In response to a media inquiry regarding the production, operation, and export management of fentanyl-related substances in China, as well as whether there is any issue of fentanyl-related substances leaking from legitimate enterprises, a spokesperson for the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) said China has never exported fentanyl-related pharmaceuticals to North America.

China's State Council Information Office released a white paper on March 4, 2025 titled “Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances - China's Contribution,” highlighting the country's rigorous control over these chemicals.

The spokesperson noted that in 2024, China produced 100 kilograms of fentanyl-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, primarily for domestic medical use and export. That year, China exported 12.3 kilograms of fentanyl-related medications, measured as fentanyl-related substances, mainly to South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Fentanyl-related medications are primarily used for pain relief in clinical settings. Non-medical use can lead to drug abuse and even cause public health and social issues. As of now, a total of four fentanyl-related medications have been approved for marketing in China: fentanyl and its derivatives sufentanil, alfentanil and remifentanil. Three companies have been authorized to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients, while five companies have been approved to manufacture formulations, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson emphasized that China has enumerated fentanyl-related medications in the List of Controlled Narcotic Drugs. The drug regulatory authorities implement the strictest control measures for fentanyl-related medications. Production and business operations are carried out through designated enterprises, with production based on demand and fixed sales channels, while exports are subject to licensing management. Regular inspections and checks are conducted on the production and operation of fentanyl-related medications to promptly identify potential safety risks. Special inspections and surprise checks are organized to effectively regulate the production and business order.

The spokesperson further noted that the export of fentanyl-related medications is subject to an international verification system. An export permit is issued only after the legality of the trade is confirmed by the competent authorities of the importing country. Warning and educational meetings are held for the production, operation, and export enterprises of fentanyl-related medications to enhance their awareness of legal compliance and strengthen the safety defense line for fentanyl-related medications.

Through the joint efforts of regulatory authorities and enterprises, the production and operation management of fentanyl-related medications have remained stable. No illegal production or operation of fentanyl-related medications has been found in pharmaceutical enterprises, nor have fentanyl-related medications been discovered to flow into illegal channels from pharmaceutical production and business enterprises, said the spokesperson.

Moving forward, the NMPA will continue to enhance the supervision and regulation of the production and distribution of fentanyl-related medications. It will enforce strict approval processes for exports, ensure a stable medical supply, and implement robust measures to prevent diversion into illegal channels and misuse, the spokesperson added.

Four departments in China jointly released a notice to standardize the identification of synthetic content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) on Friday, a move an industry observer said will address concerns of deep counterfeiting and scientific dishonesty.

Whether AI-generated content is properly labeled will be one of the criteria that internet application service providers must meet to gain approval before listing or launching their applications, according to the notice.

The notice - jointly compiled by four departments in China, namely, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, National Radio and Television Administration - will be officially put into practice on September 1.

Li Zonghui, vice president of the Institute of Cyber and Artificial Intelligence Rule of Law affiliated with the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times it is common to see AI-generated content often fabricating facts and references. By adding identifiers for AI-generated synthetic content, including both explicit and implicit labels, it can effectively prevent deepfakes and academic dishonesty, as well as deter intentional AI fraud.

The Cyberspace Administration of China also noted the spread of false information and the disruption of the online ecosystem brought by the rapid development of new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence and deep synthesis. 

More specifically, the measures defined AI-generated synthetic content as information such as text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes created or synthesized using AI technology.

It requires explicit identifiers to be added to the generated synthetic content or interactive scene interfaces, presented in the form of text, sound, graphics, etc., which can be clearly perceived by users. 

The same applies to implicit identifiers that are not easily perceived by users. The implicit identity contains the attribute information of the generated synthesized content, the name or code of the service provider, and the content number. 

Those who violate the provisions of these measures will be dealt with by the relevant authorities in accordance with their respective duties and based on relevant laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules.

Li said that this is another effort by the Chinese government to balance the creation of a fair and orderly development environment for AI while regulating the industry within a legal framework.

In the book-lined office of Professor Stelios Virvidakis at the University of Athens, Greece's oldest and most esteemed academic institution, a letter is carefully preserved like a precious, delicate bridge model.

It came from Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivered to congratulate the inauguration of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations in the time-honored university in February 2023.

"It was a delightful surprise to us all," said Virvidakis, his philosopher's gaze softening at the memory.

In the letter, Xi noted that over 2,000 years ago, China and Greece, two civilizations glittering at each end of the Eurasian continent, made groundbreaking contributions to the evolution of human civilization.

Now, he pointed out, it is of profound historical and contemporary significance for them to work together to promote exchanges and mutual learning and enhance the development of all civilizations.

The well-preserved letter reflects Xi's broader vision of fostering cross-cultural dialogue and mutual learning as a catalyst for global peace and development, a vision that has been driving his diplomatic action worldwide.

