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China Plans to Convert Auxiliary Police into Civil Servants to Strengthen Control of “Social Stability”

The Chinese public security system is planning to convert a portion of its auxiliary police officers (contractors who perform/assist police duties) into officially registered civil servants over the next two years. Several experts view this as a significant signal that the authorities are seeking to strengthen their state control system in response to potentially increasing social risks. However, they caution that it may ultimately lead to bureaucratic bloating and more government spending.

The Ministry of Public Security led the conversion effort and will implement it in phases, with the goal of completing the reclassification and partial conversion nationwide by 2027.

Data from the Ministry of Public Security showed that by the end of 2024, there were over 1.2 million auxiliary police officers in China, accounting for 46 percent of frontline police personnel. However, due to poor compensation, lax management, and low loyalty, they are increasingly unable to meet the Chinese Communist Party’s political priority of stability.

Public reports indicate that Shanghai completed the first pilot program to convert 5,000 auxiliary officers in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Earlier this year, China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security officially included “auxiliary police” in the national occupational classification catalog, categorizing them as “security and fire protection support personnel.” The Ministry of Public Security classified the auxiliary officers into four categories: administrative support, law enforcement support, technical police work, and special positions. The ministry also introduced job-based salary structures and performance evaluations to improve standardization and management.

Source: Epoch Times, June 3, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/3/n14523333.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics Social Stability

Temu and Shein See Sharp Decline in U.S. Sales Amid Tariff Hikes and De Minimis Crackdown

Following Trump’s imposition of higher tariffs on Chinese goods and a crackdown on the “de minimis” loophole, Chinese e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein have seen a sharp decline in popularity in the U.S. market.

The “de minimis” exemption previously allowed tax-free treatment for e-commerce parcels valued under $800. Chinese platforms like Temu and Shein took advantage of it and became the biggest shippers. Now, those goods are subject to a 54 percent tariff and the per-item postal duty was increased to $100 in April and May and $200 starting in June.

Several measures in the U.S. have shown Temu and Shein’s sales declines:

  • Daily Active Users (DAUs): Temu dropped by 52 percent in May compared to March; Shein declined by 25 percent.
  • Monthly Active Users (MAUs): Temu dropped by 30 percent and Shein 12 percent.
  • Rankings in the Apple App Store: Temu fell to the 132nd place from its top-three standing a year prior; Shein slipped to 60th, down from the top ten.
  • Advertising spending in the U.S.: In May, Temu cut its ad budget by 95 percent year-over-year; Shein by 70 percent. In April, Temu reduced their ad budget by 40 percent and Shein 65 percent.

According to CNBC, Temu and Shein have begun adjusting their supply chain strategies, moving away from the “China direct shipping” model – where suppliers ship directly to consumers – to setting up local warehousing and distribution systems in the U.S. However, this shift introduces additional costs and management challenges.

Amidst the high U.S. tariffs, many Chinese platforms are now accelerating to shift to other markets, particularly in Europe. According to HSBC, 90 percent of Temu’s 405 million global monthly active users in Q2 2025 were from outside the U.S., especially from low-income regions such as Latin America.

Source: Epoch Times, June 5, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/5/n14525505.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Economy/Resources US-China Relations

CCP Advisor on China’s Reunification of Taiwan: Taiwan May Not Have Its Next Election

Zhang Weiwei, Director of the China Institute at Fudan University and an advisor to senior Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, delivered a speech at Wuhan University on May 16. In response to a student’s question about cross-strait conflict, he reiterated that “the timing for resolving the Taiwan issue is becoming increasingly ripe.” Zhang stated that, based on the current situation, “everything is already in place,” and from another perspective, there might not even be a next election in Taiwan. (Note: Taiwan’s next election will be in year 2028).

Zhang asserted that the President of Taiwan “is not even as powerful as a district Party secretary in Shanghai.” Despite the rise of anti-CCP sentiment in Taiwan under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, he believes that mainland China can still influence the younger generation in Taiwan through popular platforms like Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book).

“They are increasingly influenced by the mainland,” Zhang said. Given this, he believes that once China achieves its goal of reunification, governing Taiwan – whether through “One Country, Two Systems” or via the model of an autonomous region/administrative region – will be much easier than governing Hong Kong. He bluntly claimed that “Taiwan independence ideology has no roots,” and added that if the people of Taiwan refuse to accept “One Country, Two Systems,” then it would simply become “One Country, One System.”

Source: China News, May 26, 2025
https://news.creaders.net/china/2025/05/26/2872986.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Another Scholarly Article Criticizing the CCP and Xi Jinping

After two professors from the South China University of Technology allegedly called to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) rule, there is now another article circulating on the internet which was allegedly written by a Chinese scholar and calls for political reform and the end of the the CCP.

