Skip to content

Geo-Strategic Trend - 26. page

Japan Urges Countries to Avoid Beijing’s Military Parade and the 80th WWII Victory Anniversary Events

Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government, through diplomatic channels, has urged multiple countries not to attend Beijing’s September 3 commemorative events, including the planned military parade.

According to the report, China’s activities are themed “Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War Victory,” and Beijing has reportedly extended wide-ranging invitations to foreign leaders and international organization heads.

Tokyo hopes that by cautioning other countries, it can prevent China’s history-driven narrative from gaining broader influence internationally. Japanese embassies abroad have conveyed that the events place disproportionate emphasis on wartime history and carry strong anti-Japanese overtones, urging governments to carefully consider the level of participation by their national leaders.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 25, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202508250028.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Baidu-Lyft Partnership Brings Chinese Autonomous Vehicles to Europe

On August 12, Chinese tech giant Baidu – often called “China’s Google” – announced a partnership with U.S. ride-hailing platform Lyft to launch Level 4 autonomous ride-hailing services in Germany and the UK starting in 2026. These vehicles will operate in designated areas without drivers or safety operators, representing high-level automation with minimal human intervention. The initiative extends Baidu’s Apollo Go (Luobo Kuaipao) network, already the world’s largest autonomous ride-hailing service by volume.

The European move follows Baidu’s July partnership with Uber to expand into Asian and Middle Eastern markets, underscoring a broader global expansion strategy. Apollo Go has completed more than 5 million passenger trips, covering over 100 million kilometers, and by late 2023 deployed over 1,000 vehicles across Beijing, Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Wuhan. Baidu aims to reach 100 Chinese cities by 2030. Globally, China and the United States dominate the sector: of the 16 cities with driverless taxi fleets in 2024, 12 were in China and four in the U.S. Waymo remains the only Western operator with large-scale commercial services, running about 1,500 vehicles across Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin.

Europe, by contrast, lags far behind. Current projects are limited to small-scale autonomous shuttles, with investment dwarfed by China and the U.S., which together account for 98 percent of the €100 billion invested globally since 2012. European automakers have largely focused on electric vehicles and incremental automation rather than full L4/L5 capabilities. Regulatory caution, fragmented commercial ecosystems, and lingering public concerns over safety and job losses continue to slow adoption. As French economist Jincheng Ni notes, Europe risks falling further behind unless it accelerates investment and builds the infrastructure to support large-scale autonomous mobility.

Source: Radio France International, August 21, 2025
https://rfi.my/BwTN

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

New Zealand Warns CCP is Top Foreign Interference Threat

On August 21, New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) released its annual “Security Threat Environment Report,” warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the most active and serious foreign power interfering in New Zealand.

The report says the CCP uses united front networks, transnational repression, and infiltration to expand influence and access sensitive information, posing long-term risks to national security.

Key points:

  • Transnational repression: Monitoring and intimidating dissidents, activists, and minorities, sometimes involving forced repatriation.
  • Community influence: Using diaspora and cultural groups to push pro-Beijing narratives and weaken independent ties with the government.
  • Economic/tech infiltration: Targeting institutions, infrastructure, and technology; businesses may be exploited through normal exchanges.

The report highlights the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD) as central to these efforts, describing them as “deceptive, coercive, and corruptive.”

It also warns that China’s “National Security Law” forces individuals and organizations to cooperate with state security, raising risks for foreign partners. Espionage targeting policies, technology, and infrastructure is increasing, involving not just intelligence officers but also companies, universities, think tanks, and hackers.

Source: Epoch Times, August 21, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/8/21/n14578111.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Communist Party Groups Appear in Taiwan High School Campus

Recent reports from Taiwan reveal the emergence of multiple student-led groups identifying as “Communist Party-related organizations” on several high school campuses. One identified school is the Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School.

These groups, some even claiming positions like “General Secretary,” appeared on social media under names such as “Establish the Communist Party” and formed the “Taiwan Inter-School Communist Union.” At its peak, 39 schools – including Taipei Municipal Chenggong High School, Yongchun Senior High School, and Kaohsiung Municipal Chungshan Senior High School – were reportedly involved, raising public concerns about possible influence from mainland Chinese actors.

School authorities at Chenggong clarified that these groups were not officially sanctioned student organizations and emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to freedom of expression.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council noted that communist ideology and utopian ideals can attract young people; they suggested students critically study the history of the Chinese Communist Party and international communist movements, as the communist theory and practice often differ sharply.

On August 21, the “Chien Kuo High School Communist Party” page issued a public statement distancing itself from the Chinese Communist Party. It confirmed that the organization was essentially defunct due to a small membership and many graduates leaving, and that the inter-school union could no longer function due to a lack of active members.

