中国官方星期六突然发布重磅消息，证实中共中央军委副主席张又侠，以及负责作战指挥的中央军委委员刘振立，双双落马受查。在中国的军事体制中，张又侠的地位仅次于习近平。

这一消息对政坛的震撼力，远超近年来解放军反腐行动中的任何一宗案件。自2023年以来，中国原国防部长李尚福、原中央军委政治工作部主任苗华，以及另一名原军委副主席何卫东已相继落马。

随着张又侠与刘振立被查，原本七人的中央军委领导班子中，目前仅剩下主席习近平与军委委员张升民两人。这种权力架构的变动，在中国过去30多年的历史上尚属首见。

这场反腐斗争将持续到何时？坊间有关“军事政变”的传言是否真有其事？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与《联合早报》中国新闻资深高级记者于泽远解析解放军这波重磅反腐动作背后的深层意涵。

延伸阅读：

• 于泽远：解放军高层接连落马带来的冲击
• 分析：解放军军中关系网将大洗牌 忠诚度最重要

China’s military leadership has been shaken by the sudden downfall of one of its most powerful figures. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the highest‑ranking uniformed officer under President Xi Jinping, is now under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline and law.” 

Also under probe is Liu Zhenli, a CMC member and chief of the Joint Staff Department responsible for overseeing the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) joint operations, training and combat readiness. The case has sent shockwaves far beyond Beijing, marking the most dramatic shake‑up yet in Xi’s ongoing anti‑corruption drive within the PLA.

Their downfall follows the earlier purge of another CMC vice chairman, He Weidong, as well as the removal of Defence Minister Li Shangfu and multiple senior commanders since 2023. Beijing officially frames these moves as part of a sweeping anti‑corruption and discipline campaign to tighten Party control over the armed forces. Outside China, however, many analysts see a deeper story involving questions over loyalty, internal factional struggles and the resilience of the PLA’s command system at a time of rising regional and global tensions.

In this episode of the Global Heartbeat podcast, Lianhe Zaobao’s China News Copy Editor Yu Zeyuan joins host Han Yong Hong to analyse the far-reaching consequences of Zhang Youxia's dramatic downfall. 

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“斩杀线”（Kill Line）原是电玩游戏术语，指角色的生命值跌至临界点，极易被对手一击毙命。这个词近期在社交媒体走红，被用来形容部分美国人的生活现状：即便收入看似不俗，但扣除房租房贷、保险等开支后，银行户头所剩无几。一旦发生突发状况，就可能迅速陷入贫困，甚至面临生存危机。

在网上带动“斩杀线”风潮的，是一名网名“牢A”的“00后”中国留学生。他在西雅图修读生物医学，为了赚取生活费，经教授推荐，到当地警署担任法医助理，主要负责处理死于街头流浪汉的遗体。“牢A”见到了许多曾是中产阶级的流浪者，他通过视频揭示了美国社会存在的各种问题。

今年1月以来，这个概念被 《人民日报》、新华社等中国官方媒体大量引用，反映美国的社会治理与民生困境。另一方面，《纽约时报》等西方媒体则刊登评论指，中国官方正借此启动“宣传战”以转移视线，并质疑其夸大了美国的问题。

“斩杀线”这个概念究竟是什么？它的出现反映了什么现象？这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与旅居台湾的时事评论人徐全解析“斩杀线”是否是中美在贸易战、科技战之外，新一波的舆论战？

延伸阅读：

• 媒体隔空交锋“斩杀线” 分析：中美战略竞争下舆论认知战成重要环节
• 下午察：“美国斩杀线”，中国赢麻了？

From gaming slang to geopolitical metaphor, the term “Kill Line” has gone viral online. It once described a video game character’s low-health vulnerability; now it symbolises the financial fragility of many Americans. Despite steady incomes, mounting costs of rent, housing and insurance often leave little buffer against a single crisis that could push them into poverty.

The concept took off after “Lao A,” a Chinese Gen Z student in Seattle, shared viral videos from his part-time work as a forensic assistant, where he saw how economic hardship drives many, once middle-class, into homelessness. His stories struck a chord in China, revealing both empathy and a kind of bitter satisfaction at America’s struggles.

