China and Russia Dominate Global Nuclear Power Construction as West Falls Behind
International organizations’ official statistics reveal that nine large nuclear reactor units broke ground last year, with China accounting for seven and Russia contributing one. Through advancing nuclear power plant construction, both nations are exporting related technologies and equipment to emerging markets, steadily expanding their global influence.
According to data from the World Nuclear Association and the International Atomic Energy Agency reported by Nikkei Chinese on the 6th, the 2025 figures included seven units in China, one in Russia, and one in South Korea. Since 2016, China and Russia have dominated over ninety percent of the world’s 63 new reactor construction starts. Outside these two countries, only South Korea and the UK have initiated construction on five units during this period.
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment reports twenty-seven nuclear units currently under construction. Industry associations predict China’s operational nuclear capacity will reach 110 gigawatts by 2030, surpassing the United States. Last April, Chinese authorities approved construction plans for ten reactors across five locations, targeting nuclear power to constitute ten percent of the electricity mix by 2040, up from under five percent in 2024.
Most 2025 reactor starts utilize China’s domestically developed Hualong One design, with six units operating in China and two in Pakistan. China is also developing smaller modular reactors requiring less investment than large-scale facilities. China National Nuclear Corporation reported successful cooling tests in October 2025 for the Linglong One reactor in Hainan Province, generating 125 megawatts and scheduled for operation in 2026.
Russia focuses on exports to emerging markets. Over the past decade, Russian state nuclear enterprise Rosatom constructed nineteen foreign reactors and continues projects in Turkey and Bangladesh. In November 2025, foundational components were installed at Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.
By constructing nuclear facilities, both nations strengthen ties with destination countries across design, construction, operation, maintenance, fuel supply, and decommissioning phases—relationships potentially lasting nearly a century. However, international circumstances affect progress; Russia’s Turkish project faces funding difficulties and delays from 2023 due to Ukraine-war-related economic sanctions.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), February 6, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202602060089.aspx
China Intensifies Tax Collection on Overseas Income as Revenue Growth Outpaces Other Sources
China’s individual income tax revenue grew 11.5 per cent in 2025, significantly outpacing growth rates for value-added tax, corporate income tax, and consumption tax, according to Ministry of Finance data. Analysts attribute this surge primarily to stricter enforcement and a targeted crackdown on unreported foreign income, which has emerged as a key driver of revenue growth.
Recent cases publicized by Chinese tax authorities revealed substantial amounts of unreported overseas earnings, with back-tax payments ranging from 1.7 million yuan (approximately $234,000) to 6.987 million yuan (approximately $962,000). Experts note that since 2017, China has participated in the Common Reporting Standard for tax purposes, enabling authorities to systematically track citizens’ overseas financial accounts.
Beginning in late 2024 and continuing through 2025, numerous individuals with foreign income received notices from tax departments requiring self-examination or audits. Tax bureaus in Hubei, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai simultaneously announced cases involving unreported overseas income. Late last year, authorities urged residents to review their foreign earnings from the past three years and file proper declarations, warning that non-compliance would result in tax collection enforcement.
This intensified scrutiny comes amid China’s ongoing economic slowdown and mounting fiscal pressure on local governments. Experts predict that enforcement will strengthen further this year. Last year’s efforts primarily relied on notifications and voluntary reporting, with much of the data and declarations remaining incomplete and imprecise. As tax authorities acquire more comprehensive data and develop systematic methodologies, analysts expect increasing numbers of people will take overseas income reporting obligations more seriously. The enhanced enforcement represents a significant shift in China’s approach to capturing tax revenue from citizens’ global earnings.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), February 9, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202602090108.aspx
Thai Military Uncovers Cross-Border Scam Operations at Cambodia Border
The Thai military announced on February 2 that it had uncovered extensive evidence of cross-border scam operations at a Cambodian fraud complex near the disputed Thai–Cambodian border. The site, known as the O’Smach scam park, reportedly housed thousands of people, many of whom were victims of human trafficking forced to conduct online fraud under threats of violence and punishment. Thai forces escorted journalists and foreign representatives to the abandoned facilities, where they displayed large quantities of documents, including lists of potential victims and scripted dialogues used in scam schemes.
Thai army officials said the compound had been sealed off and partially dismantled, describing it as a hub for organized, large-scale telecommunications fraud and other criminal activities. Cambodian authorities rejected Thailand’s claims, accusing Bangkok of using the fraud camp as a pretext for military action. Phnom Penh maintained that it is actively cracking down on scam operations within its territory and pledged to eliminate the illegal industry by April.
The revelations come amid heightened tensions between the two countries, which signed a ceasefire late last year following weeks of their most serious border clashes in years. Thailand’s military asserted that some of the targeted facilities were also used to store weapons and launch attacks during the conflict. The Thai–Cambodian border region has increasingly become a hotspot for transnational scam networks, particularly online fraud operations that reportedly generate billions of dollars in illicit revenue each year.
