Voice of America Chinese Broadcast (September 18, 2026)
This edition of Voice of America Chinese broadcasting primarily reported on several international and US-China relations hotspots. Content includes a Pentagon watchdog report stating that the US-Iran conflict consumed a large amount of ammunition, sparking controversy; the US House of Representatives passing a comprehensive sanctions bill targeting Russia's energy and defense industries; Trump threatening tariffs on the European Union; former US soldier Duan Ruoyu pleading guilty to transmitting national defense information to China; the conclusion of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and the international observations it triggered; US Senator Ricketts discussing US-China competition and supply chain dependencies; and US lawmakers sending a letter demanding sanctions against foreign personnel associated with Southeast Asian online scam centers.
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Hello listeners, welcome to Voice of America's Chinese broadcast. I am Lin Sen, broadcasting today's program to you from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The main contents of today's program include: an oversight report investigating the US-Iran conflict concluding that nearly 67% of expenses were spent on ammunition, a conclusion disputed by the US Department of War; Russian missiles and drones attacking Ukraine in the early hours of September 17, injuring dozens of people; President Trump threatening that if the European Union allows Canada to become the EU's first associate member state, the US will impose very severe tariffs on Europe or halt trade; Duan Ruoyu, an Oregon resident who formerly served in the US Army, pleading guilty on September 16 to charges of conspiring to gather and transmit national defense information. For more news, stay tuned to Voice of America's Chinese broadcast.
You are now listening to Voice of America Chinese broadcasting. An oversight report investigating the US-Iran conflict concluded that nearly 67% of expenses were spent on ammunition. The US Department of War has refuted the report's conclusions. Let's listen to the report. A senior Pentagon official disputed the report, which stated that the conflict led to ammunition shortages. The official said investigators lacked access to all relevant information and rejected the assertion that US ammunition is depleted. Speaking anonymously via email to Voice of America, the official said, "We disagree with their conclusions, and any report suggesting US ammunition is depleted is completely false." The official stated that the US military remains the world's most powerful and capable combat force, and "we possess the full spectrum of capabilities to project power and strike decisively at any time and any place directed by the President."
This report by the Pentagon Office of Inspector General was submitted to Congress this week. The report estimates that Operation Wrath, launched on February 28, cost American taxpayers $33.8 billion through June 29. Of this expenditure, $22.3 billion was for Type B ammunition, $7.4 billion was accounts payable for combat operations, and $3.7 billion was equipment losses. This amount does not include the cost of repairing infrastructure. Citing information from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, the report concluded that ammunition consumption from combat operations has caused a strategic inventory shortage. A separate report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office also estimated that the cost of the conflict with Iran reached $38 billion as of August 1. This figure reflects various expenses such as replacing combat-consumed ammunition and equipment, increasing flight hours, other operations, and increased fuel costs. The Congressional Budget Office warned that rebuilding inventories of certain interceptors could take at least 5 years.
The Pentagon and the White House have repeatedly refuted reports that the US faces ammunition shortages. Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated the Department of War's position in an email sent to Voice of America on Wednesday. Parnell said the US military has the necessary supplies to counter threats and conduct operations. The above is a report from Voice of America.
You are listening to the Voice of America's Chinese broadcast, I am Lin Sen. In the early hours of Thursday, September 17, Russian missiles and drones attacked Ukraine, leaving dozens injured. Just a few hours ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive sanctions and tariff bill to strengthen economic pressure on Moscow. The U.S. House approved the bill on Wednesday by a vote of 262 to 159, targeting Russia's energy and defense industries, as well as its shadow fleet of oil tankers. The bill authorizes President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China, India, and other buyers of Russian oil and gas. This bill, proposed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, will now be submitted to Trump.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram that 20 people were injured in the capital, Kyiv, with five hospitalized. City officials said two children were among the injured. President Zelenskyy said damage was recorded in eight regions, with energy infrastructure in the Sumy and Odesa regions destroyed. Officials stated that six people were injured in Odesa, including two children, and three were injured in Zaporizhzhia. Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper stated on Telegram that a Russian drone struck a civilian vessel flying the Tanzanian flag in the Black Sea, killing the captain and injuring three crew members.
Zelenskyy welcomed the U.S. House vote, writing on Telegram that Graham's bill and other sanctions represent an extremely powerful tool to stop this terrorist war and force Russia to seek peace. The Ukrainian president stated that tougher measures are needed to bring Moscow back to the negotiating table. The Kremlin said the legislation would hinder the diplomatic process. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that any additional sanctions imposed by the U.S. would certainly complicate efforts to find a peaceful solution in Ukraine. Additionally, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump during the UN General Assembly could lead to a ceasefire regarding energy facilities and the Black Sea.
You are listening to the Voice of America's Chinese broadcast, I am Lin Sen. President Donald Trump threatened to impose very severe tariffs on Europe or stop trade if the European Union makes Canada its first associate member. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the EU's proposal on Thursday, September 17. Speaking to reporters after arriving in North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump called the idea ridiculous and described Canada as a bad trading partner. Trump said, "If they do that, if I consider it a hostile act, I will impose very severe tariffs on many things, or stop trade with Europe. If it's done with good intentions, that's fine; if it's done with bad intentions, we will impose very severe tariffs on Europe." He did not specify the content of the tariffs or how he would judge their intentions. These comments came hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU's first associate member during her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Canadian Prime Minister Carney was also in attendance. Von der Leyen said, "I hope to work with you to open the door for Canada to become the EU's first associate member." She proposed moving beyond the existing EU-Canada trade agreement toward a future alliance, including manufacturing cooperation, a technology alliance, an integrated defense industrial base, artificial intelligence, and using the Arctic as a flagship joint project, as well as areas such as energy, critical minerals, batteries, cyber, and economic security. Von der Leyen also said that this is a partnership that is not directed against anyone, but for our common strength. In short, the EU hopes to elevate its relationship with Canada to the highest possible level.
You are listening to the Voice of America's Chinese broadcast. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a major Russia sanctions bill, which not only targets Russia but may also affect Russian energy buyers, including China. The bill could impose tariffs of up to 100% on relevant countries. Below is a report from VOA reporter Li Yihua from Capitol Hill. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive sanctions bill against Russia on Wednesday evening with a vote of 262 in favor and 159 against. The bill will now be sent to the White House for President Trump's signature to take effect. The bill was primarily promoted by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and is therefore named after him. The focus of the bill is to further restrict Russia's energy revenue and impose tariff pressure on buyers who continue to purchase large amounts of Russian energy, up to 100%. The first to be affected would likely be China, Russia's largest oil buyer.
Representative McCaul, the Republican House member leading the push for the bill, told reporters that sanctions can potentially be circumvented, but tariffs cannot. There is no way to escape tariffs—that is the power of tariffs, and the biggest violator is China. If we can both impose sanctions on China and levy tariffs, China could use this to pressure Putin into coming to the negotiating table. In fact, when Lindsay and I were both in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, 'I am willing to call for a ceasefire and hold negotiations; the problem is that Putin is unwilling.' Therefore, we hope that through this pressure, we can get him to that point. Economically, we hope to make his economy bleed, just as he has made so many Ukrainians bleed, and ultimately resolve this war through peaceful means.
Although 58 Democratic lawmakers voted in favor, 152 Democrats still opposed the bill. Hoyer, the Democratic House member who promoted the bill alongside McCaul, stated that the opposing votes were not against Ukraine, but rather out of concern that the bill does not mandate President Trump to implement the actions. 'I believe all 58 of us trust that the bill requires sanctions to be implemented, hoping the president will sign this law and actually enforce it. However, those who voted against it were not targeting Ukraine; they voted against it because they do not believe Trump will implement the provisions in the bill, nor will he impose tariffs on countries not listed in the bill.' Supporters of the bill said they hope these measures will increase economic pressure on Russia and push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Next, after the bill is sent to the White House, it will await the president's signature to allow the new measures to officially take effect.
Welcome back to Voice of America's Chinese broadcast, I am Lin Sen. Ruoyu Duan, an Oregon resident who formerly served in the U.S. Army, pleaded guilty on September 16 to charges of conspiring to gather and transmit national defense information. Last year, he was accused of conspiring with a co-defendant who is an active-duty military member, along with others, to obtain information regarding U.S. military weapon systems and transfer this information to individuals located within China. Let's listen to the report. Scott Erik Asphaug, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced on Monday that 41-year-old Ruoyu Duan pleaded guilty. Duan served in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2017. According to court documents, between November 2021 and March 2025, Duan conspired with others to covertly collect sensitive military information related to the combat capabilities of the U.S. Army, including information related to computer equipment, training materials, intelligence reports, and technical manuals. They specifically acquired information related to U.S. military weapon systems and transferred it to individuals located within China. These weapon systems include U.S. Army combat vehicles such as the Bradley and Stryker, as well as the HIMARS platform.
On March 6 of last year, a federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon, indicted Ruoyu Duan and two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, Tian Li and Zhao Jian, with all three being arrested on the same day. According to the indictment, Tian Li was asked to collect sensitive weapon system information and transmit it to Ruoyu Duan in exchange for money. Zhao Jian was charged with conspiring to gather and transmit several classified hard drives, including those marked as classified and top-secret, negotiating their sale with individuals located in China, and agreeing to mail these classified hard drives to those individuals in China. He was also charged with bribery and theft of government property. Following his guilty plea, Ruoyu Duan faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in imprisonment, a 250,000 USD fine, and three years of supervised release following the completion of his sentence. A federal district court judge is scheduled to issue his sentencing ruling on December 10 of this year.
Voice of America continues to broadcast its Chinese programs. The Beijing Xiangshan Forum concluded on September 17. During the forum, the militaries of the U.S. and China continued dialogues ahead of the upcoming summit between the heads of state of the two countries; however, the absence of an official Japanese representative drew external attention. Senior Chinese officials twice criticized Japan by invoking opposition to the resurrection of militarism. Meanwhile, representatives of various participating countries expressed concern over the potential risks brought by artificial intelligence. Let's listen to the Voice of America report. The Xiangshan Forum is an annual defense forum hosted by China, and in recent years it has also been regarded as a barometer of geopolitics. The U.S. Department of War sent its Principal Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolian Affairs, Xenia Celasis, to attend as a representative, marking an elevation in rank compared to the military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in China who represented the U.S. side last year.
On September 15, the Chinese official media Global Times stated that, guided by the consensus reached during the meeting between the heads of state of China and the U.S., dialogues at various levels between the two militaries are continuing to resume. Although the level of the U.S. delegation attending the Xiangshan Forum did not break from precedent, it created conditions for both sides to conduct pragmatic discussions at the policy level. Shen Ming-shih, a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan, said in an interview with Voice of America that the recent meeting between Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and General Yang Zhibin, Commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, followed by the U.S. Department of Defense sending a delegation to the Xiangshan Forum, symbolizes that China no longer uses the suspension of military-to-military exchanges as a punitive measure. Shen Ming-shih noted that the level of the U.S. delegation or its leader also reflects the current state of U.S.-China relations or military exchanges. Chen Shih-min, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, believes that for the U.S., the Xiangshan Forum is also an occasion for the U.S. military to understand its greatest competitor, and even provides an opportunity to identify officers who may hold important positions in the military in the future. The Xiangshan Forum was attended by official representatives, experts, scholars, and observers from more than 100 countries, regions, and international organizations. In addition to geopolitical situations, representatives from many countries also expressed concerns about the uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence and the competition between the U.S. and China in this field.
Regarding the stock market, the three major indices rose on Thursday: the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.61%, the S&P 500 index rose 1.14%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.69%. Please listen to the Voice of America Chinese broadcast from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (6:00 AM to 7:00 AM Beijing Time, Tuesday through Saturday). 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.
The 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was held in Beijing from September 15 to 17. Chinese official media provided intensive coverage of the forum, emphasizing its scale, international representation, and Beijing's role in providing concepts and solutions for global security governance. In contrast, international media coverage was more limited and the focus was significantly different; they viewed the forum against the backdrop of U.S.-China strategic competition, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, and China's attempt to expand its international security discourse. Let's listen to the report. Chinese official media coverage first highlighted the scale and international participation of the forum, describing it as an increasingly important, open, and inclusive international security dialogue platform. According to information released by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, about 2,000 people attended this year's forum, including official representatives, experts, scholars, and observers from more than 100 countries, regions, and international organizations, among them several defense ministers and military chiefs. The theme of the forum was "Building Consensus for Stability and Promoting Security Governance," and the agenda included topics such as international order, regional security, the Global South, and emerging technologies.
