https://archive.ph/1hnqw

European manufacturers are increasing their investment in Chinese factories, despite growing anxiety among the continent’s political leaders about industrial dependence on the world’s exporting superpower.

A survey [...] found that about one-quarter were moving more production into the country — twice as many as were diversifying to other countries. The numbers included 80 per cent of respondents in the pharmaceuticals sector, 46 per cent in machinery and 40 per cent in medical devices.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/39904354

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf

Lots of interesting things here, but here are a few key points:

• They are explicit about reviving the Monroe doctrine, specifically saying they need to readjust their military specifically to "address urgent threats" in the Americas
• A push to make their ~~vassals~~ allies build up their own military, saying "The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over" (kinda self aggrandizing but okay)
• There's a lot focusing on countering China, but around 80% is talking about economic and industrial stuff, there's surprisingly little about military, mostly saying that they need Japan and the ROK to step up, and also that they "[do] not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait." (which implies they wouldn't want Taiwan to declare independence either)
• Saying that Europe's undergoing "civilizational erasure", talks about immigration and free speech, and aiming towards "Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations" (sounds kind of like regime change?), and "Ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance"
• The Middle East section is basically glazing Trump's peacemaking skills, declaring that the US can step away because the region is stable now (not sure what to say about that)
• They want to pursue more trade and investment with Africa, also something about countering "Islamic terrorist activity"

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf

Lots of interesting things here, but here are a few key points:

• They are explicit about reviving the Monroe doctrine, specifically saying they need to readjust their military specifically to "address urgent threats" in the Americas
• A push to make their ~~vassals~~ allies build up their own military, saying "The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over" (kinda self aggrandizing but okay)
• There's a lot focusing on countering China, but around 80% is talking about economic and industrial stuff, there's surprisingly little about military, mostly saying that they need Japan and the ROK to step up, and also that they "[do] not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait." (which implies they wouldn't want Taiwan to declare independence either)
• Saying that Europe's undergoing "civilizational erasure", talks about immigration and free speech, and aiming towards "Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations" (sounds kind of like regime change?), and "Ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance"
• The Middle East section is basically glazing Trump's peacemaking skills, declaring that the US can step away because the region is stable now (not sure what to say about that)
• They want to pursue more trade and investment with Africa, also something about countering "Islamic terrorist activity"

Archived Link: https://archive.ph/eoMS1

So Venezuela, Nigeria, and now Mexico... If this isn't the textbook definition of overextension, I don't know what is.

The Trump administration has started planning for on-the-ground military and intelligence operations on Mexican soil to pursue drug cartels as part of what President Donald Trump has described as an “armed conflict” with narcotics trafficking organizations.

“I don’t think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them,” Trump said during a White House roundtable with administration officials.

In August, Sheinbaum told reporters at a press conference that her government would not permit American military personnel to unilaterally take action on Mexican soil.

“The United States is not going to come to Mexico with their military — we cooperate, we collaborate, but there will be no invasion. It’s off the table, absolutely off the table,” she said.

China aims to raise average life expectancy to around 80 years in 5 years

China has already reached a life expectancy of 79 years, surpassing that of the US (78.4). The government aims to reach 80 years in the upcoming 5 year plan.

BEIJING, Oct. 24 -- China aims to increase the average life expectancy of its people to around 80 years through efforts planned for a five-year period from 2026 to 2030, announced the country's top health official on Friday.

By the end of 2024, the average life expectancy of the Chinese people had reached 79 years -- an extraordinary achievement among developing countries, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission.

According to Lei, China has established the world's largest health service system, disease prevention and control system, and medical insurance system over the past five years, marking remarkable progress in the country's healthcare and population development.

China has also weathered a once-in-a-century pandemic and continuously improved its people's average life expectancy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the official said.

"Based on the international development trend, the comprehensive national strength and work foundation of China, we hope to raise the average life expectancy of the Chinese population by one year in five years," the official added.

By the end of 2024, the number of elderly people aged 60 and above in China had reached 310.31 million, accounting for 22 percent of the country's total population.

On Thursday, the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee concluded its fourth plenary session, where participants deliberated and adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development.

The document requires enhancing both life expectancy and the overall health of the people.

Introducing work plans for the next five years, Lei vowed to improve elderly care by optimizing basic elderly care services, advancing long-term care insurance, upgrading support for elderly people with disabilities or dementia, and expanding rehabilitation and palliative care services.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs this October, by the end of last year, the country also had 406,000 elderly care institutions and facilities with nearly 8 million beds, while various financial subsidies had benefited 49.45 million seniors.

In order to help Chinese people live healthier, higher-quality lives with longer life expectancy, Lei noted that disease prevention will be a key focus of China's health sector.

"Efforts will be made to advance family doctor services, to boost health knowledge promotion, and to effectively control weight, blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose, so that every individual can be master of their own health," Lei said.

He added that medical institutions will explore effective ways to treat chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

"Additionally, we will strengthen primary healthcare systems and promote mobile health services and telemedicine to ensure people have access to convenient, efficient, and relatively high-quality medical care close to home," Lei said.