With permission from Chinese side, the Philippines dispatched one civilian vessel on Friday to deliver daily necessities to its war ship that had illegally run aground on Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) questioned, verified the Philippine vessel and supervised the entire process, said the China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun, according to the CCG Wechat account on Tuesday.
Liu expressed the hope that the Philippines will honor its commitments and work together with China to jointly manage the maritime situation. The CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in accordance with the law, safeguarding rights and conducting patrols in the Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and their adjacent waters.
The Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands), which include the Ren'ai Jiao, have always been China's territory.
In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" the tank-landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. Despite Manila's repeated promise to tow it away, the ship has remained there for over 25 years, Xinhua said.
The attempt of US Embassy in Singapore chargé d'affaires Casey Mace to draw a parallel between China's legitimate claims in the South China Sea and the shared corridors of Singapore's Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, by posting a video on multiple social media platforms, sparked widespread criticism and ridicule from netizens.
The 90-second video is roughly divided into two parts. The first half features footage of Singapore's HDB flats, accompanied by a voiceover stating, "Our homes are our sanctuaries. And when we live together, it's important to respect each other's space and our common space."
The narrative then shifts, asking viewers to "imagine coming home one day and to find this"—followed by images of cluttered public corridors and screenshots of news reports about disputes over shared spaces.
The video continues, "A neighbour has decided that the space in front of your door is theirs," before abruptly posing the rhetorical question, "Does this remind you of anything else?"
Then the video abruptly shifts tone and enters its main theme, as the screen displays a series of screenshots from foreign media reports hyping up tensions in the South China Sea. The video references the so-called South China Sea arbitration ruling and draws a direct comparison between China's legitimate and lawful claims in the region and a neighbor occupying shared corridor space in public housing.
Many online users slammed the analogy as a forced and flawed attempt to interfere in regional affairs and misrepresent China's position.
"Don't bring your own politics/rivalry with China to Singapore," a netizen said in commenting on the video posted on Instagram.
"Singapore is not your pawn," another netizen said.
"The US believes in international law? LOL" a netizen on Facebook said.
The US diplomat also referred to the illegal South China Sea arbitration in 2016 with the video.
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, Charge d'affaires Ambassador Geng Shuang said at the UN Security Council open debate on maritime security on Tuesday.
The so-called award in the South China Sea arbitration is illegal and invalid, and China does not accept or recognize it, Geng said.
Geng also 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, the Chinese diplomat said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday visited the New Development Bank in Shanghai and met with Dilma Rousseff, president of the institution.
Rousseff led the bank's four vice presidents and other employees to welcome Xi when he arrived.
Xi congratulated Rousseff on her reelection as president of the New Development Bank, and noted that the bank is the world's first multilateral development institution established and led by emerging markets and developing countries.
Xi called the bank "a pioneering initiative for the unity and self-improvement of the Global South," and said that it conforms to the historical trend of reforming and improving global governance.
He stressed that broader BRICS cooperation has entered a stage of high-quality development, and that the bank is set to embark on its second golden decade of high-quality development.
Xi called on the bank to consider the development needs of the Global South, and to provide more high-quality, low-cost and sustainable infrastructure financing.
The bank needs to improve its management and operations, implement more technology and green finance projects, and help developing countries bridge the digital divide and accelerate green and low-carbon transformation, Xi said.
In discussions on the reform of international financial architecture, the bank should amplify the voice of the Global South, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, and support the countries of the Global South in their pursuit of modernization, he said.
He noted that as the bank's host country, China will always support the operations and development of the New Development Bank. China is willing to strengthen project cooperation with the bank and focus on green, innovative and sustainable development to achieve more results, he added.
China is also willing to share its development experience through the bank with other member countries, and stands ready to provide more international public goods, Xi said.
In response to media reports that said Google Maps now shows the label "West Philippine Sea," whereas it previously displayed "South China Sea," the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines on Wednesday responded that such change does not conform to international practices and is not conducive to the efforts of international geographical names standardization. It will in no way affect China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.
