【Epoch Times, February 20, 2026】
Epoch Times daily curates must-read articles for readers:
1.
Overseas Chinese Returning to China Observe: Empty Streets, Unbelievably Low Prices
Before the arrival of the Chinese Year of the Horse, two overseas Chinese returned to China for the Lunar New Year or business trips. They observed on the ground in Shanghai, Jinan in Shandong, and Nanning in Guangxi and found that prices were unbelievably low and air pollution was severe. Their shared observation was the deserted streets, questioning why there were hardly any people seen?
2.
Two Girls in Fujian Helped Up a Fallen Woman, Ended up Being Sued for 220,000 RMB
In Fujian, two middle school girls who helped up a fallen woman ended up being sued for 220,000 RMB. The news caused a public outcry. On February 19, the news of “Two Middle School Girls Sued for 220,000 for Helping Fallen Woman” trended on hot searches. The mother of the sued middle school girls, in an interview, expressed that her children had serious psychological trauma. This incident also sparked widespread controversies about attributing responsibility for “no-contact accidents” and risks of good Samaritan actions.
3.
Human Rights Concern: Alysa Liu’s Father States Daughter Will Not Represent China in Competition
Arthur Liu, father of American figure skater Alysa Liu, stated that he would not allow his daughter to represent China in competitions due to the worrying human rights records under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party and ongoing human rights violations.
4.
Exquisite Horse Couplets: “Matching Central” Conceals Karmic Retribution
Couplets not only represent the essence of Chinese culture but are also loved and appreciated by all. The patterns and moral characters displayed in different couplets can reveal stark differences, showcasing one’s virtues and knowledge. Behind the couplets throughout history are many heartwarming stories, providing different enlightenments to those seeking enlightenment.
5.
Liu Dongling: Dismantle Digital Walls to Defend Freedom of Speech
The 18th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy took place on February 18 in Geneva, Switzerland. Liu Dongling, the leader of the overseas wall-breaking movement, received three invitations but, due to her current refugee status, could only participate via video. This article contains Liu Dongling’s video speech at the summit.
6.
Former Military Enterprise Personnel Reveals: Resistance is the Way to Counter Cross-Border Suppression by the CCP
At the end of 2023, Zhao Jie, who had served as the Deputy Director of the Technology Department in Luoyang Ouqi and worked in the military outsourcing system for 13 years, fled to the United States with his family, thinking he could finally escape the fear of the “invisible sword hanging over his head.” However, the Chinese Communist Party’s “long-arm jurisdiction” and cross-border suppression followed him like a shadow, not only monitoring him on the streets of Los Angeles but also extending its intimidating reach to his hometown in Luoyang.
7.
Chinese Citizen Sentenced for Using Fake Chinese Passport to Enter the US
A Chinese citizen was sentenced for using a fake Chinese passport to enter the United States. It was reported that the fake passport also had forged U.S. visas and Customs entry stamps.
8.
Tensions in Geopolitical Situation: Philippine Military Warns of Intensified Cyberattacks by the CCP
As tensions escalate in the dispute over the South China Sea, officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) issued a stern warning on Thursday, February 19, stating that cyber threats from the CCP are in an “escalating” state and have become a constant challenge to national defense security.
9.
Exposed Beijing’s Police Directive: Chinese Australians Ordered to Collect Intelligence
WeChat chat records between a Beijing police official and Chinese residents in Australia were exposed. Australian authorities charged three Chinese citizens, instructed by Beijing, with attempting to infiltrate a Buddhist group in Canberra. The three Chinese citizens have been charged with reckless foreign interference.
10.
【Exclusive】Retired Officials of the CCP Face Increased Restrictions in Exiting the Country
Recent reports indicate further tightening control on retired officials’ outbound travel in Hunan and other regions of the CCP. According to insiders within the CCP system, some regions have expanded the management targets from retired officials at the bureau level to key department officials, including those at the divisional level or even the section level. After retirement, relevant personnel seeking to exit the country will no longer go through the original unit’s “filing” procedure but rather a “approval” process.
11.
CCP’s Ostentatious Promotion of Robots: Experts Analyze Hidden Economic Structural Crisis
At the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, various robot companies made high-profile appearances, coinciding with online circulation of videos showing robots wielding guns. Experts analyzed that the CCP is strategically using the national stage to release intentions of robot weaponization and military-civil fusion, with underlying deep economic structural crises of prioritizing military industrial sectors and neglecting public welfare.
12.
On the First Day of the Chinese New Year, Over a Thousand People in Henan Pick Up “Silver” on the Highway, Sparking Discussions
On February 17, 2026, the first day of the Chinese New Year in Ningling County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, nearly a thousand people picked up so-called “silver” on the G343 National Highway, exclaiming, “Pie falling from the sky.” This resulted in a traffic jam on the highway. However, official inspections later revealed that it was aluminum alloy waste.
13.
Changes in Leadership of Tianjin Garrison During and After Zhang Yuxia’s Arrest
Following the arrest of CCP Central Military Commission Vice Chair Zhang Yuxia and Military Commission Member Liu Zhenli, there were intensive changes in key officials of the Beijing Garrison and Shanghai Garrison during the same period. Simultaneously, Tianjin Garrison Commander Bai Zhongbin was unnaturally absent from important meetings, with changes in personnel in the Tianjin Armed Police General Corps.
14.
On the Third Day of the Chinese New Year, Fire Truck in Hunan Plunges off Cliff, Resulting in 6 Firefighters’ Deaths and 1 Injured
An accident occurred in Hunan Province where a fire truck accidentally plunged off a cliff, leading to the death of six firefighters and one injured. As the “Red Horse Year” began, accidents have been frequent on the mainland.
15.
Think Tank Warns: Cross-Border Suppression by the CCP is a Systemic Threat
In a report released this month by the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS), an emphasis was placed on Canada’s need to take further action against the CCP’s systemic cross-border suppression. The report’s authors warned that Canada must not be “naive” in seeking to improve relations with China, as the CCP remains one of the major perpetrators of intimidation and harassment of overseas dissidents.