With final arrangements underway to hold a long-stalled trilateral leaders' meeting among China, Japan, and South Korea, experts noted that the cooperation among the three countries is of great importance to the economy and stability in East Asia and the countries should seize the opportunity to alleviate tensions and foster collaboration.
South Korea is in final consultations with China and Japan to hold a trilateral meeting of their leaders on May 26 and 27, according to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. An official at the ministry said that the three countries agreed to hold the meeting "at the earliest date convenient for all sides."
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to visit Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, as South Korea is the current rotating chair.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press conference on April 11 that China attaches importance to the cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea, and hopes that the three sides will jointly create conditions for the leaders' meeting. "We are ready to maintain communication with South Korea and Japan for the meeting's preparation," Mao said at that time.
Japan's Fumio Kishida also expressed support for the upcoming three-way talks, telling a press conference on Saturday that coordination will continue for preparations for the meeting.
In another development, the foreign ministries of China and South Korea are in the final stages of coordinating the specific schedule for South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul's visit to China, ahead of the trilateral leaders' talks, media reported.
"The cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea holds immense benefits not only for East Asia, but also for the international community," Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.
Lü said that improving collaboration is in the interests of all parties involved, a common understanding among the three countries, especially in the economy. "It's also a gateway for building stronger consensus in other areas among the three countries," he said.
According to Japan Times, the three-way discussions are seen as covering six areas including people-to-people exchanges, economy and trade, public health, and peace and security, with outcome documents likely to be released. Bilateral talks may also take place.
The trilateral talks were last held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province in December 2019. The prolonged suspension is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as some political and diplomatic conflicts among the countries, such as the blockade of China in the high-tech field by South Korea and Japan, Lü noted.
If the trilateral meeting proceeds as planned, it will bring positive developments for East Asian countries and contribute to peace and stability in the region, experts said. However, they also warned that there are lingering political and diplomatic challenges to overcome, particularly as Japan and South Korea are actively joining the small circles led by the US to counter China.
Japan and South Korea should seize the opportunity presented by this meeting to alleviate the current diplomatic tensions among the three countries, Lü said, noting that economic cooperation could serve as a starting point for enhancing trust and fostering stronger relations.
"The three parties should work together to identify shared interests and reach consensus on important issues in order to promote productive discussions and foster increased cooperation across different sectors in the future," Lü noted.
The Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled to be launched between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, with the preferred launch window targeted at 5:27 p.m., said the China National Space Administration.
Hopes remain slim of a Gaza cease-fire as a Hamas delegation is expected to visit Cairo, Egypt on Monday for talks, after the group said it is studying a reply from Israel over a cease-fire proposal. Analysts said that while both Israel and Hamas could benefit from a temporary cease-fire, it still lacks factors to be positive. Under the growing international and domestic protests, the moral pressure and diplomatic isolation of Israel and the US may deepen.
According to media reports, Hamas said in a Saturday statement that it has received Israel's official response to its latest cease-fire proposal in Gaza and will review it before submitting its reply, amid the latest efforts by Egypt as a broker.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that a delegation will visit Cairo on Monday for Gaza cease-fire talks. And the group will deliver its response to Israel's latest counterproposal for a Gaza cease-fire.
During an interview with local media Channel 12 television earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the release of hostages is the "top priority," and if there is a deal with Hamas on it, "we will suspend the operation," according to a Reuters report on Saturday.
Citing two Israeli officials, Axios reported that Israel told Egyptian officials on Friday that it was ready to give hostage negotiations "one last chance" to reach a deal with Hamas before moving forward with a ground invasion of Rafah, where more than one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering due to the conflict, which has lasted more than six months.
Israel Defense Forces chief of staff General Herzi Halevi and director of the Shin Bet security agency Ronen Bar visited Cairo earlier for talks on the Rafah operation and the hostage deal, Axios reported.
