A spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that fear-mongering of so-called threats to justify military buildup is a go-to tactic for Japanese militarism.
Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks when asked to comment on recent social media post by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi which claimed the review of the three principles on Japan's defense equipment transfer is aimed at enhancing deterrence for the sake of "defense" and preventing conflicts before they occur, as well as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's welcome of this Japanese initiative and agreed to strengthen military cooperation with Japan.
Mao said that as explicitly stipulated in international instruments such as the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan is obligated under international law to be "completely disarmed" and not to maintain industries that "would enable her to re-arm for war."
Japan, however, has been lifting the ban on lethal weapon export, rebuilding the war machine, and rapidly shifting to offense-oriented security and defense policies. Those dangerous moves bear an alarming resemblance to the course of actions taken by militarists in pre-war Japan, Mao noted.
History has taught the world a painful lesson on appeasing and condoning militarism. Once that Pandora's box is opened, no one will be safe from the danger of raising a monster, Mao added.
Following intensive and proactive diplomatic engagements in May, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper as well as upcoming guest Myanmar's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tin Maung Swe are among the latest foreign dignitaries visiting or scheduled to visit China amid a flurry of diplomatic activities to unfold in the month.
As China has enhanced its capabilities in fields such as technology and green development, foreign officials have found an increasingly broad range of areas for engagement during their visits. Experts say Beijing's consistent and predictable diplomacy has also strengthened its standing at a time when many governments are searching for certainty in an increasingly fragmented international landscape.
Development Philosophy
As Lao leader Thongloun Sisoulith and his delegation visited Yucun village in Anji, East China's Zhejiang Province on Wednesday for an inspection tour, the gentle drizzle added a touch of the Yangtze River Delta region's characteristic warmth and tranquility to the scene.
In front of a stone stele engraved with the words "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," officials provided a detailed introduction to the background and profound significance of this important development philosophy.
The Global Times reporter noticed that Sisoulith listened attentively and nodded repeatedly.
During the visit, he also toured local specialty homestays, engaging warmly with villagers and inquiring in detail about the homestays' revenue, customer base and other aspects, gaining an in-depth understanding of China's rural tourism model and its effectiveness in increasing local incomes. The visit concluded with an exchange of gifts between the Chinese and Lao sides in front of the stele, symbolizing their friendship.
Later, the Lao president and his wife visited the "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic" Exhibition Center. Sisoulith showed keen interest in various bamboo products, picking up a bamboo board to gently tap and hear its crisp sound, examining elegantly designed bamboo lamps, and closely inspecting the craftsmanship of bamboo cup holders.
At the end of the visit, the exhibition center presented the president and his wife with bamboo gifts, highlighting both the concept of green, low-carbon development and the unique charm of Anji's bamboo culture.
Meanwhile, according to information released by Shenzhen municipal government on Wednesday, Shenzhen Party Secretary Jin Lei met with a delegation led by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Jin said that Shenzhen will earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, fully tap the potential for cooperation, and pragmatically advance collaboration in areas including trade and investment, industrial and technological innovation, finance, and people-to-people exchanges, so as to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win development.
In Shenzhen, known as "China's Silicon Valley," Cooper was scheduled to discuss potential trade links and also "the challenges of the future of AI as it rapidly changes our world," according to the Independent.
Before going to Shenzhen, Cooper met separately with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Referring also to the example of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited Chinese humanoid robot company Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in February, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that officials from countries especially from some European countries, including the UK, have frequently visited China, mainly to observe and understand the country's technological innovation.
In the past, they perceived China as having limited innovation capacity and focusing primarily on trade and manufacturing. Recent breakthroughs in the technology sector have gradually changed this perception. Consequently, European leaders often visit Chinese tech companies during their trips to see developments firsthand, while laying the groundwork for future cooperation, especially in the field of technology, Cui said.
Wide range of allure
Adding to the list of guests is Myanmar's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tin Maung Swe, who will pay an official visit to China from Thursday to Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to an announcement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
The upcoming visit will be Tin Maung Swe's first trip to China since taking office, and will mark the exchange of visits between the two foreign ministers in a very short period of time, a clear testament to the political will and keen interest on both sides to advance the bilateral community with a shared future, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said at the regular press briefing on Wednesday.
The flurry of visits from foreign officials to China has attracted wide attention in Western media. Al Jazeera published a chart on Tuesday listing virtually every world leader to have visited China in 2026.
It noted that "according to an Al Jazeera tally, Cooper is the 26th foreign leader or senior official to visit China this year. The list includes presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, crown princes and foreign ministers from 23 countries."
From May 1 to 31, China's Foreign Ministry said that 15 foreign heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers had visited China.
