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A new air corridor linking Shanghai and Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, will commence operations on Thursday, aimed at reducing congestion for east-west flights and enhancing connectivity with some Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar and Laos.

The Shanghai-Kunming air corridor, is able to handle more than 1,400 flights every day and covers seven major airports in six cities, China Media Group reported.

Experts attributed the demand for the route to rising economic, trade, development and personnel exchanges, which will allow efficient connection not only between the country's eastern and western regions, but also with neighboring countries, further promoting high-level opening-up.

The vital route in China's extensive transportation network has been upgraded from a "single-lane" to a "dual-lane" system for one-way traffic, improving air traffic efficiency and safety, according to media reports. 

The expanded corridor now includes two parallel routes, offering enhanced connectivity between Shanghai's air terminals and the western regions.

Under the plan, a total of 13 new flight routes will be established, while nine existing routes will be adjusted. This initiative will benefit over 1,400 flights per day, accounting for 8 percent of the country's total flight volume, according to Zhang Junjie, an official from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

An enhanced air route network is anticipated, aligning with the rapid growth of the country's civil aviation market, said the official, suggesting that the average daily passenger flight volume has increased from 10,360 flights in 2013 to 19,000 flights in summer this year.

"The route network is expected to meet growing aviation transportation demand over the next five years and can be adjusted as needed, benefiting over 80 percent of travelers nationwide," said Yan Xiaodong, deputy director of the air traffic management division of the CAAC.

Previously, China has established and activated seven air corridors nationwide, effectively reducing airspace congestion caused by the rapid increase in flight volume. 

The 8th air corridor, linking Shanghai and Kunming, will significantly enhance the capacity of the main air route network, supporting the rapid industrial growth and providing strong backing for local economic development, Lin Zhijie, an independent market analyst, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Yunnan province has been strengthening infrastructure connectivity with South and Southeast Asian countries for years, represented by the China-Laos Railway, experts said, adding that such developments are crucial for driving industrial upgrades and stimulating economic growth in the region. 

The enhanced connectivity has facilitated the flow of people and goods, bolstered regional economic ties, and played a key role in promoting shared development, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Recently, the reporter learned from the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company that since the beginning of summer this year, Henan Province has set two new records for new energy power generation. Specifically, at 12:55 on August 11, the maximum power generation from new energy reached 29.37 million kilowatts, an increase of 920,000 kilowatts from the previous record, accounting for 45.5 percent of the province's electricity load at that time, and a 30 percent increase from the peak value of the previous year.

It is learned that in recent years, the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company has vigorously promoted the precise reinforcement and upgrade of the backbone network at various levels. The number of substations and the length of transmission lines at or above 220 kilovolts have increased by 73 percent and 39 percent respectively, and the scale of the distribution network has doubled, significantly enhancing the capacity for new energy consumption and allocation. The company has resolutely implemented the decision-making and deployment of the provincial committee of the CPC and government, actively developed a distributed source-network-load-storage coordinated control system, achieving full coverage of "group adjustment and group control" for distributed photovoltaics across the province. The establishment of the Henan Province Distributed Photovoltaic Bearing Capacity and Open Capacity Release Platform has guided and supported the standardized and healthy development of distributed photovoltaics, providing useful exploration and important support for ensuring the long-term safe and stable operation of the power grid and the coordinated development of source-network-load-storage.

By the end of 2023, the installed capacity of new energy in Henan Province reached 59.092 million kilowatts, representing 42.5 percent. In 2023, the total electricity generation from wind and photovoltaic power within the province reached 73.8 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 25.7 percent, equivalent to saving 23.247 million tons of standard coal and reducing 73.5786 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In the first half of 2024, under the condition that the new installed capacity of new energy in the province increased by 3.78 million kilowatts, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the total installed capacity, the high proportion of new energy use was ensured, achieving the goal that new energy can be generated and supplied.

While continuing to back Manila's provocative actions in the South China Sea, some allies of the US have been intensifying moves to smear China, Chinese observers said on Monday, when commenting on recent noises on the South China Sea issue from external parties.

The latest irresponsible remarks came from the European External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson, which condemned China's "dangerous actions," in a statement issued on Sunday. 

The fact was that the Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701, which has been illegally stationed at China's Xianbin Jiao, on Saturday lifted its anchor and conducted continuous maneuvers, stirring up troubles in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 5205 took measures including verbal warnings, monitoring and control in accordance with the law and regulations.

In the process, the Philippine MRRV-9701 deliberately rammed into CCG Vessel 5205 in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, causing a collision for which the Philippines bears full responsibility.