The Israeli officials said the talks with the Egyptians on Friday were "constructive" and that the Egyptians made it clear they intend to put pressure on Hamas to secure a deal for the release of hostages, according to Axios. However, a Wall Street Journal report said on Saturday that talks toward a hostage deal had little chance of success, according to Egyptian officials familiar with the negotiations.
Chinese experts said there is demand on both sides for a cease-fire, but the prospects for an actual cease-fire are still bleak.
"Despite Hamas seeks a cease-fire when Rafah is almost their last stronghold in Gaza, the 'one last chance' claimed by Israel is also for themselves, as in the face of domestic pressure, they need Hamas to free as many hostages as possible before it attacks Rafah," said Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University.
Amid the efforts to break the deadlock, on Saturday, Hamas released a video of two hostages, which US media interpreted as a tactic to increase pressure on the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire deal.
Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, believes that the possibility of reaching a cease-fire deal is still limited, especially regarding the attitude from Qatar, a major mediator that has been promoting a cease-fire since last November.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also foreign minister, said there was a "misuse of this mediation for narrow political interests, and this necessitated Qatar to undertake a full evaluation of this role."
In an interview with Israeli media Haaretz published on Saturday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that the Israel and Hamas "are not showing enough commitment" to reach a cease-fire and a hostage release deal, and "it gets sabotaged by both sides" when a deal gets close.
Qatar's attitude illustrates how difficult the task of brokering a cease-fire will be, Liu said.
Cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel since the conflict broke out last October, have been more about hostage release and humanitarian aid, but they have never touched on the fundamentals of a permanent cease-fire. It means it is just about short-term expediency, Liu said.
The Hamas side wants a complete cease-fire, and the Israelis want a complete elimination of Hamas, and that has not changed, Liu said.
By claiming "one last chance," Israel is aiming to put more blame on Hamas and ease its pressure in the diplomatic sphere, especially after a top Hamas official said they will agree to a truce of five years or more and that it would lay down its weapons if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders, Liu said.
Growing pressure
The cease-fire deadlock comes alongside a summit attended by regional and global leaders in Saudi Arabia, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking at a World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh on Sunday, Abbas urged the US to ask Israel to stop the Rafah invasion, as the US "is the only country capable of preventing Israel from committing this crime," which would be "the biggest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people."
Citing diplomats, Reuters said on Friday that China will host Palestinian unity talks between Hamas and Fatah in Beijing.
An Israeli attack on Rafah, which has been the main channel of outside aid into Gaza in the past six months, would be a further humanitarian disaster, Niu said.
According to the Gaza health ministry on Sunday, Israeli's war in Gaza has killed at least 34,454 Palestinians since last October.
Israel now faces a dilemma: with increasing diplomatic isolation and moral pressure from the international community, Israel must find some way to protect the over 1 million Palestinians in Rafah and even arrange for the transfer of civilians, but on the other hand, it is still unwilling to give ground on stopping the military operation in Gaza, Liu said.
Whether or not a cease-fire is reached, Israel may opt for a compromise in the next phase of the conflict, Liu said, noting that Israel may keep up its partial bombardment of Gaza, but the large-scale invasion in Rafah may be postponed.
Despite the Biden Administration warning Israel against a possible Rafah invasion, US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed legislation that includes $26 billion in additional wartime assistance to Israel.
After more than 100 protesters at Columbia University in New York City were arrested, student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have spread to other campuses, with more university students rallying for a cease-fire in Gaza. Pro-Palestine demonstration have occurred in London and Paris in recent days.
To some extent, the growing campus protests in the US are a result of US duplicity and hypocrisy, which would put more pressure and cause dilemma for the US, Liu said.
In fact, the US and Israel have the same fundamental interests and war objectives, and the US still supports Israel to completely eliminate Hamas, which means a Rafah invasion is inevitable, Niu said.
