Border crime busts in TX, OK: cartel tunnel trafficking, fake ID enterprise
(The Center Square) – Several major arrests have led to convictions and sentencings for border crimes in Texas and Oklahoma.
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Economic Powerhouses Fail to Meet GDP Targets for Years; Steel Mills Halt Production, Foreign Companies Relocate
As of now, the GDP situation for all 31 provinces in China for 2025 has been disclosed, revealing that many provinces have not met the GDP targets set at the beginning of last year. With the time approaching to establish GDP targets for 2026, despite the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities promoting a narrative of 'economic optimism,' several provinces that rank among the top ten in total GDP have lowered their growth targets for 2026....
Xi Jinping's Authority is Facing an Unprecedented Challenge: Is the Practice of 'cutting First and Reporting Later' Becoming a Thing of the Past?
Prominent commentator Jiang Feng shared a wealth of data on the X platform on February 6, highlighting the significant impact of Xi Jinping's purges on the political landscape of the Chinese Communist Party....
Sending Large Gift Packages Proves Ineffective; ASEAN Declines to Be a Pawn of the CCP
The term "Qi Shu" typically refers to fate, fortune, or the developmental trends of events, often linked to the rise and fall of nations. When a government is experiencing a period of strong qi, its formidable presence can instil fear or admiration in others or allied nations. Conversely, as its qi wanes, those who once complied may stand tall and refuse to submit....
House Oversight probes Rep. Ilhan Omar's husband's businesses
(The Center Square) – The House Oversight Committee is investigating the rapid rise in value of two companies owned by Rep. Ilhan Omar's husband, amid concerns over financial transparency and...
Top Republican senator opens probe of Mamdani orders
(The Center Square) – A top Senate Republican has launched a probe of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's move to repeal executive orders dealing with antisemitism and boycotts of...
Benghazi attack suspect arrested, will face charges in U.S.
(The Center Square) – A suspect in a 2012 attack on a United States compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans was arrested and will be prosecuted in the...
Was Chen Yuan Positioned to Guard Xi’s Rear During the Zhang Youxia Arrest — and Linked to the Li Keqiang Case?
Ten days after Xi Jinping moved against Zhang Youxia, mainland outlet Caixin cited a report from the Beijing Daily saying Chen Yuan, former commander of the Shanghai Armed Police Corps, had been reassigned in early January to a leadership post in the Beijing Garrison Command. In other words, during Xi’s move against Zhang, Chen Yuan was positioned to “guard the rear.” Chen is seen as aligned with He Weidong’s faction and has been linked by rumor to responsibility for Li Keqiang’s mysterious death in Shanghai. This fuels the belief that Xi’s move against Zhang had been planned for a long time a...
With Zhang Youxia Down, Could He Weidong and Miao Hua Be Rehabilitated?
Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s Up Media that He Weidong and Miao Hua joined forces to move against Zhang Youxia and succeeded in bringing down Zhang’s close ally Li Shangfu. Zhang later decided to strike back, gathering evidence of corruption and disloyalty involving He and Miao, which forced Xi to purge them. Now that Zhang himself is under investigation, there are signs Xi may be reactivating personnel linked to He Weidong. This raises the question: could the cases against He and Miao be reversed?...
Strange Signals in State Media Suggest Resistance to Xi Reclaiming Absolute Dominance
After the CCP officially announced on January 24 that Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli were under investigation, official and military websites briefly reverted to a reporting pattern seen several years ago: major news about Xi Jinping once again dominated the top headlines for extended periods, creating the impression that “Boss Xi” was re-establishing supreme authority....
Lavish Concessions to Trump Highlight Xi’s Struggle to Control China’s Turmoil
Thinking about taking action against Taiwan? Trump: You are free to think about it, but what are you...
Did Zhao Leji Show Rare Courage by Defying Xi to Protect Zhang Youxia?
On February 4, 2026, the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress was convened in Beijing on an emergency basis, with Zhao Leji presiding. Observers believed the unusual session was likely intended to provide “legal procedures” after Xi Jinping allegedly violated procedures in detaining Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member Liu Zhenli. Unexpectedly, Zhao Leji did not move to remove Zhang and Liu from their positions. As a result, Xi’s detention actions are now viewed as procedural violations. This is described as the first ti...
How Zhang Youxia Angered Xi Jinping
The CCP leader Xi Jinping’s arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli have sparked widespread speculation. Some rumors claim Zhang and Liu attempted a failed coup against Xi. However, political commentator Du Zheng wrote in a February 4 article titled “The ‘Power Struggle Kill Line’ in the Zhang Youxia Incident” that Zhang did not have the boldness or strategic vision to launch a coup. Rather, like some CCP elders, Zhang merely tried to prevent Xi from seeking another term, fearing danger for the Party-state. During this period, Zhang halted Xi’s visits to military training grounds where he perso...
Xi Phones U.S. and Russian Leaders — Analysis: Buffering an Internal Power Crisis
After CCP leader Xi Jinping launched a surprise move to arrest Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, the military has remained silent, with no one publicly expressing support. In addition, an emergency session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) was convened on February 4 but did not revoke Zhang and Liu’s status as NPC deputies. This suggests Xi’s arrests violated the CCP’s own legal procedures and may also be seen as the NPC signaling opposition to Xi’s actions, further indicating that Xi’s authority within the Party is not what it once was....
