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Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Announces “National Security Action Plan to Safeguard the Democratic Taiwan”

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The Red Coup – China’s Hostile Takeover of Free-World Education

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Chinese-Language Reports on the CCP’s September 3 Military Parade

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Chinese Think Tanker: Unraveling the Philippines–U.S. Coordinated “South China Sea Discourse Trap”

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China, Russia, and Iran Launch “BRICS+” Joint Naval Exercises off South Africa

China, Russia, Iran, South Africa, and other BRICS member states began a week-long joint naval exercise in South African waters on January 10, 2026, under the expanded “BRICS+” framework, which includes additional member and observer countries beyond the original BRICS grouping. South African authorities said the drills are aimed at safeguarding key shipping lanes and ensuring the security of maritime economic activities. The exercise marks the first time BRICS countries have conducted this type of defense cooperation and is widely viewed as a show of unity amid shifting global strategic dynamics, particularly in relation to Western powers.

China is the lead country for the joint exercise, dubbed “Peace Will-2026.” The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has deployed the guided-missile destroyer Tangshan, the comprehensive supply ship Taihu, a ship-borne helicopter, and dozens of special operations personnel to take part in the drills.

Sources:
1. Lianhe Zaobao, January 11, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260111-8084342
2. Radio France International, January 9, 2026
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/国际/20260109-中俄伊朗等金砖成员国在南非附近海域举行联合军演

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese State Media Condemns U.S. Arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro, Allows Surge of Anti-U.S. Online Sentiment

After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was reportedly captured by U.S. forces and transferred to the U.S. judicial system, Chinese state media moved quickly to denounce the action as “blatant hegemonic behavior.” On January 4, Xinhua published a sharply worded commentary that was widely republished by mainland Chinese media outlets. Notably, many of these platforms left their comment sections open, allowing an unusual surge of intense and openly hostile anti-U.S. sentiment to appear.

Observers note that Chinese authorities typically restrict or close comment sections when online discussions become excessively heated or deviate from the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) preferred narrative. The rare tolerance for high-intensity commentary in this case has prompted speculation that the response was guided within China’s propaganda system.

Analysts say Beijing often employs a dual-track approach on sensitive U.S.-related issues: state media establish the official political framing—casting events as examples of U.S. hegemony or foreign interference—while public comment sections are temporarily loosened to amplify nationalist and anti-U.S. emotions. Scholars caution that this does not indicate a genuine expansion of free expression but rather a controlled release of public sentiment, with comment threads frequently dominated by repetitive, slogan-like messages—possibly posted by the CCP controlled fifty-cents party members—intended to shape broader public opinion.

Source: Epoch Times, January 5, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/5/n14669445.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Social Stability US-China Relations

IKEA China to Close Seven Stores Starting in February

Well-known new Chinese news site The Paper recently reported that IKEA China plans to make “strategic adjustments” to its store distributions.

On January 7, IKEA China issued a statement indicating that, after a comprehensive review and evaluation of existing customer touchpoints, IKEA China has decided to cease operations of seven physical retail stores, including the IKEA Baoshan Store in Shanghai, IKEA Panyu Store in Guangzhou, IKEA Zhongbei Store in Tianjin, IKEA Nantong Store, IKEA Xuzhou Store, IKEA Ningbo Store, and IKEA Harbin Store, effective February 2, 2026. “Local customers in these major cities can still shop through other IKEA stores in their cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Tianjin), the IKEA official website, the IKEA app, or the IKEA WeChat mini-program.”

IKEA China explained that the retail industry is undergoing an “unprecedented transformation” due to “global economic uncertainty, the wave of digitization, and profound changes in consumer behavior.” IKEA continues to evaluate and optimize its business portfolio, channel distribution, and operational structure globally to better meet customer needs. Specific measures include maximizing the efficiency of every square meter of commercial space through transformation, closure, or addition of business units.
IKEA began its sourcing operations in China in the 1960s and opened its first IKEA store in 1998. Since then, IKEA has gradually built a complete value chain in China, encompassing product development, sourcing, production, logistics, retail stores, and digital innovation.

Source: The Paper, January 7, 2026
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32333259

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing May Block AI Company’s “De-China” Effort

Manus is an artificial intelligence company that develops large-model–based autonomous agent technologies and products designed to carry out complex tasks and workflows. Founded in March last year by its Beijing-based parent company, Butterfly Effect, Manus later relocated its headquarters to Singapore after receiving U.S. investment, laying off Chinese staff and fully exiting the China market to focus on overseas AI development. Observers widely believe the move was aimed at avoiding U.S. investment restrictions involving China and sidestepping Chinese regulatory oversight.

