Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (September 22, 2026) UK Maritime Security Organization UK Maritime Trade Operations Office says a tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz was attacked by unidentified projectiles, injuring two sailors
Voice of America's Chinese broadcast reported several major news items. First, a British maritime security organization stated that an oil tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile, leaving two sailors injured. Meanwhile, the U.S. military noted that the total volume of energy transported through the waterway recently reached its highest level in nearly six months. Additionally, U.S. President Trump shared his views on Ukraine's drone strikes against Russian oil refineries and engaged with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy regarding the trajectory of the war. The report also detailed the arrangements for Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to the United States, including President Trump's welcoming ceremony and the state dinner. Regarding U.S.-China relations, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that talks with China on issues such as artificial intelligence and trade were very successful, and both sides agreed to establish an AI dialogue mechanism. At the same time, several U.S. members of Congress emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication channels between the U.S. and China, expressing their views on trade, the Taiwan issue, the situation in Iran, and AI competition. Finally, the report focused on the joint missile exercises held by the Taiwanese military and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's emphasis on enhancing defense capabilities.
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Hello listeners, welcome to the Voice of America's Chinese broadcast, I am Zhang Peizhi. Reporting to you from the U.S. capital, Washington. Today's main program highlights include: the British maritime security organization, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, said that an oil tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile, leaving two sailors injured.
President Trump said that Ukraine's drone strikes have caused Russia to lose control over its diesel oil industry. U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that talks with China on issues such as artificial intelligence and trade were very successful. As the leaders of the U.S. and China are set to hold a summit at the White House this week, lawmakers from both U.S. parties have repeatedly stated that maintaining open communication channels between the U.S. and China is crucial. For more news, please stay tuned to the Voice of America's Chinese broadcast.
On Monday, an oil tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving two sailors injured. Meanwhile, the U.S. military stated that the total volume of energy transported through this strategic waterway over the past two weeks has reached its highest level in nearly six months. Let's listen to the report.
The British maritime security organization, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, citing military sources, said that an oil tanker entering the Gulf was struck by an unidentified projectile. In a bulletin, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations stated that two crew members sustained minor injuries. The ship is reportedly continuing under its own power to its next port of call.
The attack occurred as oil prices fell slightly in early trading on Monday. The international benchmark Brent crude was priced at $100.8 per barrel, and the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude fell to $96.5 per barrel, the lowest level since last Wednesday. Before the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war, the average price of Brent crude in February this year was about $73 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate was about $67 per barrel.
Both the United States and Iran claim control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously threatened that without the permission of the Iranian military, it could not provide security guarantees for ships passing through the strait. U.S. Central Command said on Saturday that over the past few months, the command has helped more than a billion barrels of crude oil leave the Gulf. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said in a video posted on X: "We have achieved this milestone by providing coordinated protection to assist over 2,000 merchant vessels through the strait. The momentum is clearly building."
Cooper said that Central Command is also working with Gulf countries, insurance companies, and shipping firms to increase traffic flow through the strait. Cooper added that as the U.S. Navy's blockade continues to be enforced, the U.S. military is preventing Iran from exporting any oil from its ports. Central Command said on Sunday that as of September 20, 109 merchant vessels had been rerouted to ensure full compliance with the blockade. The above is a report from Voice of America.
U.S. President Trump said that due to Ukraine's drone attacks, Russia has unfortunately lost control of its diesel oil industry, calling the war ridiculous and shameful, and stating it must end. Let's listen to the report. Trump wrote on Truth Social that many of their diesel refineries have been blown up and are at least temporarily out of operation.
Trump said the whole world is suffering, with 25,000 people rising every month, most of them soldiers. Ukrainian President Zelensky responded on X, writing that this war must end. Kyiv is in dialogue with President Trump and the U.S. side. He stated that if Russia stops attacks on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure and grain exports, we will take corresponding de-escalation measures. He also added that there will no longer be a situation where only the country under attack suffers.
Zelensky said he expects to meet with Trump during the UN General Assembly in New York this week. Russian President Putin is not expected to attend. There are no signs of the fighting easing at all. Zelensky said on social media on Monday that Russia's attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia late Sunday hit an apartment building, a university, and a shopping mall, leaving five people injured. He said Russia also attacked nine other regions.
