Skip to content

Monthly Archives: January 2026 - 2. page

Peru’s President Faces Scandal Over Undisclosed Meetings With Chinese Businessman

Peru’s President José Jeri has been embroiled in a new political scandal after it emerged that he held private, undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman during an unofficial trip.

The controversy stems from Jeri’s failure to include meetings with businessman Yang Zhihua on the official presidential agenda, a breach of customary transparency that has fueled concerns over possible corruption. Local media report that Jeri met Yang on December 26 and again on January 6. Yang owns retail businesses in Peru and holds a concession for an energy project; one of his companies was later ordered shut by Lima authorities for selling illegal goods. Jeri publicly apologized for the December meeting, saying it took place at a Chinese restaurant to coordinate events marking Peru–China friendship, and denied receiving any improper requests.

The revelations have triggered a preliminary investigation by prosecutors. Opposition lawmakers have announced plans to pursue impeachment or a censure motion, though analysts say Jeri’s removal is unlikely. Despite his approval rating falling to 44 percent in January, it remains relatively strong, and many legislators—focused on reelection ahead of April elections—are expected to favor political stability over removing the president.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), January 21, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202601210021.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Thousands of Foreign Workers Flee Scam Villages in Cambodia, Seek to Return Home

Thousands of foreign laborers from China, Indonesia, and several African countries have flooded into Phnom Penh after escaping scam villages—fraud compounds located near Cambodia’s borders—in hopes of returning to their home countries. Anti-human-trafficking organizations warn that many of those who fled are victims of forced labor and scam-related exploitation and remain in precarious and unsafe conditions. Growing international pressure has pushed the Cambodian government to intensify its crackdown on criminal networks behind the scam operations, arresting several foreign ringleaders. These actions reportedly triggered a mass exodus, with workers breaching compound security to reach the capital.

In Phnom Penh, hundreds of Chinese nationals—many without passports—are reportedly sleeping outdoors near the Chinese embassy, desperate to return home but unable to do so. Similar scenes have emerged at the Indonesian embassy and in nearby public parks, where Indonesian citizens are seeking assistance; embassy officials processed roughly 1,440 cases within a five-day period. Escapees have described harsh and abusive conditions inside the scam compounds and said they undertook dangerous journeys to reach the city. Cambodian authorities say they are determined to dismantle online scam operations and restore the country’s international image, while new regulations target landlords who shelter foreigners with criminal backgrounds. The government has also appealed for foreign assistance to provide temporary housing for those unable to leave Cambodia.

Source: Epoch Times, January 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/23/n14682626.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Officials Notified Chinese Companies to Start Preparation of H200 Orders

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, Chinese officials have notified China’s largest tech companies, including Alibaba, that they can prepare to order Nvidia’s H200 AI chips. This move suggests that China is close to approving the import of this key component needed for artificial intelligence.

Chinese regulators have recently given, in principle, approval for Alibaba, Tencent Holdings, and ByteDance to proceed to the next stage of procurement preparations. Sources familiar with the matter said the companies can now discuss specific details, such as the required purchase quantities. China will also encourage these companies to purchase a certain number of domestically produced AI chips as a condition for obtaining approval. The Chinese government appears to be prioritizing the needs of major Chinese hyperscale cloud service providers such as Alibaba and Tencent.

This is a major victory for Nvidia. CEO Jensen Huang has stated that the AI chip sector alone could generate US$50 billion in revenue over the next few years.

Representatives for Nvidia declined to comment, while China’s Ministry of Commerce did not respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance also did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 24, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260124-8155995

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology US-China Relations

CNA: U.S. AI Supply Chain Alliance Adds New Member

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) just signed documents to join a U.S.-led alliance named Pax Silica for supply chain cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and key minerals.

Washington launched this economic security initiative last year in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in advanced technology. Pax Silica currently has nine member states: South Korea, the United States, Australia, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. State Department said that India plans to join as a signatory next month.

Pax Silica members will jointly establish multi-layered partnerships to strengthen supply chain security, address coercive dependencies and single points of failure, and promote the adoption of trustworthy technology ecosystems. The member states will collaborate on flagship projects across all levels of global technology stacks, including connectivity and edge infrastructure such as 6G, computing and data centers, advanced manufacturing, logistics, mineral refining and processing, and energy.

Last December, representatives from the U.S., Japan, Israel, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea jointly signed the “Silicon Peace Declaration” and held the first Pax Silica Summit. Taiwan, the European Union, Canada, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also participated as guests.

Source: CNA, January 15, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ait/202601150136.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Different Accounts Surround the Arrest of PLA Senior Leader Zhang Youxia

Following Beijing’s announcement of the detention of Zhang Youxia (张又侠), Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), sharply differing stories about the circumstances of his arrest have circulated online.

Version One: Chinese democracy activist Sheng Xue (盛雪) stated in a social media post—citing sources within China’s political system—that Zhang Youxia and CMC Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli were detained over an alleged “failed coup attempt” targeting Xi Jinping. According to her account, the two were planning to move against Xi on the night of January 18, believing he would be staying at Beijing’s Jingxi Hotel. The plan was reportedly exposed about two hours before it was to be executed. After receiving the warning, Xi quietly left the hotel and swiftly arranged countermeasures. Unaware that the plot had been compromised, Zhang’s side allegedly sent advance personnel to the hotel, where an armed confrontation reportedly broke out between the two sides, resulting in casualties. Sheng claimed that Xi then ordered the immediate detention of Zhang and Liu, along with their family members, and that official announcements were released only after the situation had been fully brought under control.

