Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (October 20, 2026) Rubio: The United States hopes to end the Russia-Ukraine war; Philippines summons Chinese ambassador Jing Quan, calling his “easy victory” remarks “provocative and unacceptable”
The main contents of this episode include: U.S. President Trump and First Lady Melania announced the establishment of two women's health departments and the use of super-intelligence to promote women's health; U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that the U.S. hopes to push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war; Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked a southern military camp, leaving 53 dead and 200 injured; the Philippines summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to protest his remarks that China could easily defeat Manila if it resorted to force; U.S. Representatives urged the Department of Homeland Security to review COSCO Shipping's privileges; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted at the possibility of setting exceptions to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles; France saw large-scale protests and riots triggered by issues such as the cost of living, with the Prime Minister ordering a curfew.
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Hello listeners, welcome to the VOA Chinese broadcast. I am Weizhi, reporting to you from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The main contents of today's program are: President Trump and First Lady Melania jointly announced the establishment of two departments within the federal government focused on women's health, and will use super-intelligence to promote women's health; U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that President Trump is willing to explore all possible avenues to push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war; the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attacked a government military camp in southern Yemen, killing at least 53 people and injuring more than 200; the Philippines summoned the Chinese Ambassador to express serious concern and strong opposition to his remarks implying that Beijing could easily defeat Manila if it resorted to force.
First, let's look at news from the White House. On October 19, President Trump and First Lady Melania jointly announced the establishment of two departments within the federal government focused on women's health, and will use super-intelligence to promote women's health. Let's listen to the report from VOA reporter Huang Yaoyi at the White House Rose Garden: The reporter is now in the White House Rose Garden. On the morning of Monday, October 19, President Trump signed an executive order here, announcing the creation of a women's health unit under the National Institutes of Health, and a White House Task Force on Women's Health was also created within the White House. The entire project will be promoted by First Lady Melania. This executive order is called the Executive Order on Advancing Women's Health, Improving Health Outcomes Across Individual Life Stages. President Trump specifically thanked Melania for her contributions as First Lady. Through the initiatives of 'Nurturing the Future' and 'Be Best,' Melania has made outstanding contributions to the well-being of American children and families. It is indeed a very outstanding contribution, and we are now very pleased that she can use her excellent leadership skills and professional expertise—she is indeed a person of outstanding ability—to help improve the health of women and girls in our country.
The National Institutes of Health already has an Office of Research on Women's Health, and this new office will expand its original functions. First Lady Melania introduced the five pillars of the First Lady's Women's Health Initiative, which include investing funds into the development of therapies for health issues specific to women, utilizing super-intelligent AI to deepen the understanding of female physiological mechanisms, and accelerating medical discoveries, while ensuring that women, regardless of their economic status, can afford relevant medical services. Previous generations fought for women's rights, and our generation will be committed to seeking various therapies to ensure that women can live healthy lives and live their lives to the fullest. Today, we possess extraordinary scientific capabilities, such as super-intelligence, advanced biotechnology, and groundbreaking therapies. This White House working group and its entire project will be led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. It is worth noting that Susie Wiles recently announced that after undergoing treatment, she is now cancer-free.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, October 19, that the United States hopes to see the Russia-Ukraine war end and will do everything possible to reach a solution. During a visit to Uzbekistan, Rubio said that no one is winning that war. Rubio stated that over the past nearly two years, we have engaged multiple times to try to facilitate or promote the end of this war, and I think that if it is possible, the President is willing to do whatever he can to help end the war, and we will continue to look for opportunities to do so. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that the war is still ongoing because of Russian strikes and Russia's desire to drag out this war. Zelenskyy said on the social media platform X that Ukraine never wanted this war, we sincerely welcome every attempt by our partners to end this war decently, and we respond positively to every ceasefire proposal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing on Monday that Russia values U.S. efforts to promote peace. Peskov said, we value them very much, but of course, it is impossible to reach a final solution without the participation of someone from Kyiv who is willing to take responsibility.
In his comments on Monday, Zelenskyy also criticized U.S. President Trump's directive last week to pause new economic sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy said that when the supply of missiles needed for Ukraine's air defense system is blocked, while Russia receives relief or delays in sanctions, this unfortunately shows that our partners are evading. Trump said that Zelenskyy does not want to end this war, and I am afraid he never wanted to. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that he did this because he does not want to do anything that might lead Russia to withdraw from negotiations, and he also wants to prevent Russia from further strengthening its support for Iran. Trump said that Zelenskyy could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now; Ukraine is devastated, large swaths of territory have been lost, the seas and maritime areas are gone, and there are few men left in the country, either severely wounded or already dead.