Apart from traditional visits to Beijing and Shanghai, some dignitaries traveled to a wide range of other places in China to explore areas of common interest for cooperation. For example, Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo visited an industrial park in Central China's Hunan Province in April, showing strong interest in new energy products. During his visit to heavy machinery manufacturer Sany Group's Xingsha Industrial Park in Changsha, Chapo boarded an electric reach stacker and tried operating it under the guidance of technical staff.
During his visit to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in May, Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that while trade is no longer always seen as a mutually beneficial exercise in today's unsettled and troubled world, countries have to work to make it a "win-win."
"If we are honest, we have to say that it is not always win-win, but we have to work to make it win-win," he said, highlighting the considerable potential for economic cooperation in trade, investment and many other areas between Singapore and China, and between China and the wider ASEAN region, according to The Straits Times.
"Dignitaries from many countries are visiting China because they recognize the global challenges the world faces, as well as the difficulties confronting their own nations," Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. "In seeking solutions, China occupies a position that allows it to provide support to the international community. As a result, it has become a country that many view as a reliable partner in addressing the world's crises and common challenges."
China's appeal is both broad and multifaceted. In areas such as renewable energy and the green economy, the country is widely regarded as far ahead of its peers, attracting international attention and prompting other nations to study and learn from its experience, Li said.
Reliable partner
When depicting China's attraction to so many, the Economist offered the answer as "It [China] desires partners, not allies."
Al Jazeera pointed out that among officials who visited China recently, "several of the visits have been by leaders and officials from countries that Beijing considers strategically important partners, including Russia and Pakistan, both of which sent multiple senior officials this year."
There are also countries that have trade and diplomatic frictions with China such as European countries. "Visits by leaders from the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Finland suggest that European governments are eager to engage closely with Beijing despite disagreements over trade, security and China's relationship with Russia," Al Jazeera wrote.
In an interview with Chinese media, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who visited China from May 24 to 28, described China as a "gravity center of stability" in global affairs, contrasting its consistent foreign policy with what he called the unpredictable behavior of other major powers.
There are countries that "know that they can rely on Chinese foreign policy, they can rely on responsible messages and responsible answers to whatever might happen in the world, which is a very rare case today," Vucic said.
Countries are increasingly looking to China for solutions to challenges in areas such as security, development and environmental governance, Li said. He pointed out that China's growing influence stems not only from its economic rise but also from what many countries see as its ability to provide certainty amid mounting global challenges.
As other countries and international platforms face limitations in responding to global crises, Li said, Beijing is increasingly viewed as a bridge-builder and an important partner in international cooperation.
The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," took place in Beijing on Saturday. During a discussion on the topic "Addressing the Global Security Deficit: Hotspots and Solutions," Jiang Feng, research fellow at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, stated that China is a responsible major power. And by properly managing its relations with the US, the EU, and the Global South, China is making significant contribution to global security.
Jiang highlighted that today's global security deficit is multifaceted, encompassing not only political and military security issues but also those related to economics, technology, society, climate change, and artificial intelligence. He noted that modern international relations transcend traditional national interests and borders. Many global challenges, like climate and artificial intelligence, are transboundary in nature and call for perspectives and theoretical support that surpass traditional security paradigms.
On the topic of peace and security, Jiang remarked that peace and security challenges vary across nations. He emphasized the importance of adopting a case-by-case approach when analyzing these issues. In Jiang's view, the US, driven by hegemonic ambitions, seeks a confrontation with China where one cannot coexist with the other, while Europe aims to maximize its benefits in cooperation with China, positioning the relationship as non-zero-sum. He stressed that a systematic and in-depth understanding of the dynamics of cooperation or competition, grounded in precise regional and country-specific insights, is essential for formulating strategies and addressing the security deficit.
Jiang further reiterated that China's efforts to manage China-US relations, China-EU relations, and relations with the Global South are pivotal to enhancing global security. He suggested that China should strive to "minimize losses" in its relations with the US, "tap into potential" in China-EU relations, and "consolidate and expand shared interests" with the Global South. By doing so, China can strengthen global cooperation, counterbalance hegemonic forces and foster stability.
In response to a question regarding the reported upcoming visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister to China and planned talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Chinese FM spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday that China values maintaining dialogue and communication with Japan at all levels and in various fields, and is willing to work together with Japan to promote China-Japan relations.
As for the visit, Lin mentioned that he currently has no information to provide.
According to Kyodo News on Saturday, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is arranging talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on December 25, a Japanese government source close to the matter said, in what will be his first visit to the neighboring country as Japan's top diplomat.
South Korea’s parliament failed to pass the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday, Xinhua News Agency reported. The motion, submitted by the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller parties, was scrapped when attendance fell short of the quorum of two-thirds, or 200 of the 300-member Assembly, media reports said.
