Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (October 16, 2026) President Trump announces the establishment of a "super range" in Montana to test autonomous weapons and hypersonic technology; after Zelensky announces Ukraine will no longer abide by the energy ceasefire agreement, Russia says refinery attacked - October 16...
This episode of the Voice of America Chinese broadcast covers several important international and cross-strait news items: President Trump announced the establishment of an advanced weapons testing range in Montana and discussed competition with China in the field of artificial intelligence; Russia stated that the Ryazan oil refinery was attacked by Ukrainian drones and missiles, following Zelenskyy's announcement of the end of the ceasefire targeting energy facilities; Chinese state-owned buyers recently purchased 520,000 to 650,000 tons of U.S. soybeans; the U.S. suspended short-term exchange programs to the U.S. due to interference and harassment by the Chinese side; Anduril Industries showcased its modular interceptor, "Roadrunner," at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting; Pakistani women have begun widely riding electric motorcycles due to rising fuel prices and surging travel demand; the U.S. accused China-linked hackers of infiltrating the network of a regional organization in Fiji; former U.S. commander Blair pointed out that China's gray-zone operations in the Taiwan Strait are aimed at pressuring Taiwan; U.S. Representative Moolenaar praised NASA for strengthening the enforcement of the Wolf Amendment.
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Hello listeners, welcome to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast, I am Lin Sen. Reporting to you today from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The main contents of today's program include: President Trump announced on Wednesday while attending a midterm election rally in Montana that the U.S. Department of War will establish an advanced weapons technology testing range in Montana. Russia reported on October 15 that Ukraine attacked an oil refinery located in Ryazan. Chinese state-owned traders purchased 8 to 10 shipments of U.S. soybeans this week, with a total estimated volume of 520,000 to 650,000 tons. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji stated that hackers linked to China had accessed the network of a regional organization based in Fiji for several consecutive days earlier this year.
President Trump announced on Wednesday at a midterm election rally in Montana that the U.S. Department of War will establish an advanced weapons technology testing ground in Montana. President Trump emphasized that the U.S. military must maintain an overwhelming advantage, while also mentioning the visit last month by the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and the competition between the U.S. and China in the field of superintelligence. Let us listen to a report from White House correspondent Huang Yaoyi of Voice of America. Summarizing U.S. reports, on the evening of October 14, Trump attended a midterm election rally in Montana. During his speech, he particularly highlighted his administrative achievements over the past two years, and specifically pointed out that when Chinese President Xi Jinping came for a state visit in September, he also praised his achievements. President Xi Jinping recently traveled here from China; he would not take a 21-hour flight to a country he does not respect. He respects us very much. He got off the plane, shook my hand, and said, "Wow, you are doing such a good job," and we are indeed doing a good job. As you know, we are in a leading position in the field of super intelligence, SI stands for super intelligence, and we are in a leading position in the field of super intelligence.
President Trump previously stated that the United States must be able to fully compete with China in superintelligence, and therefore he opposes setting too many restrictions. Trump stated that during his tenure, he has attracted investments from countries including South Korea and Japan, and then he announced that the Department of War will establish a super testing ground in Montana to test advanced weapons technologies. I am pleased to announce to you all that the Department of War will establish a brand-new super testing ground in Montana to test advanced weapons and technologies, including potential autonomous weapons, space technology, electronic warfare technology, and hypersonic technology.
President Trump said that Montana will help ensure that the U.S. military always maintains an absolute advantage. The day before, Secretary of War Hegseth discussed U.S. investments in future autonomous warfare with service secretaries at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting held in Washington, aiming to rebuild U.S. military strength and respond to increasingly severe security threats. Although Hegseth did not name China, both the 2026 National Defense Strategy of the U.S. Department of War and the China Military Power Report pointed out that China is undergoing a historic military buildup.
