Despite objections from China and Russia, which said the United Nations Security Council had already ended its review of the Iran nuclear issue, the UN Security Council still held a public meeting early Wednesday morning and approved a procedural measure by vote. Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said in response that certain countries deliberately ignored the Security Council members' differences and concerns, forcibly pushed for the Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Iran, insisted on convening a Security Council meeting on an issue that has already been terminated, bearing full responsibility for the current difficulties facing the Council, China Central Television reported on Wednesday.
This move will not only deepen divisions within the Security Council, but will also seriously hinder the process of achieving a political resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, Sun stated, noting that China is deeply concerned about this development and is disappointed with the outcome of the vote.
Sun stressed that threats of force or the imposition of war will only push the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East toward a dangerous abyss.
Sun said that the US’ unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its use of force against Iran on two occasions during the negotiation process have seriously damaged diplomatic efforts and are the primary cause of the current difficult and complex situation.
Sun said that the parties concerned should learn from past lessons, abandon power politics, engage in equal and sincere dialogue, commit to refraining from the use of force, and ensure the effective implementation of any future agreement in order to restore the confidence of the international community through concrete actions.
Maintaining the ceasefire is the top priority. The parties concerned should focus on peace and work toward preserving the ceasefire, ending the conflict, and reaching an agreement at an early date that serves the interests of all parties involved, Sun added.
When asked to comment on reports citing several sources that the Japanese government had claimed it remains committed to its exclusively defense-oriented policy and its path of development as a peace-loving nation has not changed, following a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan in late May stating that both countries "oppose any attempt to revive fascism and militarism," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that while Japan verbally proclaims "peace" and "defense," its actions are recklessly pushing toward "remilitarization."
Japan has continued to significantly expand its military budget, ease restrictions on the export of lethal weapons, advance the deployment of medium- and long-range missiles, bolster offensive military capabilities, stockpile large quantities of sensitive nuclear materials, push for revisions to its pacifist Constitution, and even advocate turning Japan into a nation "capable of waging war." In doing so, it has effectively removed the mask of a so-called "peace-loving nation" itself, Lin said, adding that the international community should be highly vigilant about this and must not allow Japanese militarism to resurface and wreak havoc on the world again.
Chinese scientists have made a major breakthrough in precision machining research for humanoid robot "joints," expected to promote greener, more efficient production of high-end precision transmission components.
A research team led by Peng Ruitao, professor from Xiangtan University in Central China's Hunan Province, has recently published a new research paper in machining for large-pitch gothic-arch ball screws, the core transmission components of humanoid robot joint actuators, in the Journal of Manufacturing Processes, chinanews.com reported on Thursday.
According to Peng, ball screws, as key precision transmission components in humanoid robot joint actuators and other high-end equipment such as industrial robots, directly affect the dynamic response and service life of the entire system.
Despite high transmission efficiency and high load-bearing capacity, large-pitch gothic-arch ball screws face significant machining challenges due to their complex helical surface geometry, Peng said.
Given that traditional grinding processes are hindered by low efficiency, high cost and heavy cutting-fluid use, greener and more efficient production of this type of high-end precision transmission component has been limited.
However, the research team's study offers a theoretical foundation and process reference for overcoming key challenges in green and efficient manufacturing of this high-end precision transmission component by revealing the mechanisms behind various machining issues in this precision transmission component.
Meanwhile, the research team has closely focused on common technical challenges in the field of high-end power equipment manufacturing, continuously conducting systematic research on core areas of high-end precision component machining, and has gradually built a complete research framework ranging from mechanism understanding and process optimization to engineering validation, according to chinanews.com.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing on Friday.
Noting that China has always regarded Laos as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said China is willing to work with Laos to achieve a new leap in bilateral ties and build an all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era.
Laos fully agrees with China and supports the upgrading of bilateral ties, and stands ready to work with China to consolidate high-level political mutual trust, Thongloun said.
China has recently taken a series of responsive actions, including a special maritime law enforcement operation on Saturday in waters east of Taiwan island, after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to start talks on maritime delimitation in the waters east of China's Taiwan island. A Chinese expert said the coordinated moves demonstrate China's sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as its capability and resolve to safeguard its maritime rights and interests.
China launched a special maritime law enforcement operation, led by China's Ministry of Transport and jointly undertaken by the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, the Eastern Navigation Service Center of the National Maritime Safety Administration, and the East China Sea rescue bureau, in the waters east of Taiwan island on Saturday. It is a necessary move in response to Japan and the Philippines' unilateral announcement of the "maritime delimitation talks" on the east of China's Taiwan island, which constitutes a serious violation of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The move came after Japan and the Philippines claimed last month that they would begin so-called formal talks on delimiting the maritime boundary of the so-called exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries "in accordance with international law," according to a Reuters report.
