Employees of Voice of America (VOA) are placed on leave on Saturday, after US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order to gut seven federal agencies, including VOA's parent company, Reuters reported.
On Friday night, shortly after Congress passed its latest funding bill, US President directed his administration to reduce the functions of several agencies to the minimum required by law, according to the Time Magazine. That included the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which houses VOA. USAGM also terminated its grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, per Reuters.
News outlet such as VOA has long been viewed as one of the US government's propaganda mouthpieces. Chinese experts said it is a typical cold war mindset to spend money to promulgate so-called value of democracy and freedom in order to conduct color revolutions and even overthrow other countries' governments, the US should not immerse itself in anymore.
According to Reuters, more than 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, producers and assistants, were placed on administrative leave on Saturday. Founded in 1942, VOA now reportedly reaches 360 million people a week. As a group, USAGM employs about 3,500 staff and has an $886 million budget for 2024, according to its latest report to Congress, Reuters reported.
An email from human resources at USAGM was sent Saturday placing VOA journalists on administrative leave, the POLITICO reported. The journalists were also told not to access the USAGM premises or any of the agency's systems, according to a copy of the email viewed by the POLITICO.
According to a VOA journalist, some VOA employees received the email as they were en route to their studios to record shows Saturday morning, the POLITICO reported.
On Saturday, the website of the White House published an article titled "The voice of radical America." The article cited a former VOA journalist as saying that VOA "has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media. It has sought to avoid accountability for violations of journalistic standards and mismanagement."
"VOA was established during World War II as a propaganda broadcasting agency for foreign audiences and its prime time is during the Cold War. Since its primary focus and goal were ideological warfare, it did not prioritize the truthfulness of news. The social ethics, morals and responsibilities that a news agency should uphold were not within its scope of concern," Kang Qiujie, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Journalism, Communication University of China, told the Global Times.
Kang said that the biased and even factually incorrect way of communication will indeed face increasing controversy, coupled with their declining influence, it seems historically logical to reduce their budgets, cut large numbers of staff or even shut these organizations down entirely.
"However, this does not mean that the US will cease its ideological war against countries [it views as foes]. They will adopt other methods, because the previous approaches no longer meet the needs of today's information warfare. Many tricks were done too superficially and have been completely exposed. Therefore, using these institutions, with now notorious reputations, to continue this task may no longer achieve the desired outcomes," Kang noted.
RT reported that USAGM oversees the state-owned Voice of America, along with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, which are separate not-for-profit entities that are also fully funded from the US budget. All three claim to provide unbiased news to audiences in around 100 countries, but are widely seen as propaganda outlets, per RT.
"VOA served as an official media outlet and an important propaganda mouthpiece for external communication, but it has published many reports that do not align with the values that current US administration identifies, such as profit-making, white dominance and serving Americans themselves. Therefore, the US government believed it must be downsized," Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
Spending money to promulgate so-called value of democracy and freedom in order to overthrow other countries' governments and conduct color revolutions is typical cold war thinking, which the US should not immerse itself in anymore, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
Li said that many lies about China's governance originated from VOA. It has continuously hyped topics related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, but facts have proven these narratives to be false.
It's time for the US to return to reason and reality — being objective and fair and listening more to the voices of the American and Chinese people to benefit bilateral ties, Wang said.
China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) published an article on Monday through its official Wechat account, revealing details about four members of the "Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command" (ICEFCOM) linked to "Taiwan independence" forces. A technical expert from the Chinese cybersecurity company Qi-Anxin Group told the Global Times that APT organizations from the island of Taiwan have been persistently deploying various cyber weapons in large-scale attacks.
The MSS said that, in recent years, state security authorities have rigorously monitored and investigated cyberattacks and infiltration activities taken by ICEFCOM, and identified multiple individuals involved in planning, directing, and executing these operations, the MSS said.
Through years of surveillance and tracing, Qi-Anxin has identified "Poison Vine group" (APT-Q-20), a Taiwan-based organization, as actively targeting government, military, defense, and scientific research institutions in the Chinese mainland. This organization employs spear-phishing emails and watering hole attacks, among other methods, to carry out APT attacks.
