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Monthly Archives: May 2026

Former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu Sentenced to Death with Reprieve

On May 7, China’s military court issued first-instance verdicts in corruption cases involving former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu. Both were convicted of accepting bribes, with Li also found guilty of offering bribes. The court sentenced each to death with a two-year reprieve, along with life imprisonment without the possibility of commutation or parole. The ruling represents one of the most severe penalties imposed on senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officials in recent years.

A commentary republished by Xinhua News Agency, originally from the PLA Daily, emphasized that the cases involve not only corruption but also political loyalty. The article stated, “The military must not tolerate individuals who are disloyal to the Chinese Communist Party. “Since the 18th Party Congress, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Xi Jinping, authorities have intensified efforts to investigate high-level corruption and eliminate ‘political risks.’” “The armed forces must align closely with Xi Jinping and uphold the Central Military Commission Chairman responsibility system, … building a strong military first requires being ‘politically strong.’”

The verdict noted that Li Shangfu’s offenses included both accepting and offering bribes. Li previously served as head of the PLA General Armaments Department, whose predecessor was Zhang Youxia, prompting speculation that the bribery charge could be linked to Zhang.

Separately, overseas commentator Yuan Hongbing cited sources claiming that Wei and Li were viewed as politically unreliable because their views are different from Xi Jinping on a potential Taiwan Strait war. According to these claims, they outwardly expressed support for the official position of being willing to wage the war, but privately doubted the likelihood of success. They worked on contingency preparations to control China in case of such a failure, not only reaching out within the PLA system, but also to officials in the Party and government organs. This was why Xi Jinping couldn’t tolerate them and imposed such severe punishment on them.

Sources:
1. Xinhua, May 8, 2026
https://www.news.cn/politics/20260508/705866aafb3841a68c165a4fbeaa4dca/c.html
2. Epoch Times, May 8, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/5/8/n14759168.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military

Wang Yi Calls for Sino-French Strengthen Strategic Communication

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Emmanuel Bonne, French President Macron’s diplomatic adviser, in Beijing on May 8, calling for strengthened strategic communication and coordination between the two countries to jointly address global challenges. Bonne, in turn, expressed France’s willingness to play an active role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China.

Wang Yi noted that Macron’s visit to China last year demonstrated the high level and special nature of the bilateral relationship, and said China hopes to work with France to achieve greater progress in cooperation and bring more benefits to both peoples.

Wang Yi emphasized that in a world increasingly marked by disorder, China and France — as permanent members of the UN Security Council and independently minded major powers — bear significant responsibility for maintaining international peace, stability, and development. He called on both sides to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, push their comprehensive strategic partnership forward free from interference, and ensure its healthy and stable development.

Wang Yi also reiterated that the foundation of China-France relations rests on firm political mutual trust and mutual respect for each other’s core interests. He urged France to uphold the one-China principle in practice, refrain from any form of official exchanges with Taiwan’s authorities, and avoid sending any wrong signals to pro-independence forces.

Bonne affirmed that France fully understands the importance and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, adheres to the one-China policy, and that this position will not change. He also stressed that under the current international situation, dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China are essential, and that the EU needs China as a trustworthy partner. France, he said, is willing to play a constructive role in advancing that relationship.

The two officials have spoken by phone twice previously this year — once in January to discuss global instability, and again in March to address the situation in the Middle East.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 9, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605090114.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

U.S. Rejected Beijing’s Invitation to U.S. Companies Accompanying Trump’s Visit to China to Meet with Chinese Leaders

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, the U.S. government is inviting CEOs of major companies such as Nvidia, Apple, ExxonMobil, and Boeing to accompany President Trump on his visit to China next week, but they have reportedly declined the Chinese side’s invitation to arrange special talks between the accompanying company executives and senior Chinese officials. Executives from Qualcomm, Blackstone Group, Citigroup, and Visa were also among those invited.

The U.S. rejected China’s invitation to organize industry-specific talks between senior Chinese leaders and U.S. company CEOs, believing that such a move could make U.S. companies appear to have too close a relationship with Beijing. The White House has not formally invited the business executives, and the initial list of 24 proposed executives to accompany the visit may eventually be reduced by half. However, sources say Boeing CEO John Ottberg and Citigroup CEO Richard Fraser are indeed scheduled to visit, with Boeing set to finalize its largest aircraft order in nearly a decade with China.

