China Insider | Xi Jinping Purges Rocket Force Scientists, CCP Information Influence, South Korea President Lee's Domestic Opposition

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews the widespread scale of Xi Jinping’s purges in recent weeks that extends to include China's leading weapons experts and defense science officials, and the impact these removals have on PLA military operations. Next, Miles covers the CCP’s ongoing global influence campaign against western nations on the individual level, and explores how independent proxies can unknowingly further party messaging in key decision-making forums. Finally, Miles discusses the challenges faced by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung since he took office, and the his attempt to delicately balance South Korea’s participation in global alliances with domestic disagreements among government officials over policy toward North Korea. 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 China’s western hemisphere influence in the context of Cuba, and the importance of Cuba to China’s global strategy. Next, Miles discusses China’s potential role in the ongoing Strait of Hormuz standoff and the impact of shipping restrictions on the Chinese economy. Finally, Miles covers the Paris summit between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, as a prelude to the Trump-Xi summit and the possibility of renewed trade talks between the two countries. 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 China’s Two Sessions, and what to look forward to over the coming days of China’s largest annual political meetings. Next, Miles takes a closer look at China’s security and weapons exports to Iran and provides a quality assessment of Chinese weapon systems. Lastly, Miles examines China’s response to joint military action from the US and Israel in the wake of the conflict in Iran, and how much of China’s restrained response reflects the real impact of structural and hard power limitations. 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 analyzes the wider impact of Operation Epic Fury in the context of US-China relations, and how the joint operation changes China’s calculated approach to extending their influence in the Middle East. Second, Miles covers the Trump Administration’s efforts to counter PRC influence via multilateral forums and hemispheric diplomacy in the upcoming Shields of the Americas summit. Finally, Miles weighs in on the “regime change” debate, and the role of such operations within the US national security strategy and key strategic deterrence initiatives as well. 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 the 2026 winter Olympic games in the context of the ongoing US-China diplomatic rivalry and larger geopolitical implications of the games. Next, Miles unpacks the recent US Supreme Court ruling on US trade tariff policy, and how this might shift the landscape in bilateral trade negotiations between the US and China. Finally, we observe the Chinese lunar new year and Miles reviews what challenges lie ahead for the CCP regime in the year of the horse. 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 the recent video call held between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to strengthen Beijing-Moscow ties and examines the current state of bilateral relations. Next, Miles provides analysis of China’s evolving clean energy sector and the importance of the EV market and other clean technologies to China’s GDP growth and economic trajectory. Finally, Miles reviews China’s increasing domestic economic struggles, as efforts to address rising youth unemployment and the lingering affordability crisis continue to fall short, and what this might mean for the Chinese economy in 2026.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 the increase of PLA naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal in response to US-Philippine joint military exercises, and what this development indicates about China’s evolving maritime strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Second, Miles unpacks the decision by the Chinese Football Association to issue 73 lifetime bans to coaches and players for match fixing and details the larger network of corruption across professional sports in China. Finally, Miles reviews the executions of eleven Ming mafia family members related to scam centers based in Myanmar, and what this judicial process reveals about the current state of bilateral relations between China and Myanmar.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 the recent CCP investigations into the vice chair of China’s Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and the chief of staff of the commission’s Joint Staff Department, Liu Zhenli, and what these purges mean for PLA operations and effectiveness. Next, Miles reviews the authorization of President Trump’s Board of Peace, the international actors that have joined so far, and the significance of the board to China. Finally, Miles unpacks China’s demographic crisis and declining birthrate, and how the CCP plans to respond to the crisis.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 breaks down China’s arctic strategy and regional ambition despite its geographic inconsistency as a non-arctic state, and how this relates to US security interests in Greenland. Second, Miles covers the recent trade agreement between the US and Taiwan following months of negotiations, the terms involved, and the significance of this deal for the semiconductor and AI sectors. Finally, Miles reviews Prime Minister Mark Carney’s state visit to Beijing last week and the various outcomes including the preliminary trade deal and economic cooperation framework. 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 analyzes China’s repositioning toward Iran and Venezuela, and how recent geopolitical developments in each country shift China’s strategic economic and political interests. Next, Miles examines the US response to China’s shifting global strategy under the new National Security Strategy, and details potential future actions to deter Chinese interests around the world. Finally, Miles reviews the Monroe Doctrine and how some analysts might misread key elements in their applied arguments regarding contemporary international affairs and US foreign policy.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.