A recent report released by Qi-Anxin indicates that from 2018 to 2025, the APT-Q-20 has engaged in large-scale imitation of the most commonly used social software, email systems, as well as government agency websites, military websites, and university websites on the Chinese mainland. The goal is to amass personal data for subsequent intelligence theft in the mainland, the report stated.
The report details two primary attack vectors: phishing website attacks and phishing email attacks. In email attacks, the organization impersonates entities such as professionals from think tanks, military-civil fusion industrial parks, military magazines, civil service recruitment agencies, and defense contractors.
The report further shows that over 30 percent of vulnerabilities exploited by APT organization in attacks on Chinese mainland devices involve weak passwords in routers, cameras, smart home devices, and firewalls. Qi-Anxin emphasized the urgent need for individuals and enterprises to strengthen device security, particularly by adopting complex passwords.
A Qi-Anxin technical expert told the Global Times that Taiwan's APT attacks are relatively unsophisticated, relying on simple network weapons and even brute-force attacks on weak passwords across various network devices in the mainland.
But the APT organization has been registering new domain names and buying servers to carry out phishing attacks for 15 years, Qi-Anxin said. With rising geopolitical tensions, the frequency of APT attacks aimed at espionage and intelligence theft is expected to increase. 'We must remain vigilant against the ongoing threat posed by Taiwan-based APT organizations,' the expert warned.
The Chinese Spring Festival's recognition as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage has sparked a renewed global interest in the festival's rich traditions. The extended holidays for the 2025 Year of the Snake have given tens of millions of Chinese families more time to reconnect and celebrate. While some worry that the traditional new year customs are fading, the Global Times reporters found through people from various walks of life during the holidays that, while traditional customs remain cherished, the festival is embracing new forms of celebration, becoming a vibrant mix of the old and the new.
Half reunions, half getaways
One of the most striking trends this year is the rise of "travel-style" celebrations. Thanks to the 8-day extended holiday, many in China have adopted a half-and-half approach - splitting their time between cozy family reunions and adventurous getaways to new destinations.
This shift has fueled a boom in both domestic and international travels. Intangible cultural heritage tours, winter sports and sunny retreats have become the three "pillars" of this Spring Festival travel season, Trip.com, Chinese online travel service giant, told the Global Times.
China's ice and snow tourism fervor has taken center stage during the festival season. Located in China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang, the Harbin Ice-Snow World, a breathtaking ice-themed park known for its dazzling ice sculptures, has become one of China's hottest tourist destinations during the Spring Festival holidays, with over 610,000 trips made to the park, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Meanwhile, ski resorts in the northern parts of the country, including Northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang, North China's Hebei and Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have attracted large number of ski enthusiasts. They also leveraged ice and snow resources to create a comprehensive "snow + hot springs + folk culture" experience. In the south, Yunnan Province has also made waves by offering unique winter experiences, such as high-speed rail tours to snow-capped mountains, attracting many Southeast Asian tourists.
According to statistics from Trip.com, cross-border travel bookings surged by 30 percent during the Spring Festival holidays, said The Paper. Overseas popular destinations included Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, the US, as well as Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
Zhao, a resident from Beijing, shared with the Global Times that this year she chose to have the traditional New Year's Eve reunion dinner at home before setting off on a family trip to Vietnam.
"By taking just two extra days off, I could enjoy an 11-day holiday. This year's Spring Festival break gave us working folks plenty of time to recharge," she said. Zhao's family had planned to go skiing in Xinjiang, but due to the surge in prices caused by the winter tourism boom, they decided to head to Southeast Asia instead, where the weather is warm and the costs are lower.
Inbound tourism has also thrived, fueled by global fascination with Chinese culture and the "China Travel" hit. Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, have also played a key role, as inbound tourism sees a staggering 180 percent increase in ticket sales and a 60 percent jump in hotel stays, the travel agency told the Global Times.
Ethan, a traveler from the US, shared a video of his lavish dim sum experience in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, where each dish costs just $1-2. The exquisite flavors quickly won him over, he said. In the video, he expressed his intention to stay a few extra days to experience how Chinese people celebrate the Chinese New Year, and encouraged his followers to come to China for the festivities.
