Didi Tang, Author at The Rapid City Post

Chinese national who exposed rights abuses is freed from US detention after being granted asylum

February 4, 2026

Guan Heng, a Chinese asylum seeker who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland, has been released after more than five months in federal detention. Guan said Wednesday he was “in a great mood” after being released and reunited with his mother the day before. It was a rare successful outcome for an asylum seeker since President Donald Trump returned to office and launched his mass immigration enforcement operation.He was granted asylum last week, but his release was delayed because the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to appeal. DHS, which has 30 days to appeal the court’s Jan. 28 ruling, did not immediately respond to a request to confirm if it has decided not to appeal.

Chinese national who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland is granted asylum to remain in US

January 28, 2026

A U.S. immigration judge has granted asylum to Guan Heng, who exposed human rights abuses in China and fears persecution if sent back. Guan arrived in the U.S. illegally in 2021 and has been in custody since August. The Department of Homeland Security initially planned to deport him to Uganda but dropped the plan after his plight raised public concern. Guan in 2020 secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, adding to a body of evidence of what activists say are widespread rights abuses in the Chinese region. The immigration judge ruled on Wednesday that he had established his eligibility for asylum. Guan remains jailed in New York pending a possible appeal by the Department of Homeland Security.

Chinese asylum seeker who exposed rights abuses fights to stay in the US

January 23, 2026

Guan Heng sought asylum in the United States after exposing human rights abuses in his native China. But he’s been in U.S. custody since being swept up in an immigration enforcement operation in August. On Monday, a judge is to consider his appeal to remain in the country. Guan’s case has gained public attention, including in Congress, and he remains hopeful that he’ll be allowed to stay. Despite his challenges, Guan tells The Associated Press in a phone call from a New York jail that he appreciates the U.S. democratic system. He is among tens of thousands of asylum seekers who have been swept up in the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts in the past year.

US drops plan to deport Chinese national who exposed Xinjiang abuses, rights activists say

December 22, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security has dropped its plan to deport a Chinese national who entered the country illegally after his plight raised public concerns that the man, if deported, would be punished by Beijing for helping expose human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. That’s according to two rights activists, including a lawyer who assisted in the case. Guan in 2020 secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, which activists say have been used to lock up as many as 1 million members of ethnic minorities in the region, especially the Uyghurs. He left China the following year and sought asylum in the U.S. after arriving on a boat. The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

FILE - Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr speaks during the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, Sept. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

FCC bans new Chinese-made drones, citing security risks

December 22, 2025

The Federal Communications Commission says it will ban new foreign-made drones, a move that will keep new Chinese-made drones out of the U.S. market. Monday’s announcement came a year after Congress passed a defense bill that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, which have become a dominant player in the U.S., widely used in farming, mapping, law enforcement and filmmaking. The FCC said a review found that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries, not just by Chinese companies, posed “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

Claire Lai, daughter of Jimmy Lai, poses for a portrait, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Jimmy Lai’s daughter says he’d focus on family, not activism, if he’s freed in Hong Kong

December 15, 2025

Pro-democracy former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai would devote himself to God and his family rather than political activism if he were released. That’s according to his daughter Claire Lai, who spoke to The Associated Press in Washington after her 78-year-old father was convicted in a national security case Monday. She made an appeal for her father’s freedom following the verdict in Hong Kong as he faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars. The legal process is nearing the end, paving the way for a possible diplomatic solution between Beijing and Western governments, especially the White House.

The National Security Strategy, released in November 2025, is photographed Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Congress would target China with new restrictions in massive defense bill

December 10, 2025

The Trump administration may have softened its language on China to maintain a truce in their trade war, but Congress is pushing for more restrictions on Beijing. A defense authorization bill approved Wednesday by the House includes provisions to deny Beijing investments in sensitive sectors and reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese biotechnology companies. The efforts would scrutinize American investments that could boost China’s military and prohibit government contracts with certain Chinese biotech firms. The National Defense Authorization Act also would boost U.S. support for the self-governing island of Taiwan that Beijing claims as its own.

FILE - Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri leads a class on the basics of Christian beliefs at Zion Church in Beijing, Aug. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Christian pastor’s daughter urges US lawmakers to help free her father in China

November 21, 2025

The daughter of a detained Chinese Christian pastor is urging U.S. lawmakers to help free her father at a time when President Donald Trump has vowed to “save our Great Christian population” worldwide. Grace Jin Drexel said her father, Ezra Jin Mingri, was formally charged this week along with 17 other leaders of the prominent underground Zion Church. They were detained in October in one of China’s largest crackdowns on a single church in decades. As she urged lawmakers on Thursday to “not forget us,” another hearing on Capitol Hill saw lawmakers praise the Trump administration’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of failing to rein in Christian persecution.

President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China announces restrictions on chemicals after deal with Trump on fentanyl tariffs

November 10, 2025

China says it’s making good on its pledge to crack down on chemicals that can be used to make fentanyl after President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping negotiated steps to ease a trade war. Beijing announced new export restrictions Monday on 13 “drug-making” chemicals to the United States, Canada and Mexico, including those that are used to produce the synthetic opioid. After meeting Xi in South Korea last month, Trump said China would help end the fentanyl crisis and he would ease a related tariff from 20% to 10%. It shows the back-and-forth nature of U.S.-Chinese cooperation on fentanyl over the years and eases recent tensions after Trump launched his tariff campaign.

President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shake hands after their U.S.-China summit meeting at Gimhae International Airport Jinping in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

G2 or not G2: Trump’s new favorite term for US-China relations carries a lot of history’s baggage

November 3, 2025

President Donald Trump has suggested his outlook to the U.S.-China relationship with a six-word post on Truth Social. He mentioned the “G2,” a term suggesting equal power between the U.S. and China, before a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Oct. 30 in Busan, South Korea. This term, first proposed in 2005, has come to imply a power balance that Beijing desires. Experts say this could delight China but worry U.S. allies, especially those in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese commentators noted the term’s use, suggesting a move toward a bipolar world. The concept was once explored but later discredited by Washington.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the National Day Reception at the Great Hall of the People on the eve of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

How Trump and Xi are doing a delicate, sometimes pointed dance in bilateral trade talks

October 23, 2025

Tensions between the U.S. and China escalated in the weeks leading to a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In response to recent U.S. restrictions, China plans to expand permitting requirements on rare earth products. Trump has threatened a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. Experts say both countries are learning to weaponize their interdependence, as they seek an upper hand in trade negotiations.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., as he returns from a trip to Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump vows to reach a ‘fantastic deal’ with China after future meeting with Xi

October 20, 2025

President Donald Trump has expressed confidence in reaching a “fantastic deal” with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He made the remarks Monday while hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House. Beijing has expanded export controls on rare earth products used in smartphones, fighter jets and much more. While Trump touted his good relationship with Xi and suggested a fair trade agreement is possible, he also mentioned tariffs as a negotiating tool. Meanwhile, Beijing has removed a top trade negotiator from the post as China’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attends the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo)

To hit back at the United States in their trade war, China borrows from the US playbook

October 19, 2025

China has expanded its export rules on rare earths, requiring foreign firms to get approval for exporting products containing even small amounts of China-originated materials. This move mirrors the U.S.’s foreign direct product rule, which restricts China’s access to certain U.S. technologies. Experts say China is adopting U.S. strategies in trade disputes. Since 2018, China has developed laws and policies to retaliate in trade conflicts, similar to U.S. practices. These include the Unreliable Entity List and the Anti-Foreign Sanction Law. While these tools help China counter U.S. actions, they also risk escalating tensions.

FILE - President Donald Trump silences his mobile phone in the Oval Office of the White House, May 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump’s ‘paper tiger’ jab at Russia echoes Mao’s propaganda against the US

October 3, 2025

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have been trading barbs using the term “paper tiger,” a phrase popularized by the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. Trump recently mocked Russia’s military power, calling it a “paper tiger,” which led to a retort from Putin. The exchange has amused historians familiar with Chinese propaganda, as the term was once used by Mao to describe the U.S. during the Cold War. The phrase refers to something seemingly powerful but actually fragile. Historians find it ironic that the leaders of the U.S. and Russia are now using the term against each other.

China Premier Li Qiang addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

In UN speech, Beijing makes clear its intent to remold global norms, seizing on Trump’s retreat

September 29, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has made a strong case for China’s role in global governance at the United Nations General Assembly. He emphasized China’s commitment to global cooperation, climate change, and the authority of the UN, subtly critiquing recent U.S. actions. Li’s speech reflects China’s ambition to reshape the world norms to align with its interests and values. Experts note that China’s foreign policy under Xi Jinping is more confident and strategic. However, some analysts argue that China’s actions don’t always match its rhetoric.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing an executive order regarding TikTok in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Chair of a House committee on China demands urgent White House briefing on TikTok deal

September 26, 2025

Rep. John Moolenaar has requested an urgent briefing from the White House after Trump supported a deal giving Americans a majority stake in TikTok. Moolenaar, chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, says the ownership transition is a step forward but not the only requirement. The deal, reached nearly two weeks ago, involves selling stakes in TikTok to comply with the law and licensing TikTok’s all-important algorithm. However, Moolenaar wants more details. Critics argue the deal doesn’t fully comply with the law, as ByteDance might still have influence.

FILE - President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Trump and Xi are set to discuss the TikTok deal and future of US-China relations

September 18, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to talk with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a push to finalize a deal to allow the popular social media app TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. The call Friday also may offer clues about whether the two leaders might meet in person to hash out a final agreement to end a trade war and provide clarity on where relations between superpowers may be headed. The TikTok deal follows a framework agreement that the Trump administration says was reached earlier this week. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have eased, but issues like tariffs and tech export controls are unresolved.

FILE - Traditional Russian wooden dolls called Matryoshka depicting China's President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump at a souvenir shop in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)

Trump’s pursuit of meeting with Chinese leader reveals the complex web of US-China relations

August 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is raising eyebrows in Washington with his approach to China. Concerns are growing that he might offer concessions that could hurt U.S. interests in his quest to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. There is no firm plan for a meeting, but many believe it must happen for a trade deal. Some worry Xi is leveraging Trump’s eagerness for concessions. Taiwan fears it could be “trade-able” in negotiations. Critics say Trump may cave to China to reach a deal. Meanwhile, export controls have been eased, causing concern among lawmakers about national security.

FILE - A Russian and Chinese national flag flutter near Tiananmen Gate for the visiting Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in Beijing, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

China pushes back at US demands to stop buying Russian and Iranian oil

August 3, 2025

China has taken a firm stance against U.S. demands that it stop buying oil from Russia and Iran or face a possible 100% tariff. This comes as both countries signal goodwill in negotiating a trade deal after two days of talks in Sweden. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledges China’s position on oil purchases but suggests an overall trade deal remains likely. China has shown confidence in playing hardball when dealing with the Trump administration, especially when trade is linked to its energy and foreign policies. China was the only country that retaliated when President Donald Trump in April unveiled a sweeping plan for tariffs on dozens of countries.

Trump says a China trip is ‘not too distant’ as trade tensions ease

July 22, 2025

President Donald Trump says a trip to China may happen soon, hinting at efforts to stabilize U.S.-China trade relations. On Tuesday, he praised improving ties, noting record shipments from Beijing of rare-earth magnets used in iPhones and other technology. His comments that a trip is “not too distant” came a few months after he launched a trade war with China, raising tariffs to sky-high levels and drawing strong pushback from Beijing. Recent talks in Geneva and London led to scaled-back tariffs and eased trade restrictions, with further negotiations planned next week. Meanwhile, China suspended an antitrust investigation into DuPont China Group that was launched during the escalating trade moves.

FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

US government employee banned from leaving China

July 22, 2025

The State Department says a U.S. government employee has been banned from leaving China while traveling there in a personal capacity. The department said Tuesday that it’s closely monitoring the case and engaging with Chinese authorities to resolve it. China has faced accusations of misusing exit bans to keep both foreign and Chinese nationals from leaving the country. Because of that, the U.S. previously warned citizens about traveling to China, but it eased its advisory in November after three Americans were released. Last week, reports emerged of a U.S.-based banker also being barred from leaving China. Chinese officials claim these cases follow legal procedures.

Trump and Philippine leader plan to talk tariffs and China at the White House

July 21, 2025

President Donald Trump plans to host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. The visit Tuesday highlights efforts to strengthen security and economic ties between the two countries as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific. Their talks are expected to focus on mutual defense as China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over hotly contested territory. The leaders also are negotiating a potential tariffs deal. Marcos met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. Both sides emphasized their commitment to regional peace and economic collaboration.

FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave, Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

Global views of China and Xi improve, while they decline about the US and Trump, survey says

July 15, 2025

Global views of China and its leader Xi Jinping have improved, while opinions of the U.S. and Donald Trump have declined. That’s according to a Pew Research Center survey released Tuesday. It shows that international views of the two superpowers and their leaders are closer than since 2020. The results are a drastic departure from those in the past several years when the U.S. and its leader — then-President Joe Biden — enjoyed more favorable international views than China and its president. Pew didn’t provide definitive explanations for the shifts, but its associate director of research said it’s possible that views of a country may change when those of another superpower shift.

FILE - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., speaks during the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner, April 27, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha, File)

Senate Democrats say Trump’s policies are hurting America’s ability to compete with China

July 14, 2025

Senate Democrats say President Donald Trump’s policies are weakening America’s ability to compete with China. In a report released Monday, they criticize foreign aid cuts, tariffs on allies and restrictions on foreign students. They argue such moves undermine U.S. influence and allow China to expand its global power. The White House says the U.S. is strong again under Trump and that his foreign policy is effective “because of his willingness to look anyone in the eye to get better deals for the American people.”

FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Bipartisan bill aims to block Chinese AI from federal agencies

June 25, 2025

New legislation in Congress would block Chinese artificial intelligence systems from federal agencies. It was introduced Wednesday as a bipartisan group of lawmakers pledged to ensure that the United States would prevail against China in the global competition over AI. And the House Select Committee on China held a hearing on the matter. About five months ago, a Chinese technology startup called DeepSeek introduced an AI model that rivaled platforms from OpenAI in performance, but cost only a fraction to build. This raised concerns that China was catching up to U.S. despite trade restrictions.

Didi Tang.