VOA Chinese Broadcast (June 27, 2026)
The main contents of this Voice of America Mandarin broadcast include: US President Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by attacking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, and the International Maritime Organization suspended the evacuation of stranded seafarers; NATO Secretary General Rutte discussed allies' defense spending targets; the US House Ways and Means Committee warned tax-exempt organizations influenced by foreign entities; a small aircraft collided with and damaged China Zun in Beijing; the National Museum of American History in Washington launched a special exhibition for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country; the World Meteorological Organization expressed concern over the heatwave in Western Europe; the US State Department and multiple countries expressed concern over the actions of China Coast Guard vessels in waters east of Taiwan; US lawmakers welcomed the Taiwan legislative delegation led by Han Kuo-yu on Capitol Hill.
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US President Trump said that Iran's attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday violated the ceasefire agreement reached with the Tehran regime. President Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran launched at least four one-way attack drones at vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of which struck the upper deck of a large and expensive cargo ship. President Trump also said that despite the damage, the cargo ship was still able to continue its voyage, and we shot down the other three drones; obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement, referring to the memorandum of understanding he signed with Iranian leaders earlier this month.
Singaporean port authorities reported on Thursday that the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Breeze was struck by an unidentified flying object while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in minor hull damage, while all 21 crew members on board were safe. The attack prompted the UN International Maritime Organization to temporarily suspend the evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region due to the 110-day conflict between the US and the Iranian regime. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that since the operation began on June 23, 115 ships and 2,500 seafarers have been evacuated. Dominguez told reporters at a briefing on Friday that vessels have suffered more than 40 attacks during the Middle East conflict, resulting in 14 seafarer deaths. He said seafarers feel completely forgotten by global media and people around the world, and we need to take better care of seafarers; shipping should not be used as a bargaining chip in any geopolitical conflict.
Dominguez said that before Thursday's attack, Iran signaled that using unauthorized channels would actually lead to legal sanctions. He said he did not know what those sanctions were, but the agency subsequently confirmed that a ship was attacked. Dominguez said he needs guarantees that ships will not be attacked before the agency resumes the work of evacuating seafarers from the approximately 500 ships still stranded, which he said could take several weeks.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched a plan on June 23 to evacuate more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region for 110 days due to the U.S.-Iran conflict. The organization stated that it is working with Iran, Oman, and the United States to implement this operation. Following the evacuation plan, Oman also announced on Tuesday the establishment of a safe passage route for vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said on Thursday, "I have been informed of an attack that occurred today in the Gulf of Oman, targeting a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz." He said the vessel that was attacked was not following the IMO's evacuation framework. He added that, therefore, to ensure coordination and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be suspended until the situation becomes clearer.
Singaporean port authorities reported on Thursday that the container ship Eternal Hobby was struck by an unidentified flying object while departing the Strait of Hormuz, causing minor damage to the hull, with all 21 crew members on board safe. On the same day the attack occurred, the United States and Gulf nations issued a statement opposing any form of harm or attempts to control the strait. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Bahrain on Thursday that international waterways must remain free, stating that no one supports the collection of tolls or fees on this strait.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and Iran on June 18 requires safe passage through the strait. The memorandum states that upon signing, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make its best efforts to arrange for the safe passage of commercial vessels without collecting any fees for 60 days. The memorandum also states that commercial vessel transit will begin immediately, and considering the Islamic Republic of Iran's need to eliminate technical and military obstacles and conduct mine-clearing operations, transit will be fully restored within 30 days. The MOU also notes that Iran will engage in dialogue with Oman to discuss determining the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz with other Persian Gulf coastal states. He emphasized that this work should be conducted in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of the coastal states of the strait. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Friday that safe passage through the strait cannot be guaranteed under what he called ambiguous arrangements for parallel routes or decisions that do not take into account Iran's interests as a coastal state.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Canada and European allies are making good progress in efforts to meet NATO's defense spending targets, with member states agreeing last year to spend 5% of their GDP on defense-related expenditures by 2035. Rutte, speaking on Thursday, June 25, at an event hosted by the Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council, responded to a related question from a reporter from the Voice of America's Kurdish Service, saying, "I think we are in a pretty good place right now; if there are one or two countries that need some encouragement, I will do it quietly." Rutte indicated that budget targets would be one of the topics at the NATO summit leaders' meeting to be held in Ankara, Turkey, from July 7 to July 8. The NATO leader stated that this spending target was not set arbitrarily but determined through a rigorous process aimed at clarifying what capabilities NATO should possess and how much funding member states need to invest to support those capabilities. Rutte said all these countries are now busy ensuring that these goals can be met over time.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Trump met with Rutte at the White House. Trump has long criticized NATO, urging other countries to increase defense spending so the U.S. can reduce its burden on NATO. The U.S. has initiated a review of its troop presence in Europe. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that future U.S. financial commitments to NATO will depend on whether other countries meet their defense spending targets.