The embassy has lodged solemn representations with the relevant parties, urging them to respect international practices and take measures to correct the error.
AFP reported on Monday that a Google Maps scan on Monday of the body of water directly west of the Philippines now shows a name once invisible to most users -- the West Philippine Sea.
The name South China Sea remains visible to the north and west of the area newly identified as the West Philippine Sea, AFP reported.
For a long time, the South China Sea, as a commonly used geographical entity name internationally, has long been widely recognized and accepted by the international community, including the United Nations. It is also reflected in the legal documents of professional institutions such as the International Maritime Organization, said a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy.
When asked to comment on Google Maps label change, Lin Jian, spokesperson from Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that "South China Sea" is the geographic name that has long been used, recognized and accepted by the international community, including countries worldwide and international organizations such as the UN.
China will unveil the international payload cooperation list for the country's Chang'e-8 lunar probe mission at this year's Space Day of China, with 15 projects selected from the European Space Agency (ESA), Pakistan, Thailand, as well as other countries, regions and international organizations, covering cutting-edge fields like lunar robots and rovers, Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's (CNSA) system engineering office, disclosed on Thursday.
Liu made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday in Beijing, introducing detailed plans for this year's celebration of the country's 10th national space day which falls on April 24. The main event will be held in Shanghai, co-hosted by the China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the CNSA, and the Shanghai Government. It is organized by the People's Government of Pudong New Area and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with Thailand serving as this year's guest of honor.
Also, first batch of scientific results from the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor, a joint satellite program developed by China and France, will be released at this year's Space Day of China, and according to Liu, these findings will provide key data for scientists worldwide to study extreme phenomenon in the universe.
At the same time, the upcoming event will also announce the results of the international selection for the loan of Chang'e-5 lunar samples, further promoting global lunar science research, Liu said.
China designated April 24 as the Space Day of China in 2016 to mark the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. Since 2016, the Space Day of China celebrations have been held in cities across the country including Beijing, Xi'an, Haikou, Hefei and Wuhan, with relevant activities being held both online and offline.
Its presence has reached every corner of China, earning widespread recognition and attention from all sectors of society. It has become a key platform and window for promoting the spirit of space exploration, sharing space culture, popularizing scientific knowledge and uniting strength for China's space endeavors, Zhang Tao, director of the CNSA publicity department, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Reviewing China's space strides in 2024, Liu, the CNSA official, said that China has executed 68 successful orbital launches in 2024, setting a new historic high. Liu added to the list of 2024 highlights the Chang'e-6 successful retrieving of lunar samples from the far side of the moon, a world first.
Last year, China carried out Shenzhou-18 and -19 manned spaceflights, as well as Tianzohu-7 and -8 cargo spacecraft to the China Space Station with full success. China's first commercial space launch site in South China's Hainan Province also became operational in 2024, according to Liu.
With a dense schedule of missions, China Space's 2025 will be even busier. Tianwen-2 will carry out a mission to rendezvous with and sample a near-Earth asteroid. The manned space program will launch the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft.
The China-Europe joint mission, the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Interaction Panorama Imaging Satellite, will explore the processes and patterns of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. The China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Satellite 02 will be launched when conditions are favorable, contributing to earthquake prediction research, per the CNSA.
Zhuang Mudi, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, extended a warm welcome to visitors worldwide to the Space Day of China this year in China, at the Thursday conference in Beijing.
Zhuang noted that Shanghai boasts a solid foundation in the space industry. From the Chang'e lunar exploration program, Tianhe space station core module and Tianwen Mars probe mission, to the "Xihe" solar observation, Fengyun meteorological satellites, the Qianfan satellite constellation, the "rockets made in Shanghai" and "satellites made in Shanghai" are found throughout China's major space missions.