In reports regarding this forum, Chinese state media and local official media repeatedly emphasized concepts such as "common security," "the Global South," "a community with a shared future for mankind," and "international public security products," highlighting China's image as a participant, builder, and coordinator of global security governance. These reports constitute a relatively consistent official narrative; facing prolonged wars, great power competition, and turmoil in the international order, China is attempting to provide a different choice from the West for the existing international governance system through a security concept that is relatively stable, inclusive, and development-oriented. Compared with Chinese official reports, international media focused less on the scale and agenda of the forum itself, and more on viewing it as a window to observe China's military diplomacy and regional strategic intentions.
Reuters published a report on September 14 titled "China defense forum to open amid regional tensions," which began by placing the forum in the context of disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea, as well as questions regarding U.S. security commitments to Asia, and pointed out that China might use the forum to promote its advocacy for Asian countries to lead regional security affairs. Radio France Internationale linked Dong Jun's warning about militarism to the recent deterioration of China-Japan relations. Japan's Kyodo News, citing sources familiar with Japan-China relations, reported that researchers from the National Institute for Defense Studies of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, who attended the forum last year, were not invited this year, and the Japanese military attaché to China did not attend. Meanwhile, private individuals such as former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama were invited to attend. This arrangement contrasts with the Chinese official narrative highlighting the forum's openness and inclusivity, and Japan's absence from this year's forum has become a starting point for international media to observe China-Japan security relations. At the same time, Western media reports also paid special attention to the strategic relationship between the U.S. and China. Reuters described the Xiangshan Forum as a defense dialogue platform led by China with a relatively tight agenda, contrasting it with the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is relatively open to discussion and confrontation. The two are not institutionally mutually exclusive forums, but in terms of agenda setting, participant lineups, and policy discourse, they do reflect the different understandings of the Indo-Pacific security order held by China and the U.S. and its allies.
In the official Chinese narrative, Beijing is a defender of multilateralism, common security, and the interests of the Global South, while the Xiangshan Forum serves as a public security product provided by China to the world. In the observation framework of international media, China is both a participant in international security governance and a major power attempting to reshape rules and expand its discourse power. The concepts of peace and cooperation proclaimed by Beijing still need to be tested by actual actions in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and relations with Japan.
On the eve of the US-China leaders' summit, a Republican senator stated that the current core feature of US-China relations is competition, emphasizing that while strengthening competition with China, the US should reduce its reliance on China's critical supply chains, continue to support Taiwan, and avoid bilateral relations heading toward military conflict. Listen to this report by Voice of America reporter Li Yihua. Senator Pete Ricketts, Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the relationship between the world's two largest economies as a long-term strategic competition during a discussion on US-China relations at the Washington think tank, the Hudson Institute, on Tuesday. What is happening now, and what our current situation is, is competition. What we need to do is ensure that we do not become hostages to the supply chain by relying on them for critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, precursors, and other materials. Ricketts stated that China is working hard to reduce its reliance on the US, including developing a domestic semiconductor industry and reducing dependence on US products such as food and chips. At the same time, the US is also promoting supply chain diversification. He said they are doing everything they can to ensure that they no longer depend on us for things like food or chips, right? They want to build their own semiconductor industry, right? So they are taking action to get rid of our dependence, and we are taking action to get rid of their dependence, and we must continue to double down to ensure that we achieve these goals first, so that they have no leverage to coerce us into doing certain things. He specifically emphasized that the US needs to pay attention to areas such as critical minerals and raw materials required for pharmaceutical production to avoid forming an excessive reliance on a single country.
Ricketts subsequently described China as an aggressive and malicious force, saying Xi Jinping had stated that their goal is to replace us by 2049. However, Ricketts does not advocate a complete decoupling of US-China relations, stating that once a war breaks out between the US and China, it will bring severe consequences to both countries and other regions of the world. Ricketts said that because of this, personal diplomacy between President Trump and President Xi Jinping is a good thing, and we hope to keep these communication channels open, hoping to make them understand our position through dialogue while also giving us a clearer understanding of their true intentions. The heads of state of the US and China are expected to hold their second summit meeting of the year next week. President Donald Trump has confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Washington on September 24, after which the White House will host a state banquet for him. Ricketts stated that an important topic of US-China dialogue should be how to demand that China be held accountable for relevant actions alleged by the US. In an interview with Voice of America after the meeting, Ricketts stated that the US needs to remain highly cautious on issues involving US national security. Agriculture is also a key focus for Ricketts. Hailing from the agricultural state of Nebraska, Ricketts said that China had previously promised to expand imports of US agricultural products, but some commitments had not been fully implemented. He called on the Trump administration to demand that China fulfill its relevant commitments and secure more market access for US farmers and ranchers. Ricketts also stated that he is skeptical of China's willingness to fulfill its commitments, saying that if the US-China summit can reach some kind of agreement or compromise, it is certainly a good thing, but the US still needs to remain cautious when dealing with China. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ricketts also pays close attention to the Taiwan issue. In his interview with Voice of America, he stated that the Taiwan issue is likely to become a topic of discussion at the US-China leaders' summit and called on Trump to make it clear when talking about Taiwan that the US position has not changed.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar sent a letter to the US Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State on September 15, demanding stronger sanctions against foreign personnel related to cyber scam centers. Listen to the report. The letter asks the executive branch to launch an investigation and, upon determining that legal standards are met, impose sanctions on foreign personnel with credible links to cyber scam centers located in Southeast Asia. Representatives Mast and Moolenaar wrote in the letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Americans are suffering from cyber scams with extremely high and escalating frequency, which is primarily blamed on Chinese transnational criminal syndicates entrenched in Southeast Asia. They said these criminal syndicates have established industrial-scale compounds specializing in complex cyber scam operations, including cryptocurrency investment scams often referred to as pig-butchering scams, which exploit Americans' goodwill and kindness using romance scams and other highly destructive psychological manipulation tactics. They also pointed out in the letter that corrupt senior officials in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are turning a blind eye to criminal activities of such astonishing scale.
Two Republican representatives praised the Trump administration's efforts to combat fraudulent criminals and their foreign enablers, including sanctions, criminal prosecutions, asset seizures, and rewards for capture. In the letter, they listed 26 foreign individuals and two foreign entities, Huilai Group Company and White Sand Palace Casino. The two lawmakers stated that there is credible information showing that these individuals and entities are linked to the operation of cyber scam centers within Southeast Asia's scam industry. Representatives Mast and Moolenaar urged the administration to launch an investigation and decide within 180 days whether these foreign personnel meet the criteria for sanctions under relevant laws. The letter was also copied to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Representative Moolenaar mentioned in a statement on Wednesday that earlier this year, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which he leads, completed a bipartisan investigation into the massive network of scam centers linked to China and published a bipartisan report titled "Crime, Corruption, and Power: The Rise of CCP-Linked Scam Networks Targeting Americans and Threatening U.S. Security." The report stated that the network defrauds Americans of at least $10 billion annually while fueling human trafficking, cybercrime, and illicit financial activities. The report pointed out that these scam centers are concentrated in Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia and Myanmar, and are part of a distributed criminal ecosystem that strings together cyber scams, human trafficking, and money laundering. The report concluded that while these criminal networks are not directly controlled by the state nor are they state-supported conspiracy networks, China's governance and law enforcement models have aided their expansion. The report said these criminal networks largely rely on China's underground banking networks, cryptocurrency intermediaries, and shell companies to transfer funds across borders and launder money. The House Foreign Affairs Committee mentioned in a statement on Tuesday that last December, the House Foreign Affairs Committee led by Mast passed the "Disrupting Foreign Scam Syndicates Act." If eventually passed, this bill will legally strengthen interagency coordination and reinforce the U.S. government's response to the scam center crisis. According to the U.S. legislative process, a bill must be passed in identical text by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the President before it can become law. The above is a report by Voice of America. That is all for the Voice of America Chinese broadcast. Thank you for listening. I am Lin Sen, see you in the next program.