Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris on Sunday afternoon local time, the first stop of his visit to three European countries. In a written speech on Sunday upon his arrival for a state visit to France, Xi said over the past 60 years, China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China's ties with major Western countries, setting a good example for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different systems.

The development of China-France relations has not only brought benefits to the two peoples, but also injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world, Xi said in the written speech.

Xi's visit to France comes at a time when this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Analysts believe the visit will boost leadership exchanges, strengthen political trust and offer an opportunity for China-Europe relations to move forward in a stable and steady manner.

"President Xi will have comprehensive and in-depth strategic communication with French President Emmanuel Macron on China-France and China-Europe relations, encourage France to uphold strategic autonomy and openness in cooperation, so as to drive Europe to form a more independent, objective, and friendly understanding of China and resist negative trends such as 'de-risking' and 'reduced dependence' on China," Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye told a press briefing on April 29 after China made the announcement of the visit.

Pierre Picquart, an expert in geopolitics and human geography from the University of Paris-VIII, told the Global Times that Xi's visit is significant on three levels.

"On the economic front, this trip could pave the way for reaching trade agreements and promoting mutually beneficial investments in key sectors such as technology, innovation, energy and infrastructure. Diplomatically, this visit provides an ideal platform to strengthen coordination and collaboration between China and France on major global challenges such as climate change, international security and public health. On cultural and educational level, this trip could open up new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of education, research and culture, thereby strengthening exchanges between our peoples and deepening their mutual understanding," Picquart said.

Commemorative events

The national flags of China and France have been raised at one end of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées as well as on the street in front of Les Invalides.

On Sunday afternoon, near the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris, many local Chinese residents and Chinese students waved the national flags of China and France to welcome President Xi. The red banners that read "Long live China-France friendship" and "Wish President Xi a successful visit to France" were very eye-catching. Some also staged dragon and lion dances in show of a joyful atmosphere.

Prior to Xi's visit, several events had been held in preparation for Xi's visit as well as to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The Second Forum on China-France Global Governance was jointly held on Thursday by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and China-Europe-America Global Initiative. Themed "Deepening global governance reforms, jointly building the future of multilateralism," the forum invited more than 100 Chinese and French scholars to share their views on the role of China and France in building a more just world. 

Pascal Boniface, director of the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, told the Global Times at the event, hoping that Xi's visit can address such issues as preserving multilateralism, as "we are at a time when we have the war between Russia and Ukraine, the war in Gaza and a lot of turmoil in the Middle East." 

On Friday, a symposium themed "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook," was jointly organized by the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Paris-based National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations. Around 100 researchers from the two countries held discussions on the practice of cross-cultural exchanges between China and France and scientific and technological innovation and the future of civilization.

Antoine Broussy, director of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, told the Global Times that many commemorations are taking place in Paris. 

Seeking common interests

Sixty years ago, France became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Broussy believes it was "the result of a rational analysis of the geopolitical situation at the time." Then French president, General Charles De Gaulle who made the decision, was a strong advocate for "strategic autonomy" of France. Nowadays, France's call for "strategic autonomy" of both France and Europe has been repeatedly coming from French President Macron. 

When co-chairing the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris in February with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said China supports Europe in strengthening its strategic autonomy and holding its future in its own hands.

Nonetheless, the "strategic autonomy" of Europe has rarely been endorsed by Washington. During Macron's visit to China last year when he warned Europe against being drawn into a conflict between the US and China over Taiwan, US magazine Foreign Policy called strategic autonomy "a French pipe dream."

He Zhigao, a research fellow with the Institute of European Studies of CASS, told the Global Times that the US wants to hold tight control of Europe to tie it to the Western camp led by Washington. 

"If Europe views China from a global perspective that could benefit the world, then China is an opportunity. But if it stands by US' side, then China must be a challenge," said He, adding that China's engagement with Europe is for the common development. 

As of 2021, China has been the largest Asian country in terms of investment and job creation in France for three consecutive years, according to a report by Business France. China-France exchanges in core sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy and trade have already realized fruitful achievements, and the development of emerging fields such as new energy and the digital economy are likely to become new growth engines.

Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that France also views China as an important external force to achieve strategic autonomy, as France has another ambition of strengthening France's leadership of Europe.

Xin Hua, director and chair professor of the Center for European Union Studies, Shanghai International Studies University, believes China-France relations serve as the ballast stone of China-Europe relations.

"France is one of the most important core members of the EU and its strategic orientations play a decisive role in the EU's integration process and the strategic and security pattern of the European continent. As long as China and France maintain positive interaction, China-Europe relations will stay stable," said Xin.

The death toll has risen to 48 after part of an expressway collapsed in Meizhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on early Wednesday morning, and the DNA of another three people are yet to be identified, according to a press conference held by local Meizhou authorities on Thursday.

As of 2pm on Thursday, it has been determined that the disaster caused 23 vehicles to collapse into a sunken area of road, with 78 drivers and passengers have been confirmed after search and rescue efforts. 

Thirty injured are receiving treatment in hospital, and none are in life-threatening condition. No foreigners have been found among the casualties, Meizhou city Mayor Wang Hui told a press conference.

Several vehicles were buried under mud following the incident, making it impossible to immediately locate the trapped vehicles and individuals, according to Wen Yongdeng, the Communist Party secretary for the Meizhou emergency management bureau, at the press conference.

The acciden happened occurred around 2:10 am on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou. The collapsed section measures 17.9 meters long and covers an area of 184.3 square meters, officials confirmed. 

Aerial photos show one side of the expressway had caved in, causing vehicles to roll down a slope.

The disaster-stricken landslide area is narrow and elongated, with the majority of the collapsed vehicles concentrated near the landslide zone. Due to the heavy rainfall over recent days, the soil at the site is loose, making it difficult for large-scale rescue equipment to access the core rescue area, said Wen.

According to Wen, several vehicles caught on fire, adding to the complexity of the rescue efforts. Most of the vehicles were buried under a considerable depth of mud during the collapse. Prolonged heavy rainfall has led to a high saturation level of the soil at the rescue site, increasing the likelihood of secondary disasters during the rescue operation.

Data shared at the press conference showed that, since April, Meizhou has experienced multiple heavy rainfall events, with the city's average cumulative rainfall reaching 621.7 millimeters, 2.49 times more than the same period in a typical year. This surpasses the historical record for April rainfall since meteorological records began in 1980.

The rescue and aftermath work continues. At the rescue site, there are 577 rescue personnel and 84 mechanical units had been leading the rescue effort, including forces from public security, firefighting, emergency response, and healthcare sectors.

The first forum of China-Serbia Culture Communication was held in Belgrade on Monday local time, where some 50 scholars, government and industry representatives discussed the history of bilateral cultural exchanges, the dialogue between civilizations as well as new opportunities under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Culture exchange is an integral part of China-Serbia relations and has played a positive role in facilitating mutual understanding and the friendship between the two peoples, Tang Dasheng, cultural counselor from the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said when he addressed the forum and expected the event could help scholars, think tanks and universities in the two countries further push forward bilateral cultural exchanges, according to a press release that the forum organizer sent to the Global Times on Tuesday.

Bojan Lalic, director of the Institute for Belt and Road in Belgrade, shared his insights on Serbia's experience in participating in the BRI, and noted the two countries could strengthen cooperation on digital economy and green development under the framework.

Li Jiashan, an expert on culture development at Beijing International Studies University, pinpointed areas of culture trade which have great potential, including publishing, stage performance and software services.

The forum was co-hosted by the Institute for Belt and Road and China's Capital Normal University.

Jelena Gavric, a director, interpreter and blogger, delivered a video message to the forum. Gavric received her bachelor and master's degrees at Chinese universities and has always upload Vlogs on Chinese platform Bilibili to share her experience in both countries and trans-cultural observation.

