On the early morning of Saturday, a geomagnetic storm brought a breathtaking gift to China -- the aurora borealis lit up the skies across various regions of the country, attracting visitors and photographers to enjoy the stunning beauty.
At 9:32 am on Saturday, the National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center under the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert for geomagnetic storms, predicting moderate to high solar activity levels in the next three days, with the possibility of M-class or even X-class flares, leading to small to large geomagnetic storms, and even severe geomagnetic storms.
Regions such as Altay in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mohe in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were among the best destinations to witness natural phenomenon.
Altay, located in the northern part of Xinjiang, became a hotspot for tourists and photography enthusiasts eager to witness this natural wonder. The night sky was adorned with colorful auroras, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for all who gazed upon it.
As people stepped out of their homes at night and looked up at the sky, they were treated to a display of colorful auroras dancing across the night sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The auroras, like a magical gift from nature, captivated onlookers, leaving them spellbound.
With its cold climate and high altitude, Altay has become a prime location for aurora viewing in recent years, drawing tourists from both domestic and international destinations.
Also in Mohe, located in the northernmost part of China, the night sky was illuminated with vibrant shades of purple and red, attracting tourists from far and wide.
One such tourist, Ma Jingxuan from Beijing, embarked on a road trip to Mohe specifically to witness the mesmerizing display of red auroras. "I drove all the way from Beijing and finally caught a glimpse of the northern lights. It was absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring," Ma exclaimed as he captured the magical moment with his camera, the Guangming Daily reported on Saturday.
This year, Mohe has witnessed multiple occurrences of the northern lights, drawing in visitors from all corners of the country. Interestingly, the phenomenon of the northern lights even extended as far south as Beijing on Saturday. Photographer Wang Kai seized the opportunity to capture the enchanting moment in the capital city, a local Beijing media outlet reported.
Experts predict that parts of Beijing and Hebei may witness the northern lights again on Sunday. They recommend observers to head to the northern mountainous areas of Beijing such as Yanqing, Miyun, and Huairou districts for the best viewing experience, away from light pollution and with a clear, open view of the sky.
According to a diagram from magazine Chinese National Geography, the color of the aurora varies depending on the distance from the observer. Red auroras are typically seen at distances greater than 300 kilometers, while green auroras are more common at distances between 100 to 200 kilometers. The closer one is to the aurora, the more vibrant and colorful the display becomes.
Meanwhile, in other high-latitude regions around the world, the stunning phenomenon of the northern lights has also been making appearances. From northern Switzerland to Dublin, Ireland, and various locations in the UK, the night skies have been painted with hues of green, red, and purple, creating a magical and ethereal atmosphere for all those lucky enough to witness it.
The ongoing solar storms are expected to continue to be active in the next two days, allowing for the possibility of widespread auroras in the northern hemisphere.
Editor’s Note: China and Serbia have long been renowned for their “iron-clad friendship.” The bond between the two nations continues to strengthen with frequent exchanges between their leaders. In early May, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a visit to Serbia, which will be his second visit to the country in eight years, and is expected to mark an important milestone for strengthening and elevating China-Serbia ties.
Before the significant visit, Global Times reporters Shan Jie and Xie Wenting interviewed Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming. Through his words, the ambassador offers a profound look at the robust China-Serbia relations, underscored by a shared history and a vibrant cultural exchange, while emphasizing Serbia’s integral role in the Belt and Road Initiative and the impact of the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement on economic collaboration.
GT: What impressions has Serbia left on you? What message do you want to convey to the local people?
Li: Serbia is a uniquely charming country. Situated in Central and Eastern Europe in the Balkan region, it boasts a rich history and vibrant culture where Eastern and Western civilizations have met and mingled over millennia, producing significant achievements in human civilization. Additionally, Serbia is blessed with splendid natural beauty, from its vast plains and river valleys to its mountainous landscapes, all captivating to behold.
What impressed me most, however, was the warmth of Serbian people and their profound friendship with the Chinese people. Both countries view each other as iron-clad friends, a bond not only rooted in our historical traditions but also thriving anew in the new era.
Upon arriving in Serbia, I was pleased to witness numerous fruitful Chinese-Serbian collaborations taking root and flourishing, and to feel the warm, friendly support of the Serbian people for our bilateral cooperation.
As President Xi Jinping has stated, “The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts.” I am confident that under the careful guidance and leadership of our heads of state, China-Serbia relations will continue to yield fruitful outcomes in the new era, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and setting a model for the region and the world.
GT: How do you evaluate the current state of China-Serbia relations? In which areas do you plan to deepen cooperation?
Li: China and Serbia are close friends and partners, sharing an “iron-clad friendship” that has endured through history and remains vibrant amid global changes. The frequent interactions between our leaders have charted the course for our relationship. In recent years, President Xi Jinping and President Aleksandar Vucic have met multiple times and maintained a close communication. In October 2023, President Vucic led the largest-ever Serbian delegation to China for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF III). Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, our comprehensive strategic partnership maintains robust development, with close exchanges at all levels and unwavering mutual support on issues of core interest and major concern, deepening political trust.