Lively ICH traditions
Being the first Spring Festival to be inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) by UNESCO, destinations featuring ICH attractions and experiences have seen a big surge in popularity compared with last year, data released by multiple travel agencies revealed.
Activities such as lantern shows and folk performances are among the hottest trends. Culturally rich experiences, including admiring lantern displays, attending temple fairs, wearing Hanfu, making rice cakes and setting off fireworks, have dominated the Spring Festival holiday, according to Fliggy, a leading online travel agency. Tourism activities involving folk performances saw a 36 percent year-on-year increase in participation, it said.
On Trip.com, searches for lantern shows doubled during the holidays. Overseas, ticket sales for ICH-related activities surged by 7.5 times.
What's more, family-friendly "multi-functional chartered tours" also gained traction, offering experiences like Yingge dance, Sichuan face-changing opera, deity parades, puppet shows and iron-flower fireworks.
Museums and cultural venues also became highlights of local tourism markets. Beijing, with its rich cultural atmosphere, topped the list of popular destinations, followed by Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xi'an. The Palace Museum, Temple of Heaven and Yonghe Temple drew massive crowds, according to travel agency Mafengwo.
The China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing, in particular, saw a 115 percent increase in popularity, thanks to its Spring Festival-themed exhibitions featuring over 120 ICH items and 300 national and provincial-level works.
"In previous years, I always felt that Beijing lacked some of the traditional festive atmosphere during the Spring Festival. So, when I heard about the ICH exhibition at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum, I decided to check it out. It turned out to be incredibly lively and vibrant! For the first time, I gained a deeper understanding of the historical roots of the Spring Festival, something that Chinese people often take for granted," a Beijing resident surnamed Ma told the Global Times.
Ma said she also got to appreciate the similarities and differences in customs between the north and south of China. For example, there were Shandong's intricate dough sculptures, Shanxi's "Wanghuo" (prosperity fire) and Zhejiang's dragon boat lanterns - each showcasing unique ICH traditions.
The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) closed on Sunday, with rifts emerging within the transatlantic alliance over the course of the three-day meeting. Yet the way China presented itself with a spirit of cooperation and a constructive stance was evident.
During the conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the "China in the World" session of MSC. China will remain a global stabilizing factor and a constructive force in the transformation of the world, he said.
Chinese foreign minister also held a series of meetings with EU's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno, Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, among others.
During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday, Wang Yi said China is pleased to see Germany playing a significant role in a multipolar world and is willing to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Germany to advance bilateral relations in a positive direction, safeguard global peace and stability, and provide greater certainty to an increasingly turbulent world.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, Wang Yi said, adding that the two sides should enhance complementary advantages and deepen pragmatic cooperation to jointly usher in the next 50 years of even stronger China-EU relations.
Scholz pledged to enhance exchanges, dialogue and cooperation with China.
The same day, Wang Yi said China and France should uphold their tradition of independence and self-reliance, adhere to openness and win-win cooperation and act as stabilizing forces in maintaining international order and promoting global growth, during a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.
Barrot said France appreciates China's firm and clear voice in support of multilateralism at the Munich Security Conference and values China's role as a stabilizing force in global governance. He added that France and China should work together to play a leadership role in upholding multilateralism and improving international governance.
Wang Yi also held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the MSC on Saturday at the latter's request, during which Wang said that China has always been committed to promoting peace and talks.
This year's MSC has underscored the complex challenges facing Europe and the urgent need for the continent to define its strategic role in an increasingly volatile global landscape, said an article of Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.
From the persistent conflict in Ukraine to rising uncertainties in the transatlantic alliance, as well as mounting pressures on the EU's vision for the international order, the conference focused on the multiple crises Europe faces. It also highlighted the need for the continent to navigate these complexities and assert its place on the world stage.
As the global landscape is increasingly defined by crisis, Europe's ability to determine its role and strategic path will be of paramount importance, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister of Japan Iwaya Takeshi, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul met on Saturday in Munich on the sideline of MSC.
The joint statement following their meeting read that the three countries "emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community."
The joint statement also claimed to support "Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations."