With the thunderous roar, the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, atop the Long March-2F Y18 carrier rocket on 8:59 pm on Thursday, carrying taikonauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu as well as nearly 100 experimental projects to the Tiangong space station.
Following a smooth 10-minute flight, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft successfully entered its planned orbit, as confirmed by a statement the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) sent to the Global Times.
After entering its orbit, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft adopted an autonomous rapid rendezvous, successfully docking with the Tianhe core module's radial docking port approximately 6.5 hours post-launch. This marked the formation of a three-ship, three-module complex.
Radial docking is a critical part of this mission. Compared to the more familiar forward and backward rendezvous and docking tasks, radial docking is "more like a complex action movie," officials with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), China's leading space contractor, told the Global Times on Thursday.
"The hundred-ton class assembly of the space station could obstruct the spacecraft's measurement sensors, and there will be mutual impact of plumes from the station's engines… These will all pose significant challenges for radial docking. To eliminate the risks, we have minimized performance parameter deviations at each stage and verified that the docking mechanism has the capture and buffer capability under 31 complex conditions," the CASC said in a statement. The Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft is the second in the space station's application and development phase to implement radial docking. Prior to this mission, Shenzhou-16 had already successfully completed radial docking with the Chinese space station on May 30, 2023.
The current radial docking will further mark the maturity of China's independently developed space rendezvous and docking GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) technology, said CNSA in its statement.
As manned missions to Tiangong have become normalized, more than 90 experiments are scheduled to be carried out in and outside of the space station during Shenzhou-18's six-month stay. These experiments include various fields such as microgravity basic physics, space materials science, space life science, aerospace medicine, and aerospace technology, CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang said Wednesday while detailing the mission one day prior to the launch. 'The fourth crew member'
One of the highlights for this trip is the adventure of the very first fish, which has been dubbed adorably by Chinese netizens as "the fourth crew member of Shenzhou-18."
Using zebrafish and hornwort, "the experiment will be China's first in-orbit aquatic ecological research project, which aims to make a breakthrough in the cultivation of vertebrates in space," Lin said.
"In the broader picture, this ecosystem could potentially serve as a model for creating new ecological environments in space, including food ecosystems. On a smaller scale, the microgravity and radiation effects of space, if prolonged, are still unknown in terms of their impact on the members of the mini ecosystem and the material and energy cycles within the new ecosystem, which can provide new insights to our understanding toward space," Cang Huaixing, a research fellow at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times.
"Additionally, our device is equipped with a CCD for photography and video recording, enabling and facilitating behavioral studies of the fish," Cang said. "In fact, my observations in recent days have been surprising. The behavior of the fish is much more complex than we had previously imagined."
The selection of the fortunate "fourth member" is not just because zebrafish are beautiful, but also because they are well-known "model organisms" in the scientific community.
They have advantages such as small size, short development cycle, and short experimental period. What's more, zebrafish eggs are transparent, making it easy for researchers to observe the process of embryonic development.
More importantly, zebrafish share 87 percent genetic similarity with humans, making them suitable for studying and revealing universal principles of life forms.
In 2012, Japan had also sent a zebrafish aquarium to the International Space Station to observe the effects of microgravity on osteoblast and osteoclast activity.
Cang told the Global Times that while Japan's research focused on fish as the subject, China's goal is to construct and study an entire ecosystem.
Apart from raising fish, the Shenzhou-18 crew will also conduct the world's first in-orbit stem cell study on the plant's stem tips, to reveal the mechanism of plant evolutionary adaptation to gravity and provide theoretical support for space cropping, the CMSA revealed.
The prevention and damage repair of space debris impact will also be a key task during their stay.
"With human space activities rapidly increasing in recent years, the problem of space debris has become more prominent," Lin said. He noted that they had previously discovered that some of the solar panel cables on the space station were damaged by space debris impacts, leading to a partial loss of power supply capacity.
Building on the existing space debris protection mechanism at the station, the Shenzhou-18 crew will install debris protection reinforcement devices on external pipelines, cables, and key equipment during their extravehicular activities (EVAs). They will also conduct external inspections as needed to further ensure the safety of the space station.
In total, the Shenzhou-18 taikonauts are expected to carry out two to three EVAs and implement six cargo outbound deliveries via the station's cargo airlock module.
Heading to the moon
In February, CMSA revealed that landing Chinese on the moon has become the next priority for the country's space exploration now that the construction of Tiangong has been completed.
With the overall goal of achieving a lunar landing by 2030, research and development of various systems are currently under way as planned. The necessary design work for the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, and lunar suits have all completed and are now in the process of producing initial samples and conducting various tests.
Additionally, the spacecraft and lander have completed the development of thermal test products, and the rocket is conducting ground tests of engines.
The construction of the Wenchang manned lunar exploration launch site has also been launched. Now, public solicitation of manned lunar vehicles and lunar payload schemes is underway, with competition for selection.
Compared to space station missions, lunar missions require astronauts to master the normal and emergency operations of the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander, as well as lunar surface operations such as entering and exiting the cabin, carrying out activities under one-sixth of normal gravity, driving lunar rovers over long distances, and conducting drilling, sampling, and scientific investigations on the moon.
China's fourth round of taikonaut selection will soon be completed. After joining the team, they will work together with incumbent taikonauts to carry out the follow-up missions in the space station and achieve the goal of landing on the moon.
China National Space Administration (CNSA) also revealed more details of international cooperation in its lunar probe programs on the just-ended China Space Day on Wednesday.
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS,) a lunar program currently led by the CNSA and Russia's Roscosmos, has added Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science as collaborating countries and organizations.
China will cooperate with these three parties in various aspects such as engineering implementation, operation and application of the ILRS program, the CNSA said.
China will launch the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China at 8:59 pm on Thursday, sending the new crew - Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu - to the Chinese Space Station, announced China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) at a press conference on Wednesday, which marks the country's ninth Space Day.
Shenzhou-18, China's first crewed mission this year, is the seventh batch of taikonauts to be sent to the Tiangong Space Station since its construction, and the third since it entered application and development phase. It also marks China's 32rd manned flight into space.
The crew members for the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceflight mission consist of taikonauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, with Ye serving as the mission commander, CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang said.
Ye from the second batch of selected taikonauts has previously participated in the Shenzhou-13 spaceflight mission, while the other two crew members from the third batch are embarking on their ever first space journey. All three were born in the 1980s.
"Currently, all preparations for the mission are progressing steadily. The Long March-2F Y18 rocket, poised to carry out this launch mission, is about to start fueling," Lin said.
After completing the orbital shift with the Shenzhou-17 members, the Shenzhou-18 crew will stay in the space station for about six months, during this period of time they will conduct space science and application experiments, and carry out two to three extravehicular activities and six cargo ingresses and egresses, installing space debris protection devices, as well as installing and retrieving external payloads and equipment.
Additionally, they will conduct science popularization activities, and carry out space experiments to further improve the station's operational efficiency.
Notably, the Shenzhou-18 crew will carry experimental equipment and related samples to conduct the first domestic in-orbit aquatic ecological research project. The project will focus on zebrafish and ceratophyllum demersum, aiming to establish a stable space self-circulating aquatic ecosystem in orbit to achieve a breakthrough in China's cultivation of vertebrate animals in space,
After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft will adopt an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking according to plan, and dock with the Tianhe core module's radial docking port some 6.5 hours later, forming a three-ship, three-module complex.
During their stay, the Shenzhou-18 crew will welcome the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-19 crew, and are planned to return to the ground in late October this year.
Currently, the space station complex is in good condition, and all equipment is working normally, with the Shenzhou-18 crew in good spirits. Ground system facilities and equipment are operating stably, and all launch site preparations are ready to go.
