The tunneling of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world's longest expressway tunnel, was completed Monday morning through the snow-covered mountains of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking a significant milestone in China's infrastructure development.

In response to an inquiry on that German authorities are launching an espionage probe into a Chinese national who allegedly took pictures at a German naval base, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that he is not aware of the case and the Chinese government consistently urges Chinese citizens abroad to abide by local laws and regulations.

The Chinese government protects the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and enterprises in accordance with the law. We hope the German side will base its actions on facts, stop manipulating and slandering under the guise of the so-called spy case, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Germany, said Lin. 

China has decided to impose countermeasures against two Canadian organizations as well as 20 personnel from these organizations in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, according to a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The decision took effect on December 21, 2024. 

"China's countermeasures have a very clear delineation of responsibility, aimed at non-governmental organizations that ignore facts, and Canada should not keep playing an inglorious role in spreading misinformation targeting China," Wang Jiang, a deputy director of the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The countermeasures include freezing all movable and immovable property and other types of assets of the two Canadian organizations "Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project" and "Canada Tibet Committee" within China's territory and prohibiting organizations and individuals within China's territory from engaging in any transactions or cooperation with them. 

Additionally, movable and immovable property and other types of assets of certain individuals from the two Canadian organizations will be frozen within China's territory. Organizations and individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other activities with them personally. In addition, they will not be issued visas and will be denied entry into China, including the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.

Wang pointed out that in recent years, the West has continued to spread misinformation targeting China's Xinjiang. Canada has played an inglorious role in this process, constantly hyping and slandering human rights situation in Xinjiang and Xizang to attack and smear China. Such misinformation campaign forms the broader context of the current events.

Current Canadian government policies and its stance toward China differ significantly from those of the past, adopting a more aggressive and confrontational approach, especially on issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang, Wang said.

"Canada's actions are an attempt to use human rights issues in Xinjiang and Xizang to enhance its international presence and strengthen its influence in global diplomacy and ideological discourse," he said.

Some Western countries have begun to adopt a more pragmatic attitude toward China in their engagements, as they started to realize playing the "human rights card" brings no significant benefits to their national interests. In contrast, Canada has gone in the opposite direction, becoming increasingly conspicuous, Wang added.

A total of 20 individuals are involved in the measures. Among them, personnel related to the "Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project" include Executive Director Mehmet Tohti, Policy and Advocacy Director Jasmine Kainth, legal advisors David Matas, Sarah Teich, John Packer, Clive Ansley, Yonah Diamond, Justine Bernatchez and Linden Dales, and Policy Advisors Charles Burton, Margarett Mccuaig Johnston, Marcus Kolga and Scott Simon, as well as research advisors Conor Healy and Geoffrey Aharon, making a total of 15 people.

Personnel related to the "Canada Tibet Committee" include Chair Samphe Lhalungpa, Vice Chair Luisa Durante, Executive Director Sherap Therchin, Board Member Eliza von Baeyer, and Community Engagement Manager Youngdoung Tenzin, making a total of 5 people.

As part of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the 2024 "Family of the Maritime Silk Road" ASEAN online celebrity conference was held in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on Thursday. Internet celebrities from 10 ASEAN countries with a total of nearly 100 million followers participated in the conference. They shared personal stories and experiences in China through self-made videos, fostering friendly exchanges and solidarity between China and ASEAN. 

From interviews with several internet celebrities from ASEAN, reporters from the Global Times explored their perspectives on China, their personal stories, and the benefits of China-ASEAN cooperation.

Seeing is believing

"I was a little worried before I came to China, as a foreigner, I was afraid that there would be much restriction or I would be excluded. But after I came here, I realized that China is indeed very inclusive," Han Bing, a Thai influencer who previously studied at Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Thursday. Han believes that China's inclusiveness demonstrates a mentality that only comes from a major country, which gives him the freedom to express himself and pursue his dreams in China.

