Local police in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said they are verifying whether a popular live-streamer, who resembles a fugitive in a 2006 murder case and also comes from Inner Mongolia, is actually the culprit, local media reported on Tuesday. The lookalike live-streamer responded, refuting online speculation.
On Monday, the Xilinhot Public Security Bureau in Inner Mongolia issued a notice offering a reward of 200,000 yuan ($27,640) for information leading to the capture of two suspects involved in the homicide in 2006.
According to a police notice, two suspects, armed with knives, fatally stabbed Wang Yongdong at the steps on the north side of the exhibition center west of the South Square in Xilinhot city before fleeing the scene. The notice said anyone with information on the case is urged to report promptly to the authorities. A reward of 200,000 yuan will be given to informants whose tips lead to the resolution of the case. The notice also included composite sketches of the two suspects, who were around 20 years old at the time and now remain at large.
Netizens pointed out that one of the suspects' composite sketches bore a striking resemblance to the live-streamer with 5 million followers on a popular short video platform.
On Tuesday, the lookalike streamer responded to the Chinese media outlet Jimu News, saying, "It's like they drew it based on my appearance. I'm also puzzled as to why we're so alike, but that person doesn't resemble me from 2006." The streamer provided his personal photo taken in 2006, showing significant changes in his current appearance.
The streamer told the Jimu News that he was born in 1987 and hails from the Oroqen Autonomous Banner in Hulun Buir City, Inner Mongolia. When he was nine years old in 1996, he moved with his parents from his hometown to live in Handan, North China's Hebei Province. In the first half of 2006, he was in Shanghai, followed by Dalian in the second half. He only returned to his hometown in Inner Mongolia once in 2011.
To dispel confusion about his identity not being one of the wanted suspects, the streamer had previously released videos and even conducted a live-streaming session on the matter, stating, "If I don't clarify, people might really think it's me. Although I'm active on the internet, I don't want this kind of attention. I hope netizens will handle this rationally."
Jimu News reached out to the Xilinhot Public Security Bureau, where officials confirmed that many netizens had called in with this particular tip-off on Monday. They have since reported the information to senior officers and are currently working to verify the lead. Another representative from the bureau acknowledged the influx of netizens' reports and assured that they are actively investigating and verifying all information.
The Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), chaired by China's People's Daily, launched a global call for submissions for the second Silk Road Global News Awards (SRGNA) on April 12.
The SRGNA, a major signature event of BRNN, aims to recognize outstanding journalism that promotes the Silk Road spirit of peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit. It encourages media outlets from countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to learn from each other and work together to share stories of the BRI.
The second SRGNA features four award categories: Best Reporting, Best Photography, Best Video, and Best Innovation. Each category will have one grand prize winner, four nominees, and 10 finalists.
Works that support the BRI, convey the Silk Road spirit, reflect exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, align with the vision of building a global community with a shared future, and make a substantial international impact are eligible for the awards.
Submissions should be produced by foreign entities. Works co-produced by Chinese and foreign entities, or Chinese productions released on foreign platforms, are also eligible for consideration.
Applicants should register on the BRNN official website (www.brnn.com) and submit information about their work.
The evaluation process involves a preliminary review by an academic committee and a final review by the SRGNA judging committee. Updates will be posted on the BRNN website. The inaugural edition of the SRGNA collected submissions between January 2020 and September 2021. The selection process concluded in December 2022, and the awards ceremony was held in 2023.
A total of 19 works were granted awards in five categories. The "Kazakhstan Belt and Road Initiative: The Road to Somewhere," a news report written by Chris Wright from the U.K., won the In-depth Reporting Award.
Mushahid Hussain Syed, head of Pakistan's Friends of Silk Road club and chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, received a Special Contribution Award.
The BRNN is a cooperative platform jointly established by media outlets from BRI countries and regions. Its mission is to boost understanding, friendship, and cooperation, and form a mechanism for regular collaboration among media outlets.
To date, 261 media organizations from 109 countries have joined this key media cooperation platform under the framework of the BRI.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday slammed the US and Japan's "Cold War mentality" and their acts that undermine regional peace and stability, after US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a range of moves aimed at deepening military ties, ahead of their summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, which is also regarded as having an eye on countering China, especially over the South China Sea issues.
"Despite China's serious concerns, the US and Japan attacked and smeared China on the Taiwan question and maritime issues, grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and violated the basic norms in international relations. China deplores and opposes it, and has made serious démarches to relevant parties," said Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a press briefing on Thursday.
Mao stressed that US-Japan relations should not target other countries, harm their interests or undermine regional peace and stability. "China firmly opposes the Cold War mentality and small group politics. China firmly rejects anything that creates and drives up tensions and may undermine other countries' strategic security and interests."