Wednesday marks the ninth China Space Day. Fifty-four years ago today, China's first space satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. At 11 am, the mission crew met with domestic and foreign media at this important birthplace of China's space industry.
At the press conference, Lin noted that for the next step, China will accelerate research and promote the participation of foreign astronauts and space tourists in flights to the space station.
While answering questions regarding the future plans for manned lunar exploration, Lin said that China's fourth batch of taikonaut selection is about to be completed. After joining the team, they will work together with current taikonauts to carry out the follow-up missions in the space station and achieve the goal of landing on the moon.
The Long March-2F carrier rocket is the country's first-generation manned carrier rocket since its maiden flight in 1999, and it has never stopped on the path of self-improvement.
Compared with the previous Long March-2F used in the Shenzhou-17 mission, the new rocket has undergone 32 technical improvements, making it safer and more reliable. The reliability assessment of the rocket has been increased from 0.9896 to 0.9903, and its safety assessment has reached 0.99996, according to information shared by rocket developers with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
Since the space station started construction, the Long March-2F rocket has entered a normalized fast-paced launch state.
In order to quickly and stably send taikonauts into space, the rocket development team has continuously explored the optimization of the launch site preparation process. Now, the preparation process of the Long March 2F rocket has been reduced from 49 days in the early stage to 30 days, according to CALT.
Moreover, the development team has also used digital means such as remote measurement and control support systems to achieve real-time interconnection of rocket test data, making data interpretation more efficient and accurate. At the same time, the number of launch site personnel has been reduced by about 40 percent, further improving work efficiency.
As the country's only active manned launch vehicle, the Long March-2F rocket has been specially designed with a unique fault detection system and escape rescue system. Over the past 20 years, it has maintained a 100 percent launch success rate. Although the escape rescue system has never been used, researchers made numerous improvements and refinements behind the scene to better safeguard the taikonauts' safety.
China's top legislature on Friday vowed to strengthen discipline for minors engaged in bullying, and those with serious offenses will be sent to specialized educational institutions, or subjected to public security penalties or criminal charges.
The remarks were made by Yang Heqing, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, at a press conference on Friday, following a recent debate about prevention of juvenile crime in China after several cases involving underage offenders.
By noting that the laws on protection of minors as well as on prevention of juvenile delinquency, both revised in 2020, made clear provisions on student bullying, Yang stressed the role of parents, schools, and education authorities in preventing campus bullying.
According to Yang, parents or other guardians are not allowed to condone or incite minors to bully others, while schools should establish a system for preventing and controlling student bullying, and identify and handle student bullying behaviors according to law.
Schools should also provide necessary family education guidance to the parents of relevant minors, and strengthen discipline for minors who engage in bullying behavior. Serious cases of bullying should be promptly reported to the public security organs and education administrative departments, Yang said.
In terms of the responsibilities held by education authorities, Yang emphasized the importance of collaborating with relevant departments to develop a comprehensive bullying prevention and intervention system for students.
If student bullying is deemed as a serious offense, the appropriate authorities should handle the situation in accordance with the law, Yang said. This may involve sending the bully to a specialized school for education, imposing public security penalties, or pursuing criminal charges.
Yang emphasized the importance of parents, schools, and relevant departments, in understanding the detrimental effects of student bullying. He stressed the need to prioritize the prevention and intervention of bullying incidents, underscoring the importance of collaboration and adherence to legal protocols.
Looking ahead, efforts will be made to encourage all stakeholders to enhance awareness through education, ensure the proper enforcement of laws, so as to cultivate a supportive social atmosphere conducive to the well-being of minors.
The remarks of China's top legislature came following a series of efforts made by relevant departments to address juvenile delinquency. China's Supreme People's Court on Monday stressed child protection in divorces, which help prevent situations where the legitimate rights and interests of minors are disregarded, thereby effectively eliminating various negative factors that lead to juvenile delinquency. A number of provinces have also urged local authorities to focus on key groups of underage children, and strengthen the protection provided by family, school and community.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin via a video call on Tuesday at the latter's invitation. Dong said that China will never compromise on the Taiwan question and urged the US to recognize China's firm stance, respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, according to a handout published by Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday.