After the failed motion, the opposition Democratic Party said it would reintroduce the impeachment motion at the emergency National Assembly session scheduled for December 11, and voting is scheduled for December 14, China Central Television reported.
Following the failed impeachment, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, apologized to the public on Saturday night, stating that they would "orderly advance the process of President Yoon’s resignation" and would consult with the main opposition Democratic Party during this process. Han also mentioned that, prior to his resignation, Yoon would "essentially be in a state of non-performance of duties," CCTV reported.
On Saturday, all but three lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote on the impeachment motion against Yoon, allowing him to survive the impeachment over his declaration of martial law earlier this week, which left South Korea in political turmoil, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The impeachment motion was after another voting against the bill to investigate scandals involving Yoon's wife on Saturday. After the first voting, most of the 108 ruling PPP lawmakers left the parliamentary hall to boycott the impeachment. One ruling party lawmaker remained in the hall and two came back after leaving, Xinhua reported.
PPP lawmakers’ walking out of the parliament was to prevent individual defections as the vote was conducted anonymously. By walking out collectively, the party avoids potential embarrassment, a Chinese expert told Phoenix TV during a livestream on Saturday.
The expert said the move was aimed at avoiding another major blow to the ruling party’s credibility, as the PPP had already suffered a significant setback due to previous president Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. If Yoon is impeached again, it would further erode public trust and endanger the party.
Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, believes that another reason behind the PPP’s boycott of the motion is that if Yoon is impeached, there would be no guarantee of a viable successor stepping forward from the party, which means the PPP will have to hand power to the opposition, Da told the Global Times on Saturday.
“Although Yoon is currently facing record-low approval ratings, the PPP has chosen to stabilize the situation first through internal adjustments rather than plunging into chaos,” Da said.
Da added that Yoon may choose to resign at a politically advantageous moment to preserve the party’s interests.
Yoon apologized for his martial law declaration during a televised address to the nation on Saturday morning before the impeachment voting, and the ruling party’s leader stated the president's early resignation is “inevitable,” Xinhua reported.
Yoon stated that he would not evade the legal and political responsibilities linked to the declaration of martial law and vowed such measures would not recur. He said he will let the ruling party decide on his term.
The remarks suggest that the president may delegate future policy decisions to the ruling party, Da said, adding that in terms of diplomatic direction, there are unlikely to be significant shifts and the US-South Korea alliance is unlikely to change.
However, slight adjustments could occur in South Korea-Japan relations. “To address domestic criticism of Yoon’s ‘pro-Japan’ stance, the ruling party may adopt a more cautious approach to align with public sentiment,” Da said.
After the motion's scrapping, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, vowed to impeach Yoon at all costs. "We fell short and failed to create the result we wanted," he said at the National Assembly building. "However, we will never give up," according to Yonhap News Agency.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a statement that he will do everything to "quickly settle the current situation" and ensure the country’s security and people's everyday lives "can be maintained without wavering."
China is taking countermeasures against 13 US military firms and six senior executives for the US' recent announcement of arms sales to China's Taiwan region, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.
The US recently again announced arms sales to China's Taiwan region, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, severely interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Pursuant to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 15 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China hereby decided to take countermeasures against the following US military companies and senior executives:
For the 13 listed companies, namely Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., BRINC Drones, Inc., Rapid Flight LLC, Red Six Solutions, Shield AI, Inc., SYNEXXUS, Inc., Firestorm Labs, Inc., Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inc., HavocAI, Neros Technologies, Cyberlux Corporation, Domo Tactical Communications and Group W, their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, and they shall be prohibited to conduct activities such as trade and cooperation with organizations and individuals in China.
For the six listed senior executives, including Barbara Borgonovi, president of Raytheon's Naval Power strategic business unit, Gerard Hueber, vice president of Raytheon's Naval Power strategic business unit, Charles Woodburn, Group Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Land and Armament, Richard D. Crawford, founder and CEO of Alliant Techsystems Operation, Beth Edler, president of Data Link Solutions, Inc., and Blake Resnick, founder and CEO of BRINC Drones, their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, they shall be prohibited to conduct activities such as trade and cooperation with organizations and individuals in China, and they shall be denied visas or entry into China (including Hong Kong and Macao).
This decision shall come into force as of Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Elaborating on the countermeasures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests. The US recently announced to sell arms to China's Taiwan region multiple times, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, severely interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Based on related provisions in the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China decides to take countermeasures against the US military companies and senior executives.
Lin stressed that "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Straits are incompatible, and the US insistence on "using force to support independence" cannot shake China's firm determination to oppose "Taiwan independence" and achieve national reunification, but will only push Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and conflict. China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the provisions of the August 17 communiqué, to fulfill the commitment made by US leader not to support "Taiwan independence," to immediately stop arming Taiwan, and to cease condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" forces in their pursuit of "independence" through military means.
A team of 11 Chinese champions from the Paris Olympics kicked off their five-day lecture trip to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday to share with the local residents their Olympic experiences and sporting spirit, according to the local government on Tuesday.
On the first day of their lecture tour, representatives of Olympic athletes, including Pan Zhanle, Zhang Yufei and Li Wenwen, were warmly welcomed by teachers and students at an event held at Xinjiang Normal University, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Athletes Li Yuehong, Pan Zhanle and Li Wenwen shared their personal struggles during their speeches, offering unique perspectives on Team China's journey to bring honor to the motherland at the Paris Olympics. They vividly recounted the dedication and glorious moments of Chinese athletes, which resonated deeply with the audience and elicited a warm round of applause, according to the report.
A student from the university told the Global Times on Tuesday that during the event, some students gifted the champions with their own artwork, and the athletes also participated in the traditional Xinjiang dance alongside the students.
During another meeting with the athletes on Monday, Ma Xingrui, secretary of the Xinjiang regional committee of the Communist Party of China, said that the development momentum in Xinjiang is strong and energetic in all fields.
He noted that the confidence of officials and people from all ethnic backgrounds has significantly increased, with high spirits prevailing. He also highlighted the positive development trend in both the northern and southern regions of the Tianshan Mountains.
"We need to learn from the Olympic athletes' belief of prioritizing the country above all and striving to bring honor to the nation, and their character of self-transcendence and self-improvement, so as to better revitalize the spirit of unity and progress," Ma said.
The Olympic champions have arrived in Xinjiang, aiming to better promote the spirit of Chinese sports, tell the good stories of Chinese sports, and promote reform, development and stability of Xinjiang, especially in deepening cultural nourishment, Gao Zhidan, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said on Monday.
Gao added that the Olympic athletes will have in-depth exchanges and interactions with people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, especially the youth, to share their experiences and spread their spirit, and to contribute their sports power to forge the strong sense of community of the Chinese nation in Xinjiang.
The Olympic champions said that they would actively support the development of sports in Xinjiang and contribute to the cultivation of sports talents and improvement of sports level in Xinjiang.
Wang Jiang, an expert at the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that sports development in Xinjiang has flourished, especially with the recent National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in South China's Hainan Province, which have seen participation from many ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
Wang said that the visit of the Olympic champions is beneficial for the long-standing sports culture in Xinjiang, particularly in promoting sports among youngsters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged supply and marketing cooperatives to act as bridges for the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government to maintain close ties with farmers, and strive to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of the supply and marketing cooperative cause.
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
Chinese mainland authorities said on Friday that Shenzhen residents will be able to apply for multiple-entry permits to Hong Kong starting from December 1.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government stated that the HKSAR welcomes and is grateful for this arrangement, adding that it is expected to inject new momentum into the city's tourism, dining, retail and other sectors.
Starting from December 1, 2024, residents and residence permit holders in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, can apply for the multiple-entry permit for travel to the HKSAR, allowing unlimited entries within one year, and with each stay not exceeding seven days, according to a statement from the National Immigration Administration on Friday.
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his annual policy address in October that the HKSAR government proposed to the central government further enhancements in mainland residents' tourism visit endorsements to Hong Kong, including resuming the multiple-entry Individual Visit Endorsements for Shenzhen residents and expanding the coverage of pilot cities for implementing policies on the "one trip per week" Individual Visit Endorsements. The central government said relevant departments were studying the expedited implementation of the proposal proactively.
From January 1, 2025, residents of Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province can apply for a one-trip-per-week permit for travel to the Macao SAR. This will allow them to go to Macao once every week for a whole year. Each visit can last up to seven days, but they can only go once each week.
Residents and residence permit holders in the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Zhuhai city, can apply for multiple-entry permits for travel to Macao. This allows for unlimited trips to Macao in one year, with each stay not exceeding seven days.
China firmly opposes US arms sales to China's Taiwan region, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Sunday, calling on the US side to take concrete actions to fulfill its political promise of not supporting "Taiwan independence," to cease arming Taiwan and stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
Selling arms to China's Taiwan region is a serious violation to the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982, Chen said.
The US' latest arms sales plans of $385 million include spare parts and support for F-16 aircraft and active electronically scanned array radars and related equipment, as well as improved mobile subscriber equipment follow-on support and related equipment, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
Chen warned the Lai Ching-te authorities that buying weapons will not bring security, and "protection fees" cannot save "Taiwan independence." Relying on the US to pursue "independence" is destined to fail, and attempting to achieve "independence" through military means will only lead Taiwan to danger and ultimately to its own demise.
The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, Chen said. "No one and no force should underestimate the firm will and strong capability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
