【Epoch Times March 16, 2026】Epoch Times combs through must-read articles for readers every day:
1.
Zhou Xiaohui: Five Major Shock Waves Coming, The End of the CCP Is Near
For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), 2026 is destined to be a difficult year. Not only is the “Red Horse Red Sheep Calamity” looming with political turmoil, war, plague, and many other disasters hanging over their heads, but what’s even more frightening is the domestic economic downturn, social instability, and rising discontent among the people. At the same time, the international community’s changing landscape and pressure like tsunamis are hitting the top echelons of the CCP, making them keenly feel the impending arrival of the end of their regime, sensing the unbearable weight of it.
2.
Sharp Decrease in Short-Term Loans for Chinese Residents in February, Concerns Rise Over Real Estate and Consumption
The latest official financial data shows that the demand for credit among Chinese residents continues to be weak. In February of this year, short-term loans for residents decreased by 359.6 billion yuan, sparking concerns in the market about the prospects for consumption and the real estate market.
3.
Washbasin Falls Off in Zhengzhou Hotel, Female Teacher’s Toe Fractured
An Anhui female teacher staying at the Mo Village Hotel in Zhengzhou, Henan had the stone slab of the washbasin suddenly fall off in her room, hitting her foot heavily and causing a fracture of her toe. Nearly twenty days have passed since the incident, and the issue of compensation has not been resolved, forcing her to once again travel from Anhui to Zhengzhou for rights protection with the support of crutches.
4.
Three Toll Stations Set Every 100 km, CCP Accused of Tightening Finances
As local finances of the CCP continue to deteriorate, the long-dormant toll collection on ordinary national roads is “reviving” in many parts of China. The Shanxi provincial government recently announced the establishment of toll stations on the Xinzhou section of National Highway 108 for nearly 30 years. The news has sparked dissatisfaction among many drivers and netizens, with many pointing out that local governments are once again collecting “road tolls” from society due to financial constraints.
5.
Square Dancing Triggers Bloodshed, Wuhan Hotpot Restaurant Owner Injures 2 with Knife
Recently, a bloodshed occurred in Wuhan, Hubei, involving a knife attack linked to a crowd of people dancing square dance in front of a hotpot restaurant. The incident has attracted attention.
6.
Liu Wenxiang Mala Tang Caught in Food Safety Scandal, Duck Meat Posed as Beef and Pork
Recently, the Liu Wenxiang Mala Tang chain brand, which specializes in old-fashioned Northeastern flavors, has been embroiled in a public opinion storm. Following reports by the media on several stores in Fujian where duck meat was posed as beef and pork, this rapidly expanding brand quickly became a hot topic.
7.
First Case of Private Enterprise, Suning’s Founder Zhang Jindong Clears All Debts
Recently, a public notice issued by the Intermediate People’s Court in Nanjing showed that after 30 years of leading Suning, Zhang Jindong’s personal assets have been cleared, and all 38 equity stakes in Suning’s affiliated enterprises have been transferred free of charge, covering a staggering debt of 238.712 billion yuan. He has become the first example of a large private entrepreneur having his assets cleared due to restructuring.
8.
CCP Promotes Revitalization Measures for Old Regions, Criticized as Financial Aid Political Project
The Central Office of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council recently released the so-called “20 Measures for Revitalizing Development in Revolutionary Old Regions,” covering arrangements such as industrial support, infrastructure construction, fiscal transfers, and targeted assistance.
9.
Chinese Housing Prices Continue to Decline, Multiple Data Shows Double-Digit Decrease
The Chinese real estate market is still on a downward trend. Official data shows that in February of this year, overall housing prices in China continued to decline. The year-on-year price declines of new commercial residential buildings in first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier cities have all increased. At the same time, real estate investment, construction area, and sales amount in the first two months of this year have all seen double-digit declines.
10.
Xiaohongshu Exposed for Promoting Children’s Soft Porn Novels and Interactions
After five years, the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu has once again ignited public attention for being “rampant with children’s pornography,” sparking discussions on March 15 under the topic “billion-level APPs contain a large amount of children’s soft porn content,” which briefly trended among the top ten hot searches on Weibo.
11.
After Luo Shuaiyu’s Death, Female Research Student of Xiangya Hospital Falls Into River
The mystery surrounding the death of Luo Shuaiyu, an intern doctor at Central South University’s Xiangya Second Hospital, has not dissipated. Recently, a female research student surnamed Sun from Xiangya Hospital has died from falling into a river after an alleged suicide note written by her was exposed online.
12.
Beijing Summit: What Topics are Discussed in the 6-hour Meeting Between Bezen and He Lifeng
Senior officials from the United States and China held a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday, March 15, aiming to resolve issues in the trade truce agreement between the two countries and laying out a concrete plan for the possible summit between US President Trump and CCP leader Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end of March, looking forward to possible agreements.
13.
Trump: Beijing’s Failure to Perform One Task May Delay Trump-Xi Meeting
On Sunday, March 15, US President Trump indicated that if Beijing does not assist in clearing the Strait of Hormuz for oil transportation, he might postpone the scheduled summit with the CCP leader Xi Jinping.
14.
Shen Yun Melbourne Grand Finale Called Extraordinary by Councilor
On the afternoon of March 15, 2026, the 11th performance of the Shen Yun New Era Art Troupe concluded with a full house at the Plenary Theatre of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia, marking a perfect ending to Shen Yun’s spectacular nine-day performance in the city.
15.
Yushan Forum Held in Taipei, Over 70 Political Leaders from 22 Countries Discuss Indo-Pacific Vision
The Yushan Forum took place in Taipei on March 16, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stating that this year, over 70 international political and economic leaders from 22 countries participated in the largest event of its kind, including former Polish President Wałęsa, former Philippine Vice President Robredo, and the President of the Japan-China Association Keiji Furuya.