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, and it will never be compromised. The PLA will not tolerate any Taiwan secessionists' activities or external support, Dong told Austin via the video call.
The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable, and regional countries have the willingness, wisdom, and capability to resolve issues. The US should recognize China's firm stance, respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, and take practical actions to maintain regional peace and stability and the stability of China-US military relations, Dong said.
The two heads of state are committed to promoting stable and positive bilateral relations. The military field is crucial for implementing the consensus of the leaders, stabilizing the development of the two countries' relations, and preventing major crises, said Dong.
He noted that the Chinese and US militaries should seek ways to coexist, prioritize peace, stability, and trust in their interactions, and build a non-conflict, non-confrontational, open, practical, and gradually trust-building military relationship on the basis of equality and respect. They should truly serve as a stable foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
The two also exchanged views on other topics of mutual concern.
The last time Chinese and US defense ministers held direct communication was when the then Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Austin met on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2022.
The conference between two defense ministers came after a joint statement issued by the leaders of US, Japan and the Philippines which voiced "serious concern" over China's actions in the South China Sea, slamming its behavior as "dangerous and aggressive." The statement also emphasized that peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits was vital and indispensable to global security and prosperity.
The US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines also held a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea earlier this month.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the conversation occurred at a crucial juncture when the US has been engaging in a series of actions to strengthen alliances with countries such as Japan and the Philippines. Their activities are all focused on creating turmoil and friction in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, posing a threat to China's core interests. There is now a possibility of unexpected incidents arising in the handling of these issues, said Li.
This phone call carried great symbolic significance, as it marked the resumption of military communication channels between the two countries, said Li, noting that military relations are an important dimension of the China-US relationship, and there is indeed a need for both sides to strengthen communication and exchanges in military relations.
However, Chinese observers doubted whether the call would help de-escalate the regional tension as the US intends to create crisis in South China Sea and Taiwan Straits to strengthen its control and dominance over its allies.
By pretending to seek negotiation with China on military level, the US wants to create an illusion to the outside world that Washington is responsible for managing and controlling the conflicts with China, said Li, adding that the US move may pave way for greater levels of frictions in this region.
If the US is sincere, it should not hype up the Taiwan question and South China Sea issue during leaders' summit between US, Japan and Philippines in Washington. Therefore, although the US has a sense of responsibility in its words, its actions are without a bottom line and lack responsibility. This hypocrisy and duplicity indicate the complexity of future interactions between China and the US, Li noted.
The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has expressed firm opposition against smears toward the national security law in Hong Kong and its newly passed Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, after the US and Canada updated travel warnings to the city citing so-called "restrictions" on civil liberties.
US Consulate General in Hong Kong asked US nationals to "exercise increased caution" when traveling to the SAR due to "the arbitrary enforcement of local laws," the consulate general said on Friday.
It noted that since the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, 2024, the SAR government is expected to "further restrict civil liberties," while warning US nationals there that they may even face arrest and detention if they criticize the Chinese central government or the SAR local authorities.
Canada also issued similar warnings, saying that the new legislation in Hong Kong has broadened the range of national security offenses, which could include activities outside the region, even social media posts. "If you are suspected of endangering national security, you could be detained without charge for up to 16 days and denied access to a legal representative for up to 48 hours," the advisory said.
In a strong rebuttal against such slander, a spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office said Saturday the travel alerts, in complete disregard of the facts, have maliciously tarnished Hong Kong's international reputation in an attempt to obstruct normal business and personnel exchanges.
The Office stressed that Hong Kong's law and ordinance on national security are in line with the rule of law and international practices. With a clear definition of crimes, they fully respect and protect human rights, and safeguard the normal activities of foreign institutions and personnel in the region.
"The law only targets a tiny minority who endanger national security, and ordinary foreign individuals and institutions do not need to worry," the spokesperson said.
"The purpose of the US and Canada is to further suppress Hong Kong's international status by throwing mud at the Article 23 legislation, which was established with full reference to the development of common law and national security laws in other countries, including those in the US and Canada," Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan affairs expert at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday. "This reflects a typical discriminatory double-standards of the West," he said.
What's more, compared to the national security laws in the US and Canada, Hong Kong's legislation strives to be more concise in defining offenses and clear in sentencing. It has improved in terms of human rights protection and upholding the rule of law, setting a more predictable standard, Tian noted.
Observers believe that while the travel alerts may have a short-term impact on people-to-people exchanges, the concerns will gradually fade away as the specific implementation of the legislation unfolds, when foreign businesses in Hong Kong will be able to witness the stronger legal protection of society and the optimized business environment there.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need to address the "prolonged situation" along the border with China to improve bilateral relations between the two countries, as stated in a recent interview with US magazine Newsweek. Chinese analysts welcomed the relatively softened and rational remarks from the Indian leader, while also cautioning that China should remain vigilant and closely monitor whether the Indian side will follow through with concrete actions.
Modi underscored that stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for the entire region and world. "It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us," Modi remarked during a wide-ranging interview with the US magazine, according to the Newsweek article published on Wednesday.
"I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders," Modi told the Newsweek.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, commented during a regular press conference on Thursday that China has taken note of Prime Minister Modi's relevant remarks.
"Sound and stable China-India relations serve the interests of both countries and are conducive to peace and development in the region and beyond. The boundary question does not represent the entirety of China-India relations, and it should be placed appropriately in bilateral relations and managed properly," Mao said.
"We hope that India will work with China, approach the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, keep building trust and engaging in dialogue and cooperation, and seek to handle differences appropriately to put the relationship on a sound and stable track," Mao said.
Regarding Modi's statements, China should remain calm and observe their actions, Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
India is currently in the midst of a major election period, and Modi's remarks concerning China are aimed at gaining domestic votes. They are unlikely to fundamentally resolve the border issue. In reality, India intends to use the border issue as leverage against China, and through this dispute, distort historical facts to garner sympathy and support from foreign powers, Hu warned.
Therefore, China should maintain a high level of vigilance, the expert noted, saying "on one hand, welcoming India's friendly remarks towards China, and on the other hand, making preparation for possible military struggle, and guarding against India's attempts to provoke disputes along the border.
The Indian leader's soften-toned language came in stark contrast with recent tough words byIndian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
China and India held the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on March 27, with two sides vowing to continue talks through diplomatic and military channels to resolve border issues at the latest border consultation in Beijing.
The two sides made positive comments on the progress made in bringing the border situation under control, holding a "candid and in-depth" exchange of views on the next stage of work, agreeing to reach a mutually acceptable plan at an early date and ensure the border situation reaches a phase of regular control.
However, on the same day during his meeting with the Indian community in Malaysia, Jaishankar said, "my first duty to Indians is to secure the border. I can never compromise on that," according to India's NDTV.
And in response to a question after delivering a lecture at the Institute of South Asian Studies of National University in Singapore on March 23, Jaishankar called China's claims on the so-called Arunachal Pradesh "ludicrous" while asserting that the region is "a natural part of India," India's NDTV reported.
Jaishankar's erroneous claims came after a US State Department spokesperson said on March 20 that the US recognizes Arunachal Pradesh (namely Zangnan of China) as Indian territory, which China strongly condemns and firmly opposes.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Thursday that to some extent, Modi's remarks are aimed at adjusting the government's previous aggressive stance.
However, it should also be noted that Modi's interview was conducted with US media, indicating the possibility of deliberate posture as a major power with strategic autonomy in front of the US, Qian said.