She said the US and Japan pose the "real threats" to regional peace and stability. China will defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, and stay committed to the peace, stability and lasting prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, Mao said.
Unwelcomed troublemakers
Biden and Kishida met in Washington on Wednesday local time. During a joint press conference at the White House, the two leaders announced a slew of new initiatives to boost defense and intelligence ties between US and Japan, which Biden described as the "most significant upgrade in our alliance."
Citing officials, Aljazeera said the two leaders went on to discuss "as many as 70 cooperation agreements in defense, space and technology" during a meeting.
According to Biden, the two nations will "increase the interoperability and planning of our militaries." The two will also create a joint network of air missile and defense architecture, along with Australia. Biden said leaders are also exploring Japan's joining of AUKUS.
Both Kishida and Biden mentioned that they discussed the tensions over Taiwan island, the South China Sea issue, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Biden said the US commitment to the defense of Japan under Article 5, including China's Diaoyu Islands which Japan also claimed sovereignty over, is "unwavering."
In response, spokesperson Mao said that the Taiwan question is purely China's domestic affair and brooks no external interference, and urged the US and Japan to "keep their promises."
She also stressed that China's activities in the East and South China Seas are in full compliance with international law and there's nothing wrong about them.
She said the Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. Besides, China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters.
The US is speeding up its arming of Japan and making it play a greater role in Washington's military defense deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, said Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University.
"This indicates that the Asia-Pacific will face more risk of escalating tensions due to the strengthening of the US-Japan alliance, which will inevitably cause concern among most countries in the Asia-Pacific region," Li added.
Despite Biden describing the US alliance with Japan as "purely defensive in nature," and "not aimed at any one nation," Kishida said he and Biden agreed that the US and Japan will "continue to respond to challenges concerning China," according to a White House release.
A common way for the US to strengthen alliances and consolidate its regional hegemony is to pick rivals and create tension and confrontation in the region, said Li, "This is a classic example of a disastrous move to satisfy strategic self-interest at the expense of other countries."
The Asia Pacific region was safe and stable, and it is precisely because the US is moving to strengthen its alliances that the security situation is becoming uncertain and fragile, Li remarked.
The US and its allies are unpopular troublemakers in the eyes of most of the region's countries, Li said.
Offensive posture
In addition to the Biden-Kishida summit, leaders of the US, Japan and the Philippines will also hold their first ever trilateral summit in Washington on Thursday local time, against the backdrop of more frequent provocations from Manila against China in the South China Sea over the past few months.
Ahead of his departure on Wednesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr told media that the upcoming talks with Biden and Kishida will focus on economic cooperation and include a deal "to maintain security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea."
Since Marcos took office, Manila has nearly doubled the number of military bases that US soldiers can access in the Philippines, with talks continuing over a reciprocal access deal to allow the presence of Japanese forces in the country.
Experts said that after the summit, the US and its allies are bound to accelerate their policy of raising tensions in the South China Sea, especially through provocations by the Philippines, which could further complicate the situation.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said more joint patrols can be expected in the South China Sea after the drills by the US, Australia, the Philippines and Japan last weekend.
The US is strengthening its offensive posture in the "first island chain" in the western Pacific Ocean, but China has sufficient counterattack capability, Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Some US analysts already realized a decade ago that it is meaningless to contain China through the "first island chain" blockade, as such a move is more representative of a provocative posture rather than substantial efficacy, and it may only worsen the relationship between China and the US and bring tensions into the region, Lü noted.
Experts believed that while the US needs its allies' support in global affairs and geopolitics more than ever, if Donald Trump returns to the White House, the US alliance with Japan and the Philippines will face more uncertainty along with the increasing isolationist tendencies within the US.
On Monday night, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with Donald Trump at the former president's Mar-a-Lago club on Monday before his scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to CNN.
We know Trump is charging everyone a lot, and if he returns in a few months, it will be a totally different game for America's allies, Lü said.
The Philippines has escalated its battle against Beijing on the South China Sea issue by pushing fishermen to the frontline, collaborating with Western journalists to spread biased narratives, and conspiring with the US and Japan to contain China.
Global Times reporters recently visited the Philippines to investigate the truth behind these provocations, engaging in conversations with local fishermen, ordinary citizens, politicians, and scholars.
This is the first installment of the series, which sheds light on how Filipino fishermen have refused to be used as pawns by the current administration in the conflict. The Philippine government seeks to encourage its fisherfolk to be the vanguard of the South China Sea dispute through government-organized group fishing and its premeditated "militia" plan. However, the Global Times' recent in-person visit to the Philippines and conversations with local fishermen revealed that Filipino fishermen show no intention of participating in any "militia" plan or being drawn into the current administration's strategy against China.
