Voice of America Chinese Radio (October 7, 2026): Saudi oil exports rebound, President Trump predicts oil prices will "plunge" after the Iran conflict ends; Nobel Prize in Physics honors research on detecting neutrinos from space; US Department of Justice: impersonating federal officials to carry out fraud and money laundering...
This article is the content of the Voice of America Chinese broadcast on October 7, 2026. It mainly reports on the recovery of Saudi oil exports via the East-West Pipeline and Trump's forecast for oil prices; Trump's approval of a military firing squad to execute a former military psychiatrist; a Chinese national's admission to conspiracy to commit money laundering; Germany's arrest of former intelligence chief Hanning for suspected treason and espionage; the U.S. formation of a super-intelligence task force and a notification mechanism for China; the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarding the Nobel Prize in Physics to Francis Halzen; the U.S. release of a new map of critical mineral resource distribution; Taiwan's establishment of a representative office in Phoenix; and the U.S. Department of Justice filing lawsuits to revoke the citizenship of several individuals convicted of serious crimes, among other top news stories.
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Hello, listeners. Welcome to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast. I am Unknown. Reporting to you today from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The main contents of today's program include: Saudi Arabia's energy ambassador stated on October 6 that 5.8 million barrels of oil have been exported through the East-West Pipeline from the Honghai terminal, causing oil prices to fall. President Trump has approved a U.S. military firing squad to execute an Army psychiatrist, who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring over 30 others in 2009. U.S. federal prosecutors said a Chinese national has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. On October 6, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics to American scientist Francis Halzen. For more news, please stay tuned to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy said on Tuesday, October 6, that 5.8 million barrels of oil have been exported through the East-West Pipeline from the Honghai terminal, and oil prices have fallen as a result. Listen to the report: This pipeline was attacked on September 10. No organization has claimed responsibility, but some have blamed the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iraqi militia groups, both of which are supported by Iran. Kpler, a maritime data company, stated that Saudi Arabia's Red Sea oil export hub has shown resilience following the attack. According to Kpler, between September 17 and October 4, crude oil loadings at Yanbu and Mu'ajiz have been confirmed to reach approximately 45 million barrels. In a post on X, Kpler noted that this recovery strengthens Saudi Arabia's ability to maintain crude oil shipments while reducing reliance on more vulnerable maritime chokepoints. The international benchmark Brent crude price was $97.56 per barrel on Tuesday, and the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude price was $87.50 per barrel. Both had broken through the $100 mark in September, reaching their highest levels in months.
Members of the Group of Seven industrialized nations announced a plan last Friday to reduce diesel and crude oil supplies by 100 million barrels over four months, in a coordinated effort by various countries to respond to rising energy prices, following which oil prices declined. President Trump primarily blamed the rise in diesel prices on Ukrainian attacks against Russian energy facilities. Meanwhile, despite an increase in the volume of oil flowing out of the Gulf, commercial shipping disruptions and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have continued. Trump predicted on Monday that the conflict with Iran would end soon and that prices would drop significantly. He said that given the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, the rise in oil prices was a small price to pay to maintain world security. Speaking at a campaign event in Nebraska, Trump said that we are currently shipping more oil out of the strait than before the war. He mentioned Iranian attacks on oil tankers, with the latest attack occurring on Monday. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile as it sailed out of the strait, and the crew reported themselves safe while authorities investigate the incident. The UK Maritime Trade Operations recorded another incident on Monday when Iranian forces intercepted a tanker heading into port about 11 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman. Iranian forces ordered the tanker to turn back or become a target. These vessels complied with the instructions of the Iranian forces.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military said on Monday that it had diverted 130 commercial vessels during a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that the U.S. military remains highly committed to this mission. Cooper said that we will act swiftly against any vessel attempting to break the blockade. The above is a report from Voice of America.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the U.S. military's use of a firing squad to execute an Army psychiatrist who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others in 2009. A military jury sentenced Nidal Hasan to death in 2013 for the attack he launched at Fort Hood in Texas. Pentagon spokesman Parnell announced on Monday, October 5, that President Trump had approved the recommendation of Secretary of War Hegseth to carry out the execution by shooting. Parnell said the Secretary of the Army will determine the time and place of the execution. Hasan's day of reckoning has finally arrived. Presidential approval is part of the legal process for death sentences for U.S. service members. Hasan now has the option of whether to file a lawsuit.