That aspiration is best embodied in his Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), launched at a conference between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and global political parties in 2023, where he stressed that tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process when the future of all countries are closely connected.

With the GCI marking its second anniversary on Saturday, Xi's vision -- to build a world where civilizations don't collide but converse -- has become ever more relevant, standing both as a nod to ancient ties and as a bold stitch in a fraying global tapestry.
In recent years, some scholars and politicians in the West have been peddling once again the clash of civilizations theory, first proposed by American political scientist Samuel Huntington in 1993. They portray some civilizations as superior to others and seek to divide countries through ideological and racial lines.

On the background of the resurgence of such sentiments is a world undergoing unprecedented transformations rarely seen in a century. Global South countries, on a collective rise, are demanding their legitimate right to modernization in louder voices, while the global deficits in peace, security, development and governance are growing ever larger.

In Xi's eyes, no civilization in the world is superior to others, and every civilization is equal and unique. "Civilizations have come in different colors, and such diversity renders exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations relevant and valuable," he said in a speech at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in 2014.

Months after he put forward the GCI in 2023, Xi explained at an event in San Francisco that the initiative is meant "to urge the international community to address the imbalance between material and cultural advancement and jointly promote continued progress of human civilization."

China's global initiatives, including the GCI, advocate for an egalitarian and inclusive order in pursuit of just and coherent global governance, said Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific and a former transport minister of Malaysia.

In the meantime, he said, "the GCI has driven home a clear message that all nations have the right to choose their own development paths in their pursuit of modernization, which is not necessarily synonymous with Westernization."

In September 2024, at the opening ceremony of the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Xi put forward 10 partnership actions for modernization, with the first being "Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations."

"China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the GCI," Xi said.

As the world order designed to serve the interests of Western powers no longer meets the evolving needs and aspirations of Global South countries, a call for change is a natural response, said Ong, the Malaysian expert.

"This must occur … free from any mental subordination. Only then can an environment conducive to a nation's modernization and development be established," he said. "In this respect, the GCI undoubtedly serves as a potent enabler."

China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday revealed four members of the "Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command" (ICEFCOM) of Taiwan island linked to Taiwan secessionists authorities, operating cyber activities against the Chinese mainland. 

Spokesperson of Chinese State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said ICEFCOM's "reliance on the internet to seek independence" and its provocative actions will be severely punished. Analysts approached by the Global Times also noted that the MSS's unveiling serves as a "stern warning" against Taiwan secessionist forces and it shows the mainland's firm determination and strength against provocations of the secessionists. 

In an article posted on its WeChat account Monday, the MSS posted the pictures, dates of birth and Taiwan local ID numbers of the four members of ICEFCOM and warned them that "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are a dead-end road. The MSS urged them to abandon the illusion of "Taiwan independence" separatism, refuse to become cannon fodder for "Taiwan independence," and cease their cybercriminal activities of splitting the country.

The revealed members are Lin Yushu, born in 1979, head of the Network Environment Research and Analysis Center of the ICEFCOM, and Cai Jiehong, born in 1993, team leader of the center, as well as Nian Xiaofan, born in 1982, and Wang Haoming, born in 1990, who are active personnel at the center, according to the MSS. The MSS also revealed with their photos and Taiwan ID numbers.

Since The ICEFCOM was established in June 2017, it has acted as a pawn of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, resorting to all means to carry out cyberattacks and infiltration activities against the mainland, according to MSS.

The common tactics of ICEFCOM's cyberattack forces include infiltrating key information infrastructure in the mainland, such as water, electricity, gas, heating, communication and networked cameras. Also, they have targeted key units of the Party, government, military and enterprises in the mainland by sending phishing and propaganda emails.

Meanwhile, after they gained control of network livestreaming platforms, networked electronic displays, IP network intercom systems and portal websites by stealing login credentials, they inserted audios, videos or images, including content against national reunification on them, MSS said.

Since 2023, they have used aliases like "Anonymous 64" to spread disinformation on social media, attempting to bolster the DPP authorities' pursuit for "Taiwan independence," MSS disclosed. 

Commenting on the MSS' latest revealing, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said on Monday that the state security authorities have exposed despicable tactics of ICEFCOM of Taiwan island and issued a warning to deter them in September 2024, however, ICEFCOM has shown no signs of repentance, continuing to act as pawns for the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Chen added that the ICEFCOM's "reliance on the internet to seek independence" and its provocative actions are completely overestimating its capabilities, and will be severely punished.

In an article published in September 2024, MSS disclosed a so-called civil hacker organization called "Anonymous 64," which it found is actually cyber force closely tied to the secessionist DPP authorities. The organization is a cyber-environment analysis center under the ICEFCOM, MSS said then. 

