China Insider | Sinicization of Religion in China, PLA Lessons from the US Naval Blockade, China’s Real Estate Market Decline

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. 

In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews China’s planned peace offensive toward Taiwan ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit, and how this strategy may impact talks between the two countries’ leaders. Next, Miles dives into the latest developments from the US-Iran war and discusses how nearly six weeks of conflict have affected China’s approach to international affairs. Finally, we observe the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and review the importance of the landmark legislation governing unofficial US relations with Taiwan. 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 new policies enacted by China’s Education Ministry aimed at reducing excess stress and pressure among primary and secondary school students. Next, Miles looks into China’s campaign of transnational repression and coercion against human rights advocates and legal experts with familial ties to members of ethnic minority groups living in China. Finally, Miles discusses the recent political purge of Politburo member and former Xinjiang chief, Ma Xingrui, as the third such purge in recent months related to China’s aerospace program. 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 Xi Jinping’s fourth visit to the Xiong’an New Area development project and details his plans for the “city of the future” including its domestic reception. Next, Miles explores the impact of US military operations in the Middle East on cross-strait relations, and addresses concerns over how a potential prolonged engagement will influence the US commitment to Taiwan. Finally, Miles covers the extensive espionage, technology transfer, and national security threat against US universities and colleges, and how the CCP’s coercive apparatus has evolved over the past several years. 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 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.