the APEC summit will be held in Shenzhen, China, from November 18 to 19. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on October 19 that there have indeed been discussions about a possible meeting between U.S. President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit, but it is currently unclear whether specific arrangements have been finalized. Rubio also indicated that Trump is willing to explore all possible avenues to promote the end of the Russia-Ukraine war. There were previous reports that Putin hopes to meet with Xi and Trump to discuss the Ukraine war and facilitate a peace agreement favorable to Moscow. Let's listen to what Rubio said: I don't know, I think there has indeed been discussion about the possibility of holding a meeting, but I don't know if any arrangements have been finalized. However, the President has made it clear that he wants the war between Ukraine and Russia to end, he wants this war to end, and he said so when he was running for president; he said at the time that if he had been president then, this war would not have happened, but the war happened anyway. Today, we have done everything we can, and we will continue to do our best in the future to push this war toward an end. I think that as long as it is possible to end this war, the President is open to any initiative, and we will continue to look for opportunities to promote the end of the war.
Prior to this, The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin suggested holding a meeting with Trump and Xi during the APEC summit scheduled for mid-November in China to discuss the fate of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The newspaper cited a former Russian intelligence officer familiar with the matter as saying that Putin proposed this idea in a phone conversation with Trump on October 9, during which the two leaders reached an agreement on diesel supplies. This person stated that Putin had previously proposed a trilateral summit to Trump and Xi multiple times.
Now let us turn our attention to the situation in the Middle East. Local authorities in Yemen stated that the Iran-backed Houthi movement launched an attack on Monday, October 19, against a government military camp in southern Yemen, resulting in the deaths of at least 53 soldiers and injuries to more than 200 new recruits. Listen to the report: According to Yemeni military officials, the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the Al-Alam military camp in Shabwah Governorate, making this attack the deadliest in the recent escalation of hostilities that broke out months ago. The Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, have admitted to targeting the camp. The Shabwah Governorate government stated in a released statement following the attack that these recruits were undergoing training at the time in preparation for joining the country's internal security forces. The statement noted that this bloody and despicable attack targeted recruits who were in the training and preparation stage, and is regarded as an extremely grave military escalation as well as a blatant violation of the security and stability of Shabwah Governorate.
The statement called upon the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition supporting it to accelerate the deployment of air defense and early warning systems to enhance Shabwah's security capabilities. The statement also indicated that instructions had been issued to two public hospitals and other private medical institutions within the governorate to provide medical care for the wounded and to transfer severely injured individuals to specialized facilities as needed. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the ruling Presidential Leadership Council, vowed to make a firm response to the attack. He stated that this reflects the consistent behavior of the Houthis, who resort to despicable terrorist attacks whenever they come under pressure or when their Iran-backed sabotage plots are thwarted. The recent escalation between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government forces has shattered the UN-backed 2022 truce agreement, which had largely quieted the fighting in the Yemeni civil war.
Now we shift our focus to Europe. Following nationwide unrest sweeping across France, the French Prime Minister ordered the implementation of a curfew to curb violent behavior and property destruction. The protests, which were initially triggered by rising living costs and poor school conditions, subsequently escalated into violence and looting, with over 2,400 people arrested so far. Listen to the VOA report: Protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre Museum, a landmark in Paris. In Limoges, the city hall building went up in flames, causing the roof to collapse. In Bordeaux, shopkeepers were left in shock after witnessing their stores ransacked and vandalized. Over the past weekend, more than 500,000 people participated in protests across France to condemn rising living costs and poor school conditions, clashing with police and resulting in over 2,500 arrests. French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for an end to the violence in a televised address, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered a curfew to be implemented in certain areas. Therefore, we have asked prefectural representatives to enforce a curfew of a certain scope in some areas tonight, and prefectural representatives will consult with mayors and ultimately also hold discussions with chambers of commerce and industry, because one of the purposes of implementing a curfew is to protect people's personal and property safety, especially to protect shops.
Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen also called for an end to the violence during the protests. The issues currently facing us go far beyond simple public order problems; we are deeply mired in a severe crisis of trust and authority, which poses a threat to democracy. This should serve as a warning that our country is in trouble and could even be said to be hijacked by violence and incompetence. Protesters stated that the majority of the country's population supports this movement, and today we are gaining strong momentum because everyone is firmly supporting us, with 70% of the French public standing on our side. It is obvious that we have reached the limit of our tolerance, we have had enough of these attacks, and we have had enough of the government's disregard. There is a widespread sense of frustration, and everything seems to be falling apart. It started with high school students protesting, but now public hospitals, the education sector, and the ways of addressing the climate crisis have also been affected; it seems nothing is working anymore, and at a certain point, people have to take to the streets and make their voices heard.
