Michael Zhuang

The exercise included at-sea replenishment, which could help Beijing sustain naval deployments beyond the first island chain, an insider said.

Insiders said CCP leaders were beginning to shape the next Party Congress and future policy direction as Beijing sought breakthroughs in AI and semiconductors.

Officials in some regions are demanding workers return bonuses and pandemic subsidies paid years ago as local governments struggle with declining revenue.

Taiwanese officials say the CCP is focused on influencing Taiwan’s elections, blocking U.S. arms sales, and tightening loyalty within the Party.

Record rainfall floods streets, disrupts thousands of flights, and prompts the relocation of thousands of residents.

Residents describe homes swept away, roads and communications cut off, and missing villagers.

A viral joke over a toy’s ‘wa-wa’ sound has evolved into a broader outlet for public frustration with Huawei and China’s tightly controlled online environment.

This year’s exercise is different in unprecedented ways such as the military’s use of drone swarms, said one expert.

Medical workers say employers are collecting passports, while some residents report failed passport applications before new rules take effect.

Medical workers say some Beijing hospitals are reclaiming bonuses, suspending incentive pay, and delaying salaries as funding pressures mount.