Editor's Note:

Lu Siqing, a world-class violinist dubbed as the "Paganini of the East," has captivated audiences globally with his interpretation of the Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, hailed as one of the most distinguished versions of the classic. At a young age, he had already secured his place among the world's top violinists through his own talent and strength. Today, he remains an active figure in both domestic and international classical music scenes. His performances are not just concerts but experiences that transcend cultural boundaries, offering listeners a glimpse into the soul of music.

The Global Times talked with Lu, who shared stories of his ties with the violin, the "chemical" reaction he made by experimenting with Chinese and Western music and his new role as a music educator.
In the majestic music hall of the prestigious Tsinghua University, over 20 young musicians from Beijing and Hong Kong graced the stage and unfolded an elegant melody, performing alongside the internationally acclaimed violinist, Lu Siqing. They wove a tapestry of melodies, both foreign and domestic, enchanting an audience of hundreds with a concert that was as innovative as it was memorable.

This marked the second time that Lu conducted a master class for the "Beijing Hong Kong Tsinghua Summer Music Camp." Speaking to the Global Times, Lu expressed his belief that using music as a bridge between the students of Beijing and Hong Kong is an excellent approach. "It fosters friendship, mutual progress, and most importantly, a deep understanding of Chinese culture and the nation itself," he said.

Life with music

Lu's emphasis on music education is mirrored in his own journey, which can be seen as a model of the transformative power of musical learning.

Born in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, in 1969, Lu's affinity for music was evident from a young age, and his innate talent was undeniable. His father, an amateur music enthusiast, played a pivotal role in nurturing his early interest. Under his father's guidance, Lu's musical education began at the tender age of 4 and a half. His prodigious talent led to his exceptional admission to the Central Conservatory of Music's affiliated elementary school at the age of 8. At the age of 11, he was handpicked by the celebrated US-born British violinist Yehudi Menuhin to study at his prestigious music school in the UK. By 17, Lu had made history as the first Asian musician to win the gold award at Italy's "Premio Paganini" International Violin Competition, a title that had been vacant for 12 years due to stringent selection criteria. His journey then took him to the Juilliard School in the US, where he further honed his skills and emerged as a leading figure in the world of classical music.

Reflecting on his educational experiences in the UK and the US, Lu noted the differences in his learning journey. His studies in the UK provided a foundational experience, shaping his early years, while his time in the US allowed him to mature and apply his knowledge in a more creative and sophisticated manner. The lessons from his time in the UK, in his words, underwent "a process of sublimation" during his studies in the US.

While many view Lu as a favored child of destiny, his journey in music has been anything but predictable. Many of his peers have fallen by the wayside. He expresses deep gratitude to his father for introducing him to the enchanting world of music.

Lu acknowledges that not everyone can persevere on this path. After he ventured to the Juilliard School in the US, he began his career as a professional soloist. The competitiion was fierce, with hundreds vying for a single opening in a prestigious orchestra. Many of his contemporaries, faced with the choice between survival and art, chose to change careers.

His US mentors advised him that to become a soloist, one must practice in the morning, make phone calls to agents and conductors in the afternoon, and socialize in the evening. Lu sent his recordings and resumes to numerous agencies, only to be met with silence, which was disheartening. It was his teacher's advocacy at the Aspen Music Festival and School that secured him a performance opportunity, leading to gradual recognition. Many give up in this process.

"Pursuing music has taught me that in anything, persistence pays off," he said.
Musical chemist

Lu is often described as "romantic yet rational" on stage, a testament to his precise yet expansive playing style. He said that the highest form of music is logical and thoughtful, akin to geometry or architecture requiring precise calculations, with structure, symmetry, and balance infused with philosophical thought. The arrangement of dynamics, rhythm, and tempo is the result of the musician's ingenious conception, aligning with the audience's heartbeat, feelings, and thoughts. It is this kind of music that resonates with listeners worldwide.

Such meticulous calculation requires rigorous training. Despite 40 years of experience, Lu still practices three to five hours a day.

As a performer, he views his role as a process of secondary creation. Once the composer has written the notes, it is the performer's task to bring them to life, infusing them with personality and individuality. This is the charm that attracts music enthusiasts to compare different interpretations of the same piece. Notes are static, but music is dynamic, and it is this vitality that keeps audiences engaged.

