China Insider | PLA Patrols Scarborough Shoal, China's Football Association Corruption, Ming Mafia Executions

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. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by US special operations forces, and details China’s response to the operation including the impact this will have on China-Venezuela oil deals. Next, Miles breaks down the PLA’s the recent Justice Mission 2025 military exercise, and what this means for the continued multilateral defense of Taiwan against mainland incursion. Finally, Miles unpacks Japan’s cabinet approval for a record spending increase in the 2026 defense budget, and examines the impact this move will have on Japan’s evolving security strategy toward 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 reviews the recent announcement from technology giant Canon to close one of its major printer facilities based in mainland China, and assess the impact of a rising demand for domestic manufacturing on foreign companies based in China. Next, Miles covers the news of US naval operations and intercept of a Chinese cargo ship en route to Iran reportedly carrying dual-use goods in a move to prevent Iran’s continued remilitarization efforts. Finally, Miles provides analysis on the CCP’s continued efforts to spread anti-Japanese propaganda, and the political fallout from these campaigns that harms both Chinese domestic and 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.

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews the new 2025 National Security Strategy document released by the White House, highlighting key elements involving the shifted focus to Indo-Pacific defense initiatives with attention to China and Taiwan. Next, Miles covers China’s latest episode of anti-Japanese sentiment during a cultural festival in Shanghai, and how this rising xenophobic trend has backfired for the Chinese Communist Party. Finally, Miles responds to the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to discredit his own published statements on Beijing’s goal for the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland, and unpacks the larger implications of the CCP’s focus on narrative dominance in cross-strait dialogue. 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 call between President Trump and Xi Jinping on the topic of Taiwan, highlighting the importance of narrative dominance in the information warfare domain in cross-strait relations. Next, Miles looks into the catastrophic five alarm fire in Hong Kong last week that resulted in at least 128 casualties, and the latest updates from the official investigation into what caused the apartment complex fire. Finally, Miles reviews Taiwan’s $40-billion supplementary defense spending package, and how effective the investment will be to enhance Taiwan’s security infrastructure and further deter asymmetric threats from 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 goes solo. First, he examines Tesla’s announcement that it will eliminate all China-sourced components from vehicles manufactured in the United States within the next two years. This marks a monumental shift in the company’s supply chain and signals a broader decoupling of key US industries from longstanding Chinese chokeholds and security vulnerabilities. Second, Miles revisits the 2015 purchase of the US insurance firm Wright USA, which specializes in liability insurance for Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigations personnel, by the Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group. He explains why the subsequent Committee on Foreign Investment in the US–mandated resale of the company back to Starr Companies, controlled by China’s longtime friend Maurice “Hank” Greenberg and his AIG network, may be the more consequential part of the story. Last, Miles analyzes the China factor in the ongoing US–Venezuela standoff. He discusses how the Maduro regime has advanced Beijing’s strategic interests of manufacturing global strategic distractions for the US by fueling instability and chaos across Latin America—the region long referred to as the United States’ own “backyard.” 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 tracks the backlash over statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Japan's defense policy regarding Taiwan, and what motivates Beijing's unique outrage. Second, Miles follows up on the KMT party elections last month in Taiwan where former KMT lawmaker Cheng Li-wun took over party leadership, and unpacks what this means for the KMT party platform moving forward. Lastly, Miles comments on recent political analysis from the New York Times addressing the duality of the Chinese state - one that appears outwardly strong, but faces internal struggles that may tell us a different story from the perspective of individual Chinese citizens. 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.