Trump visited China in 2017 during his first presidential term, accompanied by nearly 30 executives. The two sides signed agreements worth over US$250 billion, setting a record for Sino-US economic and trade cooperation.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, May 8, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260508-9015326?ref=global-top-news-13

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China–Canada Tensions Rise Over Taiwan Issue Following Chinese Diplomat’s Remarks

On May 1, Canada’s Globe and Mail published an interview with Wang Di, China’s ambassador to Canada, who stated that the Taiwan issue constitutes a non-negotiable “red line” in China–Canada relations and that Ottawa must clearly articulate its position if bilateral ties are to advance. Wang criticized actions such as Canadian naval vessels transiting the Taiwan Strait and contacts between Canadian parliamentarians and Taiwanese officials, arguing that these violate the “One China” principle.

In response, Taiwan’s representative to Canada, Tseng Hou-jen, rejected Wang’s remarks in an interview with iPolitics, calling them “absurd” and counterproductive. Tseng argued that Wang’s statements reflect China’s tendency to “weaponize trade,” which could provoke backlash within Canadian political circles. He emphasized that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, not China’s internal waters, and that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, all countries are entitled to freedom of navigation there.

Wang’s comments have drawn criticism from figures across Canada’s political and academic communities, who urged the government to uphold its principles in its engagement with Beijing. Those voicing concern include Senator Leo Housakos, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman, former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, and Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

The controversy comes amid efforts to revive bilateral ties following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January visit to China, during which six agreements were signed to restart an eight-year-suspended “strategic partnership.” However, the visit also sparked domestic criticism after two Liberal lawmakers visiting Taiwan cut short their trip on government advice, with some politicians accusing Ottawa of yielding to pressure from Beijing.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 2, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605020092.aspx

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Beijing’s Youth Exodus: The Capital Is Growing Old

China’s capital is aging rapidly. The number of residents aged 20 to 29 living in Beijing has nearly halved over the past decade, dropping from 4.618 million in 2015 to 2.489 million in 2024 — a loss of 2.129 million young people. Their share of the city’s total population fell from 21.3 percent to 11.4 percent, now barely above the national average of 10.56 percent. Over the same period, residents aged 60 and above grew from 3.405 million to 5.14 million.

The trend is drawing concern. Scholar Wang Mingyuan wrote in a widely circulated social media post that Beijing’s young population is now far smaller than those of Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. He warned that if the demographic trend continues, Beijing risks becoming a city without vitality by 2030. At Peking University, the share of graduates choosing to stay in Beijing dropped from 72 percent in 2013 to just 42 percent in 2024, with growing numbers heading to Shanghai and Guangdong instead.

High living costs, limited opportunities for small and mid-sized businesses, and a rigid household registration system are widely cited as the culprits. Resources in Beijing increasingly concentrate among a few large tech firms, squeezing out the kind of growing startups that create opportunities for young workers. Wang noted that families earning over 1 million yuan (~$137,500 USD) annually have lived in Beijing for over a decade and still cannot obtain permanent residency, forcing some couples into long-distance marriages or relocation to Shenzhen.

Wei, a 34-year-old from Shandong who moved to Beijing in 2016, told a reporter that young people typically leave after five years if their income remains modest. “This city doesn’t encourage you to stay,” he said, adding that post-pandemic economic fatigue has left many unwilling to keep competing.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 4, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202605040304.aspx

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Northeast China Faces Severe Population Decline Amid Outmigration and Aging

Northeast China—comprising the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning—was once among the country’s most prosperous regions in the 20th century, thanks to its strong industrial base, abundant natural resources, and fertile agricultural land. Today, however, it has become China’s hardest-hit region in terms of population decline.

Census data show that between 2010 and 2020, the region lost about 11 million people. The downward trend has continued each year since 2021, with an additional decline of roughly 4 million over the past five years, bringing the total population to around 94 million.

