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. 

The spat between the US and the World Anti-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues after the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a recent media report saying the Biden administration is holding up the annual US payment to WADA to press the organization as it "chose not to discipline elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug."

According to a New York Times report, the White House has told WADA that it needed to have "more accountability and transparency" and that it must submit to a wide-ranging outside audit of its operations.

A WADA spokesperson told the Global Times in an email on Thursday that WADA has not received any notification from the US Government that it has decided to voluntarily withhold its annual contribution for 2024. 

The agency also said "WADA is unaware of any conditions that the US Government wishes to attach to its payment… no provision exists within WADA's governance model whereby a government may unilaterally withhold its contribution based on its own set of conditions." 

The Biden administration made its 2023 payment for $3.4 million in August of last year. The payment for this year was expected to be paid around the same time, but so far relevant US official has yet to sign off on having the money sent.

Shang Ximeng, a research fellow at the Center for International Sport Communication and Diplomacy Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that the US has repeatedly threatened WADA with default or refusal to pay the annual dues, but as a signatory to the WADA Code, the US is obligated to pay it.

She noted that the US has not only played these kinds of tricks in international anti-doping cooperation, but has frequently threatened to do the same with respect to other international cooperation.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the US' political manipulation has not only weakened WADA's authority, but also slandered China's anti-doping efforts, and undermined the global efforts in the regard.

US' attempts to hijack international organizations exposed its hegemonic mindset and politicizing sports for political purposes, Li noted. 

In April this year, along with USWADA, The New York Times hyped that some Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, accusing WADA of shielding Chinese athletes and failing to hold them accountable.

WADA has commissioned an independent review into the reported incident after refuting these claims, labeling them as "misleading and potentially defamatory media coverage." The agency said that following the TMZ contamination incident in swimming in 2021, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) promptly initiated a comprehensive and meticulous investigation, and based on its results, it was determined that the TMZ positives among these athletes resulted from inadvertent ingestion of contaminated food without their knowledge, and therefore no further doping charges were brought against those athletes, according to previous reports from the Global Times. 

In September 9, the independent Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier backed WADA's handling of the issue in his final investigation report, saying that WADA had not been complacent nor shown bias toward China, according to a Reuters report. 

WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently delivered important instructions on the program to study and develop Marxist theory in the new era. Xi pointed out that studying and developing Marxist theory is the fundamental and strategic program of the Party's ideological and theoretical development. Over the past 20 years, those involved in the program have always focused on the central tasks and served the overall situation, producing a large number of high-quality research results. The program has also played an important role in the study, research and publicity of the Party's innovative theories, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the realm of ideology.

Xi stressed that on the new journey in the new era, we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, focus on the study, publicity and implementation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, make efforts to deepen systematic and theoretical research and interpretation, and strive to render the study and publicity more targeted and effective, so as to make the Party's innovative theories more popular among the people. We must adhere to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, proceed from China's realities, carry forward Chinese cultural traditions, build a solid academic foundation, conduct in-depth research on major issues in our great efforts to build a strong country and achieve national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, accelerate the development of an independent knowledge system in Chinese philosophy and social sciences and nurture high-caliber theoretical talent, so as to make greater contributions to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

A meeting concerning work on the program to study and develop Marxist theory was held in Beijing on Nov. 29. Xi's important instructions were studied at the meeting. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

In his speech, Cai pointed out that Xi's important instructions profoundly expounded on the status and role of the program to study and develop Marxist theory, and clarified the requirements for the task of upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground in promoting the study, research and publicity of the Party's innovative theories. In his instructions, Xi expressed the hope that efforts would be made to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Xi's instructions provide important guidelines for the implementation of the program in the new era.

Cai pointed out that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to strengthening the Party through ideological endeavor and theoretical development. General Secretary Xi has issued a series of expositions on studying and developing Marxist theory, which have provided answers to the fundamental questions concerning upholding and developing Marxism. At the same time, the expositions have systematically clarified the targets, basic principles, tasks and work in the study and building of Marxist theory. We must thoroughly understand the significance of the "Two Affirmations," act on the "Two Upholds," and thoroughly study the related theories and implement them, Cai said.

Cai stressed that to innovate the program of studying and developing Marxist theory, it is imperative to regard the study, research, and publicity of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental task, ensure that the studies and education are more targeted and effective, further make the research and interpretation more systematic and theoretical, and ensure that the publicity and popularization work is more attractive and influential. He also called for efforts to advance the research on the basic tenets of Marxism, further answer the questions concerning China's specific realities, further explore the contents and values of fine traditional Chinese culture, intensify efforts to research on and have a command of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, and continue to bring out vitality for theoretical creation. We should adhere to the Party's innovative theories as guidance, meet the requirements the times have laid out for us, have a thorough understanding of China's realities, and systematically refine and summarize defining concepts and original theories, so as to advance the development of an independent knowledge system in philosophy and social sciences. We should strengthen organizational leadership, improve institutional mechanisms, enhance incentives and support, foster a healthy academic environment, and accelerate the formation of a well-coordinated, scientifically-managed, and innovation-driven work framework.

Li Shulei presided over the meeting, and Shen Yiqin attended the meeting.

Leading officials from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences delivered speeches, and so did representatives from the consulting committee of the program and theoretical work platforms, and relevant experts and scholars.

Those who attended the meeting included members of the Central Leading Group for Public Communication and Cultural Work, leading officials from the department in charge of the program, central media and cultural institutions, and relevant people's organizations, as well as some members of the program consulting committee, experts and scholars, along with leading officials from the publicity departments of local Party committees and key universities under the central management.