The city is home to more than 240 major space enterprises and has established a complete industrial ecosystem covering rockets, satellites, terminals and services. Shanghai has also built a closed-loop space industrial chain of "technology R&D - capital matchmaking - application deployment," and developed mass production capabilities for 50 commercial rockets and 600 commercial satellites annually, according to Zhuang.
The Shanghai government official also vowed to achieve several goals in the city's space industry development in coming years. By 2027, Shanghai aims to grow its commercial space industry to a scale exceeding 100 billion yuan ($13.6 billion). The city seeks to achieve an annual production capacity of 100 commercial rockets and 1,000 commercial satellites, and to establish itself as a hub for reusable rocket innovation, low-cost satellite manufacturing and industry application services, Zhuang said.
According to the organizers, lunar samples collected by Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 from the near and far sides of the moon will be displayed together in Shanghai during the Space Day of China.
A series of featured events will also be held, including the International Lunar Research Station Developers Conference. Officials from relevant government departments, academicians, experts and international guests from 41 countries, regions and international organizations will also attend the main event in Shanghai.
China's Foreign Ministry slammed US plans to charge port fees on Chinese-built vessels on Friday, urging the US side to respect facts and multilateral rules, immediately stop its wrongdoings and warned that China will take necessary measures to defend its lawful rights and interests.
The aggressive policy, rolled out the same day that US President Donald Trump reportedly floated the idea that the US expects to reach a trade "deal" with China and signaled a potential end to the tit-for-tat tariff hikes between the US and China, has highlighted the typical tactics of the US administration as it seeks to pressure Beijing to make concessions while mounting its crackdown on China in multiple fields, an analyst said.
Faced with widespread doubts and opposition, the US administration is facing increasing pressure from its reckless moves and the tariff "numbers game" cannot be sustainable, Chinese analysts said, noting that the US needs to show more sincerity with concrete actions if it wants to start any talks.
The US administration went ahead on Thursday local time with its port fee by announcing the details of how Chinese-built vessels are going to be charged, starting at $50 a net ton from mid-October, and increasing onward, under the guise of reviving the US shipbuilding industry and reducing China's dominance in the sector.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that imposing port fees and levying tariffs on cargo handling facilities hurt the US itself as well as others.
"The move not only hikes global maritime shipping costs and disrupts the stability of global industrial and supply chains, but also increases inflationary pressures in the US and hurts the interests of American consumers and businesses. The practice will ultimately fail to revitalize the US shipbuilding industry," Lin said.
Commenting on the USTR Section 301 Action regarding China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday that China strongly deplores and opposes the US action.
The measures taken by the US fully expose the nature of its unilateralism and protectionist policies, and are typical non-market behaviors with discriminatory overtones. They seriously harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, significantly disrupt the stability of global production and supply chains, severely violate WTO rules, and greatly undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, said a MOFCOM statement.
Chinese analysts described the actions as discriminatory trade bullying, noting that it not only disrupts global supply chains, but also damages the country's credibility as it insisted upon the policy despite wide opposition from the industry.
The levy will only serve to disrupt the logistics of the US, cripple its port operations, and hurt the interests of its allies, a Chinese expert stressed. It is just one more irrational policy rolled out by the US administration, and this one will exacerbate US economic woes while inflicting grave wounds on the world economy.
The port fees plan came as part of more aggressive potential actions against China. One US lawmaker is reportedly requesting JPMorgan and Bank of America to pull out of underwriting the upcoming Hong Kong IPO of Chinese electric vehicle battery giant CATL, Reuters reported on late Thursday. The US is also reportedly pressuring other countries to curb trade with China in negotiations over US tariffs, according to Bloomberg.
Tariff 'numbers game' unsustainable
These developments coincided with Trump's floating the idea that the US expects to reach a trade "deal" with China and signaling a potential end to the tit-for-tat tariff hikes between the two countries.
Trump on Thursday said he expects to make a trade deal with China, though he offered no specifics or indications of how talks would get underway between the two largest economies, Reuters reported.
In a separate report, Trump on Thursday signaled a potential end to the tariff hikes between the US and China, and that a deal over the fate of TikTok may have to wait, according to Reuters.
