Recently, Shi Ping, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors, met in Tokyo with Miles Yu, director of the China Center at the Hudson Institute. Shi later wrote that both men are natives of Sichuan Province and have been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), calling themselves “comrades-in-arms.” Notably, Shi once spent half an hour criticizing Chinese leader Xi Jinping on his YouTube program and accused the CCP of a long history of “selling out” Chinese territory.
Shi Ping and Miles Yu meet, call each other ‘comrades-in-arms’
On June 11, 2026, Japanese lawmaker Shi Ping posted on his Japanese-language X account:
“Yesterday, at the House of Councillors Building, I met someone I deeply respect—Chinese American scholar Miles Yu, professor at the U.S. Naval War College and director of the China Center at the Hudson Institute. He also served as an adviser on China policy during President Trump’s first administration. Coincidentally, he and I are both from Sichuan Province and have both been sanctioned by the CCP regime.”
Shi added that they are “comrades-in-arms fighting the same enemy.”
He also shared a photograph of himself with Yu.
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On June 13, Shi reposted the message on his newly opened Chinese-language X account, adding:
“Mr. Yu and I have both been sanctioned by the Chinese government (CCP), are both natives of Sichuan, and were born in the same year. We truly share common ideals and a remarkable connection.”
Shi also reposted another user’s comment stating that two “traitors” personally designated by Xi Jinping had finally “joined forces.”
According to public records, Shi Ping was born in Sichuan Province and began participating in China’s democracy movement in 1982. After the CCP’s brutal suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, he fled to Japan to study and later published Farewell to the Spirit, in which he formally broke with the Chinese Communist Party.
In 2007, Shi became a naturalized Japanese citizen. In July 2025, he was elected to Japan’s House of Councillors.
Shi is known for his anti-CCP stance and has repeatedly criticized Beijing over issues involving Taiwan, the Nanjing Massacre, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong.
Sanctioned by Beijing, Shi accuses CCP leaders of ‘selling out’ China
On Sept. 8, 2025, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions against Shi Ping, freezing any assets he might have in mainland China and banning him from entering the country. Beijing accused him of “seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs” and “damaging China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Shi responded on X the same day:
“I have no assets in China and no plans to visit China. These sanctions are nothing more than a farce. Being sanctioned by the CCP is a great honor—as if the regime has awarded me a medal.”
In a Sept. 12, 2025 interview with Taiwan’s Radio Taiwan International, Shi rejected Beijing’s accusation that he had “betrayed the nation,” arguing instead that the CCP leadership was responsible for doing so.
He questioned:
“Who has sold off more Chinese territory than the rulers of the CCP?”
Shi pointed to border agreements signed with Russia. In 1999, then-CCP leader Jiang Zemin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed agreements settling the Sino-Russian border. Critics such as Shi argue that these agreements formally recognized Russia’s control over vast territories that had once been claimed by China.
In 2021, under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China and Russia extended the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between China and Russia for another five years. A joint statement declared that the two countries had “completely resolved historical border issues” and had no territorial claims against one another.
During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing on May 19–20, 2026, Xi and Putin agreed to further extend the treaty, according to Chinese state media. Shi and other critics argue that this continues the territorial policies established under Jiang Zemin.
Shi Ping’s sharp criticism of Xi Jinping
On Oct. 25, 2025, Shi released a video on his YouTube program “The ‘Traitor’ Shi Ping Has Something to Say.” Throughout the broadcast, he sharply criticized Xi Jinping and referenced several popular online nicknames used by Xi’s critics, including “elementary school student,” “big spender,” and “king of unfinished projects.”
Shi concluded that Xi’s long tenure in power reflected systemic problems within the CCP political system.
On Jan. 10, 2026, a mainland Chinese internet user posted a screenshot of Shi’s profile on Baidu, showing that the search engine had labeled him a “traitor.”
However, many comments reportedly expressed support for Shi and mocked the CCP, with users writing:
“He never told ordinary people to vacation in Southeast Asia.”
“He’s less harmful than the officials who confiscate people’s electric scooters.”
“He’s simply willing to tell the truth.”
“Only those who truly understand history know what’s happening inside this country.”
“I think he genuinely loves the Chinese nation.”
Some X users remarked that CCP propaganda was increasingly backfiring, while others observed that more mainland Chinese citizens appeared willing to challenge official narratives.
Miles Yu’s name removed from school monument
Miles Yu currently serves as director of the China Center at the Hudson Institute and as a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is widely known for helping shape the Trump administration’s shift in China policy.
Chinese state media have frequently labeled both Yu and Shi as “traitors.” In late 2022, Beijing imposed sanctions on Yu, including restrictions on assets and family travel.
Yu graduated from Yongchuan Middle School in Chongqing in 1979 and later entered Nankai University after achieving the top score in the liberal arts category of China’s national college entrance examination.
For many years, Yongchuan Middle School commemorated top-performing graduates by engraving their names on a stone monument. In 2020, a video circulated on X showing a stonemason chiseling away the three Chinese characters of Yu Maochun’s name from the monument.
Overseas Chinese commentators reacted strongly. Some said:
“Now that I know Mr. Yu was the top scorer in the college entrance exam, I admire him even more.”
Others predicted:
“One day, his name will be carved back onto that stone.”
Some commentators described the incident as evidence of a country where historical records can be altered to suit political needs.