Seen from the statement, the small clique of the US, Japan, and South Korea attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs and attempts to "use Taiwan question to contain China." Their statements stand in striking contrast to China's firm, composed, and confident diplomatic stance at the Munich Security Conference, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Li elaborated that China has always maintained a consistent position on regional and global security issues, with its words and actions aligned. In contrast, certain countries demonstrate inconsistency and a fundamental lack of coherence in their foreign policies, whether in Europe or the Asia-Pacific.
Stabilizing force
"Let him be strong, and the breeze caresses the hillocks; let him be peremptory, and the moon shines on the great river. This reflects the temperament of the Chinese people and the character of the Chinese nation," Wang Yi said in a conversation with MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen after delivering his keynote speech on Friday.
This is a quote from celebrated late novelist Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, published in the 1960s, to reflect the Chinese philosophical thinking of overcoming rigidity with softness and following nature, the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday.
In his speech, titled "A Steadfast Constructive Force in a Changing World," Wang shared his views on "multipolarizaion," the title of Munich Security Report 2025, the discussion starter for the conference. "Will multipolarity bring chaos, conflict and confrontation? Does it mean domination by major countries and the strong bullying the weak? China's answer is, we should work for an equal and orderly multipolar world… China will surely be a factor of certainty in this multipolar system, and strive to be a steadfast constructive force in a changing world."
China has been contributing as a "steady hand," and this is the most important role in an environment in which there is considerable flux, Warwick Powell, adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology and former advisor to former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, told the Global Times.
Sun Chenghao, a research fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy, who is also participating the MSC, shared his experience with the Global Times. He had spoken with European scholars and representatives from the Global South and they found China's statements inspiring, providing much-needed certainty in an uncertain world, and expressed hope for China to play a more active role in the future, particularly in global security and development.
Sun noted a detail of his observation. In a panel of discussion on supply chains and economic security. The attendees were CEOs from well-known European companies. Over the past period, the EU's de-risking efforts were mainly pointed toward China, but the discussion during the MSC raised the question of whether the US should also be considered part of Europe's de-risking strategy. This shift is quite significant. "Participants noted that China's market remains stable and discussed whether Europe should engage with China more."
"We need to hear more about the Chinese view of the world. I hope they continue to come and send even more people in the future," Charles Grant, director of the Center for European Reform, a London-based thinktank, told the Global Times.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has expressed concerns to South Korea regarding the incident in which a man attempted to rush through the gate of the Chinese embassy last week. The man was later apprehended and the embassy said that it will await further updates from South Korean police, the Global Times learned from the embassy on Tuesday.
South Korean police arrested a man who tried to rush through the gate of the Chinese embassy in central Seoul as he reportedly attempted to "attack" the building on February 14. The 40-something man, surnamed Ahn, attempted to get inside the Chinese embassy building at 7:36 pm without permission, according to Yonhap News.
The Yonhap News called the man a "suspected Yoon supporter" and mentioned that he - wearing Captain America's most iconic costume - also showed up at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)'s building in Seoul on February 10. The NHRCK adopted a controversial recommendation last to guarantee South Korean President Yoon' Suk-yeol's right to defense during his ongoing impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea told the Global Times that they have expressed "concerns and regret" over this matter to the South Korean side.
"We have noticed that the police have taken action and are conducting an investigation, and we will await further updates from the police," said the Chinese embassy.
On Monday, South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "We are closely communicating with the Chinese embassy and the police in charge to prevent similar incidents from happening again," regarding the intrusion of the man, according to South Korea's The Maeil Business Newspaper.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The government has continued to exchange and communicate with the Chinese side in various fields to enhance friendly sentiment between Korea and China and promote mutual understanding," according to South Korea's The Maeil Business Newspaper.
Anti-China sentiment is spreading among far-right conservatives in South Korea amid the martial law fiasco, according to Korea Times.
In response, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing said in a post on X on February that China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and opposes relating South Korea's internal issues with China for no reason.
China and South Korea have close exchanges in various fields including people-to-people exchanges, with a large number of nationals working, studying, living and traveling in each other's country. In this regard, it is hoped that the South Korean side would effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals in South Korea, Dai noted.
An investigation by CCTV on Sunday revealed the hidden profit chain of the limb lengthening surgery industry, shedding light on the suffering of individuals who were enticed to undergo surgery abroad, only to face severe complications.