State emergency services in the Kharkiv region said a drone hit a residential building on Monday, killing a 45-year-old woman and leaving her 13-year-old son seriously injured. Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia over the weekend. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that this was the largest attack on the Russian capital to date. 450 drones were shot down during their approach. A Moscow refinery and a residential building were damaged. Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram that three people died locally. The above is a report from Voice of America.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump's office announced details on Monday regarding the welcome for Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan will arrive on Wednesday, with the main events taking place on Thursday. The statement from the First Lady's office said this state visit marks an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries.
According to the arrangements announced by the First Lady's office, President Trump will personally welcome Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the Trumps will hold a state visit welcome ceremony for the Xis on the South Lawn, the State Floor, and the Rose Garden of the White House. 479 service members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces will participate in the ceremony.
As the welcome ceremony begins, the U.S. Armed Forces' highest honor guard will line the White House south driveway and lead the way to the White House South Portico. Flags of both the U.S. and China will be displayed here. The U.S. Army Band will play ceremonial music. President Trump and the First Lady will welcome Xi Jinping and his wife into the White House. On the State Floor, the U.S. Marine Band, known as the President's Own, will play the national anthems of the U.S. and China. Subsequently, President Trump and Xi Jinping will deliver speeches. The welcome ceremony also includes a silent drill by the U.S. Marine Corps and a presidential salute held by the U.S. Joint Force Headquarters on the White House South Lawn. Afterward, the honor guard will be inspected in the Rose Garden.
Following the welcome ceremony, Mrs. Trump will accompany Peng Liyuan to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to explore works reflecting centuries of artistic achievement and engage in U.S.-China cultural exchange. On Thursday evening, after Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan arrive at the White House North Portico, President Trump and the First Lady will host a state dinner in the East Room of the White House. You are listening to the Chinese broadcast of Voice of America.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on September 20 that talks with China on issues such as artificial intelligence and trade were very successful. Earlier, Bessent indicated that the purpose of these talks was to pave the way for the summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week. Let's listen to the report.
Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Greer held a full day of talks on Sunday at JPMorgan's New York headquarters with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng regarding trade, AI safety, and rare earth supplies. Bessent told reporters after the meeting that we have just had a very successful engagement with China on trade and AI issues. He said both sides agreed to establish an AI dialogue mechanism aimed at reaching a consensus on the goals and threats of AI. Both sides plan to meet again. China's international trade negotiator Li Chenggang stated that the atmosphere of the talks was good and a working group will continue discussions on Monday.
Bessent said that the United States has proposed establishing a notification mechanism between the two countries, stating, "We hope to reach a consensus on common goals and common threats." He added that the mechanism is named the U.S.-China AI Dialogue. Bessent stated that this notification mechanism will be used to address national security incidents, adding that the U.S. believes it is crucial to enhance transparency between the world's first and second artificial intelligence powers. Regarding tariffs, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the U.S. and China have launched a trade committee mechanism, which can provide a certain degree of stability to bilateral relations. He indicated that the list of non-sensitive goods may include consumer goods and low-tech products from China, as well as energy, agricultural products, and medical products from the U.S. Greer stated that the Trump administration will continue to seek trade balance with China by monitoring the implementation of recent commitments, optimizing trade in non-sensitive goods, and improving market access for U.S. farmers, manufacturers, and workers. The above is a report from Voice of America.
A latest report shows that since Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he has not only suppressed domestic dissent and turned the media into a mouthpiece for the state, but has also attempted to export this system globally. The report points out that Beijing is implementing this global influence strategy centered on media diplomacy with the goal of amplifying its narrative and marginalizing information that runs counter to the interests of the Chinese regime. Let's listen to the report by VOA reporter Yang An.
Reporters Without Borders released a propaganda monitoring report on September 21, exposing how China uses various strategies to export its authoritarian information control model abroad to replace journalism. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, strengthening China's international communication has become a priority. In May 2021, Xi Jinping officially proposed building a strategic communication system with distinct Chinese characteristics. This series of complementary strategies includes content-sharing agreements, using overseas Chinese-language media to exchange equipment for censorship, disseminating in local languages, pressuring foreign media through embassies, training programs and media summits, transnational repression of propagandists and influencers, and investment and advertising to amplify like-minded propaganda.
The report's author, Cédric Alviani, East Asia Bureau Director for Reporters Without Borders, told VOA that the aforementioned strategies are adjusted into different combinations based on the media ecology of different countries and regions. Overall, it should be viewed as a massive propaganda machine whose goal is to establish a so-called new world media order. He said, "I think this propaganda machine has only one main goal, which is to suppress all information about China and only portray China as a good partner to the outside world, while the Chinese government suppresses independent voices, violates human rights, and tries to build this model based on that." David Bandurski, director of the China Media Project, told VOA in writing that China takes a very comprehensive, opportunity-oriented approach to influencing global public opinion, and propaganda is only a small part of it. The most important thing is to understand China's strategic goals and whether these goals will be adjusted over time and geography. The above is the report by VOA special correspondent Yang An.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin a state visit on September 24. Synthesizing the statements made by senior U.S. officials this month before the meeting, economic and trade negotiations, mediation of the situation in Iran, and artificial intelligence competition will become the three core themes of this summit, reflecting the Trump administration's latest strategic considerations regarding current U.S.-China relations. Let's listen to the report.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to visit the U.S. President Trump said he looks forward to the visit of him and his wife, Peng Liyuan. He said that although the U.S. and China are in a competitive relationship, his personal relationship with Xi Jinping is very good. "We are very much looking forward to it. He is an excellent gentleman, we get along very well, and we have a good trade relationship. They are competitors, and although China has been taking advantage of us for many years, we are interacting with China very well now."
President Trump stated that he will host a state dinner for Xi Jinping, and White House officials said that President Trump will personally greet Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews and hold a welcome ceremony. Regarding trade, the Trump administration once raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% this year, after which both the U.S. and China temporarily lowered tariffs to maintain a trade truce. With Xi Jinping about to visit the U.S., President Trump stated that important talks will be held in this regard. "We will have some quite important talks. You know China is paying us a lot of tariffs. You remember we once raised tariffs to 145%, but that was too high, it really hit them hard, I don't want to do that, we get along very well."
Trump stated on September 13 that Chinese cars will continue to be kept out. In May of this year, after President Trump visited China and met with Xi Jinping, it was announced that China agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, and the total number of future orders could increase to 750. When asked about the progress of the deal on the 13th, Trump stated that the deal would be finalized, saying, "I can get every deal done."
Regarding the situation in Iran, U.S. media recently cited officials reporting that Chinese entities might have provided Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. military bases in Jordan. When asked about this, President Trump did not criticize China. "I think he behaved quite decently, and we also behaved quite decently. You know when people say China is spying on us, I would say you are right, but we are also spying on them, you know we are also monitoring them."
Regarding AI competition, President Trump stated on September 4 that the United States is leading China in the field of AI. We are closely monitoring this, and we are leading China in AI. Whoever wins in the AI field will be the winner. And right now, this is basically a competition between us and China. Regarding AI competition and establishing guardrails, Vice President J.D. Vance stated on September 14 that he wants to ensure smart regulation, but also must ensure that the United States maintains its leading position. This is a concern of ours, but we want to ensure smart regulation and think deeply about the risks involved. Another thing the President has consistently emphasized is that we know China is engaged in this long-term AI race with the United States, and we want to ensure the United States handles things wisely and continues to maintain its lead.
From trade and the situation in Iran to artificial intelligence, these three items constitute the three major strategic points of contention for this US-China summit. Whether the two sides can reach a consensus on these will be the focus of outside attention. VOA reporter Wang Yuhe reports from Washington.
Alright, let's look at the performance of the three major stock indices on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.71%, the S&P 500 rose 1.49%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.26%. Please listen to VOA Chinese broadcasts from 6:00 PM Monday to Friday (Eastern Time) or 6:00 AM Tuesday to Saturday (Beijing Time). You are also welcome to visit the VOA Chinese website at voachinese.com and follow our social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and Facebook for more news.
US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet at the White House this week. This will be the second face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state this year. Facing this highly anticipated US-China summit, members of both parties in Congress have stated that maintaining open channels of communication between the US and China is crucial. However, the lawmakers' vigilance toward China has not diminished, and they generally believe that while maintaining contact and seeking cooperation, the United States still needs to remain strategically alert. Let's listen to the report by VOA reporter Li Yihua.
Alright, first let's look at Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who inspected the military's first land-sea-air joint missile exercise involving attack drones on September 18. Lai Ching-te said that the coordinated use of unmanned vehicles with traditional weapons is in response to modern warfare forms, and the military is accelerating the improvement of combat readiness capabilities, while also demonstrating to the Taiwanese people and the international community the confidence of the national army in defending its homeland. This is the report we will do later.
Now let's listen to the report by VOA reporter Li Hua, discussing the views of US members of Congress on the special summit. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar stated in an interview with VOA that the meeting between US and Chinese leaders is very important. Dialogue helps avoid misunderstandings and also allows the United States to clearly express its policy positions on national security and economic security issues.
Moolenaar said that in some areas, such as trade, we can cooperate, but at the same time, there are issues involving national security concerns. I believe President Trump will raise appropriate questions to Xi Jinping at the appropriate time. Moolenaar also mentioned that he believes human rights should also be one of the topics of dialogue between the two heads of state.
Moolenaar, who comes from the automotive hub of Michigan, wrote to the White House on Friday, suggesting that Trump emphasize four national security priorities when meeting with Xi Jinping, including holding China accountable for supporting Iran and assisting in its attacks on US forces, continuing to restrict Chinese automobiles and related investments from entering the United States, opposing Chinese interference in US arms sales and security cooperation with Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies, and maintaining a competitive advantage over China in the field of artificial intelligence. Moolenaar said that the upcoming summit between Trump and Xi Jinping will also be an important opportunity for the United States to re-emphasize and actively defend key US interests, whether in bilateral talks with the Chinese government or through actions taken by the Trump administration after the summit.
He believes the United States should expect China to continue to act as an increasingly assertive adversary. He stated that Trump could use this summit to set clear consequences for malicious behavior while continuing efforts to protect US industry from the impact of China's overcapacity and strengthening the enforcement of national security-related policy tools. He believes this would continue the historic policy shift Trump has promoted in US-China relations. In the field of artificial intelligence, Moolenaar also advocated for strengthening export controls on advanced artificial intelligence technology, cloud services, and semiconductor manufacturing technology to limit China's access to US artificial intelligence technology.
Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse from Washington state told VOA that he believes the top priority is for the leaders of the US and China to make some progress in the trade sector and seek to reach a consensus. Newhouse said that Republican Congressman John McGuire from Virginia also believes that trade issues should be one of the focuses of this summit. McGuire told VOA that trade is very important, and I believe they will talk about trade issues, as well as tobacco, soybeans, and all those related issues that can help farmers. The trade deficit between the two countries is improving, but we still have work to do.
As the US-China leadership summit approaches, the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran in the Middle East continues, with maritime shipping under attack and global energy prices rising. Several members of Congress told Voice of America (VOA) that China is a vital economic pillar for Iran, and they hope the US and Chinese leaders will discuss the Iran issue during their talks. Democratic Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan told VOA, "I am focused on the Iran issue and whether Xi Jinping will step in to help President Trump out of a difficult situation amidst the ongoing Iranian crisis. The question now is whether China will help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stand with the United States on this issue. They have not done so for a long time."
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressional body, released a report earlier this month stating that China is Iran's most important economic lifeline, particularly by purchasing Iranian oil, which provides significant revenue for Iran. The report also noted that Chinese components are raw materials for Iran's war machine. VOA reporter Li Yihua reporting from Washington.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te inspected a joint land, sea, and air missile exercise on September 18, which featured the military's first inclusion of attack drones. Lai said that the coordinated use of unmanned vehicles with traditional weapons is a response to modern warfare, and that the military is accelerating the enhancement of its strategic capabilities while demonstrating to the Taiwanese people and the international community the armed forces' confidence in defending their homeland. Here is a report from VOA reporter Zhong Chenfang.
Taiwan's military conducted a three-day precision missile firing exercise at the Jiupeng Base in southern Pingtung. The exercise included Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, Air Force Tien Kung III air defense missiles, and US-made Army HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, all of which fired at targets. The exercise also incorporated, for the first time, Taiwan-made Altius 600-style attack drones and US-made Altius 600 drones.
A press release from the Presidential Office of Taiwan stated that President Lai Ching-te inspected the exercise on its final day. He gave high praise to the participating troops for their performance in executing joint air defense counter-operations, sea-air coordination, and anti-surface strike drills in accordance with the Taiwan-Penghu defense operation plan, successfully completing all tasks.
Lai Ching-te told all officers and soldiers that this exercise was conducted in a combat-oriented manner, with processes linked together, fully testing the command, control, and joint combat capabilities of each service, and demonstrating the results of the troops' solid peacetime training. In particular, this was the first time the military incorporated multiple types of drones into joint combat drills. The coordinated use of unmanned vehicles and traditional weapons represents a response to the form of modern warfare. The armed forces are accelerating the enhancement of their overall combat power, demonstrating to the nation and the international community that the military has the confidence and ability to defend national sovereignty and fulfill its responsibilities for regional peace and stability.
The Lai Ching-te administration has actively increased defense investment in recent years, with the recently proposed 2027 defense budget exceeding NT$1 trillion, continuing to surpass 3% of GDP. Lai said the significant increase in the budget is also intended to show the international community Taiwan's determination to strengthen its self-defense. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense continues to track the activities of Chinese military aircraft and warships around Taiwan. On Friday, 28 PLA aircraft, 7 warships, and 2 official vessels were detected, and the previous day, 19 aircraft of various types, including drones, were also deployed. The Ministry of National Defense stated that 15 CCP military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's southwestern and central airspace. In coordination with CCP warships, they harassed the air and sea space around Taiwan under the guise of joint combat readiness patrols. The Ministry of National Defense employed joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance means to closely monitor the situation and dispatched mission aircraft, ships, and coastal missile systems to respond appropriately. VOA reporter Zhong Chenfang reporting.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington on September 24. Trade and investment may yield the most practical results, but the Taiwan issue is likely to be President Trump's most strategically significant test: whether he can stabilize US-China relations without altering the long-standing balance of deterrence in the Taiwan Strait. Here is a report from VOA reporter Lin Feng.
Ahead of the September meeting, Japanese media reported that Beijing had warned Washington that if the US approves a new batch of arms sales to Taiwan before the summit, China would cancel the meeting. However, President Trump responded that he is not worried that Chinese President Xi Jinping would cancel their scheduled meeting in Washington later this month due to arms sales to Taiwan, because "we have a very good relationship, and he wants to get along, and so do we."
Given that Beijing has long hoped that the US would include the Taiwan issue in broader negotiations, many analysts point out that Xi Jinping is likely to continue seeking incremental concessions from the US on the Taiwan issue at this summit. Several analysts told VOA that the summit can be observed through the following indicators regarding Taiwan: whether arms sales to Taiwan continue to proceed, whether the long-standing US policy stance on Taiwan changes, and whether there are substantive changes in China's military pressure on Taiwan and US-China crisis communication after the summit.
The Taiwan issue was a prominent topic during the Trump-Xi summit in May. Analysts believe that Xi Jinping is expected to discuss the Taiwan issue again at the September summit. During his visit to Beijing in May, Trump stated that Xi had asked him multiple times about Taiwan, US arms sales to Taiwan, and whether the US would defend Taiwan in a conflict, but he did not make any commitments to Xi.
Lin Yang of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, said at a briefing held at the center on September 17 regarding the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping that we expect Xi Jinping to bring up the Taiwan issue, and we also expect Xi Jinping to urge the United States to delay or stop arms sales to Taiwan as much as possible. In addition, there are expectations that not only this meeting, but also the potential APEC and G20 meetings, will further delay the Taiwan president's plans to transit through the United States.
Sun Yun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank, said that Beijing has long hoped that the United States would include the Taiwan issue in broader negotiations. She said, I think China wants Taiwan to be part of a deal, but the problem is that for decades, the United States has been unwilling to conduct such negotiations, nor has it been willing to use Taiwan as part of a deal. David Sacks, a research fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that arms sales to Taiwan are likely to be Xi Jinping's primary goal at this summit. The Trump administration announced an arms sales package to Taiwan totaling more than $11 billion last December, setting an all-time record. Another package totals up to $14 billion.
Alright, that concludes this VOA Chinese broadcast. I am Zhang Peizhi, see you in the next program.