China's Foreign Ministry did not comment on the matter on Friday. Previously, the ministry stated that intimidation, threat and blackmail are not the right way to engage with China.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said that China has noticed that some of its exports to the US are now subject to cumulative tariffs of up to 245 percent under various pretexts but it will ignore the "meaningless numbers game."
The ministry emphasized that such a move has blatantly exposed how the US has instrumentalized and weaponized tariffs with utter irrationality.
Chinese analysts said the US' approach showed a lack of sincerity, and urged the US side to carry out positive acts.
"The US government is now facing widespread opposition and lawsuits across the US, and it is being urged to rework its China tariff policy. This, together with US market adjustment and the performance of US treasury bonds, has indicated that the tariff 'numbers game' cannot be sustainable," Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.
Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times that the fact the US government is signaling the expectation of reaching some sort of deal with China while it continues to hurt its interests reflected a belief within the administration that tariffs can pressure Beijing to make concessions.
"However, it is already clear that such thinking and such an approach is not acceptable to China, as there is no sincerity," Zhou said.
The Chinese government has always stated that the door for negotiation is open but any talks must be carried out on an equal and fair basis, the expert said.
Tariffs face wide opposition
Trump's remarks came amid a market correction in the US, vocal criticism by some American politicians and officials as well as a visit to China by US-based chipmaker Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during which the US tech mogul said "the China market is very important to us."
An aggressive US tariff policy will trigger a significant slowdown in the US economy this year and next, with the median probability of recession in the next 12 months approaching 50 percent, according to economists polled by Reuters.
On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging the US government's spate of tariffs that have upended global trade, BBC reported, noting that California is the first US state to file legal action against the US government over the tariffs.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also raised alarm bells over tariffs, The Hill reported on Wednesday.
In an interview with China Media Group published on Friday, Zhao Zhongxiu, president of the University of International Business and Economics, pointed out that the US is trying to get a good bargain from China through its extreme pressure tactics.
The US inventory level is a factor. As the inventory dries up in the next three to six months, the US will be facing soaring inflation, which will be a situation the US cannot control through its blackmailing tactic, Zhao said, adding that the global production system cannot be separated from that of China's.
China-founded e-commerce sites Temu and Shein said they plan to raise prices for US customers starting next week, the AP reported on Friday. Earlier, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that sellers may have to pass the cost of tariffs onto consumers.
China's first monkeypox vaccine has entered phase I clinical trials at a hospital in Central China's Henan Province and plans to recruit volunteers aged 18 and above in Zhengzhou, capital of the province.
The modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-based live attenuated monkeypox vaccine, independently developed by Shanghai Institute of Biological Products Co (SIBP) under China National Pharmaceutical Group Corp, has received clinical trial approval from China's National Medical Products Administration. The research team will conduct the phase I clinical trials at the Henan Infection Diseases Hospital in Zhengzhou, according to a statement from the SIBP.
The trial plans to recruit 120 volunteers aged 18 and above, including 60 healthy individuals, 30 men who have sex with men, and 30 individuals living with HIV, according to the statement. Recruitment criteria specify that participants must have a body temperature below 37.3 C on the day of enrollment. Those who have been vaccinated with smallpox should be born before 1980. Male participants and women of childbearing age must have no plans to conceive within six months and must agree to use effective contraception for that duration. The application deadline is August 21, 2025.
Previous reports noted that the vaccine received clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration on September 9, 2024, making it the first monkeypox vaccine in China to be approved for clinical trials, Shanghai local media The Paper reported.
As a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, monkeypox spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, secretions, contaminated objects, mother-to-child transmission and sexual contact.
In the one- to five-day prodromal period, infected individuals may experience fever, chills, malaise, headache, back pain, sore throat, shortness of breath and swollen lymph nodes.
Monkeypox shares clinical features with smallpox but presents milder symptoms and a lower mortality rate - between 1 percent to 10 percent. A distinguishing feature is lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).