Limb lengthening surgery, commonly known as "breaking bones to boost height" in China, is intended to address congenital deformities, shortened limbs due to acquired causes, bone defects and other diseases, and to help patients realize the equal length of both lower limbs, reported CCTV.
This kind of surgery has been explicitly banned for cosmetic use in China due to its high risks. Some seek to bypass the obstacle by undergoing surgery abroad. However, they could face terrible consequences if the surgery fails. The Global Times recently talked to one such victim.
In 2020, Fang, from East China's Jiangsu Province, came across advertisements on several Chinese social media platforms promising the safety of limb lengthening surgery, which allegedly allowed patients to resume normal physical activity after surgery, including even intense contact sports. Dissatisfied with her height, which stands at 1.50 meters, Fang contacted one of the intermediary agencies and joined a group of more than a dozen people with the same goal to undergo the procedure in Turkey.
In May 2021, Fang underwent several surgeries and her tibia was lengthened by about 6 centimeters.
However, by July 2021, she developed a serious infection in her right leg, according to CCTV report.
"The internal pins in my leg were of mismatched models and had weight-bearing issues, which directly led to bone nonunion and chronic osteomyelitis. I was later diagnosed with valgus deformity of the right knee, and clubfoot," Fang told Global Times.
The intermediary agency informed her that the doctor had terminated their contract, and the replacement doctor would be unavailable temporarily. Fang repeatedly tried to contact the relevant doctors for urgent treatment, but she faced multiple excuses.
"The agency refused to help me with debridement or remove the pins, citing concerns that any new treatment would be unfair to other patients. They also said my condition wasn't severe enough to require immediate debridement and even denied internationally recognized treatments for osteomyelitis," she said. With no other option, she had to return to China for treatment.
Fang said that the intermediary agency lured numerous Chinese patients with deceptive advertising on social media platforms and arranged for them to travel to Turkey for high-risk limb lengthening surgeries. However, Fang claimed that most patients she knew had encountered severe complications and inadequate medical services after the surgery.
After checking on the information provided by Fang, Global Times reporters discovered accounts across various platforms promoting overseas limb lengthening surgery for cosmetic purposes, most of which were destined for Turkey.
In 2006, the Ministry of Health of China issued a ban, explicitly prohibiting such surgery for cosmetic purposes in China. The medical institutions that carry out related surgery should be the general hospitals above the third level or the orthopedic hospitals with relevant conditions.
After returning to China, Fang underwent surgery to have the intramedullary nail removed and received further rehabilitation. However, she still suffers from chronic osteomyelitis and multiple discomforts in her leg and waist, she told Global Times.
"The pain still disrupts my sleep. I can't stand or bend for long periods, making even simple office tasks or household chores challenging. I can only walk short distances, and anything over 500 meters causes breathing difficulties. I can no longer run, jump, or engage in intense activities," she said.
Currently, Fang has contacted a lawyer and is attempting to seek compensation through legal means in China. However, due to the surgery being performed abroad and the fact that the patient voluntarily traveled for treatment, the case faces considerable obstacles, and legal proceedings have not yet been initiated.
"The intermediary agency that deceived me still has an account on Sina Weibo, promoting their services under the pretense of correcting deformities. After I shared my story online, they didn't attack or threaten me, but they posted to deny having any connection with me, asserting they had no knowledge of me and accusing me of defamation," Fang said.
"Now, with other victims, in addition to pursuing justice, we hope to raise awareness and warn others to be cautious of unfamiliar overseas medical agencies and steer clear of medical mishaps resulting from deceptive advertising," she concluded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping often quotes an ancient saying on many diplomatic occasions: "No mountain or ocean can separate those who share the same aspirations."
This powerful message underscores the undeniable force of friendship and cooperation in bridging hearts across nations, cultures, and civilizations. Inspired by President Xi's vision, people-to-people exchanges between China and the world have been flourishing.
The Global Times presents "Intertwined Destinies, Shared Paths," a series spotlighting the touching stories written by these "friendship ambassadors."
They are scholars pushing the boundaries of research, diplomats advocating for deeper cooperation on the global stage, artists igniting imaginations with their creations, and ordinary people extending heartfelt love beyond national borders driven by genuine sincerity.