Russia reported on Thursday, October 15, that Ukraine attacked an oil refinery located in Ryazan, just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had ended the ceasefire regarding energy facilities. Let us listen to the report from Voice of America. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the attack used drones and missiles, causing a fire at the oil refinery. For months, Ukraine has continuously stepped up strikes against Russian energy facilities, and Ukrainian leaders stated that these attacks are intended to diminish Russia's ability to fund the war. Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that there was an energy ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, while Zelenskyy stated that despite Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants, Ukrainian forces exercised restraint and did not carry out such retaliatory strikes. According to a report published by the Financial Times on Thursday, citing Zelenskyy, the ban on attacking oil refineries has been lifted, and "we have ended this here." Voice of America has sought comment from the White House regarding Zelenskyy's remarks and is currently awaiting a response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Ukraine has never stopped attacks on energy facilities. Peskov said that the Kyiv regime in Ukraine stubbornly targets these facilities, which severely conflicts with the peace efforts of the United States and its negotiators, while the U.S. side is actually strongly promoting the opening of a peace process.
At the time of Zelenskyy's remarks, he was seeking more assistance from allies in Western Europe. His trip had already secured support commitments from the United Kingdom on Wednesday, and he will also hold talks with European Union leaders in Brussels. Zelenskyy wrote on the social media platform X that all of us in Europe want this war to end, and to achieve this, a strong signal needs to be sent—both exerting greater real pressure on Russia and providing more defense support to Ukraine, and it is particularly important to act together now to protect lives.
Chinese state-owned traders purchased 8 to 10 cargoes of U.S. soybeans this week, with the total volume estimated between 520,000 and 650,000 tons. This is the first large-scale procurement of U.S. soybeans by the Chinese side since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the United States in September and held a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters reported on October 14, citing three traders, that these soybeans are expected to be shipped successively starting from December this year, and the buyers are believed to include Chinese state-owned enterprises such as Sinograin and COFCO. Sources said that the transaction prices were $3.10 to $3.20 higher per bushel than the Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures price for January next year, and each Panamax bulk carrier can typically load approximately 65,000 tons of soybeans.
At the welcome ceremony held by U.S. President Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi announced that he would invite 100,000 American teenagers to China for exchange and study over the next five years. However, an exchange program recruited and funded by the U.S. government for personnel from China, Hong Kong, and Macau has reportedly faced interference and harassment from Chinese authorities, leading the U.S. side to suspend the project in July this year. Let's listen to the report from VOA special correspondent Gao Feng in Hong Kong. The U.S. has a history of decades of recruiting and funding Chinese personnel for short-term exchanges in the U.S. For many years, the U.S. has invited dozens of people from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to the U.S. to learn about areas such as foreign policy, counter-terrorism, and artificial intelligence. It is understood that former Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam, and current Secretary for Security Chris Tang have all participated in such programs. Regarding whether Chinese authorities are pressuring those interested in traveling to the U.S. for exchanges, Chen Daoyin, an independent Chinese political scholar living in Chile, told VOA that if there is indeed discrimination, he estimates that the Chinese side is using both soft and hard tactics. Chen Daoyin stated that since the 18th National Congress of the CCP, the party has repeatedly emphasized ideological security, and the ideology of research institutes is the overall responsibility of the top leader; no top leader, i.e., the party secretary, dares to take ideological risks. Chen Daoyin said that China has strengthened management over such academic exchanges with the U.S. From the U.S. perspective, the Chinese personnel participating in these activities may not achieve the effects the U.S. side needs. For example, they might consider certain taboos or sensitive topics and may not speak the truth. The U.S. side also has to consider that these individuals might face political pressure after returning, and considering these factors, the U.S. suspension of this project is a last resort. Political scholar Chen Daoyin believes that the outside world should not view China's active invitation for young Americans to visit China as an indicator of improved bilateral relations. He said that how the U.S. and China will coexist under intense competition is the key point. Chen Daoyin said that the strategic competition between the U.S. and China is actually still very intense. This incident shows that the competition between the U.S. and China has progressed from the physical and technological levels to the level of knowledge exchange, which also reflects the intensifying competition between the two countries. Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, told VOA that in this atmosphere, it remains to be seen whether the cooperation intentions of the two heads of state can be implemented. Chong Ja Ian said that although Xi Jinping has expressed the hope that more young Americans will go to China for exchanges, there seems to be some discrepancy between the actual operations and Xi's words. Although the leaders of the U.S. and China hope to show a certain tacit understanding, the mutual trust between the two sides is structurally very low, and mutual suspicion is very high. The image built by the leaders is one thing, and the actual operation on both sides is another. Chong Ja Ian believes that there are still many issues to be resolved between the U.S. and China, including mutual technological restrictions, restrictions on Chinese investment in the U.S., and so on.