In August 2022, the World Health Organization issued interim guidance on monkeypox vaccination, recommending vaccination primarily for close contacts of monkeypox patients and high-risk groups exposed to the virus.
High-risk groups include men who have sex with men, individuals with multiple sexual partners, healthcare workers, researchers, lab personnel handling monkeypox diagnostics, and outbreak response team members.
The safety and efficacy of the MVA-based live attenuated monkeypox vaccine have been demonstrated through extensive clinical data. The vaccine is produced using a mature cell factory manufacturing process, which ensures stable manufacturing and reliable quality, experts said. Preclinical studies have confirmed its safety and its ability to provide strong immune protection against monkeypox virus challenges in non-human primate models, according to the statement from SIBP.
As of now, no monkeypox vaccine has been approved for market use in China, The Paper reported.
There are currently two vaccines including JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for the prevention of mpox and smallpox diseases in adults of 18 years of age and older determined to be at high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection.
JYNNEOS is a live virus vaccine that contains MVA-Bavarian Nordic, a weakened, non-replicating orthopoxvirus. ACAM2000 is a live, replicating vaccinia virus vaccine, which can be shed from the vaccination site and can be spread to other parts of the body or to other people. Due to the risks of serious adverse reactions, ACAM2000 is not suitable for all populations, according to the US FDA.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is marketed as Imvanex in the UK and Europe, and as Imvamune in Canada. All three versions contain the same MVA-based vaccine and are produced by the same manufacturer.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday presided over a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs to listen to opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and upcoming economic work.
Although changes in the external environment have brought difficulties, the Chinese economy still retains multiple strengths, strong resilience, and immense potential, according to attendees of the meeting. They also put forward suggestions on coping with external challenges and promoting sustained economic growth during the meeting.
Li noted that under this year's relatively special situation, the country calmly and steadfastly responded to various risks and challenges, and maintained sustained economic recovery and growth in the first quarter.
At the same time, external shocks exerted pressure on the smooth operation of the economy, he said, adding that China is well prepared to address all uncertainties.
It is particularly crucial to ensure effective economic work in the second quarter and beyond, with sustained and intensified efforts across all tasks, Li stressed.
It is necessary to implement more proactive macro policies and introduce new incremental policies in a timely manner in light of the needs of the situation, he said, noting responding to uncertainties in the external environment with strong and effective policies.
China will make expanding domestic demand a long-term strategy and fully stimulate the vitality of all business entities, Li said.
Li hoped that entrepreneurs will proactively adapt to evolving circumstances to drive growth, strengthen and elevate their enterprises.
He stood up hesitantly, and mumbled the answer to the teacher's question.
It was the correct answer. The teacher praised him - just as she would with any other student.
This moment was quietly captured by Xiaoshu's mother, who sat beside him in class. She recorded the scene on her phone and posted it on her Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) account.
For many long-time followers, this was an emotional moment: It was the first time Xiaoshu, a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), had ever voluntarily raised his hand to answer a question. "This must be the biggest news in the teacher's office today," one commenter wrote.
Xiaoshu is almost nine years old. In 2018, he was diagnosed with moderate autism. A year and a half ago, he enrolled in a mainstream elementary school near his home in Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, becoming both an ordinary and an extraordinary student. His mother, surnamed Xu, accompanies him to school daily.
From having meltdowns in class to sitting through an entire lesson quietly; from attempting to escape crowded spaces to initiating play with his peers - through the short videos Xu shares on Douyin, tens of thousands of people have witnessed Xiaoshu's transformation. These moments reflect the collective efforts of schools, teachers, parents, and classmates to support and integrate the young learner with autism.
Xiaoshu's story offers a glimpse into how inclusive education - integrating children with ASD into mainstream schools - can work.
April 2 marks the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. According to a 2024 report on the development status of the autism education and rehabilitation industry in China, 0.7 percent of children aged 6 to 12 in China have autism. It is estimated that there are about 2 million children with autism nationwide between the ages of 0 and 14, with approximately 160,000 new cases diagnosed each year, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Over the past years, autistic children in China have gained increasing attention and care. In 2022, China's National Health Commission released a trial protocol on autism screening and intervention services for children under the age of 6 to improve related services. The country has also released a work plan for improving special education for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
Stories like Xiaoshu's illustrate China's growing awareness of autism and the expanding support systems for children with special needs.
'Returning to Earth'
It is a regular school day in Nanjing, and Xiaoshu reads aloud along with his classmates.
Just two years ago, this gentle-voiced boy with bright eyes could barely speak. As a child with moderate autism, every step of his progress has been made possible through great effort.
Xu vividly remembers the moment her son was diagnosed five years ago. "At the time, he had very limited language skills and could only make unconscious 'doo-doo' sounds," she recalled.
Upon learning that Nanjing was piloting an inclusive education program, she decided to send Xiaoshu to a nearby kindergarten that was part of the initiative. According to the kindergarten's principal, Xu could "give it a try, but he'll need a full-time guardian." This confirmation toughened Xu's resolve. She quit her job as an e-commerce operator and became Xiaoshu's full-time learning companion.
Nanjing's inclusive education policies gave Xu hope. At his elementary school, Xiaoshu not only gains academic knowledge, but also interacts with his peers. The school also has classrooms with appropriate learning resources used by special education teachers in their line of work. Whenever Xiaoshu struggles with emotions, he can take a break in a dedicated classroom. Additionally, he receives specialized instruction from special education teachers every week.
Additionally, the supportive policy allows the performance of children with special needs to be evaluated separately, relieving the school from including their scores in the teachers' class assessments.
After a year and a half of inclusive education, Xiaoshu's transformation has been remarkable: Initially, he had no understanding of classroom rules; now, he stands up and greets the teacher on his own. He used to be unresponsive to his classmates; now, he happily plays with them, and they, in turn, have become a great source of support for him. What is the greatest source of pride for Xu is how much better Xiaoshu behaves in public - he now waits in line when taking the subway and sits quietly during train rides. "He even learned how to jump rope!" she said with excitement.
Xu has been documenting her son's journey through short videos, which have sparked widespread discussion online. What touches her most is the shift in public perception.
At first, many questioned whether children with special needs should attend mainstream schools, but now, people are happy for Xiaoshu's incremental progress. "I wish my child had a classmate like Xiaoshu, so my child would know how to better take care of others," read one netizen's comment.
This change gives Xu great comfort. "Inclusive education is a two-way process," she told the Global Times. "Neurotypical children also learn empathy and acceptance through this experience."
In China, children with autism are often called "star children." At the end of every Douyin video, Xu always repeats the same phrase: "Wishing Xiaoshu a quick return to Earth."
Her greatest hope for her son is simple: "I just want him to be the most unnoticeable person in a crowd."
'Out of jungle'
Despite inclusive education, the advancement of social awareness, policy support, and the efforts of more social organizations have helped more children with autism and their parents find their own path.
Unlike Xiaoshu, 17-year-old Lele grew up in a special education institution founded by his parents, alongside other children with autism in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province.
"Thirteen years ago, when Lele was diagnosed with autism, there were very few resources available in the society," Gao Jie, Lele's father, told the Global Times.
Gao and his wife initially took Lele to a renowned autism intervention center in another province. After three years of no progress, they returned to Jinan, where Gao met an autism-specialized educator from the island of Taiwan conducting research.
"This professional introduced a revolutionary rehabilitation philosophy to us - that we shouldn't overly pursue 'rehabilitation,' but instead embrace 'traits,'" Gao explained. "Traits are akin to how some people prefer spicy food while others prefer sweets - the issue arises only when, say, my preference for sweets disrupts my quotidian life, requiring intervention. The core of autism intervention lies in addressing social barriers and repetitive behaviors."