In fact, fishermen in the Philippines are seeking more peace and cooperation, as the current tensions have disrupted their fishing activities and diminished their income. Their practical mindset contrasts sharply with the sensational narratives created by local media outlets and some politicians with ulterior motives.
Unlike the image of Filipino fishermen that the Philippine government intends to portray - a group with a strong desire for combat or aggression in territorial disputes - the fishermen in Masinloc, a Philippine town closest in proximity to China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island, or Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines) in the South China Sea, showed no signs of fear, distrust, confrontation, or hostility when they learned that they were talking to reporters from China.
Instead, the fishermen warmly expressed a clear desire for friendship and peace. Some curious and friendly fishermen approached to the reporters and actively shared their fishing experiences in the waters of Huangyan Dao in front of the camera. In conversations with Global Times reporters, many fishermen repeatedly stressed, "We are not enemies."
Since 2023, the Philippines has been sending government vessels and fishing ships to provoke disputes in the South China Sea, particularly near China's Huangyan Dao, under the guise of "ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen." Interestingly, fishing activities have not been disrupted since 2016 when China offered a temporary dispensation for Philippine fishermen, a situation that has become problematic due to the current administration' decision to "protect them."
So, who benefits from turning fishermen into pawns in the South China Sea battlefield? This investigative report provides the answer. Refused to be 'kidnapped'
The small town of Masinloc in the northern Philippines, about 125 nautical miles from China's Huangyan Dao, is a peaceful seaside fishing port. Local fishermen have been fishing here for generations. The raging storm in the sea has typically been the only thing for them to confront, but now they have been presented with a new "opponent" - China. Searching the term Masinloc on YouTube and social media reveals videos of confrontations between local fishermen and the China Coast Guard, as opposed to the island's picturesque beauty previously.
In the narratives of some Western and Philippine media outlets, the fishermen of Masinloc seem to have become one of the most radical groups in the Philippines in confronting China. But the Global Times' field visit reveals a different reality.
Local fishermen who spoke with the Global Times said that a large amount of seafood on their shelves is caught in the South China Sea and their normal fishing activities in the area are still ongoing as normal. Jessie Caasi, a fisherwoman, told the Global Times that many fisherfolk like her typically make regular trips - about three days a week - to Huangyan Dao to fish. In recent months, they have mainly used two government-provided fishing boats, with each boat carrying around 15 people, making a total of about 30 people per trip.
Jorin Egana, a 29-year-old fish vendor, also confirmed the offer. He told the Global Times that these two government-provided boats have been made available since January, equipped with basic supplies such as water, food, and medicine. Prior to this, most fishermen used to rent boats for individual fishing trips.
The official assistance is seen as a sign of the government's deeper involvement in the increasingly intense situation, they believed.
Caasi said she regrets that they are currently unable to enter the main fishing areas of Huangyan Dao due to the escalating conflict between the two governments. She stressed that there were no restrictions at all before the current administration took office.
"At that time, the China Coast Guard was friendly, and Chinese and Filipino fishermen could fish together there. We greeted each other as friends and got along well. But in recent days, our news reports kept saying that China wanted to occupy the Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao), and the government began warning us to be careful when fishing there," she said.
A previous piece by the Philippine media outlet the Inquirer cited Wilson Almadin, a 41-year-old Philippine fisherman who encountered the China Coast Guard at Huangyan Dao in November 2016, saying that "China Coast Guard vessels approached the boats of our fellow fishermen but only to share their food, liquor, and cigarettes."
However, that is a bygone era for fishermen like Caasi today.
Although China neither accepts nor recognizes the so-called South China Sea Arbitration, in 2016, the country gave a special dispensation to Philippine fishermen to maintain their small-scale artisanal fishing activities around Huangyan Dao under humanitarian considerations.
From 2016 to 2023, China has stuck to its commitment. Despite the territorial and maritime disputes between the two sides, the livelihood of the fisherfolk has never been affected, which, as experts have noted, represents China's goodwill in maintaining the peace and stability of the region.
However, the status quo changed since the Philippines began to send government vessels to the territorial sea of Huangyan Dao in the second half of 2023. In this case, China had to respond and repel the government vessels in accordance with the law.
In 2024, the Philippines started initiating more provocations. The Philippine fishery vessel group was reportedly accompanied by the Ship 3002 which belongs to the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources when they trespassed into the waters off Huangyan Dao.
A source close to the matter told the Global Times that the Philippine official ship typically acts as a mother ship while at sea, not only providing fuel, fresh water, and food supplies to Philippine fishing boats, but also serving as a commander to direct different batches of fishing boats to illegally enter disputed waters.