The new Steelfin interceptor missile was exhibited this week at the 2026 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. Its manufacturer, the American defense startup Anduril, stated that the modularity and flexibility of the Steelfin system allow it to compete separately with THAAD and Patriot PAC-3 missiles in different markets. Let's listen to the report by U.S. military journalist Liu Enming. American defense startup Anduril showcased its newly developed Steelfin missile interceptor at the 2026 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. Steve Milano, a representative for Anduril's advanced effectors product line, introduced Steelfin this way: Steelfin is our newest product; it is a modular addition to our munitions portfolio. Steelfin is the newest member of our munitions portfolio, designed as a modular surface-to-air interceptor to address emerging threats. From the first-stage solid rocket booster to the second-stage interceptor, the entire system adopts a modular architecture. This consistent modular design grants us tremendous flexibility, enabling both agile iteration to counter future threat evolution and effective reduction of supply chain risks. Steelfin's first-stage booster can accommodate a variety of solid rocket motors to meet specific range, performance, booster type, launch configuration, or packing density requirements, while the second stage adopts a common terminal interceptor architecture. All Steelfin variants tailored to different mission needs share the same baseline airframe, avionics, software, flight control system, and interfaces, allowing the interceptor to integrate different seekers, mission systems, and other components without redesigning the entire missile. The core design philosophy of the Steelfin system is modularity and flexibility. In a low-cost configuration, its cost is only one-third of the Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile while achieving 80% of its performance. Its scalability also allows us to compete with systems like THAAD or the Patriot PAC-3 MSE in the high-end market, filling existing capability gaps. The modular design enables us to achieve higher altitudes and speeds by swapping boosters, while the interceptor itself also possesses high flexibility, allowing it to be equipped with new seekers based on mission requirements or to lower costs by adjusting configurations when mission demands are lower. Steelfin is also compatible with existing land-based and sea-based launch infrastructure, including the Mk 41 VLS and the Typhon system. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin also unveiled the next-generation Patriot interceptor on October 9, named the Patriot 3 Edge, with range and altitude exceeding those of the active-duty PAC-3 missile. The PAC-3 Edge is a solution specifically designed to bid for the U.S. Army's future interceptor program, tailored to counter hypersonic weapons and the next generation of advanced maneuvering missile threats. Both Steelfin and the PAC-3 Edge are scheduled to begin testing in 2027.
In Pakistan, with rising fuel prices and an increasing demand among women for independent travel, more and more Pakistani women are choosing to ride electric motorcycles. How is this mode of transportation changing the daily lives of Pakistani women and challenging long-standing social taboos? Let's listen to this report from Voice of America. 23-year-old Aqsa Zarif has found a greater sense of independence by riding an electric motorcycle. She is pursuing a master's degree in psychology and rides her electric motorcycle across the city every day, commuting to school and handling daily errands. For her, the electric motorcycle is more than just a convenient means of transport. In Pakistan, women's travel is often affected by safety concerns, harassment issues, and limited public transportation options. The electric motorcycle allows her to better control her time and travel arrangements, reducing her reliance on others for rides. "I bought the electric motorcycle six months ago. The main reason is that I am the youngest of five sisters in my family, and the youngest child is usually asked to do some chores, like going to the market to buy yogurt. Previously, I either relied on ride-hailing services like inDrive or asked my father to take me where I needed to go." Aqsa stated that with rising fuel prices, electric motorcycles have become a more economical travel choice. Additionally, university bus services have been reduced from four trips a day to two. She said that for women, the electric motorcycle means greater autonomy in travel. In Pakistan, women riding motorcycles has long been influenced by social prejudice. Patriarchal concepts and family restrictions often constrain women's freedom to travel alone, especially without the accompaniment of male relatives. However, as more women take to the road, these long-standing social perceptions are changing. "Previously, girls riding motorcycles was considered a taboo. They were often labeled as unladylike, but now I observe that this situation is changing." Aqsa is not the only woman embracing this change. From university campuses to busy city roads, women riding electric motorcycles are becoming increasingly common. With fuel prices soaring and the government introducing incentive measures, Pakistan's electric two-wheeler market is expanding rapidly. The conflict between Iran and the United States has further pushed up market demand, as consumers look for cheaper alternatives to gasoline motorcycles. In the first half of 2026, sales of electric two-wheelers grew by 173%. To promote women's mobility, the Sindh provincial government plans to provide electric motorcycles to 50,000 women. Meanwhile, in Lahore, thousands of women have already received training in riding motorcycles and scooters. Experts say this change is particularly notable in Pakistan, where motorcycles are very common on local roads, but female riders have historically made up only a small minority. "I think this is a very good change in our society, especially considering that we live in a male-dominated society. These women are breaking various barriers and taboos. They are setting an example, proving that it is not just men, but women too who can ride motorcycles and take to the streets." In Pakistan, safety concerns and inadequate public transportation often make daily travel difficult for women. Electric motorcycles are providing another option for some women, allowing them to travel more independently.
The U.S. Embassy in Fiji stated that hackers linked to China gained continuous access for several days earlier this year to the network of a regional organization based in Fiji, reported Voice of America reporter Lin Feng. The U.S. Embassy in the Fijian capital of Suva stated that this suspected cyber intrusion occurred between July and August 2026. The U.S. side has notified the Fijian government and the affected organization, and provided technical advice to help strengthen their cybersecurity defenses. The U.S. Embassy did not disclose the name of the regional organization, nor did it specify whether the hackers obtained sensitive information. The U.S. side stated that this incident is consistent with what Washington describes as a broader trend in which state-supported cyber actors linked to China continuously launch cyber operations targeting foreign governments, multilateral institutions, and telecommunications networks in Pacific island nations. Fiji's Minister for Policing and Communications, Napolioni Masirewa, stated on Tuesday that the government is reviewing this suspected cyber intrusion incident. The Chinese side denied the broad cyberattack allegations raised by the U.S. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Tuesday when asked about the Fiji incident that she was not aware of the specific circumstances, while also emphasizing that China consistently and firmly opposes and combats hacking activities in accordance with the law. The Chinese Embassy in Fiji also criticized the U.S. for politicizing cybersecurity issues, stating that evidence should be presented for cyberattack allegations made by other countries, and the Chinese embassy called on all parties to address cybersecurity risks through dialogue and consultation. This disclosure comes after another law enforcement action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation targeting China-linked hacking activities. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of seven internet domains, stating that these domains were linked to a set of cyber tools used to scan and infiltrate critical infrastructure in the U.S. and foreign countries. The Department of Justice stated that these tools, named MicroScan and FishHub, were operated by cyber actors working for the Chinese information technology company Integrity Technology Group. U.S. and private cybersecurity researchers track the related hacking activity as Flax Typhoon. According to court documents, related targets included a U.S. electric utility company, airports in Japan and Poland, energy enterprises in Taiwan, and multiple universities. Additionally, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint stated earlier this month that a China-linked cyber espionage group it calls TAC19 has been impersonating U.S. artificial intelligence policy experts and other professionals to conduct credential-stealing phishing operations. Proofpoint stated that the group's targets include U.S. think tanks, universities, defense contractors, and law enforcement firms, with the apparent objective of obtaining information regarding U.S. artificial intelligence policies, regulations, and export controls. The company stated that it has been tracking similar activities since at least April 2025. U.S. officials have continuously warned in recent years that cyber operations linked to the Chinese government pose risks not only to U.S. critical infrastructure, but also threaten governments and institutions in the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied engaging in or supporting cyber espionage activities, accusing Washington of using cybersecurity issues to contain and smear China.
Dennis Blair, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence and a retired four-star Navy admiral, stated on October 14 that China's ongoing sea and air exercises and gray-zone operations around Taiwan are primarily aimed at creating fear and forcing Taiwan to make political concessions. VOA reporter Zhong Chengfang reports. Blair, who previously served as Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, delivered a keynote speech via video at the 2026 Ocean Security International Conference hosted by Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council. The conference focused on China's gray-zone operations, the threat of maritime blockades, and the resilience of Taiwan's maritime security. Gray-zone operations generally refer to military and paramilitary activities that fall below the threshold of open armed conflict but are intended to gradually change the status quo or pressure an adversary. Blair said that by operating military aircraft, warships, and other government vessels around Taiwan, China is attempting to convince the Taiwanese public and leadership that, due to China's greater size and military strength, Beijing's eventual annexation of Taiwan is inevitable. Blair noted that the overall goal of these sea and air operations is intimidation—intimidating the Taiwanese people and their leaders. China is trying to create the impression that, based solely on its greater size and power, it will inevitably be able to annex Taiwan. He stated that Beijing hopes to use this pressure to prompt the Taiwan government to make political concessions and to lead the international community to gradually accept the outcome China desires. Blair believes that whether Taiwan can withstand Beijing's pressure to abandon its sovereignty ultimately depends on whether Taiwan has the capability to prevent China from gaining control of the sea and air in the event of a war, rather than on how many ships and aircraft the People's Liberation Army (PLA) can deploy during peacetime. Using the analogy of medieval European sieges, Blair explained that ancient armies would typically surround a city, dig trenches, and gradually approach the walls to convince the defenders that their lines would eventually be breached, thereby forcing them to surrender. However, he argues that this siege mentality does not apply to Taiwan because it is surrounded by the ocean. The presence of Chinese aircraft and ships nearby does not equate to an army actually occupying territory under Taiwan's jurisdiction or breaching Taiwan's defensive lines. While the increased number of PLA ships and aircraft and their closer proximity to Taiwan may cause alarm, being closer to Taiwan could also make them more vulnerable to attack should a war break out. These views are Blair's personal military assessment; other U.S. and Taiwanese security experts warn that frequent PLA activities near Taiwan could also shorten Taiwan's early warning time, deplete its defense resources, and make it harder for outsiders to judge when Beijing might shift from exercises to actual military action. Blair acknowledged that Taiwan and other maritime nations cannot ignore China's actions. Given the PLA's recent exercises involving missile and air strikes and maritime blockades around Taiwan, Taiwan must guard against Beijing using exercises to launch a surprise attack. Blair stated that whenever China conducts large-scale sea and air exercises, Taiwan should raise its overall combat readiness, and the armed forces of neighboring countries should also increase their vigilance to avoid being caught off guard. He believes the key issue is not how many forces the PLA can deploy in peacetime, but whether Taiwan, with the support of friendly nations, can defeat or deter the PLA units tasked with the attack during wartime. Blair suggested that Taiwan closely monitor the activities of Chinese military, coast guard, scientific research, and civilian vessels in surrounding waters, prudently allocate law enforcement resources, and utilize tools such as unmanned systems, satellites, radar, and social media to promptly disclose relevant activities to domestic and international audiences. He said that if ships or aircraft approach Taiwan's territorial waters or airspace, they should be warned and shadowed; if they engage in hostile acts such as launching weapons, dispatching assault teams to land, or harming Taiwanese citizens and property, they should be stopped, using force if necessary. Blair also called on Taiwan to strengthen public diplomacy, explaining the nature of China's actions to the international community in a consistent and innovative way. Most importantly, he said, Taiwan should strengthen and demonstrate the ability of its military and society to counter Chinese sea and air attacks during wartime. Blair also commended Taiwan for expanding the Han Kuang exercises in recent years from military-focused drills to defense exercises that include civil defense and social resilience.
Representative John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, praised NASA on October 2 for strengthening research security enforcement. Following a report released by the committee this year, NASA recently took significant steps to strengthen the enforcement of the Wolf Amendment and suspended a total of 40 projects worth $40 million to address security vulnerabilities identified in the report. The Republican congressman from Michigan said in a statement that NASA has taken important steps to protect U.S. research and innovation and deserves recognition. In May of this year, the House Select Committee on the CCP, led by Moolenaar, released a report titled "Research Security for America's Space Future: Enforcement of the Wolf Amendment," which examined NASA's security compliance and the implementation of the Wolf Amendment.