Lu's understanding of performance is also evolving. "When I played Butterfly Lovers 20 years ago, it was with the simplicity and restlessness of youth. Now, my approach is more composed. I used to aim to impress with brilliant technique and speed, but now I focus on conveying details and narratives, telling a story to the audience," he said.

Every piece Lu performs is not about ­imposing his interpretation but about guiding the audience into the music, allowing them to reflect on or imagine their own stories. Thus, when 1,000 people listen to music, there are a thousand different interpretations of the Butterfly Lovers, each unique to the listener.

"People often say that musicians are engineers of the soul. What I most want to do is this: If a person comes into the concert hall after a busy day, exhausted in body and mind, two hours later, they can walk out with a joyful mood and rejuvenated spirit," he said.

As a Chinese violinist, Lu has taken on the responsibility of introducing Chinese culture and music to the world.

He said that Chinese music, deeply influenced by Chinese culture, is characterized by its monophonic and horizontal development, expressing a talent for emotional and artistic expression.

Chinese music, he says, is like the blank spaces in a Chinese painting, offering a space for imagination and introspection. This is why experts often describe Chinese music as "having a Zen quality."

On the other hand, Western music is more philosophical, emphasizing rules and standards, with a stronger emphasis on personal expression.

After numerous international ­performances, Lu has observed that foreigners' appreciation of Chinese music mirrors the Chinese experience with Western music, both offering an exotic charm. As more Chinese musicians gain prominence on the global stage, performing Chinese works, foreign musicians are increasingly curious about the emotional depth and differences between Chinese and Western music. This curiosity leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese music.

Collaborating with foreign orchestras to perform Chinese compositions has been an intriguing experience for Lu. The interaction between different musical sensibilities is fascinating. Foreign musicians approach all music with a professional and standardized understanding, while Chinese music often involves spiritual expression. This exploration is part of the creative process, much like conducting scientific experiments, where different approaches to the same musical phrase yield varied effects.
Reaching the next generation

To fulfill his vocational objective, the violinist has accepted his social role and contributed much time as well as energy to musical education while still carrying out performances on stage.

Currently, Lu serves as the headmaster of a branch of the ­Yehudi Menuhin School, a world's renowned music school in the UK. The branch is located in his hometown of Shandong Province. Alongside his leadership role, Lu has also been named a professor of violin at the school, instructing playing techniques and guiding the musical aesthetics of the younger generation.

Since his career as an educator started, Lu has gotten busier but considers it is worthy as he can garner a new sense of achievement from his new role - witnessing his students embracing a bright future and growing as splendid musicians.

"When I perform on stage as a soloist, my satisfaction comes from the enthusiastic reaction from my audiences and the experience of sharing beloved music with them. But now, I have felt a new kind of satisfaction," Lu said, sharing his fresh feeling with the Global Times. This is also another source of motivation for him to devote himself to a career as an educator.

Lu said his ultimate goal is to bring classical music into more people's lives and hearts. This goal is broad, and the challenge is to make classical music accessible and appreciated within China. There are many ways to do this, including cross-genre collaborations and collaboration with different musicians, such as cooperating with a French erhu player to perform the Butterfly Lovers. Beyond that, Lu also participates in Chinese and foreign music exchanges and music festivals.

What he desires most now is not the applause of the audience, but for everyone to forget their worries during the concert, to calm their hearts and discover the purest and most beautiful emotions within. "I hope to bring the beauty of music to more people through different channels, which is very fulfilling for me," he said.

In the grand halls of music, where notes soar and hearts resonate, Lu continues his journey, not just as a musician, but as a cultural ambassador, bridging the worlds of the East and West through the universal language of music.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, China's film industry is gearing up for a promising season, offering a diverse lineup of 21 new releases to draw audiences back to theaters. At a time when the market faces challenges, will this mix of films have the potential to energize the box office? An industry expert told the Global Times that he has confidence in this year's Mid-Autumn film season. 

Among the highly anticipated films, Stand by Me, which premieres on Sunday, stands out due to high pre-sales. 

Following that, there's the Hollywood thriller Speak No Evil. On September 17 when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, there will be realism-orientated films such as Like A Rolling Stone and Enjoy Yourself, as well as comedies like A Frozen Rage and Keep Rolling. 

Moreover, there will be re-releases such as The Wandering Earth II, along with a behind-the-scenes documentary about the film. 

According to online ticketing platform Maoyan, by 12:29 pm on Wednesday, pre-sales for this season have already surpassed 40 million yuan ($5.62 million), with Stand by Me, Like A Rolling Stone, and Enjoy Yourself leading the pack. From thrillers to comedies and animated films, the Mid-Autumn season caters to diverse audience preferences. 