The Global Times is publishing the second of two consecutive pieces featuring heartwarming stories of mutual assistance and love between the people of China and the US, showcasing the friendship, care, and affection that exists among the people. This is the second installment.
Chinese international student Simon never expected that his English name would become widely known among Chinese and American netizens within just a few days. During the past weekend, "an American girl finds her Chinese classmate in less than 24 hours," this hashtag has become a trending topic on various Chinese social media platforms, captivating millions of netizens who witnessed this heartwarming friend-finding journey.
The 21-year-old Katharina Scholze created an account on the popular Chinese lifestyle and sharing platform RedNote and posted a heartfelt video seeking out her long-lost Chinese friend "Simon." Her plea quickly garnering over 20,000 likes and thousands of comments. Within just 24 hours, thanks to the relentless efforts of Chinese netizens, she successfully located her long-lost friend.
This eye-catching reunion is emblematic of a growing trend on Chinese social media, where an increasing number of overseas users - often humorously dubbed "TikTok refugees" - are actively engaging with Chinese netizens, bringing constant happy laughters and cheerful voices. This surge in cross-cultural interactions comes at a time when TikTok's future in the US hangs in the balance. The app faced a temporary blackout late Saturday due to a law banning its use. After hours of shutdown, the app began restoring on Sunday US time. US President Donald Trump, on Monday, signed an executive order to delay the TikTok ban by 75 days.
We cannot predict the fate of TikTok for now, but we can see through countless reunions like that of Simon and Katharina on Chinese social media platforms, how the power of sincere exchange between the people of China and the US transcends borders, dissolving inherent prejudices and gradually forging connections that can withstand the test of distance and time.
'Reconnection across space and time'
Simon described his renewed bond with Katharina as a "reconnection across space and time."
Speaking to the Global Times, Simon, a junior at the Rhode Island School of Design, recalled that he was an exchange student at Regina High School in Iowa between 2017 and 2018. At that time Simon struggled with the language and had few familiar classmates. Fortunately, he met Katharina.
"We took art, history, and computer classes together. Whenever I didn't understand something, I would ask her, and she was always patient in answering," Simon said.
"We would talk to each other in class and text outside of school… It was a very pure friendship that I will cherish deeply forever," Katharina recalled.
The year went by quickly. After he returned to China in 2018, the two gradually lost contact due to limited avenues of communication.
Seven years later, the turning point came when Katharina, like many Americans, downloaded RedNote. Simon mentioned that a high school classmate sent him Katharina's post, which featured a low-pixel photo of a man his classmates thought resembled him. Initially skeptical, Simon soon recognized the authenticity of the post after reading it closely. "I remembered her name, and the details matched perfectly. In fact, she hadn't changed much at all; I recognized her immediately," he said.
After reaching out via direct message, the two quickly initiated a video call. "I think we have both matured since then, but our personalities and kindness are still the same. We will continue to be friends for a long time now that we can contact each other whenever!" Katharina said excitedly.
The phrase "incredible" is one that both Simon and Katharina mentioned to the Global Times.
Katharina said when she originally posted the video, she didn't think anyone would really see the video.
The American girl also noted that one comment that left a strong impression on her read, "If anyone could find my friend, it would be Chinese netizens." "That really struck me because I was so impressed by their efficiency," she said.
"Chinese social apps and the vibrant online communities they foster have broken down language and geographical barriers, even allowing people to find a sense of belonging in the digital age," Simon told the Global Times.
"After posting the video, I felt overwhelmed with joy from all the positive comments and was excited to meet so many new people," Katharina told the Global Times. "I have never felt so much love."
'Innocent heart of human communication'
Countless touching moments can be seen in posts on RedNote and Douyin that carry tags like "missing person notice" and "please help."
Li Xiangcan, for example, a retired Chinese scholar in his 80s, recently shared his experience of meeting US peers in person for the first time since the late 1980s on RedNote, with the help of his family. In his post, Li recalled how he learned English by looking up words in a dictionary under relatively modest study conditions during his youth, and how he participated in translating a professional book titled Blast Vibration Monitoring and Control.
Later, the original author of the book, American scholar Charles Dowding, visited the laboratory where Li worked in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, and they had a face-to-face conversation.