This trend has even given rise to a new term, “Northeast-ification” (东北化), used to describe the population loss and its broader economic consequences, such as falling real estate prices. Northeast China’s decline is driven by two main factors: large-scale outmigration and a natural population decrease in which deaths significantly outnumber births. Many young people have migrated to Beijing or other major cities in southern and eastern China, accelerating aging and depressing fertility rates in the region.

All three northeastern provinces now rank among the most aged areas in China, with roughly 20 percent of their populations aged 65 or older. Birth rates are also among the lowest nationwide, with all three provinces ranking at the bottom in 2024, at approximately 3.3 to 4.3 births per thousand people.

Source: Sina, April 29, 2026
https://finance.sina.com.cn/wm/2026-04-29/doc-inhwceik8111763.shtml?froms=ggmp

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Despite Beijing’s Obstruction, Taiwan President Proceeds with State Visit to Eswatini

2026 marked the 58th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had planned to visit Eswatini from April 22 to 24 to attend celebrations marking King Mswati III’s 40th anniversary on the throne and his 58th birthday. However, the trip was disrupted after three countries—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—reportedly denied overflight permission for Taiwan’s presidential aircraft, allegedly under pressure from Beijing. Taiwan subsequently dispatched Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung as a special envoy, while the episode was viewed by Beijing as a diplomatic success.

In response, Taiwan and Eswatini coordinated an alternative arrangement. Eswatini sent its deputy prime minister to Taiwan aboard the king’s royal aircraft, reaffirming the close relationship between the two countries.

During the visit, the envoy formally invited Lai to travel to Eswatini using the royal aircraft, providing a workaround to the earlier flight restrictions. On May 2, Lai successfully arrived in Eswatini for an official state visit, reportedly catching Beijing off guard. He returned to Taiwan on May 5 aboard the same aircraft, flying over Mozambique, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, accompanied by Eswatini’s deputy prime minister.

Sources:
1. Liberty Times (Taiwan), May 2, 2026
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/5423344
2. Lianhe Zaobao, May 5, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260505-8999852

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend

Report Exposes China’s Phishing Campaign and Repression Targeting Dissidents and Journalists Worldwide

A recent report reveals that since April 2025, researchers have identified a large-scale phishing and digital impersonation campaign targeting overseas Uyghur, Tibetan, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong activists, as well as journalists covering related issues. Two primary threat groups were identified: GLITTER CARP, which conducts broad and persistent phishing operations—even targeting individuals loosely connected to its main targets—and SEQUIN CARP, which focuses specifically on journalists reporting on China’s transnational repression, including those involved in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) project “China Targets.”

The attackers’ primary objective is to steal login credentials—particularly for Google and Microsoft 365 accounts—by redirecting victims to highly convincing fake login pages via links sent through email or messaging apps such as Signal and Line. Researchers also found evidence of coordinated operations using multiple phishing toolkits, suggesting collaboration among groups with varying technical capabilities. The campaign includes impersonation of legitimate media domains, such as fake versions of The Epoch Times, and relies on a large infrastructure of IP addresses and domains, indicating broader—and potentially ongoing—operations beyond those identified.

The report argues that these activities form part of a long-standing pattern of China-linked digital transnational repression, targeting overseas dissidents through hacking, spyware, and online intimidation. It highlights the growing role of private Chinese companies in this ecosystem, describing a “public-private” model in which contractors develop and sell cyber tools—such as spyware and phishing kits—to state agencies. Leaked documents from a sanctioned firm suggest the emergence of a commercialized market for cyber operations, with relatively low costs for data theft and system access.

The report further warns that the outsourcing and industrialization of such activities reduce operational costs, expand their scale, and complicate attribution and accountability. Beyond their technical impact, these campaigns generate a broader “chilling effect,” fostering fear, self-censorship, and distrust among targeted communities.

For example, following the publication of the ICIJ’s “China Targets” investigation in April 2025, journalists involved in the project were themselves targeted by phishing and impersonation campaigns—highlighting how scrutiny and reporting on these issues can trigger retaliatory cyber operations.

Source: Epoch Times, April 29, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/29/n14752403.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics