After China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center released a report disclosing the false narrative of Volt Typhoon – a hacker group labeled by US and its Five Eyes allies as “China-sponsored” actor, the US Embassy in China and Microsoft which were reached out by the Global Times for comment gave no response as of press time.
Relevant US departments are urged to respond to the technical investigation report released by the China, and the US should understand that China's cybersecurity defense technology is becoming increasingly capable of finding falsehood and countering attacks, and the US should refrain from arbitrarily fabricating evidence to frame China, analysts said.
China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology and 360 Digital Security Group conducted an investigation on a joint cybersecurity advisory released by the Five Eyes in May 2023 and a Microsoft report which claimed they had discovered cluster of activity of interest associated with a "China state-sponsored cyber actor," known as Volt Typhoon, and these activities "affected networks across US critical infrastructure sectors." The investigation by the Chinese side found that Volt Typhoon has more correlation with ransomware group or other cybercriminals.
Multiple cybersecurity authorities in the US have been pushing a "China-sponsored" Volt Typhoon false narrative just for seeking more budgets from the US Congress. Meanwhile, Microsoft and other US cybersecurity companies also want more big contracts from US cybersecurity authorities, according to the investigation report.
The Global Times has reached out to the US Embassy in China and Microsoft for comment on the latest report, but has received no response as of press time. No US agencies mentioned in the report has responded.
Volt Typhoon hacker group is a ransomware cybercriminal organization without state or regional support background, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday commenting on the investigation report.
Li noted that various signs indicate that US intelligence community and cybersecurity companies are colluding to fabricate so-called evidence and spread false information that the Chinese government supports cyberattacks against the US, in order to seek congressional budget appropriations and government contracts.
Volt Typhoon allegation has been hyped by the US since last year and again recently, the Chinese side has produced a reliable technical investigation report proving that this is indeed a complete false narrative targeting China. It is necessary for relevant US departments to respond to these claims, Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.
Zhuo said that in recent years, the US government has been engaging in competition with China and various US departments take US’ national strategy as a business opportunity to profit from, which has led to a collusion between government and business in the anti-China "industrial chain." In order to vie for executive power, budget, and economic benefits, relevant departments and companies have spared no effort to fabricate evidence, endorsing any issue with the label of "Chinese threat."
In reality, various US departments tacitly understand the production of false narratives related to China, and they are well aware that these false narratives are untenable and cannot withstand scrutiny, Zhuo said.
Zhuo noted that some interest groups in the US should understand that in recent years, China's cybersecurity defense technology has rapidly advanced. Not only does it increasingly have the ability to prove itself against the US accusations, but it also has defensive and counterattack capabilities against cyberattacks from the US.
Relying on its dominance in media and technology to vilify China and undermine international cybersecurity is no longer sustainable for the US, said Zhuo.
April 15, 2024 marks the ninth National Security Education Day. Global Times reporters observed that the cases disclosed around this year's National Security Education Day involve a broader scope and are more targeted compared to previous years, with methods also becoming more covert.
Beyond traditional areas, emerging fields related to national economy and people's livelihoods, future development, energy, food, and meteorology have also become key targets for foreign spy agencies.
Some security experts told the Global Times that the competition among major powers has unfolded across multiple dimensions. Counter-espionage and safeguarding of national security are not only the responsibilities of national security agencies but also the duty of the general public. Citizens need to continuously learn legal knowledge, enhance their awareness of security, and collectively build a safety net to protect national interests.
From food to energy: targeting key areas
"Grains are the lifeline of the people and a treasure of the nation." Food security is crucial to the national economy and people's livelihoods and is an important component of national security. However, in recent years, foreign spy agencies have continuously intensified their infiltration into China's food sector, blatantly stealing core scientific research intelligence, and significantly harming the rice seed industry's core competitiveness and food security.
The Global Times learned that in response to this prominent threat, national security agencies took the initiative to crack down on a series of espionage cases from 2022 to 2023. They legally investigated and reviewed nearly a hundred individuals involved, dealt with 11 key enterprises, and held related personnel criminally responsible.
A man surnamed Zhu, born in 1964, and formerly the general manager of a national agricultural science and technology company, was found by national security agencies to have established a "cooperative" relationship with foreign spy agencies. To gain personal economic benefits, Zhu unconditionally accepted requests from these agencies. Under the guise of "cooperative breeding," he illegally sold five types of parent rice seeds to them, receiving payments well above the normal selling price.
Zhu repeatedly told his associates that selling seeds abroad was illegal and could lead to imprisonment so it must be kept secret, indicating he was fully aware of the nature of his actions and had clear malicious intent.
To further expand his "business," Zhu founded an agricultural technology company and began selling high-quality parent rice seeds abroad in large quantities. In January 2024, the Hefei Intermediate People's Court in East China's Anhui Province sentenced Zhu to one year and six months in prison for "providing intelligence to foreign entities illegally."