Meta announced late last year that it would acquire Manus at a valuation exceeding US$2 billion. After the deal became public, China’s technology and investment circles voiced strong praise for Manus’s trajectory, with many emphasizing the strategic importance of its decision to leave China. Analysts note, however, that Chinese authorities are wary of other technology firms following a similar “de-China” path.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has reportedly begun assessing whether Manus’s relocation of personnel and technology abroad, as well as its sale to Meta, should have required prior approval under China’s technology export regulations. Analysts caution that even if a company moves overseas, technologies developed in China may still fall under Chinese export control laws. If such technologies are deemed restricted, Beijing could intervene in the transaction—potentially invalidating contracts, imposing penalties, or, in extreme cases, blocking the acquisition altogether.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 7, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260107-8067327

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China Imposes Sweeping Export Controls on Dual-Use Items to Japan

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced today that it is strengthening export controls on dual-use items to Japan, effective immediately, to safeguard national security and interests. The ministry has prohibited the export of all dual-use items to Japanese military users, military purposes, and any other end-users or uses that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities. Additionally, the ban extends to any country or region from transferring relevant dual-use items to Japan.

This escalatory move by China threatens to comprehensively impact Japan’s economy and trade. China’s 2026 catalog of dual-use items and technologies subject to export authorization management lists as many as 1,005 items under export control, covering rare earth elements, chemicals, drones, telecommunications equipment, alloys, nuclear energy materials, equipment, and technologies.

The announcement, published on the Ministry of Commerce website on the afternoon of January 6, marks the ministry’s first official bulletin of 2026. According to China’s Export Control Law and related regulations, the decision aims to safeguard national security and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations.

The ministry warned that any organization or individual from any country or region that violates these regulations by transferring or providing China-origin dual-use items to Japanese entities or individuals will face legal consequences. Under China’s dual-use items export control regulations, these items refer to goods, technologies, and services with both civilian and military applications that could potentially enhance military capabilities, particularly those usable in designing, developing, producing, or utilizing weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

The 2026 catalog released last year by the Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs covers 846 items including chemicals capable of producing drugs and chemical weapons, processing materials, electronics, rare earths, computers, telecommunications, sensors, lasers, navigation systems, aerospace components, and microbial agents. An additional 159 items relate to nuclear materials and reactor technologies.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), January 6, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202601060265.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Netflix Removes Chinese Drama in Vietnam Over South China Sea “Nine-Dash Line” Map

Netflix has removed the Chinese TV drama “Shine on Me” from its Vietnam platform after Vietnamese authorities objected to scenes featuring a map with China’s “nine-dash line,” which Vietnam says is inaccurate and infringes on its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture ordered the takedown on January 3 and gave Netflix 24 hours to comply; by January 6, the series was no longer available in Vietnam.

The 27-episode romance drama had been popular in China and other markets, ranking among the top ten on Netflix in Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam before its removal.

Vietnam is one of several countries that dispute China’s South China Sea claims represented by the nine-dash line. This is not the first time Vietnam has banned content over the issue: authorities previously barred Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” in 2023 and DreamWorks’ “Abominable” in 2016 for featuring the same contested map.

Source: BBC, January 7, 2026
https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/ce9ynrxp001o/trad

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

CCP National Strategist Li Yi Breaks Down After Maduro’s Capture

Chinese commentator Li Yi, often described as a “Chinese Communist Party (CCP) national strategist,” reacted emotionally after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026 during a significant U.S. military operation that resulted in their transfer to American custody.

In a livestream on January 4, Li became visibly upset while discussing the event, at one point slapping his own face and choking up as he spoke. He expressed shock that, although Caracas is about 3,300 km from Washington, the U.S. was still able to capture Maduro and his wife alive and fly them out. Li bluntly said, “I feel like I’m not even human anymore,” after previously repeatedly asserting that Maduro could withstand U.S. pressure.

Li’s intense reaction and behavior quickly attracted widespread online attention and mockery from netizens and commentators. Some analysts and observers suggested that his emotional response reflected the stark contrast between the decisive U.S. military action and the perceived capabilities of China’s own military forces, highlighting strategic embarrassment within certain pro-China commentary circles.

Source: Yahoo Taiwan, January 5, 2026
https://tw.news.yahoo.com/見馬杜洛被活捉-中共國師李毅哽咽-自搧巴掌-律師揭崩潰原因-225600131.html

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

Defiant Video Challenging the CCP Goes Viral, Sparks Widespread Online Support

A video of a man openly issuing a defiant “challenge” to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has recently gone viral, striking a strong chord with viewers. In the clip, he urges people to stop fearing power and oppression and to refuse silence in the face of injustice.

The video was reposted on X on January 2. In an impassioned address, the man declares: “They want you to be afraid—afraid to the point of shutting up, afraid to the point of forgetting. But this letter of challenge today makes one thing clear: we are no longer afraid! We will no longer accept any form of power or oppression!” He adds that such tactics are “nothing but a paper tiger” under public scrutiny, asserting that “the net of justice has already been cast” and that fear is the authorities’ “last weapon.”

His remarks quickly drew an outpouring of support from netizens across mainland China. Commenters praised his courage and called for unity, leaving messages such as: “A nationwide awakening—support the streamer,” “A retired veteran supports you,” and “When you encounter injustice, dare to stand up and say no—if you remain a bystander, you may be next.”

Source: NTDTV, January 3, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/01/03/a104052775.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics Social Stability