China strongly deplored the EU's accusations over the collision, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU said on Monday.

Soon after the collision, the US on Saturday backed the Philippines' stance and claimed China's actions to safeguard its own interests were "escalatory." US allies including Australia followed suit in making a biased statement. Japan has also made a high-profile response targeting China over a previous China-Philippines collision incident at Xianbin Jiao in August. 

The Philippines aims to internationalize the issue by leveraging alliance to mislead the public. By engaging with these non-involved parties, including making some off-table trade-offs, the Philippines seeks to "enhance its bargaining power and maritime presence," said Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The US is the real "mastermind" behind the tension in the South China Sea, instructing Manila to stir up trouble but avoiding a scenario that goes out of control, and it is also the US that has mobilized its close allies to back the Philippines, Chen said. 

The quick responses from the US and its allies after the Saturday incident fully demonstrated their close coordination in this disinformation campaign against China, and their ultimate goal of destabilizing the South China Sea and pushing the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy, analysts said.

President Xi Jinping met with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games "deeply regrets the incident" and is investigating how table tennis player Wang Chuqin's racket was broken on Tuesday after the mixed doubles final match, according to the Beijing Youth Daily on Thursday.

Paris 2024 said they are investigating the cause to ensure there is no repeat of the incident where a member of the press accidentally stepped on Wang's racket while hustling to take a photograph. Paris 2024 has strongly reminded photographers that they must adhere to the strict guidelines in place and always remain in the designated areas for photographers, according to a reply by the committee posted by the Beijing Youth Daily.

Wang's bat was broken on Tuesday after the mixed doubles final match, so he had to use his backup paddle. The world No.1-ranked player failed to advance to the round of 16 after a shock 2-4 defeat to 26-ranked Truls Moregard of Sweden on Wednesday.

The racket incident occurred right after Wang and his mixed doubles partner Sun Yingsha took gold on Tuesday. When Wang put his racket down to hold the national flag, a group of photographers rushed to capture the moment and stepped on his bat. Some Chinese netizens are repeatedly watching video recordings to figure out how the paddle was damaged.

Chinese athletes Liu Hao and Ji Bowen captured the gold medal in the men's canoe double 500m at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

China last won this event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Meng Guangliang and Yang Wenjun successfully defended their title. Sixteen years later, Liu and Ji have once again brought glory to China, breaking the Olympic record.

The pair advanced to the semifinals with a time of 1:37.40 in the heats, setting a new Olympic record for the event. They then secured their spot in the final as the top team from the semifinals.

In the final, Liu and Ji dominated the race, leading from start to finish to clinch the gold medal with a commanding performance.

Liu, who won silver in both the men's 1000m double sculls and single sculls at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, came to Paris with the goal of completing his medal collection with a gold. After the 2021 National Games in Shaanxi Province, Liu partnered with the younger Ji, as the Paris Olympics saw a shift from the 1000m to the 500m distance in the men's double sculls.

Despite the changes, the 30-year-old Liu quickly adapted, forming a strong partnership with Ji. Liu described Ji as fast and noted that he soon became a role model.

"I feel responsible for keeping the team's morale high. I can't let the energy drop, especially during long training sessions," Liu said.

Ji also spoke about their partnership: "We first met in 2019 at a competition. I thought I was fast, but compared to Liu, I was far behind. I see him as a role model and strive to meet his standard."

Their hard work paid off when they secured their Olympic spot with a second-place finish at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships. Their gold medal in Paris now stands as a testament to their dedication and teamwork.

Fujian Maritime Safety Administration and Donghai Rescue Bureau, both under the Chinese Ministry of Transport, jointly conducted maritime patrol and law enforcement operations in the Taiwan Straits from Saturday to Sunday, with a total duration of 30.5 hours and a total cruising distance of 413 nautical miles.

Experts said the operation has enhanced the Chinese mainland's maritime management agency's control over maritime traffic and emergency rescue capabilities in the Taiwan Straits. Previously, maritime departments from the mainland had already achieved regular law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen, and now this "regularization" has been further extended, they noted.

The operation was jointly carried out by a patrol flotilla consisting of three vessels, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

The primary tasks of the operation involved patrolling the waters of the Taiwan Straits, examining coastal shipping routes, anchorages, offshore construction sites, high-risk collision zones for commercial and fishing vessels, busy traffic areas, accident-prone zones, Taiwan Shoal, and other waterways, according to the report.

Additionally, tasks include investigating and addressing maritime traffic violations, upholding navigational regulations, inspecting shipping routes in the central Taiwan Straits, organizing and controlling traffic, conducting spot checks on passing vessels, and inspecting on-site the implementation of emergency search and rescue plans.

