Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (July 24, 2026)
The program reports on Trump's warning that if commercial shipping in the Red Sea is attacked again by the Houthis, the U.S. will hold Iran accountable; it also covers U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation and rising Middle East oil prices. The program further focuses on Rubio's visit to ASEAN, where he discussed U.S.-China relations and the South China Sea conflict involving the Philippines, the U.S. Congress's restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles and drones, the release of Pastor Kim Min-il, as well as the Falun Gong rally and the Captive Nations Summit held in Washington, and finally provides an update on the U.S. stock market.
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President Trump warned on Thursday that if commercial shipping in the Red Sea is attacked again by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, the United States will hold Iran accountable and impose significant military punishment on Iran and the Houthi rebels it supports. The Houthis claimed to have used missiles and drones to attack two oil tankers in the Red Sea. The U.S. accuses Iran of manipulating the Houthis and warns that threats to Red Sea shipping will affect global trade. Saudi Arabia confirmed that an oil tanker belonging to a Saudi company was attacked and caught fire, stating that it will take necessary measures in accordance with the law to protect shipping safety.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military continues to blockade Iranian ports and oil terminals. As of July 23, 12 commercial vessels have been diverted, and one commercial vessel has been rendered inoperable. On the other hand, President Trump stated that the prerequisite for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia is that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. The White House confirmed on Thursday that the U.S. side has presented this requirement to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia recently announced that they had reached a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
As the situation in the Middle East heats up, global oil prices have once again broken through $100. President Trump also reiterated on Thursday that Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. He said: "We are making very good progress in confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we are doing very well. They might want to take action, but I say they are not ready yet. They have some evil intentions, and we cannot let them have nuclear weapons."
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, while attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and visiting ASEAN, stated that the United States must maintain relations with China and hopes that this relationship will be as positive as possible. He said that China clearly understands the U.S. view on relevant issues, and the U.S. has already publicly stated its position on missile test launches, considering them destabilizing events. As for what happened in the Philippines, the whole world has seen it, and it is disturbing. Territorial sovereignty claims are increasingly becoming a severe challenge, and for this reason,
we continue to reiterate our commitment to our treaty allies, as well as our commitment to freedom of navigation and respect for territorial rights in the region.
We will maintain a good relationship with China; after all, these are the two most powerful economies in the world, possessing two massive militaries and two nuclear powers. We want this relationship to be as positive as possible, but this must never come at the expense of our allies and partners in the region, or at the expense of our presence in the region. We have a treaty agreement with the Philippines and intend to honor it, committed to fulfilling our treaty obligations. Both sides also maintain a long-standing defense partnership, which we do not view as directed against any party, but rather as fulfilling commitments to a long-standing ally. We share many common values and history with these allies and look forward to a shared future.
After another clash between the Philippines and China over disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea, multiple U.S. members of Congress expressed concern in interviews, calling on China to stop actions that could escalate regional tensions and emphasizing that the U.S. will continue to support its ally, the Philippines.
Republican U.S. Representative Cory Mills from Florida stated that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are forming closer geopolitical cooperative ties, constituting an "axis of evil." However, he believes that China's actual capabilities are not as powerful as they are portrayed to the outside world, and that these countries are often just engaging in shows of force, posturing like paper tigers, and claiming they will take action, including launching an attack on Taiwan.
Mills stated that the U.S. should continue to strengthen defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, expand economic cooperation and diplomatic relations, support allies, and maintain regional stability. With the coastal defense capabilities currently possessed by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the Seventh Fleet, and other forces, China is also aware that it is not in the position of absolute superiority it believes itself to be. Therefore, the U.S. will continue to support its allies, strengthen economic, trade, and diplomatic cooperation, and further expand international partnerships.
The U.S. Department of State previously condemned China's dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine naval personnel near the Second Thomas Shoal, calling on Beijing to stop actions that undermine regional stability. Australia also expressed concern over China's relevant actions in the South China Sea.
John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and a Republican U.S. Representative, stated that the international community cannot tolerate China's continued provocative actions in the South China Sea. He called on Beijing to abide by international rules and stop pressuring U.S. allies and regional partners like the Philippines. Moolenaar said that Xi Jinping often talks about respecting the rule of law and maintaining peace, and this incident is an example showing that the Chinese side has not fulfilled these commitments. The priority is to de-escalate tensions, and all parties should respect the territorial integrity of their regional neighbors.
Democratic U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois stated that the U.S. must make it clear to China that the Philippines is a U.S. treaty ally and that any use of force against the Philippines is dangerous. He said that Secretary of State Rubio must make it clear to China that the U.S. and the Philippines are treaty allies. If the Chinese side continues any form of armed confrontation with the Philippines, it is playing a dangerous game; such behavior is completely unacceptable, violates international law, and must stop immediately. We will firmly support the Philippines; there is no other choice.
Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, who visited the Philippines earlier this year, stated that the U.S. position on the South China Sea issue has been consistent for a long time: to uphold international law and international norms. She said the U.S. needs to continue to adhere to its existing approach, support the upholding of the rule of law and international norms as always, and ensure that navigation rights in all international waters are guaranteed.
At the time of this clash between China and the Philippines, Secretary of State Rubio was in Manila, Philippines, attending a series of ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings and holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Rubio stated that the situation in the South China Sea is continuing to escalate, which is very negative and benefits no one.
U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tommy Pigott previously stated in a declaration that the U.S. condemns China's dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine naval personnel near the Second Thomas Shoal on July 20, and calls on China to immediately stop actions that undermine regional stability. The statement also said that the U.S. stands with its ally, the Philippines, and commends the professionalism and restraint shown by Philippine naval personnel during the incident.
U.S. congressional restrictive measures against the Chinese automotive industry have further escalated. The Senate Commerce Committee passed the bipartisan Connected Vehicle Safety Act on Wednesday, July 22, which will restrict Chinese connected vehicles.
This bill was co-sponsored by Republican U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno and Democratic U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin and is seen as one of the toughest pieces of legislation targeting the Chinese automotive industry in recent years. In addition to China, the foreign adversaries listed in the bill include Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Building upon the Biden administration's previously issued connected vehicle restriction rules, the bill will expand the scope of regulation to ban the import, manufacture, sale, and resale of connected vehicles associated with foreign adversaries such as China, as well as related software, hardware, in-vehicle data systems, and critical components. The scope also includes products developed and manufactured by joint ventures or entities controlled by relevant countries. Meanwhile, the bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify and ban high-risk automotive technologies, components, and related transactions that could jeopardize U.S. national security and economic security, and to establish corresponding enforcement mechanisms.
Bernie Moreno, the Republican U.S. Senator from Ohio who introduced the bill, stated that its goal is to prevent countries designated by the U.S. as foreign adversaries from using connected vehicles to threaten U.S. national security and impact the American automotive industry. He said the objective is to ensure that countries listed on the foreign entity watchlist—which currently includes China—do not destroy our auto industry and endanger national security.
Coming from the automotive industry, Moreno is very familiar with the U.S. auto sector. He worked early in his career for General Motors' Saturn brand before transitioning into automotive retail. After moving to Ohio in 2005, he founded and grew an automotive dealership business, owning over a dozen dealerships and becoming a well-known local auto dealer. Before entering Congress, he sold all of his auto dealership operations.
Moreno stated that the auto industry is the backbone of the American industrial economy, and Congress must pass legislation before it is too late to restrict Chinese connected vehicles from entering the U.S. market; otherwise, the United States may repeat the mistakes of manufacturing decline seen in some Western countries. He said that if no action is taken, I believe we will ultimately head down the same old path traveled by many Western countries, which is the complete destruction of our domestic industrial base, and we will absolutely not let that happen.
Addressing national security risks, Moreno argued that connected vehicles are capable of continuously collecting sensitive data such as user identity, travel trajectories, and in-vehicle imagery, and possess remote control capabilities. Once related technologies are bound by Chinese laws, it could lead to data leakage or even enable remote manipulation of vehicles.
Speaking at an American Enterprise Institute event earlier this month, Moreno said that under Chinese laws, every single place a car travels to has its data reported back to the Chinese Communist Party. These cars are equipped with cameras that send back recorded footage. If someone works at a sensitive military base, that situation becomes very bad. All cars can be remotely controlled, except that Western automotive companies are bound by strict laws. Imagine when someone is driving down Pennsylvania Avenue and someone remotely controls the vehicle; the driver will lose control of the steering, throttle, or door locks, and the vehicle can be steered anywhere. This is clearly a severe national security threat.
Gary Peters, a Democratic U.S. Senator from the auto industry stronghold of Michigan, stated during a committee markup session that the Connected Vehicle National Security Act is not only about national security, but also helps safeguard U.S. economic security. He believes that China distorts market competition through government subsidies, dumping at low prices, and unfair trade and labor policies. This model has previously appeared in industries involving companies like Huawei and DJI, and is now extending to the auto industry, having already affected European and Latin American markets.
Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic U.S. Senator from Illinois, emphasized that another important objective of this bill is to strengthen the U.S. automotive supply chain. Duckworth told Voice of America that this is about growing America's supply chain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we realized that many parts of the supply chain rely on foreign manufacturers, regardless of whether that reliance comes from competitor manufacturers or friendly nation manufacturers.