On May 13, the overseas Chinese-language media outlet Yibao published an article titled “Deadlock Without a Solution, a System Beyond Salvation,” authored under the name of Zhang Yingjie, an Associate Professor at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management,

The article stated,

  • People laughed when the National Bureau of Statisticsannounced China’s 2024 GDP growth as “5 percent” (because they knew it was a fake number).
  • “There’s a scholar in the U.S. named Miles Yu (Yu Maochun), and his most famous saying is that the Chinese Communist regime should be distinguished from the Chinese people – a viewpoint that really makes sense.”
  • The CCP is best at “drawing big pies” (making empty promises). They also keep “flipping the pancakes” (referring to their endless policy reversals). This left the regime with zero credibility and no confidence from the public.
  • China has gone from consistent 10 percent annual GDP growth to now struggling to maintain even 5 percent. The root cause lies in a contradiction between the economic base and the political superstructure. The previous leadership saw this problem clearly. As former Premier Wen Jiabao put it, “Without the success of political reform, economic reform cannot be carried through to the end.”
  • The author’s solution to fix China’s problem is in line with what the vast majority of Chinese people hope for: Political System Reform!

Yibao’s editorial team later released a statement saying that they couldn’t verify the authenticity of the author, but felt the article was a strong piece. Thus, they decided to publish the article while removing the final sentence – “Xi Jinping and his Communist Party should step down as soon as possible!” – to protect the author’s safety. Then on May 14, they received an email signed by Zhang Yingjie, claiming that the article had falsely used her name and asked to remove it. After verifying that the message came from Professor Zhang’s own email address, Yibao retracted the article.

Sources:
1. Liberty Times, May 15, 2025
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/5042984
2. Yibao
https://yibaochina.com/?p=255794

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics

China Rejects U.S. Accusations of Violating Geneva Trade Consensus, Says Responsibility Lies with Washington

On June 3, during a regular press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked about recent U.S. claims that China had violated the consensus reached during the China-U.S. Geneva economic and trade talks and had taken a series of negative actions.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded by stating that the Geneva consensus was established on the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation. He emphasized that China has earnestly and responsibly implemented the agreement. In contrast, the U.S. has, without any factual basis, smeared and accused China, imposed export controls on semiconductors, suspended sales of chip design software to China, and announced visa cancellations for Chinese students – measures he described as extreme and suppressive. These actions, Lin said, have seriously undermined the Geneva consensus and infringed upon China’s legitimate rights and interests. China strongly opposes these measures and has lodged solemn representations with the U.S.

“I want to stress again: pressure and coercion are not the right ways to engage with China. We urge the U.S. to respect the facts, stop spreading false information, correct its wrongdoings, and take concrete steps to uphold the consensus reached by both sides,” Lin said.

In an editorial on the matter, the Global Times stated that despite substantive outcomes from the Geneva trade talks, the U.S. has continued to engage in petty maneuvers, gradually imposing a range of discriminatory restrictions on China. It asked, “Do these actions reflect the spirit of ‘mutual openness, ongoing communication, cooperation, and mutual respect’? Isn’t the so-called ‘slow progress’ entirely caused by the U.S. itself?”

The editorial stated that whether tensions between China and the U.S. continue to escalate depends on whether Washington is willing to work with Beijing and promptly correct its mistaken course. China, it said, has shown sincerity in implementing the consensus and remains resolute in safeguarding its legitimate interests. The U.S. should recognize that pressure and threats are not effective ways to engage with China. It has already “hit a wall” with its past tariff-based blackmail – and if it persists in damaging China’s interests, it will only hit that wall again. China, the editorial emphasized, possesses ample capability and confidence to manage all forms of uncertainty.

Sources:
1. Xinhua, June 3, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250603/e9598d84c4ba474693f4c69b5d89b019/c.html
2. Huanqiu Times, June 2, 2025
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4Mvx0vuC4XE

Briefings | | |   @CS US-China Relations

Turkey Arrests Seven Chinese Nationals in Espionage Case Targeting Uyghur Exiles

In early May, Turkey’s intelligence agency announced the on-the-spot arrest of seven Chinese nationals suspected of engaging in espionage activities.

According to the agency, some members of the group entered Turkey in March. The ringleader, identified by the initials Z.L., arrived in Turkey five years ago and began reconnaissance and preparations, including setting up shell companies in logistics and import-export sectors, and learning the Turkish language.

The suspects were found in possession of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers in their vehicle. These devices mimic the signal of legitimate cell towers. When a target phone comes within 50 meters of the active “ghost base station,” it will mistakenly connects to it, thinking it is a normal tower. The catcher then collects data from the phone, including call logs, conversations, location coordinates, and other information. The intercepted data were transmitted directly to a contact inside China, whom the suspects referred to as “the boss.”

Turkey is home to a large population of Uyghurs who have fled China. This espionage group’s main targets were Chinese Uyghurs living in exile in Turkey. They also reportedly targeted Turkish government officials, attempting to identify those with ties to Uyghur individuals or groups, and gathering other sensitive information.