Furthermore, national security agencies also administered administrative penalties to the other 17 individuals involved and conducted thorough investigations into the enterprises involved. They further found out that some domestic seed industry companies had been illegally selling various high-quality seed sources abroad for a long time, effectively eliminating major security risks in China's food sector.
With the global energy transition, key minerals have become a new field of strategic competition among major global powers. Rare-earth elements, known as "industrial vitamins," play an irreplaceable role in many key areas, and foreign forces have intensified efforts to pry into China's rare earth industry.
In March 2023, national security agencies cracked a case where a foreign non-ferrous metal company illegally collected and stole national secrets from China's rare earth sector, taking compulsory measures against individuals surnamed Ye and surnamed Cheng in line with the law.
A woman surnamed Ye, born in 1977 of Chinese nationality, was a member of the Shanghai subsidiary of a foreign non-ferrous metal company. A man surnamed Cheng, born in 1975, was formerly the deputy general manager of a domestic rare earth company.
Investigations found that Ye met Cheng through business cooperation in 2017. Foreign employees of her company instructed Ye to offer money to Cheng in exchange for information such as rare earth storage details and directive plans. Knowing it was forbidden to disclose such information, Cheng still sent details of China's rare earth storage for seeking personal gain, including types, quantities, and prices, to Ye, receiving a large amount of compensation.
The state secrets protection department identified seven items of confidential-level state secrets in the information Cheng provided abroad. The facts of the case were clear, and the evidence was solid, with the suspects admitting to their crimes.
In November 2023, the Nanchang Intermediate People's Court in East China's Jiangxi Province sentenced Ye to 11 years in prison for the crime of being bought off by oversea forces and illegally providing state secrets, deprived her of political rights for two years, and confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($69,09).
Cheng was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison for illegally providing state secrets and bribery. He was also deprived of political rights for 2 years, fined 100,000 yuan and had his personal property worth 900,000 yuan confiscated.
Li Wei, a researcher and security expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that the competition in the international community is becoming increasingly fierce.
The competition among major powers is no longer limited to traditional military and diplomatic fields but is unfolding across multiple dimensions. Food security is the foundation of national security, and rare earths and other key minerals are strategic resources for developing new quality productive forces. It is essential to thoroughly combat the theft by foreign intelligence agencies and resolutely defend national security interests, the expert said.
Stealing meteorological data, threatening military security Notably, foreign institutions have illegally intensified their collection of China's meteorological data. Since 2023, national security agencies, in cooperation with meteorological and state secrets protection departments, have carried out nationwide special management of foreign-related meteorological detection, investigating more than ten foreign meteorological equipment agents, inspecting over 3,000 foreign-related meteorological stations, and identifying hundreds of illegal foreign-related meteorological detection sites transmitting meteorological data abroad in real time. These sites are widely distributed across more than 20 provinces in the country, posing risks to national security.
Sources revealed that some of these illegal foreign-related meteorological detection sites receive direct funding from foreign governments. Some observation points are located near military units, military-industrial enterprises, and other sensitive areas, conducting altitude ratifying and GPS positioning. Others are situated in major grain-producing areas, analyzing the growth of crops and grain yield. Some even transmitted data in real-time to foreign official meteorological organizations over long periods, at high frequencies, and from multiple locations, serving foreign homeland security and meteorological monitoring.
The related equipment is small, easy to install and difficult to detect. It is also capable of automatically collecting and transmitting data online in real time. These foreign-related meteorological detection activities have not applied for administrative permission for foreign-related meteorological detection with the meteorological authorities, nor have they submitted meteorological data to them.
The transmission of meteorological data abroad without the approval of Chinese meteorological authorities violates regulations such as the management measures for foreign-related meteorological detection and data and the Data Security Law.
National security agencies, in conjunction with meteorological and state secrets protection departments, have investigated and handled these illegal activities, promptly blocking the illegal transfer of meteorological data overseas.
"Meteorological data is extremely important for every country," Li told the Global Times. "Using a country's meteorological data can predict the future development trends of the sectors such as agriculture in the country."
An anonymous security expert told the Global Times that the strategic value of meteorological data in military operations is evident from the historical anecdote of "borrowing arrows with thatched boats." Once a country's meteorological and hydrological characteristics are leaked, it poses a potential threat to its military security.
Foreign forces long target Chinese individuals Beyond expanding espionage scope and intensifying theft efforts, the inherent tactics of foreign intelligence agencies continue.
In recent years, foreign anti-China hostile forces have extensively used the internet and other channels to carry out ideological "psychological warfare" on domestic individuals, distorting and hyping domestic hot issues, and attacking and slandering China's political system. A few inexperienced young students, swayed and misled, have fallen into traps. These victims have been coerced into participating in hostile activities, becoming "pawns" of foreign anti-China hostile forces.
The Global Times learned that national security agencies have recently successfully cracked a typical case where a student from a domestic university was lured by a foreign anti-China party into participating in its activities. The security agencies effectively dealt with subversion activities of these foreign anti-China forces and timely eliminated security risks.
National security agencies found that a student from a domestic university surnamed Song, driven by curiosity, signed up online to become a volunteer for a certain foreign anti-China party, receiving the party's manifesto and instructions from its core members on participating in anti-China activities and fundraising. Song also frequently visited foreign anti-China websites and provided these sites with negative imagery about China.
In July 2023, based on meticulous investigation and evidence gathering, national security agencies lawfully conducted an administrative inquiry with Song. According to the relevant provisions of China's Counter-Espionage Law, Song was warned and received the administrative penalty. After Song was criticized and educated, he expressed sincere regret for his actions and promised not to engage in similar activities in the future.
It is the legal duty of every citizen to consciously safeguard national security. Intentionally obstructing the lawful execution of tasks by national security agencies will result in legal liability. Recently, national security agencies administered administrative penalties to a Chinese employee of a foreign institution in China for intentionally obstructing the lawful execution of tasks by national security agencies.
The Global Times learned that during the lawful interrogation by national security agencies, a Chinese employee of a foreign institution in China surnamed Fu refused to go to the designated location for questioning, spread information about being interviewed by national security agencies to unrelated individuals, and coordinated with foreign personnel to interfere with the enforcement of national security agencies, intentionally obstructing the lawful execution of their tasks.
Law enforcement officers from the national security agencies recorded evidence of Fu's intentional obstruction of law enforcement with cameras and, according to the relevant provisions of the Counter-Espionage Law, lawfully administered an administrative detention of 15 days.
"Foreign forces attempt to 'cast a long line to catch a big fish,' scouting for personnel within and outside the country that can be used by them, posing a serious threat to our national security," said Li, the expert.
Counter-espionage and safeguarding national security are not only the responsibilities of national security agencies but also the duty of the general public to protect their own interests. Citizens need to continuously learn legal knowledge, enhance their security awareness, and collectively build a "safety net" to protect national interests, he said.
The expert also believes that relevant departments can strengthen regular education in primary and secondary schools, and universities to enhance the public's national security awareness. Meanwhile, the public should also actively cooperate with related work of national security agencies, solidifying the people's defense line for national security.
In response to Philippine media claims that officials in the country are investigating Chinese companies suspected of "pretending to be American or European enterprises" in order to recruit Filipino soldiers as analysts online, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the Philippines refuted the claims on Wednesday, saying that it was just malicious speculation and groundless accusations against China with the purpose of inciting Sinophobic sentiments in the Philippines.
The spokesperson said China firmly opposes this, as it poisons the atmosphere of China-Philippine relations. Filipino people have discerning eyes and can see through these shenanigans, and they will not be deceived by false narratives, the spokesperson added.
According to Philippine media reports, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday that they are assessing reports about these suspected Chinese firms. An official from the Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology also said that finding out who has registered a domain name shows that the suspected companies are registered as Chinese companies.
A Philippine senator warned on Sunday that the Philippine Retirement Authority's policy of issuing special resident retiree visas to Chinese nationals who are 35 years old and categorized as "soldier's age" adversely impacts the national security of the Philippines, according to Philippine media reports.
Some Philippine media reports mentioned so-called Chinese "sleeper cells" in the Philippines, invoking the example of Japanese spy Takeo Yoshikawa before Pearl Harbor during WWII.
The spokesperson said that China-Philippine friendship has always been the mainstream of bilateral relations and the aspiration of the two peoples. However, there seems to be an "invisible hand" disseminating disinformation about China, hyping up maritime disputes between the two countries, amplifying maritime differences, creating tension, and even fearmongering about war.
China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The so-called "sleeper cells" in the Philippines are just a fabrication. Some other countries, meanwhile, exhibit habitual meddling in other nations' internal affairs, fostering domestic division and confrontation, and instigating "color revolutions," the spokesperson noted.
China urges relevant parties in the Philippines to keep up with the trend of the times and listen to the people of both countries, and to stop spinning false narratives and arousing anti-China sentiments.
It is hoped that the Philippine side, taking into account the broader context of China-Philippine relations and regional peace and stability, will return to the right track of dialogue and consultation at the earliest opportunity, meet China halfway, manage differences through concrete actions, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.
The Xuelong 2, China's first domestically built polar research icebreaker, arrived in Hong Kong on Monday morning for a five-day pit stop amid a warm welcome by local residents. This also marks the vessel's first visit to the city as well as the return of a Chinese polar research icebreaker to the city after nearly 20 years since the Xuelong docked in Hong Kong in 2004.