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls in mid-September, right between the summer and National Day film seasons, serving as a bridge for the market. The recent summer box office was not ideal, with a decline in both revenue and viewership compared to 2023. 

The summer box office (June 1 to August 31) reached 11.64 billion yuan, a decrease of nearly 9 billion yuan compared to 20.619 billion yuan in 2023. 

Additionally, this summer saw 285 million tickets sold, a significant drop compared to the 505 million from the same period in 2023.

According to a report by Maoyan, the long-tail index for summer blockbusters has significantly decreased compared to 2023, with overall post-release box-office performance and film discussions being less favorable. 

The long-tail index refers to the total box-office earnings divided by opening day earnings.

Additionally, there was a scarcity of large-scale family films, which led to a decrease in group viewership, while single-viewer rates reached their highest in the past six years. 

The most prominent reason for not watching films during the summer is "lack of interest in the films." The "cost-effectiveness" of going to the cinema was also a crucial factor in audiences' decision-making.

However, since the box office for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays in 2023, which were combined that year, reached 2.734 billion yuan, one interviewed expert noted he is optimistic about this year's performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.

"Although the summer season didn't meet expectations, the film market is not lacking in excitement, and there is a certain level of anticipation for the Mid-Autumn Festival," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times. 

According to Sun, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival benefits from its timing. If it were closer to the summer or National Day periods, many films might opt to release during those peak times instead.

"I believe that this year's Mid-Autumn releases might actually perform slightly better than last year's. The key is that the lineup for this year is quite rich for a smaller season, offering a wide range of choices across various genres, including Hollywood films, realistic themes, and comedies," he added. 

Realism is a major highlight of this year's Mid-Autumn film season. Movies like Stand by Me and Like A Rolling Stone stand out not only for their narratives but also for their focus on realism, often tackling pressing social issues.

Editor's Note:

Friendly exchanges between China and Africa have enjoyed a long history and have deepened in recent years, covering various fields such as politics, the economy, and culture. The Global Times is launching a China-Africa Rhapsody series, aiming to showcase the profound human connections and development visions between the two peoples by sharing the true stories of Chinese people in Africa and African people in China. From touching stories of China-Africa cooperation and exciting collisions of youthful ideas, to debunking fallacies concocted by some Western sources about the China-Africa collaboration, this series hopes to promote closer cooperation and deeper understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.

In this installment, we turn our attention to the world of sporting arenas. The Paris 2024 Olympics successfully concluded on Sunday night, local time, with athletes from China and Africa showcasing their remarkable talents. Sports cooperation between China and Africa began in the 1950s, and in recent years, significant achievements have been made in this field, making sports exchanges an important bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the Chinese and African peoples.

We spoke with coaches, experts, and enterprises directly involved in China-Africa sports exchanges to hear about their rich and diverse experiences and insights from working in Africa.
Sports have become a new link in China-Africa cooperation, bringing joy and numerous benefits to numerous people.

Sports exchanges between China and Africa began in the 1950s. In 1957, less than a year after China and Egypt established diplomatic relations, the Chinese table tennis team visited Egypt, marking the first Chinese sports delegation to set foot in Africa.

Since then, sports have played a vital role in bridging the two regions. The Chinese basketball and soccer teams have visited multiple African countries, while African teams like the Guinean and Moroccan national soccer teams have visited China.

These exchanges have deepened mutual understanding and trust, significantly contributing to the development of China-Africa relations.

In recent years, China has sent coaches for sports like badminton and table tennis to countries like Uruguay and has built or upgraded sports facilities in nations such as Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, China has provided technical training for large cultural and sporting events.

The 2021 White Paper "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals" released by the State Council highlighted that China has built 45 stadiums and 170 schools across Africa since 2000, training over 160,000 professionals, demonstrating the tangible benefits of the China-Africa partnership.

This growing "sports diplomacy" underscores the importance of cultural exchange and cooperation, enhancing the friendship between China and Africa.

The new home stadium

Wang Neng's initial impressions of Africa, aside from the scorching weather in West Africa, included the people's passion for soccer.

"Adults and children alike show off their soccer skills wherever they go," said Wang, 34, a project manager with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) based in Cote d'Ivoire.