A Singapore-based internet celebrity, Shantay, visited China for the first time in 2018, "Before that I had only heard that Shanghai was highly developed, but when I was physically arriving, I was stunned," Shantay said. "At that time, while most of the world remained cash-paying, Shanghai was already almost completely transformed into a cashless payment city, leaving me with the impression that China was more advanced than I had imagined." Shantay added.

Una is an internet celebrity from Indonesia with about 21 million followers, and the conference marked her first visit to China. Una told the Global Times that before she came to China, many of her followers asked her why she was visiting China and what she expected, "We never know if we never try," Una replied. Now Una can't wait to update her social media platforms and update her followers and those who don't understand why she visited China about how wonderful and picturesque Haikou is.

China in Their Eyes

When the Global Times asked Shantay to describe China in one word, she chose "powerful." "Power comes from growth and innovation, and China has improved tremendously over the last 10 year. It really taking the world by stun," said Shantay. 

Echoing Shantay, Una also described China as a "powerful" country, which everyone would like to pay attention to. "China holds unique and magical characteristics, and in Indonesia, if someone says they are in China, we will know that he or she is going to be successful in China soon," Una told GT.

"The whole world is speaking Chinese" is a lyric from the famous Chinese girl group "SHE," which Shantay used to describe China. Shantay said in Singapore nowadays children are learning English and Chinese, and she feels that Chinese is increasingly popular worldwide because the influence of Chinese culture is growing. "The next line of the lyrics is 'the words spoken by Chinese people will make the world listen carefully,' and I am confident that it will be achieved in the future as well," Shantay said.

The Best of Both Sides

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted in July's ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting that China and ASEAN, who are friendly neighbors and close partners, have seen the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future being steady and fruitful, benefiting 2 billion people on the two sides while greatly promoting common development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Han said that for him, the greatest benefit of China-ASEAN cooperation is the visa-free policy between China and Thailand. The visa waiver has made it easier for people to travel between the two countries, said Han, which has also boosted personal exchanges between both countries.

Vietnam, another socialist neighbor, shares cultural and social affinities with China. Last year, the two countries announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, ushering in a new stage in their ties, according to Xinhua.

For her part, Bella, an internet celebrity from Vietnam, said she has benefited considerably from the cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of education. "Studying in China will bring a lot of opportunities; it is the cooperation between countries that makes educational exchanges possible."

"For a travel-orientated online celebrity, I have enjoyed the most from the cooperation between China and Russia including visa convenience and increases in flights, allowing me to travel to and from China very smoothly," a Russian influencer, Cody Miller, told the Global Times.

Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said on Thursday that internet celebrities can become ambassadors of goodwill to present the real story of win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China to the international community, while gathering positive energy for regional development, to convey to the world the confidence of ASEAN and China in cooperation and development in a truthful, accurate and comprehensive manner.

Talking about how to promote people-to-people exchanges with her role as an internet celebrity, Shantay expressed her interest in trying on traditional Chinese dresses, like cheongsams and Tang suits, noting these would help her fans better appreciate classical Chinese culture around the world. Bella said that the exchanges between people are a vital approach to enhance relations between citizens. She will post more videos of her travels in China on social media in the future, showing more people the beauty and delicacies of China and the hospitality of the Chinese people. Miller, meanwhile, said he would introduce more of what China is doing to protect the environment in his videos, bringing more people to know about China's vision and its contributions.

The way of interaction among major powers has always existed; the question is under what background and international context this interaction takes place, and what values we need to promote in order to meet the demand of each nation's strategic development, a Chinese scholar said at Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," held in Beijing on Saturday. 

There are three characteristics of major power relations this year: first, domestic political factors have fermented to create new uncertainties in the foreign policies of major powers; second, divergences and controversies over core strategic issues are deepening; third, the US' interest-centered approach and protectionism may exacerbate to challenge the global economic and trade situation, said Zhu Feng, dean of school of international studies at Nanjing University.

