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.
The Shenzhou-21 crew arrived in Beijing by plane on Saturday after successfully completing their mission.
The three astronauts, Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, returned to Earth safely on Friday evening aboard the Shenzhou-22 crewed spaceship, wrapping up a 210-day stay in orbit.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), they are all in good health and the Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission is a complete success.
The crew will enter a period of medical quarantine, and undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health evaluations, the CMSA said, noting that they will meet the press in Beijing following the end of this period.
President Xi Jinping on Monday said Chinese people will score more remarkable achievements and make greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development of humanity.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The 11-year-old giant panda Meng Meng's twin panda cubs are now more than one month old, and have been developing well, gaining weight daily. They are set to make their public debut at Zoo Berlin in Germany on October 16, according to an email sent to the Global Times by Zoo Berlin.
Meng Meng gave birth to twins on August 22 at Zoo Berlin. Since their birth, the twin cubs and their mother have been cared for in the rear area of the Panda Garden at the zoo and have not been visible to zoo visitors, according to Zoo Berlin.
From October 16, visitors will be able to watch the twin panda cubs as they grow, according to the zoo. The twin panda cubs will be in the Panda Garden every day from October 16 for about an hour between 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm. This will not change the cubs' daily routine, said the zoo.
In the weeks since the twin panda cubs' birth, they have been developing splendidly, gaining weight daily. Having recently transitioned from the incubator to their own "panda bed," the cubs are now prepared for the next stage, and zoo visitors can take a first look at them, according to the zoo. The two cubs continue to take turns with their mother Meng Meng and drink exclusively from her. The zoo also said that the cubs are beginning to resemble "real" giant pandas as they have developed the typical black and white coloring. They have increased their birth weight more than tenfold.
Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, a male giant panda, arrived in Germany in 2017 from China. In August 2019, Meng Meng gave birth to the twin cubs, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, in Germany. In December 2023, the twins were returned to China, according to Xinhua News Agency.
On September 23, 2024, the Chinese national brand "YAYA Down Jacket" made its second appearance at Milan Fashion Week, unveiling the 2024 Black Label Goose collection. This collection features top-grade Siberian goose down, winning the attention of the global fashion industry with its fineness, fluffiness, and exceptional warmth.
Since its inception in 1972, YAYA has continuously explored high-quality down resources worldwide. In 2023, it established cooperation with Iceland for eiderdown. The introduction of the top-grade goose down during this Milan trip not only demonstrates an international perspective but also provides valuable insights for the globalization of Chinese brands.
The YAYA Black Label Goose embodies the transformation of Chinese brands from "Made in China" to "Created in China," marking YAYA Down Jacket's advancement into the high-end segment of the global value chain and a unique exhibition of oriental charm.
Chinese scientists have developed ancient DNA technology to systematically study the microbial genomes of the "oldest cheese," which was discovered from the Bronze Age at the Xiaohe cemetery in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This research reveals two routes for the diffusion of cheese fermentation techniques in the prehistoric Tarim Basin, shedding light on the lifestyle and cultural exchanges of ancient populations in the region, according to China News Service.
Fu Qiaomei, a researcher from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led the research, which was published as a highly recommended paper in the journal Cell on Wednesday.
The research team designed probes for the complete genome of Lactobacillus, raising the DNA concentration of lactic acid bacteria in the kefir cheese samples from around 0.43 percent to 0.55 percent, to 64 percent to 80 percent, making it the first successful case of ancient whole-genome research.
The cheese samples, identified as kefir through earlier ancient protein studies, date back approximately 3,500 years. They were made using kefir grains, which ferment milk into a distinctive yogurt.
By reconstructing the microbial communities involved in the fermentation process, researchers confirmed that the kefir cheese was produced by using lactic acid bacteria, with evidence suggesting that the goats used for milk production originated from a lineage that spread across Eurasia after the Neolithic period. This suggests a probable connection between ancient populations in the Tarim Basin and groups in the Eurasian steppe during that time.
The study also identified a previously unknown route for the dissemination of kefir bacteria. It found the lactic acid bacteria used for fermentation split into two main branches: One associated with strains from Europe and coastal regions of Asia, and the other linked to strains found in inland East Asia, including Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. This indicates that kefir production techniques likely spread from Xinjiang to other parts of East Asia through cultural exchanges.
Researchers believe this differentiation in kefir bacteria strains reflects how ancient populations adapted and shared fermentation practices. By comparing ancient and modern kefir bacteria genomes, the team explored the evolution of these microbes over thousands of years, revealing significant adaptations to environmental pressures and interactions with humans.
This research underscores the long-standing relationship between humans and microorganisms, highlighting the critical role of fermented foods in our dietary history. It provides new insights into how ancient peoples applied and adapted fermentation techniques, contributing to our understanding of cultural exchanges and human development over time.
The 2024 Beijing Culture Forum will kick off in the Chinese capital from September 19 to 21, according to its organizers. With a permanent theme of "Inheritance, Creativity, Mutual Learning," the forum has "Enhance Cultural Exchanges for Common Progress" as its theme for this year.
Over 800 participants, including 240 foreign guests from more than 70 countries and regions will attend a main forum, six sub-forums, and 32 professional seminars and relevant cultural activities during the three-day event.
The participants will hold in-depth discussions on topics including mutual learning between civilizations and common progress, spiritual life and industrial development, cultural heritage protection and inheritance, new cultural business forms, and technological integration.
The main forum takes the application of Beijing's Central Axis as a UNESCO World Heritage site as one of its important contents, and releases a special report on Beijing's experience during the application and protection of Beijing's Central Axis as a UNESCO World Heritage site and the relevant situation of further strengthening the protection of historical and cultural cities.
Meanwhile, the Ten Major Events in the Construction of National Cultural Centers in 2023 will also be announced.
The 2024 Beijing Culture Forum is committed to creating a cultural festival, in which all people can participate through hosting a number of cultural events including book fairs, film screenings and theaters staging.