Within a day, many enthusiastic Chinese and US netizens helped reach out to Dowding. "Happy to reconnect with my many happy memories of our trip through China," Dowding wrote in an email in response to one of the netizens. Many excitied netizens expected that the two scholars may reunite in Wuhan in the future, and chat easily about academics and everyday life, just like old friends who haven't seen each other in years.
A Chinese netizen with the username "Travel enthusiast" shared on RedNote that she still keeps a one-dollar bill from 32 years ago, along with the name and address of an American girl who gave her this special gift.
"In July 1992, when I was in fifth grade, I met sister Ma Huiming while traveling in Emei Mountain, Sichuan Province. Her father is American, and her mother is from Guangdong. 'Ma Huiming' is her Chinese name. She gave me a dollar as a keepsake."
She expressed her desire to learn about Ma's current situation.
One netizen, with the username "Little Sweet Potato 678CB735" on RedNote, posted a message hoping to thank the ground staff who helped him during his layover at Austin Airport in the US in 2019. At the time, he only managed to take a hurried photo as a memento before rushing to catch his flight. He hopes to leverage the active presence of Chinese and American netizens on RedNote to find this staff member.
In response to his post, some users offered to keep an eye out for the staff member when they arrive at the airport, while others helped translate and share his search message on X.
"This quest for connection embodies a return to the 'innocent heart' of human communication: Kindness, honesty, and mutual support," Zeng Chi, a research fellow at the Research Center for Journalism and Social Development at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
Zeng emphasized that the Chinese young generation has been educated from an early age to embrace globalization. In this educational context, they are taught to anticipate the day they will meet a "foreign friend" and establish a friendship.
"Whether through the traditional face to face communication or the modern dynamics of social media, the underlying principle of cultural exchange and mutual learning is not unfamiliar for them," Zeng said.
'You have been so nice' In this online party that facilitates making reconnecting with old friends, the willingness for open communication have given US people a more vivid and comprehensive understanding of China and its people.
More direct and interesting exchanges are taking place. "Is it really expensive to call an ambulance in the US?" "I live in rural America and want to know what rural China is like!""Why do the Chinese people love and trust their police and military instead of fearing them?"… With a natural sense of curiosity and interest, people from both countries are actively posting on Chinese social media, eager to learn more about each other.
This unexpected online interaction has allowed many US netizens to get a glimpse of the real China that is often overshadowed by demonization narratives prevalent in the West.
"I think that due to the education system and media sources in the US, I had a very incorrect view of Chinese people, especially the younger generation," Isabel Adelia, an American RedNote user, told the Global Times.
As some misunderstandings and barriers gradually diminish, social media platforms like Douyin and RedNote have become lively and engaging "tea parties" that effortlessly gather people from all walks of life in China and the US.
Over the weekend, NBA teams eagerly established official accounts on RedNote, attracting numerous basketball fans to subscribe. A US astronomy photographer shared images of the Andromeda Galaxy and Rosette Nebula, receiving an outpouring of appreciation in the comments. A US mother posted late at night to thank Chinese mothers for suggesting she make "salted boiled oranges" for her daughter with a stuffy nose, writing, "It works so well! She breathes much more easily now."
Zeng believes that through the recent wave of "internet dialogues" between Chinese and American netizens, it has become evident that China's younger generation is increasingly confident in navigating the cultural diversity. Meanwhile, their counterparts abroad face a greater cognitive dissonance.
"Authentic and sincere exchanges are undoubtedly beneficial in correcting misconceptions and dispelling biases," Zeng emphasized.
Countless touching moments like these have brought hearts across the ocean closer than ever, and the warmth and friendliness of Chinese netizens have left a great impression on people in the US.
"In case we are separated, I wanted to let the Chinese people know something," a US RedNote user with the screen name "Thomayo" wrote last week, amid much discussion about whether TikTok would resume service in the US. "You have been so nice to us in a way that most Western countries aren't, and I am very thankful to have had this experience. Much love to all of you."