Wang first arrived in Africa in 2015. He told the Global Times that most of the fields here were simply patches of wild grass, slightly modified for use as main venues for Cote d'Ivoire's soccer league. Ordinary people and children played casually on hard, unpaved fields.

Wang has made friends with locals by playing soccer, but he and his colleagues have done much more than that.

In January 2024, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Cote d'Ivoire, with the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San-Pedro, built by the CCECC, drawing significant attention.

The Laurent Pokou Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 20,000 and more than 2,000 parking spaces, saw local cultural elements incorporated into its construction. The venue boasts a world-class field, athletic track, and lighting. The CCECC also installed solar photovoltaic technology to support the country's sustainability efforts.

Now, with the CCECC having completed the construction of the main stadium and four training grounds in San Pedro, the local demand for sports facilities has been greatly met. The stadium's construction has also spurred the development of surrounding infrastructure, including hospitals, hotels, universities, airports, and municipal roads, significantly enhancing the city's image, the Global Times has learned from the CCECC.

Moreover, at least three stadiums built by Chinese companies were used in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Cote d'Ivoire earlier this year.

Despite some biased criticisms and attempts by Western media to sow discord in China-Africa relations, China's aid to Africa has consistently demonstrated a genuine understanding of the continent's needs and has withstood various tests.

Even The New York Times acknowledged in a February article that "no country has invested more effort in integrating into Africa's sports scene than China."

Perhaps they do not need not worry on behalf of Africans.

Team Cote d'Ivoire chose Laurent Pokou Stadium for their first two warm-up matches as the host country. Their star player, Sébastien Haller, praised the stadium, "For me, [it is] the best turf is at San-Pedro."

On February 13, 2024, Haller scored the winning goal in the final, helping Cote d'Ivoire defeat Nigeria to claim the championship of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach for better

In the China-dominated table tennis field, there are also more African players who, with China's assistance and support, travel tens of thousands of miles to receive training in China along with their Chinese peers.

In late July, Nasri Malissa from Algeria made a speech at the 7th China-Africa People's Forum, sharing her story of receiving table tennis training in China. In 2016, Malissa attended the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Youth Championships held by the China Table Tennis College (CTTC) at the Shanghai University of Sport.

Malissa got the precious opportunity of being coached by renowned world champions including Zhang Yining during the championships. After that, Malissa said she made many excellent achievements in international competitions.

Malissa's experience has planted a seed in the hearts of more table tennis players in her home country, who dream of a similar journey to China. At an opening ceremony of the CTTC's summer school on July 1, 20-year-old Amdjed Oustani shared his excitement.

Oustani first heard of the CTTC from Malissa, who told him about the college's high-level coaches, first-class equipment, and an opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese national table tennis team. "So, I was very happy and excited when I received the invitation from the CTTC," he said at the opening ceremony. "I'm super looking forward to learning more in the following month, and to become stronger in the world's number one table tennis country."
The month-long summer school program in Shanghai was not easy for most international participants. Oustani, who finished the program and returned to Algeria last week, recalled that he had a few difficult times in the beginning, as he "was not used to training like this before."

"But the days became very good after that," Oustani told the Global Times. "I learned a lot in table tennis with this program, and also I learned from the serious discipline of the Chinese [table tennis teams], which is very important."

Oustani spent a wonderful month in Shanghai at the CTTC. He was coached by former members of the Chinese national team Feng Zhe and Zhang Qin. The latter used to coach Sun Yingsha, currently the world's top-ranked female table tennis player. Apart from training, Oustani visited tourist attractions across the city, from the most iconic The Bund and Yuyuan Garden, to the ITTF Museum and China Table Tennis Museum.

Oustani joked that he was born with a racket in his hands. His father was also a table tennis player, and he has been practicing the sport for 14 years. His favorite table tennis players are Ma Long, Wang Chuqin, and Xu Xin, all of whom are household names in China. "My goals in table tennis are to be an African champion and, why not [try to] beat some good and known players?" he told the Global Times.

Oustani participated in the CTTC's summer school program with the help of the college, the Chinese Embassy in Algeria, and the Algerian Chinese enterprises association.

Similar to what Malissa did at the China-Africa People's Forum, Oustani expressed his gratitude to China, which made this opportunity possible with joint efforts.

With the development of table tennis in Africa and the deepening of the China-Africa friendship, more African players are expected to receive training and learn advanced playing skills in China.

Sports for everyone

Of course, sports are not just for professional athletes - they're for everyone.