Jason Smith, Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, warned at a hearing on June 25 that many organizations enjoying tax-exempt status in the U.S. are funded by individuals influenced by foreign governments. He pointed out that American tech billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who has close ties to the CCP, operates a network of many tax-exempt organizations from Shanghai with the goal of undermining U.S. institutions and the American way of life. Specifically, "We have raised concerns about organizations under the Chinese United Front system that enjoy tax-exempt status; these organizations, on one hand, spread communist propaganda and engage in activities that influence U.S. elections, violating their tax-exempt eligibility." The Ways and Means Committee has been investigating tax-exempt organizations for years, and "we have found that some of these organizations, which enjoy tax-exempt treatment and receive generous financial benefits, have been creating chaos and inciting violence in our communities while also interfering in the U.S. political system."
What is even more shocking is the extent to which these US-based organizations are funded by foreign individuals who are influenced by foreign governments, especially China. Our oversight investigation into the Chinese Communist Party's interference in US public opinion has uncovered a vast network of US tax-exempt organizations linked to Neville Roy Singham, a wealthy US tech entrepreneur who operates this network from Shanghai. Singham has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and shares office space with a Chinese propaganda company whose stated goal is to tell China's story well. Singham himself also once attended a seminar on how to promote the Chinese Communist Party internationally. At a hearing held by the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, an expert witness testified about how the Singham network mobilized, trained, and expanded protests, incited property destruction, burned the American flag, attacked local law enforcement officers, and blocked airports and bridges in major cities including New York and Los Angeles, with the very purpose of subverting our institutions and disrupting our way of life. The Ways and Means Committee is currently requesting information and documents from three organizations under the Singham network, including Breakthrough News, Tri-Continental, and the People's Forum. The People's Forum alone has received more than $20 million in funding from the Singham network. We have made it clear to these three organizations that we will use every available tool, including congressional subpoena power, to fulfill our oversight duties.
CITIC Tower, a skyscraper located in the central business district of Beijing, China, showed signs of damage on Friday, June 26. According to pictures and videos circulating from the scene and on social media, wreckage from a small aircraft appeared near the skyscraper, and police have currently cordoned off the accident scene and surrounding roads. The 108-story CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, is the tallest building in China's capital. On Friday, June 26, a missing glass curtain wall was witnessed on one side of the upper floors of the building. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that a small plane crashed into CITIC Tower. Pictures and videos circulating on social media also showed debris falling from the building at the time of the incident, along with wreckage of a small aircraft and a broken car window nearby. Beijing police have deployed a large number of police forces at the scene, and vehicles are prohibited from passing on some roads leading to the building. Police officers were seen stopping passersby from taking photos and evacuating crowds near the building. The cause of the accident remains unclear, and authorities have not issued a statement regarding it. According to public information, Beijing CITIC Tower is the headquarters of CITIC Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, and is also the tallest building in China's capital.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States on July 4, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington has launched a special exhibition featuring 250 selected artifacts that showcase the rich and diverse history and culture of the United States. A marble statue of George Washington, the first US president; the ruby slippers from the classic film The Wizard of Oz; and the Greensboro lunch counter, which later became an important symbol of the US civil rights movement—these three iconic items from different chapters of American history are among the 250 artifacts selected for the special exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Megan Howell Smith, chair of the museum's 250th anniversary steering committee, stated that the exhibition, titled Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness, brings together numerous artifacts to showcase the breadth of the American story. In this exhibition, we focus on the impact of the Declaration of Independence on American history and showcase how Americans have pursued life, liberty, and happiness across different historical periods. The time span of these artifacts ranges from the 18th century to the contemporary era, covering American politics, history, and culture. We have exhibited George Washington's military uniform, which immediately brings to mind 1776 and the birth of the United States, as well as this 250th-anniversary commemoration.