Gavric developed an interest in China from Chinese TV dramas in her teenage years, self-studied Chinese language and finally became a culture ambassador. As a member of a younger generation, she is proud of contributing to bilateral cultural exchanges with her educational background, skills and interest, Gavric told the Global Times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Serbia, the first in eight years, during his three-nation European trip from May 5 to May 10. Xi will hold talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional hotspot issues of mutual interest and discuss an upgrade of the China-Serbia relationship while charting a future course for bilateral relations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Katarina Zakic,head of Regional Centre for Belt and Road at the Institute of International Politics and Economics, told the Global Times that the visit is a significant of the strong political relations between China and Serbia.

Hailing the "steel (or ironclad) friendship" that China and Serbia share, Zakic said that in addition to strong political ties, the two countries continue to build mutually beneficial economic, cultural, educational, scientific, and people-to-people relationships. Bilateral cooperation is extensive and covers a wide range of fields, the expert said.

China lodged solemn representations to Japan on Sunday after five Japanese lawmakers reportedly trespassed into waters near the Diaoyu Dao for a maritime "inspection." Experts noted that Japan's action is a deliberate provocation against China, aimed at heightening tensions in East Asia and jeopardizing regional peace and stability.

According to media reports, the Japanese lawmakers trespassed into the waters near the Diaoyu Dao, also known as Diaoyu Islands, for the marine "inspection" on Friday, and they claimed they should land on the islands for investigations. 

In response to Japan's provocative actions, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Japan said on Sunday that China has lodged solemn representations with Japan, and the China Coast Guard (CCG) has taken measures against it in accordance with the law.

The Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are an inherent part of China's territory, and China's determination and will to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights are unwavering, the embassy said.

"China strongly urges Japan to stop all political provocations, on-site disturbances and media hype, and return to the correct track of managing differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation to avoid further escalation of the situation," the spokesperson said.

The latest move by Japan is a blatant provocation against China, and is aimed at escalating tensions in the East Asia region, Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"The Japanese cabinet, in particular, allegedly went so far as to claim [they could] land on the island, clearly demonstrating their intension to provoke China in terms of territory issue," Lü said. He noted that Japan deliberately wants to worsen the situation in the region, especially as the lawful patrols of the CCG around the Diaoyu Dao have become routine, with the latest one conducted on April 12.

Lü said that generally, Japanese lawmakers tend to take actions near the Diaoyu Dao during times when Japan is adopting a firm stance toward China and aligning with the US' strategy to form a confrontation with China in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The latest provocation from Japan is a common way for them to divert from domestic conflicts, given the current significant problems in both politics and the economy in Japan," Lü said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. China will take firm measures against illegal moves that violate China's sovereignty, and China stands ready to continue properly handling maritime issues with parties concerned through dialogue and consultation and jointly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea. 

"In the meantime, no one should violate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and China remains steadfast in safeguarding our lawful rights," the ministry said.

In light of Japan's persistent provocative actions, China must firmly take countermeasures and should not tolerate Japan's attempts to stir up tensions over the Diaoyu Dao, Lü said. "China must consistently assert to Japan and the international community that the Diaoyu Dao belongs to China, and this reality is non-negotiable. China will also take all necessary measures to put an end to Japan's aggressive behavior toward China," he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, before landing in Beijing on Thursday, met with local officials in Shanghai, where he acknowledged the obligation to manage the China-US relationship responsibly.

The obligation lies with both China and the US, therefore it should be on equal footing communication rather than order and obedience, Chinese observers said, as China hopes that Blinken's visit can help the US better understand China. 

Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with Blinken on Thursday in Shanghai. Chen said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the current China-US relations have shown a stabilizing trend, which is an important foundation for the two sides to promote the next stage of cooperation and communication.

Chen said Shanghai will implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in a solid manner, and continue to make active contributions from a local perspective to promote the development of China-US relations.

Blinken underscored "the value and necessity of direct engagement, of sustained engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences which are real, seeking to work through them, as also looking for ways to build cooperation where we can," per a press release from US Department of State.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had introduced five major goals that China is focusing on: establishing the right perception, strengthening dialogue, effectively managing differences, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries.

