China Insider | China Detains US Scholar, EU-China Trade Imbalance, G7 Targets China’s Rare Earth Minerals Coercion

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu looks into the detention of U Min Zin, a US and Myanmar scholar, while attending an academic workshop in Yunnan Province under allegations of espionage, and details the extent of the diplomatic response since and the current state of academic freedom in China. Next, Miles reviews the bilateral trade relationship between the European Union and China, as EU trade officials claim the status quo is not sustainable either economically or politically and seek to rebalance the current goods deficit. Finally, Miles covers the outcomes from the G7 summit, as leaders agreed to coordinate further reductions in reliance on China’s critical mineral supply chains, including plans to align stockpiling, and what this initiative will mean for both the global REM market and China going forward. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu covers President Xi Jinping’s high-profile state visit to North Korea last week, detailing the bilateral conversations held between Xi and Kim and stated outcomes, and compares this visit to Xi’s previous meetings with Presidents Trump and Putin. Next, Miles circles back on KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun’s two-week visit to the US, and highlights key meetings and statements from her public engagements. Finally, Miles reviews the current state of China’s developing sport industry both nationally and on the global stage, amidst the NHL Stanley Cup and NBA Finals as well as the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future.   

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu observes the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, and discusses how families of the victims plan to honor their loved ones both in mainland China and abroad despite CCP censorship. Next, Miles reports on China’s continued economic woes as growth rates have declined over the past few months, and assess renewed calls for CCP intervention to spark stimulus and address increasing concerns. Finally, Miles reviews an investigative report stemming from a whistleblower disclosure of non-public foreign funding to Stanford University from Chinese state-backed entities, and comments on the extent of Chinese influence in US academia. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu covers remarks given by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, and what his statements reveal about the current objectives of US defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Next, Miles reviews China’s decision to impose significant penalties on several brokerage firms over alleged trading infractions, and how this move fits into China’s global economic coercion apparatus. Finally, Miles unpacks KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s planned visit to the US, what we can expect from this tour, and the potential impact her visit may have on current cross-strait tensions. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews the moratorium of US weapon sales to Taiwan as part of a $14 billion package approved by Congress, and how the decision impacts cross-strait relations. Next, Miles covers the bilateral dialogue held between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping and assesses the outcomes and joint statement issued by both leaders following the summit. Finally, Miles discusses the tragic mining disaster at the Liushengyu mine in Shanxi Province, and analyzes how this crisis compares to prior mining disasters and China’s ongoing issues with adherence to safety regulations. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the two-day summit held in Beijing between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping. The discussion covers the strategic objectives and red lines negotiated by both leaders during the summit, and breaks down the various outcomes on key issues covered in the bilateral meetings related to the US-China trade relationship, the Iran War and conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, and US policy toward Taiwan including pending arms sales. Lastly, Miles provides his assessment of the larger implications toward the evolving strategic competition dynamic between the US and China, and what to expect in future talks between the two leaders over the course of this year. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the sentencing of former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, and how the rulings fit into the larger pattern of Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge campaign. Next, Miles unpacks what is at stake in the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, including key strategic priorities and points of contention for both sides. Finally, Miles reviews the current views held among the Chinese people related to Trump’s visit, and general sentiment toward US bilateral engagement with China. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the state of press freedom and media rights in China in the wake of the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, where China ranked 178th out of 180 countries. Next, Miles covers the CCP’s latest attempt to address the issue of youth disenfranchisement, claiming foreign intelligence operations are behind the popular Lying-Flat movement. Finally, Miles breaks down the fallout following KMT Leader Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing, and the impact of emerging internal divisions within the party on the special defense budget proposal. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future.    

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the latest sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Controls targeting Chinese shadow fleet vessels involved in illicit Iranian oil transports, and the role these measures play in the larger scope of Economic Fury. Next, Miles examines Japan's participation in the Balikatan joint training military exercise, along with the U.S. and Philippines, and the larger implications of Japan's increased involvement in bilateral and multilateral security alliance frameworks in the Indo-Pacific. Finally, Miles reviews recent CCP regulations that further restrict the freedom of multinational corporations to decouple from Chinese markets and shift supply chains away from the country.    China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses Xi Jinping’s campaign for the sinicization of religion by the CCP and the increased repression of religious freedom in China, ten years later. Next, Miles reviews the latest updates from the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and how this maritime operation impacts PLA strategic calculus and potential future engagements involving Taiwan. Finally, Miles covers recent comments from Chinese real estate tycoon, Pan Shiyi, calling China’s real estate market a Ponzi scheme following Evergrande’s founder, Xu Jiayin’s, entered guilty plea in the ongoing legal proceedings involving allegations of fraud and embezzlement. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future.