Guided by this philosophy, Gao founded a full-day autism intervention center called "Bo Le." Over a decade on, the center has supported nearly 2,000 children, with approximately 200 transitioning to mainstream schools after rehabilitation.
"Running an autism center is a low-profit venture. We started it for Lele, but what keeps us going now is helping other children and their parents," Gao said. "I deeply understand their pain. We've all endured endless struggles. But now, Lele is thriving, and our family lives harmoniously."
In August 2022, Gao launched a Douyin account to document Lele's life. "By showcasing Lele's progress, we promote our center's work. More importantly, I want to show the autism community and the public that life with autism isn't just tragedy and suffering. I hope this brings hope to struggling parents," he explained.
Lele's pure, joyful moments in Gao's videos have resonated widely, gaining his Douyin account 709,000 followers so far.
In a video uploaded in March, the 17-year-old clearly articulated his birthday wishes: "I want to visit Xinjiang, buy fireworks, and open a balloon factory." His mother gifted him 500 multicolored balloons - his favorite - packed in a giant box. Gao takes heart in the overwhelmingly positive public response. "We've faced almost no online hate; people want to help. Rising autism rates reflect not just medical factors, but greater societal awareness. Since Lele became an 'influencer,' some strangers recognize him on the street and show kindness," Gao shared.
Gao believes the most important thing is that parents must nurture inner peace. "These children are like visitors from another planet. Imagine being dropped in the middle of the jungles of Amazon. How would you survive? They are facing such challenges. We're their guides through that jungle."
Explorations and expectations
In recent years, special education schools specifically for autistic children have been established in various regions in China. In some major cities, places like autism-friendly cafés have also emerged, providing opportunities for autistic individuals to integrate into society and create value.
However, there is still a long way to go in exploring and implementing inclusive education.
Parents urgently hope for enhanced focus on inclusive education, Gao said.
"Rather than segregated schools, we need scientifically integrated education for their social skills development. Tailored academic support, inclusive arts/sports classes, and on-campus special education teachers would help," he said.
Xiaoshu's mother mentioned that special schools in many areas lack sufficient support for autistic children, leaving some learners with middling abilities caught in a dilemma where "mainstream schools won't accept them, and special schools don't want them."
"Since the 1970s, inclusive education has gradually become a hotly debated topic in the global special education field. China began implementing inclusive education in 1987, transitioning special education to the Learning in Regular Classrooms (LRC) model," Chu Zhaohui, a research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, said.
"Inclusive education, in its broad sense, targets all children with disabilities, including specific groups such as those with autism," he told the Global Times.
One of the latest developments is the law of preschool education, effective from June 1, 2025, will mandate that inclusive kindergartens accept special needs children who can adapt to kindergarten life and provide them with specialized care.
Chu said that the LRC model usually works better for students with physical disabilities but poses challenges for those with intellectual and psychological barriers like autism. "Recent policies focus on tackling these issues by setting up standardized special education schools and improving inclusive education with trained teachers and resource rooms, though funding challenges persist," he observed.
He further emphasized that the special education sector must address significant teacher shortages by tackling lengthy training periods, limited enrollment opportunities, and a lack of student interest in pursuing careers in this field. "To truly improve inclusive education, targeted reforms must prioritize special needs children through dedicated funding, management optimization, and assessment system restructuring - only then can their fundamental challenges be addressed," Chu said.
"True inclusive education will take time, but we will persist in doing what we can now," Gao said. "I have told my team that we might face unemployment one day. But it would be a beautiful kind of unemployment."
A recent report released by the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center on Thursday revealed that during the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin in February, external forces attempted to disrupt and interfere with the event through cyberattacks. These attacks even targeted critical network infrastructure in an attempt to create chaos and steal sensitive intelligence. According to monitoring data, 63.24 percent of the traced attacks originated from the US.
According to the "Cyber Threat Report of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025" released by National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology, during the Winter Games, the information systems of competition and the critical network infrastructures in Heilongjiang Province were targeted by numerous cyberattacks from abroad, with most originating from the US, the Netherlands, and other countries and regions.