Our economic and trade cooperation has strengthened both economies. Bilateral trade continues to grow, with China being Serbia’s largest source of imports, second-largest trading partner, and a significant direct investor. Serbian Zijin Mining Group, HeSteel Group (HBIS), and Serbian Zijin Copper company, all Chinese-funded enterprises, rank among Serbia’s top exporters. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), our infrastructure projects stand out, including the Belgrade Zemun-Borca Bridge, the first bridge built by a Chinese company in Europe, and the E763 highway, the first highway constructed by a Chinese company in Europe. The Hungary-Serbia railway, a flagship BRI project, marks China’s first high-speed rail project in Europe and the first in the Central and Eastern European region.
Cultural exchanges have also bridged our friendship. The traditional bond between our countries has been strengthened by reciprocal visa exemptions, mutual driving license recognition, and direct flights. The interest in Chinese culture remains high in Serbia. The Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon saw the Chinese Embassy in Serbia host a series of popular “Happy Spring Festival” events. With the establishment of the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, China-Serbia cultural exchanges have gained a new platform.
China will continue to work with Serbia, guided by the important consensus of our leaders, leveraging mechanisms such as the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement and the Belt and Road mid-term action plan. We will deepen cooperation in traditional fields and accelerate development in digital and green economies, exploring new potential in innovation, new energy, biotechnology, and environmental protection. Recently, Chinese automakers Chery, Geely, and Lynk & Co showcased their products at the Belgrade Motor Show, adding highlights to China-Serbia economic and trade cooperation. I believe the scope of our collaborative endeavors will only expand, broadening the path of cooperation between our two countries.
GT: In your view, how has the BRI impacted China-Serbia relations and cooperation? Please detail two successful cooperation projects you have observed.
Li: Serbia is a key partner in the BRI, being among the first European countries to sign a cooperation agreement with China. The integration of the BRI into Serbia’s national development over the last decade serves as a model for the international community. Projects like the Hungary-Serbia railway, the Belgrade Ring Road, the Sava River Bridge, and the Smederevo steel plant have significantly improved the daily lives of locals, boosting employment, trade, and investment, and injecting new vigor into Serbia’s development. Among these, the Smederevo steel plant and the Hungary-Serbia railway stand out as exemplary cases.
The Smederevo steel plant, once hailed as the pride of Serbia and boasting over a century of history, faced closure due to mismanagement. In 2016, under the BRI, China’s HBIS signed with the Serbian government to establish HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel. In less than six months, the steel plant turned profitable after seven years of losses, becoming Serbia’s largest exporter for four consecutive years. Importantly, all 5,000 Serbian employees were retained, rekindling hope for thousands of families and exemplifying the success of China-Serbia cooperation under the Belt and Road framework.
In 2013, the Hungary-Serbia railway project was announced shortly after the implementation of the BRI. In 2022, the Belgrade-Novi Sad section of the Hungary-Serbia railway was completed and opened to traffic, reducing the travel time between the two cities from 90 minutes to 30 minutes. Over the last two years, the Belgrade-Novi Sad section of the Hungary-Serbia railway has transported over 7 million passengers. Excited about the project, President Vucic said, “This is a significant change for the Serbian people and the entire country.” The Serbia section of the Hungary-Serbia railway line is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, and it is believed that it will become the “road to happiness” and “road to prosperity” for the Serbian people, as well as a road of friendship between China and Serbia.
The Smederevo steel plant and the Hungary-Serbia railway are both examples of successful cooperation between China and Serbia, and they are fruitful results of the BRI. Under the guidance of the BRI, China and Serbia will continue to uphold the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, focusing on connectivity and achieving new brilliant results in policy communication, facility connectivity, trade facilitation, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds.
GT: What new impetus has the China-Serbia free trade agreement (FTA) injected into the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and what has it achieved?
Li: The China-Serbia FTA is the first free trade agreement signed between China and a Central and Eastern European country, and it is also the 22nd free trade agreement signed by China. Serbia has become China’s 29th free trade partner globally.
After the agreement comes into effect, both countries’ citizens and businesses will benefit from it. Serbian producers and traders can actively utilize the free trade arrangement between the two countries to access major consumer markets worldwide, and attract Chinese and European investors to invest in Serbia. Serbia has made high-level commitments in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and information communication, providing Chinese companies with greater certainty and broader opportunities to explore the Serbian market and even the Central and Eastern European markets. The China-Serbia FTA will help both sides to achieve high-level mutual openness, establish new institutional arrangements for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, create a more favorable, convenient, transparent, and stable business environment for businesses from both countries, and inject new momentum into promoting high-quality joint construction of the BRI and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia.
GT: Please introduce the Belgrade China Cultural Center to our readers. How do you feel about the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries? What activities can we look forward to in the near future?
Li: The Belgrade China Cultural Center holds a very special position and significance among the dozens of Chinese cultural centers overseas. It stands on the site of the former Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Belgrade, which was bombed by NATO in 1999, symbolizing the rebirth and indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation. It bears witness to the deep friendship forged by the Chinese and Serbian people with blood and life, and also demonstrates the Chinese people’s love for peace and their national character of not fearing power.
The cultural center has now started operating, becoming a convenient window for the Serbian people to learn about China and experience Chinese culture. It has become a new platform for telling Chinese stories and showcasing China’s images, as well as a bridge for promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Serbia.
The cultural center not only provides opportunities for Chinese cultural displays and teaching such as calligraphy, tea art, musical instruments, dance, and martial arts, but also focuses on building its own cultural brand activities. In May 2024, the center will host the first “Tea and the World” event in conjunction with International Tea Day, followed by the first China-Serbia Dragon Boat Festival, the 2024 Chinese Film Week, and the “Hello! China” tourism promotion event.
GT: What exemplary role and positive impact have China-Serbia relations played on the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries?
Li: As an important country in Central and Eastern Europe, Serbia is walking hand in hand with China, and bilateral relations are steadily developing. This not only sets an example for cooperation between China and CEE countries under the BRI, but also injects more stability into China’s relations with Central and Eastern European countries. The successful practice of China-Serbia cooperation fully proves that China and CEE countries can become good friends and partners in the process of jointly moving toward modernization.
China is willing to work together with countries in Central and Eastern Europe to firmly grasp the overall direction and main tone of the development of bilateral relations from a strategic height, respect each other, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
GT: What’s your take on President Vucic’s recent remarks on the Taiwan question? How have China and Serbia supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns?
Li: At the beginning of this year, in an interview with China’s state news agency, President Vucic used a 10-stopwatch to illustrate Serbia’s firm position of adhering to the one-China principle, and then in an interview with the media, he clearly stated that Taiwan belongs to China.
President Vucic’s remarks on the Taiwan question not only spoke to the just call of the international community, but also strongly demonstrated, once again, that China and Serbia have always firmly supported each other’s core interests and major concerns, and firmly supported each other’s development path choice.
China and Serbia are true friends and good partners who trust each other. Over the years, Serbia has firmly supported China on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and human rights, and China has always firmly supported Serbia in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China is willing to continue to respect, support, trust, and treat each other as equals with Serbia and push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez claimed that he is expecting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be fully ready in its defense posture against "any threats" in the region by the end of the term of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, especially with the help of the US.
Analysts said that the ambassador's remarks were an expression of the Philippines' overconfidence in its capabilities and excessive optimism in its alliance with the US, and more of an attempt to garner more domestic support. Uncertainty will always remain about whether the US will keep its commitment or just try to make its allies share the costs of defense.
In an interview with Philippine media Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, the envoy hailed Manila-Washington ties as currently being "at its best," with the two sides "rebooting" relations under Marcos Jr, the envoy's relative.
The ambassador said the Philippines has bipartisan support in terms of the South China Sea issues, and believed Manila should strengthen its armed forces and deterrence capabilities, according to a GMA News report.
He said he is expecting that with US help, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be "fully ready in our defense posture and strategy" by the end of President Marcos' term.
The envoy said that the Philippines will prioritize developing its maritime forces, particularly the Navy and Coast Guard.
Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that the ambassador's remarks suggest that the Philippines is overconfident in its own capabilities and overoptimistic about US commitment.
According to Chen, the cost of developing a navy is extremely high, and it is difficult to achieve a significant increase in capabilities in a short time.
"The Philippine defense industrial base is still too weak, and lacks professional personnel, which means the time and cost for Manila will be even longer and larger," he said.
Despite economic forecasts for Philippines' GDP growth in 2024 being at around 6 percent, Chen said the country also faces many problems such as rising unemployment, inflation, rural development problems and lack of infrastructure construction, which all require huge amounts of financial support from the government, Chen said.
Earlier in April, two US senators introduced a bipartisan bill to provide Manila with $500 million a year in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance over the five fiscal years to 2029.
In general, the US provides assistance to the Philippines in several fields, including the upgrading of weapons and equipment, troops training, and investment attached to the construction of US military bases in Philippines.
This assistance will not narrow the power gap between China and the Philippines, nor will it change the overall structure of military forces in the entire region, especially when the focus of American military aid is on Ukraine and Israel, Chen said.
The Philippines will find it hard to match its military strength with that of Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries in a short time, said Chen.
"So what the Philippines ambassador is emphasizing now is more about speaking to the domestic public to gain some support," said Chen, "but these words were only the result of false signals from the US and the Philippine government's deliberate cover-up of some facts."
The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) condemned recent media reports on Friday that smeared Chinese athletes and China's anti-doping work, stating that they have violated ethics and laws by disclosing private information, seriously infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of athletes. It also called on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate the incident.
Some Western media outlets recently reported that Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, accusing WADA of shielding Chinese athletes and failing to hold them accountable.
WADA has commissioned an independent review into the reported incident after refuting these claims, labeling them as "misleading and potentially defamatory media coverage."
In a statement released on Friday, CHINADA criticized overseas organizations and media outlets such as the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), The New York Times, and Germany's ARD television for distorting facts in their statements and reports on this incident.
CHINADA stated that these organizations and media outlets have disregarded China's firm opposition to doping in sports and the achievements of its anti-doping efforts, showing serious bias against China's anti-doping work.
They have taken a preconceived stance in this incident, made erroneous judgments, taken inappropriate actions, and published reports and statements that clearly deviate from basic facts. They have attempted to manipulate the media, mislead the public, disseminate false information, attack WADA and CHINADA, and undermine the current effective global anti-doping system, it noted.
CHINADA pointed out that Germany's ARD television, The New York Times, and other media outlets, organizations, and individuals have violated professional ethics, ethical standards, and relevant legal provisions by unauthorized disclosure of privacy information, including the names of multiple athletes, including minors.
"This serious infringement has severely violated the legitimate rights and interests of the athletes. We strongly condemn this behavior and call on WADA to investigate this information leak incident," it said, noting that the agency reserves the right to take appropriate legal action.
The Chinese agency also noted that WADA will undergo a review regarding the 23 Chinese swimmers' non-fault contamination incident involving TMZ, which demonstrates WADA's commitment to fairness, openness, and transparency.
WADA said in an earlier statement that given the specific circumstances of the asserted contamination, the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence.
Following the TMZ contamination incident in swimming in 2021, CHINADA adhered to a scientific, rigorous, and objective approach and promptly initiated a comprehensive and meticulous investigation, the agency said.
Based on the investigation results, environmental sample testing, scientific experiment conclusions, and expert opinions, combined with evidence of the athletes undergoing multiple and regular doping tests and examinations, it was determined that the TMZ positives among these athletes resulted from inadvertent ingestion of contaminated food during their participation in competitions, without their knowledge.
Therefore, it was concluded that the athletes involved bore no fault or negligence in this incident, and no further doping charges were brought against them, it said.
Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality will accelerate the revision of the city’s regulations on the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS in addressing incidents of intentional spreading of the disease occurring from times in recent years, which has made the situation of the disease prevention and control grim.
Chongqing Municipal Health Commission recently replied to a proposal put forward by a local people’s congress deputy on the prevention and control of intentional spreading of HIV/AIDS.
According to the commission, the revised regulations put forward new requirements for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that China has 1.22 million people living with HIV/AIDS as of the end of 2022, reporting 418,000 deaths linked to the disease, with infection and mortality rates both at relatively low levels on the globe.
In China, AIDS transmission through blood transfusions has been basically blocked, and transmission through intravenous drug use and mother-to-child transmission have been effectively curbed, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
The NHC has made arrangements for combating transmission through sexual contact, the main mode of transmission currently in China, vowing to step up cracking down on violations and crimes related to HIV/AIDS transmission, among other prevention and treatment measures.
Meanwhile, sporadic cases of intentional spreading of HIV/AIDS have been reported from across the country from time to time in recent years. In 2022, a court in Changsha, Central China’s Hunan Province announced a ruling on a case in which a woman surnamed Yin engaged in prostitution without taking any protective measures for all that she had known herself infected with HIV/AIDS. Her behavior was identified as spreading sexually transmitted diseases, and she was sentenced to one year and four months in prison and was fined 5,000 yuan ($690).
The Chongqing Municipal Government convened in December 2023 a meeting with multiple departments, proposing to expedite the revision of the “Chongqing Municipality Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS.”
The local legislature has listed the revision of the regulation in its health legislation plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).
The municipal health commission has conducted in-depth analyses of the HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Chongqing through questionnaire surveys and expert discussions. They formulated targeted recommendations from five aspects ranging from legislative framework, government department responsibilities, publicity and education, patient rights and obligations to the prevention and control system, compiling the background materials for the revision of the regulation.
Besides, the commission studied and drew lessons from the local regulations on HIV/AIDS prevention and control issued by other provinces including Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They also combined the exchanges between Sichuan and Chongqing on HIV/AIDS prevention and control work, and reviewed cases of combating intentional transmission of HIV/AIDS by infected individuals in cities such as Chengdu and Guang’an in Sichuan.
Next step, the municipal health commission will collaborate with relevant departments to conduct research and strengthen the demonstration during the legislation, expecting to enhance the standardization and legal management level of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
The commission revealed that since efforts of HIV/AIDS testing for individuals involved in prostitution and drug-related activities vary across districts and counties, they will collaborate with the public security departments, strengthen HIV/AIDS testing for such personnel, and crack down on those suspected of intentionally spreading HIV/AIDS in accordance with the laws.
A campaign on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS launched in Chongqing between 2023 and 2025 has made it clear that the public security, judicial, and health departments should strengthen cooperation in the HIV/AIDS testing on all the individuals involved in prostitution and drug-related activities captured by the public security department at designated medical institutions. In 2023, a total of 4,341 suspects were tested, an increase of 37.2 percent on that of the 2022.
Chongqing has strengthened the HIV/AIDS testing at local medical institutions, with 12.75 million people tested in 2023 in accordance with provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling, a year-on-year increase of 93.6 percent from that of 2022. The city’s HIV/AIDS testing coverage rate for the entire local population was 39.7 percent, far exceeding its annual target.
Taking initiative to provide HIV/AIDS testing services by medical institutions at all levels is the main channel for identifying HIV/AIDS-infected individuals in the city, according to the municipal health commission.
In Chongqing, patients of or individuals infected with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS patients or infections who engage in prostitution, solicitation of prostitutes, or drug taking activities, leading to the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases or HIV/AIDS, shall be investigated and dealt with by public security organs in accordance with the law. They will be held accountable for criminal responsibility if their behaviors constitute crimes.
The establishment of the Information Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is a major decision made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Military Commission and President Xi Jinping from the perspective of strengthening overall national defense, which is a strategic measure to construct a new type of structure of services and arms and improve the system of China's modern military force and holds profound significance for accelerating national defense and military modernization and effectively fulfilling the mission of the PLA in the new era, according to a commentary article published by the PLA Dailyon Saturday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, conferred the new force's flag to its commander Lieutenant General Bi Yi and political commissar of the unit General Li Wei at the force's establishment ceremony inside the CMC headquarters building in Beijing on Friday, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Xi stressed on Friday that the Information Support Force is a new, strategic branch of the military and a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system. It will play a crucial role in advancing the Chinese military's high-quality development and competitiveness in modern warfare.
President Xi fully affirmed the important position and significant responsibilities of the Information Support Force and made clear requirements for its comprehensive strengthening, providing a fundamental direction and guidance for building a strong and modern Information Support Force, read the Saturday commentary.
In modern warfare, victory hinges on information. The struggle is between systems, and whoever commands information superiority holds the initiative in war, it explained.
With this round of reform, the PLA now features a new system of services including the army, the navy, the air force and the rocket force, and arms including the aerospace force, the cyberspace force, the information support force and the joint logistic support force. This layout enhances the perfection of China's distinctive military force system.
The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stressed the need for the coordinated construction and utilization of the network information system.
Network information technology has become the "biggest variable" in the development of the times and a crucial factor in enhancing the combat capability of the armed forces. As a newly established strategic branch, the Information Support Force is the key support for the coordinated construction and utilization of the network information system. It plays an important and significant role in promoting the high-quality development of Chinese military and winning modern warfare, the commentary said.
The establishment of the Information Support Force will undoubtedly enhance the joint combat capability and all-domain operational capability of Chinese military based on the network information system. It will help achieve the centennial goals of the founding of the PLA and accelerate the transformation of the PLA into a world-class military force.
The commentary said that the Information Support Force must resolutely follow the Party's command, ensuring absolute loyalty, purity, and reliability. It should provide strong support for combat operations, deeply integrate into the overall joint operational system of the military, and precisely and efficiently provide information support to serve and guarantee military operations in all directions and domains.
It should accelerate innovation and development, build a network information system that meets the requirements of modern warfare and features distinctive characteristics of the Chinese military, and promote the rapid improvement of the system's combat capability built on high quality. It should solidify the foundation of the force, ensuring high concentration, unity, security, and stability, and resolutely accomplish all tasks assigned by the Party and the people.
After the administration of Yoon Suk-yeol came to power in South Korea, the relationship between China and South Korea has continued to deteriorate.
From April 6 to 10, 2024, the Global Times Institute (GTI) conducted a survey in 17 administrative regions in South Korea.
The survey targeted ordinary people aged from 18 to 70, focusing on their perceptions of China, South Korea-China relations, South Korea-US relations, and domestic issues in South Korea. A total of 1,045 valid questionnaires were collected. In terms of the perception of China, 72 percent of respondents in the survey conducted by the GTI expressed a desire to visit China in the future, with half of them hoping to do so within the next 3 years.
Among the 750 respondents who expressed a desire to visit China, tourism was the primary reason for their visit, with 93 percent of them stating that they wanted to visit China for tourism, far exceeding other reasons, and only 5 percent saying they want to work in China. When it comes to specific cities in China that respondents want to visit, Shanghai and Beijing were most favored, followed by Qingdao in Shandong Province and Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province.
Mu Yadi, a researcher at think tank Pangoal Institution, told the Global Times that the reason why so many respondents expressed a desire to visit China may be related to the "China craze" in the South Korean tourism industry.
"China's culture, cuisine, natural scenery, and convenient transportation systems are key factors that attract South Korean tourists. Data indicates that the majority of South Korean people have high expectations for China, and China is influential and attractive to South Korean people in terms of culture and tourism," Mu said.
However, at the same time, it should be noted that since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, South Korea has diplomatically leaned more toward the US and Japan, distancing itself from China.
South Korean media has increased negative reports on China, leading to a more negative perception of China among young people, Chung Jae-hung, director of the Department of Security Strategy Studies & Center for Chinese Studies of the Sejong institute in Korea, told the Global Times.
Chung said that the reason for this is that since Yoon's administration presented a completely "one-sided" situation, emphasizing ideology, and strengthening cooperation with the US, Japan, and other Western countries. Their diplomacy has some "new Cold War" characteristics, which is an important reason for the change in South Korea-China relations. Previously, South Korea's foreign policy was relatively balanced, maintaining cooperation with both the US and Western countries, as well as seeking to maintain good relations with China, Russia, and even North Korea.
When asked to rate their level of understanding of China on a scale of 1-10, the average score given by the respondents was 5.3, indicating a "basic understanding" of China. Only 30 percent of respondents rated their understanding of China as "moderate" or "high" with a score no less than 7.
In terms of specific knowledge about China, the highest rate was related to the giant panda "Fubao," at 76 percent, followed by popular foods such as spicy hot pot and sugar-coated haws, with an awareness rate of 68 percent.
Lü Chao, a Korean Peninsula issues expert at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that his interactions with Koreans mirror the results of the above-mentioned survey. Korean people's understanding of China is indeed somewhat one-sided and limited. For example, their impressions of China mostly come from tourism.
Lü said that besides tourism, he welcomes more Korean friends to come to China to invest, work, study, and engage in more exchanges that will boost their understanding of China. China-South Korea ties key to latter's development
Regarding the changes in South Korea-China relations in recent years, 57 percent of respondents said they believe that the relationship has become more distant or hostile, with 26 percent believing it has become more hostile, and 31 percent believing it has become more distant.
By contrast, only 11 percent of respondents believe the relationship has become closer and friendlier.
As to what kind of relationship should South Korea have with China, more than 80 percent of the respondents said they hope the two countries should remain friendly and cooperative ties. In specific, 52 percent think South Korea and China should remain cooperative but competitive ties; another think 10 percent prefer close and friendly ties while the other 20 percent choose cooperative ties.
"Currently, China-South Korea relations can be said to be not in a good stage, and there has even been some regression. The current South Korean administration has made many erroneous remarks on certain China-related issues, crossing the line as far as many Chinese people are concerned. Korean people do not understand China's principled position on these issues," Lü said.
Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that according to opinion polls, South Korean people generally believe that the relationship between South Korea and China is becoming increasingly tense, and in some aspects, it has even deteriorated further.
Da believes that South Koreans perceive a distancing in relations with China due to their own cognitive issues, friction between China and South Korea, and the influence of other countries outside the region.
In the survey, more than half of respondents said they believe that the US is or may be a major factor hindering the establishment of friendly relations between South Korea and China, with nearly 20 percent not expressing a clear stance.
Da told the Global Times that the results of the Korean National Assembly elections may further influence the future policies implemented by the Yoon administration, and an increase in seats for the opposition party may provide a balance at the parliamentary level to maintain the basic stability of China-South Korea relations.
In the survey, over 70 percent of respondents affirmed the importance of South Korea-China relations for South Korea's future development. Over 80 percent of respondents acknowledge that China has aspects worth learning from for South Korea, with China's experiences in public health and medicine, as well as high-tech industries and technology, receiving the highest recognition.
In 2023, South Korea's trade balance with China turned into a deficit for the first time in 31 years, causing 82 percent of respondents to feel worried, uneasy, shocked, or angry.
Lü pointed out that many South Koreans often bring up the issue of the trade deficit when discussing China-South Korea relations. The reason for the trade deficit is that South Korea blindly follows the US and adopted a policy of decoupling from China, including in areas such as semiconductors.
"Restrictions on China in the high-tech and semiconductor sectors have led to this problem. South Koreans should be more aware of this," he said. US' shadow
In the last two years, the US has increased pressure on South Korea to ban the export of semiconductors and other chips to China. A majority or 80 percent of respondents said they believe that the pressure has had a negative impact on the South Korean economy.
Zheng Jiyong, director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times that the US does not allow South Korea to sell high-end semiconductor materials to China but allows some of its own companies to do so.
The US is taking advantage of the situation and is seizing South Korea's market share in China, and this has angered South Koreans, Zheng said.
The US also wants South Korea to transfer the core production chip technology to the US, which is crucial to South Korea's economy. It has also securitized various economic issues and set up trade barriers under the Indo-Pacific strategy, all with significant impacts on South Korea, Zheng noted.
Behind the scenes, the US has been instigating conflicts in industrial cooperation between China and South Korea, in a bid to create a narrative of negative competition between China and South Korea. The US has also deliberately stirred up issues related to North Korea, the island of Taiwan, and the South China Sea. In combination, these factors have affected trade between China and South Korea, and influenced public sentiment, according to Zheng.
"In the past, China-South Korea relations did not have structural problems. However, with the rise of extreme conservative forces following the entrance of the current administration, South Korea has actively participated in the US' Indo-Pacific strategy, leading to a significant decline in trade between China and South Korea. To address these issues, South Korea must first recognize the nature of the competition between China and the US, which is that the US is using all means to suppress China, and is using South Korea as a tool to contain China. If South Koreans understand this, they can leverage the competition between China and the US and utilize their strengths."
As for the recent South Korean parliamentary elections, where the ruling party suffered a major defeat, Zheng said that the South Korean government is likely to take action. "Whether they need to fix domestic political difficulties or address economic issues, they will need to improve relations with China," Zheng said.
When asked whether they were confident that the US-South Korea alliance would solve South Korea's security issues, nearly half of the respondents expressed doubt. Opinions on the role of the US in the Russia-Ukraine conflict were also divided, with many respondents stating they were unsure.
In terms of the perception of the US and the US-South Korea alliance among South Koreans, Zheng pointed out that while the US-South Korea alliance has existed for over 70 years, it cannot be compared to the US-Japan relationship. The risk of being abandoned by the US is higher for South Korea than Japan. Many South Koreans have a negative view of the US, especially regarding the imbalance in the US-Japan and US-South Korea alliances. Policy not conducive to stability
Regarding South Korea's diplomatic actions in the last two years, 52 percent of respondents said they believe that they have had a negative impact on the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, with 18 percent among them believing the impact is "very negative."
The rising cost of living in South Korea has also led to dissatisfaction among the population. Looking ahead, half of the respondents have a pessimistic outlook on the South Korean economy for the next year.
The responsibility for the negative development of the policy toward North Korea lies with the current administration, Wang Junsheng, an East Asian studies research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times.
The Yoon administration has not shown any sincerity in dialogues regarding North Korean issues. Therefore, the poll results just reflected South Korean people's disappointment with the policy toward North Korea, Wang said.
Wang noted that the current economic situation in South Korea has led to widespread discontent among the population. The economic downturn, coupled with rising prices, has fueled criticism of the government.
Wang also predicted that the Yoon administration would adjust policies following the parliamentary elections. However, economic issues that have been developing over a long period cannot be immediately changed. While a complete transformation is desirable, it may simply be wishful thinking. The internal divisions in South Korea are likely to continue, he warned.
Labelling Volt Typhoon, a hacker group, as a China-sponsored actor, has been found to be an underhanded campaign by US politicians, intelligence community and companies, which intended to "kill two birds with one stone" - hyping the "China threat theory" and cheating funding from the US Congress and taxpayers, according to a latest report from China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center obtained by the Global Times.
On May 24, 2023, the cybersecurity authorities from The Five Eyes countries - the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, issued a joint cybersecurity advisory, claiming that 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 advisory cited a report, which was released by Microsoft on the same day as its main reference with the name Volt Typhoon also cited in the Microsoft report. In the report, Microsoft claimed that the Volt Typhoon is a state-sponsored actor based in China that typically focuses on espionage and information gathering.
Later, major Western news outlets such as Reuters, Wall Street Journal and New York Times widely reported about the advisory and the Microsoft report. In a report on May 24, The New York Times wrote that US intelligence agencies identified cyberattacks against telecom operator in Guam and other US territory, and connected it with the advisory.
Using this as an excuse, the US has taken a series of actions targeting so-called "cyberattack" from China. For example, In February, 2024, the White House issued an executive order that is designed to improve maritime port security by creating new requirements for stronger cyber defenses in the sector while expanding the authorities of the US Coast Guard to respond to cybersecurity incidents. And US media noted that such an action followed the warning about the "China-linked hacking group Volt Typhoon."
In response, China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology and 360 Digital Security Group conducted a joint investigation and further analysis found that Volt Typhoon has more correlation with ransomware group or other cybercriminals.
Multiple cybersecurity authorities in the US have been pushing "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 a report about the investigation.
A related investigation began since May 2023 when the US started to "disclosed" information about Volt Typhoon, an expert familiar with the investigation told the Global Times.
Although the advisory of the Five Eyes and the report of Microsoft described the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and indicators of compromise (IoCs) of Volt Typhoon, they labeled it a "China State-Sponsored Cyber Actor" without offering any attribution details.
The investigation group made statistics of the sample information given by Microsoft report and the advisory released by the Five Eyes and obtained 29 samples after removing duplicates. They then used VirusTotal - a multi-engine virus scanner platform of Google to search the samples one by one and only found 13 samples.
Each of the 13 samples is associated with multiple IP addresses and each IP address links to multiple samples.
Experts analyzed five IP addresses and discovered that they are related to other cyberattack events and there are multiple IP addresses associated with the same cyberattack event or cybersecurity risk. The five IP addresses also related to one cyberattack event, which ThreatMon - a US cybersecurity vendor mentioned on April 11, 2023 in a report titled "The Rise of Dark Power: A Close Look at the Group and their Ransomware."
According to ThreatMon, Dark Power was first observed to have started its attacks in January 2023, which means the group was active before 2023. And at least 10 institutions worldwide were attacked and blackmailed by Dark Power in March 2023 alone, and "there was no country and sectoral connection." The victims were from Algeria, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Israel, Peru, France and the US.
Experts from the investigation group also searched the malware samples and IP address in the report published by Lumen Technologies but could not find any link to the IoCs of the Microsoft's technical analysis report and the cybersecurity advisory of the Five Eyes alliance.
Lumen Technologies also released an analysis report linking the KV-botnet - a small office and home office (SOHO) router botnet that forms a covert data transfer network for advanced threat actors, to Volt Typhoon, on December 13, 2023.
Following further analysis, it was found that the actor of Volt Typhoon is related to the cybercriminal group named Dark Power, but Microsoft and the Five Eyes were very hasty to label it as "China-sponsored actor," according to the report.
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, saying 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.
The spokesperson stated that it is known to all that the US is the biggest source of cyberattacks and the biggest threat to cybersecurity. For some time, some people in the US have been using "cyberattacks tracing" as a tool to suppress China, politicizing cybersecurity issues, and seriously infringing on China's legitimate rights and interests. China urges the US to immediately cease cyberattacks against China and stop slandering and smearing China, Lin noted.