The operation also involves inspecting and verifying navigational aids in the Taiwan Straits, confirming ship identification code details on-site, testing communication capabilities over land and sea, and ensuring the orderly conduct of radio communications on the water. Since the fishing ban in the southeastern coast of China was lifted on Friday, a large number of fishing vessels entered the Taiwan Straits, increasing the risk of collisions between commercial and fishing vessels, CCTV said. 

The operation reached within two nautical miles east of the middle of the Taiwan Straits, and the southernmost point reached the Taiwan Shoal, covering an area that was wider than in previous years, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, said in a post on WeChat on Sunday.

Due to geographical reasons, the Taiwan Straits has relatively large winds and waves, making it prone to accidents. The operation served to protect the safety of navigation for ships passing by, and also to demonstrate the mainland's jurisdiction over the relevant waters of the Taiwan Straits, an expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

Xi, Lula exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of China-Brazil ties

With an interval of less than a month, China's aircraft carrier Shandong reportedly launched its second far seas drill of the year on Monday, with experts on Tuesday highlighting the carrier's increasing comprehensive combat capabilities.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong, a Type 055 guided missile destroyer, a Type 052D guided missile destroyer and a Type 054A guided missile frigate sailing in the West Pacific waters to the south of Miyako Island on Monday, with the Shandong having hosted takeoff and landing operations of fighter jets and helicopters, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release late on Monday.

It marks the aircraft carrier Shandong's second far seas exercise beyond the first island chain this year, observers said.

The first drill took place in the same region from July 9 to 18, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force lost track of the Shandong on July 16, and from July 9 to 15 and July 17 to 18, it counted a total of about 420 aircraft sorties hosted by the PLA Navy carrier.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the Shandong's drills demonstrate a significant increase in its training intensity, which greatly enhances the aircraft carrier's comprehensive combat capabilities.

Launching a second drill less than a month after the first shows that the aircraft carrier is able to conduct consecutive missions in short intervals, and displays a high level of maintenance capability, observers said.

The West Pacific waters where the Shandong is conducting drill is of strategic significance, analysts said. The area is located in the Philippine Sea to the east of the island of Taiwan, to the northeast of the Philippines, to the south of Japan and to the northwest of Guam.

During the PLA's previous large-scale joint drills around the island of Taiwan, Chinese mainland experts stressed that this area can seal the island off while blocking external reinforcements. During the Shandong's last far seas drills in July amid recent China-Philippines tensions, foreign analysts claimed that the Chinese carrier aimed to deter the Philippines.

Responding to a media query about the Shandong's drill near the Philippines in July, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said on July 12 that the carrier's far seas combat drill was an annual routine arrangement that does not aim at any specific target.

"The PLA Navy will regularly hold similar drills so as to continuously enhance the carrier group's systematic combat capabilities," Zhang said.

China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security and national dignity in accordance with the law, and supports the Iranian side in its efforts to maintain regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday during a call with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, adding that China is ready to maintain close communication with the Iranian side.

The two sides focused their exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday. Bagheri introduced the position of the Iranian side on the assassination of Hamas leader and its views on the regional situation, stressing that the Iranian side will resolutely defend its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and at the same time is committed to maintaining security and stability in the region.

Bagheri also thanked China for its impartial stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and expects China to play a greater role in easing the situation and promoting security in the Middle East.

Wang said that China has always upheld justice in Middle East affairs and supported all parties in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, especially in supporting the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinians.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the act of assassination and considers it a serious violation of the basic norms of international relations, a grave infringement on Iran's sovereignty, security and dignity, and a direct undermining of the cease-fire negotiation process in Gaza, as well as an impact on regional peace and stability.

It is imperative that the international community form a joint effort to urge all parties to the conflict to effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and create conditions for a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible, Wang added.

Iran is a regional country with important influence, and China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, Wang said. China has always promoted China-Iran relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to work with the new Iranian government to continue to firmly support each other on issues of mutual core interests, steadily promote practical cooperation in various fields, unswervingly promote the healthy development of relations between the two countries, and continue to add new connotations to the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

China welcomes the active participation of the Iranian side in the activities hosted by China as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with a view to strengthen this new type of international organization, Wang said.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Iranian side within the framework of the BRICS mechanism, further enhance the voice and influence of the Global South and promote the development of international governance in a more just and rational direction.

Bagheri said that the Iranian side is willing to strengthen coordination with the Chinese side on international and regional affairs and give the relationship a richer strategic connotation.