The 9th Asian Winter Games was held in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from February 7 to 14.
According to log analysis and data statistics from the Information Systems of Competition (ISCs), from January 26 to February 14, 270,167 cyberattacks from abroad took place. The attack frequency surged between February 7 to February 13, peaking on February 8.
"Under the active joint efforts of the cyber security team, these cyberattacks failed to have a serious impact on the games. However, it further highlights the severe situation where China's network suffers from frequent overseas attacks," the report stated.
Monitoring data revealed that since the opening of the first ice hockey game on February 3, the abnormal network traffic such as network asset discovery scans and massive port scanning to the ISCs has continued to increase, accompanied by a large number of exploitation attempts. The attacks target multiple ISCs, among which the three systems with the largest number of attacks are the information service system, the arrival and departure management system and the charging card system.
Among the identified sources of attacks, 170,864 attacks came from the US, accounting for 63.24 percent. It was followed by Singapore (40,449 times, accounting for 14.97 percent), the Netherlands (12,414 times, accounting for 4.95 percent), Germany (6,682 times, accounting for 2.47 percent), South Korea (1,281 times, accounting for 0.47 percent) and other countries and regions, according to the report.
During the event, cybersecurity teams blocked 12,602 high-risk foreign IP addresses. These addresses had attempted malicious scanning and exploits targeting the ISCs, aiming to steal data or directly damage systems. Most originated from Digital Ocean cloud service hosts.
From January 31 to February 14, cyberattacks on critical network infrastructure in Heilongjiang Province came mainly from the US and its allies, says the report. Statistics show that during this period, the top three sources of the attacks were the Netherlands (37.98 million times), US (11.79 million times), and Thailand (7.2 million times). Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Lithuania, Canada, Japan and Singapore, in turn, ranked fourth to tenth.
"It is worth noting that in January 2025, the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China has released the investigative reports detailing recent cyberattacks on Chinese tech firms from US intelligence agencies. The report also stated that the US frequently used cloud servers in the Netherlands, Germany, and other European countries as proxy or relay hosts," the report read.
"In response, the cybersecurity team conducted attribution analysis. Based on the TTPs, timeline, timezone, language and other behavioral characteristics, cyber security team highly suspected that the cyberattacks on ISCs and the critical network infrastructures in Heilongjiang Province during the 9th Asian Winter Games were related to the US government," the report read.
"We strongly condemn such malicious cyberattacks against international civilian exchanges activities, and we will submit the attack details and evidence to public security authorities," the report stressed.
In response to a media inquiry about the cyberattacks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, "We have taken note of the report and are seriously concerned about the malicious cyber activities it exposes."
The report once again shows that China is one of the main victims of cyberattacks globally, Guo noted.
"During the 2025 Asian Winter Games, the US and some of its allies were the main sources of cyberattacks against China," Guo said. He urged the US to adopt a responsible attitude, engage in self-reflection, and refrain from smearing others. China will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its cybersecurity, he added.
Du Zhenhua, a senior engineer from the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, told the Global Times that the latest report serves as the strongest rebuttal to the US' repeated hype about alleged Chinese cyberattacks..
He noted that the US continued to exaggerate false information about cyberattacks on the US by so-called "Chinese-backed" organizations. "The US has repeatedly made unfounded accusations against China while failing to provide any solid evidence—this is a classic case of the thief crying stop thief," he stated.
The expert noted that documents, including those leaked by Edward Snowden, proved that the US National Security Agency and other departments had implemented a strategy of cyber deterrence by means of backdoor programs, research and development of cyberweapons, improvement of attacking means, and exploitation of allied networks, and that they have continued developing proactive cyberattacking capabilities, infiltrating and infringing on the cyber sovereignty of multiple nations.
The US conducts indiscriminate and boundless cyber-espionage worldwide and is truly the "Hacker Empire" of global cyber surveillance, Du said.