In particular, the US must not provoke China's red lines on matters such as the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, development path and system, and development rights, an official from the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. 

Valuing peace, prioritizing stability, and basing actions on trust are the principles that China adheres to in managing China-US relations, the official said. 
It is hoped that through direct engagement, the US can have a better understanding of China and correct its wrong perception of the country, as that is the foundation for further steps to carry out meaningful communication, manage differences and promote possible cooperation, said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University. 

In Shanghai, Blinken reportedly raised "concerns over China's trade policies and non-market economic practices." He described Chinese policies as "unfair" and demanded "a level playing field for US workers and firms operating in China."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China has always conducted economic and trade cooperation in accordance with market principles, firmly supported the multilateral trading system, and fully complied with the rules of the World Trade Organization. We hope that the US will work with China to create favorable conditions for the healthy and stable development of Sino-US economic and trade relations, he said.

Hours before he landed in China on Wednesday, the US Senate passed an aid package including $8 billion in aid to the island of Taiwan and the bill to force ByteDance to sell TikTok.  Before his trip, US media also cited anonymous sources claiming that the US is drafting sanctions that could cut some Chinese banks off the global financial system, purportedly to increase "diplomatic leverage" for Blinken's visit. 

Li noted, "If Blinken is here to issue an ultimatum to China, we will not give in to him and will not compromise on our core issues." 

The most prominent feature of the current China-US relationship is that Washington continuously raises demands with Beijing but lacks sincerity in responding to many of China's reasonable requests, experts said.

Responsibly managing differences should be mutual, not the US ordering and China listening, Li said.

Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the US cannot suppress China, while at the same time expecting China to dance to its tune. 

As a result, analysts have rather low expectations for this visit. 

The actions of the US have made China feel that it is not a credible partner, seeking only to secure what it wants and presenting unreasonable demands while neglecting the needs of others, Wu said.

The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 8:59 p.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, announced the China Manned Space Agency on Wednesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and also expressed China's support for Palestine over the upcoming UN Security Council (UNSC) vote on its full UN membership, which is likely to be blocked by Israeli ally the US.

Although the Palestinian Authority is unlikely to be granted full UN membership, which would mean a recognition of statehood, analysts said the UN vote would bring the issue of Palestinian statehood back to the UN stage, which is of positive significance for pushing the international community to forge more consensus on the issue.

Regardless of the result, the vote will also put further moral and political pressure on the US and Israel, increasing the isolation of the two countries on the global stage when the majority of the world's countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, analysts noted.

After a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta on Thursday, Wang told media that China is deeply saddened by the humanitarian disaster caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and an unconditional and lasting cease-fire should be immediately realized and civilians should be effectively protected.

Wang said humanitarian relief mechanism should be established as soon as possible to ensure rapid, safe, barrier-free and sustainable access of humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Wang, China's top diplomat, also called on relevant parties to maintain calm and restraint, avoid escalation of the situation and prevent spillover of the conflict.

China supports the UNSC in discussing and accepting Palestine's full UN membership as soon as possible, and proposes that a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference be convened to formulate a timetable and road map for the implementation of the "two-state solution," Wang said. 

Citing diplomats, Reuters said on Wednesday that the 15-member UNSC is scheduled to vote at 3 PM on Friday local time on a draft resolution to demand that the UN admit Palestine as a member. It's the first vote of its kind in the UNSC since 2011, when Palestine halted its application after the US pledged to wield its veto. 

UNSC member Algeria circulated a draft text on Tuesday, according to the Reuters report, which noted that Palestine is still pushing for the vote to be held as early as Thursday local time. 

The UNSC resolution requires at least nine votes in favor, and no vetoes by the five UNSC's five permanent members - China, Russia, France, UK, and the US - before the application moves to the 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA), where Palestine needs to get a two-thirds majority.      

According to a report from news site Axios on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected a request from the Biden administration to block plans for the UNSC vote. Citing a US official, the report said that the Biden administration "is trying to prevent the Palestinians from getting the nine votes," so the US will not need to veto the application by itself afterward.

