The host believes Russia is on the verge of defeat in the Russia-Ukraine war, and Putin is seeking a way to step down with dignity, minimizing losses and ensuring his personal safety.
The host predicts that by the second half of 2026, the remaining socialist forces in China, Russia, North Korea, and other countries will come to an end.
The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court announced the first-instance verdict in the corruption and bribery case of Zhao Lei, former general manager of the Beijing Cultural Investment Development Group, sentencing him to life imprisonment, depriving him of political rights for life, and confiscating all his personal property.
Data from the General Administration of Customs of China shows that China's exports of rare earth magnets to the U.S. in August fell 21% from July to 512 tons. Ahead of a meeting between Trump and Xi, outside analysts suggest the Chinese side may use the expansion of rare earth exports as a negotiating chip. In addition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a meeting on trade and artificial intelligence issues, and both sides agreed to further consultations.
On September 18, the Commission for Discipline Inspection of Chenzhou, Hunan, announced that Hu Qiming, former chairman of Zigong Cemented Carbide Co., Ltd., is suspected of serious disciplinary violations and illegal acts, and is currently undergoing review and investigation. The next day, online rumors circulated that he was suspected of smuggling waste tungsten alloy to Western military enterprises and accepting bribes, with four people reportedly arrested so far; however, these rumors have not yet been officially confirmed.
In a conversation, Morgan Stanley's Chief Economist for China, Xing Ziqiang, pointed out that China's social security expenditure accounts for only about 8% of GDP, far below the OECD average of 25% and the levels of developing countries with similar per capita GDP, and also mentioned group disparities in the enjoyment of public services.
Reports on September 21 showed that the unemployment rate among non-student youth aged 16 to 24 in China rose to 18.9%, amid a continuing economic downturn. Although multiple economists have warned that AI is unlikely to drive employment, Beijing still plans to invest approximately $295 billion over the next five years to build a national data center network. Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of focusing on "hard power" rather than just GDP.
According to Bloomberg, China is planning to invest approximately $295 billion over the next five years to build a national data center network. Xi Jinping emphasized that the focus should be on "hard power" and "new quality productive forces" rather than just GDP growth. Despite warnings from multiple economists that AI is unlikely to boost employment and could weaken consumption, officials continue to push forward with the investment plan, sparking public concern over an "AI Great Leap Forward".
On September 19, Huang Yiping, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People's Bank of China, stated at the Beijing Economic Forum that artificial intelligence may exacerbate the contradiction between China's overcapacity and insufficient household purchasing power. He pointed out that distribution leaning toward capital leads to weak demand, and suggested increasing the proportion of household income through market-oriented reforms, while the central government borrows to repair the balance sheets of local governments and enterprises.
On September 17, Bloomberg reported that when screening the list of business delegates accompanying Xi Jinping on his visit to the US, the Chinese side not only considered potential commercial deals, but also focused on evaluating the entrepreneurs' political loyalty and demanded that they avoid overshadowing the leader. Currently, senior officials such as Cai Qi are reviewing the list, with BYD founder Wang Chuanfu under consideration.
On September 15, German Chancellor Merz criticized China at the Berlin Entrepreneurs' Conference, stating that through state intervention, overcapacity, and export subsidies, China has driven the EU's trade deficit with China to over 300 billion euros. EU leaders plan to discuss in October whether to deploy trade defense instruments.
On September 14, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released an investigative report, pointing out that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's London branch, under directives from headquarters, tied commercial business to national strategy, provided financing to sensitive enterprises, and bypassed compliance procedures to assist Huawei in transferring huge sums of money, reflecting the operational logic of Chinese state-owned banks where profit serves political objectives.
On August 29, the semi-annual report of China State Construction Engineering Corporation showed that its accounts payable exceeded 1.1 trillion yuan, with nearly 300 billion yuan overdue for more than a year. The company admitted to extending payment cycles for subcontracted projects, despite holding 395.1 billion yuan in cash and cash equivalents. On September 10, the State Council required state-owned enterprises to take the lead in making timely payments, focusing on large enterprises that have sufficient cash but still delay payments.
From September 8th to 10th, the Central United Front Work Department held a training class for senior management talents of key private enterprises in Dalian, with over 50 entrepreneurs participating. Shen Ying, the deputy minister in charge of daily affairs, requested in her opening speech that private entrepreneurs thoroughly study Xi Jinping Thought, uphold the "Two Establishes," achieve the "Two Maintains," and always be "politically astute individuals."
Hu Hongling, a lawyer at Anhui Qingheqing Law Firm, sparked heated online discussion after sharing a PPT on layoff optimization paths inspired by the "Xingyu Incident".