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.
All counties in Fujian Province, including county-level cities and districts with frequent Taiwan-related interactions, have all set up their separate Taiwan affairs offices, a Fujian official said, which analysts interpret as a clear signal from the Chinese mainland to further deepen cross-Straits integrated development in 2025 and advance reunification efforts.
In a recent article published on WeChat account "China Institutional Establishment," an official magazine focusing on China's public sector reform, Zhou Qingsong, deputy head of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, said that during the latest round of institutional reforms, Fujian authorities have made concentrated efforts to promote cross-Straits integrated development and have taken up their responsibilities.
Zhou said that in the latest round of institutional reform, counties (cities and districts) with frequent Taiwan-related interactions have all set up separate Taiwan affairs offices.
Zhou also mentioned the need to ensure better access to schooling and employment for Taiwan compatriots in Fujian. For vocational schools recruiting teachers from Taiwan, public primary and secondary schools and kindergartens admitting children of Taiwan compatriots, and colleges, universities and scientific institutes recruiting students from Taiwan, they will be provided with adequate official staffing guarantees.
He also called for further building platforms for cross-Straits integrated development, and pointed out the need to further improve the management system and operation mechanism of Taiwan investment zones in Fujian.
Since 2023, the Chinese mainland has made significant progress on building a cross-Straits integrated development demonstration zone in Fujian, which has addressed numerous practical challenges in guaranteeing the lives, schooling and employment of Taiwan compatriots, Li Zhenguang, deputy director at the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University, told the Global Times on Monday.
In a document jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in September 2023, the central government said it will make Fujian Province a demonstration zone for the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits with 21 specific measures to deepen the cross-Strait integrated development in all fields.
In order to build the demonstration zone, Fujian Province has broken down the tasks for individual counties and cities, and the Taiwan affairs offices at the local levels mainly play a coordinating role in the implementation of these tasks, Li said.
The establishment of more county-level Taiwan affairs offices means that Fujian are investing more manpower and resources in order to be more meticulous and targeted, and to give full play to their own local strengths at the county level in order to better promote integrated development, Li said.
The article published coincides with the first anniversary of the implementation of the mainland's "10 measures" to add convenience for Taiwan residents living in Fujian and deepen the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits.
According to Li, by establishing more Taiwan affairs offices at the local level, Fujian is signaling its commitment to fostering conditions for peaceful reunification, and the mainland will continue to create conditions for peaceful reunification while maintaining a strong stance against "Taiwan secession" by advancing cross-Straits exchanges and integration.
A spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday lashed out at Taiwan secessionists over a series of recent provocative remarks and actions by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, saying that the Chinese mainland remains unwavering in its resolve to punish secessionists, and also calling the vast number of Taiwan compatriots to firmly oppose the provocations of Taiwan secessionists and external interference, maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, and foster cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation.
In response to the New Year speech by Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te, in which he continued to peddle the fallacy of "Taiwan independence" and advocate for the so-called "democracy against authoritarianism," Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press briefing Wednesday that Lai's speech once again exposed his stubborn "Taiwan independence" nature and the malicious intent to escalate cross-Straits confrontation, revealing his disgraceful attempts to flatter and submit to external forces, as well as his schemes of seeking external support for 'independence' and seeking "independence" through military buildup.
This kind of trick cannot deceive anyone and will never succeed, Chen said.
Chen pointed out that the so-called "democracy" claimed by the DPP authorities is a facade of democracy orchestrated by the DPP to serve its secessionist agenda. For instance, under the banner of the "democracy," the DPP blatantly persecuted political parties, groups and individuals who advocate for cross-Straits exchanges and support reunification. They have recklessly ignored public opinion and welfare, stripping Taiwan residents of their legitimate rights and interests to participate in cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation. Additionally, the DPP has manipulated media, fabricated and directed its own "cognitive warfare," creating an "information cocoon" that misleads public opinion and incites "anti-China" sentiment.
The collusion between Taiwan secessionists and external forces in the provocations for "independence" is the primary cause of escalating tensions in cross-Straits relations and has undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, Chen remarked. "In this regard, we will make no concessions, and we will not stop punishing and fighting against secessionists," he emphasized.