Not everyone holds the same view: I feel very sad, it is truly hard to understand how things could evolve to such an extreme. We must not forget that behind the destroyed shops, there are also people who might support today's demands and movement, as we all belong to the same France and face severe economic and personal life difficulties, and what happened yesterday does not help advance these demands at all. If they continue like this, not only will they fail to make their voices heard, but they will instead provoke polarization among the public and even destroy other people's lives, which is precisely what makes me the saddest. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that it is necessary to investigate whether there were any law enforcement errors that led to the violent incidents and to review the police's response strategy.
On October 16, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security jointly issued an alert urging U.S. election officials and campaign teams to remain vigilant ahead of next month's midterm elections to guard against attacks launched by superintelligence. Listen to the report: CISA and the FBI stated in an alert on October 16 that cyber hackers may attempt to use fake text messages and emails to disrupt the midterm elections and steal user data, including login credentials and other sensitive information. The alert noted that because election officials, candidates, and their political organizations have access to voter registration data, incumbent government officials, or sensitive campaign information, they are ideal targets for malicious cybercriminals.
The briefing stated that the rise of superintelligence has provided malicious actors with more opportunities to launch larger-scale, more efficient, and more effective phishing email attacks. The statement by the FBI and CISA pointed out that in the past, the identification of phishing emails relied mainly on spelling errors, illogical vocabulary, and poor grammar, whereas superintelligence enables malicious cyber actors to use native and common language to create seemingly authentic text, making it easier to trick potential victims into clicking malicious links or inadvertently leaking information during direct interactions with attackers. The statement added that an increasing number of adversaries and criminals are using superintelligence technology to produce realistic deepfake videos and audio; cyber threat actors are utilizing this deepfake content to create new identities, steal real users' identities, forge daily life and communication scenarios, and strengthen phishing campaigns. The alert noted that over the past two election cycles, election officials have experienced a surge in phishing attacks, and over the past year, the FBI has also observed an increase in smishing (SMS phishing) attacks initiated through encrypted chat applications.
Let us listen to another report concerning Asia. On Monday, October 19, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to express serious concern and strong opposition regarding his remarks last week suggesting that Beijing could easily defeat Manila by force in a conflict. Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro told Jing Quan on Monday that his remarks were provocative and unacceptable, and had the potential to worsen the atmosphere of bilateral relations between the Philippines and China. Lazaro also stated that sensitive issues should be handled through established diplomatic channels and bilateral mechanisms, which preserve the space for dialogue and communication.
China defended Jing Quan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday that she opposes certain individuals on the Philippine side maliciously hyping up China-related issues and undermining China-the Philippines relations, and stated that the Philippine side should earnestly constrain the irresponsible words and deeds of certain politicians. The latest round of disputes between China and the Philippines began last Thursday, when Philippine media asked Jing Quan about remarks made by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro calling China a regional troublemaker. Jing Quan said that the Philippines should be grateful to have a neighbor like China, because if China wanted to use force, we could easily win, but Beijing does not want to use force because China loves peace. Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated last Friday that Jing Quan's remarks sounded very much like a threat.
On Monday, the three major stock indices saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall by 0.07%, the S&P 500 rise by 0.41%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rise by 1.11%.
For more news updates, welcome back. Key Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives dealing with U.S.-China relations, intelligence affairs, and transportation have sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security urging a review of the privileges enjoyed by COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited in U.S. ports. The letter mentioned recent media reports that this mega-sized Chinese state-owned enterprise has been engaging in espionage activities near the U.S. coastline. Listen to the Voice of America report: House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar announced on October 15 that he, along with Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford and House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Giménez, sent a joint letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking the Department of Homeland Security to review COSCO Shipping's eligibility for the U.S. Coast Guard's 21st Century Quality Shipping Program. This program allows for streamlined inspections of compliant foreign vessels in U.S. ports.
This letter, sent on October 14, refers to recent media reports regarding the intelligence-gathering activities of COSCO Shipping vessels. In their letter, three Republican congressmen stated that, according to recent public reports, COSCO Shipping vessels are using sophisticated and covert onboard equipment near our coasts to intercept military communication technology and encryption research, posing a serious counterintelligence threat. The letter stated that reports further indicate this is part of a decades-long intelligence cooperation relationship spanning the People's Republic of China. The letter also stated that state-owned merchant ships engaging in espionage is a common and expected act of bad faith by the Chinese Communist Party. The letter said, "We therefore request that your department promptly remove COSCO Shipping vessels from this privileged list, deny any extensions, and implement additional scrutiny for similar companies that act on behalf of the People's Liberation Army and are part of China's industrial base." The three Republican congressmen requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide a series of detailed information in the letter.