Source: Epoch Times, May 22, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/5/22/n14515781.htm

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

Harvard Graduation Speech by Chinese Student Sparks Debate Over CCP Rhetoric and Elite Influence

On May 30, at Harvard University’s commencement ceremony, Chinese graduate student Yurong “Luanna” Jiang (蒋雨融) delivered a speech that sparked controversy for allegedly echoing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda. The title of her speech was “Our Humanity”, and it included language reminiscent of the CCP’s “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” (人类命运共同体) doctrine. She stated:

  • “Humanity rises and falls as one”
  • “If we still believe in a shared future, let us not forget…”
  • “Our shared humanity…”

Many Chinese netizens viewed her speech and discussed it, since Jiang was the first Chinese student to deliver a commencement address on behalf of Harvard graduates. Her message calling for the inclusion of more international students was seen by some as a veiled response to ongoing tensions between the Trump-era immigration policies and Harvard’s advocacy for international student rights.

Online sleuths also uncovered her background. According to publicly available information from mainland China, Luanna Jiang’s father, Jiang Zhiming, is the Executive Director of the Green Future Technology Development Fund, part of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF). The organization is described on its official Weibo account as a national public welfare foundation approved by the State Council, overseen by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, with a mission focused on biodiversity conservation and green development.

Netizens even found that CBCGDF published a report authored by Luanna Jiang’s father, stating that due to the recommendation of Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of the CBCGDF, Harvard University accepted Jiang as a student. Luanna later posted that though she obtained the recommendation letter from Zhou, she didn’t use it – she submitted three other recommendations instead. Then the interesting questions are why did her father author such an article? Also, can a normal person obtain such a recommendation without a well-connected family?

Some netizens pointed out that this is a case where people with power create opportunities for their children, and that Jiang is likely to return to China to some relatively privileged position (due to her family’s power) as it will be hard for someone who majored in ‘International Development’ to find a job in the U.S.

Sources:
1. CReaders.net, May 31, 2025
https://news.creaders.net/us/2025/05/31/2875141.htmlMay 31, 2025
2. Phoenix, May 31, 2025
https://news.ifeng.com/c/8jp9lWrVji3

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

Exiled Chinese Scholar on Xi Jinping’s Character, Recounts Drinking Encounters with Xi

Recently, exiled Chinese scholar Yuan Hongbing, a former law professor at Peking University, gave an exclusive interview in Taiwan, where he recounted his drinking encounters from the past with Xi Jinping. Yuan had previously detailed this experience in New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) program Elite Forum on June 2013.

Xi Jinping served as the Vice Mayor of Xiamen City, Fujian Province from 1985 to 1988. During that time, he flew from Xiamen to Beijing about every two weeks – sometimes even weekly – to build political connections. He usually visited Hu Deping (eldest son of former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Hu Yaobang). Xi was a heavy drinker but Hu was not. So Hu introduced Xi to Yuan Hongbing, and from there the two developed a drinking companionship that lasted more than eight months.

Yuan said Xi had a peculiar trait: during the first half of a drinking session, Xi would say almost nothing – coming off as simple, reserved, and inexpressive. But once he’d drunk over half a bottle of Moutai (the best Chinese wine), he would open up and speak at length. Two politically related remarks left the deepest impression on Yuan.

First case: Yuan and many intellectuals held the view that China’s large population was a burden to its economic development. Xi disagreed and said, “Yuan Hongbing, you’re wrong. China’s population isn’t too big – it’s too small. China needs 4 billion people to manage the world. To realize global communism, we need people to govern.” Yuan reflected that this mindset was understandable, as Xi’s ideology was formed during the Cultural Revolution and deeply shaped by Mao Zedong’s ideas.

Second case: Xi, Yuan, and Bai Enpei (then CCP Party Secretary of the Yan’an Prefectural Committee in Shaanxi Province and later the Party Secretary of Yunnan Province and sentenced to death with reprieve under Xi’s anti-corruption campaign) once drank together while Bai was attending training at the Central Party School in Beijing. The topic of the Korean War’s Battle of Chosin Reservoir came up. Bai criticized China’s Ninth Corps’ commanders for sending 150,000 soldiers to a freezing battlefield without adequate winter gear, resulting in two-thirds of the unit being killed or severely frostbitten. Bai called it a crime and said Mao Zedong should be held accountable, and Song Shilun (the commanding general) should be harshly punished.

Xi Jinping suddenly erupted in anger. He rebuked Bai, saying the battle was “a tremendous strategic victory,” and that the sacrifice was necessary. Xi insisted that Song Shilun should not only be absolved but honored as a hero. The two argued heatedly and even came to blows – Bai Enpei sustained some injuries in the scuffle.

Yuan Hongbing concluded that this incident revealed something about Xi’s psychological makeup: in Xi’s mind, the loss of life – no matter how great – is secondary. What truly matters to him is the realization of a dictator’s idealized vision of political and military power.

Source: NTDTV, May 11, 2025
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2025/05/10/a103984479.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics