Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (October 15, 2026) Russian forces attack multiple power plants in Ukraine; President Donald Trump announced on October 13 that Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30% of the natural gas from the Alaska natural gas pipeline project over the next 20 years - 10...
This episode covers several major developments in international and US-China relations. Russian forces launched attacks on multiple power plants in Ukraine, with Zelensky stating that this violated the energy ceasefire; Yemen's Houthi movement threatened further attacks after striking the Saudi Aramco headquarters; Trump announced that Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30% of the natural gas from the Alaska natural gas pipeline project over the next 20 years; Google's head of artificial intelligence warned that AI systems could trigger major accidents within the next two years; the US Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in September; additionally, reports covered Trump's upcoming trip to Asia, US-China relations, a US congressional report on China-related research security, and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's qualification reviews, among other topics.
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Hello, dear listeners and friends, and welcome to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast. I am Unknown, broadcasting today's program from the US capital, Washington. The main contents of today's program include: Russian forces launched attacks on multiple power plants in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky said these attacks violated the energy ceasefire announced by US President Trump. Following the attack on the Saudi Aramco headquarters by the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, they threatened on October 14 to continue launching attacks. US President Trump announced on October 13 that Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30% of the natural gas from the Alaska natural gas pipeline project over the next 20 years. Google's head of artificial intelligence warned that as AI capabilities continue to grow, in the absence of safety measures, AI systems could trigger major accidents within the next two years. Stay tuned to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast for more news.
On Wednesday, October 14, Russian forces launched attacks on multiple power plants in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that these attacks violated the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Trump. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on social media that its forces had struck six power plants in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, claiming these targets were linked to Ukraine's military activities. Zelenskyy said on the social platform X that the attacks left 600,000 people without power and caused significant damage to electricity, oil, and gas facilities. Zelenskyy stated that overnight, the Russians used 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 drones and loitering munitions to strike energy and critical infrastructure in the Kyiv region and Kharkiv. Russia launched targeted ballistic missile attacks on energy infrastructure that was precisely covered by the ceasefire announced by the U.S. President. On Sunday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had been achieved effective immediately, and that both sides had agreed to it. In the days since, Zelenskyy has said that Russia continues to strike Ukrainian energy facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the details of the energy ceasefire were still being determined, adding that work in this regard was ongoing. The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that the Ukrainian military had deployed over 900 drones in a new round of overnight attacks, and the mayor of Moscow said nearly 500 drones flew toward his region, though he did not report any damage or casualties.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened on Wednesday, October 14, to continue attacks after striking the headquarters of Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's largest oil company. The Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed that an administrative building at Saudi Aramco was struck late Tuesday, causing a limited fire, with no reports of casualties so far. Officials stated that shrapnel from an intercepted object hit a residential area in Dhahran, where the company's headquarters are located. The Houthis claimed to have used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to attack Saudi Aramco. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the attack was a response to Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa and other provinces. Within hours of the Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco, the Saudi-led coalition reported that it had intercepted drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles heading toward the capital Riyadh, as well as the cities of Harad in Hajjah province and Dammam on Wednesday. Prior to the attack on Saudi Aramco, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, stated that the coalition had conducted operations in Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Dhamar in Yemen targeting fuel wars, underground fuel depots, and storage facilities, as these weapons threatened Saudi Arabia and its airports, ports, and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and accused the group of attempting to deliberately drive up oil prices ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections. When asked if a decision had been made regarding potential U.S. responses to these attacks, Trump told reporters that the Houthis' behavior was very bad and terrible. The Houthis said on Wednesday that they would continue to attack Saudi airports and oil facilities in the coming days and reiterated their warning to businesses and the public to avoid airports. The United States urged the Houthis to stop attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government.
The United Nations stated on Wednesday, October 14, that intense fighting in Yemen had cut off aid access for 800,000 people in the strategic Taiz province, an area that connects the port city of Aden—the economic hub and seat of the Yemeni government—with Sanaa and the western provinces along the Red Sea coast. Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has been a focal point of fighting between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthis, who have attempted to besiege the city by cutting off the main road connecting it to Aden. UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday that basic supplies in Taiz city have become increasingly scarce, causing prices to rise continuously. Dujarric stated that partner agencies have warned that current wheat and flour supplies in Taiz city could run out within three weeks, gasoline prices have tripled, and severe shortages of cooking gas continue to worsen. WFP Yemen Country Director Stephen Anderson said on Wednesday that the situation in Yemen is deteriorating rapidly, warning that food insecurity has reached an all-time high, a situation compounded by the country's already dire food insecurity. He also noted that 80% of Yemen's population is struggling to meet basic food needs. The UN International Organization for Migration stated on Tuesday that more than 217,000 people have been displaced since the escalation of fighting on Yemen's west coast in early September. The UN recently pointed out that after years of conflict, hunger in Yemen is rapidly intensifying.
Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis warned at a conference in Dublin on October 14 that as artificial intelligence capabilities continue to grow, AI systems could trigger major accidents within the next two years if adequate safety measures are lacking. He also stated that a number of cyberattacks earlier this year served as a wake-up call for everyone, and the industry must strengthen security protections and test AI systems in isolated environments. The cyberattacks that occurred earlier this year illustrated this point, and I believe these incidents served as a wake-up call for us. Currently, these systems are not yet that powerful, so the accidents caused are not particularly severe. However, looking ahead to next year or the next two years, if the entire industry, companies, and governments do not step up efforts to strengthen the security protections of these systems and establish secure sandbox environments—where these test environments may need to be kept offline and not connected to the internet during initial testing—the associated risks could intensify.
President Trump announced on October 13 that Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30% of the natural gas from the Alaska natural gas pipeline project over the next 20 years. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed on Wednesday that it has signed a letter of intent to participate in the project and stated that relevant consultations have made significant progress. President Trump made the remarks during a campaign rally in Alaska, where he also stated that Taiwan will additionally invest $4.4 billion to ensure the completion of the project. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a statement after Trump's announcement, stating that CPC Corporation, Taiwan, signed a letter of intent for the purchase, sale, and investment of Alaska liquefied natural gas with the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation in March of last year. After a year and a half of intensive negotiations and prudent evaluations, the company has made significant progress with the U.S. developer. CPC Corporation is a state-owned enterprise overseen by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Alaska liquefied natural gas project is expected to cost between $44.5 billion and $54.5 billion, planning to build a 1,300-kilometer-long pipeline to transport natural gas from the North Slope of northern Alaska to liquefaction facilities near Anchorage in the south, in preparation for export to Asia. Locals have been pushing for this project for years, but high costs and doubts about its economic feasibility have hindered its progress. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed that the planned investment amount is $4.4 billion. Once the project goes into production, Taiwan will purchase 6 million tons of natural gas annually, with the project expected to go into production as early as 2032. Taiwan stated that it hopes to promote diversified natural gas supplies, enhance supply dispatch flexibility, further strengthen Taiwan's energy resilience, and deepen Taiwan-U.S. cooperation through long-term energy procurement and project investment. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs also stated that specific details, including equity ratios and other terms, remain to be determined. Taipei pointed out that being able to transport natural gas directly to Taiwan via Pacific shipping routes has geographical advantages, which will help diversify risks. Energy security is a critical issue for Taiwan, which relies heavily on oil and gas from the Middle East to support its tech-driven economy. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the liquefied natural gas project on Wednesday, stating that Taiwan's foreign affairs should be based on the one-China principle. When asked about Taiwan's participation in the Alaska natural gas pipeline project, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the Democratic Progressive Party's attempts to promote Taiwan independence under the guise of economic and trade will not succeed.
Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger showcased its newly developed medium-range delta-wing attack drone at the defense exhibition during the Association of the United States Army annual meeting this week in 2026. An aircraft resembling the Iranian Shahed-136 delta-wing suicide drone, which has frequently appeared in the Russia-Ukraine war, was displayed at the 2026 AUSA defense exhibition, namely the PAPA Delta PD-136 attack drone exhibited by Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger. Su Sheng-chieh, general manager of Taiwan's Thunder Tiger, stated that the PAPA Delta uses a newly developed stamped aluminum fuselage, enabling rapid and mass production. We use a Tesla-like approach, using aluminum stamping with a large stamping press; after stamping, the aircraft body comes out, and those two body parts are joined together, plus an engine, and it can fly. Therefore, our focus is on stamping lightweighting at a very, very fast speed. While making one traditionally might take a week, with our stamping, we can stamp several or even dozens of units a day, and coupled with a good engine, we can produce this delta-wing unmanned vehicle. Currently, we have received a lot of interest from many American companies in this regard. Each Papa Delta PD-136 costs about 35,000 USD, uses a two-stroke piston engine, has a payload of about 12 kilograms, and a range of about 500 kilometers, while the advanced PD-136J version uses a turbojet engine, has a range of about 300 kilometers, but can reach a speed of 500 kilometers per hour; both engines are domestically produced in Taiwan. Su Sheng-chieh noted that Thunder Tiger's short-range FPV drones have performed exceptionally well in the international market, with its Overkill series drones having sold 1,520 units to the U.S. military system. First is the short-range system called FPV, and this system has currently passed the U.S. Blue UAS certification; we are the only drone platform in Asia to pass the Blue UAS certification. Su Sheng-chieh stated that the increasing international demand for non-red supply chains is extremely favorable for Taiwan's future development in the military drone sector. The U.S. and Israel each have their own areas of expertise, so I think, for example, FPV is our specialty, and what we make is definitely quite good. However, for military use, it's primarily about security, efficiency, and effectiveness. Removing the red supply chain in this industrial-grade or military-grade aspect is very advantageous for Taiwanese companies required to eliminate the red supply chain.
Driven by soaring gasoline prices, the pace of consumer price growth in the U.S. accelerated in September. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday, October 14, that the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.6% in September, compared to a 0.4% increase in August. For the 12 months ending in September, the Consumer Price Index rose by 3.7%, higher than the 3.4% recorded for the same period ending in August. Data released on Wednesday showed that gasoline prices surged by 9.1% in September, more than double the increase of the previous month. Overall energy prices rose by 5.2% in September, with a cumulative increase of over 20% over the past year. Food prices remained generally stable, though prices in categories such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products declined. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the Consumer Price Index to track changes over time in the prices people pay for goods and services. This index is a closely watched economic indicator that the Federal Reserve references when deciding whether to adjust interest rates. On Wednesday, the three major stock indices saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall by 0.09%, the S&P 500 drop by 1.11%, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite decline by 1.88%.
The September Washington summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping eased U.S.-China relations, but did not eliminate bilateral competition. As President Trump travels to Asia in November and the two leaders meet again, how to implement the limited outcomes of the September summit, manage differences, and simultaneously demonstrate their respective influence in Southeast Asia will be the focus of President Trump's Asia trip. On November 11, the White House confirmed to the New York Post that President Trump plans to attend the ASEAN summit in Manila, Philippines, on November 16, followed by the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, from November 18 to 19, where he will meet with Xi Jinping again. This will be the third meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders this year. The New York Post report cited White House officials as saying that the main purpose of this Asia trip is to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Southeast Asian partners while advancing U.S. economic and national security goals. The last time Trump visited the Philippines as president was during his first term in 2017, when he attended the U.S.-ASEAN summit in Manila and met with then-Philippine President Duterte. U.S. officials stated that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously extended an invitation for President Trump to visit the Philippines. The Philippines is a formal treaty ally of the United States, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. Analysts believe that Trump's choice to attend the ASEAN summit in Manila first before heading to China for APEC, incorporating agendas on ASEAN diplomacy and U.S.-Philippines relations into this Asia trip, sends an important message to the Philippines and Southeast Asia, showing that Washington remains actively engaged in Southeast Asian affairs and reaffirms its attention to the Philippines and regional partners before Trump meets with Xi Jinping.
Recently, conflicts between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have been continuous. The Philippine military stated on October 9 that it had monitored 101 different Chinese navy and coast guard vessels around four disputed maritime areas in the South China Sea in September, compared to 56 and 48 in August and July, respectively. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson issued a statement on September 26 regarding China's obstruction of Philippine resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal, condemning the Chinese Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army Navy for taking dangerous blocking actions and other irresponsible maneuvers. She said, "We stand with our Philippine allies," and praised the professionalism and restraint they have shown. The South China Morning Post cited sources as saying that Washington is considering this Asia itinerary partly to present the trip as being oriented toward Asia rather than just a visit to China. Dennis Wilder, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University and a former CIA official, told Voice of America that a U.S. president should visit U.S. allies in the region when traveling abroad, and it is best not to skip stops in allied countries when visiting Asia. Prior to the Washington summit, President Trump also met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in New York. However, it is undeniable that the highlight of Trump's November Asia trip remains China. At the White House summit in September, the leaders of the U.S. and China confirmed they would support each other in hosting the APEC summit and the G20 summit. The meeting at the Shenzhen summit will be their third encounter this year. Georgetown University professor Dennis Wilder believes that the main goal of the two summits between the U.S. and Chinese leaders at the end of this year is to consolidate the newly formed stability in bilateral relations. He said, "I expect tariffs to be further reduced and China to purchase more U.S. goods, but progress will be gradual." Wilder also stated that Xi Jinping hopes the stability will continue so that he can demonstrate his control over U.S.-China relations before the 21st Party Congress. In addition, when asked by reporters recently whether he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip, President Trump indicated it was possible, saying, "If we meet, it would be an exciting meeting; I get along with him very well."
A congressional committee focused on China in the US House of Representatives has released a report calling for tighter security reviews of taxpayer-funded research projects to prevent China-linked institutions from acquiring US-funded research through undisclosed foreign affiliations, funding arrangements, and scientific collaborations. The report urges Congress to pass relevant legislation to establish uniform research security standards across all federal agencies. Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, released a 40-page report on October 13 titled How to Stop China from Stealing Research Funded by US Taxpayers. The report primarily addresses arguments opposing stricter research security measures, citing committee investigations, federal law enforcement actions, and inspector general findings to refute claims that increased scrutiny could harm academic freedom, hinder scientific innovation, increase administrative burdens on universities, and that universities can effectively self-regulate research collaborations. In a statement, Moolenaar said that the arguments against research security reforms lack sufficient basis, and Congress should pass legislation to ensure that US taxpayer funds are not used to support research collaborations with entities identified by the US government as national security risks. Moolenaar stated that America's research enterprise is one of our most precious national assets, and protecting it requires facing reality and taking action; Congress must pass the Protecting Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act to establish clear and consistent safeguards across the entire federal government, ensuring that US taxpayer money is not used to support research collaborations with entities already identified by the US government as national security risks. In recent years, preventing China from exploiting US federally funded research outcomes has become a key national security issue for the US Congress. Against this backdrop, in May this year, Moolenaar and Indiana Republican Senator Jim Banks jointly introduced the Protecting Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act. This bill proposes establishing uniform restrictions at the federal level to prohibit the use of federal research funds for collaborations with institutions listed on US government restriction lists. The bill applies to universities, national laboratories, and private institutions, and includes joint research, co-authored papers, data sharing, and personnel exchanges within the scope of research collaborations, while permitting limited exemptions when national security, major scientific, or public health interests are involved, provided that Congress is notified. Currently, the bill has not yet entered committee review or voting procedures; according to the US legislative process, the bill must pass identical versions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and be signed by the president before it can become law.
The report released by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party also puts forward multiple policy recommendations, including strengthening oversight of research projects after receiving federal funding, standardizing research security standards across government departments, encouraging universities to proactively adopt stricter protection measures, and more effectively utilizing administrative measures such as suspension and debarment when investigative evidence is sufficient. Published alongside the report were more than 700 pages of previously unreleased, unclassified investigative records. These documents relate to multiple research security cases investigated by the Office of Inspector General of the National Science Foundation, including recommendations for suspension or debarment from investigative reports, correspondence, documents related to foreign affiliations and talent recruitment programs, financial records, and federal research funding application materials. According to the report, these cases involved issues such as researchers failing to disclose foreign positions, receiving compensation from Chinese institutions, participating in Chinese talent recruitment programs, failing to fulfill obligations to report time and effort commitments, and repeatedly failing to disclose required information to federal research funding agencies. Some investigations found that related foreign connections and omissions in information disclosure persisted for many years and involved multiple research funding projects and research institutions. The report argues that some violations cannot be simply categorized as administrative oversights or paperwork errors. The committee stated that releasing these investigative materials helps increase the transparency of federal research security investigations, allowing researchers, universities, policymakers, and taxpayers to independently examine the relevant investigative evidence and understand the basis for the committee's reform proposals.
On October 6, bipartisan members of the US Congress issued calls regarding the review of preferential treatment enjoyed by Hong Kong's financial regulatory authorities and the extension of detention periods for Hong Kong residents in the US. Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, demanded that the Federal Reserve review the qualification of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to use US dollar liquidity tools, while Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill calling for allowing Hong Kong residents who have already obtained deferred enforced departure status and are living in the US to apply for green cards. A press release issued by Moolenaar stated that he had sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, requesting the Fed to review the qualification of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to continue using the Foreign and International Monetary Authorities Repo Facility. This repo facility allows foreign central banks to borrow US dollars using held US Treasury securities as collateral, serving as a tool for US dollar liquidity. Moolenaar pointed out in his letter to the Fed that the laws and systems that historically distinguished Hong Kong from China and granted it preferential treatment no longer exist.