Source: Epoch Times, February 3, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/2/2/n14689673.htm
CNA: Tensions between Australia and China Escalate Again on Darwin Port
Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that tensions between Australia and China have escalated again. China threatened that if the Australian government forcibly reclaims the Port of Darwin, leased by Chinese companies, the Chinese government has an obligation to take measures to protect the interests of Chinese companies. This move will also affect investment, trade, and cooperation between the two countries.
In October 2015, the Northern Territory government of Australia signed an agreement with the China Landbridge Group to lease the Darwin Port terminal and surrounding facilities to the group for 99 years Since then, this agreement has been the subject of ongoing controversy. Darwin Port is a strategically important location, and both the Australian parties advocated for its return during last year’s general election.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated in Darwin that selling the Port of Darwin is not in Australia’s national interest. Commercial negotiations are currently underway. In response, Chinese Ambassador to Australia warned that the Albanese government’s plan to take back the Port of Darwin from China would jeopardize future bilateral trade and force Beijing to intervene.
China is Australia’s largest bilateral trading partner, accounting for 24 percent of Australia’s total trade in goods and services in the last fiscal year.
Source: CNA, January 28, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202601280300.aspx
Texas Bans the Use of Products of Multiple Chinese Companies
Chinese international trade news site CHW recently reported that Texas Governor Greg Abbott just issued a new executive order requiring all state employees to refrain from installing or using hardware, software, and artificial intelligence technology from certain Chinese companies on any state-owned equipment and networks. This decision aims to protect the data privacy and cybersecurity of Texas residents and prevent the risk of foreign governments, particularly the Chinese government, gaining access to sensitive information.
According to the officially released list of prohibited technologies, the companies and products included in the restrictions cover multiple sectors, including e-commerce platforms, communication equipment, artificial intelligence, energy, and drones. The specific list of companies includes well-known e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and Temu, as well as fashion e-commerce platform Shein, network equipment manufacturer TP-Link, battery manufacturer CATL, and Chinese AI companies such as iFlyTek. In addition, the governor’s office also included drone manufacturer Autel and AI and visual recognition companies in the ban.
In his statement, Governor Abbott emphasized that with the increasing global cyber threats, it is crucial to prevent “hostile actors” from using technological products to infiltrate Texas government systems or devices. He believes that certain foreign technologies could be used to collect, manipulate, or misuse the data of Texas citizens.
Source: CHW, January 27, 2026
https://www.chwe.cn/article/GjivTWtRwus
FBI Relaunches Hard-Line Anti-CCP Counter-Espionage Effort, Arrests Up 40 Percent
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reinstated a hard-line counter-espionage initiative targeting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), reversing the suspension of the program under the previous U.S. administration. FBI Director Kash Patel said countering the CCP has become a top bureau priority, with strategies being recalibrated to address evolving national security threats.
According to Patel, arrests of individuals suspected of spying for China have risen by approximately 40 percent in the first year since the initiative was relaunched, underscoring a more aggressive enforcement posture and renewed focus on countering Chinese intelligence activities.
Source: Epoch Times, February 7, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/2/7/n14693327.htm
Beijing Garrison Command Filled by Armed Police Officer Amid Leadership Shake-Up
The position of commander of the Beijing Garrison Command had been vacant for approximately ten months before recent public information indicated that Chen Yuan, formerly commander of the Shanghai Armed Police Contingent, has been appointed to the post. The Beijing Garrison Command is responsible for securing China’s top leadership as well as central Party and state institutions, and it reports directly to the Central Military Commission (CMC).
Chen’s predecessor, Fu Wenhua, was reassigned as deputy commander of the People’s Armed Police in March last year. Fu was widely regarded as a former subordinate of CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, who fell from power in January. Analysts note that the extended vacancy and the timing of Chen’s appointment coincided with the period leading up to Zhang’s removal.
Commentators have described Chen’s appointment as unusual, given that he comes from the People’s Armed Police rather than the People’s Liberation Army. They argue that this may reflect an effort by Xi Jinping to distance key internal security positions from military networks associated with figures such as Zhang Youxia or Miao Hua.
{Editor’s Note: Unverified rumors had been widely circulating online that the death of former Premier Li Keqiang in Shanghai was out of Xi’s order; Chen Yuan and Shanghai Armed Police were allegedly involved in it.}
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), February 7, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202602070147.aspx
STCN: China’s January Manufacturing PMI Fell into Contraction Territory
China Security Times (STCN) recently reported that, the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing jointly released the China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). Data shows that in January, the Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3 percent, below the 50 percent line in the contraction territory.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, the low number is due to some manufacturing sectors entering their traditional off-season, coupled with insufficient effective market demand.
Looking at the 13 sub-indices, compared with the previous month, the product inventory index, import index, purchase price index, and ex-factory price index increased, with the increase ranging from 0.3 to 3 percentage points; while the production index, new orders index, new export orders index, backlog orders index, purchasing volume index, raw material inventory index, employment index, supplier delivery time index, and production and operation activity expectation index all decreased, with the decrease ranging from 0.1 to 2.9 percentage points.
The survey shows that over 34 percent of manufacturing companies reported declining profits in January, highlighting the need to address the issue of corporate profits.
Source: STCN, January 31, 2026
https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/3623890.html