China Watch

In the aftermath of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the U.S. military, a wide range of questions have gone unanswered. One of those is the role Chinese defense equipment may have played in letting the United States complete its mission unharmed. Venezuela operates Chinese-built radar systems that Beijing has long advertised as capable of neutralizing U.S. stealth advantages. E...

For one of the rare times in recent history, the Chinese Communist Party has not been in lockstep across its branches in external activities. While rhetoric in 2025 was toned down from outwardly aggressive to friendly and businesslike, the military has been more provocative than ever. The direct threats to America and its allies in the East seem to disconnect with China’s need for economic partner...

When you think of a spy, do you think of a military officer who is a master of languages and disguise? If you do, then you may not understand how China uses its massive web of spies throughout the United States. Instead, think professors, white-collar workers, engineers, and researchers. They aren’t professional spies, but their loyalty to the Chinese regime runs deep. Hear Terri Wu’s in-depth dis...

The second Trump Administration published its first National Security Strategy document this month, and it’s a far departure from what the world has seen in recent years. While it adopts a much more business-like tone than before, some analysts say it’s an indicator of a weak United States.  Is that the case? And what implications does the new foreign policy vision have on U.S.–China relation...

How would one infiltrate a foreign government? It seems like the idea would be to go straight to the top, but a recent trial in New York suggests otherwise. Reporter Nick Zifcak has been covering the New York trial case of Linda Sun, who is accused of acting secretly as an agent of the CCP. Hear how she got into her position, who she worked for, everything she is accused of doing, and her side of...

Japan has a new prime minister, and she’s upending the political tradition that has guided geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. China is already dealing with the chaos imposed by President Donald Trump’s trade tactics. Now, it has the added pressure from Sanae Takaichi, the Iron Lady of Japan. Listen as Terri hears from experts, including one who attended the same prestigious institute as Takai...

The financial information of Chinese companies is a black box. Yet these companies enjoy preferential access to U.S. capital markets. How did it happen, and why was it tolerated? For decades, China has been taking advantage of leniency and the openness of America’s market system. And it’s coming to a point where action needs to be taken. Join Terri as she analyzes the predatory investment tactics...

Although a new trade truce was set, most analysts overlooked one critical part of the agreement. That agreement is all about shipping. But its broader consequence is global control over the oceans and seas. And whoever controls the waters will become the leading world power. Now that China is the top ship builder in the world, by a large measure, what does that mean for the United States? Join Ter...

It almost sounds like tabloid gossip to say, “Wow, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said something nice about President Donald Trump!” If it were any other political circumstance, it may just be gossip, but this is coming from the head of the Chinese Communist Party, who, according to one expert, has never uttered such words about any American president. What is the significance of that, and especially a...

It’s easy to say that another country is weak, vulnerable, or unable to win in a confrontation. But what about when those claims are backed up by concrete numbers? In this episode, Terri converses with Alexander Campbell, who has an extensive history in global macro investing and a penchant for analyzing both numbers and strategy.  In his book “ China Can’t Win ,” he describes through various...

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And what may be the key to U.S.–China relations now and in the future is the temptation for both sides in the Pacific Ocean. Join Terri as she discusses the significance of the island of Taiwan, and how important it is to both the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Here’s a hint: It’s not about semiconductors. Find out what’s at stake for th...

A hallmark of communist rule is constant internal struggle and infighting. And it’s not just person to person, it’s entire groups, like gang warfare hidden beneath the veneer of unification. And while knowing that fighting may be interesting in and of itself, those conflicts can now directly impact the money of Americans.  Listen as Terri Wu describes who the factions are, and how they battle...

China has chosen to play hardball with the United States, using its biggest trade weapon—rare earths. Join Terri as she deciphers the sudden escalation in the U.S.–China trade war and Beijing’s motivation behind it. What does this mean for the U.S. tech sector? Why did it happen during the government shutdown? And will the U.S. response be enough? Views expressed in this episode are opinions of th...

China has been encroaching on the distant coasts of Alaska, and the U.S. Coast Guard has been loud about it during the summer. Join Terri Wu as she analyzes what is happening in the far North, as nations jostle for both economic and military control of the Arctic Circle. Receding ice from longer seasons is making the frozen ocean viable for more consistent access, and China wants a piece. Listen t...

Chinese money laundering networks (CMLN) put about $2 trillion of illicit money back into the global financial system each year, according to John Cassara, a former Treasury special agent and the author of “ China-Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering .” That’s on par with Russia’s GDP, which is the 11th largest in the world. Think of how much underlying...

It’s one thing when massive debt is public for the world to see and know. But what happens when mountains of debt are secretly issued and traded under the table? That’s what Terri is looking at this week: how China’s secret local-government finance industry is keeping the entire economy bound together, in terms of both keeping it afloat and holding it back. Where does it come from? What does it do...

The COVID pandemic lockdowns may feel like a long-gone memory at this point. But for today’s guest, it was a major event that triggered her decision to leave her motherland, perhaps for good. Join Terri as she talks with Elena Yan, a former government worker in China. Her work mandated her to join the legions of the white-clad men and women who forced daily COVID tests on her fellow citizens.&nbsp...

While the most talked-about topic from the Chinese Communist Party’s military parade this month was the infamous “hot mic” moment, its meaning is much more subtle than it appears on the surface. This week, Terri talks about how the hot mic conversation between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on organ transplantation may have been completely intentional. Why would the...

There was much stir about the Trump administration taking a stake in Intel. But was it for the right reasons?  While many people were caught up arguing over “state capitalism,” the real issue may be how this confronts China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may be looking to monopolize the global chip-manufacturing supply chain. Capturing Taiwan, for example, the world’s breadbasket for stat...

For those who haven’t heard the term “lying flat,” it’s how Chinese people describe a passive mindset of giving up on life. Some call it a lifestyle .  Now, it’s evolving into something bigger: a way to take advantage of China’s debt system. Join Terri as she shares the story of a typical young Chinese family, whose life she has tracked over the past two years, and connects their lot in life...

While Beijing sees America as an adversary and the “Make America Great Again” movement as a threat, it is unwittingly helping the United States achieve some of its America-first policies. Join Terri Wu as she discusses how the actions of China’s ruling communist party, under leader Xi Jinping, are goading the American economy back in a direction of manufacturing and self-reliance. Views expressed...

China’s export economy relies on the United States, and they’ll do anything to keep that, including getting around tariffs. That’s what Terri is talking about today: trans-shipments. It’s a system of getting around tariffs. But one American business is doing everything it can to lead the charge in ending such unfair trade practices. Unfortunately, it’s hardly that easy. Hear how Chinese shippers a...

The Chinese Communist Party is met with adulation by some and fear by many. But the regime, and those who use the theory of communism in its many warped forms, have their own fears as well. Join Terri as she looks at some of the major fears of the Chinese Communist Party and how these impact the country as a whole, as well as the man leading it. See if you, by the end, come to the same conclusion...

Two Chinese Americans visiting China are stuck there due to exit bans that the regime imposed on them, according to recent news reports. Exit bans are just one physical manifestation of the omnipresent controls that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposes on society. The term “exit ban” in Chinese has many layers of meaning. Join Terri for an analysis of what these are and how Chinese people are...

From a cultural perspective, Americans are quite different from the people of China, whether it’s in daily habits or how they interact with others.  But in a very special way, there's one group of Americans that is similar to mainland Chinese: the New Yorkers. It has to do with how they understand business. And because Chinese mainlanders and New Yorkers intuitively know what it takes to stri...