Source:
1. Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 21, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202508210275.aspx
2. United Daily News (Taiwan), August 21, 2025
https://udn.com/news/story/6898/8954552

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Taiwan Poll Shows Concerns over Increasing CCP Infiltration

A new public opinion survey released by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council reveals significant public concern over Chinese Communist Party infiltration and overwhelming rejection of Beijing’s unification proposals.

The poll, conducted between between August 14 and 18 by National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center, found that 83.7 percent of respondents oppose the CCP’s “One Country, Two Systems” framework. Additionally, 71.8 percent disagree with the assertion that “both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, with Taiwan being part of China.”

Public anxiety about Chinese influence operations appears to be mounting, with 65.5 percent of those surveyed believing that CCP infiltration activities targeting Taiwan have become increasingly severe in recent years.

The survey demonstrates robust support for maintaining Taiwan’s current political arrangement, with 86.4 percent backing the Taiwanese government’s position of “broadly maintaining the status quo.” Furthermore, 74.3 percent endorse the statement “the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (Mainland China) do not belong to each other.”

Regarding security measures, public support is evident across multiple areas: 74.5 percent oppose military and civil servants holding mainland Chinese identification documents, while 66.2 percent support requiring government employees to obtain prior approval before traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau. Additionally, 66.5 percent favor enhanced screening and management of mainland Chinese individuals applying for exchanges in Taiwan.

The telephone survey polled 1,075 adults over 20 years old across Taiwan, with a 95 percent confidence level and sampling error of ±2.99 percent. Vice Chairman and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh announced the results during a regular press conference on August 21.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 21, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202508210297.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Kim Jong Un Meets Senior Commanders Supporting Russia in Ukraine War

Xinhua News Agency, citing North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kim Jong Un met on August 20 with senior commanders of the Korean People’s Army overseas combat units at the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee headquarters.

According to the report, Kim received briefings on the specific military operations conducted by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) units in overseas theaters and praised their leadership in supporting North Korean troops contributing to Russia’s effort to retake Kursk.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying: “Our army is doing what it ought to do, what it is necessary to do. And it will continue to do so in the future.”

Source: Xinhua, August 21, 2025
http://www.xinhuanet.com/20250821/8793b762a03e45bfa1f54796f07f012c/c.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

LTN: World’s Largest Hedge Fund Exits All China-Concept Holdings

Taiwanese media outlet Liberty Times Network (LTN) reported that Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, liquidated all of its U.S.-listed Chinese concept stock holdings in the second quarter, totaling US$ 1.41 billion. The move is widely seen as a strong signal of investor concern over the economic outlook of the world’s second-largest economy.

According to Bridgewater’s 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund divested from 16 Chinese companies, including e-commerce leaders Alibaba, JD.com, and Pinduoduo; search engine giant Baidu; electric vehicle maker NIO; travel platform Trip.com; and restaurant chain Yum China. This marks the first time in years that Bridgewater has fully exited all Chinese companies listed in the U.S.

Beyond direct stock sales, Bridgewater also cut indirect exposure to China by selling off its stakes in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as the iShares MSCI China ETF and the iShares China Large-Cap ETF. The move underscores a broader strategic retreat from Chinese assets.

Source: LTN, August 14, 2025
https://stock.ltn.com.tw/article/3tthrj4vdnmr

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Huanqiu Times: USFK Commander Raises “Strategic Flexibility,” Sparks Concern in Seoul

Huanqiu Times reported the concerns from both Korean media and Chinese analysts regarding U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Xavier Brunson’s concept of “strategic flexibility” in deploying troops from South Korea to other regions.

Brunson, in his first press conference since taking office, highlighted the need for “strategic flexibility” – the ability to redeploy troops beyond the Korean Peninsula. His remarks came ahead of President Lee Jae-myung’s planned visit to Washington on August 25, which South Korean media saw as pressure on Seoul before the summit.

Brunson said the U.S.-ROK alliance must adapt to today’s security environment, a shift that requires South Korea to take greater responsibility against North Korea so U.S. troops can handle missions elsewhere. South Korean newspapers warned this shift could allow Washington to mobilize USFK forces in Taiwan Strait or South China Sea crises, marking a major departure from the forces’ traditional defensive role.

Chinese analysts cautioned that involving USFK in broader Asia-Pacific conflicts could expose South Korea to retaliation, making it difficult for Seoul to avoid being drawn in. They also warned that repeated U.S. emphasis on “strategic flexibility” risks destabilizing the region and undermining peace.

Source: Huanqiu Times, August 11, 2025
https://mil.huanqiu.com/article/4Ns6CSZhZjg

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend