Freeing China’s Political Prisoners

Southeast Europe, where Russia and Communist China have long sought to strengthen their foothold and expand their malign influence on the Continent, is a test case for a Russia-free, resilient European energy future. The region is becoming the gateway for liquefied natural gas imports from the United States, which could fully replace Russian gas by 2027. The region is also a major hub for US investment in next-generation clean energy technologies. With expanding artificial intelligence–driven data centers and innovation partnerships, Southeast Europe is making important contributions to European resilience and transatlantic ties.Join Hudson Senior Fellow Matt Boyse for an event with Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) Energy and Climate Program Analyst Marius Koeppen. They will discuss recent developments in the region and CSD’s latest risk assessments. Ruslan Stefanov, program director and chief economist at CSD, will provide opening remarks.

Given the scope and scale of the political prisoner crisis across China, the United States needs to do more to secure political prisoners’ release. The Chinese Communist Party holds at least 1.8 million Uyghurs in political prison camps and nearly 1,000 political prisoners in Hong Kong. In addition, the CCP extrajudicially detains many Tibetans, Christians (including pastors), and political dissidents. This is largely because the CCP sees political prisoners as an essential method of quashing dissent and retaining its power.With that in mind, the United States should have equally robust mechanisms for setting political prisoners free. Congress has a substantial apparatus for securing political prisoners’ release. But the executive branch pursues political prisoner release in a more ad hoc manner. A new office of political prisoner advocacy in the executive branch, with a special envoy of ambassador rank, could bolster existing US efforts to free political prisoners.

Taiwan sits at the intersection of geopolitics and global supply chains, and its democracy, technological prowess, and strategic location make it both a symbol and a target. As tensions with China grow, the island faces not only the threat of a potential economic blockade or military invasion, but also the danger of cyberattacks. Cyber resilience is a vital component of deterring Chinese aggression against Taiwan.Join Hudson Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a discussion with Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rhombus Power Founder and CEO Dr. Anshu Roy, former Vice Minister for Policy of the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen, and RunSafe Security CEO Joseph Saunders as they explore the role of cyber resilience in the defense of Taiwan.

The two-year-old conflict in Sudan is disrupting one of Africa’s most important regions, threatening a major maritime shipping route, advancing American adversaries’ interests, and devastating the civilian population. Despite the Trump administration’s recent mediation effort, the war shows no sign of ending. Continued violence at the current level promises even more destructive ripple effects.Hudson Institute, in collaboration with the Israel-Africa Institute, is conducting a series of webinars analyzing the East Africa region. In this episode, experts discuss:The history of the Sudan conflict and the status of the fightingThe roles of Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, Islamists factions, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United StatesSudan’s importance to Africa and the worldNext steps toward ending the world’s costliest ongoing conflict

The Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East will host Dr. Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, for a conversation with Dr. Michael Doran. They will discuss the evolving global terrorist threat, the future of United States counterterrorism strategy, and how counterterrorism shapes US policy in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump has invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the White House for a landmark summit aimed at ending decades of hostility. The leaders are expected to sign key agreements to establish lasting peace between their long-divided nations. Research Fellow Zineb Riboua will moderate a conversation on the potential implications of this historic accord with Senior Fellow Michael Doran and Damjan Krnjević Mišković, professor of practice at Azerbaijan’s ADA University and editor of the policy journal Baku Dialogues.

Peru is undergoing one of the most volatile political periods in its democratic history. President Dina Boluarte’s deeply unpopular administration faces compounding crises, from institutional paralysis to rising insecurity, that are testing the strength of Peru’s democratic foundations.Despite this turmoil, Peru’s economy is outperforming the region. Aided by high commodity prices and the world’s second-largest copper reserves, the country remains a key player in global supply chains.Now, Peru sits at the center of concerns over China’s growing presence in Latin America. The $3.5 billion Chancay megaport—Beijing’s most ambitious infrastructure project in the region—threatens to reshape South American trade flows and could give China new levers of political influence. Join Hudson Adjunct Fellow Daniel Batlle and a panel of leading analysts as they examine what lies ahead for Peru and whether the country can convert its economic potential into lasting security and sovereignty ahead of its 2026 elections.

For decades the United States Navy’s and Coast Guard’s fleets have been shrinking despite their increasing necessity. From the Gulf of America to the  Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and beyond, US maritime forces have had to defend America and its allies with older and fewer ships and aircraft. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act will inject billions of dollars into the US shipbuilding and maritime industrial base, which can help to restore US Navy and Coast Guard capacity. But turning funding into capability will not be easy. The US maritime industry needs to address worker shortages, crumbling infrastructure, and inadequate commercial demand.Join Hudson Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Michael Roberts for a discussion with government and industry leaders about the challenges the US Navy and Coast Guard face amid modernization efforts and how new legislation and regulation can help restore America’s maritime superiority.

Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director for the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Michael Doran for a conversation with Reverend Johnnie Moore, president of the Congress of Christian Leaders and founder of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. As the conflict in Gaza persists, humanitarian efforts are increasingly entangled with political narratives and media manipulation. Moore will discuss the foundation’s mission, the challenges of operating alongside Hamas and the United Nations, and the role of faith-based initiatives in delivering aid in a contested information space.

Iran has entered a new phase of strategic uncertainty after successful Israeli and American military operations dismantled the Islamic Republic’s nuclear infrastructure, fractured its proxy network, and significantly weakened its position in the region.Senior Fellows Michael Doran, Bryan Clark, and Can Kasapoğlu will explore the implications of this shift for the United States, Israel, and their partners and discuss how Iran might respond.