Chinese state media, including People’s Daily and Xinhua, soon amplified the “Kill Line” narrative to highlight America’s social divisions and the fragility of its middle class. Western outlets such as The New York Times see this as part of Beijing’s propaganda strategy, designed to spotlight US problems while downplaying China’s own economic challenges. At the same time, the metaphor resonates with Chinese youth who face their own anxieties over job insecurity, youth unemployment and a faltering property market.

Join host Han Yonghong and Taiwan-based commentator Xu Quan on Global Heartbeat podcast as they explore how a single meme became a flashpoint in the US–China narrative war, and what it reveals about shared precarity on both sides of the Pacific.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025年结束之前的最后两天， 美国科技巨头Facebook的母公司Meta宣布收购一家总部在新加坡的人工智能初创公司Manus。收购价格据说超过20亿美元，Manus联合创始人兼总裁肖弘将加入Meta，担任Meta的副总裁。

Manus自称是总部在新加坡的公司。另一位联合创始人张涛去年6月在新加坡出席论坛，也以新加坡企业的身份示人。但是他的出生地是在中国，Manus的创始团队成员也都是中国人。

33岁的肖弘是江西人，他在念大学的时候就开发科技应用，在2022年创办蝴蝶效应科技。去年3月，肖弘率领团队推出了Manus，号称是全球第一款通用智能体产品。它可以为用户完成具体的任务，比如帮你筛查简历、帮你订酒店、订机票等等。

不过，Manus从中国公司变身新加坡公司，再被美国公司收购的这场华丽转身，目前受到了阻力。中国商务部介入，表示将对这次收购进行调查。

Manus一开始为何要出走到新加坡？它有可能通过调查，顺利被Meta收购吗？Manus的这次出走经验，又会给其他中国科技公司带来怎样的启示？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与新加坡优势研究咨询公司创始人兼CEO张帆分析Manus收购案的始末。

延伸阅读：

• 闫曼：技术的“原籍”阴影——从Manus收购案看全球监管新常态
• 新闻人间：Manus肖弘的金蝉脱壳术

The global tech world is abuzz with Meta’s planned US$2 billion acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup now under scrutiny from Beijing. On December 30, 2025, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced plans to buy Manus, with co‑founder and president Xiao Hong set to join Meta as a vice president.

The deal hit a snag on January 8, 2026, when China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) launched a national security review under its Export Control Law, citing risks in AI technology transfers. It is the first time Beijing has used this law to examine an overseas acquisition of a Chinese-founded AI company, underscoring its tighter control over advanced technologies.

Founded in China in 2022 as Butterfly Effect Technology, Manus moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2024. Its flagship product, a general intelligent agent capable of automating tasks like resume screening, hotel bookings, and flight reservations, was launched in March 2025. The move to Singapore was widely seen as a bid to attract global capital and mitigate exposure to rising US–China tech tensions.

Can Meta complete the Manus deal, and what does this case signal for other Chinese-founded AI firms seeking global expansion under growing regulatory and geopolitical pressure? Join host Han Yonghong in Global Heartbeat as she discusses these questions with Tim Zhang, founder and CEO of Edge Research Consulting.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

美国军队于1月3日凌晨突袭委内瑞拉首都加拉加斯。据报导，委内瑞拉总统马杜罗（Nicolas Maduro）及其夫人弗洛雷斯（Cilia Flores）在数小时后被美军强行带走，并被押送至位于纽约布鲁克林的联邦拘留中心。

目前，纽约南区联邦地区法院已正式起诉马杜罗，罪名包括毒品恐怖主义阴谋、可卡因走私阴谋、非法持有枪械及破坏性装置等。

美国总统特朗普对此强硬表态，宣称美国将接管委内瑞拉，直至政权实现安全交接。他同时向委内瑞拉代理总统发出警告，称其“如果不做正确的事，将面临比马杜罗更糟糕的处境。”此外，特朗普也对古巴和哥伦比亚发出威胁。

此次美国动用军事武力跨境抓捕委内瑞拉总统，是否已构成侵略行为？

分析家指，美国重拾“门罗主义”，要巩固并扩大其在西半球的主导权。这会对现有的国际秩序构成什么挑战？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与香港城市大学法学院教授、中国法与比较法研究中心主任王江雨深入解析这场震惊国际的大抓捕。

延伸阅读：

• 美国抓捕马杜罗“绝对决心”行动事件簿
• 郭兵云：美国闪击委内瑞拉的得与失

In the early hours of January 3, the US mounted a major operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, who were swiftly flown to the United States and placed in federal custody.

Maduro now faces a superseding indictment in the Southern District of New York on narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons charges involving machineguns and destructive devices.

President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will effectively govern Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious” transition of power, warning Venezuelan elites that those who “do not do the right thing” could share Maduro’s fate. Trump has also issued sharp warnings to Cuba and Colombia.

This dramatic intervention raises far‑reaching questions about international law, sovereignty and the future of global governance. Is it an act of aggression or a legally justified intervention, a one‑off operation or a sign of a renewed Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere?

In this episode of the Global Heartbeat podcast, Professor Wang Jiangyu from the City University of Hong Kong provides an in‑depth analysis of the geopolitical stakes and considers what this turning point may mean for the international order.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

在中日关系紧张的背景下，日本演艺活动陆续出现突发状况。原定于11月29日开演的日本天后滨崎步（Hamasaki Ayumi）上海演唱会临时被取消。另一位歌手大槻真希（Maki Otsuki）的上海演唱活动到一半，也被当场中止。

这场中日风波的导火索，是日本首相高市早苗11月7日在国会答询时表示，北京若以军舰和武力方式统一台湾，将构成日本的“存亡危机事态”，届时日本可行使集体自卫权。这意味着日本准备军事介入大陆统一台湾的行动。

随后，在美国总统特朗普11月24日与高市通话后，高市早苗又在国会答询时称，根据《旧金山和约》，日本已经放弃了与台湾有关的一切权利和权限，因此无立场去认定台湾的法律地位。她的这番谈话被中国外交部批评为炒作“台湾地位未定论”，是“错上加错”。

高市早苗引用《旧金山和约》真的是在炒作台湾地位未定论？这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与《联合早报》中国新闻资深高级记者于泽远解析在持续升级的言论交锋下，中日关系是否还有转圜空间。

延伸阅读：

• 于泽远：中日关系可能更糟
• 韩咏红：再看中日风波

On November 28, 2025, Japanese singer Maki Otsuki’s performance at a Shanghai anime event was abruptly halted mid-song, becoming one of several cultural disruptions amid escalating tensions between China and Japan. Around the same time, pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki also saw her much-anticipated Shanghai concert cancelled at the last minute, despite full preparations being completed.

These incidents unfolded against the backdrop of controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested Japan might invoke its right to collective self-defense if China were to use force to unify Taiwan, framing such a scenario as a potential survival-threatening situation for Japan.

Although Takaichi later referred to Japan’s long-standing position under the San Francisco Peace Treaty to clarify Tokyo’s legal stance on Taiwan, Beijing denounced her comments as provocative and destabilising. In the fallout, cultural exchanges have been disrupted, Chinese tourists are reconsidering trips to Japan, and sectors of bilateral trade and tourism are coming under growing strain. 

In this episode of Global Heartbeat podcast, Lianhe Zaobao’s China News Copy Editor Yu Zeyuan joins host Han Yong Hong to examine China and Japan’s deepening rift.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

美国国务卿鲁比奥最近与乌克兰官员在日内瓦会谈。鲁比奥声称，会谈非常高效，但没有提供任何细节。上个星期，媒体流传一份美国提出的俄乌28点和平计划。因此，有媒体评论鲁比奥此行是为了灭火。

这份和平方案的内容明显偏袒俄罗斯，其中包括承认克里米亚、卢甘斯克和顿涅茨克地区为俄罗斯领土、乌克兰须放弃加入北约并将乌克兰军队规模限制在60万人以内。与此同时，俄罗斯将重新融入全球经济，重新加入八国集团，西方国家分阶段解除对俄罗斯的制裁。美国则主导乌克兰重建和投资项目，并获得一半的利润。

28点和平计划几乎是施压乌克兰投降的方案，引起了欧洲哗然。到了周末，德国、法国与英国又提出了另一份和平方案。乌克兰的命运是否会有转机？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与香港城市大学法学院教授、中国法与比较法研究中心主任王江雨详细解析。

延伸阅读：

• 王江雨：礼崩乐坏，列强分食——俄乌终局与世界秩序的“战国化” 
• 社论：美国28点俄乌和平协议的外交现实 

A controversial 28-point US peace proposal for the Russia-Ukraine war has sparked significant debate across Europe and Ukraine. The plan reportedly includes territorial concessions favouring Russian interests by recognising occupied territories and restricting Ukraine's military size and NATO aspirations.

Following intense diplomatic activity, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian officials in Geneva amid global scrutiny. European leader, primarily the UK, France, and Germany, countered with their own modified proposal emphasising Ukraine's sovereignty, no restrictions on its armed forces, and the possibility of European Union (EU) membership. 

As diplomatic efforts intensify, questions arise whether these negotiations will genuinely steer towards lasting peace or further complicate Ukraine's future.

In this episode of Global Heartbeat podcast, host Han Yong Hong discusses these geopolitical developments with Professor Wang Jiangyu from the City University of Hong Kong School of Law.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

日本新任首相高市早苗本月7日在国会答询时表示，若大陆对台湾动武，“台湾有事”并涉及军舰或伴随武力的使用，则可能构成日本的“存立危机事态”，意味着日本可行使集体自卫权，军事介入台海局势。

高市的言论随即在中国引发强烈反应。中国驻大阪总领事薛剑在社交媒体发文称，对于“擅闯进来的肮脏头颅，应毫不犹豫斩掉”，但随后删除相关贴文。

北京之后采取多项反制行动。国台办、官方媒体与外交部发言人连续发声抗议。解放军在黄海举行实弹演习。此外，北京呼吁中国民众避免赴日旅游、慎重安排赴日留学，并撤销两部日本电影在华上映档期。

北京多次要求高市早苗收回相关言论。她是否会退让？日本盟友美国又将采取何种立场？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与台湾辅仁大学日文系特聘教授兼日本暨东亚研究中心主任何思慎解析这场中日风波接下来将如何发展。

In a rapidly escalating diplomatic dispute, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments suggesting Japan might intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan have triggered a strong backlash from Beijing. 

China’s Consul General in Osaka made a provocative statement on social media, which was later removed, and Beijing has since imposed retaliatory measures, including halting Japanese film releases and discouraging travel to Japan. These actions have led to a sharp decline in tourism and a significant drop in Japan’s tourism-linked stocks.

In this episode of Global Heartbeat podcast, host Han Yonghong invites Professor Ho Szu-Shen from the Department of Japanese Language and Culture at Fu Jen Catholic University to share his insights on this latest flare-up in Sino-Japanese relations and the broader implications for Taiwan and regional stability.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

中国第三艘航空母舰“福建舰”上周三在海南三亚某军港正式入列。中国国家主席兼中央军委主席习近平亲自出席入列仪式，并登上“福建舰”视察，现场按下电磁弹射按钮。

“福建舰”是中国首艘采用电磁弹射系统的航母，也是全球首艘利用电磁弹射技术让第五代战斗机起飞的航母。据报道，利用该系统，约90秒即可弹射一架歼-15T战斗机，一天内的起降架次最高可达300次。电磁弹射系统还可支持较重机型的起飞，例如固定翼预警机。

中国官媒报道指出，“福建舰”采用电磁弹射技术的决策由习近平亲自拍板。这个决定为什么要习近平亲自作出？

“福建舰”入列后，中国航母编队的整体作战能力将进一步提升。外界关注，此举将如何改变中国与美国海军之间的实力对比，以及对台海地区局势带来何种影响。

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与《联合早报》中国新闻资深高级记者于泽远解析电磁弹射技术的突破，以及“福建舰”入列对中美海军实力对比所带来的影响。

China's naval capabilities have reached a new milestone in naval modernisation with the commissioning of its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is the first carrier to be designed and built entirely within China. 

The vessel is equipped with the advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), marking a major technological leap over the traditional steam catapult and ski-jump ramp configurations seen on earlier carriers, enabling more efficient and frequent aircraft launches.

President Xi Jinping personally attended the commissioning ceremony in Hainan province, underscoring the vessel's strategic importance. 

The commissioning of this advanced carrier raises important questions about its impact on the naval power dynamics between China and the US, as well as the broader security landscape surrounding the Taiwan Strait. In this episode of Global Heartbeat, host Han Yong Hong and Lianhe Zaobao’s China News Copy Editor Yu Zeyuan explores these pivotal developments. 

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

备受瞩目的中美元首峰会，上个星期四在韩国釜山举行。美国总统特朗普和中国国家主席习近平谈了100分钟，双方会后也同意在关税和出口管制等问题上达成部分妥协。

不过，备受关注的台湾问题这次并没有出现在会谈中。特朗普在会后对记者说，他和习近平“没谈到台湾”。在此之前，外界担心，中美会在这次元首峰会中完成一次“大交易”，特朗普会表示“反对台独”来换取中国在其他问题上的让步，但这个局面并没有发生。

习特釜山峰会到底有没有谈到台湾？没谈到台湾问题意味着什么？

在台湾，最大在野党中国国民党新当选主席郑丽文过去几天正式就职。她接掌国民党，又会给台湾带来什么？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与淡江大学中国大陆研究所荣誉教授赵春山分析习特会为何不提台湾？

延伸阅读：

• 韩咏红：中美走入“强强对决”阶段
• 胡锡进：郑丽文当选成为台湾政治生态新风向标 

Following last Thursday’s summit in Busan, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached limited agreements on tariffs and export controls after a 100-minute meeting.

Despite widespread speculation, the sensitive topic of Taiwan was not discussed. Pre-summit fears of a US “grand bargain” trading Taiwan interests for Chinese cooperation proved unfounded, providing relief to observers and Taiwan’s government.

Afterwards, Trump told media that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, but offered no details or formal assurances from Xi. 

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), recently welcomed new chairperson Cheng Li-wun, who has pledged to defend democracy, pursue cross-strait peace, and manage rising security challenges.

In this episode of Global Heartbeat, host Han Yong Hong speaks with Chao Chun-shan, honorary professor of diplomacy at Tamkang University, about the summit’s silence on Taiwan and its implications for US-China relations and regional stability.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

从明年开始，中国将进入中共建国以来的第十五个五年经济社会规划阶段。中共中央委员会上个星期召开全体会议，除了确定开除多名高干的党籍外，也审议通过了《第十五个五年规划的建议》。

中国国家发改委主任郑栅洁在全会后的记者会上说，未来10年中国产业的新增规模，将相当于再造一个中国高技术产业。

然而，过去几年来，中国政府大力强调发展高科技产业，在新能源汽车、机器人等领域也交出了亮丽成绩，但是民众的经济体感依然不佳。

中国经济发展的道路上依然面对许多困难，新提出的“十五五”规划，为解决这个问题找到答案了吗？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与香颂资本董事沈萌讲解中共四中全会通过的十五五规划。

延伸阅读：

• 十五五规划强调经济建设与高质量发展 学者：更注重人民体感 
• 陈婧：中国经济走出疫情冲击了吗？

Starting in 2026, China will embark on its 15th five-year economic and social plan, a critical blueprint recently adopted by the Communist Party's Central Committee at its Fourth Plenary Session. This marks another significant milestone in the country's development trajectory since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Emphasising high-quality growth and the establishment of modern industrial clusters, the plan seeks to propel China into a new era of technological innovation. 

Despite the government's successful forays into high-tech sectors such as new energy vehicles and robotics, public sentiment regarding the economy remains cautious. The recent Fourth Plenum focused on reviewing achievements under the current plan and setting priorities for the years ahead. 

In this episode of Global Heartbeat, host Han Yonghong speaks with Shen Meng, Director of Xiangsong Capital, to discuss whether the 15th Five-Year Plan can address China's persistent economic challenges.​

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.