Another highlight is the Greensboro lunch counter, originating from a Woolworth's department store in North Carolina. There, four African American students staged a non-violent sit-in at the counter after being refused service, which subsequently sparked a wave of protests that many believe helped pave the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is an extremely significant artifact that also clearly reflects the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. As part of its 250th anniversary project, the museum is also conserving and restoring several older collection items. It is currently collaborating with a conservation team from Texas to restore the Philadelphia gunboat, a historically significant naval relic. This gunboat was built in 1776 and sunk by the British later that year at the Battle of Valcour Island. It is the oldest surviving, intact American warship, having rested at the bottom of Lake Champlain from 1776 until it was discovered in 1935. It was later salvaged and ultimately transported to the museum in 1964. For museum visitors, one of the highlights is being able to see physical remnants of American history with their own eyes, such as a boxcar that was used as an ambulance by pioneering American nurse Clara Barton, one of the earliest advocates for the establishment of the Red Cross. As a nurse myself, this really resonated with me, and seeing the actual item was truly exciting. Sol, a visitor from Argentina who toured the history exhibition, said, 'I really love it here, especially the part about democracy, where you can see election voting and how voting rights have gradually developed over time. It is very fascinating to me, and my favorite exhibit should be the new Star-Spangled Banner; I love America, and I really like it.' For Megan Howell Smith, this is precisely the effect the museum hopes to achieve: 'I hope visitors coming to the museum this year can see such a rich history of America and connect with the parts of it that are meaningful to them.' As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, a 408-kilogram cylindrical time capsule has been assembled. This capsule contains items representing contemporary America and is scheduled to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, to be opened in 2276 on the 500th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
The World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations stated on June 26 that the heat wave sweeping Western Europe will begin moving eastward over the weekend. Temperatures in France and Italy have already peaked and broken record highs for June, but in Italy, extreme heat is expected to intensify further over the weekend, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius for the first time. Clare Nullis, a spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization, said this heat wave will sweep through most of Western, Central, and Southern Europe before the end of the month, gradually moving toward Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula, with temperatures expected to be 3 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal levels for this time of year. We are still living in June, yet we are experiencing hot weather typically seen only in late July or August.
Looking at the stock market, on Friday, the three major indices all declined. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.09%, the S&P 500 index dropped by 0.05%, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell by 0.24%.
The U.S. Department of State expressed concern on June 24 regarding China's dispatch earlier this month of official vessels into waters east of Taiwan for what Beijing calls law enforcement operations. Washington stated that China asserting jurisdiction over waters that Taiwan has peacefully administered for more than 70 years will only heighten tensions. Earlier, the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan issued an identical statement on the matter, and the representative offices of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in Taiwan issued a joint statement also expressing concern over this development. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude for the concerns voiced by various countries. An anonymous U.S. State Department spokesperson said in an email statement to Voice of America on Wednesday that the United States is concerned about reports that Chinese coast guard and maritime administration vessels harassed commercial vessels while operating in waters east of Taiwan and claimed to be operating within Chinese jurisdictional waters. The statement added, 'We reject any claim by China that it has the right to interfere with freedom of navigation or overflight, the freedom to lay cables, or other lawful uses of the ocean.' The statement continued, 'China's actions are deeply destabilizing, and its assertion of authority over waters peacefully administered by Taiwan for over 70 years will only heighten tensions and undermine the peaceful resolution of issues it claims to seek.' The statement concluded, 'We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected authorities.'
