NEW DELHI—The new map released by the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources on Aug. 28 has claimed the territories of multiple Asia-Pacific countries, triggering protests from all except Russia. Experts opined that the map is more than cartographic diplomacy. Some noted that the timing of its publication indicates the power struggles between political factions within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moreover, experts say the only way to counter Beijing’s hegemonic ambition is for the encroached countries to contain the regime collectively. “While there is a big difference between lines on the map and line making on [the] ground, the significance of the map cannot be underplayed,” professor Dibyesh Anand—China and Tibet expert and head of the School of Social Sciences at London’s University of Westminster—told The Epoch Times in an email....Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/in-depth-chinas-claim-of-foreign-territories-in-new-map-linked-to-troubles-within-ccp-say-experts-5489230
In its latest effort to prop up the faltering yuan, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) met on Sept. 11 to discuss how to stop the yuan’s rapid slide and arrest speculation, and it promised to maintain a stable exchange rate. Experts, however, believe that despite the talking up, the currency is slated to weaken further over the next three months, and PBOC measures are unlikely to bring about a lasting turnaround. “We will not hesitate on taking actions when necessary to firmly correct the one-sided and pro-cyclical market moves, to resolutely address the actions which disturb market order, and to unswervingly avoid the overshooting risks in the exchange rate,” the PBOC, the foreign exchange regulator, said in a statement after the meeting.... 
China has been preparing for war against the United States for over two decades, including forming new military services specifically designed to attack U.S. assets, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said on Monday. Speaking at the Air and Space Force Association’s 2023 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference on Sept. 11, Mr. Kendall said that China has been optimizing its forces “to prevail against the U.S.” in the Western Pacific for over 20 years. “China has been building a military capability specifically designed to achieve their national goals and to do so if opposed by the United States,” the secretary said in his keynote address....
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping’s over-the-top security measures during his overseas visits have recently caught the attention of international media. Last month, Mr. Xi went to South Africa to participate in the BRICS summit, but suddenly skipped an important scheduled speech at the business forum on Aug. 22. Instead, Wang Wentao, the CCP’s minister of commerce, read out his speech for him at the forum. At the G20 Summit held in India that ended on Sept. 10, Mr. Xi also was absent and replaced by Prime Minister Li Qiang, which also triggered speculation. Overseas media and China observers pointed out that Mr. Xi is very afraid of being assassinated, that’s why he often misses important occasions, making his whereabouts unpredictable, and he doesn’t care about the outside world’s opinion of him....