Although it's very likely that Palestine will be unable to obtain full UN membership due to the US' block, the upcoming vote will bring the Palestinian statehood issue, the "two-state solution," back to the center of the UN arena once again as an issue of common concern for the international community, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Voting within the framework of the UN is of positive significance to pushing the international community to further forge a consensus recognizing the independent statehood of Palestine, especially the rights of Palestinians under international law, Liu noted.  

Further isolation 

With the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, France, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, UK, Australia and other countries have recently expressed support for the "two-state solution," with many of them even considering recognizing the Palestinian state, according to media reports. 

In contrast, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told media on Wednesday that she did not believe the upcoming UN resolution would help lead to a "two-state solution." Earlier this month, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told media that the US opposes a Palestinian push for full membership at the UN, as it backs statehood but only after direct negotiations with Israel, according to VOA. 

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, told the Global Times on Thursday that six months after Israel launched the war in Gaza, an increasing number of countries, including some Western states, have changed their positions and expressed their opposition to Israel and its US ally.

Out of 193 UN member states, 139 have recognized Palestine's statehood, including European countries such as Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Poland and Romania, according to Al Jazeera. 

Citing a high-ranking Israeli official, the report said eight UNSC members are expected to vote for Palestine, including China, Russia, Algeria, Malta, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Guyana. The US and Israel are lobbying France, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea and Ecuador to vote against or abstain from voting, while the UK is expected to abstain.  

If some of the US' European allies do vote for Palestine this time, it would be a huge blow to the US and Israel, said Niu, "Europe is more sympathetic to Palestine and the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict has divided the US and its Western allies to some extent."

The vote, even if it does not pass, will put moral and political pressure on the US and Israel, especially if another veto is used by Washington, which would make the US and Israel face greater isolation on the international stage, Niu said. 

"The pressure from the international community will affect US support for Israel to some extent," said Niu. "And it's clearly not a good deal for the US to stand against the majority of countries in the world because of supporting Israel."

After the cease-fire in the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel may come under unprecedented pressure from the international community in pushing forward negotiations on the basis of a "two-state solution," although the eventual settlement of the conflict is still a very long and difficult process, Liu said. 

After a summit with US and Japanese leaders in Washington which is regarded as primarily targeted at China, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr said his government has no plan to give US forces access to more military bases in the Philippines. Chinese analysts commented that faced with regional concerns and domestic opposition, Marcos is pretending his government is a "stabilizer" at least on the surface, rather than a "troublemaker," however, Manila's provocation is unlikely to stop at any time soon.  

According to the AP, Marcos made the remarks during a forum with Manila-based foreign correspondents on Monday. He said his government "has no plans to create any more bases or give access to any more bases." 

In February 2023, Marcos granted the US access to four new military bases," bringing to nine the number of military bases that US troops can rotate through, build facilities and store defense equipment and supplies under the "Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). One of the bases is only 400 kilometers from China's Taiwan region, according to media reports. 

Asked if he was concerned that allowing US military access to Philippine bases had provoked Chinese actions, Marcos said that giving the US military access to Philippine bases is "not aimed at provoking China" but is a reaction to "aggressive actions we had to deal with" in the South China Sea.

Marcos also mentioned the recent disputes in the South China Sea and smeared China, noting that it is crucial that the media continues to expose these actions that threaten the peace and stability of the region. It is worth mentioning that Manila has invited Western reporters board its vessels when Manila needs to spread its image as "a victim" in the face of China's "assertive actions."  

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Marcos is attempting to sway other countries in the region that Manila is trying to calm down the situation.

He portrays himself as a nice guy that is trying to maintain regional stability in front of the media, Chen said. 

Marcos remarks came after the first-ever US-Japan-Philippines summit hosted by US President Joe Biden on Thursday in Washington, DC, in which the three nations announced they will deepen military cooperation to counter "China's threats." Biden asked Congress for a further $128 million for infrastructure projects at the current base sites. Manila is also promoting a mutual military visit agreement with Tokyo. 

