Chinese researchers set new world record for flat-top pulsed magnetic field

A Chinese research team has set a new record for a flat-top pulsed magnetic field (FTPMF) with a whopping 71.36 tesla, further consolidating the nation's international leadership in this field.

The achievement made on Friday by the research team led by Li Liang, a professor from the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, surpassed the research team's own previous world record of a 64-tesla FTPMF set in 2018, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday, citing a statement from the university. 

High magnetic fields are among the most critical extreme conditions in modern scientific experiments, offering unique opportunities for discovering new phenomena and uncovering fundamental laws. 

Researchers worldwide have been highly active in conducting experiments under high magnetic field conditions, creating numerous original and significant breakthroughs in fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science and biology. 

Flat-top pulsed magnetic fields represent a cutting-edge direction in high magnetic field technology. With the combination of the advantages of both steady and pulsed magnetic fields, they deliver high magnetic strength with sustained stability, enabling unique experimental conditions for research such as nuclear magnetic resonance. 

To overcome challenges in magnet structural stability and precise control of high currents under strong electromagnetic forces, the research team has achieved breakthroughs in both materials and control systems. As a result, they set a new world record with a 71.36-tesla flat-top pulsed magnetic field featuring high stability (0.39 percent stability over 12.11 milliseconds), surpassing the current international level by 19 percent. 

Tesla is the unit of magnetic induction or magnetic flux density. One tesla is equivalent to 20,000 times the Earth's magnetic induction. The stronger the magnetic induction, the greater its potential in applications. 

The high pulsed magnetic field experimental facility is a major national scientific infrastructure project developed by Huazhong University of Science and Technology. It provides experimental environments featuring strong magnetic fields, ultra-low temperatures and high static pressure. 

To date, researchers from over 141 universities and research institutes across over 30 countries and have completed more than 2,000 projects at the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, China News Service reported. 

Among the five key indicators of high pulsed magnetic field facilities, the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center ranks second in the world with a peak field strength of 94.88 tesla, and leads the world in terms of other key metrics such as flat-top magnetic field strength, pulse repetition rate, measurement precision and magnet lifespan, according to China News Service. 

China's top diplomat meets Indian National Security Advisor

China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor and India's Special Representative on the China-India boundary question, in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said that important consensus on improving bilateral relations was reached by the leaders of the two countries during a meeting in Kazan, Russia last year.

Wang said that China and India should adhere to the important consensus that they are opportunities for each other's development and pose no threat to each other, and that they are partners, rather than rivals.

Wang said that China and India should adhere to the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship, strive for a mutually beneficial and win-win prospect, demonstrate the historical wisdom of the two ancient civilizations, properly handle sensitive issues, and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Doval said that the important consensus reached by the two leaders charted the course for bilateral relations, adding that the strategic goals of India and China are aligned, with development being both nations' top priority.

India is willing to strengthen coordination with China in multilateral spheres, fully supports China, which is the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in successfully hosting its summit, and believes that the two major Asian countries can make greater contributions to the international community, Doval added.

Xi stresses pooling strength of working class for rejuvenation of Chinese nation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for pooling the strength of the country's working class and working people and working hard in a down-to-earth manner to turn the grand blueprint of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into reality.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and honor model workers and exemplary individuals.

Chinese envoy criticizes US of hyping S.China Sea issue at Security Council debate

China is committed to working with the countries concerned to appropriately address sea-related differences through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respect for historical facts and international law. The so-called award in the South China Sea arbitration is illegal and invalid, and China does not accept or recognize it, Charge d’affaires Ambassador Geng Shuang said at the UN Security Council open debate on maritime security on Tuesday. 

The Security Council is not an appropriate place to discuss the South China Sea issue. Just now, in her statement, the US Representative mentioned the South China Sea issue. China firmly opposes it, Geng said. 

During the meeting, the US representative claimed to “stand with the Philippines” on the South China Sea issue, calling on China to abide by the so-called “2016 arbitral ruling,” according to the website of the US Mission to the UN.

“Here is a reminder to my US colleagues. I don't know if she realized that her speech is in stark contrast to other colleagues' statements. The statements made by the Secretary-General, as well as other colleagues, all focus on how to maintain maritime security and develop international cooperation,” said Geng. 

“The US, however, has taken the opportunity in its statement to attack and discredit other countries and to suppress them recklessly. We hope that the US can join other countries in playing a constructive role in maintaining maritime security,” said Geng. 

He noted that the US under the banner of freedom of navigation, has frequently sent its military vessels to the South China Sea to flex its muscles and openly stir up confrontation between regional countries. The US itself is the biggest threat to the peace and stability of the South China Sea. 

With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN member states, the current situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable. We have the determination and ability to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation, said Geng, noting that “we hope that the US will abide by its commitment to the one-China principle.”

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held a high-level open debate on "Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability." The meeting, convened by Greece, the Council president for May, aimed to foster a strategic dialogue among member states on maritime security. 

Geng said at the meeting that oceans and seas nurture life, connect the world, and promote development. They are the common home of the entire humankind. Taking care of our common home, maintaining maritime security, and strengthening global ocean governance are of great significance to the promotion of world peace, stability, development, and prosperity, and a common responsibility of all countries. 

As a major maritime country, China is committed to the common guardianship of maritime homeland and the maintenance of common maritime security. We will always be a builder of global ocean governance, a promoter of sustainable development of oceans and seas, and a defender of global maritime security and stability. We stand ready to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to promote the building of an ocean order of peace, tranquility, and win-win cooperation, and to build together a maritime community with a shared future, said the ambassador. 

SCO delegates marvel at modernization momentum of China's Xinjiang

"It feels so familiar," said Mohammadmahdi Tinaitehrani, deputy secretary for International Affairs of the Islamic Party of Iran, as he wandered through alleys in the ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"The architecture, food, language and dance here bear a lot of similarities to my hometown," he added. "To preserve the unique features of ethnic architecture so authentically is an achievement in itself."

Tinaitehrani is a member of a visiting delegation of nearly 200 political party representatives who participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization political parties forum last Wednesday and Thursday in Xinjiang's capital city of Urumqi. They toured Xinjiang after the forum.

From the rich cultural heritage of traditional villages and awe-inspiring natural landscapes to state-of-the-art factories and universities, the delegates explored a full spectrum of China's high-quality development and governance approach in this region -- a vivid snapshot of the nation's modernization journey.

"Hats off to everyone who has contributed to the development of the village," said Faiza Mir, an assistant professor in the Department of International Relations, University of Balochistan in Pakistan, as she marveled at the exquisite traditional musical instruments made in Jiayi Village of Aksu Prefecture in Xinjiang.

Famed for its handcrafted traditional musical instruments, the village has become a celebrated gem and is affectionately known as the "Village of Ethereal Music."

"This remote village has managed to revitalize itself through the production of musical instruments, music and dance performances, and has turned itself into a popular tourist destination," said Mir.

"I would not have imagined that a university nearly 4,000 kilometers away from the country's capital could be so modern," said Osamah Alabdulrahem, secretary-general of the Kuwaiti Progressive Movement, during a visit to Kashi University. "The most remarkable aspect of Chinese modernization is its ability to bring development to every corner of the country," he added.

"China's development is not the privilege of a few -- but a development for all the people and one that is balanced," said Ganesan Devarajan, general secretary of the All India Forward Bloc.

The modern production line of a local agricultural technology company in Kashgar left a deep impression on Mohamed Abohemila, secretary general of the Republican People's Party of Egypt and parliamentary leader of the Republican People's Party in the Egyptian House of Representatives.

Kashgar's innovative vitality testifies to China's path of high-quality development, with breakthroughs being achieved across almost all sectors, he said.

SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, who is from Kazakhstan, shared similar sentiments, noting the tangible improvements in local living standards.

Yermekbayev told Xinhua that the year 2025 has been declared "The Year of SCO Sustainable Development" and that the organization will carry out activities in fields such as poverty alleviation, green development and industrialization. He expressed hope that China's Xinjiang could serve as a hub for exchanges and mutual learning among SCO member states.

"China's achievements in clean and green energy are truly impressive," said Irfan Ashraf, a journalist from Pakistan's Samaa TV, after he learned about Xinjiang's efforts to harness its abundant solar energy resources for hydrogen production.

"Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has enhanced connectivity with over 100 countries, bringing benefits to people around the world," he said. "We should work together to achieve regional prosperity and jointly resist the forces that seek to reverse global progress."

Mainland official urges Taiwan businesses to joint hands in resisting external risks, challenges

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 worried about F-47 fighter’s future amid China’s export control on rare earth elements

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.

MND Tells the Philippine Side:“Relying on Foreign Support to Make Waves at Sea” Will Backfire

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.