Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday attended a welcome ceremony held by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.
Xi arrived for a state visit to Cambodia, the third leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour.
A Chinese mainland official on Friday urged Taiwan business people and businesses to join hands in resisting external risks and challenges, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.
Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Taiwan business people held in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.
Song said the mainland will address challenges facing Taiwan enterprises, introduce supportive policies, and promote deeper cross-Straits industrial integration. He added that Taiwan firms will be supported in tapping domestic demand and joining national strategies.
Delegates expressed confidence in overcoming current difficulties and said they are actively pursuing cross-Straits cooperation and new growth opportunities.
US media on Monday voiced concerns about the future of the US' sixth-generation fighter jet F-47, after China on Friday announced to implement export controls on certain medium and heavy rare earth-related items, including resources critical for avionics which could deal blow to the F-47 project.
China's export controls on rare earth-related items could hit hard on US defense industry, countering the US' so-called "reciprocal tariffs," a Chinese expert said on Tuesday, noting that the US' military industrial capabilities will very likely be affected.
Export restrictions China has imposed on its rare earth element exports to the US include resources critical for avionics which could deal blow to American plans for the F-47, US media outlet the Newsweek reported on Monday.
In accordance with the country's Export Control Law and other relevant laws and regulations, China's Ministry of Commerce, together with the General Administration of Customs, published an announcement on Friday regarding the implementation of export control measures on seven categories of medium and heavy rare earth-related items, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. These measures are effective from the date of the announcement.
As Newsweek reported, China's export control comes only two weeks after the US government announced that Boeing had secured the contract to develop the F-47 which is designed to succeed the F-22 Raptor and form the backbone of the US Air Force's next-generation fleet.
But stealth aircraft like the F-47 depend on rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium for high-performance magnets, actuators, and radar systems, Newsweek quoted the consultancy SFA Oxford as saying.
From stealth coatings and radar systems to high-thrust engines and advanced avionics, sixth-generation platforms rely on a secure and resilient supply of rare earth elements and strategic metals SFA Oxford noted.
Yttrium is one item on the latest export control list of rare earth-related items. Yttrium is essential for high-temperature jet engine coatings, high-frequency radar systems and precision lasers, the publication Cleantechnica.com reported. It also allows thermal barrier coatings on turbine blades to stop aircraft engines from melting mid-flight, according to Newsweek.
Critically, around five percent of US use of rare earths goes on defense applications, according to the Congressional Research Service, Newsweek reported.
Bloomberg said on Friday that the controls are expected to have broad impacts on US companies because the elements are used in optical lasers, radar devices, high-powered magnets for wind turbines, jet engine coatings, communications, and other advanced technologies.
Two industry sources told Reuters that Chinese export restrictions on some rare earths are a concern for some US aerospace manufacturers because they are sole-sourced from China for use in avionics.
China has a near lock on the rare-earths industry as the world's dominant miner, refiner and producer of rare earth magnets, which are critical for a range of military and civilian technologies, including electric vehicles, according to The Wall Street Journal on Saturday.
China's export control measures on rare earth-related items strike directly at a core spot of the US, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Medium and heavy rare earths are extensively used in many military fields such as missiles, radar, and permanent magnets. They are also more expensive and harder to mine, Song said.
China's export control measures on the certain rare earth-related items, effective immediately on Friday, aim to better safeguard national security and interests and fulfill non-proliferation and other international obligations, a commerce ministry spokesperson said, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.
These materials have both military and civil uses, imposing export controls on them is a common international practice, the spokesperson said, adding that the move reflects China's consistent stance in firmly maintaining world peace and regional stability as a responsible major country.
Question: It is reported that the US Secretary of Defense reiterated US commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to counter “China threat” on his visit to the Philippines. During his visit, the Philippines, the US and Japan conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea. Recently, the US approved selling F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. Do you have any comment?
Zhang Xiaogang: On the pretext of honoring bilateral treaties, the US is meddling in the South China Sea issue, undermining China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and attempting to threat and coerce China. This approach will simply not work. It needs to be pointed out that the Philippine side has repeatedly made infringements and provocation against China. Outside countries led by the US have made continued efforts to destabilize the South China Sea through playing up tensions and providing weapons. It fully exposed their true intention of making troubles in the region. To the Philippine side, “relying on foreign support to make waves at sea” will backfire and a pawn will only be used and discarded. We urge the Philippine side to give up unrealistic illusions and come back to the right track of dialogue and negotiation at an early date.
The China-Cambodia Ream Port Joint Support and Training Center was officially inaugurated and put into operation on Saturday, which will support joint operations between the two militaries in areas such as counterterrorism, disaster prevention and relief, humanitarian assistance, and training, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement.
A military affairs expert described this as a new model of cooperation between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and foreign militaries, with both sides jointly building, utilizing, and maintaining the center.
Necessary personnel from both countries will be stationed at the site to ensure smooth operations, per the statement.
The center's establishment and operation are based on mutual respect and equal consultation between China and Cambodia. It complies with the domestic laws of both countries, relevant international laws, and established norms. The center is not aimed at any third party and aims to further strengthen practical military cooperation, enhance both militaries' capacity to fulfill international obligations, and contribute to global public security, according to the statement.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Saturday that based on the information from the Ministry of National Defense the center has two core functions: joint support and joint training.
The center will provide logistical support for counterterrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance operations undertaken by both sides, fulfilling international obligations and contributing to global public security, Zhang said.
The center will also host joint training exercises to enhance coordinated military operation capabilities of the two militaries, enabling them to jointly address regional security threats and uphold peace and stability, the expert said.
Responding to some claims that the center is the PLA's second overseas base after Djibouti, Zhang said the two are not exactly the same.
"Unlike the Djibouti support base, which is used and maintained by the PLA independently, the China-Cambodia joint center in Ream Port is built and used by both sides, and its smooth operations are maintained by both sides. In addition to logistical support, it also includes joint training functions, which help advance Cambodia's military modernization. This counters rumors from certain Western countries alleging that China is secretly building a PLA-exclusive naval base in Cambodia," Zhang noted.
However, both the Djibouti base and the Cambodia center share one key trait, they are both established based on mutual respect and equal consultation between China and the related country, and are conducive to regional peace and stability, the expert said.
The center can also support PLA's overseas humanitarian rescue and disaster relief operations. In the event of sudden disasters such as an earthquake or tsunami occurring in ASEAN countries near Cambodia, the PLA would be able to respond more rapidly and efficiently.
Zhang cited the example of the Djibouti base. After it entered operation, it effectively supported the PLA Navy's escort missions against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, as well as evacuation operations. During evacuation missions from Yemen and Sudan, PLA naval vessels also carried foreign nationals, providing public safety services to the international community. "It is foreseeable that the China-Cambodia joint center can also play a positive role in regional security affairs."
Based on the experience of the PLA's first overseas support base, the China-Cambodia Ream Port Joint Support and Training Center will not pose a threat to any country. On the contrary, it will contribute to regional peace, stability, and development, Zhang noted.
In response to the accusations from some countries, including the US, Japan and the EU over the Chinese People's Liberation Army's joint exercises around the Taiwan island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that such claims made by a handful of countries and organizations disregard facts, distort right and wrong, and interfere in China's internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition.
According to media reports, the EU accused China of increasing cross-strait tensions by holding military drills around Taiwan, and called on all parties to "exercise restraint."
A US Department of State spokesperson claimed that there is no justification for "China's irresponsible threats and military pressure operations" near Taiwan island.
The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and allows no external interference. What undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits are the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces and the indulgence and support of external forces, Guo said.
If these countries and organizations genuinely wish to see peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, they should follow the prevailing international consensus of upholding the one-China principle, honor their political commitments to China, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose any form of "Taiwan independence," Guo said.
Guo emphasized that advocating "Taiwan independence" and supporting separatist forces constitutes interference in China's internal affairs. Condoning "Taiwan independence" activities undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.
The joint military exercises conducted by the PLA are a firm countermeasure against the provocative separatist attempts by the Lai Ching-te authorities, a stern warning to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces seeking to undermine cross-Straits peace, and a responsible action to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. No external forces have any right to make irresponsible remarks on this matter, said Guo.
Guo stated that as long as "Taiwan independence" provocations continue, countermeasures to oppose "independence" will not cease. China will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan island from China in any way. The country will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Guo.
China expanded its greening efforts in 2024, adding 7.67 million hectares through tree planting and land restoration, advancing afforestation and high-quality development, according to a bulletin released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Wednesday, which is the 47th National Tree Planting Day in China.
A total of 4.446 million hectares of forest were planted in the country, exceeding the 3.998 million hectares afforested in 2023, about 3.224 million hectares of degraded grassland were restored, and 2.783 million hectares of sandy and stony land were treated, bringing the national forest coverage rate to surpass 25 percent and total forest stock volume beyond 20 billion cubic meters, according to report.
In 2024, afforestation enhanced urban and rural landscapes, making cities and villages greener and more livable with more than 6,200 pocket parks around urban areas built, and over 7,300 kilometers green belt in cities constructed. The country also promoted the improvement of rural living environment by setting up farmland shelterbelt networks. While more than 50,000 kilometers of highways were greened last year, the nationwide railway greening rate reached 85.9 percent.
Efforts to protect and restore ecosystems intensified, with 27 projects of the holistic protection and land restoration during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period promoted. More than 5 million hectares of land underwent ecological restoration.
In a significant step toward combating desertification, around 3.80 million hectares of sandy and stony land were rehabilitated last year as part of the effort in promoting the construction of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, a large-scale afforestation project covering 4.069 million square kilometers in the northeastern, northern and northwestern regions of China, which is close to half the size of the country and is the world’s largest desertification control project.
As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to unfold, robots are emerging as a transformative force in the elderly care industry across China. With innovations ranging from feeding robots to those designed for rehabilitation and hygiene assistance, an increasing array of age-friendly tech products is being introduced to support seniors.
These cutting-edge solutions are complementing traditional family-based care models, heralding a new era in the way we approach elder care.
Recently, cities such as Shanghai and Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, have launched innovative smart elderly care initiatives aimed at fostering the coordinated development of elderly care services and related industries. This move came in response to the rising interest in smart elderly care.
Many nursing homes in Chinese cities are now integrating intelligent care robots into their operations. For example, at a home care center in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, a group of seniors averaging 86 years old are enjoying a more convenient and vibrant lifestyle thanks to the introduction of "smart nannies." Among the cutting-edge technologies being deployed to assist seniors with disabilities are robotic "caregivers," multifunctional transfer bed-chairs, and fall-detection alarms. These advancements are designed to ease the burden on human caregivers.
In 2024, a resident from Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, surnamed Xia, invested nearly 30,000 yuan ($4,145) in a toileting care robot for his 80-year-old bedridden grandfather. The care robot primarily serves bedridden elderly individuals with disabilities. It can automatically sense needs and perform fully automated processes such as suction, washing, drying, and sterilization. Since its introduction, this toileting care robot has greatly alleviated the caregiving burden on family members. "It's much less exhausting now. When the drain water tank is full, we just empty the wastewater and refill it with clean water," Xia told CCTV.
He expressed hope for more walking-assist robots, noting that the high cost of current models remains a barrier for many families.
In February, a Shenzhen-based tech company partnered with the Mount Tai Scenic Area in Shandong Province to unveil an exoskeleton robot designed to assist with hiking, garnering significant attention. This exoskeleton robot can also be utilized for fitness, daily walking, and climbing stairs, according to CCTV.
Chen Zhengxiang, an AI model trainer based in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, has conducted research in many nursing homes across the country. He told the Global Times that current robots on the market still have shortcomings in human-robot interaction. For instance, they struggle to recognize commands spoken in local dialects, and their emotional interactions remain at a superficial, programmed response level.
Chen envisions that with the advancement of AI large models, future elderly care robots will possess the ability to perceive, understand, and respond to human emotions, thereby better meeting the psychological needs of seniors and providing personalized care and companionship.
"It should be like having an 'AI child' by your side; that's the true warmth of technology," he said.
In recent years, China has introduced a series of policies to encourage the development of intelligent elderly care devices, including robots. For example, China's State Council released guidelines in 2024 encouraging companies and industry participants in sectors such as accommodation, healthcare, tourism and financial consultancy to optimize services and products for the elderly.
Currently, there are two main types of elderly care robots on the market: rehabilitation robots, such as those that assist bedridden individuals in standing and walking, and daily care robots, which include devices for toileting and bathing assistance.
To further address the safety and emotional needs of seniors living alone, more robots are being developed. For instance, a smart elderly care robot created by a tech company in Wuxi, Jiangsu, can remind seniors to take their medication, eat, and rest, while also providing services like news updates and online shopping.
The US State Department announced sanctions on an unspecified number of current and former Thai officials on Friday for their role in the repatriation of Chinese citizens in a joint crackdown on illegal immigration. Chinese observers condemned such move as a hypocritical meddling in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights, which aims to undermine legitimate law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that he was "immediately moving to impose visa restrictions on officials involved in the deportations." No Thai official has been named. The visa restrictions were not explained but can entail a denial of entry to the US, AP reported.
Rubio claimed that the US is committed to opposing China's efforts to repatriate Uygurs and other groups, alleging they face "torture and enforced disappearances."
China firmly opposes the use of Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in its internal affairs and disrupt lawful cooperation between China and other nations under the guise of human rights, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a routine press conference on February 28.
"Let me stress that the repatriation is carried out in accordance with the laws of China and Thailand as well as international law and common practices. China upholds the rule of law and has well developed laws and regulations and working mechanisms in human rights protection in the judicial area. The achievements are there for all to see. People of all ethnic groups in China, including the Uygurs in Xinjiang, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights," Lin said.
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand clarified the truth behind Thailand's repatriation of Chinese nationals. It released a statement on March 2 responding to recent hypes about the repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals to China from Thailand, saying that the individuals repatriated this time were illegal border crossers who had entered Thailand unlawfully (not refugees), and that the repatriation was normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand to combat illegal immigration and human smuggling.
Illegal migration and smuggling are internationally recognized crimes, and repatriating illegal immigrants and human smugglers in accordance with the law is a legitimate sovereign law enforcement action, the embassy said.
While releasing several photos showing their reunion with their families, the embassy emphasized in a statement on February 28 that both China and Thailand prioritize the rule of law and human rights protection. As previously communicated by the Chinese side to the Thai authorities, the crime committed by the individuals involved was limited to illegal immigration, with no other serious offenses found. After completing the necessary legal procedures, they were released and allowed to return home, which is the best protection of their legal rights. China will also provide further assistance to help these individuals reintegrate into society and resume normal lives.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told at a press conference on February 28 that Thailand acted in accordance with the law, Khaosod English reported.
The US kept sensationalizing lawful cooperation between China and Thailand on handling illegal immigration. It's true intention is never a concern for Uygurs, but rather a smear campaign against China under the guise of human rights issue, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday.
While the US deports illegal immigrants within its own borders, it simultaneously criticizes other countries' actions that align with international and domestic laws, exposing its double standards and political manipulation, Lü criticized.
Imagine if a group of Mexicans, misled by drug cartels, entered the US, forcing American immigration authorities to bear the burden of looking after them for over a decade - how would Washington respond? Without a doubt, the US' political manipulation will create more complex difficulties for the country in addressing its own illegal immigration challenges, he said.
In a classroom, a large screen displays a conversation in Chinese: in it, two people are adding each other on WeChat. Encouraged by the teacher, Pakistani Muhammad Ajmal, a postdoctoral researcher in mathematics at Shanghai University, stands up, unlocks his phone, and says in Putonghua to another participant seated behind him, “Hello, nice to meet you. May I add you on WeChat?”
This happened on Sunday, during a government-supported non-profit Chinese language class held in Shanghai’s Hongkou district. Targeting foreign talents working in Shanghai, this course is scheduled to continue with classes every Sunday until April 20.
Including Ajmal, over a dozen foreign professionals from universities, research institutions, and foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai attended the first class on Sunday. There they learned to introduce themselves in a more authentic manner, and to get to know one another in Putonghua.
Ajmal has been in China since 2016 and already had a foundation in Putonghua. When he heard about this course, he signed up right away. “I know a lot of Chinese words, but I’m working on adding more natural, authentic vocabulary to improve my fluency,” he told the Global Times after class.
He explained that, previously he only knew the number “one” as “yi” in Putonghua, but thanks to this course, he learned the number’s informal pronunciation “yao” which is more commonly used in daily life.
Unlike some other language courses, this course focuses more on teaching participants practical and everyday language, as well as elements of Chinese culture and customs, according to the class teacher Zhang Yicheng, a Chinese language instructor at the Shanghai International Studies University.
“For example, about numbers, in this class I taught them the pronunciation, and in the next class, I will explain which numbers are generally favored or disliked by Chinese people,” Zhang told the Global Times.
For foreign participants, this class can serve as a small but vivid window to better understand China and Shanghai, and to connect more effectively with local people. Vietnamese participant HaiSam Mai, who has been working at an international school in Shanghai, believes she can still learn something new from this class, even though she has lived in Shanghai for 13 years.
“Today, for the first time, I learned a more polite way to add someone on WeChat, and the phrases were quite new to me. The topics we discussed in class were all very interesting,” Mai told the Global Times.
The one-month course consists of six classes in total, four of which focus on different topics including food, shopping, transportation, travel, hobbies, and sports. The remaining two are workshops, one dedicated to making herbal sachets and another to making Chinese-style jewelry, allowing participants to experience China’s intangible cultural heritage firsthand, said Zhang.
This Chinese language course is one of the latest initiatives by the Shanghai local government aimed at welcoming foreign talent and helping international professionals living in Shanghai better adapt to daily life, integrate into local culture, and stimulate interest in learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture, the Global Times learned from the Hongkou District Talent Work Bureau, organizer of the course.