Some local residents in Hong Kong told the Global Times on Monday that they were unable to get tickets to visit the Xuelong 2 due to the overwhelming demand, and some members from a committee organizing the vessel's visit to the city said they believe the event is a rare opportunity for patriotic education and the icebreaker serves as a practical venue for national security education.
The Xuelong 2 was docked at the restricted area of the Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Terminal. On behalf of local residents, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee welcomed the crew, shanking hands with each of them, on Monday morning.
Lee said at the welcoming ceremony that the arrival of the Xuelong 2 would enhance the pride of local residents in the national scientific achievements and encourage young people in the city to see the polar expedition teams as role models and to engage in innovation and technology.
The arrival of the vessel comes along with a series of events over five consecutive days, including an open day on the Xuelong 2, scientific exchanges and public science lectures, all aimed at patriotic education and public science communication.
The visit will feature not only Zhang Beichen, the team leader and chief scientist of China's 40th Antarctic Expedition, and Xiao Zhimin, the captain of the Xuelong 2, but also several of the nation's top polar scientists and university professors, according to media reports.
The expedition departed from Shanghai on November 1, 2023, and completed its 159-day mission with the focus on collecting various data in the Ross Sea in Antarctica and establishing the fifth Antarctic research station, the Qinling Station.
Wang Jinhui, the deputy of the expedition, was quoted as saying in local media reports on Monday that the expedition involved more than 460 participants, with no Hong Kong residents directly involved, although some indirectly participated in the development of new instruments and other research activities.
Wang also expressed his hope that more science and technology workers from Hong Kong will be engaging in Antarctic scientific research work in the future.
Ma Fung-kwok, the chairman of the event organizing committee, told the Global Times on Monday that the registration for the visit received an enthusiastic response, with the first two days already fully booked.
Ma said he hopes that in the future he can secure more of the nation's icebreakers to bring more information about Antarctic exploration to Hong Kong and inspire young people to learn more about the country's related work.
Wong Kam-leung, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, told the Global Times on Monday that he felt very excited when seeing the Xuelong 2 entering Victoria Harbour, and it is also very shocking as the vessel is much larger than he had imagined.
"Many local residents were also there to watch, and take photos. Witnessing the country's powerful equipment firsthand was very thrilling," said Wong, who is also a member of the event organizing committee.
Hong Kong is the first stop of the return trip of the Xuelong 2 to the country. This fully demonstrates the country's care for Hong Kong and for the young people, "which is also a big gift to us," Wong said, noting that the five-day event is a rare opportunity for patriotic education and a practical experiment in national security education.
"The Xuelong 2 was independently developed by our country and has achieved fruitful results after many tests. This visit to Hong Kong will also allow young people in Hong Kong to understand our country's scientific research successes in polar exploration, feel proud of the scientific achievements and enhance the pride of identity among Hong Kong educators and young people," Wong said.
He noted that the event also coincides with the National Security Education Day, which falls on April 15, allowing Hong Kong residents to better understand the importance of polar resources and biological resource security.
Nicholas Muk Ka-chun, a local teacher, told the Global Times on Monday that his school has booked two time slots for visiting the vessel, and he is going to lead a group of 39 students to see the icebreaker on Friday.
"I remember I visited the Xuelong [in 2004] when I was in middle school. This year, with the Xuelong 2 coming to Hong Kong, it can be seen as a legacy," Muk said.
"And I hope the students I lead will cherish this rare opportunity to visit the ship, and I believe this trip will plant the seeds for future scientific and technological innovation," Muk said.
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake jolted the sea area near Hualien in China's Taiwan at 7:58 am Wednesday (Beijing Time), followed by two aftershocks of 6.0-magnitude and 5.9-magnitude at 8:11 am and 8:35 am respectively, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The Tsunami Warning Center of China's Ministry of Natural Resources issued a tsunami red warning following the earthquake, and Japan meteorological authority also issued a tsunami alert.
The earthquake has triggered local tsunamis around the epicenter, reported China Media Group (CMG), citing data from the Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources based on the latest monitoring and analysis. The tsunami had an impact on the eastern region of Taiwan.
The latest monitoring data showed that the Longdong Station in Taiwan detected a tsunami measuring 21 centimeters at 8:29 am, Ishigaki Island, Japan, detected a tsunami wave measuring 30 centimeters at 8:30 am, and the Chenggong Station in Taiwan, detected a tsunami wave measuring 45 centimeters at 8:41 am. The Tsunami Warning Center will continue to track and analyze earthquake and tsunami monitoring data and release information in a timely manner, CMG reported.
Following the earthquake, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that relevant parties in the mainland are highly concerned and express their sincere condolences to the Taiwan compatriots affected by the disaster. We will pay close attention to the disaster and subsequent situations, and are willing to provide disaster relief assistance, according to Zhu.
The epicenter was monitored at 23.81 degrees north latitude and 121.74 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 12 km, said a report issued by the CENC. A total of 256 earthquakes of magnitude-4 or above have occurred within 200 kilometers around the epicenter in the past five years, with the earthquake at 7:58 am on Wednesday being the largest, the CENC noted.
Xinhua reporters in Taipei experienced intense tremors as buildings shook continuously for over a minute. Elevators in the reporters' apartment building were suspended from operation, according to Xinhua News Agency.
According to local media reports, strong tremors were felt in various parts of Taiwan, prompting Taipei's metro system to halt operations for 40 to 60 minutes. Students in Taipei were evacuated due to the earthquake, as reported by the China Media Group.
According to local Taiwan media reports, a landslide occurred in the Hualien area after the earthquake, causing vehicles to be hit by falling rocks. There have been no reports of casualties as of now. The Hualien county government announced the suspension of classes and work in response to the aftershocks.
Videos circulating online showed that buildings have been damaged and collapsed following the 7.3-magnitude earthquake.
Taiwan's TVBS News reported that many houses have collapsed in Hualien county. The number of casualties is currently unknown. Guishan Island, a famous scenic spot in Yilan, has also been slightly broken.
The earthquake was also felt in East China's Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu provinces and Shanghai and South China's Guangdong Province, according to information shared by netizens on social media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo. No casualties have been reported as of press time.
According to the Japan Broadcasting Association, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for Miyako Island, Okinawa main island and other places on Wednesday, with an expected wave height of 3 meters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia and Great Indonesia Movement Party General Chairman Prabowo Subianto in Beijing on Monday.
Chinese observers said that Prabowo's visit to China has attracted widespread attention, and his decision to visit China shortly after winning Indonesia's 2024 presidential election on March 20 carries great significance, as this visit is crucial not only for the development of bilateral relations for at least next five years, but also injects positivity and stability into the whole ASEAN region.
Xi congratulated Prabowo on winning the election and asked Prabowo to relay sincere greetings and best wishes to President Joko Widodo.
Recalling the rapidly developing and fruitful bilateral ties over the past decade under the guidance of the two heads of state, Xi said both sides have made Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway an exemplar of high-quality bilateral cooperation and entered a new stage of building a community with a shared future.
China views its relations with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to deepen all-round strategic cooperation with Indonesia, Xi said.
He said China will work with Indonesia to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future that has regional and global influence, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.
Prabowo conveyed President Joko Widodo's sincere greetings to Xi, and said he is delighted to make China the first country he visits after being elected.
Prabowo said he supports the development of a closer relationship with China and will continue the country's friendly policy toward China.
Prabowo's China visit undoubtedly plays a positive role in promoting bilateral relations between China and Indonesia, at least over the next five years, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.
This visit will no doubt enhance political mutual trust between China and Indonesia, which is particularly important given the current global instability and uncertainty, Xu said, noting that the visit by Indonesia's president-elect to China for dialogue and communication with Chinese leader will contribute significantly to stabilizing the situation.
As the largest country in ASEAN, Indonesia plays a significant role in regional development, and the president-elect's visit to China will promote the development of China-ASEAN friendly relations, according to Chinese observers.
It is expected that bilateral cooperation will be accelerated in the future, especially in areas such as infrastructure and downstream industries. There are prospects for strengthening practical cooperation, including major projects such as capital relocation, he said.
Indonesia has ambitious plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, which is expected to take place by 2045, according to media reports.
Continuing heritage
Prabowo and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of outgoing President Widodo, known as Jokowi, will be sworn in on October 20 for a five-year term, with the latter becoming vice president. After assuming the presidency, Prabowo is likely to continue the policies of his predecessor, according to Chinese observers.
Prabowo is set to take office as president in October, so he is now forming the cabinet and formulating domestic and foreign policies. Indonesia has long pursued a non-aligned foreign policy, emphasizing pragmatism, expert pointed out. Prabowo's visit to China before assuming office is clearly aimed at promoting further development of China-Indonesia relations, Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Monday.
Jokowi's policies have proven crucial for Indonesia's development and are important for regional peace and stability, but the fact that the outgoing president's son is Prabowo's running mate and the vice president-elect could indicate that many factors will drive Prabowo to continue Jokowi's policies, Gu said.
For Indonesia, this visit by Prabowo underscores the appeal of pragmatic cooperation between the two sides, especially against the backdrop of the new government's main task of maintaining economic growth at 5 to 7 percent to achieve the country's Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, according to Xu.
China plays an important role in supporting Indonesia in achieving its development goal, which is closely related to the Prabowo government's future foreign policy, particularly emphasizing economic diplomacy while also promoting friendly relations with neighboring countries, Xu said.
The Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision is an Indonesian ideal that sets the goal for the country to be a sovereign, advanced, fair and prosperous nation by its centennial in 2045.
China is Indonesia's largest trading partner and has been so for 10 consecutive years, and official data shows that the trade volume between the two countries increased from $50 billion in 2013 to $150 billion in 2022, according to Xinhua.
At the same time, Indonesia is also China's second largest investment destination within ASEAN. Direct investment from China to Indonesia topped $4.55 billion in 2022, according to official data from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Such figures underscored and proved the close political and economic ties between the two countries, and in 2023, the completion of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway project, a milestone event, embodied the decade of close ties, Gu said.
The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, locally called Whoosh, has reportedly become Indonesians' new favorite form of transport during the Eid homecoming exodus. Eid marks the end of the dawn-to-sunset fasting month of Ramadan.
In Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority nation, the Eid festival is associated with a homecoming tradition, locally known as mudik, to gather with relatives. The Indonesian government has predicted that at least 193 million people will travel to their hometowns during the Eid exodus season, a number that covers 71.7 percent of the country's total population.
This will be the first Eid moment for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train. Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation expects a surge in passengers during the exodus season, which could be up to 1.42 million people.
Regarding escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Gu commented that unlike the Philippines, Indonesia is not easily swayed by the US, as Indonesia does not have major disputes with China, and instead has increasingly close trade and investment relations with the country.
As a leading economy in ASEAN, Indonesia wants to further promote friendly relations between China and ASEAN, and foster cooperation and development in the Asian region. Indonesian leaders well understand that advocating and upholding a policy of non-alignment would be beneficial for both Indonesia and China-ASEAN relations, Gu said.
Customs recently seized 439 beetles, considered to be an invasive species, illegally brought into the country by a passenger through Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, the country's General Administration of Customs reported on Wednesday.
During a routine inspection of an incoming flight, customs officers noticed an abnormal image of a passenger's luggage on the X-ray machine, showing objects resembling beetles.
Upon inspection, the officers found numerous beetles individually wrapped in transparent plastic film inside the passenger's suitcase, with some showing signs of movement.
After being identified by a professional organization, the beetles seized included 11 species such as the Javan wide flat leaf beetle, Atlas Nanyang rhinoceros beetle, Gao Kasas Nanyang rhinoceros beetle, and orange-backed forked horn beetle, totaling 439 beetles.
Among them, the orange-backed forked horn beetle was the most numerous, with 125 individuals. These beetles have no natural population in China and are considered an invasive species.
Customs reminded the public that it is illegal to introduce foreign species into the country without approval, as per the Biological Safety Law and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementation regulations. Offenders will face legal consequences.
With the rise of the exotic pet market, some enthusiasts are illegally importing exotic pets into the country through various means. However, these exotic pets are often foreign species and can potentially become invasive species if released into the wild, causing ecological disasters.
In another case, the customs at the Hekou port in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province discovered a man attempting to smuggle 163 wild harvest ants into the country by concealing them on his body, the China Daily reported earlier this month.
The ants, identified as the exotic species Barbaric Harvest Ant, are known for their aggressive behavior and ability to consume and store plant seeds, posing a potential threat to China's ecological and biological security.
To combat and prevent the smuggling of exotic pets through mail or concealment, Kunming customs established a special task force to monitor and gather information on popular exotic pets like beetles and ants. By implementing strict control measures and cracking down on illegal activities, customs aim to safeguard the country's biological and ecological security.
People across Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have engaged in various celebration activities to mark the 65th anniversary of practicing democratic reform in Xizang, which falls on Thursday. From autocracy to democracy, from poverty to prosperity, and from alienation to freedom, the process of reform has been hailed by local residents and experts as an epoch-making event in the advancement of human rights.
Observers also denounced Western attacks over so-called human rights violations and forced assimilation of culture, noting that they are nothing but fabricated lies out of thin air. A tour of the region will be more than enough to showcase the harmony and unity among various ethnic groups in Xizang, as well as the unremitting efforts of the government to protect and develop local Tibetan culture, they said.
Lhasa, the capital of Xizang, is gearing up for various activities to celebrate this day, including book-sharing seminars and a thousand-person choral competition. Tibet University, a prestigious school in the region located in Lhasa, held a special lecture highlighting the rapid development of Xizang over the past 65 years. The lecturer inspired the audience as he said, "the younger generation, with ideals, abilities, and responsibilities, holds the key to the future of the country and the hope of the nation."
Cona County in the region's Shannan city also held a series of events including exhibitions, museum visits, and film screenings, to review the glorious history of Xizang since the democratic reform. The exhibition featured contrastive photos of old and new Xizang, allowing the audience to experience the significant changes that have taken place in the region, which deepened their understanding of the importance of the reform, local residents said, as quoted by Xizang Daily on Tuesday.
"It's a great feat. Xizang's democratic reform is the most important abolition movement of serfdom in modern world history," Jia Chunyang, executive director of the Economic and Social Security Research Center at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Since the abolition of serfdom, local residents in Xizang have been granted a wide range of political rights, including the right to self-govern their own ethnic and regional affairs, the right to vote and be elected, and the right to information. Currently, Xizang has 24 deputies to the 14th National People's Congress, with Tibetan and other ethnic minority deputies accounting for 66.7 percent of the delegation, data showed.
As for socioeconomic development, Xizang has lifted all 628,000 low-income people out of poverty as of the end of 2019, achieving the historic eradication of absolute poverty. In 1959, Xizang's GDP was only 174 million yuan ($24 million); by 2023, it exceeded 230 billion yuan, with urban and rural residents' per capita disposable income surpassing 50,000 yuan and 20,000 yuan respectively.
Xiong Kunxin, who had been hired by Tibet University as a distinguished professor and lived there for several years, told the Global Times on Wednesday that he had personally experienced the harmonious coexistence and mutual support among different ethnic groups.
"Everyone is united and working diligently on practical matters, rather than just chanting slogans," Xiong said.
The democratic reform in Xizang has completely overturned feudal serfdom under theocracy and implemented the policy of religious freedom. There are now over 1,700 Tibetan Buddhist religious sites in Xizang, as well as mosques, Catholic churches, and other places of worship. All religions are treated equally, and both believers and non-believers are treated with equal respect.
However, the Western media have recently ramped up efforts to throw mud at Xizang's human rights issues as well as forced assimilation in boarding schools, which Jia slammed with powerful evidence he obtained from the local people.
Jia, who had just shared these figures at a seminar on the sideline of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, pointed out that boarding schools are favored by local children and parents because many of their homes are far away from schools, and that the conditions of boarding schools are better.
On-site research conducted by Jia and his team revealed that these boarding schools not only do not restrict or suppress the learning of Tibetan language, but instead attach great importance to the protection and development of it by encouraging Tibetan students to use their mother tongue in daily life and receive education in Tibetan.
The schools have also actively set up Tibetan traditional culture courses or interest classes, such as calligraphy classes, to promote Tibetan culture.
As four suspects connected to the deadly shooting at a music venue in the Moscow Region have been brought to court, the question of "who is behind the attack" remains unclear. The US and the West blamed the Islamic State as the perpetrator of the attack and denied any Ukraine involvement. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism by the Russian side.
Analyst said the incident may have a major impact on Russia's foreign policy and could further escalate Russia-Ukraine conflict, depending on the outcome of Russia's investigation. Also, they said that the possibility of the Islamic State (IS) being behind the attack adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The tragedy in Moscow serves as a reminder of the challenges countries face in countering terrorism in the midst of complicated global geopolitics.
On Sunday, Moscow's Basmanny District Court ordered pre-trial detention for four suspects, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, charged with acts of terrorism in connection with the terrorist attack, according media reports.
The attack at Crocus City Hall music venue in Moscow on Friday has killed at least 137 people.
While the investigation on the terrorist attack is ongoing, a new battle centering on "who is behind the attack" has intensified in recent days amid increasing worries on more uncertainties the attack may bring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Analysts said some related parties are trying to interpret the incident to fit their own interests, which may further complicate the current situation.
Various rhetoric
After the attack in the concert hall, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), a branch of the IS, claimed responsibility, and the US intelligence also "confirmed" with Reuters on Friday of IS' responsibility. The White House also said on Friday it had no initial indication that Ukraine was involved in the attack in Moscow.
However, during a televised address on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said 11 people involved in the attack have been apprehended, including the four suspected attackers. They tried to hide and moved toward Ukraine, where "a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,'' Putin said, according to Russian media TASS.
The US and the West hope the blame is on a terrorist organization because if Ukraine is found to be linked to the deadly shooting in the concert hall, they will lose legitimacy in supporting Ukraine, Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European & Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
As for Putin, he needs to hold people accountable for the attack to appease the Russian people, said Wang.
The US' rushing to deny Ukraine's involvement has also led to questions. In an article for kp.ru, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the US of trying to "bail Ukraine out" by mentioning the IS terror group.
The possibility for IS to carry out the attack in the concert hall remains. A previous attack in Iran in January, which two IS members had detonated explosive belts in the crowd and killed nearly 100 people, shared some similarities with the one in Moscow, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times.
Wang believes that it would be a bit far-fetched for the IS to be the mastermind behind the attack as the situation in Syria has already stabilized, and the conflicts in the Middle-East are mainly between Israel and Palestine. "If IS were to carry out a terrorist attack, wouldn't it make more sense to target Israel instead of Russia?" said Wang.
