours.”

Source: China.com, May 28, 2025
https://military.china.com/news/13004177/20250528/48392625.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Africa’s Port Boom Meets China’s Global Expansion Ambition

An article on Zhihu.com discussed China‘s aggressively building ports in Africa:

According to statistics, by 2025, Africa will have a total of 231 operational commercial ports. Among them, Chinese companies are involved in around 78 ports across 32 African countries, playing roles as builders, financiers, or operators.

  • China is involvement in 35 port development projects in West Africa, where China began its overseas port investments. In addition, there are 17 projects in East Africa, 15 in Southern Africa, and 11 in North Africa.
  • Chinese firms also provide financing for certain port development projects and the money usually goes to Chinese companies who are the contractor.
  • China’s involvement in African port is gradually shifting toward a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Currently, Chinese companies hold operating concessions at 10 African ports.

While these projects benefit local communities, they also bring substantial economic returns to China. According to estimates by Price Waterhouse Coopers, for every $1 China invests in African ports, it can generate up to $13 in trade revenue.

China’s port building efforts in Africa also yield other benefits:

  • They help secure resource trade. Africa remains an important source of natural resources for China. It has long been a core region for China’s “Going Global” strategy, but poor port infrastructure has been a major bottleneck for expanding China-Africa trade.
  • China has an urgent need to export its excess capacity abroad as China’s domestic infrastructure development has reached saturation,

Overall, infrastructure building is a symbol of hard power, showcasing China’s financial strength, advanced technology and equipment, and professional talent to the world. At the same time, Chinese companies working in Africa also demonstrate China’s soft power, shaping international perceptions and enhancing its image among African nations and the global community.

Source: Zhihu.com
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/1916100738100213585

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Student: “Laos Is No Longer a Normal Country – It’s More Like the CCP’s Backyard”

Liu Ao enrolled in Laos National University in 2022, majoring in International Development Studies. He recently gave an interview with the Epoch Times. Liu’s university regularly organized field trips to study foreign aid projects. The aggressive infiltration of Chinese state-owned enterprises and Confucius Institutes, as well as their connection to telecom “fraud zones,” left a strong impression on Liu.

The Confucius Institute is one of the university’s most competitive departments, requiring high academic scores for admission. Nearly all its instructors are from China. Most of the Laotian students who became proficient in Chinese ended up in the so-called “Golden Triangle” area, engaging in telecom fraud practice against Chinese people. Liu adds bluntly, “There’s no way the Confucius Institute teachers don’t know where their students end up.”

The Golden Triangle region has become one of Asia’s most notorious hubs for transnational crime, involving human trafficking, online fraud, money laundering, drug smuggling, and wildlife trafficking.

Local wages in Laos are extremely low. This has been a driving force behind the Golden Triangle absorbing so many Laotian Chinese-language graduates. Those working as translators or clerks for Chinese companies may earn less than 1,000 Yuan (US$139) per month, while telecom scam operations can pay over 10,000 Yuan monthly. Liu remarks, “It’s deeply ironic – they learn Chinese, only to use it to scam Chinese people.”

Liu also observed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has burdened Laos with massive debt through infrastructure loans, gaining further control over the country’s natural resources. Laos is unable to resist China. In Vientiane, the capital, nearly all major construction projects – shopping malls, high-rises, railways, and development zones – are contracted to Chinese state-owned enterprises.

In the Chinese community in Vientiane, Laos’ capital city, some Chinese have “Guobao” status, referring to special privileges conferred on Chinese nationals allegedly connected to the CCP’s public security apparatus. These privileges can include the ability to carry, buy, or sell firearms.

Source: Epoch Times, June 10, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/10/n14528733.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend