Free Republic

“Oh, sure,” I hear you say. “We knew that already. We already knew that all our clothing and toys and housewares and home décor is made in China. We can live with that. It’s not like it’s a national security problem.”But that’s the problem. It is national security.We make our own washing machines and dryers, our own cars and planes, our own metal working machines and food processing equipment. That’s what counts, and it’s made here.Yes. But these machines are made here only if we can get the parts. And far too many of the parts, for far too many...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he told Apple CEO Tim Cook that he doesn’t want the tech giant to build its products in India, taking shots at the company’s moves to diversify production away from China and urging him to pivot Stateside. “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said. “I said to him, ‘my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India.’ I don’t want you building in India.” Trump was referencing Apple’s commitment of a $500 billion investment in the...

In a massive sting operation straight out of a crime thriller, Spanish police have smashed one of Europe’s most powerful underworld banks – a slick, secretive syndicate laundering millions using the ancient and shadowy “hawala” method. Cash, crypto and contraband – the works. In unbelievable scenes, Spain’s National Police, backed by EUROPOL and EUROJUST, swooped on a web of luxury and illegality. The secret January raids – now revealed – saw over 250 officers hit 13 locations across Spain and Belgium in a coordinated blitz, nabbing 17 suspects, seizing mountains of loot and blowing apart a money-moving machine that had...

The First Opium War ended with China surrendering Hong Kong. The Second ended with China surrendering its dignity. Now, nearly two centuries later, the Third Opium War has just ended—and once again, China lost. But this time, they weren’t importing opium. They were exporting it. The Modern Opium: Fentanyl No sails. No gunboats. No treaties. Just chemicals—sent in barrels and disguised in powders—feeding a synthetic addiction that’s killed more Americans than all our wars combined. China didn’t need to invade. They simply flooded our streets. - Synthetic precursors shipped to Mexican cartels - Distribution routes subsidized by “strategic partnerships” -...

This July, leaders from across the globe will converge on Rio de Janeiro for what may be the most consequential BRICS summit to date. The stakes are high and the implications global. What was once a modest economic club of emerging nations has transformed into a powerful bloc capable of redefining global power structures. And with a growing list of countries formally applying to join BRICS–and even more expressing interest–it’s clear the world is no longer content to revolve around Washington, Brussels, or London.

A bombshell report out of Stanford University shed light on the influence of spies from the Chinese Communist Party that the student newspaper says have likely infiltrated the prestigious institution and other universities nationwide to gather intelligence. The report, published by the Stanford Review, tells the story of a Stanford student working on sensitive research at the school – and given the name "Anna" to protect her identity – receiving unexpected messages from a man with the alias Charles Chen asking about seemingly harmless topics like networking opportunities. Those messages soon took a "strange turn," according to the outlet when...

Last night, Fox's Family Guy made a crude joke about rape and abortion in an episode that was otherwise focused on corruption in China. In the episode "China Doll," Stewie and Brian (Seth MacFarlane) travel to China after Stewie sees a "Made in China" tag on his stuffed animal, Rupert. Due to a misunderstanding, Brian and Stewie end up in a Chinese forced labor camp that is creating solar panels. While there, Stewie criticizes liberals for supporting the use of solar panels manufactured in China. In response, Brian insults conservatives for overturning Roe v. Wade. Stewie: Twenty years in a...

A new U.S.-China trade deal has just been inked by President Trump which promises to reduce tariffs and improve relations between the two nations. But it also comes with some other perks. Here's everything Trump scored as part of the deal: A $25 gift card to Panda Express: This marks the first decrease in the national debt in decades. No new deadly viruses for at least 10 years: Trump also gets first pick on all new virus names. We are allowed to call them Chinamen again: Trump really knows how to negotiate with the Chinamen. Thousands of Chinamen workers to...

When I write collapse, I’m not referring just to a financial meltdown. I’m referring to a broad-based social collapse that could call into question the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which some historians refer to as the Peasant Dynasty. In order to understand the vulnerability of China, it helps to consider the counter-narrative that the China is a rising great power. We’ve heard for decades that Chinese GDP would soon exceed U.S. GDP to make China the largest economy in the world. China has also long been known as having the largest population in the world. The latest...

On May 12, 2025, the White House issued a joint statement with China on trade, in which the countries have “paused” the trade war for 90 days. More specifically, the United States has slashed tariffs from 145 percent to an effective rate of 30 percent. China has likewise slashed tariffs from 125 percent to an effective rate of 10 percent. Tariffs remain on certain industries including steel, aluminum, and automobiles. Other licensing deals respecting rare earth minerals and semiconductors remain in place. This deal is a mistake. A 90-day pause does nothing but burn precious political capital, waste time, and...

The Trump administration has fully implemented the defunding of the UNFPA that it announced back in March and announced today that no new funding will the directed to it. And the pro-abortion agency is unhappy. As LifeNews reported then, Trump has ordered the defunding of the UNFPA, a United Nations population control agency which promotes abortions worldwide. This is a continuation of his pro-life policy from his previous administration. In 2017, Trump signed an executive order defunding the UN population group because it pushes abortions on other countries and has worked with China for decades to implement its forced abortion...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says China admitted they ignored trade commitments under Biden because they knew he wouldn’t enforce them: "Told us they ignored their obligations. We had an excellent trade agreement… Biden chose not to enforce it." https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1921907299704049986

The US and China have agreed a deal that will significantly cut the import tariffs, or taxes, both sides have imposed on one another for a 90-day period. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both countries would lower their reciprocal tariffs by 115% for 90 days. The announcement came after the two countries held intensive talks in Switzerland over the weekend.

Pakistani use of PL-15Es against Indian fighters opens up a new vector for intelligence exploitation on one of China's most threatening missiles. ================================================================= The largely intact rear section and other parts of a Chinese-made PL-15E active-radar-guided air-to-air missile came down in India during a battle in the skies along the country’s border with Pakistan earlier this week. While many details about the aerial confrontation between the two countries remain murky, it marked the first known combat use of any version of the PL-15. Recovery of any parts of what is one of China’s most modern air-to-air missiles could be of...

A yearslong malicious cyber operation spearheaded by the notorious Chinese state actor, APT 41, has siphoned off an estimated trillions in intellectual property theft from approximately 30 multinational companies within the manufacturing, energy and pharmaceutical sectors.A new report by Boston-based cybersecurity firm, Cybereason, has unearthed a malicious campaign — dubbed Operation CuckooBees — exfiltrating hundreds of gigabytes of intellectual property and sensitive data, including blueprints, diagrams, formulas, and manufacturing-related proprietary data from multiple intrusions, spanning technology and manufacturing companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. "We're talking about Blueprint diagrams of fighter jets, helicopters, and missiles," Cybereason CEO Lior Div...

GENEVA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng urged on Sunday China and the United States to find proper solutions to problems, and extend the list of cooperation. He, the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, held a high-level meeting over the weekend with U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The two sides conducted in-depth, candid and constructive communication on implementing the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries on Jan. 17, and reached a series of major consensuses. He said China and...

U.S. & China strike trade deal

...The Turkish foreign ministry called on both parties to "exercise common sense and refrain from unilateral actions."They added, "We expect that measures will be taken to reduce tensions in the region as soon as possible and that the necessary mechanisms, including in the field of counter-terrorism, will be put in place to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. We also support Pakistan's call for an investigation into the 22 April terrorist attack."...Azerbaijan also issued a statement soon after the attack, condemning violence against Pakistan.In their statement they said, "The Republic of Azerbaijan expresses its concern over the further escalation of...

Ask someone who drives a gasoline-powered car why they wouldn't want to get an electric one, and you're almost certain to hear this answer: they take way too long to charge. They're not even entirely wrong. Even though DC fast charging times are getting shorter and shorter for modern electric vehicles, they can seem totally unacceptable for anyone who's used to fueling a gas-powered car in a matter of minutes—and that still describes most people in this country. To counter this, the Chinese carmaking giant BYD, which recently surpassed Tesla in EV sales, came up with an idea so ambitious...

SCOOP: 🚨 Chinese representatives spotted at @PDVSA headquarters in Venezuela ahead of expiring US licenses for American oil companies in Venezuela 🚨 There are 17 more days left until the licenses for American oil companies in Venezuela will expire. Sources on the ground in Venezuela sent me this photo of Chinese officials sent by Xi JinPing to prepare for the seizing of American oil assets, sitting in the lobby of PDVSA. Additionally this week, thousands of Chinese workers arrived in Venezuela to work at the oil refineries and to literally seize the American oil assets in Venezuela on May 27th....