Li Wei, an expert from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, also said the terror attack at the concert hall does not quite fit IS' previous attack pattern.
"Driven by religious extremism, members of IS usually perpetrate 'lone wolf' or suicide attacks," said Li, noting that if IS changes its core characteristics of religious extremism, it would no longer be IS.
It would also be unlikely for the Ukrainian government to be involved in a terror activity, but if any extremist forces in Ukraine were found to be involved, it would put Ukraine in an unfavorable situation, said Li.
Some analysts have noted that the possibility of extremists in Ukraine participating in the attack cannot be ruled out, given the pessimism within Ukraine due to the situation on the battlefield and decreasing support from the West.
They also said it is premature to assign blame for the attack, and that the ultimate outcome will be determined by the ongoing investigation and the big-power politics between the parties involved.
While condemning terrorists, some politicians from other Western countries accused Russia of pinning blames on Ukraine. For example, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told Sky News on Sunday that they have "very little confidence in anything the Russia government says" and said Russians are "creating a smokescreen of propaganda to defend an utterly evil invasion of Ukraine."
On Sunday, an underground gas storage site in Ukraine was attacked in the latest wave of Russian missile strikes on power facilities. Also on Sunday, Russia struck critical infrastructure in Ukraine's western region of Lviv with missiles early on Sunday, Kyiv said, in a major airstrike that saw one Russian cruise missile briefly fly into airspace of Poland, Reuters reported.
These latest attacks show that the situation is changing in the battlefield, said Wang.
An escalation on the Russia-Ukraine conflict may also affect the security situation in other regions. Terrorists may see geopolitical conflicts as an opportunity to launch attacks, said analysts, warning more countries to keep vigilant.
According to TASS on Sunday, people were evacuated from about 10 shopping malls in Moscow following bomb threats, said a spokesman for the city's emergencies services.
Moscow has seen a string of fake bomb threats since November 2019, with threats to schools, courts, shopping malls, stores and higher education institutions coming from unidentified people by email. Not a single threat has been real yet.
Their remarks came after Kyodo News, citing a draft of Japan's annual foreign policy report on Thursday, revealed that Japan will emphasize the importance of boosting collaboration with the US and the Philippines to counter China's actions in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 said "China has been continuing and intensifying its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force" and "military activities" in waters surrounding Japan, including the South and East China seas.
Such moves by China have put Japan in "the most severe and complex" security environment and should be addressed by collaborating with like-minded nations, not only its close security ally the US, but also the Philippines, Australia and South Korea, according to the draft obtained by Kyodo News.
In recent years, as tensions between China and Japan have escalated, Japan has upgraded its positioning of China in diplomatic blueprints as well as defense policy documents. Last year, Japan's diplomatic report identified China as the "greatest strategic challenge."
This year, it continues a relatively tough stance and hawkish tone toward China, which is not conducive to overall stability or the healthy development of bilateral relations, and it will hinder economic and trade cooperation and mutual understanding among the people, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
In recent years, Japan has been actively pushing for constitutional amendments, with right-wing forces in Japan continuously creating justifications, such as exaggerating external threats and instilling in the public the idea that "Japan should become a normal country" with defense capabilities to protect itself, Da pointed out.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, criticized Japan for lacking autonomy in its strategic decisions and being dominated by the US in terms of security.
"Objectively speaking, the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed security and prosperity for decades, with Japan being a significant beneficiary. Japan should not engage in US-led efforts to split and militarize the region, as this would undoubtedly harm Japan's overall interests," Li said.
Regarding trilateral cooperation, the US, Japan and the Philippines have been strengthening their security collaboration in recent years.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to meet with US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on April 11 in Washington, the first-ever trilateral summit for the countries. They are expected to agree on deeper cooperation, Kyodo reported.
Unlike in the past when Japan relied more on its bilateral alliance with the US, it is now seeking to form multilateral alliances with partners such as the Philippines and Australia, indicating its desire to collectively contain China, Da said.
"Japan's cooperation with the Philippines and the US has evolved from bilateral to multilateral, with discussions on the possibility of joining the assertive military cooperation framework known as AUKUS, which consists of the US, UK and Australia," Da said.
In the context of the China-Philippines territorial dispute, the US, Japan and the Philippines are attempting to pressure China through their alliance, but this approach is unlikely to yield the desired results, Li told the Global Times.
On the Taiwan question, the US is trying to escalate tensions to expedite the formation of an Asia-Pacific version of NATO, with Japan and the Philippines being key players manipulated by the US. This trilateral coordination will significantly worsen the security situation in West Pacific region, Li warned.
Da also predicted that the trilateral cooperation may become a fixed and normalized routine in the future, involving military exercises, island landing drills, joint maritime patrols with other countries and leveraging the Philippines' position in ASEAN to exert influence on other ASEAN countries.