From June 6 to 10, the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China organized the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, and other agencies to carry out what the authorities called a special maritime traffic law enforcement and inspection operation in the waters east of Taiwan. This was in response to Japan and the Philippines initiating bilateral maritime boundary delimitation negotiations. The ministry declared that the operation had concluded successfully. During the operation, patrol vessels inspected 198 passing ships and corrected three instances of illegal or non-compliant vessel behavior. Prior to this operation, two China Coast Guard vessels conducted what Beijing described as law enforcement patrols in the same waters on June 1. Before the Voice of America received this statement from the U.S. Department of State, a spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office—which serves as the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan while operating as a non-profit private organization—expressed similar concerns to Taiwanese media on Wednesday. The British Office in Taipei, the French Office in Taipei, and the German Institute Taipei issued a rare joint statement on Wednesday, also expressing concern over the latest activities of Chinese vessels in the waters east of Taiwan. The joint statement said that these actions threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation, and the safety of international shipping. The statement reiterated opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, particularly through the threat or use of force or coercion. The statement further noted that ensuring and respecting all rights and freedoms of navigation, as well as the safety of seafarers and vessels, is of paramount importance. The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday expressing gratitude to the U.S., UK, France, and Germany for their concerns regarding China's recent activities in the waters east of Taiwan. The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused China of recently harassing and interfering with vessels passing through the waters east of Taiwan, stating that these acts of "fake law enforcement and real expansion of power" not only lack a basis in international law but have also caused serious impacts on regional security, freedom of navigation, and the international maritime order. Taipei reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and China has no right to take illegal actions against any freely navigating vessels within Taiwan's exclusive economic zone.
Late last month, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting Philippine President Marcos jointly announced that the two countries would officially launch maritime boundary delimitation negotiations. China immediately expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the waters the two countries intend to delimit are located east of China's Taiwan island and seriously infringe upon China's maritime rights and interests. China claims that democratic and self-governing Taiwan is a province awaiting reunification and has refused to commit to renouncing the use of force to resolve the Taiwan issue. In a joint statement issued on June 16, leaders of the G7, who held a summit in Versailles, France, reiterated their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.
On June 25, dozens of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, welcomed a cross-party delegation of Taiwanese legislators led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu to Capitol Hill. After visiting the operations of Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC in Phoenix, Arizona, the Taiwanese cross-party legislative delegation arrived in Washington on Tuesday night and met with over 30 U.S. senators and representatives from both parties on Capitol Hill the following day. Seven Democratic and Republican senators who met with Han Kuo-yu and his delegation—including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Brian Schatz, and Senate Taiwan Caucus Co-Chair Elissa Slotkin—stated in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the strong U.S.-Taiwan partnership based on democratic values and a commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and they welcomed Taiwan's unprecedented investment in the U.S. economy. The statement said that consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, we are committed to maintaining a close and friendly relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, providing Taiwan with necessary defensive weapons, and supporting its defense against the increasing coercion from the People's Republic of China. The statement also noted that the U.S. Congress will continue to advance legislation to avoid double taxation between the U.S. and Taiwan to alleviate the burden on U.S. and Taiwanese businesses. The statement mentioned that the lawmakers were encouraged by the efforts of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan to advance a $25 billion special defense budget on a cross-party basis, believing that this defense spending and the weapons provided by the U.S. will strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. However, they emphasized that Taiwan's commitment to investing in its own security is critical, and they encouraged Taiwan to make more investments in its domestic military industrial production capacity as soon as possible.
The statement said that just as Taiwan's leaders have shown unity in supporting the defense of their people, the Trump administration must take the same action and stop delaying the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan that Congress approved six months ago. These weapons are important investments for Taiwan's security, regional stability, and the United States' own economic and national security. The statement concluded by emphasizing that China continues to increase pressure on Taiwan through daily gray-zone operations, such as military aircraft and warships crossing the median line of the strait and provocative military exercises. A conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have devastating consequences for global security and the world economy, which is why the United States must continue to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons—a practice that has been in place for over 40 years and has become an effective bulwark against the military coercion of the People's Republic of China. After visiting Beijing last month, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would review the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, calling arms sales to Taiwan a good negotiating chip. China has consistently opposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated at a regular press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that China firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
After meeting with Democratic senators, more than 30 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives attended a reception hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States to welcome Han Kuo-yu and his delegation. In addition to Pelosi and McCaul, attendees included Ami Bera and Greg Stanton, the two Democratic co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and Republican Representative Lisa McClain, among others. Pelosi said that U.S. congressional support for Taiwan is bipartisan and bicameral, noting that it is about peace and about maintaining commercial activities for ships to pass through there. Democratic Representative Ed Case or a similar name stated that he attended the reception to confirm in the most favorable way that Taiwan is not a bargaining chip.