For the money
Why is the US which boasts most powerful internet technology, so eager to pin the blame of Volt Typhoon on China? The report on the investigation offered some clues.
The report revealed that the two US companies that mentioned Volt Typhoon are partners of the US government. Just two months before Microsoft released its report, it received the first list of task orders worth approximately $3.8 million for the $9 billion Joint Warfighting Cloud (JWCC) project from the US Department of Defense on March 24, 2023.
And one month before Lumen Technologies released an analysis report linking the KV-Botnet to the Volt Typhoon, Lumen Technologies had just won a five-year contract order worth $110 million from the US Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) on November 7, 2023, according to the report.
Moreover, under the Budget and Accounting Act issued by 1921, the US president must submit a budget report, including the federal government's budget request for the next fiscal year, to the Congress on first Monday in February. Coincidently, a hearing held by the House Select Committee on cyberattack of China to the American Homeland and National Security was held on January 31, 2024.
During the hearing, officials from US cyber agencies claimed that Volt Typhoon posed a threat to the US national security and asked the Congress to increase more funds in the field of cybersecurity.
Eventually, in the 2025 fiscal year budget request announced by the Biden administration on March 11, the federal government's cybersecurity budget in the civil administrative departments and agencies reached a record $13 billion, according to public information.
Among listed items, the budget for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, reached $3 billion, an increase of $103 million from the previous year. The budgets of the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation increased by $25 million specifically for the "cyber and counterintelligence investigative capabilities."
The 2024 US Presidential election is approaching. Neither the Republican nor Democratic parties want to lose votes on the issue of China during the campaign, and by openly denouncing China, members of Congress can also attract public attention and gain influence, analysts said.
Some US departments and companies are seeking to make a fortune from the related false narrative of Volt Typhoon while attempting to defame China, sow discords between China and other countries to contain China's development, said the report.
The US government and politicians always keep "small yard and high fence" policies, and even politicizing cyberattacks origin-tracing, manipulating Microsoft and other companies to launch a smearing campaign against China to line their own pockets, according to the report.
These Volt Typhoon narratives are not beneficial to the normal order of the international public cyberspace but only undermine China-US relations, and finally eat their own bitter fruit, according to the report.
Many tourist attractions across China have followed suit to provide interactive matchmaking programs, inspired by the success of a program launched at a scenic spot in Kaifeng city, Central China's Henan Province, which gained widespread attention both offline and on social media last month.
The matchmaking performance, dubbed "Wang Po Matchmaking," held daily at the scenic of Kaifeng Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, unexpectedly went viral on Chinese social media platforms in March, significantly boosting local tourism in the city.
The performance draws inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin, which is set against the backdrop of the end of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). "Wang Po," or "Granny Wang," is a classic character in the novel who has her own tea house and runs a matchmaking business.
This unique cultural performance allows tourists from all over the country to immerse themselves in the local folk culture specific to the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
To date, the performance has been viewed more than 6.54 billion times on Douyin short video platform, and related topics have been viewed more than 360 million times on Sina Weibo. Since March 15, the official account of "Kaifeng Wang Po" on Douyin has gained 6.22 million followers in just 25 days, and as of Tuesday noon, the followers hit 6.45 million, with its popularity comparable to those top internet celebrities, Shangyou News reported.
Based on videos uploaded by audiences, the venue is normally packed long before the start of the performance. The program, which was originally 10 minutes long, has also been lengthened to two hours.
During the recent Qingming Festival holidays, hotel bookings in Kaifeng increased nearly tenfold compared to last year, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. In recent days, apart from tourists from cities in Henan such as Zhengzhou, Anyang, and Jiaozuo, there were also visitors from Beijing, Xi'an, Xuzhou and other places coming specifically to watch this performance.
The high intensity of the job compelled the actress playing Wang Po to request a one-month leave starting from April 3. During this period, other actresses will continue the performance.
The scenic spot operator reminded tourists to treat the show as entertainment rather than a serious matchmaking event.
Similar offline matchmaking events have emerged in cities including Wuhan in Central China's Hubei Province, Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Zhengzhou in Central China's Henan Province, attracting a large number of single young men and women to participate.
A tourist attraction in Wuhan started a similar performance on March 30 and has since registered about 500 couples for matchmaking in their database, with 30 to 40 couples registered every day on-site, and approximately 4 to 6 couples successfully matched per day.
However, a cultural park in Zhengzhou which previously launched a similar matchmaking program has decided to give up the project and turned back to original programs that also focus on the "singles economy."
The singles economy and matchmaking has become an industry in China. Some people are willing to pay up to 100,000 yuan ($13,823) for services offered by matchmaking websites, according to media report.
Meanwhile, there is a growing demand for "matchmaking corners" in cities. In addition to the renowned spontaneous matchmaking corners at Zhongshan Park in Beijing and the People's Park in Shanghai, residents from various cities are urging local governments to establish more government-organized matchmaking corners.
Reality dating TV shows, such as You Are the One, have become increasingly popular in China in recent years.