After the summit, geopolitical competition and bloc confrontation in the Asia-Pacific is on the rise, and the risk of maritime friction is also increasing, said Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies. 

The Philippines, encouraged and supported by the US and Japan, will not stop its aggressive and provocative actions at sea in the short term, Ding said, noting that the Philippines may even make more infringements and provocative measures in public opinion, jurisprudence and on diplomatic occasions.

Both experts said that Marcos' remarks are also in response to pressure from domestic opposition and anti-war groups that are worried the Philippines will become further involved in a major power confrontation between the US and China.  

In a recent interview with the Global Times, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said there are too many military bases for the US troops in Philippines, which he always objected to. He warned that the "US will not die for us." 

Whether there will be more military bases in the Philippines depends on if the US puts new demands on the Philippines and whether the US meets some of the conditions Manila is asking for, as there were interests exchanges behind every single base, Chen said.

According to Ding, with the new bases still under construction, the demand for more military bases in the Philippines is not urgent. In addition, the procedure of adding a new base is complicated, not only in terms of the US and the Philippines themselves at home, but also due to technical issues between the two countries, which makes it less feasible in the short term.

For instance, building a new site needs a huge amount of funds and human resources, and it also need to be approved by Congress, Ding said. 

Ding stressed that in response to the provocation of the Philippines and the intervention of countries outside the region, China has enough strength to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, which is also the fundamental guarantee for peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Including the case of the two Canadian Michaels, 10 typical spy cases were disclosed in a special documentary film published by China's Ministry of State Security on Sunday to mark the ninth National Security Education Day that falls on April 15, through which various despicable methods of infiltration, theft and incitement by foreign spy and intelligence agencies are exposed, and awareness of anti-espionage is expected to be firmly established among the people.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the holistic view of national security, the national security has been strengthened. However, beyond traditional areas, emerging fields related to national economy and people's livelihoods, future development, energy, food and meteorology have also become key targets for foreign spy agencies.

In response to the new situations and forms both internationally and domestically, comprehensive measures are needed in terms of raising awareness of safeguarding national security, implementing better legislation and the establishment of specialized institutions to address events that pose a threat to national security, according to analysts. They stressed the importance of lifelong education on national security among the public.

As part of nationwide efforts to promote the national security education, China's Ministry of State Security released a special documentary film that is divided into two parts with the first part summarizing the 10 major anti-espionage cases uncovered by the state security organs in the past decade and the second part reviewing 10 typical citizen-whistleblowing cases during the same period.

The first part of the film was released on Sunday and the second part is set to be published on Monday, according to the ministry.

In the first part of the video that lasts about half an hour, the case of the two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, engaging in spying activities in China, is revealed with some details. In December 2018, the state security organs detected two Canadians for overseas spying, illegally providing state secrets and reporting intelligence, which severely fought against the criminal acts of overseas spies endangering China's national security.

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength, some overseas spy and intelligence agencies have infiltrated China, trying to gather intelligence and steal China's state secrets, the Ministry of State Security noted.

In another case, in 2019, the state security organ uncovered the case of Lee Henley Huxiang's financing of criminal activities endangering national security. According to the video, Lee is willing to be a "traitor" - enjoying the national dividend, while sparing no effort to support anti-China activities, acting as the investor behind the anti-China activities, engaged in anti-China chaos and other activities, endangering national security.

Separately, according to the film, in 2017, the state security authorities deployed a special campaign against defectors, including Wang Pihong and Zhao Ruqin. Defection is one of the crimes of endangering national security, and this was the first case of endangering national security with the conviction of "defection" since 2012.

The Ministry of State Security also noted that core secret-related personnel in the Party, government and military organs, military enterprises, scientific research institutes as well as university teachers and students are the key targets for overseas spy and intelligence agencies to carry out intelligence collection and infiltration.

Through various means such as emotional solicitation, seduction and corruption, financial purchase, and offering help, overseas spies have tried every means to recruit and instigate Chinese officials, researchers and Chinese personnel working overseas, posing a serious threat to China's national security, the film said.