China's first domestically produced high-voltage radiation-resistant silicon carbide (SiC) power device has completed space validation and in-orbit application in power systems. Compared with space power modules using traditional silicon-based power devices, the efficiency of space power modules using SiC increased to 95 percent from 85 percent, and the power-to-volume ratio improved by five times, Global Times has learned from the developers on Thursday.
The SiC payload, jointly developed by the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the CAS, was launched aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft on November 15, 2024, beginning its in-orbit scientific experiment journey in the China Space Station.
Power devices are the core components for electric energy conversion and control, often referred to as the heart of power electronics systems. They are among the most fundamental and widely used components. As the performance of silicon-based power devices approaches their limits, third-generation semiconductor materials represented by SiC offer unique advantages such as wide bandgap and high breakdown field strength, significantly improving the power and conversion efficiency of power systems, developers told the Global Times.
After more than a month of in-orbit power-on testing, the SiC payload's test data was normal. The high-voltage 400V SiC power device has successfully completed in-orbit testing and application verification, with both static and dynamic parameters in the power system meeting expectations.
In the future, SiC power devices will drive the upgrade of space power systems, providing a new-generation power devices for China's lunar exploration, manned lunar landing, deep space exploration and other missions, the developers said.
In response to the Philippines authorities’ arresting a Chinese national accused of “espionage activities” in the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines stated on Sunday that the accusation is “baseless and defamatory,” adding that it has lodged a formal protest with the Philippine authorities, demanding consular access to the detained Chinese national.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said that the embassy is highly concerned about the case and is in contact with the detained Chinese national’s family and providing consular protection and assistance.
“We urge Philippine authorities to act based on facts, refrain from presuming guilt and avoid political speculation,” said the spokesperson.
The Chinese embassy urged the Philippines to handle the case according to the law and to honor bilateral consular agreement obligations by granting the embassy officials to consular access as soon as possible and to ensure the legitimate rights of Chinese nationals in the Philippines.
The Nanchang, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's first Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer, on Sunday marked its fifth year of active service, with official media revealing that the warship has traveled more than 110,000 nautical miles, participating in missions across diverse sea regions.
On January 12, 2020, the Nanchang was commissioned into the PLA Navy, and adopted the historic hull number 101, originally used by the PLA Navy's inaugural destroyer.
The Nanchang is the first 10,000 ton-class large destroyer independently developed by China, and it achieved several milestones in the PLA Navy's history, China Central Television (CCTV) said on Sunday.
Since its commissioning, the Nanchang has covered over 110,000 nautical miles, during which it reached the Bering Sea, conducted combat cruises in the Pacific Ocean and exercises in the Xisha and Nansha waters in the South China Sea, successfully completing more than 10 major missions, CCTV reported.
China Bugle, an official PLA media outlet, highlighted some of the key missions. The Nanchang escorted the aircraft carrier Liaoning in waters near the island of Taiwan in April 2021, participated in the China-Russia Joint Sea-2021 exercise in October 2021, and responded to close-in disruptions by a foreign aircraft carrier group when conducting a far seas training mission with a friendly aircraft carrier in the West Pacific in 2022.
The Nanchang effectively carried out its duty as an escort in an aircraft carrier group, China Bugle said.
"Long sail range, long detection range and long attack range. Now our vertical launch system can host a relatively complete selection of weapons, allowing us to carry out various combat missions. We can also form a formation on our own, command aircraft in the sky, warships at surface, submarines under water, and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship," Chi Jianjun, a crew member on the Nanchang, said in the CCTV report.
The Nanchang is a miniature of the PLA Navy's overall characteristics in the new era, Chi said, noting that PLA Navy vessels, as well as other PLA services and branches, now have routine presence in major sea regions.
Since the commissioning of the Nanchang five years ago, seven more Type 055 large destroyers have entered service with the PLA Navy, according to CCTV.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang boasts advanced capabilities in air defense, maritime assault, and land strikes. With active electronic scanning array radars and over 100 missile vertical launch cells, it can identify and engage targets at long ranges.
It can not only function as a key escort in aircraft carrier groups, but also lead combat formations alongside other destroyers and frigates in far seas operations, Zhang said, noting that the Type 055 is also expected to conduct sea-based mid-range missile defense missions.
The Nanchang ranks among the world's most advanced warships, and plays a crucial role in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests, Zhang said.