Zhu said that as the world's second-largest economy, China's understanding of the global order and its rules is evolving, especially regarding its relations with the world. The essence of major power interactions lies in understanding changes in relationship between us and the world, and identifying China's key international interests during this transformation. A rising China influencing and reshaping the world is not an overnight process; it requires long-term and sustained efforts.

The first batch of US-made M1A2T tanks sold to the Taiwan island reportedly arrived in Taipei on Sunday following the arrival of accessory equipment of the tanks in Kaohsiung on Friday, but a military expert from Chinese mainland said the tanks, trumpeted by media on the island as "the most powerful combat vehicle on the ground," are too bulky and heavy for island combat and will only serve as easy targets for drones and attack helicopters.

Following the arrival of the first batch of the M1A2T tanks at Taipei Port on Sunday, they are scheduled to be transported to Hsinchu from Sunday night to Monday morning. These tanks will be deployed to the Taiwan army's training center in Hsinchu, in preparation for training after the Spring Festival next year, according to Taiwan media outlet Liberty Times Net on Sunday.

It was originally reported that the tanks arrived in Kaohsiung port on Friday, but it was confirmed that it was the arrival of the tanks' accessory equipment, Liberty Times Net reported.

The US State Department announced in July 2019 the sale of 108 M1A2 tanks and related support to Taiwan island. As per the information unveiled in the public budget of the defense authority on the island of Taiwan, its army is scheduled to receive 38, 42 and 28 vehicles in three batches in three years from 2024 to 2026, and the M1A2T is a customized version for the island of Taiwan, Liberty Times Net reported.

Liberty Times Net dubbed the M1A2T "the most powerful combat vehicle on the ground," claiming that it is equipped with "a lethal 120mm gun, highly protective composite armor, and exceptional mobility and combat efficiency."

However, mainland military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times that the M1A2 is not a good choice, as the island is densely covered with water networks, while the M1A2 is over 60 tons in weight, posing great limitations on mobility and deployment.

In addition, the M1A2 uses a highly fuel-consuming gas turbine, arguably a type of tank with complicated maintenance and upkeep needs, said Wei. Even if the M1A2 is considered advanced, it will be shattered into parts when confronted with aviation forces such as attack helicopters armed with a large number of anti-tank missiles, Wei noted.

The M1A1 tanks, in the same family as the M1A2T, failed to perform effectively in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, AP reported in April, citing two US military officials.

The M1 Abrams has suffered heavy losses on Ukrainian soil, with many reportedly destroyed due to advanced Russian weaponry like the Kornet anti-tank missile, US media outlet the National Interest reported in September. 

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Sunday that roles and survivability of tanks face serious challenges in modern land combat, as they face unprecedented threats from drones.

If the Taiwan authorities believe that tanks can bring a significant boost to its military capabilities, their hopes are too high, Wang said. "The time has changed, and the combat patterns of the past are no more," he said.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK on Tuesday urged the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between the two countries after a Chinese businessman is reportedly being banned from entering the UK.

It is reported that the businessman banned from entering the UK has asked his legal team to disclose his identity. This businessman has also made it clear in a statement that he has done nothing wrong or unlawful. In the meantime, the UK Parliament (on Monday afternoon) heard an urgent question on this issue, during which a few Members of Parliament continued to accuse the businessman of being a "Chinese spy," according to the Chinese Embassy.

The businessman has been banned from Britain on "national security" grounds, according to media reports.

"I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded," the businessman said in a statement issued by his lawyers on Monday, Reuters reported.

Chinese Embassy in the UK said in the statement on Tuesday that: "As for the anti-China clamours made by a handful of UK MPs, they have done nothing but fully revealed their twisted mentality toward China, as well as their arrogance and shamelessness. What they are really up to is to smear China, target against the Chinese community in the UK and undermine normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK."