Today, in various locations across Africa, fitness parks built by Chinese companies have become popular destinations. These facilities, which are common in Chinese communities - simple yet durable and reusable fitness equipment - blend in seamlessly with the African landscape.

From 2016 to 2017, for example, under the organization of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Senegal and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Senegal, the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) AIBD-Mbour-Thies Expressway in Senegal, in collaboration with over 20 Chinese companies, contributed to the construction of the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park.

These two fitness parks, spanning over 40,000 square meters, remain popular spots for daily exercise among local residents.

Since their completion, the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park have been widely appreciated and praised by the Senegalese government and citizens alike, greatly enriching the daily leisure activities of locals.

The Dakar Seaside Fitness Park, in particular, has become a beautiful evening attraction along the coast and is affectionately called the "China-Senegal Friendship Park" by locals, further strengthening the bond between the people of China and Senegal and establishing a positive corporate image.
In recent years, Chinese civil organizations have also actively engaged in sports exchanges under frameworks like the BRI, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Since 2014, the private Chinese company StarTimes has been expanding its sports content in Africa, consistently investing in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for world-renowned sporting events.

They have built eight high-definition sports channels to broadcast various sports, including soccer, boxing, basketball, tennis, e-sports, and racing, to audiences in sub-Saharan Africa.

Just as Wang expressed, "I hope to use the company's platform to build more beneficial projects for the African people and contribute to China-Africa friendship in a modest way." This sentiment echo the feelings of many who are engaged in China-Africa exchanges.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701 left the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao (also known as Xianbin Reef) in the South China Sea around 2pm on Saturday. This marks the temporary conclusion of the standoff that began on April 17, when the Philippine ship illegally intruded and anchored at Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. Experts interviewed by the Global Times on Sunday highlighted that China's successful response thwarted the Philippines' goals, leaving withdrawal as their only option. However, based on recent Philippine movements, this may not be the end of their provocations in the South China Sea. China must remain vigilant as the Philippines may attempt to shift similar tactics to other islands and reefs, for which China is also prepared to respond and counter at any time.

After previously publicly declaring that the Philippines would not withdraw from the waters of Xianbin Jiao, the Philippine National Maritime Council released a statement on Sunday, stating that after more than five months at sea, 9701 is now “sailing back to her homeport with her mission accomplished.”

Based on what the Global Time has learned, the withdrawal of ship 9701 from China's Xianbin Jiao, where it had illegally anchored for nearly five months, occurred three days after the meeting between heads of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on Wednesday. However, the Philippines did not notify China in advance of the withdrawal. The departure signifies the failure of this round of Philippine provocations and represents a phased step toward peace and stability in the South China Sea.

"If the Philippines tries to package 9701's withdrawal as a 'victory' after completing its 'mission,' it would be absurd," Xue Chen, a research fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. He pointed out that the August 28 air-dropped supplies were clearly insufficient, and the ship's withdrawal was more likely an act of desperation as its supplies ran low. Xue further noted that the Philippines and its backers often portray such "victories" to suggest that US commitments are “effective,” but this holds little practical value beyond providing self-comfort to a small group of elites and their supporters.

Chen Xidi, a research fellow at the China Institute for Marine Affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources, stated that the Philippines' provocations were evident from the outset in this incident, but China’s successful handling of the situation left the Philippines no choice but to withdraw.

China took firm control measures and expressed determined diplomatic stance, defending its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters. That made it impossible for the Philippine ship 9701 to quasi-ground for long, and shattered Manila's illusion of forcing China to abandon its bottom line, said Chen.. 

Meanwhile China acted calmly and professionally to handle the Philippines' illegal activities, which thwarted their attempts to stir up international public opinion, said Chen. 
Chen added that China also actively engaged in communication with the Philippines, showing goodwill while maintaining its bottom line, and urged the Philippines to withdraw its vessel and personnel voluntarily to prevent further escalation.

Although the Philippine authorities appear reluctant to acknowledge the "withdrawal," media reports paint a different picture. According to Philippine media, the crew survived on rice porridge for three weeks and had exhausted their food supply two days before returning. They also ran out of drinking water. Photos showed several crew members being administered IV drips and carried ashore on stretchers. Others attended a ceremony held by Philippine authority, which the Philippine Coast Guard Commander Ronnie Gil Gavan attended.