Additionally, the Philippines has openly planned to deploy its own maritime militia to "defend its sovereignty" amid a raging territorial row with China.
"We want our fisherfolk to become reservists and teach them how to help in defending the country," Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr, the Filipino armed forces chief, said in a statement in August 2023.
On February 23, the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) publicly acknowledged that "it would also continue to carry out its duty of distributing fuel subsidies to the Filipino fishing boats that are present in the area to support their prolonged fishing activities."
However, the fishermen interviewed by the Global Times said that they have not received any subsidies from the government specifically to support them in fishing around Huangyan Dao.
They emphasized that they will not participate in the government's plan to turn fishermen into militia, noting that it is "too dangerous."
"The Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao) is too far away. I would rather stay in nearby waters to fish and earn less money. I don't know why the Philippine military is doing this [militia plan]. I feel like very few people would be willing to cooperate with this plan," the 29-year-old fisherman Jorin Egana told the Global Times.
"I don't consider those kinds of unilateral actions from our government to be beneficial to the peaceful settlement of disputes. If you increase maritime militias in the South China Sea, you are in fact increasing the chances of violence. Let the fisherman be fishermen," Rommel Banlaoi, Chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, told the Global Times in Manila.
Opposing voices are already growing in the Philippine fishery circle. In August 2023, a Philippine fisher group on the Philippines' illegally occupied Zhongye Dao (also known as Zhongye Island) turned down the militia plan by the government, local media source Philstar reported.
The group's president Larry Hugo said that it would be "difficult" for them to undergo military training and that he would prefer not to carry firearms. True voices repressed for political interests
The antagonism fomented by the Philippine government has also spread on the battlefield of public opinion.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard's spokesperson, pinned at the top of his timeline for a long time asserts "If you are a Filipino, whether in government or private sector, regardless of your politics, defending and making excuses for China's aggressive behavior should deem you unpatriotic, and a traitor to the Philippines and to our people."
Moreover, the Philippine government has organized for Western media reporters to board the vessels to deliberately hype up and mislead the international community.
Contrary to what was imagined and portrayed by the Filipino media, Global Times reporters did not feel any animosity during their visits to several Philippine cities. They do not see China as an enemy in territorial disputes, but rather as a partner that can bring economic benefits. They also expressed doubts about the authenticity of media's sensationalized reports.
For example, Ana Liza Felix, the owner of a coffee shop near the tourist destination the Church of Saint Augustine in Manila, said that she has heard some news reports about the disputes between the two countries and some negative descriptions of China, but believed them to be "one-sided stories," or politically motivated, and she is not sure whether any of the reports hold any truth.
Felix told the Global Times that she believes that China and the Philippines have deep roots, and most of the tourists who visit her shop are Chinese. "We have always interacted with each other in a friendly manner. If the disputes between the two countries lead to fewer tourists, I would be very sad. I do not want these disputes to affect my income. Only a friendly environment can create good economic benefits for us."
This pragmatic mindset is also reflected by Filipino fishermen. Economic benefit is the most common reason driving them to fish near Huangyan Dao, as the profits can be three times higher than in other areas, they said, noting that a peaceful and friendly environment in the South China Sea can sustain their livelihoods.
Dodong Mola, an elderly fisherman who just went to Huangyan Dao in March, told the Global Times that he has been going to the island since 2000. He goes there once a year, staying for about three months each time, as the island has the most variety of fish, which are not often found elsewhere. The conditions for fishing at Huangyan Dao are tough, but they just hope to earn more money and do not want to be involved in frontline conflicts.
Another fisherman, Noli Balaga, who has seen his brothers often going to Huangyan Dao to fish told the Global Times that they, more than anyone, hope to see peaceful cooperation between the two countries so they can resume fishing. They also hope that the Philippine government can provide more practical assistance to their fishing activities, such as improving their wooden boats.
Global Times reporters noticed that that the boats they use for fishing are less than one-meter wide, can only accommodate a few people, and can hardly withstand slight winds or waves. "The issue in the South China Sea is only found in papers in the Philippines that are dominated by Western narratives. But if you go around the country, you'll see that the ordinary people care more about peace. They don't want war. They care more about fighting inflation and economic hardship. They care more about making commodities more affordable to them. They care more about having jobs. They care more about having good transportation. We need trains, we need roads, we need bridges that China can provide, and we need more trade with China. It's a pity that many of the narratives in the media are controlled by this Western narrative of anti-China sentiment," said Banlaoi.
When then Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte visited China in 2016, the two sides discussed fishery cooperation in the South China Sea, including bilateral cooperation in the fishing industry, and it was then that China agreed to make proper, specific arrangements given its friendly relations with the Philippines.
Chinese officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Bureau of Fisheries also visited Masinloc town in November 2016 to learn about what assistance they could provide to local fishermen. The following year saw a delegation of 17 Filipino fisheries representatives, some from Masinloc, who were invited to South China's Shenzhen, to participate in training organized by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, bringing back China's most advanced aquaculture technology to Manila. Experts said at the session that if China's deep-sea net cage aquaculture technology could be promoted in the Philippines, the income of local fishermen could increase several times or even tens of times over.
However, it is regrettable that today, when Global Times reporters set foot in Masinloc again, what is reported in the media is overwhelming about the territorial dispute, and the well intentioned and mutually beneficial fisheries cooperation seems to have disappeared from sight. "The Filipino people have high expectations for peace and cooperation between the two countries, but their voices are marginalized, as part of the result of Philippines' cognitive war against China," Ding Duo, deputy director at the Research Center for Ocean Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.
"The current government is trying to divert public attention from various domestic contradictions caused by its ineffective governance through creating an external enemy, China. The government misleads the public domestically and plays the victim externally, which is not conducive to the resolution of the South China Sea issue," the expert warned.
"We should not make the South China Sea issue deeply entangle China-Philippines relations," said Ding.
During the short visit to the Philippines, Global Times reporters often saw headlines in the local newspapers reading "We will not be cowed into silence - Marcos," and vendors in the fish markets reading newspaper claiming "China wants to occupy Huangyan Dao." However, the most common phrase the reporters heard wherever they went was "we are not enemies" - from officials and ordinary people on the streets, to fishermen.
Who benefits from changing the status quo by fanning the flame in the South China Sea? Perhaps the Philippine government should find some answers from the voices of their people.
China' s border ports saw 500,000 foreign passengers trips during the three-day Qingming Festival holidays, marking an increase of 163.2 percent compared to last year. Analysts pointed out that the significant growth signals the tourism market continues to rebound.
According to China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Sunday, a total of 5.189 million passenger trips were recorded crossing Chinese border ports during the Qingming Festival holidays, at an average of 1.73 million trips per day, an increase of 69.6 percent year-on-year.
Among them, residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan made 2.267 million passenger trips, an increase of 35.9 percent compared to the same period last year. In response to the influx of those residents returning to honor their ancestors, special inspection channels were established to facilitate their entry and exit during the holidays, the NIA said.
According to a report Chinese travel ticketing platform ly.com sent to the Global Times on Saturday, visitors from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions prefer to travel to the Chinese mainland via Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai ports in South China's Guangdong Province. The searches for travel to the three regions surged 78 percent during the just-ended holidays.
The administration also revealed that mainland residents made a total of 2.422 million cross-border passenger trips, representing an increase of 101.7 percent compared to the previous year, while the border ports across nation welcomed 500,000 foreign passengers during the holidays, representing a remarkable 163.2 percent growth over the same period last year.
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province and Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province are among popular destinations for foreign tourists during the three-day holidays, the report sent by ly.com revealed.
The surge in foreign arrivals is a clear indication of the ongoing rebound of China's inbound tourism market, highlighting its sustained growth potential, analysts said, who also noted that a range of policy initiatives aimed at facilitating the entry of foreigners have been instrumental in driving the rapid development of inbound tourism.
The Qingming Festival is not traditionally a peak time for foreign tourists, but during this year's holidays, foreign cruise tour groups have been entering the country one after another, reflecting the continuous rebound of the inbound tourism market, which is also a new trend in inbound tourism, Jiang Yiyi, a deputy head of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The willingness of foreigners to visit China has increased, partly thanks to a series of streamlined measures including visa-free policies and easing of payment hurdles, Jiang said.
On March 18, China's central bank issued an e-CNY (digital yuan) user guide, a move aimed at facilitating mobile payment for foreigners, Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to a bilingual statement from the People's Bank of China (PBC), mobile phone users can search for "e-CNY" in the App Store or Google Play to download and install the digital yuan app, and the e-CNY wallet can be registered using mobile phone numbers from over 210 countries and regions.
China's leading payment platforms Alipay and Weixin Pay have also introduced a series of measures to improve payment services for foreign nationals, including the ability for foreign users to link international bank cards.
As part of efforts aimed at boosting inbound tourism and people-to-people exchanges, China extended its visa-free policy to six European countries starting from March 14 to November 30, 2024, which comes as China had already waived visa requirements for citizens from more countries, including those in Southeast Asia.
As related policies continue to produce effects, the country's inbound tourism market - whether in passenger trips and revenue generated - will outperform that recorded in 2019, Jiang told the Global Times.
Looking ahead, it's expected that the authorities will put forward more policies and measures to further boost the recovery of the inbound tourism sector, Zhou Weihong, a deputy general manager from Shanghai Spring Tours, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Overseas tourists who are not familiar with China mainly choose cities with more international flights and higher visibility, including Shanghai, as the first stop for their inbound tourism. According to media reports, the number of entry and exit trips at Shanghai ports reached 282,000 during the Qingming Festival holidays. Specifically, from Thursday to 6 pm on Saturday, the Hongqiao port saw 24,000 passenger trips, with half of them being inbound travelers.
Zhou said that in order to develop Shanghai as the first entrance for more foreign visitors, the city should step up efforts to further improve payment convenience, transition services and other detailed services.
To further combat cross-border telecom fraud in northern Myanmar, police from China and Myanmar conducted a joint operation for the first time in northern Myanmar's Muse, transferring a total of 352 Chinese suspects, including key figures and masterminds, along with 51 fugitives to China.
Recently, Chinese and Myanmar police cooperated internationally, arresting 807 suspects involved in cross-border telecom fraud in the Muse area. Among them, 455 were Myanmar nationals and 352 were Chinese nationals. All Chinese suspects were transferred to China as of March 31, state broadcaster China Central Television reported on Monday.
A large number of computers, mobile phones, and fraud scripts were seized at the scene. All Chinese suspects and evidence were transferred to China through the Ruili border port in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Law enforcement departments in Anhui, Jiangsu, and other places have been tasked with bringing back the suspects and conducting further investigations, according to the report.
This operation represents a significant achievement in police cooperation between China and Myanmar, highlighting the two sides' determination to combat cross-border telecom fraud, according to the report.
Since 2023, China's Ministry of Public Security has been deepening international law enforcement cooperation with Myanmar in response to serious telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar, carrying out a series of joint actions that have seen 48,000 Chinese fraud suspects transferred to China.
However, some fraud groups in the Muse area continue to operate, posing a serious threat. After multiple rounds of talks and consultations between China and Myanmar, the two sides agreed to launch the joint operation. Based on information provided by Chinese law enforcement departments, the Myanmar police dispatched personnel to the area to coordinate local law enforcement efforts.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Security said that telecom fraud has become a global challenge, and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation is imperative.
Chinese authorities will continue to deepen cooperation with relevant countries and regions, conduct joint operations, eradicate fraud activities, and safeguard the security of people's lives and property, said the officials, warning fraudsters that regions overseas are not beyond the reach of the law and urging them to surrender voluntarily and face justice as soon as possible.
The Philippines should not abuse China's restraint or underestimate China's determination and ability to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese analysts warned on Friday, after Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr vowed to take countermeasures against China Coast Guard (CCG), continuing to play the trick of being a victim and further escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
Analysts also called the US the "biggest external disturbance" to peace and stability in the South China Sea, saying that the Philippines' approach of putting pressure on China by relying on the US is actually "inviting a wolf into the house," and will not be welcomed by regional countries.
The Philippines will implement countermeasures that are proportionate and reasonable against "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by CCG, Marcos said in a statement posted on Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.
The "attacks" Marcos referred to are CCG ships intercepting and firing water cannons at a Philippine supply vessel, which illegally and forcibly intruded into waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), ignoring repeated warnings from the Chinese side.
Marcos did not specify what the countermeasures would include. Citing two Philippine officials, Associated Press reported that Marcos' statement was made after meeting top Philippine defense and national security officials, who submitted their recommendations, which include the use of faster military vessels instead of chartered civilian boats when the Philippine navy delivers a new batch of personnel and supplies to Ren'ai Jiao.
"We seek no conflict with any nation," Marcos wrote on social media, but noted that the Philippines "will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience."
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that the Philippines' harassment and provocations are the direct cause of the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue, and China will not allow the Philippines to act willfully.
"As the head of state, it is inappropriate and unfriendly for Marcos to speak out tough words in person, which may cause huge damage to bilateral relations. And his words will reduce, to a certain degree, the flexibility for executive departments to operate," Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday.
On Friday, Philippines' Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong repeated Marcos' claim that "Filipinos do not yield," and accused China of "intimidating smaller countries," ABS-CBN NEWS reported.
According to Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, the Philippines may continue its trick of "playing victim" to the global audience, and thus smear and attack China through "cognitive warfare."
Manila may arrange for another group of reporters from the West in their provocative missions of "sending supplies," and make their voices louder through "experts" and hawkish former officials, Ding said.
Manila may also strengthen the joint activities in these hotspots and key waters such as Huangyan Dao and Ren'ai Jiao, and carry out provocations, said Ding.
The Philippines has abused China's restraint and goodwill, underestimating China's determination and ability to safeguard our territory and sovereignty, Wu said.
