Focus on the Era: China Plans to Export Bribery Overseas Leaked

Today’s Headlines: Is the world being infiltrated by women? Leaked plan reveals CCP’s “Red Maiden Army Project”; Trade halts and shipping routes canceled, causing outcry among private traders on the mainland; Insider reveals details – Apple accelerates withdrawal as CCP desperately tries to obstruct.

A recent news story has drawn attention. The US government has completely banned all American government personnel stationed in China, their immediate family members with security clearances, and contractors from “dating” any Chinese citizens. What is the reasoning behind this decision?

Reportedly, this is related to the CCP’s deliberate creation of the “Red Maiden Army Project.” But what exactly is the “Red Maiden Army Project”? In simple terms, it involves training a group of beautiful women to engage in sexual bribery under the guise of romantic relationships to obtain intelligence or achieve specific objectives.

In 1987, the US banned all personnel stationed in the Soviet Union or China from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with locals due to Soviet espionage and seduction. These restrictions were relaxed after the end of the Cold War.

However, the recent revelation by the Associated Press that the US government prohibits personnel in China from romantic involvement is a significant development.

Commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s “Shang Bao” that the US, in preventing the CCP from using physical means to obtain secrets, has escalated to a Cold War era level, marking the beginning of a new Cold War.

Du Zheng pointed out that the CCP’s use of seduction operations is planned and premeditated. An informed source claimed that after China opened its doors in the 1980s, a “Red Maiden Army Project” was devised to train a group of female agents prepared to be sent overseas.

It is said that to carry out the “Red Maiden Army Project,” the Ministry of State Security recruited individuals from high schools in Beijing, especially foreign language institutes, with many officials’ children joining due to their “clean” political background.

The CCP Security System’s practice of selecting agents from relevant universities is a tradition. Initially, they undergo short-term training and are bound to state security for life.

Du Zheng highlighted that while mutual caution and covert attacks between nations are common, the international community failed to grasp the depth of the CCP’s traditional tactics, combining the widespread sexual bribery within the business and political circles over the past three decades, posing a significant threat.

In recent years, not only the Ministry of State Security but also intelligence departments in the military, foreign affairs, and united front work have been recruiting secretly, particularly women, known as the “Red Maiden Army.”

Over the past two decades, the “Red Maiden Army Project” has become increasingly dirty and complex, with more tasks assigned to women, some of whom are essentially call girls available on demand.

During this time, several political and business figures visiting China have fallen into CCP traps, being manipulated and utilized for its benefit. Free trips to China often lead to being ensnared and controlled. In China, official instructions oblige related companies to arrange sexual services then record the encounters, allowing manipulation upon their return.

The methods are not limited to foreigners. An office director in a large private enterprise group stated that their PR team, composed entirely of women, performs special missions to entice officials to serve their business interests. For instance, Evergrande Group’s founder Xu Jiayin has a group of beautiful women known as the Evergrande dance troupe specifically for this purpose.

For a long time, the CCP has been spreading “honey traps” globally, penetrating from low-level aides to interns and even politicians. Short-term sexual bribery is used in their infiltration tactics, but long-term operations, including romance and legal marriage, form part of the “Red Maiden Army Project.”

For example, in the early 2010s, Christine Fang, a Chinese student in California, built ambiguous relationships with various American political figures, including Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, who later became a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Fang’s presence raised FBI concerns, prompting her return to China.

Another case involved former Canadian Conservative MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bob Dechert acknowledging a romantic relationship with Shi Rong, a Chinese journalist for Xinhua News Agency in Toronto. Following the exposed affair, Shi Rong was abruptly recalled to China.

Japanese weekly magazine “Shukan Taishu” reported in April 2017 that at least 50,000 Chinese spies were active in Japan. Investigations revealed that 800 members from the Japan Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces married foreign wives, with 70% being Chinese nationals.

Due to the high US tariffs, China’s foreign trade enterprises are struggling, with foreign orders being canceled, leaving many in disarray. They hope for renegotiations to enable their operations.

However, on the 13th, Beijing issued a stern statement, urging the Chinese people to “abandon illusions,” defend national interests with firm countermeasures, and confront a potentially prolonged game with a spirit of struggle.

Contrary to Beijing’s fervor, the trading industry laments the situation. Multiple foreign trade companies in Guangdong and Jiangsu reported halted orders from American clients.

Mr. Wang, working in foreign trade in Guangdong, mentioned that numerous goods were stuck at Shenzhen Yantian Port, incurring storage costs. Without converting these goods for domestic consumption, bosses are left uncertain about handling the situation, which may lead to factory shutdowns.

Ms. Pan, an employee at an export company in Guangdong, mentioned that many have shifted their export markets to Southeast Asia and Europe due to reduced exports. Factories have ceased production with employees on leave or laid off. She noted that just as the collapse of the real estate industry led to millions of construction workers losing jobs, the ongoing trade war could have a similar impact.

Ms. Li, a foreign trade merchant in Zhejiang, stated that some companies’ goods were already en route to the US before the 145% tariff increase was announced and are now facing high tariffs, resulting in the abandonment of low-value goods en route.

According to Caixin, Shanghai’s Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals have hardly any cargo ships bound for the US. Just days prior, these docks were bustling, with many container ships rushed from the US to meet the new tariff deadlines. Those failing to meet the final shipping window are left with stacked containers at the port, with many preparing for customs clearance.

Mr. Qian, an exporter in Guangdong, mentioned a similar scenario to Shanghai, where there are very few container ships leaving for the US, causing an accumulation of goods at the port.

He recounted his visit to Shanghai with a friend at a restaurant on a busy street that was now eerily deserted. Reflecting on Shanghai’s once vibrant atmosphere, he expressed dismay over the systemic issues plaguing China, worsened by the ongoing trade war. Even in bustling Shanghai, there is no escape from the challenges.

Huatai Futures statistics indicate a significant reduction in sea freight voyages between China and the US over the next month. From April 14 to May 11, 26 trips to the US East and West Coasts have been canceled, reducing container shipping capacity by nearly 40%.

Similarly, the air cargo market has taken a severe hit. A freight agent in South China revealed that next week general trade air cargo to the US will be reduced by 90%, with major airlines significantly cutting cargo flights.

Under economic pressure, public sentiments are increasingly despondent. Recently, the topic “how to eat bark” went viral online, with netizens sharing detailed steps to dry, pulverize, sift, and steam bark, as a satirical reflection of current hardships. Future discussions have been replaced with a sense of helplessness in merely “getting by.”

One blogger lamented online: “2025 has been tough, but never did I expect it to be this tough.”

With evolving circumstances, there is heightened external interest in whether the CCP will introduce new economic countermeasures and whether there is room for the US-China trade dispute to ease. Many are questioning the duration of this ongoing storm.

Chinese scholar Peng Hongwen stated that the US-China tariff war may persist for an extended period. Both President Trump’s stance of “not considering discussing tariff issues with Xi Jinping temporarily” and China’s declaration that “the US will not reduce tariffs, and negotiations will not take place” suggest that neither leader is willing to compromise, leading to a no-negotiation situation and a continuation of the tariff war. A comprehensive economic war, including financial battles, may evolve in the future, with no easy resolution unless one side compromises.

Peng Hongwen elucidated that the current US-China trade war differs from the 1980s Japan-US trade war, which ended with the Plaza Accord due to political willingness and conditions within both allies to resolve conflicts. In contrast, US-China relations today lack essential mutual trust and compromise conditions.

Facing high US tariffs, Chinese foreign trade firms struggle, while foreign companies are urgently seeking to withdraw from China:

Apple is escalating its withdrawal, relocating critical supply chains to India and Vietnam; concurrently, Beijing is attempting to obstruct supply chain relocations. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is utilizing the 90-day tariff grace period to swiftly transfer crucial production lines to India and Vietnam to expand overseas factory capacities.

Informed sources disclosed that Apple aims to produce over 50 million iPhones in India this year, with the majority destined for the US.

However, Indian factory capacities have reached their limits, posing challenges in further expansion. Hence, Apple is urging suppliers to ship components out of China to Southeast Asia and India to support the US market demand.

A component supplier executive for Apple candidly stated, “We have been asked to airlift as many components out of China as possible to Southeast Asia and India… It’s like the customer is taking all the inventory out, moving it out of China.” Thus, his company must bear additional airlifting costs.

Another Apple component supplier manager affirmed, “Apple is accelerating the diversification process of relocating operations out of China.”

Currently, iPhone 16e is selling hot in the US, with reports indicating that Apple airlifted 600 tons, approximately 1.5 million iPhones, from India to the US. The soaring popularity of just one model signals Apple’s urgency to ramp up production.

Sources reveal that aside from India, Apple has instructed suppliers to expedite the production transfer of components like printed circuit boards to Thailand and areas outside China.

Nevertheless, some components such as connectors, mechanical parts, and metal casings remain cost-effective to produce in China, making it challenging to relocate mass production to other regions. Therefore, these components will still heavily rely on Chinese factories in the short term.

On April 11, the US announced an exemption list, subjecting smartphones, laptops, and servers manufactured in China to 20% to 45% tariffs. This list includes Apple’s MacBooks, iPhones, and laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer.

Although most products from these brands are currently produced in China, the tariff adjustments necessitate a reconsideration of their production layout.

Beijing authorities are unwilling to witness this scenario unfold. Allegedly, the CCP has intensified controls to limit industrial chain and equipment transfers.

A top Apple assembly plant executive candidly expressed the challenges in moving equipment and materials out of China, primarily due to stringent customs inspections.

Not just Apple, even Meta, HP, Dell, and other American tech giants are pushing suppliers to accelerate production in Vietnam, aiming for higher output from April to June above previous expectations. These companies also aspire to deliver products to the US and establish stockpiles within the 90-day grace period.

Thank you for watching today’s news program. If you have any thoughts, feel free to leave a comment for further discussion. We appreciate your viewership and look forward to the next episode.