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China-Africa Youth Military Leader Forum Opens in Nanjing

The Youth Leadership Conference of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum was hosted in Nanjing from July 15 to 19. Representatives of the Chinese military joined nearly 90 mid- to senior-level military officers from over 40 African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

With the theme “Looking to the Future, Building Peace Together,” the forum featured three main topics: “Capacity Building for African Peace and Security,” “Empowering Defense and Security Cooperation Through Emerging Technologies,” and “Comprehensive Approaches to Non-Traditional Security Threats.” The event combined keynote speeches, thematic presentations, and group discussions, aiming to create a platform for equal dialogue among young Chinese and African military officers and to further build consensus, strengthen solidarity, and expand cooperation in the fields of peace and security.

Source: Huanqiu Times, July 15, 2025
https://mil.huanqiu.com/article/4NW0TmjysIG

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing: Fentanyl Crisis Is America’s Problem, Not China’s

News media reported on July 16 that U.S. President Trump stated he believes China will soon impose the death penalty on individuals involved in the production and distribution of the drug fentanyl. He expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Beijing on the issue of illegal drugs.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the matter at a regular press briefing on July 17, stating that China has repeatedly made it clear that fentanyl is an issue for the United States, not China, and that the responsibility lies with the U.S. itself. Lin criticized the U.S. for ignoring China’s goodwill and unilaterally imposing tariffs on fentanyl-related products from China, calling it a move that severely undermines bilateral dialogue and cooperation on drug control and seriously harms China’s interests.

“If the United States truly wants to cooperate with China,” Lin said, “it should face the facts and engage in dialogue with China on the basis of equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity.”

Source: Huanqiu Times, July 17, 2025
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/4NWzoplHsxp

Briefings | | |   @CS US-China Relations

Russia Calls China “Priority Partner,” Vows Joint Push for “Multipolar World Order”

Xinhua News Agency reported on July 17 that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia regards China as a “priority partner.”

Responding to a question from Xinhua News Agency during a regular press briefing, Zakharova said that Russia and China view each other as priority partners on the international stage. The two countries share identical or closely aligned positions on fundamental issues concerning the current international order and major global topics. One of the main goals of Russia–China cooperation is to promote reform of the international system and to enhance the role of the global majority in shaping the international agenda.

Zakharova added that, in response to attempts by certain countries to maintain unilateral dominance, Russia and China are jointly committed – within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the G20, APEC, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – to working alongside Global South countries to build a fairer and more multipolar world order.

Source: Xinhua, July 18, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250718/994c2d0e97724c06a648029e08ac26a3/c.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Scholar: EU Increasingly Views China as Rival Rather than Partner Amid Geopolitical Tensions

On July 4, Xin Hua, Director of the European Union (EU) Research Center at Shanghai International Studies University, stated at the forum “The New Dynamics of U.S.-EU Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era” that the EU is increasingly viewing China as a competitor and, to some extent, as part of an opposing camp.

Xin noted that since Trump’s return to office earlier this year, U.S.-EU conflicts have intensified, and the previously established mechanisms for mutual coordination and communication have largely disappeared. He said EU decision-makers and political elites are experiencing “triple anxieties” in the economic and technological spheres: anxiety over lagging competitiveness in research and tech companies, anxiety over resilience amid global instability, and anxiety over access to critical minerals and data.

How does this affect China-EU relations? Xin explained that in its 2019 strategic outlook, the EU labeled China as a “partner, competitor, and systemic rival.” But due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and U.S.-China tensions, the EU’s view of China has fundamentally shifted – competition now dominates the China-EU relationship. “The EU now sees China as part of a confrontational bloc to some extent,” he said.

Although Trump’s policies have made Europeans feel “pain and humiliation,” Europe has not moved closer to China or attempted to align with China to counterbalance the U.S. On the contrary, the EU hopes to leverage U.S.-China conflict to pressure China into making policy concessions beneficial to Europe.

In this context, Europe perceives China as a challenge or even a threat, showing little will to improve bilateral ties. Instead, it is advancing supply chain restructuring to reduce strategic dependence on China, and tightening scrutiny on Chinese investments to prevent China’s acquisition of Europe’s strategic assets. In trade and investment involving general industries, China-EU cooperation is also expected to face increasing obstacles.