It must be pointed out that the CPC and the Chinese government uphold that countries should pursue friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. "This is what we have been saying and what we have been doing. This is also why China has so many friends around the world," the statement said.

Chinese Embassy's statement also urged the UK to have a right perception of China, see the historical trend clearly, and handle its relations with China on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

"We urge the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipu-lations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK," it noted.

Citing four sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported on Monday that "Britain's Labour government has pared back an audit of relations with China, preparing the way for a less critical report that could help Prime Minister Keir Starmer focus on improving economic ties."

On Monday, when he was questioned about the case, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was pleased with what he called progress on ties with China. The PM was cited by the Guardian as saying "Of course, we have to challenge where we must, but it's better to engage to challenge than to stay aside, as it were, important to cooperate where we can on issues like climate change, which need that cooperation. So I'm very pleased with the engagement and the progress that we've made."

In response to an inquiry on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island as Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te has completed "transiting" through Hawaii or Guam, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the foremost, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.

Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C,'" as Lai returns from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through Hawaii or Guam.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged EU to refrain from applying double standard and stop listing Chinese companies, smearing China and shifting the blame to China without providing any factual basis, in response to the European Union's proposal that it'll sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine.

China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. On the Ukraine issue, China is committed to promoting talks for peace. China has never provided weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, even drones for civilian use, and opposes using civilian drones for military purposes, spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

The EU is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

The G7 foreign ministers, who are meeting in Italy on Monday and Tuesday, are expected to vow "appropriate measures consistent with our legal systems, against actors in China and in other third countries" who are supporting Russia, according to an early draft of the communique seen by Bloomberg.

Communiques are often changed before the final version is published and tweaks could still be made to the wording, Bloomberg said. 

The normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies do not target any third party, and should not be disrupted or interfered with by any third party, Mao said at Tuesday's press briefing.

"As we speak, most countries, including European countries and the US, carry out trade with Russia. We urge the EU to refrain from applying double standard and stop listing Chinese companies, smearing China and shifting the blame to China without providing any factual basis," Mao said. 

China will do what is necessary to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, the spokesperson added.

East China's Zhejiang Province has initiated a campaign to promote bamboo as a replacement for plastic products in offices, meetings, cafeterias, and other scenarios across government bodies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises. 

According to the provincial development action plan of "replacing plastic with bamboo" recently rolled out by Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission in collaboration with other departments, priority should also be given to bamboo instead of plastic products during office upgrades or replacements, thepaper.cn reported on Wednesday. 

The theme for the Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. "Replacing plastic with bamboo" refers to substituting plastic products with fast-growing, biodegradable bamboo products and bamboo-based composite materials.

In daily life and the cultural and tourism industries, bamboo is used to produce shopping bags, stationery, tableware, and furniture. In industrial production sector, bamboo composites, vehicle interiors, and packaging materials are utilized. Besides, bamboo products are also widely used in the construction industry. 

Last October, China's National Development and Reform Commission released a three-year action plan to accelerate bamboo as a plastic alternative and proposed that an initial "bamboo replacing plastic" industry system will be established by 2025, with the comprehensive added value of main products increasing by over 20 percent from 2022, and bamboo utilization increasing by 20 percent. 

Zhejiang Province has over 14 million mu (933,333 hectares) of bamboo forests. In 13 counties, bamboo forests exceed 300,000 mu, while 43 counties have over 100,000 mu of bamboo coverage.

According to the development action plan, Zhejiang will promote "replacing plastic with bamboo" by fostering industrial ecosystems, driving innovation, and securing resources for development. 

In terms of expanding application scenarios, the authority vows to regularly update the catalog of bamboo products and promote the use of bamboo-based building materials and bamboo products in government investment projects and explore setting a minimum ration of usage of bamboo products. 

Besides, bamboo will be encouraged to use in a variety of industries such as transportation industry, daily commodities sales, hotels and bed and breakfast business as well as courier industry.