🌍 張又俠遭開除黨籍，習近平最親近的軍中盟友為何突然出局｜AI 國際新聞快報

Opening

Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission and Xi Jinping's most trusted ally in the military, has been confirmed expelled from the Party today, just days before the Trump-Xi summit. We'll get into the reasons behind it shortly. Meanwhile, another tanker has reportedly been hit in the Strait of Hormuz, and Yemen's Houthi movement has announced it will no longer target US vessels, marking a turning point in Red Sea tensions. We'll look at how these developments could ripple through global oil prices and Taiwan. Let's dive in.

Today's International Headlines

1. Another Purge at the Top of China's Military Commission: Zhang Youxia Expelled from the Party

What happened: According to Xinhua, Chinese authorities announced following a high-level meeting in Beijing on Monday that Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department, have been expelled from the Party. Both were accused of disloyalty to the Party, corruption involving "extremely large" sums, forming factions, and dereliction of duty. Zhang Youxia is Xi Jinping's closest ally within the military and a member of the Politburo. The purge comes just days before Xi's scheduled trip to the US to meet Trump.
Why it matters: With the purge unfolding right before the Trump-Xi summit, all eyes are on whether further reshuffling is coming to the top of the People's Liberation Army's command structure.
Taiwan's perspective: Turmoil at the top of the Central Military Commission has a direct bearing on the stability of cross-strait military decision-making.
Source: ABC News (Australia) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/china-expels-senior-military-officers/107178986)

2. Tanker Struck by "Unidentified Flying Object" in the Strait of Hormuz, Two Crew Injured

What happened: The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an "unidentified flying object," lightly injuring two crew members. The vessel remained under its own power and no pollution was reported. Since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28 this year, Tehran has claimed control over most of the strait's waters, and traffic through the passage has dropped well below pre-war levels.
Why it matters: Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried roughly 20% of the world's oil shipments, and this latest attack underscores just how high-risk this route has become.
Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan relies almost entirely on imported energy, so any tightening of Middle East oil and LNG shipping lanes has a direct knock-on effect on electricity and fuel prices at home.
Source: France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260921-projectile-hits-tanker-as-it-enters-the-strait-of-hormuz)

3. Iran's Military Warns US May Resume Airstrikes, Strait of Hormuz Traffic Cut in Half

What happened: Iran's top military command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that the US is preparing to resume airstrikes on Iran and threatened retaliation against American bases and regional interests. Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US honors its commitments, noting that only 12 commercial vessels passed through the strait last weekend, down from 35 previously. Trump, meanwhile, told Fox News he was in "decision mode" and did not rule out meeting Iranian President Pezeshkian during the UN General Assembly.
Why it matters: Whether the US and Iran resume airstrikes remains an open question, and continued shrinkage of shipping traffic through the strait is keeping global energy markets on edge.
Taiwan's perspective: If traffic through the strait keeps declining, Taiwan's crude oil and LNG procurement costs will be among the first to feel the impact.
Source: Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/21/irans-military-says-us-preparing-to-resume-strikes)

4. US-China Trade Talks in New York Yield AI Notification Mechanism and Tariff Exemption List

What happened: US Treasury Secretary Bessent and Trade Representative Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at JPMorgan's headquarters in New York on September 20 for roughly eight hours of talks, discussing the establishment of a "US-China AI dialogue" and a notification mechanism for national security-level incidents. Bessent said "the US side has proposed a notification mechanism between the two countries." Both sides also explored classifying Chinese consumer goods and American energy, agricultural, and medical device products as "non-sensitive" items eligible for tariff exemptions.
Why it matters: With the Trump-Xi summit scheduled for this Thursday, followed by APEC in November and the G20 in December, the outcome of this meeting will set the tone for negotiations to come.
Taiwan's perspective: How Taiwan's tech industry fares on tariffs and export controls hinges heavily on the direction these US-China negotiations take.
Source: France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260921-us-china-discuss-ai-safety-ahead-of-trump-xi-summit)

5. Houthi Movement Pledges to Stop Targeting US Ships, Trump Halts Airstrikes

What happened: Houthi senior official al-Bukhaiti said the movement will no longer target the US or any other country, with the sole exception of "the Saudi enemy." Trump halted the strikes hours after authorizing them, following a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Houthis have advanced along Yemen's west coast toward the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the US State Department has warned that the situation could escalate rapidly.
Why it matters: The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is a critical chokepoint for Red Sea shipping, and the US has already restricted officials from traveling to Yanbu, a major Saudi oil export hub on the Red Sea, signaling the situation remains volatile.
Taiwan's perspective: The Red Sea route is a key artery for Taiwan's container exports to Europe, and another blockade would hit shipping rates and delivery times hard.
Source: Euronews (https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/21/yemens-houthis-pledge-not-to-target-us-ships-after-trump-cancels-strikes)

6. SoftBank Issues $11 Billion in Bonds to Ramp Up OpenAI Investment

What happened: SoftBank Group announced it will issue $11 b i l l i o n w o r t h o f d o l l a r - a n d e u r o - d e n o m i n a t e d b o n d s, r a t e d B B +, l a t e r t h i s m o n t h, w i t h t h e p r o c e e d s p r i m a r i l y e a r m a r k e d f o r i t s i n v e s t m e n t i n O p e n A I . S o f t B a n k h a d a l r e a d y a n n o u n c e d i n F e b r u a r y a f u r t h e r$ 30 billion investment in OpenAI.
Why it matters: Capital spending on AI at this scale ripples all the way down the chain to chips, advanced packaging, and server supply chains.
Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan's semiconductor and contract manufacturing sectors stand to benefit most directly from this wave of AI investment, though it also means deeper exposure to boom-bust cycles tied to a single customer.
Source: Nikkei Asia (https://asia.nikkei.com/business/softbank/softbank-group-to-launch-11bn-bond-sale-to-fund-openai-investment)

7. Russia Holds Wartime Parliamentary Elections, United Russia Wins 57.86%

What happened: Russia held its first parliamentary elections since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ruling United Russia party won 57.86% of the party-list vote, with turnout slightly below 57%. The Communist Party of Russia took 13.84%, with final results expected on September 27. Attacks during the voting period killed 3 people in Moscow Oblast and 2 in Russian-controlled Kherson, with a Moscow oil refinery facility also damaged. Analysts at NEST suggest that as the consequences of the war are increasingly felt domestically in Russia, accumulated anxiety and frustration may be translating into votes for opposition parties within the system.
Why it matters: This marks Russia's first parliamentary election since the war began, and while the ruling party retained its majority, pre-election social anxiety has drawn attention.
Taiwan's perspective: The prolonged Russia-Ukraine war continues to affect global oil prices and grain markets, and Taiwan's import costs are no exception.
Source: Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/21/russia-election-results-show-putins-party-winning-what-we-know)

Closing

The one thing worth remembering from today is China's rare purge of top military brass right before the Trump-Xi summit. Whether tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate, and what comes out of the US-China negotiations, are both worth watching closely in the days ahead. This is Muyan, see you tomorrow.