Unlike the U.S., whose concerns about China are rooted in strategic security and military defense, Europe lacks such considerations. Thus, even if Europe clashes with China, it is unlikely to lead to prolonged or intense confrontation. Source: Lianhe Zaobao, July 6, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20250706-7084196

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

RFI: Beijing Invites American Influencers on Free Trip to Paint Rosy Picture of China

China is inviting influential American social media influencers to join a ten-day, all-expenses-paid trip this July as part of the “China–Global Young Influencers Exchange Program.” The initiative targets young influencers with at least 300,000 followers to promote people-to-people exchanges and showcase the “real China” through collaborations with Chinese content creators.

The program follows Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s 2023 pledge to invite 50,000 American youths to China over five years, amid ongoing U.S.-China tensions. A College Daily post recruiting participants states that they should have an active social media presence on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X, along with a love for Chinese culture and a “clean record.” Successful applicants will receive official invitations and special visa support.

The trip will cover Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan, and Beijing, including visits to Chinese tech hubs, companies like Xiaohongshu and BYD, cultural activities like tai chi, and live-streamed tours of the Great Wall. Content created during the trip will be promoted by Chinese state media.

Source: Radio France International, June 10, 2025
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/中国/20250610-中国邀请美国网红7月十天免费来访-以展示-真实的中国

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics US-China Relations

Czech Intelligence: China Was Responsible for Near Miss Car Accident Involving Taiwan’s Vice President in Prague

Czech public radio iROZHLAS reported on June 25 that Czech intelligence concluded the near-collision involving Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s motorcade during her 2024 visit to Prague was a deliberate operation orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) embassy, not an accident.

In March 2024, Hsiao visited Prague as Taiwan’s Vice President-elect, sparking Beijing’s displeasure. A Chinese embassy military attaché reportedly tailed her convoy, ran a red light, and nearly caused a crash. Czech Military Intelligence Director Petr Bartovský confirmed Beijing’s intent was to intimidate Hsiao and that China had indeed prepared for such provocative action; they didn’t execute it since Czech security forces were nearby.

The operation was planned by the Chinese embassy’s military section – three of its diplomats started planning before Hsiao’s arrival.

On June 27, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denied any wrongdoing during a press conference. He called Hsiao a “Taiwan independence” separatist and said “China urges the relevant parties not to be manipulated by ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, not to stir up trouble or maliciously hype this incident to damage bilateral relations.”

Sources:
1. Epoch Times, June 27, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/26/n14539561.htm
2. China’s Embassy at the U.S. website, June 27, 2025
http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/lcbt/wjbfyrbt/202506/t20250627_11660512.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

CCP’s Influence Allegedly Behind LA Protests and LA Mayor’s Donor Network

On June 6, 2025, protests against Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raids on undocumented immigrants erupted in Los Angeles, escalating into riots and spreading to multiple cities. On June 14, the “No Kings Day” protest movement broke out. Reports suggest the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence and United Front operations may have been involved behind the scenes.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that the organization United Chinese Americans (UCA) and its partner, the Asian American Progressive Alliance (AAPA), helped promote the nationwide protests. Several UCA leaders were found to have ties to CCP agencies, including the United Front Work Department and the Ministry of State Security. Elaine Peng, AAPA president and UCA training director, is linked to CCP intelligence networks.

A June 13 U.S. House Committee letter revealed that Neville Singham, an American billionaire now living in Shanghai, has long funded the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), which is allegedly connected to the LA protests. Lawmakers noted Singham’s close ties to the CCP and a secretive funding network with unclear financial flows.

The Daily Caller News Foundation also reported that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received campaign support from Derek Ma, a Chinese-American donor. Derek Ma has long been involved in CCP United Front activities, having served as an overseas committee member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) and a council member of the China Overseas Friendship Association (COFA). He was photographed with Xi Jinping in 2015 and delivered a speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2018. Records show that Derek Ma held fundraising events for Bass, raising over $40,000 for her campaign.

Derek’s son, Adam Ma, later joined the mayor’s office in 2022 as an Asian and LGBTQIA+ community liaison. Adam Ma reportedly continued to participate in events involving the CCP’s Los Angeles consulate while representing Mayor Bass.

Source: Epoch Times, June 22, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/18/n14534246.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics US-China Relations