In recent years, the U.S. government has continuously tightened restrictions targeting China's auto industry. In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency regarding the threat posed by foreign entities to the U.S. information and communications technology supply chain, providing the legal basis for the federal government to enact related restrictive measures. The Biden administration subsequently continued this legal authority and finalized connected vehicle regulations in January 2025, banning connected vehicle software and hardware associated with China and Russia from entering the U.S. market.
If the Connected Vehicle National Security Act is ultimately passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, current restrictions—which primarily rely on administrative regulations for implementation—will be elevated into federal law. If the future government wishes to relax or rescind related restrictions through executive orders, it will face a higher legal threshold. According to the bill, restrictions targeting connected vehicles and related software will take effect in 2027, while hardware restrictions will be implemented in 2030, reserving a transition period for the U.S. automotive industry to adjust its supply chain.
Compared with the executive regulations of the Biden administration, the new bill not only codifies existing restrictions into law, but also further expands the scope of regulation. In addition to basically continuing restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles entering the US passenger car market, the bill also explicitly prohibits Chinese-related connected vehicle software, hardware, and key vehicle technologies from entering the US market, and grants the Department of Commerce greater enforcement authority to plug potential regulatory loopholes.
Moreno stated that once the bill becomes law, Chinese connected vehicles coming from Canada or Mexico will also be prohibited from entering the United States. There are currently plans to include the bill in the National Defense Authorization Act to push for its passage. However, he emphasized that whether as an independent bill or included in a large omnibus bill, this bipartisan-supported legislation is ultimately expected to pass Congress.
In addition to Chinese connected vehicles, Chinese drones have also attracted attention. On July 21, the US Federal Communications Commission proposed banning the import and marketing of certain foreign-manufactured military-grade drones. The FCC stated that given these devices have been found to pose an unacceptable national safety risk, the agency preliminarily determined there are strong national safety reasons to implement a ban.
Foreign-manufactured drones recommended for a ban include those with swarm capabilities. The FCC stated that drones with swarm capabilities can overwhelm defenses, provide continuous monitoring, create complex challenges for combat operations, and strain air defense systems, posing significant risks to public safety and national safety.
Other categories recommended for inclusion in the ban scope include drones specifically designed to be incorporated into defense projects, thermal imaging drones, drones integrated with LiDAR sensor technology, aerosol spraying drones capable of spraying toxic gases according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations, drone docking stations, and drones weighing up to 55 pounds.
The FCC will solicit public comments within 30 days after publishing this proposal in the Federal Register to consider whether to implement a final ban. Last December, out of national safety concerns, the FCC announced the placement of all foreign-manufactured new drones and their components on the covered list. This January, the FCC updated the covered list to grant conditional approval to certain specific foreign-manufactured drones and components.
These exemptions are based on the Department of War's Blue UAS list and the Buy American list. The FCC announced on Tuesday that these exemptions are extended until January 2028, and Chinese-manufactured drones and components are not included in the exemption list.
In February this year, DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer based in China, filed a lawsuit in a US federal court demanding that the company be removed from the FCC's covered list. In June this year, the FCC announced the removal of toy drones from the covered list.
Out of concerns for national safety, economic safety, and citizen privacy, the Trump administration adopted broad restrictive measures against Chinese technological equipment. US lawmakers have also expressed deep concerns over Chinese technological equipment such as drones, robotics, telecommunication systems, and connected vehicles.
In June this year, the FCC announced a significant tightening of regulations on submarine communication cables that carry approximately 99% of global international internet traffic. The new rules open a fast-track approval process for US tech companies while further restricting market access for Chinese companies. Earlier this month, the FCC announced the inclusion of Digital System Technology, an information technology company headquartered in California, on the covered list and rejected the company's application to operate international telecommunications services due to its ties to Chinese telecommunication companies and being controlled by Chinese citizens, posing a risk to US national safety.
Pastor Jin Mingri of the Beijing Xi'an Church was released on July 3 after being detained by the Chinese government for nearly 10 months, and arrived in the United States to reunite with his family. In an interview on July 22, Pastor Jin Mingri stated that in recent years China has emphasized becoming a strong nation, but has actually always opposed outsiders using issues such as human rights to influence China. The US consul told him that many efforts by the US side over the years have often met with setbacks, but this case clearly conveyed a message: when the media, the universal Christian church community, members of Congress, the US President, and the White House work together, they can indeed influence China.
Jin Mingri said that his standing in the United States is a true testimony, and the Chinese government will also consider how to handle such matters. While expressing gratitude, he more importantly hoped that everyone would continue their efforts. He said that the fact his case could attract so much attention is closely related to President Trump mentioning his case to Xi Jinping when Trump visited China.
If given the opportunity to express his views to President Trump, Jin Mingri would first like to express his gratitude. He said that President Trump's ability to speak up for an ordinary Chinese family church is a right and influence that only the President of the United States possesses. However, he also hopes that the President will continue to pay attention to other colleagues and members of family churches, not only Christian churches but also other groups, as they are in similar legal situations to his own. He hopes that the United States will continue to help China and exert influence during its social transition.