The spokesperson stressed that "Taiwan independence" leads to a dead end, while reunification offers the only viable path forward. We hope that the vast number of Taiwan compatriots will, for the sake of the Chinese nation's righteousness and their own well-being, work with the mainland in the same direction, resolutely oppose provocations of "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference, jointly to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and create a better future for cross-Straits relations and national rejuvenation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Botswanan President Duma Boko on Monday exchanged congratulations over the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
A total of 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others injured as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time).
After a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri county of Xigaze in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Chinese President Xi Jinping made an important instruction, demanding utmost efforts to carry out search and rescue and provide medical treatment for the injured, and minimize casualties, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at Wednesday's routine briefing, introducing the rescue and disaster relief work in affected areas.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an important instruction, urged prevent secondary disasters, properly resettle affected residents, and handle the aftermath effectively, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.
It is essential to strengthen earthquake monitoring and early warning, promptly allocate disaster relief supplies, expedite the repair of damaged infrastructure, ensure the basic needs of residents are met, and guarantee a safe and warm winter for all, Xi said.
In a Tuesday instruction, Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged efforts to organize all-out search and rescue operations and minimize casualties.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, led a team to the quake site to guide the rescue and relief efforts.
The Chinese government has activated national level-II emergency response and disaster relief operations are proceeding efficiently and systematically, said Guo.
The first batch of central disaster relief supplies has arrived in the affected area. All earthquake-damaged road sections in Dingri county have been cleared, and power supply has been restored to Dingri county and several townships. Communication signals in the disaster-stricken area have been restored. Thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we believe that the people in the affected areas will surely overcome this challenge and rebuild their homes, said Guo.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday released a music video to celebrate the New Year, with a scene showing a ginkgo leaf and a bird triggering netizens' associations to the alleged debuts of China's sixth-generation fighter jets that have been circulating on social media recently.
A number of videos and photos emerged on Chinese social media on December 26, showing alleged test flights of a new type of aircraft, shape of which resembles the ginkgo leaf. The term "ginkgo leaf" was first used by Chengdu-based Defense Times as an apparent metaphor for the new aircraft given their resemblance in appearance.
"It really looks like a leaf," the South China Morning Post reported on Friday, citing Defense Times' post on its Weibo account alongside an image of a ginkgo leaf.
Neither the Chinese military nor the Chinese defense industry has verified the videos and photos, or made any official announcement on the aircraft as of press time.
Shortly after the emergence of the large "ginkgo leaf" aircraft, another video circulated online on December 26, showing another new type of aircraft, seemingly smaller than the "ginkgo leaf" one, in an apparent flight test.
Since then, Chinese netizens and some overseas media outlets have been engaging in heated discussions about the two new aircraft.
Reuters reported on Friday that the two seemingly new Chinese military aircraft have stealth characteristics. Both designs are tailless, meaning they do not have vertical stabilizers to help maintain control. Such aircraft are typically kept stable by computers that interpret the pilot's control inputs.
The larger of the two designs is roughly diamond-shaped, with three air intakes for its engines - two alongside the fuselage and one on top. The smaller one has a more conventional layout, but no tail. Both lack the 90-degree angles typical of stealth shaping, which is designed to reduce radar detection, Reuters said.
According to US media outlet the Warzone, which cited unconfirmed accounts, the larger aircraft is from the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, while the smaller aircraft is from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Chengdu builds the J-10 multirole medium fighter and the heavy J-20 stealth fighter, while Shenyang is responsible for the production of fighters such as carrier-borne J-15, heavy J-16 and stealth-capable J-35.
The Washington Times quoted defense analysts as saying that the two new fighters "appear to be Beijing's first advanced sixth-generation stealth fighters."
Despite the new Chinese aircraft garnering attentions overseas, not all mainstream large Western media outlets have covered them. The Washington Times noted that the Pentagon has remained quiet, with Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh saying on Monday that she had seen the news reports but declined to comment on the flight tests.
Reuters quoted an analyst as saying that as China modernizes its military, the designs "show the willingness of China's aviation industry to experiment and innovate." The analyst said, "They deserve kudos for that, and should shake off any lingering complacency that the US and its allies always set the pace."
The US is also developing its sixth-generation fighter jet. However, the US Air Force has decided to let the incoming Trump administration make its own decision on the path forward for its Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. This summer, the US Air Force paused its effort to develop and build a sixth-generation fighter amid concerns about its potential costs, US media outlet the Defense News reported on December 6.
The UK, Italy and Japan are also jointly developing an advanced stealth jet, meanwhile France, Germany and Spain are working on their own next-generation fighter project, Reuters reported on December 13.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the so-called sixth-generation fighter jet has become a key vantage point major powers have been contesting to reach.
In the past, it was usually the US that first developed and defined generations for aircraft, but the US' sixth-generation fighter jet has been stalled given huge risks in costs against the backdrop of the US' deindustrialization and its breaking of industrial chains, Fu noted.
Song Zhongping, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China's development of new aircraft, believed to be sixth-generation fighter jets - faster than the US, will buy China more precious time for its peaceful and stable economic development.
The US will likely accelerate its own projects, as it will not resign itself to losing technological hegemony. But China will continue to develop its national defense capabilities at its own pace, with the aim of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, Song said.
On this aspect, both Fu and Song mentioned another recent milestone of China's military development, the launch of the world's first electromagnetic catapult-equipped amphibious assault ship, the Type 076 Sichuan on Friday.
Fu said that the concentrated debuts of China's military equipment is not a coincidence. It took China years of development at its own stable pace, and it is now that the country's weapon and equipment systems have reached a new level.
In today's world, green has become the defining color of the New Era in China, with green development emerging as a significant feature of Chinese modernization. Green development, which seeks to promote harmony between humanity and nature while maximizing economic and social benefits with minimal resource consumption, has now become a global consensus. China is actively implementing the concept of sustainable development and is playing a key role in driving the global transition toward a low-carbon future.
However, earlier in 2024, the US launched a narrative of "overcapacity" to attack China's new energy sector as part of its unilateral trade protectionism. Against this backdrop, we are launching the year-ender 2024 series that casts a global eye on the transformative power of China's green energy initiatives, illuminating how they empower individuals around the world to realize their dreams and foster hope and development.
In this installment, we travel to Europe with China's new energy vehicles (NEVs), taking a closer look at how Chinese NEV makers strive to expand their European market, and better serve local consumers with their advanced technology and satisfying cost-performance ratios. Their efforts integrate China's green development concept into Europe's growing demand for a low-carbon lifestyle.
This summer, Vunk embarked on his first road trip across Europe in his new Chinese EV.
From the Netherlands to Switzerland, he was deeply impressed by the convenience and efficiency of the battery-swapping process. "There is no need to leave the car, and within five minutes, you're ready to go with a full charge," he told the Global Times.
Vunk is among the earliest Dutch customers to purchase a vehicle made by NIO, one of China's leading EV brands.
Since first seeing the car at a German auto show, Vunk was impressed by NIO's offerings. After interacting with the car up close at the launch event in Berlin, he decided to become a NIO owner and promptly ordered an ET7.
This decision was far from impulsive. Like many other European car owners, Vunk had long been following the development of Chinese EVs.
On the popular question-and-answer website Quora, there's a post asking, "Why do we allow Chinese cars in the European market?"
Under this post, a user commented, "Presumably for the same reason that European cars are sold in China: because there's a market for them." The user then cited a vice-president of a French auto consultancy as saying, "Forget what you might think that Chinese means lower quality or lower safety performance… Their quality is now better than others."
Environmentally friendly and cost-effective Chinese electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common on the streets of Europe. In Paris, a passerby captured a photo of a car from the Chinese brand Leapmoto and praised it as "beautiful" online; In Oslo, an EV from the NIO slowly pulled up to a street-side charging station…
China exported about 1.14 million NEVs in the first 11 months of 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. As more Chinese NEVs appear on European streets, they provide local consumers with more travel options, trying to be icing on the cake of Europe's auto market and a contributor to a climate-neutral Europe.
Icing on the cake
In October, 48 auto brands showcased their offerings at the week-long 2024 Paris Motor Show, one of the most historic and influential auto shows in the world. Nine Chinese brands including Leapmotor, Xpeng, and Seres, made a strong appearance at the show and attracted great attention. "It's truly a 'boom' for Chinese vehicles," a visitor told the Global Times at the show.
Leapmotor's small-size EV "T03" received many orders during the show. With a starting price of 18,900 euros ($19,648), this model "has been experiencing a steady increase in sales since its official launch in Europe in October," with the top five countries by sales being Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Malta, according to Leapmotor.
This Chinese EV manufacturer stated that the age demographic of its European buyers is quite broad. "Notably, last month [November] in Germany, a 93-year-old buyer came to test drive the T03, and he immediately paid in full to purchase it," a Leapmotor employee told the Global Times.
Leapmotor also has another EV model, the "C10," available in the European market, starting at 36,400 euros. "Currently both of the two models are fully electric with zero carbon emissions," the company said. "Through the sales of our EVs globally, we strive to help address the urgent issue of global warming."
Chinese EV brands have gained widespread recognition across Europe.
NIO's models have all earned five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.
"The Chinese car market is quietly revolutionizing the EV world with its innovations and we're barely aware it's happening," read the website of Top Gear.
An owner of an NIO EV, Vunk said he has been highly satisfied with the product, services, and user community. He expressed his enthusiasm for Chinese EV brands, saying he would continue to recommend Chinese NEVs to more of his friends.
Green travel As the global call for environmental protection and sustainable development grows stronger, the demand for NEVs in the European market has increased rapidly as well.
China drives the majority of global EV sales growth. According to the International Energy Agency's report "Global EV Outlook 2024," China exported over 4 million cars in 2023, making it the largest auto exporter in the world. Among them 1.2 million were EVs, an 80-percent growth year-on-year. The main export markets for these vehicles were Europe, and countries in the Asia Pacific region.
China tries to lead the way in green travel. "China is at the forefront of the global transition to EVs largely because it has spent decades investing in and building up its talent, production capacity, and infrastructure in the green technology field," commented a September article on Global Voices, an online, community-based media outlet.
Against the backdrop of Europe's energy crisis, China's EV industry has actively engaged in supporting the region's transition to electrified mobility.
For instance, the battery-swapping model of the NIO provides an efficient alternative to traditional charging, significantly enhancing user convenience through its "chargeable, swappable, and upgradable" system. Supported by a global network of over 2,400 battery-swapping stations, users can ensure their vehicles are fully charged in less than four minutes, the Global Times learned from NIO.
The European Union (EU) has set an ambitious target to phase out combustion engines by 2035 as part of its Green Deal. And this target, if it places a responsibility on vehicle customers, can be embodied as greener and more convenient modes of travel with fewer carbon emissions. Or in other words, options for high-quality NEVs.
Many vehicle customers in Europe have made their choices. For example, one customer, Yolanda Jonas, spoke highly of Chinese NEVs, saying they are well-balanced between technology, quality, and performance.
"Although German cars have a higher level of powertrain performance, I would still choose Chinese NEVs from a configuration perspective," she told the Global Times. "This is because, in the same market segment, Chinese cars offer a much more competitive price-to-performance ratio compared to others."
'Simply great' Through improvement of service networks, collaboration with local partners, and plans to establish Europe-based factories, Chinese NEV companies are stepping further ahead in facilitating the region's green transition by offering affordable, cutting-edge EVs to consumers there, regardless of the incessant chatter from some trade protectionists.
Chinese EV brands are taking a comprehensive approach to their expansion in Europe.
NIO, for instance, established its first global design center in Munich in 2015. In April, the company inaugurated a Smart Driving Technology Center in Berlin, followed by the opening of its largest European NIO House in Amsterdam in June, alongside a new experience center in Oslo.
The company plans to open more experience centers while steadily rolling out additional battery-swapping stations and charging infrastructure across Europe. Chinese EV manufacturers are also poised to contribute to local economic growth and generate new job opportunities across Europe in the near future.
In partnership with multinational automotive company Stellantis, Leapmotor had opened 339 dealerships in Europe as of October, all of which offer sales and after-sales services.
"We plan to establish 500 sales points in Europe by the end of 2025," Leapmotor told the Global Times, adding that in 2025, it will speed up exploring European markets, and particularly "in restricted markets, Stellantis group assists us in achieving localized production."
China's annual production of NEVs surpassed the 10 million milestone for the first time in November, making China the first country in the world to do so, said the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The vigorous development of China's NEV industry is representing a positive contribution to the world's green transformation and climate security.
Earlier, one day in October, customer Norbert Neidhart entered a Chinese-branded EV store in Frankfurt, and was soon attracted by the design and technology of the Chinese EVs. He praised the vehicles on display as very modern and even "perfect."
"They are amazing. I would recommend them to my friends," he told the Global Times in German. "Made in China, simply great!"