Xue predicted that the Philippines is likely to adopt a "playing victim" strategy next, accusing China of obstructing humanitarian aid and supply to the ship. However, in reality, it is 9701 that had illegally intruded and forcibly anchored in the Xianbin Jiao lagoon. The ship has been fully capable of leaving on its own. The so-called "humanitarian supply crisis" is a fabrication by the Philippines. In fact, Chinese vessels exercising control in the nearby waters did not obstruct the departure of the Philippine ship from Xianbin Jiao, and as soon as the ship left the lagoon, the so-called "crisis" disappeared.

Chen also emphasized that this dispute was driven by the Philippine side's attempt to stir up troubles at Xianbin Jiao through radical maritime actions, aiming to fabricate a negative image of China in order to gain attention and support from external powers. The Philippines also sought to escalate tensions and conflicts to draw external powers further into the South China Sea dispute..

However, regardless of how the Philippines tries to frame its withdrawal, experts believe this is unlikely to be the end of its provocations in the South China Sea. They suggest China should remain vigilant and prevent the Philippines from repeating similar tactics in the future. . 

"The withdrawal does not mean the Philippines will give up," said Xue. He added that the Philippines might accuse China of "remaining" at Xianbin Jiao, conveniently ignoring that China has the legal right to patrol its jurisdictional waters. Furthermore, the Philippines neither informed China of 9701’s withdrawal in advance nor indicated its future plans. 

According to the latest statement from the National Maritime Council of the Philippines, the 9701 will "resume her mission" after resupplied. Whether it will return to Xianbin Jiao or be replaced by another ship remains a concern. However, for the Philippines, the lesson should be clear: any new provocation will be met with stronger responses from China, regardless of whether any third-party warships provide "escort" for their next "mission." Even if the Philippines shifts such illegal actions to other regions in the South China Sea, China will always be prepared to reposition and intercept as necessary.

Chen also suggests that regardless of the Philippine side's true intentions behind withdrawing its ship and personnel from Xianbin Jiao, China’s determination to protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights will not waver, and its commitment to resolving South China Sea disputes peacefully under international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea remains unchanged. Chen further noted that China will never allow a repeat of the situation at Ren'ai Jiao to occur at Xianbin Jiao and has the capability to ensure this will not happen in the future.

"Philippines should not harbor any illusions, nor is there any need to return or test China's redline by other means," said Chen. The withdrawal of the 9701 and its personnel from Xianbin Jiao should mark the beginning of the Philippines returning to the right track on the South China Sea dispute, rather than a mere “interlude.” This is not only the shared vision of China and other countries that genuinely wish to build the South China Sea into a region of peace and cooperation, but also in the best interest of the Philippines.

China's top legislature on Friday adopted a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country. The retirement age for men will be raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while for women cadres it will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55 for women blue-collar workers, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 
The decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress marks the first adjustment in the arrangement since 1950s. The plan was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the average life expectancy, health conditions, the population structure, the level of education and workforce supply in China, according to Xinhua. 

Experts noted that the adjustment aligns with domestic changes in demography and the country's overall development as well as international practices, which will also actively help tackle the demographic change in an aging population. 

Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually. 

People will be allowed to voluntarily retire by no more than three years in advance after reaching the minimum year of pension contributions. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.

The new plan will also allow individuals to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with employers, but such a delay should be no more than three years.

The move will help enhance the efficiency of labor supply amid the population aging and a continuous decrease proportion of the working-age population, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping said at a press conference on Friday. Wang noted that the reform will also be conducive to promoting the development and utilization of human resources. 

This approach is necessary for coping with China's current national conditions and future economic and social development, and will help actively address population aging, Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association and a professor at Nankai University, told the Global Times. 

The reform is of profound significance in improving the country's labor force structure and extending the demographic dividend, according to Li Chang'an, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics. 

Li Chang'an noted that gradually raising the statutory retirement age will help achieve a solid foundation and sustainable development for the country's pension system.

Supporting policies

The decision adopted on Friday specifies measures to refine the old-age insurance incentive mechanism, implement the employment-first strategy, ensure the basic rights and interests of workers who have passed their statutory retirement age, and improve elderly care and childcare services, according to Xinhua.

The document includes specific provisions on welfare for unemployed old-age workers and on earlier retirement for those in special professions.

Addressing the concerns regarding the reform's impact on youth employment, Li Zhong, vice minister of Human Resources and Social Security said on Friday that the overall impact remains flat, as the implementation of the measures will be a gradual process carried out on a small scale, while there are structural differences between the jobs vacated by retirees and those needed for the young population. 

