This video explores the long-standing superstition of backroom diplomacy in U.S. diplomacy toward China and its dangers. The speaker points out that the CCP has repeatedly violated both public and private promises, yet certain interest groups and China experts in Washington still blindly believe in closed-door negotiations. The video reviews the drawbacks of the backroom model since Nixon's visit to China, analyzes the tactics used by the CCP to hoodwink Western dignitaries through information control and cultural misinterpretation, and calls on Washington to abandon appeasement and illusions toward Beijing, adhere to diplomatic principles of transparency, record-keeping, and verification, and force the CCP to change using the truth in the sunlight.
On September 20, the UK government announced the establishment of a national "Combat Misogyny" working group, chaired by the Minister for Women and Equalities, focusing on preventing misogynistic attitudes online, in the workplace, and in communities. The government is also investing 26 million pounds in healthy relationships education in schools and targeted interventions for children, as part of a policy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
On September 16, a netizen posted a video on Bilibili interviewing local security guards and cleaners, revealing that their daily wage was only 55 to 64 yuan, and used supermarket purchasing power to satirize the low human rights advantage of cheap labor in China, triggering discussion among netizens.
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.
The National Day holiday shift makeup policy on September 20 sparked public dissatisfaction, with numerous posts on social media platforms like Xiaoshongshu (RedNote) opposing the shift adjustments. Netizens expressed their discontent and proposed forms of retaliation such as slack off and reducing large purchases.
In the early morning of September 20, about 1,000 representatives of primary, middle, and university flag-raising teams from Hong Kong and Macao who came to Beijing to participate in the "Salute to the National Flag" event watched the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square and sang "Ode to the Motherland" together as they left.
An undercover investigation by Hebei Television found that the Xianyu platform harbors a pornographic traffic-routing industrial chain disguised as photoshoot appointments and fitness. Customer service claimed they could provide services involving minors as young as 14, using high prices and fake medical certifications as bait to route users to private domains for transactions.