Version Two: Independent political commentator Cai Shenkun (蔡慎坤), who was one of the first people reported Zhang’s arrest, offered a markedly different interpretation, arguing that the detentions were not an emergency response but the culmination of a large-scale, long-planned purge at the highest levels of the CCP. Citing cross-verified information from multiple sources familiar with internal operations, Cai said the action was carefully orchestrated in advance and jointly led by the Central Guard Bureau, the Ministry of Public Security’s special operations units, and senior officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He described the operation as a centrally coordinated “joint action,” rather than a move by any single agency. A defining feature was “neutralizing the perimeter before targeting the core,” in which Zhang’s security staff, aides, and secretaries were replaced ahead of time to sever his access to his power network and real-time information, leaving him no room to react. Cai added that the timing was well calculated and that the overriding objective was absolute security and success. The rapid spread of information, Cai concluded, suggests the operation was broad in scope, with multiple senior military officers reportedly being investigated simultaneously rather than through isolated, sequential actions.

Sources:
1. Epoch Times, January 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/24/n14683367.htm
2. Yahoo! (Taiwan), January 24, 2026
https://tw.news.yahoo.com/張又俠被抓非臨時決策-蔡慎坤揭內幕-中央警衛局主導-行動早已佈局-042953943.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Government/Politics

China Launches Disciplinary and Legal Investigations Into Senior Military Leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli

Beijing announced on January 24 that Zhang Youxia (张又侠), a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli (刘振立), a CMC member and Chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, are suspected of serious violations of Party discipline and the law. Following deliberations by the CCP Central Committee, authorities have decided to open formal disciplinary and legal investigations into both officials.

People’s Daily republished a PLA Daily commentary detailing the alleged misconduct. The commentary states that, “As senior Party and military leaders, Zhang and Liu gravely betrayed the trust of the Party Central Committee and the CMC. They seriously undermined and violated the CMC chairman responsibility system, exacerbated political and corruption-related problems that weaken the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces, and endangered the party’s governing foundation. Their actions damaged the authority and credibility of the CMC leadership, severely undermined political unity and morale within the armed forces, and inflicted major harm on the military’s political foundations, internal governance, and combat effectiveness. The case has had extremely serious negative consequences for the Party, the state, and the military.”

The “CMC chairman responsibility system” is a fancy term to state that Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the CMC, controls the military. Saying “Zhang and Liu are accused of undermining and violating the CMC chairman responsibility system” would imply that they challenged Xi’s dominance over the military.

Source: People’s Daily, January 24, 2026
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0125/c1001-40652025.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Government/Politics

Czech Authorities Arrest Alleged Chinese Intelligence Operative Linked to Plot Against Taiwan Vice President

In March 2024, during a visit by Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim to the Czech Republic, Czech Military Intelligence (VZ) revealed that Chinese intelligence services closely monitored her movements and even considered orchestrating a “demonstrative” car crash as a form of intimidation.

Following an extended investigation, Czech authorities arrested a key individual accused of long-term cooperation with Chinese intelligence services on January 18, 2026. According to the Czech outlet Deník N, the suspect is Yang Yiming, a Prague-based correspondent for China’s state-run Guangming Daily. Yang had worked in the Czech Republic for many years and had repeatedly received extensions to his work permit from the Czech government.

Investigators allege that Yang exploited his status as a journalist to move freely within Czech and Slovak political circles, collecting intelligence under the guise of media interviews—particularly information related to political interactions involving Taiwan. Reports further claim that he used so-called “technical cooperation” with local media to disseminate pro-China narratives domestically, while covertly serving China’s military intelligence apparatus.

The arrest is being described as a milestone in Czech counterintelligence history. In 2025, the Czech Republic amended its criminal code to designate “unauthorized activities on behalf of a foreign power” as a serious criminal offense. Yang is the first suspect charged under this revised law. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, with potential sentences of up to 15 years if the offense is deemed to have occurred during wartime.

Source: CReaders.net, January 23, 2026
https://news.creaders.net/world/2026/01/23/2963267.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Xinhua: “China Speed” Lights Up the Global AI Development Map

Xinhua News Agency publishes an article, claiming China’s rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have captured widespread attention, showcasing a fast-paced innovation drive across the economy. In China’s draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the term “intelligent” appears 16 times, underscoring AI’s central role in industrial development, cultural advancement, public services, and social governance. AI is increasingly positioned as a key engine of China’s competitiveness on the global technological frontier.

On the technology front, China is racing to secure strategic advantages. Domestic AI and semiconductor companies have moved swiftly into capital markets, with large-model developers such as Zhipu and MiniMax listing in Hong Kong, alongside GPU manufacturers including Moore Threads and Biren Technology. These firms emphasize self-reliant innovation, strong performance, and cost efficiency, seeking to build a complete domestic ecosystem spanning foundation models and high-end chips.

More significantly, China’s AI development is shifting from research toward large-scale application. The country is entering the “second half” of AI growth, focusing on real-world deployment rather than model training alone. The government’s “Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Implementation of the “AI+” Action Plan” further clarifies this roadmap: by 2030, AI is expected to comprehensively empower high-quality development, with adoption rates of next-generation intelligent terminals, AI agents, and related applications exceeding 90 percent.

AI is already transforming healthcare, scientific research, manufacturing, and daily life in China. Examples include Alibaba’s AI-based cancer screening tools; the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Panshi AI-assisted research platform; and the world’s first “island-style” lean intelligent manufacturing factory by Huawei and SAIC-GM-Wuling. By the end of 2025, China had established more than 35,000 basic-level smart factories, over 7,000 advanced-level facilities, and more than 230 excellence-level factories. Humanoid robots have also achieved a critical breakthrough, moving from laboratory research to production lines. AI agents are capable of handling real-world tasks—such as ordering food or booking travel—are bringing AI from conversation into practical action.

Source: Xinhua, January 20, 2026
https://www.news.cn/tech/20260120/f059fd8d33ba4800bfac9b345bae4505/c.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Information/Technology