In early September this year, Reuters, citing anonymous U.S. officials, reported that vessels from the Chinese state-owned shipping giant COSCO Shipping were equipped with covert gear to spy on military communications for China near the coastlines of North America, Europe, and Asia, including those of the United States. The report said U.S. officials mentioned decades of intelligence-gathering cooperation between COSCO Shipping and Beijing. COSCO Shipping subsequently claimed that the aforementioned remarks had no factual basis. The company's statement also said that the COSCO Shipping Group has always adhered to market-oriented operations and compliance in all its global businesses. COSCO Shipping was placed on the Pentagon's list of Chinese military companies in January 2025. When the Pentagon updated this list at the end of this year, COSCO Shipping remained on it.
Turning to Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently stated that there is room for discussion regarding the expression that U.S. military forces could be allowed to bring nuclear weapons into Japan under exceptional circumstances, hinting at the possibility of setting exceptions to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. Analysts say that if the Japanese government formally institutionalizes emergency response rules involving the docking of nuclear-armed ships at ports, it would be helpful for deterring China and continuing to strengthen the U.S.-Japan military alliance. Let's listen to the report by VOA reporter Wu Xinxin: According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News on October 14, Sanae Takaichi stated at the Japanese House of Representatives Budget Committee that day that regarding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, there is room for discussion on former Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada's expression that U.S. military forces could be allowed to bring nuclear weapons into Japan under exceptional circumstances, hinting at the possibility of setting exceptions to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. The report also mentioned that regarding whether to revise the three principles, Takaichi reiterated the government's previous view, stating that the government supports the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as a policy guideline. The Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which refer to not possessing, not manufacturing, and not introducing nuclear weapons, are an important policy formulated by Japan after World War II against the backdrop of the U.S.-Soviet Cold War.
Liao Yanfen, Deputy Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank, told VOA that he believes Japan's policy adjustment to allow U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons to dock at Japanese ports is urgent. Liao Yanfen stated that waiting until wartime to adjust the policy would be too late, and even adjusting it during a crisis might be too late. He said that for this change to truly be effective, it must be put in place early during peacetime to concretely demonstrate the significance of true solidarity and curbing China's aggressive actions. Liao Yanfen emphasized that if the policy is only changed during wartime, it would convey fear rather than strength. He pointed out that, moreover, by that time, the overall situation would likely have been decided, and China might have already determined to act and would be unable to back down, losing the significance of deterrence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized Sanae Takaichi's relevant remarks at a press conference on October 16, stating that there is no room for so-called discussion on the issue of complying with the post-war international order and abiding by international obligations. Japan has introduced some important transformative measures in its defense policy in recent years. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party held a joint meeting of the Security Research Council and others on April 13, generally approving a government plan to relax rules on the export of defense equipment. The LDP emphasized that, in principle, weapons cannot be exported to countries currently at war, but if the necessity of Japan's national security is considered, exports are allowed as an exception. This move by Japan effectively ended the post-war era of pacifism, sparking global attention. In addition, according to a Reuters report in April, Japan has a military budget of $60 billion this year and currently has the capability to produce various high-tech military systems. The Atlantic Council's Liao Yanfen told VOA that if Prime Minister Takaichi's government formally institutionalizes emergency response rules involving the docking of nuclear-armed ships at ports, it would be equivalent to firmly anchoring U.S. support for Japan during wartime.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on October 18 that the public feels anger and shame over the riots and looting that occurred during nationwide protests. Here is the report: Recently, protests have broken out across France over issues such as rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. On Saturday, the protests reached a climax. According to official estimates, the number of participants in the marches was approximately 550,000, while organizers claimed the number reached 800,000. Demonstrators responded to calls from unions, student organizations, and activists, attempting to revive the Yellow Vest movement that emerged in 2018 to protest social injustice. However, the demonstrations evolved into large-scale riots on Saturday night. Across France, some violent groups and masked thugs clashed with police, while others took the opportunity to loot shops and set fire to government buildings. At least 2,400 people have been arrested so far. In the central French city of Limoges, a 19th-century town hall was engulfed in flames, its roof collapsed, and the entire building was almost completely destroyed.
Macron blamed most of the violence on far-left radicals, accusing them of creating chaos by attacking police and public buildings. In a televised address to the nation, Macron stated that those involved in looting must be held accountable for the damage caused, and those attempting to overthrow the Republic will also be pursued. On Saturday, masked groups set fires and attacked town halls in multiple cities. Subsequently, Macron held an emergency meeting with senior government officials, stating that he had instructed prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings and commercial facilities in the coming weeks, and to ban protests if necessary. In Paris, hundreds of protesters gathered again at the Place de la République on Sunday, with a large police presence deployed at the scene. As tensions flared periodically in the surrounding areas, police used tear gas, while some individuals attempted to set fire to bicycles and trash cans. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez posted on the social platform X that hundreds of shops had been looted across the country. He wrote that the right to protest is a fundamental right, but deliberately creating collective chaos through violence is unacceptable.