The state security organs have found that some personnel have a weak sense of national security and are used by people with ulterior motives, intentionally or inadvertently divulging state secrets and endangering national security.

The video also revealed cases of individual military fans illegally obtaining state secrets.

At present, there are some overseas institutions that have complex backgrounds. With the rapid development of information technology, in order to circumvent China's laws and regulations and the supervision of key sensitive industries, they disguise their overseas background through various methods. Then, they steal China's state secrets and intelligence in key fields with the help of domestic consulting companies and other industries, the film warned.

The video has sparked heated online discussion with many expressing admiration and respect for the anti-espionage work. Some netizens "liked" the various forms of popularizing the national security concept including videos, comic posts and other activities both online and offline, believing those publicity works can promote the public awareness of protecting national security.

Li Wei, an expert on national security at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Sunday that as China comprehensively promotes the rule of law, including in the field of counterespionage, relevant provisions of the Criminal Law and Counter-Espionage Law have been improved and enriched.

For example, the Counter-Espionage Law that was revised last year is more precise, clear-cut and transparent, which embodies progress in China's legal system.

However, relevant laws are not permanently perfected through one revision. If there are new trends and changes in espionage activities in the future, these laws will need further revisions and improvements, according to Li.

Li put forward a concept of lifelong education on national security among the public, stressing the significance of adopting more forms and methods to enhance the relevant awareness and make safeguarding national security a necessity for every citizen.

The National Healthcare Security Administration has dismissed recent hypes of a surge in Chinese residents abandoning basic medical insurance due to increasing fees. It stated that the current extent of the nation's medical insurance coverage remains largely consistent with that of the previous year.

Western media outlets have claimed over recent weeks that the number of participants in China's urban and rural residents' medical insurance has been continuously decreasing.

Many people cannot afford the personal payment standard which rose from 350 yuan ($48.36) in 2022 to 380 yuan in 2023, causing many to opt out of the insurance, resulting in a "dropout wave" in some rural areas, the media reports said. 

Responding to such hypes, the administration on Thursday said at a press conference that per the latest data by the end of March 2024, China's medical insurance system has shown a stable landscape, and the vast majority of residents still have confidence in the country's basic medical insurance.

The total number of people covered by China's basic medical insurance reached 1.33 billion at the end of 2023, accounting for over 95 percent of the country's population. 

The actual net increase in the number of insured individuals in 2023 stood at around 4 million, officials revealed at the conference. This figure considers the exclusion of nearly 40 million individuals with duplicate or invalid data within provincial-level regions, along with an additional 16 million individuals with duplicate insurance across provinces.

A total of 371 million people are covered by basic medical insurance for employees, while 963 million people are covered by basic medical insurance for residents, the administration said.

The number of employees covered by medical insurance increased by 9 million, accounting for 27.8 percent of all insured individuals, further optimizing the structure of insurance coverage. 

In addition, medical insurance departments have provided assistance to nearly 80 million low-income individuals nationwide in 2023, alleviating their financial burden. 

The rate of low-income individuals in rural areas covered by medical insurance has remained stable at over 99 percent, effectively safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable groups, the administration said. 

In a separate development, it has become a trend for Hong Kong residents to seek medical treatment in the Chinese mainland, particularly in the neighboring city of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province. 

Many Hong Kong residents have shared tips for obtaining medical insurance in Shenzhen on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book, while showing off the convenience and affordability of seeking medical care in the mainland. 

According to Hong Kong media reports, in recent years, the tight medical resources and long waiting times in public healthcare institutes in Hong Kong have resulted in strong complaints, leading many Hong Kong residents opt for medical services in the mainland. 

Apart from being affordable, easy to schedule, and with a comfortable environment, the short waiting times in Shenzhen have become a significant factor. Additionally, with an increasing number of insurance plans covering the Greater Bay Area medical network, seeking medical treatment in the mainland has become a better choice for Hong Kong residents facing healthcare challenges.