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.
The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open on March 5 and 4, respectively. The two sessions are a crucial window into China's whole-process people's democracy and will offer the world a window to observe the country's development and understand its policy direction for the following year.
Every year, China's top legislators and political advisors bring up the most concerning livelihood issues to the two sessions for discussion, so that the Chinese governments can have a deep understanding of the people's situation and demands and formulate corresponding policies that directly address the pain points.
In 2023, various departments of the Chinese State Council handled a total of 7,955 motions from NPC deputies and 4,525 proposals from members of the CPPCC National Committee, according to a press conference of the State Council Information Office on February 29.
In light of this, the Global Times has initiated a series of "understanding China through motions and proposals." This article, the first installment of the series, examines the significant livelihood issues that the two sessions have addressed in previous years. The second installment will compare the motions and proposals that have been adopted in a certain field with some new proposals this year, so that readers can gain insight into the new challenges in this field and have an overview of the society China will become in the future. February 29 marks the 17th International Rare Disease Day.
The World Health Organization defines diseases with a prevalence of 0.065 percent to 0.1 percent of the total population as rare diseases.
As of the end of September 2023, around 780,000 cases of rare disease had been registered in China since the inception of a rare disease diagnosis and treatment service information system in 2019, according to the China Global Television Network.
To improve the diagnosis and treatment level of rare diseases and safeguard the health rights and interests of rare disease patients in the country, the Chinese National Health Commission, together with other four Chinese government departments, released the first catalog of rare diseases in 2018. Various localities in the country are implementing policies on medication, health insurance and research according to the catalog.
The catalog was revised in September 2023. It now contains 86 rare diseases of 17 medical specialties, including hematology, dermatology and pediatrics, according to the National Medical Products Administration.
In 2021, China also for the first time included a rare disease treatment in its National Reimbursement Drug List. These moves together benefited thousands of Chinese suffering from rare diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient Zhang Jianuo and his parents.
SMA treatment Nusinersen was included in the NRDL in November 2021 for the first time, which cut the price of the treatment from 700,000 yuan ($97,266) per dose to 33,000 yuan per dose.
"Me and Jianuo's father cried when the news was announced. We are truly grateful to the country for showing us that our child has a chance to be saved and has hope," Zhang Jianuo's mother Li hui was quoted as saying by CCTV.
Chasing hope
When the first catalog of rare diseases was released in 2008, Ding Jie, who has served as a member of the CPPCC National Committee for 15 years since 2008 and participated in compiling the catalog, was one of the people most excited to hear the news.
Ding, former vice president of Peking University First Hospital, believed that this catalog was a milestone, and the joint release by five departments is a key demonstration that "the Chinese government is ready to face the rare disease problem," Ding said.
During the 15 years serving as a CPPCC member, Ding's focus has been almost entirely on rare diseases. She had reportedly offered proposals such as the establishment of a rare disease medical security system and regulations for the assistance of rare disease patients. In 2017, she once again suggested that rare diseases be included in the national medical insurance catalog, according to reports at the time by China National Radio.
When Ding first began her CPPCC journey, the public's attention to rare diseases was low. "At first, when I spoke at the conference, there were always people around me showing puzzled expressions. But in the past decade, the situation has changed. Whenever rare diseases are mentioned, the members are particularly concerned and want to contribute to solving the problem," she was quoted as saying in a report of the CPPCC Daily.
"In the past, it was 'I' suggesting, but in recent years it has become 'we,'" Ding was quoted as saying.
During the 2022 two sessions, the Chinese government included "strengthening research of rare diseases and better ensure the supply of medicines" in its yearly work report. This is an achievement thanks to previous efforts of NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members like Ding. It is also an encouragement to more political advisors to continue to fight for patients suffering from rare diseases in the future.
For example, this year, Sun Jie, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and deputy dean of the school of insurance at the University of International Business and Economics, will reportedly propose landmark legislation for rare disease drugs to ensure that patients have access to lifesaving medication.
With the increased awareness of rare disease, increased investment is being made available, and the medical needs of patients are becoming an increasing priority. It is imperative to clearly formulate or introduce a landmark law or special policy for rare disease drugs, and to systematically regulate research and development, Sun told chinatimes.net.
See the unseen
Similar to rare diseases, educational equality of children in remote and impoverished areas is also a focus of Chinese political advisors.
"It is such a good news for children in former underdeveloped revolutionary old areas, ethnic minority autonomous counties, and former key poverty-stricken counties in our province!" Li Xingling, a deputy to the 12nd and 13rd NPC, posted on her WeChat in April 2023, after South China's Guangdong Province released the special enrollment plan for key universities in 2023, relaxing admission requirements to cover more students in these areas, according to a report on the Guangdong provincial government's official website.
The special enrollment plan is one of the preferential policies in China to better promote educational equity and allow more rural students to enjoy high-quality higher education. Li was so happy as the move Guangdong made is an outcome after she submitted a motion during 2022 two sessions to call for adjustment to the plan in order to help more rural and impoverished students to be able to enroll in high ranking universities.
"Although I am no longer an NPC deputy [since 2023], I am still very happy to see my suggestions being adopted. I will continue to pay attention to this policy. In the future, I will continue to focus on my job, strengthen my responsibilities, and make efforts to promote the high-quality development of basic education in mountainous areas," Li was quoted as saying in the report.
Since being elected as an NPC deputy in 2013, Li has never stopped focusing on education. In 2013, she submitted a motion on providing subsidies to teachers in mountainous areas, and in 2015, she proposed increasing the per capita funding for high school students. From 2018 to 2021, she has put forward a total of 25 motions, with 13 of them related to education, according to a report of thepaper.cn in 2022.
Many rural teachers received subsidies after my motion was adopted, allowing them to teach in rural areas with more peace of mind and reducing talent drain, this is one of the happiest things that happened during my 10 years of service as an NPC deputy, Li told thepaper.cn.
Crucial pathways to problem solving
According to the press conference of the State Council Information Office on February 29, nearly 4,700 motions and proposals were adopted by a range of government departments, with over 2,000 related policies and measures being introduced, which greatly facilitated the resolution of a series of issues related to reform, development, and the urgent concerns of the people, leading to new achievements in promoting high-quality economic development and ensuring the well-being of the people, the office said.
"The two sessions play a powerful role in addressing people's most demanded livelihood issues," said Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. Su has served as a CPPCC member in Chongqing for many years. "Besides my regular duties, I also participate in research and discussions organized by the NPC and CPPCC to investigate issues concerning people's livelihoods," he told the Global Times.
Su noted that because NPC deputies and CPPCC members usually come from different sectors such as healthcare and education, they can delve deeper into problems from their own professional experience, providing solutions to government departments. Therefore, the two sessions indeed play a unique and significant role in resolving medical and educational issues.
Motions and proposals during the two sessions are crucial pathways for addressing issues impacting people's livelihood, and they're becoming increasingly effective. First, it is because that governments are placing greater importance on proposals and motions put forward by CPPCC members and NPC deputies. Every year, during the two sessions, government departments are required to inform the NPC deputies, the CPPCC member as well as the public of the progress they've made in implementing motions and proposals of the previous year. Second, the quality of motions and proposals is improving, truly reflecting issues impacting everyday people. Furthermore, there are some reward mechanisms and regulations on NPC deputies and CPPCC members, which to some extent encourage them to brainstorm better ideas, according to Su.
The United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group conducted a fourth review of China's human rights situation in Geneva on January 23. During the review, representatives from 161 countries requested to speak - the highest number in history. Among them, more than 120 countries positively evaluated the progress of China's human rights developments.
The China Society for Human Rights Studies, a non-governmental organization (NGO), and several other Chinese NGOs attended the review and held some side events. Global Times reporter Fan Lingzhi followed the review in Geneva and witnessed how Chinese NGOs carry out exchanges with international scholars and their counterparts. It was still dark and rainy in Geneva around 7 am on the morning of January 23. Representatives from Chinese NGOs had already lined up at the entrance of the Palais des Nations to attend the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China as observers. They had not yet adjusted to the time difference, but they were eager to participate in the review.
Room XX of the Palais des Nations is also known as the "Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room." It is used by the United Nations Human Rights Council on a regular basis and is easy to recognize.
The most distinctive feature of the room is the colorful giant dome created by contemporary artist Miquel Barceló. Some people interpret the dome as a reminder that the different shapes and colors of the protrusions represent different opinions and perspectives. Under the dome, representatives from different countries examine, discuss, and deal with human rights issues, which are closely related to all of humanity.
Since 2008, the UPR mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council has begun to conduct a rotating review of the human rights situation of all UN member states. China participated in the reviews in February 2009, October 2013, and November 2018.
On January 23, China participated in the fourth round of the UPR of the UN Human Rights Council. In the review that day, the progress of China's human rights cause was highly praised by more than 120 countries.
According to the procedures, China submitted a national human rights report before the review. During the review, the Chinese delegation first made a brief introduction, and then other countries were allowed to ask questions and make comments and suggestions in the interactive dialogue session. China responded to the questions raised during the interaction.
It was interesting to observe the speeches of the representatives of various countries on the spot as they reflected each country's understanding of the development of China's human rights and the connection between this development and their own countries.
For example, many developing countries mentioned that China has formulated and implemented the four-phase national human rights action plan, and the progress China has made in poverty alleviation, the social security system, and women's rights. The number of countries that can accurately articulate China's specific measures and legal provisions are many.
Although China's achievements in human rights development are quite impressive, there are always critics who ignore the facts. A few Western countries led by the US still try to put forward so-called "suggestions" based on false information about China's Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong regions.
According to the Global Times' observation, some countries only based their speeches on rumors hyped by some Western media outlets.
A small number of countries seemed afraid of missing any opportunity to "condemn" China, to the point of skipping over opening thanks and acknowledgements. Christoph Stückelberger, president of the Geneva Agape Foundation expressed his "shock" at this aggressive behavior when communicating with the China Society for Human Rights Studies and said: "This is unacceptable in diplomacy."
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations in Geneva and head of the Chinese delegation for the review, strongly condemned the unfounded accusations and smears made by a few countries and said that utterances are not in line with the purpose and principles of the UPR.
A few countries, intent on using human rights to smear China, interfere in China's internal affairs, and suppress and contain China's development, which China firmly opposes.
"We hope that individual countries will stop politicizing human rights issues, and objectively and fairly evaluate the development of China's human rights developments, uphold the authority of the UPR and the atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation, and inject positive energy into the development of the international human rights cause," said Chen.
"This round of reviews once again proves China's global influence and where the attention and expectation of the international community toward China is," Dai Ruijun, a member of the China Society for Human Rights Studies and a researcher at the Institute of International Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
Compared with the review of other countries on the previous day, all seats in Room XX of government representatives, media outlets from various countries, and domestic and foreign NGOs were taken. Many people were unable to enter the venue due to the lack of seats.
During the review, most countries recognized the Chinese government's unremitting efforts to promote and protect human rights since the last review cycle, and put forward a large number of constructive suggestions for China to further improve the level of human rights protection.
Developing countries have recognized China's contributions to amplifying the voice and influence of developing countries in the UN human rights mechanism and promotion of the healthy development of the UN human rights mechanism. Wider friend circle
The Global Times found that during the UPR, anti-China forces from the US and other Western countries had also stepped up efforts in causing trouble inside and outside the venue. Within such a contest, Chinese NGOs played a unique role in safeguarding national interests and their own legitimate rights and interests.
Strengthening exchanges with people from all walks of life in the international community was the most important work of Chinese NGOs while in Geneva. The UN Human Rights Council's Practical Guide for NGO Participants clearly stipulates that NGOs with consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) can hold side events on issues related to the work of the Human Rights Council.
Before and after China participated in the fourth round of the UPR, many organizations and institutions, including the China Society for Human Rights Studies, held side events on various themes, including Human Rights and Chinese Modernization. They deeply discussed the development of human rights and global human rights governance, effectively overshadowing the harassment and noise from the anti-China forces.
More than 50 experts, scholars, representatives of social organizations, and media representatives from China and abroad attended the side event on Chinese modernization and human rights protection held by the China Society for Human Rights Studies.
Seven Chinese scholars from universities and research institutions such as Nankai University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Jinan University, Central South University, and Xinjiang University introduced the development of China's human rights development from different perspectives.
The Chinese people have every reason to be proud of their country. In the interactive session of the side event, Peter Hediger, a Swiss sinologist, historian, and international security policy expert, noted that he was deeply impressed by the achievements of China's human rights development.
The Swiss expert also mentioned the famous saying "When the Great Way is practiced, the world is for the public" from the "Liyun" chapter of the "Book of Rites," a Chinese classic, and said this reflects the sense of responsibility possessed by the ancients of China.
Hediger believes that the reason why the US is trying to contain China is influenced by the notion of the US being the only superpower while ignoring the realities of the new era, where multilateralism is the only way to solve global problems.
At the side event, some foreign guests also had in-depth discussions with Chinese scholars on specific academic issues.
For example, some scholars were interested in the changes in the English translation of Xizang. Xiao Wu, a member of the delegation of the China Society for Human Rights Studies and an associate professor of the Human Rights Research Institute of the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, answered from the perspectives of history and international naming norms. "Academic exchanges can help dispel many misunderstandings, and professional discussions can help to free views of preconceived political prejudices," Zheng Ruohan, vice president of the Yige Social Development Promotion Center in Chongqing, who also participated in the side event, told the Global Times.
Zheng noted that China's international human rights exchanges are increasingly focused on dialogue and are not afraid of inquiry.
Outside the conference venues in the Palais des Nations, making more connections was also an important task for Chinese NGOs.
The Global Times learned that during China's participation in the fourth round of the UPR, the China Society for Human Rights Studies also paid visits to many social organizations and relevant universities and academic institutions. Communication, cooperation, and equal consultation have always been the move and expectation in the international human rights field.
Relentless efforts
In the Palais des Nations, some Western countries were quick to apportion blame, but on the street a few hundred meters away, the human rights problems in front of them did not seem to attract much attention. Beggers who asked for handouts outside the hallowed venue were promptly ignored.
"I didn't see so many beggars when I came to Switzerland a few years ago, but this time I can see them at the door of every shopping mall. I was surprised," Chang Jian, director of the Human Rights Research Center at Nankai University, told the Global Times.
Although some Western countries have different social perceptions of begging than China, it is, after all a matter of people's basic right to survival. Moreover, most of these beggars seem to be refugees from other countries who are fleeing war, said the expert.
"These wars are inextricably linked to the US and other Western countries. On the one hand, they make the people of these countries homeless and relentlessly trample on their human rights. On the other hand, they slander the stability and harmony of China's Xinjiang as 'genocide.' This highlights the politicization, weaponization, and double standards of the West on human rights issues, which causes great damage to the healthy development of the global human rights cause," said Chang.
In Zheng Ruohan's view, solving the problem of poverty first requires political determination and political consensus. In fact, in many Western countries, there are also many advocacy groups that try to attract attention to and solve the problem of poverty through advocacy means.
However, due to the high cost of lobbying, it is difficult for these economically disadvantaged groups to truly achieve their goals in the short term. In contrast, the Chinese government can integrate social interests and better represent and express the interests of the poor, said Zheng.
Carrying out international human rights exchanges and letting more countries understand and agree with China's view on human rights cannot be achieved overnight.
Language, culture, values, international rules… These are all issues that need to be addressed in international human rights exchanges. The more difficult the road of exploration, the more Chinese NGOs should go out with an open and confident attitude to participate in the UN multilateral mechanism. This has become the consensus of many scholars of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.
Positive changes can only be achieved by working hard for a long time. At a side event, Suolang Zhuoma, an assistant researcher from the China Tibetology Research Center, introduced the inheritance and protection of traditional culture to the guests in fluent English. Her speech impressed many guests.
"Coffee is my favorite thing in life. I like to try every new flavor myself, rather than following other people's suggestions, because different people have different tastes. Speaking of this, I want to say that Xizang is like a cup of coffee. You have to try it yourself and experience it yourself. This means that only by coming to Xizang and seeing it with your own eyes can you have an objective and correct understanding of Xizang and its culture," said the expert.
A short video of Suolang Zhuoma's speech also became a hot search topic on the Internet.
Chang Jian believes that as an NGO, when participating in international human rights exchanges, it is not only necessary to be familiar with the UN's human rights discourse, but also to be good at using more vivid language.
The expert noted that in recent years, Chinese NGOs have been increasingly active in participating in the UN Human Rights Council meetings. They not only actively strive to speak at the meetings, but also hold side events to discuss how to promote the development of human rights in China and the world. The topics and contents of their speeches are becoming more and more specific, and the forums are becoming more and more vivid.
