【Epoch Times May 2, 2026】Epoch Times combs through the must-read articles for readers every day:
1.
Real Estate Giant Vanke Suffers Billions in Losses, Liquidates Pig Farming and Expands into Diversified Businesses
As the Chinese real estate industry faces a profound downturn, leading real estate companies are accelerating their efforts to streamline and rescue themselves. Real estate giant Vanke recently revealed that its first-quarter losses continued to expand, announcing a complete exit from its pig farming business that has been in operation for many years. This move sends a clear signal that the real estate sector is shrinking its non-core sectors under financial pressure.
2.
Man on Guangzhou Metro Sprays Pepper Spray, Several Passengers Affected
During the evening rush hour on April 30th, a malicious incident occurred on Line 3 of the Guangzhou Metro. A man indiscriminately sprayed pepper spray in the crowded carriage, causing chaos on the scene. Several passengers experienced severe reactions such as coughing, inability to open their eyes, vomiting, and some even collapsed in agony. This incident has raised strong public concerns about public safety and security vulnerabilities.
3.
Number of Japanese Tourists Visiting China Drops by 90%, Chinese Japanese-Speaking Tour Guides Lament
As tensions persist between China and Japan, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Japan has plummeted, leading to a sharp reduction in the size of Japanese tourists traveling to China. A Chinese tour leader from a major Japanese travel agency revealed that there has been a surge in cancellations by tourists recently, coupled with significant reductions in China-Japan flights, resulting in a 90% drop in the number of Japanese tourists. This has led to a significant decrease in income for Chinese Japanese-speaking tour guides.
4.
Chinese Returnees Listed as a High-Risk Group, Subjected to Intensive Surveillance
The grassroots surveillance system of the Chinese Communist Party has recently shifted towards monitoring overseas returnees. Information from cities like Shenzhen suggests that under the atmosphere of “anti-espionage,” overseas students and returnees have been uniformly categorized as subjects requiring “special attention,” even being viewed as “foreign forces,” with their daily words and actions being monitored.
5.
Unexpected New Real Estate Policy in Shenzhen, Market Performance Weaker Than Beijing and Shanghai
Shanghai has once again relaxed its property purchase restrictions. This measure, aimed at stimulating the property market, comes after the loosening of purchase restrictions and loans in September last year. The new policy focuses on key areas such as Futian, Nanshan, and Bao’an Xin’an Street, while significantly increasing the amount of public provident fund loans. Analysts point out that the current market performance in Shenzhen is weaker than in Beijing and Shanghai. The Shenzhen government rushed to introduce loosening measures in the property market before the “May Day” holiday, with the effects still waiting to be observed.
6.
Zhong Yuan: Chinese Communist Party Politburo Talks About Economy in Vain, Intense Power Struggles Behind the Scenes
At the end of April 2026, the Chinese Communist Party Politburo discussed the economy as usual, but almost identical statements failed to address the economic issues adequately. Those attending the expanded Politburo meeting are more concerned about power struggles than economic issues. The “Party Central” currently lacks the ability to manage the economy, the credibility of the current CCP leader has fallen to its lowest point, and the CCP officialdom has entered an early stage of elimination and reshuffling, with fierce competition for key positions becoming increasingly heated.
7.
Wang He: The Biggest Problem of the CCP’s Finance
The Chinese Communist Party now focuses its efforts to stimulate the economy on fiscal measures. Since the end of 2024, the authorities have upgraded their previous “active fiscal policy” to a “more active fiscal policy.” In 2026, as the beginning of the “Fifteenth Five-Year Plan,” the “more active” approach has reached three new highs.
8.
Trump Reiterates Iran’s Desire for Agreement, Iran Claims a “Miserable Defeat” for the US
On Thursday, April 30th, US President Trump reiterated that Iran urgently wants to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, Tehran, which has been blocked by the US military in the Hormuz Strait and restricted in its oil shipments, continues to maintain a hardline stance, claiming that the US has suffered a “miserable defeat.”
9.
CCP Encourages Civilian Spying, Scholars Lament Widespread Suspicion and Panic
On April 28th, a blogger in Shanghai released a video stating that the trend of “everyone spying on each other” on the Internet is evolving into a mutual surveillance movement. In the comment section, many netizens view foreigners, foreign students, and employees of foreign companies as potential targets, sparking concerns.
10.
Analysis: Vigilance in Zhongnanhai to Prevent Xi Jinping’s Personal Information from Being Leaked
The physical condition of authoritarian leaders has always been a top secret. Xi Jinping, the CCP leader, has been rumored to be in poor health, with occasional signs. American media observed that after dining in the US, Chinese personnel immediately took steps to eliminate any physical information left by Xi. Analysts believe that the authorities seem to have strengthened control over the secrets of Xi Jinping’s physical condition.
11.
Renowned Chinese Entrepreneur Dies in Car Accident in Albania
Recently, Li Jianhong, the chairman of the Xinjiang Hongjing Group, died in a car accident in Albania, with 6 others injured.
12.
Ministry of State Security Mocked for Criticizing “Lying Flat,” Trend of “Xi Lying Flat” Becomes Popular
The Chinese Ministry of State Security recently released a political propaganda video, blaming “foreign hostile forces” for the lying flat trend among Chinese youth, sparking widespread mockery and criticism online. The mocking now extends to CCP leader Xi Jinping, with many circulating images of “Xi lying flat.” A scholar quipped, “If one person lies flat, the world will be at peace.”
13.
Charlotte Shan: US Rejects Deterrence Strategy, Shifts from Deterrence to Preparedness for Actual Combat
The expansionist ambitions of the CCP have made the entire Indo-Pacific region increasingly uncertain, with risks in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait continuing to rise as regional dynamics evolve. This ongoing regional instability is sparking a new round of military standoffs and power realignments between the US and the CCP.
14.
Experts Analyze Civil Defense Exercises: Enhancing Resilience of Taiwanese Society
Taiwan’s 2026 urban resilience exercise began in late April and will conclude in mid-August. From April 11-13, the Taiwanese community group, Fuhuo Hui, conducted civil defense joint training, simulating blockades and intrusions by the Chinese Communist military before and after an attack on Taiwan. The exercise, held in Zhongliao, Nantou, focused on community safety, treatment of war injuries, civilian evacuation, and military-civilian cooperation to enhance civil defense resilience, emphasizing the ability of civilian defense groups to maintain order and support military operations. Retired high-ranking officers from the US, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines attended as observers.
15.
Chinese Hackers Breach Cuban Embassy in the US, Monitor Emails of 68 Diplomats
According to a recent research report disclosed by the cybersecurity company “Gambit Security,” Chinese hackers breached the email system of the Cuban embassy in Washington D.C., and monitored the email communications of 68 diplomats for an extended period.