Jin Mingri also said that in the 1980s and 1990s, Voice of America (VOA) played a special role. At that time, for Chinese people to hear outside news, they mainly relied on VOA. Since the rise of the era of self-media, the situation has changed, but when sensitive events occur, relevant groups still pay special attention to VOA. He hopes that VOA will continue to speak up for China.
Jin Mingri said that when the Beijing church was suppressed in 2018, VOA produced a special program for him and the Xi'an church on the third day, and he participated in the interview by phone; the program is still on YouTube. He is grateful for VOA's continuous follow-up reporting, because the VOA Chinese website has great influence within China, with many people listening and paying attention, and these reports bring them great strength.
On the 27th anniversary of the Chinese government's crackdown on Falun Gong, about 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, calling on the Chinese authorities to stop the persecution and demanding that those responsible be held accountable.
On Thursday, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners and supporters held a rally and march in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, calling on the international community to pay attention to the Chinese government's transnational repression of Falun Gong. Federal Representative Pat Ryan is one of the co-sponsors of the Falun Gong Protection Act. The bill requires the U.S. government to sanction individuals suspected of participating in serious human rights abuses such as forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. The bill has passed the House of Representatives twice and is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate.
Pat Ryan stated at the rally that the message to the CCP is that we will never tolerate this behavior. You are harming our constituents and our people, and your actions violate fairness and humanitarian values. Seeing the positive response at the scene, he believes that victory will eventually be achieved, but we must persist in the struggle, and we need to legislate and introduce bills to help political prisoners and all innocent people. He hopes to see concrete actions, especially the U.S. government's agenda to promote the release of political prisoners around the world.
The organizers called on the U.S. government to continue to promote accountability for the Chinese government's human rights abuses, including supporting relevant sanctions and legislation. The organizers stated that this is also an important matter for protecting U.S. sovereignty and national security, and for protecting U.S. citizens and faith groups. Everything that has happened to Falun Gong is exactly the same as what the Chinese Communist Party has done to the Chinese people; all of this began 27 years ago and continues to this day. Transnational repression against Falun Gong can also be seen in the United States.
In recent years, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has consistently recommended that the State Department designate China as a Country of Particular Concern and has called for sanctions against Chinese officials who violate religious freedom.
Every year, the third week of July in the United States is Captive Nations Week. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation held the Captive Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., this week, focusing on how to deal with the threat of communism.
Former Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen attended the summit and delivered a speech. She said that as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, it is necessary to contrast the blessings of freedom enjoyed by Americans with the fact that many people around the world are still trapped in the shackles of brutal regimes and totalitarian ideologies, including her native Cuba. When Ros-Lehtinen was 8 years old, she fled to the United States with her family due to the establishment of the Castro regime in Cuba, and later became the first Cuban-American member of the U.S. Congress.
Ros-Lehtinen emphasized that free societies won the Cold War, but the world today must face a new generation of communism in various forms. Free societies and their closest allies eventually won the Cold War against Soviet communism and passed this responsibility to this generation to fight against a new generation of communism in all its forms, including old remnants of regimes such as Eritrea in East Africa, communism in Latin America, forced labor and oppression under China's new socialism, and North Korea, the most brutal regime.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of State released a 100-page report. The report accuses the Cuban communist government of conducting espionage and subversive activities against the United States for nearly 70 years. The Cuban Communist Party has also continued to target the United States for decades, attempting to interfere with U.S. policy and advance its own interests, using social media and intelligence officers to recruit personnel to pave the way for them. These regimes all possess vast propaganda networks, on one hand targeting the American public, and on the other hand attempting to manipulate global public opinion to create an atmosphere of anti-Americanism and opposition to U.S. policies.
As invited speakers, Daniel Twining, President of the International Republican Institute, and Michael Abramowitz, President of Freedom House, discussed the U.S. Department of State's report on the threat posed by Cuba. Twining stated that in his experience working overseas with the International Republican Institute, they have seen communism destroy many countries, with Cuba being an extreme example. Governments control economic, social, and political life, ultimately leading to severe corruption and the infringement of civil rights; therefore, there is a reason why Americans have historically been firmly anti-communist.
Finally, let's look at the stock market performance on July 23. Brent crude oil prices soared to over $100, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 500 points. Tesla and Alphabet released their earnings reports, both showing negative free cash flow for the second quarter, causing Alphabet's stock to plummet 7% and Tesla's stock to crash 44%, dragging down the performance of the Nasdaq index. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.15% to close at 25,137.69 points.
Rising oil prices have also put additional pressure on the stock market. President Trump threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure, pushing oil prices higher. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by the Iranian regime, claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, which also sparked concerns about a potential expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.