2026 World Report on Human Rights: Beijing Intensifies Suppression of Dissent at Home and Abroad
The 2026 World Report released by the human rights organization Human Rights Watch states that in 2025 the Chinese government significantly deepened domestic repression while expanding methods of silencing dissent overseas, placing greater pressure on freedom of expression, civil society, ethnic minorities, and overseas critics....
Does Zhang Youxia Have a Protective Talisman? Party, Government, and Military Stay Silent
It has been ten days since the official announcement on January 24 of the downfall of Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission (CMC), and CMC member Liu Zhenli. China’s military and political circles have fallen into an unprecedented state of eerie calm. According to past CCP practice when Politburo-level officials fall, party and government bodies at all levels should immediately rush to declare loyalty, appear on state news broadcasts in line to support the central decision, and firmly endorse General Secretary Xi....
Trump admin moves to more easily fire federal workers
(The Center Square) - The Trump administration finalized a rule on Thursday that would make it easier to fire an estimated 50,000 federal employees....
Trump's call for federal oversight intensifies clash over Michigan elections
(The Center Square) – As the 2026 election season ramps up, tensions are rising over oversight of Michigan’s elections as state and federal leaders clash over election integrity....
Mamdani endorses Hochul in governor's race
(The Center Square) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul in her bid for reelection even as the two wrangle over raising taxes on the...
Bessent spars with lawmakers over tariffs, Trump lawsuits
(The Center Square) - Lawmakers grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump administration’s tariff policies and high profile lawsuits in the administration....
The CCP Governs with a “Political Straitjacket”
While Chinese authorities continue to promote an upbeat narrative of “steady progress,” social media inside China tells a very different story. Short videos widely shared online show people of all ages describing job loss, collapsing incomes, shuttered shops, and crushing work hours — a stark contrast to official optimism....
The “Meat Grinder” in Overdrive: Vice Chair of the Central Military Commission Becomes a High-Risk Post
Following the reported downfall of Zhang Youxia, a vice chair of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Central Military Commission (CMC), outside observers note that the position itself appears increasingly dangerous. Since the CCP came to power, as many as nine CMC vice chairs have reportedly been purged in political struggles....
From Age 78 to 94: The Tragic Final Years of Three Elderly Chinese Citizens
At the 26th anniversary of Falun Gong’s resistance to persecution, on July 17, 2025, Falun Gong prac...
Routh sentenced to life in prison for assassination attempt on Trump
(The Center Square) – Ryan Routh, the North Carolina native who lived in Hawaii, has been sentenced to life in prison on conviction of going to Florida attempting to kill...
Two Chinese Investigative Journalists Detained for Exposing Local Officials’ Corruption
While the CCP regime continues its high-level anti-corruption campaign, two independent journalists have been detained by police in Chengdu, Sichuan, after publishing a report alleging that officials in Pujiang County, Sichuan, improperly seized corporate assets. The incident highlights the further tightening of China’s media environment....
Four Major Reasons Why Xi Jinping Had Zhang Youxia Arrested
After Zhang Youxia’s downfall, the whole world has been asking the same question: Zhang was not only a long-time family associate of Xi but also one of Xi’s trusted allies. Xi’s smooth reappointment at the 20th Party Congress reportedly relied heavily on Zhang’s support, which is why Xi allowed the 72-year-old Zhang to remain in office at that congress. Given this, why would Xi Jinping move against him?...
The Zhang Youxia Incident Continues to Escalate, the Chaos in Zhongnanhai Becomes Harder to Conceal
It has been nearly half a month since the official announcement of Zhang Youxia’s arrest. The CCP military and officialdom remain eerily silent, with no one publicly expressing support for Xi Jinping. At the end of January and the beginning of February, the PLA Daily published four consecutive commentator articles criticizing Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Observers noticed that the tone of these four rare consecutive denunciations gradually softened, and soon afterward Party media once again sank into a state of lifeless calm....
Zhang Youxia Maintains Close Ties with Elders, Developing a Private Grievance with Xi
On February 4th, the 20th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress took place in Beijing. While the meeting reviewed the qualifications of 'individual representatives' and terminated the qualifications of three National People's Congress representatives, it did not remove Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from their representative positions, contrary to many external expectations....
Eliminating a Powerful Rival, Xi Still Gets No Moment of Relief
After suddenly arresting his military ally, Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has not shown any sign of relief or satisfaction in public appearances....
Huang Kunming Invites the Under House Arrest Zhang Youxia to Lunch; Is Xi Regretting This Decision?
Following the official announcement that Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, and Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department, are under investigation, the reactions from within the Communist Party, the military, the public, and even from the United States and the international community are likely beyond Xi Jinping's expectations....
Emergency Meetings: Why Was Zhang Youxia's Representative Qualification Not Dismissed?
On February 2 and 4, the Communist Party of China (CPC) unexpectedly convened two emergency meetings. The first was the 59th Chairman's Meeting of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, while the second was the 20th Meeting of the NPC Standing Committee....
Trump seeks $1B from Harvard in federal funding dispute
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump is now seeking a $1 billion payment from Harvard University as part of an effort to resolve an ongoing dispute with the Ivy...