In a press release issued on Monday, October 5, by the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California Eric Grant, 33-year-old Chinese citizen Liu Binhui pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money. Prosecutors stated that Liu Binhui had resided in San Jose, California, and is currently awaiting his asylum application. According to court documents, between February 2024 and April 2025, Liu Binhui and his co-conspirators impersonated federal law enforcement officers or employees to contact victims, falsely claiming that they were facing criminal charges and that their bank accounts would be frozen. Prosecutors stated that these fraudsters operated both inside and outside the United States, including in India, instructing victims to go to the bank to withdraw cash and hand it over for safekeeping. Victims were told that a federal official would come to their home to collect the cash, and the fraudsters used aliases and codewords, also requiring victims to take photos of themselves and the packaged cash so that they could take it away.
The press release cited a case where an elderly victim received a call from someone claiming to be a U.S. federal marshal, falsely stating that law enforcement had issued an arrest warrant against them, and demanding that the victim hand over money to a so-called Federal Reserve employee to protect their funds. Subsequently, Liu Binhui and his co-conspirators went to the home to collect the cash. Prosecutors noted that Liu Binhui was responsible for laundering money for this scam ring's associates, and between March and April 2025, he collected approximately $597,100 from 24 victims in places including California and Nevada. On April 9, 2025, federal investigators set up a sting operation, having Liu Binhui come to a victim's home to collect $20,000 in cash, though this cash was actually counterfeit. Prosecutors stated that Liu Binhui was never a federal law enforcement officer or federal employee. Prosecutors stated that Liu Binhui's sentencing is scheduled for January 4 of next year, and he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as well as a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
On Tuesday, October 6, German authorities announced the arrest of former intelligence chief Hanning on charges of treasonous espionage. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said that authorities also arrested a former assistant of Hanning, identified only as Manfred T. Prosecutors accused Manfred T. of passing sensitive information to Hanning while working for the subsequent head of the intelligence agency. Hanning used this information in his private consulting business. Hanning's work is believed to have included preparing an analytical report for staff of a foreign intelligence agency. The statement did not specify which countries might have received Germany's intelligence information. Prosecutors said the criminal scheme began in 2010 and continued at least until 2022. The Prosecutor's Office stated that current findings indicate that over the years Manfred T. provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many of which contained classified information intended solely for internal use by the Federal Intelligence Service, particularly for high-level intelligence briefings.
The Trump administration is simultaneously advancing two mechanisms to address the risks of superintelligence, with Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton leading a new superintelligence task force to assess how the U.S. government receives and processes relevant incident reports. Treasury Secretary Bessent is preparing to propose a formal notification procedure to Beijing so that the U.S. and China can maintain communication in the event of serious superintelligence accidents. These two actions show that Washington is attempting to build a dual-layer architecture ranging from domestic incident identification to international crisis notification. However, which events must be reported, which department will verify them, and how much sensitive information the United States is willing to share with its strategic competitor China remain undetermined. The U.S. government has also not publicly stated whether the task force led by Clayton will participate in designing or managing the notification channel with China.
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 3, citing Clayton and a senior White House official, that Trump has appointed Clayton to concurrently serve as the government's artificial intelligence chief, leading the newly established superintelligence task force. The task force will submit a report within 120 days assessing the risks and opportunities presented by superintelligence, and providing recommendations on what role the federal government should play in regulating and responding to this technology. According to reports, the task force will review existing mechanisms for enterprises and other institutions to report AI system leaks, cyberattacks, and other incidents to the federal government, and assess whether the government can use existing legal authorities to improve response capabilities. Members include Vice President Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, among other senior officials.
Clayton told The Wall Street Journal that the task force must ensure the United States continues to lead in the field of advanced artificial intelligence while also protecting the public interest of the United States. He stated that the risks of failing to arrive first in this race are high. The Trump administration officially refers to artificial intelligence as superintelligence. President Trump insists that the United States must maintain its advantage in technological competition with China and warns that over-regulation could hinder the development of American companies. However, the establishment of this high-level task force also shows that the government is beginning to consider how to establish more specific accident reporting and federal response mechanisms than voluntary commitments from enterprises.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on October 6 that the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to American scientist Francis Halzen, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The detection of high-energy neutrinos not only helps in searching for the origin of cosmic rays, but also helps in understanding physical conditions in cosmic ray accelerators, particle acceleration processes, and more. Listen to the announcement by Hans Ellegren, Secretary General of the Nobel Committee: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics to Francis Halzen for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.
Let us now listen to the acceptance speech of the awarded scientist Halzen. I must emphasize how lucky I was; when we started this project, everyone thought it might be a good idea, but very few thought it could actually succeed, including myself. Therefore, this was indeed an adventure with no guarantee of success, and we were very lucky to overcome various challenges, thanks on the one hand to the talent of our partners and on the other to a factor of luck. Neutrinos are very small particles that can pass through our bodies and the Earth without being detected, and some neutrinos are produced during nuclear reactions in the sun or explosions of distant stars. Halzen helped develop methods to detect these neutrinos and helped point out their origins. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences stated during the award presentation that Halzen laid the foundation for an entirely new kind of astronomy.
On Tuesday, the three major stock indices rose: the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.49%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.58%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index increased by 0.45%.
A newly released map of critical mineral resources in the United States shows that the number of mineral deposits is nearly double that of the previous version released in 2024. The map lists 59 types of proven critical mineral deposits that are vital for boosting the U.S. economy and protecting national security. Here is a report from VOA reporter Si Yang. In the latest map, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded 1,271 mineral deposits across 41 states and Puerto Rico, up from the previously counted 684. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared the map on X on Sunday, writing that the U.S. possesses immense untapped potential. He also stated that this new map is part of President Donald Trump's initiative to expand U.S. mineral production and reduce reliance on foreign resources.
Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior, previously remarked on the new map, saying that these data indicate we have extremely rich domestic mineral resources. Of the 10 critical minerals most at risk of supply chain disruption, nine are present in the United States, including four rare earth elements. She added that releasing this information in the form of a map and a brand-new interactive version allows industry investors and the public to directly access important knowledge. This map also serves as a database, marking the locations of critical mineral sites across the U.S. The map not only contains information about the types of critical minerals and geological deposit types, but it also notes whether each location has unmined resources or whether it has been mined in the past or recently. Among them, 412 deposits have documented critical mineral resources but no known past or current production records.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, through the USGS, released the final list of critical minerals on November 6, 2025, identifying 60 minerals that are essential to the U.S. economy and national security but face potential risks from supply chain disruptions. The new map marks 59 different types of critical mineral sites; newly added minerals include copper, silver, lithium, and lead, though it does not include one of the critical minerals previously reclassified by the USGS, which is refined copper. The new map adds 587 critical mineral sites compared to the previous version, though not all of these sites are newly discovered; the new map incorporates deposits that were not included in earlier versions. Critical minerals are necessary for manufacturing various important products, including batteries and computer chips, and the U.S. has become increasingly dependent on imports for such minerals. During his first term, President Trump began working to expand domestic production, signing Executive Order 13817 in 2017. This order directed the Department of the Interior to identify new sources of critical materials, ensure that mines and producers have access to the data needed to develop these materials, and streamline leasing and permitting processes to accelerate production. He stated at the time that the United States must never rely on foreign competitors like Russia and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to obtain the critical minerals needed to maintain a strong economy and national security.
The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party reposted the mineral map shared by the Interior Secretary, expressing gratitude to the USGS and the administration for taking action to strengthen the U.S. critical mineral supply chain and reduce reliance on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The statement said that the United States cannot rely on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for critical minerals. U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns stated after the meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington that China has weaponized its dominant position in rare earth exports and used it against the world. He said that the United States has made it clear to China that this is unacceptable. Analysts pointed out at the time that Ambassador Burns' post confirmed that the friendly facade of the Trump-Xi meeting did not lead Xi Jinping to make concessions on the issue of rare earth supply chains. VOA, Si Yang, reporting from Washington.
Taiwan's newest diplomatic outpost in the United States, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Phoenix, was officially inaugurated in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday afternoon, local time, October 5. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung traveled to Phoenix to attend the unveiling ceremony after concluding his visit to Central America. Ingrid Larson, Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, and local Arizona dignitaries were also expected to attend as guests. Listen to this report by Voice of America correspondent Zhong Chenfang.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Sunday that Lin Chia-lung, accompanied by a business delegation from the Taiwan National Federation of Industries and Commerce, visited Phoenix from October 3 to 5. In addition to attending the inauguration of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Phoenix and interacting with Taiwanese manufacturers and local overseas compatriot leaders, he will also meet with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, while witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Arizona Commerce Authority and the National Federation of Industries and Commerce.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the inauguration of the Phoenix office symbolizes a new milestone in the economic and trade partnership between Taiwan and the United States. Ingrid Larson, Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, will accompany Lin Chia-lung throughout his visit, demonstrating the importance both sides attach to deepening local and industrial cooperation. Before visiting Arizona, Lin had just concluded visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies Belize and Guatemala. He led a Taiwan economic, trade, and investment delegation there to participate in a business opportunity exchange and forum with Guatemalan and American businesses, hoping that Taiwanese enterprises can connect with U.S. businesses and markets through alignment with Guatemala's industries, thereby further promoting trilateral strategic complementarity among Taiwan, the United States, and Guatemala.
The government of U.S. President Donald Trump is strengthening domestic U.S. chip security and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities while also stepping up efforts to promote international high-tech industries to invest in the United States. Since Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC announced a USD 12 billion investment in May 2020 to build a plant in Phoenix, Arizona, to produce advanced semiconductor chips, it has successively expanded its investments and production facilities locally in recent years. To meet the demands of U.S. companies such as NVIDIA, Apple, and AMD for super-intelligent chip design and applications, TSMC announced in July this year that it would add another USD 100 billion in investment for more production capacity and equipment, bringing its total investment in the United States to USD 265 billion. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that TSMC's investment in Arizona has driven other supply chain manufacturers to move to the United States as well. The main purpose of Lin Chia-lung's trip is to understand the actual needs of Taiwanese businesses on the ground and assist enterprises in establishing closer links with U.S. local government industries and communities, using a "Team of Teams" approach to help implement a new international economic and trade joint fleet, highlighting that Taiwan and the United States have upgraded from stakeholders to shareholders of common interests.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in early July that it would establish the Phoenix office in Arizona to further deepen U.S.-Taiwan exchange and cooperation. The ministry said that with a new layout in U.S.-Taiwan high-tech industrial cooperation, the number of Taiwanese businesspeople and expatriates in Arizona and surrounding areas is increasing, and interactions between Taiwan and various U.S. states and municipal governments are becoming increasingly close. Therefore, it was decided to set up the new office in Phoenix to strengthen support for Taiwanese businesses and expatriates in the United States and promote bilateral investment between Taiwan and the United States. The ministry noted that Phoenix is the capital of Arizona. As Taiwan's semiconductor and related supply chain manufacturers successively expand their investments there, Phoenix has gradually formed a scaled and strategically significant technology industry cluster, becoming an important base for Taiwan and the United States to jointly build a trustworthy and highly resilient technology supply chain. The Phoenix office is Taiwan's 13th office established in the United States. Together with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States located in Washington, D.C., Taiwan now has a total of 14 missions in the United States. Besides the Washington office and the Phoenix office, the locations of Taiwan's other 12 offices in the United States include New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, and Guam. Voice of America correspondent Zhong Chenfang reporting from Washington.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that it has filed denaturalization lawsuits in multiple U.S. district courts against 40 individuals accused of committing serious crimes, including acting as agents of foreign governments and committing intentional homicide. Listen to this report from the Voice of America. The Justice Department stated that these complaints were filed between August 21 and October 2, 2026, marking the largest number of complaints filed in a single batch during the Trump administration. The Justice Department pointed out that under immigration and international law, if naturalization was obtained illegally, or through the concealment of material facts or intentional misrepresentations, U.S. citizenship may be revoked and certificates of naturalization may be cancelled. The 40 individuals accused of committing serious crimes hail from 10 countries, including Mexico, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and include two individuals of Chinese descent.
The Department of Justice stated that 26-year-old Jinchao Wei from China is being sued by the Department of Justice to revoke his U.S. citizenship because he engaged in espionage on behalf of the Chinese government. Wei joined the U.S. Navy in 2021, but by February 2022, he began conspiring to sell military secrets to China. By concealing his crimes, Wei obtained U.S. citizenship just two months later through a law that accelerates naturalization for those serving honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. He was arrested in August 2025 after his espionage activities were discovered and was convicted of conspiracy to engage in espionage and the illegal export of technical data related to defense articles. He was sentenced to 200 months in prison and discharged from the Navy. The complaint to revoke Wei's citizenship alleges that he obtained his nationality illegally, through fraudulent concealment or material misrepresentation during the naturalization process, and that he did not serve honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces for the five years preceding his departure from the armed forces under other-than-honorable conditions.
Another individual of Chinese descent is Ping Li, also from China. The Department of Justice stated that 61-year-old Ping Li had been obtaining information of interest to the Chinese government since at least 2012 under the direction of officials from the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), including information regarding Chinese dissidents and democracy advocates, Falun Gong practitioners, and U.S. non-governmental organizations, and reporting this information to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.