ICEFCOM was restructured in 2022 as a direct agency of the "defense department" of the island. It primarily handles electronic warfare, information warfare, cyber warfare, and military line maintenance, serving as the main force for the island of Taiwan's cyber operations against the mainland, said MSS in 2024. 

It was very rare for the mainland to reveal the names, photos, dates of birth, and local ID numbers of secessionists, Wang Jianmin, a research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

In light of recent increasingly rampant provocative actions by the Taiwan regional authorities that have worsened cross-Straits relations, the mainland's move undoubtedly serves as a serious and stern warning, said Wang.

On March 13, Taiwan's regional secessionist leader Lai Ching-te portrayed the mainland as a "hostile external force" and outlined 17 strategies to counter so-called threats facing the island, sparking strong concerns on the island of Taiwan. Chen Binhua denounced Lai for instigating separatist sentiment on the island and for blocking cross-Straits exchange, warning that anyone seeking "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, according to Xinhua. 

The mainland has sent a clear and unmistakable signal: whether it's cyber force, armed groups, or individual separatists, anyone who dares to take reckless risks on secession will inevitably face punishment, Zheng Jian, director of the Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, told the Global Times.

Non-traditional domain

Also on Monday, Global Times has learned from the Chinese cybersecurity company QI-ANXIN Technology Group Inc (QAX) that APT organizations from the island of Taiwan have been persistently using various cyber weapons in large-scale attacks against the mainland recently. 

Through years of surveillance and tracing, the firm has identified "Poison Vine group" (APT-Q-20), a Taiwan-based group, as actively targeting government, military and defense authorities, and scientific research institutions in the Chinese mainland. This group employs spear-phishing emails and watering hole attacks, among other methods, to carry out APT attacks.

A recent report released by QI-ANXIN revealed that from 2018 to 2025, the APT-Q-20 has engaged in large-scale imitation of the most used social media, email systems, as well as government agency websites, military websites, and university websites on the Chinese mainland, so as to amass personal data for subsequent intelligence theft, the report stated.

According to the QI-ANXIN, with rising geopolitical tensions, the frequency of APT attacks aimed at espionage and intelligence theft is expected to increase, and the mainland must remain vigilant against the ongoing threat posed by Taiwan-based APT organizations.

A new development has emerged in the confrontation between mainland and Taiwan secessionists in the era of AI, with increasing complexity, said Wang.  

"From the recent detailed information by the mainland about secessionists, it is evident that the mainland has a firm grasp of the disruptive activities of these cyber force," Wang noted, adding that the mainland's capabilities in countering electronic information warfare, cognitive warfare, and cyberattacks are remarkably strong.

Some Taiwan-based netizens have voiced their support of the mainland's revealing more details of the DPP cyber force. With the release of comprehensive data on these cyberattack forces, some netizens in Taiwan have also started to cast doubt on the true capabilities of the DPP's cyber operatives.

Wang said that it cannot be ruled out that the mainland will progressively disclose more information regarding secessionist cyber force of Taiwan authorities.  

The cyberattacks launched by the DPP authorities against the mainland pose a dangerous risk of escalating cross-Straits tensions, Zheng said. 

Yet, the greater this threat becomes, the more it highlights the critical importance of the mainland's persistent efforts to foster cross-Straits exchanges in strengthening emotional ties between the two sides and dismantling the DPP's deception of the people of Taiwan with reality, Zheng said. 

Recently, videos posted by netizens claimed that an amusement park in Zibo, East China's Shandong Province, was disguising a donkey as a zebra, sparking widespread discussion. In response, park staff confirmed that the "zebra" was indeed a donkey, and the move was intended to attract tourists.

On a popular short video platform, an account repeatedly posted videos claiming that a zebra had been introduced to an amusement park in Zibo. However, as reported by CCTV News, the "zebra" in the videos closely resembled a donkey, with its stripes showing clear signs of being artificially applied.

The videos quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion. Some netizens pointed out that the "zebra" looked more like a donkey, with stripes that appeared to be either taped on or dyed.

A staff member from the park confirmed that, after checking with management, the so-called zebra was indeed a donkey, with a sign clearly indicating that it was a donkey. "The owner did it just for fun," the staff member said.

The staff member noted that a local zoo had previously gained attention by dressing a dog as a panda, and this was an attempt to replicate that promotional strategy. 

Despite the video's popularity, the actual number of visitors to the park remained low, the staff noted.

Some netizens questioned whether the act was deceptive for visitors expecting to see a real zebra. A lawyer told Fengmian News that while this method attracts public attention and engages consumers, it serves as a unique marketing strategy. "As long as there are clear indications, it does not constitute consumer fraud," the lawyer explained.