The future direction of the border issue will continue to depend on the guidance of both countries' leadership, he said, pointing out that "China and India can and should be partners, not rivals or enemies. And the two Asian giants are development opportunities for each other."
The Chinese Embassy in the US lashed out at the US for overstretching the scope of normal law enforcement after a number of Chinese citizens have been subject to hours of interrogation in a "small black room" when entering or leaving the US.
Observers reached by the Global Times said that the duplicitous nature of Biden administration will stoke up distrust, further foster hostility among the people of the two countries and derail the commitment of the two leaders to advance bilateral relations. They urged the US to heed the "kind reminder" from China and alter their operational behavior to avoid irreversible harm to people-to-people exchanges.
Quoting data, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the US said in a statement that nearly 300 Chinese citizens have been deported by the US since July 2021, including more than 70 Chinese students with legal and valid materials. Since November 2023, at Washington Dulles Airport alone, there have been 10 cases of Chinese students being harassed, interrogated and, after having their visas canceled, deported.
The spokesperson listed two cases of Chinese scholars with legal visas being harassed during their entry to the US border, each of them being interrogated for an exceptionally long 10 hours and being detained for 22 hours respectively. After these abnormal interrogations in the "small black room, both were deported after their visas were canceled.
The embassy spokesperson slammed acts by the US as far exceeding the scope of normal law enforcement and driven by strong ideological bias, saying they gravely infringe on the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of persons concerned and disturb normal cross-border travel between China and the US.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday also slammed the US for overstretching the concept of national security, arbitrarily revoking visas, restricting entry, and forcibly deporting Chinese students without concrete evidence, causing great harm to the individuals involved and creating obstacles for cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the US.
US border control personnel have continuously and unjustifiably harassed, interrogated and deported Chinese nationals entering the US, at a time when the two Presidents reiterated the need to take further steps to expand people-to-people exchanges between the two countries on April 2.
Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that despite the agreement between the two heads of state to promote people-to-people exchanges at their meeting in San Francisco last November and the recent phone call reaffirming stable ties, there is still a lack of visible restraint from the US in the actions it is taking. "It indicates a duplicitous nature within the Biden administration," Lü noted.
In the statement, the spokesperson slammed that the US' actions run against the common understandings reached by the two Presidents on enhancing and facilitating China-US cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
China is gravely concerned and firmly opposes such moves, and has made solemn démarches to the US, the spokesperson said.
Dealing with duplicities in US policies may be an unavoidable, long-term reality for China, Lü further explained.
Observers view the statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in the US on Tuesday as a "kind reminder" to the US, and said that hopefully the US will alter its unjustifiable harassment and interrogation of Chinese citizens, and will not further undermine the environment of public support for China-US relations.
As a veteran Chinese scholar on American studies, Lü noted a decreasing willingness among Chinese researchers to visit the US due to concerns about potential interrogation and deportation. Many have the mindset of "It's better to save trouble."
Lü emphasized that cultural and people-to-people exchanges are the "fundamental logic" for enhancing relations between the two countries. If there is hostility among the people of both nations, how can the commitment of the two leaders to advance bilateral relations in a stable, sound and sustainable manner be achieved?
In recent years, a growing trend emerged as more and more Chinese students majoring in STEM subjects were taken to "small black room" during their entry to the US, the Global Times learnt.
A netizen who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday when she visited the US at the end of 2023 for vacation, she was questioned at customs. The questions were way much too detailed, from the source of her income during the work-leave to financial support for travel expenses.
A postdoc with a J1-visa also shared her experience, claiming that when she entered Washington DC customs in late March this year, she encountered unfair treatment.
She was assigned to a separate line and each person in the line was questioned for a long time. When it came to her turn, she was taken directly to "small black room" after being fingerprinted.
The postdoc advised students in STEM majors to avoid entering US at Washington, DC, if at all possible.