Ding said China has a rich toolkit for responding to the Philippines' further provocations. "Whether it is the Philippines itself or colluding with countries outside the region, the waves they raise in the South China Sea are within our ability to respond."
Meanwhile, we will act in line with the principle of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Ding.
US instigation
According to experts, Marcos' tough words serve domestic political purposes when he needs to shift Filipinos' discontent over his administration's performance on livelihood and the economy, and are also a response to the "support" from countries outside the region, including the US.
In a telephone call with Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated a warning that it is obligated to come to the aid of the Philippines under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine forces, aircraft and ships come under armed attack, including anywhere in the South China Sea, according to AP.
Furthermore, leaders of the US, Philippines and Japan will meet for their first trilateral summit at the White House in April, according to a US official statement. Analysts believe that Washington is getting involved in the Asia-Pacific with increasing strength and resources.
"The US is the biggest external disturbance to peace and stability in the South China Sea," Ding said, "without instigation from US, it is more likely that China and the Philippines would manage their differences through negotiation and consultation."
The US is trying to reshape the strategic environment around China by strengthening its military alliance with the Philippines to intervene in the South China Sea issue, but it is useless and may even backfire when they use their "mutual defense treaty" to threaten China, said Ding.
Experts said that given the pro-US stance of Marcos' cabinet members and the military, the possibility for Beijing-Manila ties to return to the Duterte era is very slim, however, a large-scale military clash at sea is also unlikely.
China's ability to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, as well as its ability to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, are constantly improving, Ding said.
In addition, regional countries are well aware of the Philippines' behavior as a troublemaker that "leads the wolf into the house," Ding said. "The majority of ASEAN members do not want the South China Sea issue to affect their normal cooperation with China. And if the Philippines insists on provocations, it is believed that Manila will not be welcomed within ASEAN, and some restraints may be carried out against the Philippines."
The Philippine side should learn from the past conflicts on Meiji Jiao of the Nansha Islands. If repeated, normal ministerial exchanges, high-level visits and personnel exchanges between China and the Philippines will be affected, Wu warned.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday local time approved a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, after the US abstained from the vote, leaving Israel to face further presure from the international community.
The historic passing marks the first time that the UNSC has successfully voted to demand an immediate cease-fire in Gaza since the start of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023. Several previous attempts have failed due to US' repeated block.
Analysts said the newly adopted resolution shows the common aspiration of the international community for a cease-fire, and also creates conditions for humanitarian aid and further mediation.
However, the implementation of the resolution may still face setbacks regarding Israel's reactions. But if Israel chooses to deviate from the common expectations on the global stage, then it will face deeper diplomatic isolation, which may eventually lead to its domestic political instability.
The US' decision to abstain, which was made under both domestic and international pressures, does not represent a fundamental change in the Washington's policy toward Israel and its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Common aspiration
According to the UN, the resolution was tabled by 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC, and the remaining 14 council members voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution demanded "an immediate cease-fire for the month of Ramadan leading to a lasting sustainable cease-fire." It also demands the release of all hostages seized in the Hamas-led attack.
There was a round of applause in the council chamber after the vote on Monday, according to an Aljazeera report.
Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, said on Monday that "all harm to civilians must cease immediately" and the offensive must end.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU welcomed the passing of the resolution, noting that implementation of the resolution is vital for the protection of all civilians.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the resolution reflects the common aspiration of the international community. "The mainstream international voice is a cease-fire and a two-state solution."
According to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, the resolution has restored the previously damaged UN authority, and led to greater and more authoritative international pressure on Israel.
This is a victory of morality and justice for the international community through unremitting efforts, Liu said.
The adoption of the resolution has created conditions for further relief of humanitarian disasters and for further mediation by the international community, Liu said.
However, Israel has shown no signs of backing off. Israel's envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan, claimed that the UN resolution "undermines the efforts to secure" the Israeli hostages' release from Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that his country would not abide by the resolution. "The State of Israel will not cease fire. We will destroy Hamas, and will continue to fight until the return of all hostages to home," Katz said on X (previously Twitter).
The US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has termed the resolution as "nonbinding," according to a media release from US mission to the UN.
A smooth implementation of the resolution will not be easy, Liu said. In the best-case scenario, the ceasefire holds during the remaining two weeks of Ramadan. But after that, given Israel's behavior and strategic choices, as well as US' two-faced approach, the humanitarian disaster in Gaza is likely to continue, the expert said.
In a post on X, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the resolution must be implemented, and "failure would be unforgivable."
If Israel ignores the resolution and continues its brutal war in the Gaza Strip and continues to create a humanitarian disaster, then the international community, with the UN as the most authoritative coordinating and empowering body, may come up with follow-up resolutions, which will make Israel isolated in the international community, Li said.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed support and welcome toward the UNSC resolution at a press briefing Tuesday. He said it's "in line with the right direction of action and responds to the extensive aspiration of the international community."
Lin said that the UNSC resolutions are binding. "We call on the parties concerned to fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter and take due action according to the requirements of the resolution. We expect countries with important influence to play a positive role on the parties concerned, including taking all necessary and effective means to support the implementation of the resolution."
Growing rifts and divergence
The resolution has also caused rising tensions between Israel and the US. According to Israeli officials, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a delegation visit to Washington for talks on Israel's planned military operation in Rafah, as Washington "withdraws from its principled position," the new outlet NPR reported.
In response, US National Security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the US was disappointed by the Israeli decision to cancel the trip. He stressed that the US vote "does not represent a shift in our policy."
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called the cancelation "surprising and unfortunate." Some officials even said Israel overreacted, according to CNN.
Despite UNSC resolution, Israel did not stop its killing. Eighteen people have been killed in an overnight Israeli bombing of a house in Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are displaced, Aljazeera said on Tuesday. The health ministry in Gaza said Monday that at least 32,333 people have been killed in the territory.
Invading and striking Rafah has been the key divergence between the US and Israel, with Pentagon spokesperson previously warning that invading Rafah would be a mistake.
Even the US, Israel's staunch ally, does not like what Israel is doing, Li said. "The US does not want to sacrifice all its reputation and interests in supporting Israel's brutal attacks."
Experts also pointed to electoral factors behind the fine-tuning of the US approach.
However, there will be no fundamental change in US policy toward Israel, nor in its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Li said.
The US will still support Israel, but it wants Israel's leaders to be more flexible in pursuing its Gaza policy, rather than the current obstinacy, which is also causing problems for the US, Li said. According to the expert, rifts between the US and Israel have always existed.
The US also wants to put pressure on Israel by not blocking the resolution, said Li. ''If Israel fails to change its policy on the Gaza war, the likelihood of domestic political chaos in Israel under the pressure of such a resolution will increase."
Parents should pay attention to acts of domestic violence and prioritize the mental health education of their children, the Education Bureau of Songyuan, Northeast China's Jilin Province, said in an open letter as a number of educational authorities nationwide have been enhancing prevention of campus bullying after a string of recent cases.
Parents are encouraged to regularly contact teachers to understand their children's situation at school and cooperate with schools and teachers to educate children on preventing bullying. The open letter also stated that if bullying incidents are discovered, they should be promptly stopped, reported to the school, or reported to the police.
There have been many similar open letters recently from local education bureaus to parents. The education and sports bureau of the Linchuan district in the city of Fuzhou, East China's Jiangxi Province, also wrote an open letter to parents. "In recent years, we have often seen reports of campus bullying incidents through the internet, media, and other channels. Campus bullying incidents have been occurring frequently, with increasing severity, frequency, and a hidden nature, attracting high attention from society," said the letter.
At the same time, various cities across the country are intensively carrying out education on "preventing campus bullying."
On Thursday, in Zhaoyuan, East China's Shandong Province, various departments jointly held a legal lecture titled "Say No to Campus Bullying" for minors at a school. During the event, volunteers played animated videos and explained cases to help teenagers better understand the irreversible impact of campus bullying. Lawyers explained relevant articles of the Law on the Protection of Minors, and informed them of assistance hotlines and channels to protect their rights.
In Ya'an, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, schools in the Yucheng district have carried out various education activities on preventing campus bullying, further strengthening prevention efforts.
Recently, a series of campus bullying incidents across the country have sparked widespread public outrage after being exposed by the media. In particular, the case of three classmates who allegedly killed and buried a 13-year-old boy in Handan, North China's Hebei Province, on March 10 has triggered a new round of discussion on punishments for juvenile offenders.
On Saturday, the police in Yingshan county, Sichuan, reported that on March 14, six students had a conflict with one of their classmates, and violently attacked her in the school's female restroom by kicking and slapping her. Three of the perpetrators, who are above 14 years old, have been detained.
On March 18, a video showed a male student being beaten by two classmates in the restroom of a school in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province. Local authorities responding to the case stated that the victim was a seventh-grade student, while the perpetrators were ninth-grade students.
Another video showed a girl being brutally beaten and humiliated by multiple people in a hotel, including being forced to kneel, have a trash can placed over her head and being stripped off all her clothes. After the video sparked widespread attention, on Tuesday, the police in Xining, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, stated that they are investigating the incident.
On Wednesday, education authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan, published a new regulation on high school admissions. In this regulation, it is explicitly stated that students who have engaged in campus bullying or other misconduct during junior high school will not be recommended as target students for admission, and will be placed at the bottom of the admission sequence during enrollment.