Previously, a necessary responsive operation was carried out on June 1, as the China Coast Guard (CCG) task group conducted routine law-enforcement patrols in accordance with the law in the waters east of China's Taiwan island, CCG's spokesperson Jiang Lue said.
"We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease all illegal acts that undermine China's sovereign rights and interests. The CCG will continue to strengthen control and management over relevant waters and take real actions to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," Jiang said, according to CCG.
No matter it is law enforcement operations of CCG or maritime safety administration, these operations affirm China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over waters east of the Taiwan island, showing the country's resolve, capability and maritime management strength to safeguard maritime rights and interests, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Given the complex maritime conditions in the waters east of Taiwan island, which present a test for vessel performance and law enforcement operations, these operations demonstrate that CCG and maritime authorities are fully capable of conducting regular law enforcement patrols and maritime control in the area, Zhang said.
It further shows that China has set up a sound framework for protecting sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and managing waters around Taiwan island, according to Zhang.
The so-called unilateral delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines are tantamount to attempting to "carve up" these waters, which seriously infringes upon China's maritime sovereignty and rights and interests, Zhang added.
According to China's domestic law and international law including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China has exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in this area. Japan and the Philippines' so-called maritime delimitation talks constitute a severe violation of China's maritime rights and interests, UNCLOS and other international law and basic norms governing international relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stressed during a previous press conference on May 29 after the claim by Tokyo and Manila.
"The so-called delimitation talks are completely illegal, null and void, and will have no effect on China's claims to rights in the area east of the Taiwan island or exercise of China's lawful rights," Mao said, adding that China urges Japan and the Philippines to immediately stop any violation of China's maritime rights and interests and take concrete actions to uphold regional peace and stability.
In violation of the international law, Zhang said that Japan and the Philippines aim to jointly contain China and restrict its maritime operations as part of their coordination with the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy with the plan.
The expert added that Japan also seeks to provoke China alongside the Philippines in adjacent waters, hoping to ease the pressure from China's countermeasures over its actions concerning the Diaoyu Islands.
In response to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' echoing of the move by Japan and Philippines, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on June 3 that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the Chinese nation, according to CCTV News.
"We should stand firm on our national stance, uphold national righteousness, and jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the overall interests of the Chinese nation. If the DPP authorities dare to collude with external forces and betray national interests, they will surely be spurned by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and punished by history," Zhu added.
Faced with public opinion pressure, the DPP authorities still haven't voiced strong protests. Such a compromising stance essentially amounts to acts that harm national and ethnic interests, Zhang said. "Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should work together to safeguard our country's sovereignty, maritime rights and interests as well as national interests," he added.
Regardless of how external forces behave, the steps taken by China's relevant departments make clear China's position, the expert said, and is a testament to China's resolve and capacity to secure national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
In his keynote speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not mention Taiwan — a rare omission — and instead highly praised a series of outcomes achieved during US President Donald Trump's recent visit to China. In response, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and brooks no external interference. She said that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits represents the greatest common interest shared by China and the US.
China Central Television (CCTV) is broadcasting a five-episode documentary series on confidentiality and information security awareness from Tuesday to Saturday, with Thursday's episode focusing on cyberattacks and the potential risks of information leaks hidden in everyday work and life.
Introducing the episode, CCTV News said in a report released on Friday that cyber warfare has intensified worldwide over the past 15 years, with cyber espionage aimed at stealing state secrets emerging as a primary objective behind many attacks.
To illustrate the scale and sophistication of such threats, CCTV News cited a case that unfolded in April 2022, when a Chinese university discovered an unusual Trojan program attempting to illegally obtain privileges within its email system. After the university reported the incident, the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, together with relevant authorities, quickly formed a joint technical team to investigate.
The findings, CCTV News said, far exceeded initial expectations. Investigators concluded that the cyberattack originated from a foreign government intelligence agency and was aimed at stealing critical technical data, including configurations of key network equipment, network management information and operational maintenance data.
According to the report, the intelligence agency deployed 41 specialized cyberattack tools in pursuit of objectives such as achieving a single-point breakthrough, gradually penetrating target systems and conducting long-term intelligence theft. Among them were 14 different versions of a backdoor tool known as " SlyHeretic," while the attack chain involved more than 1,100 separate intrusion pathways.
As the investigation progressed, authorities uncovered a highly targeted cyber campaign. The intelligence agency allegedly used a platform known as "FoxAcid" to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against internal hosts and servers at the university, while a remote-control cyber weapon dubbed " NOPEN" was employed to seize control of multiple critical servers.
Further forensic analysis led investigators to identify another cyber espionage tool called "SecondDate." CCTV News said the software was designed to remain resident on network boundary devices such as gateways, edge routers and firewalls for extended periods, enabling malicious functions including traffic sniffing, session tracking, traffic redirection and data tampering.
The documentary noted that only one year after the exposure of the university case, another key Chinese institution became the target of a separate cyberattack launched by an overseas intelligence agency. The operation reportedly lasted nearly a year and involved the deployment of 42 specialized cyber weapons.
To conceal the source of the attack, the perpetrators allegedly employed high-strength encryption algorithms in an attempt to erase traces of their activities. However, CCTV News said the carefully planned and highly covert operation was detected in time, continuously monitored and ultimately disrupted after relevant organizations upgraded their cybersecurity defenses and severed the attack chain.
Beyond these cases, CCTV News cited several other cyber espionage incidents targeting China. In August 2024, an advanced materials design research institution was reportedly attacked, with more than 270 computers infected by control Trojans designed to steal sensitive information.
In June 2025, the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center released an investigative report exposing several hacker groups affiliated with the DPP authorities' "Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command" for allegedly conducting cyber espionage activities against the mainland.
CCTV News quoted Du Ye, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, as saying that such intelligence-gathering operations primarily target Chinese government agencies, defense sector and scientific research institutions.
"These espionage activities are mainly aimed at important and sensitive sectors including government affairs, military industries and scientific research," Du said. "The targets include not only Party and government organs and the military, but also research institutes, universities, central state-owned enterprises and other state-owned companies."
He added that the primary objective of these operations is to obtain sensitive technological information, core data intelligence and national strategic planning information, with the ultimate goal of containing China's technological advancement and strategic development.
The documentary also highlighted several common cybersecurity risks that could lead to information leaks, including inserting USB drives from unknown sources into workplace computers, charging mobile phones infected with Trojan malware through office computers, installing internet-downloaded software on classified computers without authorization, and clicking on unknown emails or suspicious web links.
By examining both major cyber espionage cases and everyday security vulnerabilities, the documentary seeks to raise public awareness of information security risks and strengthen cybersecurity vigilance across society.
Workers carve a big snowman in a public square in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 15, 2024. Their work attracted numerous tourists, many of whom stopped to watch and take pictures. Photo: VCG
China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Tuesday that the permitted stay for foreign nationals entering China under the visa-free transit policy for purposes such as tourism, business, visits, and family reunions has been extended from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours or 10 days, as part of the latest measures to further relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy. The policy takes effect immediately.
At the same time, the NIA announced that the number of ports eligible for the visa-free transit policy will be increased from the original 39 to 60, including Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Port in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province and Sanya Phoenix International Airport Port in South China's Hainan Province.
Also, as part of the latest policy announced on Tuesday, the permitted activity areas for visa-free foreign nationals will be expanded to 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities including Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan and Guizhou provinces from the original 19.
During their staying in China, foreigners who travel in transit without a visa can engage in activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. However, those who want to work, study, or conduct news interviews and other activities that require prior approval still need to obtain a visa before coming to China, per the NIA.
So far, there are 54 countries that are eligible for the 240-hour transit visa exemption policy.
The latest data released by the NIA on Tuesday shows that from January to November 2024, there were 29.218 million foreign entries into China through various ports, an 86.2 percent year-on-year increase. Of these, 17.446 million entries were made visa-free, a year-on-year growth of 123.3 percent.
The US insisted on arranging Lai's "transit" to offer platform for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, seriously violating the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sending a seriously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China strongly protests this and has lodged a stern representation with the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Friday.
Taiwan regional Leader Lai Ching-te is reportedly completing "transiting" through Hawaii and Guam and is scheduled to return to the island on Friday.
Lin said the Taiwan question is the primary, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. The actions of "Taiwan independence" are incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.
China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, honor US leaders' commitments not to support "Taiwan independence," cease official exchanges between the US and the island of Taiwan, stop hollowing out or undermining the one-China principle, and cease any form of support or tolerance for "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their activities and take concrete actions to stabilize China-US relations and maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, said the spokesperson.
Any attempt to rely on the US for "independence" will hit a wall, and any efforts to use Taiwan island to contain China are bound to fail, Lin said.
In response to another inquiry on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island as Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te has completed "transiting" through Hawaii and Guam, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the foremost, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.
Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C,'" as Lai returns from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through Hawaii and Guam.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Palau on Friday, Lai claimed that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are "not subordinate to each other," which Lin also refuted on Friday, saying that the separatist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the connivance and support from external forces are the greatest threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.
Lai and the DPP authorities have consistently used various pretexts to promote "Taiwan independence" separatism. Regardless of what they say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China, nor can they stop the historical trend that China will be and must be reunified. The attempt to rely on external forces for independence is doomed to fail, Lin said.
Also on Friday, Lai claimed that he is confident in deepening cooperation with the next Trump administration in the US. The day before, he had a phone call with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.
In response, Lin said that China has repeatedly stated its firm position on this matter. We urge the US to recognize the "Taiwan independence" separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, and the serious harm that "Taiwan independence" separatist actions pose to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.
The US should adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, stop interfering in Taiwan affairs, stop meddling in China's internal affairs, and cease supporting or conniving "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, said Lin.