Li Zhong noted that the ministry will further strengthen the employment-first strategy, continuously expanding the channels for youth employment and advancing employment in both qualitative and quantitative development. 

When it comes to stabilizing and safeguarding the job market, the new document sets out more diversified and personalized ways of continuing employment for gradually raising the statutory retirement age, Yuan said.

The US and UK's pledge of nearly $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine is their latest efforts to fuel the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, despite the mounting battlefield challenges Kiev is facing. At the same time, Europe continues to struggle with the broader geopolitical and security crises brought on by the conflict, analysts said. 

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a rare joint visit to Kiev, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Blinken reiterated the US' "enduring" support for Ukraine, and the three also discussed Ukraine's "continued progress toward NATO and EU membership," according to a release from the US Department of State. 

During the visit, Blinken announced over $700 million in humanitarian aid, while Lammy pledged an additional $782 million in assistance and loan guarantees, the Associated Press reported. 

The US and the UK aim to showcase their strategic support for Ukraine, encouraging it to hold firm in its fight with Russia, Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Ukraine currently faces significant challenges on the battlefield: The frontline in Donbas remains highly tense, and the situation in Kursk has reached a stalemate, with mobile warfare giving way to trench warfare and leading to increased attrition, Zhang said. 

Ukrainian forces are also grappling with a shortage of ammunition, strained by the demands of fighting on multiple fronts, noted Zhang.

Zelensky has been lobbying Western allies for permission to use long-range weapons from the US and other allies to strike targets deeper inside Russia. Blinken and Lammy said that the issue would be discussed when US President Joe Biden holds talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday, the Financial Times reported. 

Some observers also believed that Blinken and Lammy's visit is aimed at planning future military strategies more efficiently. They are seeking to encourage Ukraine to use Western weapons more effectively to exert greater military pressure on Russia, thereby convincing the US and the West to continue providing substantial military aid to Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on Wednesday that Moscow would deliver an "appropriate" response if Ukraine's Western allies eased restrictions on using long-range weapons with a view to attacking deep into Russian territory, the Moscow Times reported. 

From the perspective of great power competition, supporting Ukraine aligns with the US' strategic interests, while Ukraine endures significant material and human sacrifices, some experts said. 

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has left Europe in a passive position, largely due to the strategic competition between Russia and the US. Meanwhile, Europe has had to bear the economic and security costs of these geopolitical and security crises, Zhang noted.

A total of 61 professional soccer players have been given disciplinary sanctions, including 43 of them being banned from soccer for life, as China's sports and public security authorities jointly issued sanctions on Tuesday in the aftermath of a series of corruption cases in the sport since November 2022.

Among the names in the 43-player lifetime ban list, the most high-profile ones are former Shandong Luneng player and ex-China international Jin Jingdao and Shandong's South Korean player Son Jun-ho. The two "engaged in improper transactions, manipulated soccer matches, and obtained illegal gains in pursuit of unjust benefits," the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said. 

It remains unclear if Son will serve his ban in South Korea as he has been playing for Suwon FC in the South Korean top-tier league in 2024. The CFA said the cases will be submitted to international soccer governing bodies AFC and FIFA.

Among the 17 individuals who received a five-year suspension, the emergence of 40-year-old Wang Song, a veteran soccer player, has stunned many fans and commentators. Wang was previously hailed as an "evergreen soccer player" in China as he has scored in 23 consecutive seasons.

Song Kai, head of the CFA, indicated that soccer clubs involved in corruption also face penalties.

"Whether it's players or clubs involved in such activities, we will handle the cases strictly according to the laws and regulations and impose industry sanctions without leniency," Song told a press conference on Tuesday.

Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from China's Ministry of Public Security, said the goal of the investigation is to act as a high-pressure deterrent and genuinely purify the soccer industry.

"Ongoing investigations focus on illegal gambling and bribery as entry points to uncover and thoroughly investigate illegal activities such as match manipulation by players, coaches, referees, and club officials," Zhang said. 

Zhang Xin, chief of the Sports Competition under the General Administration of Sport of China, said that issues such as match-fixing, gambling, and organized crime in soccer are a "cancer" eroding the healthy development of soccer and a major obstacle to the sport's revitalization.

"Building a positive soccer culture is essential," said Zhang Xin. "By promoting integrity and transparency, we aim to foster an environment conducive to the healthy development of soccer in China."

According to figures released at the press conference, criminal charges have been brought against a total of 83 individuals since 2022, meaning there is a second list of people in the soccer industry who will face sanctions. 

Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, said the first round of sanctions is just a starter and the "main courses" will be served at a later time.

"The banned players are just a starter for the long-awaiting punishment of those who ruined a decade of China's soccer progress," Zhang Bin told the Global Times. 

"We do not see the names like [former national team coach] Li Tie and [former Shandong coach] Hao Wei as well as several senior CFA officials who had been prosecuted. That means there has to be a second and even a third batch of people who will be banned from the soccer industry."

India is reportedly scheduled to launch its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine on Thursday. Chinese experts said that India should wield this power responsibly and contribute to peace and stability, rather than use it to flex muscles.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arighat or S-3, in the presence of top naval officials at a quiet event in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, the Hindustan Times quoted people aware of the matter as saying on Thursday.

The Hindustan Times said that the 6,000-ton INS Arighat is set to embark on a long-range patrol of the Indo-Pacific armed with 750-km range nuclear ballistic missiles K-15.

The Indian report said that two nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines can offer huge strategic leverage and act as a deterrent to any navy trying to flex its muscles in the region given India’s location at the center of the “Indo-Pacific.”

With more nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, India’s nuclear deterrence force has increased, but along comes its responsibility in wielding such power, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

As long as they exist, nuclear weapons should be used in safeguarding peace and stability, not muscle flexing or nuclear blackmailing, the expert said.

On Friday, in a televised statement before Independence Day celebrations, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized that "no country is truly independent if it tolerates threats to its sovereignty," referring to the country's decision to impose a ban on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. 

This recent action by the Brazilian government has sparked widespread discussion in the international community. On the surface, this appears to be a controversy about freedom of speech, but in reality, it involves a struggle between national sovereignty and multinational corporations.

According to relevant reports, the Brazilian Supreme Court made this decision mainly because X failed to comply with the court's previous orders, including not appointing its legal representative in Brazil within the specified time limit. Furthermore, the platform did not take adequate measures against the spread of fake news, hate speech and anti-democratic rhetoric.

This decision reflects the Brazilian government's determination to maintain national stability, prevent political polarization and protect democratic institutions. It was made based on the requirements of Brazilian domestic law. However, Western countries, especially the US, have hyped this as a freedom of speech issue. This reaction, while seemingly concerning norms of free speech, is about protecting the interests of US multinational corporations. Beneath the guise of freedom of speech lies the greed of capital.

This brings to mind economist Thomas L. Friedman's view that "No two countries that both have a McDonald's have ever fought a war against each other." The error in this view lies in treating the institutional norms of Western countries, including free speech norms and rules, as universal standards. Promoting these so-called universal norms globally would benefit the expansion of Western multinational corporations and the colonization of ideas.

Respect for a country's sovereignty first involves respect for its laws. Brazil's decision pertains to regulating social media platforms, which encompasses both the boundaries of free speech and the management of these platforms. Brazil has punished X in accordance with its laws, rather than based on a "potential security threat," an excuse often adopted by Washington. The country wants to ensure that multinational companies like X can operate legally in Brazil without undermining its stability and economic order.

It's worth noting that while X is a social media platform, this doesn't mean it should enjoy privileges that other businesses do not. Any enterprise wishing to operate in another country must comply with local laws and regulations. This principle applies to all industries, and social media platforms are no exception.

In the current context of dramatic changes in global geopolitics, the importance of national sovereignty is becoming increasingly prominent. This trend is evident in Brazil, as well as globally and in Western countries. Global geopolitics is resisting the international flow of capital and the transnational expansion of enterprises.

The Brazilian government's decision reflects the attitude of an emerging power when facing multinational tech giants. It demonstrates that even in the internet age, nations still have the power and responsibility to regulate businesses operating within their borders to protect national interests and citizens' rights. This approach is not a suppression of free speech but a preservation of national sovereignty.

At the same time, this incident highlights the challenges facing global internet governance. As social media platforms' influence continues to grow worldwide, balancing the protection of freedom of speech with the maintenance of national security has become a common challenge for governments. Countries may adopt different strategies based on their political, cultural and legal traditions. The critical point is that the laws of each country must be followed.

When discussing global issues, it's essential to think beyond Western centrism and ensure that every country's laws, legal system, sovereignty and cultural norms are fully respected. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony here on Friday for President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, who is on a state visit to China.