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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and foreign leaders gathered for group photos at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing prior to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday.

Workers are busy filling photovoltaic module orders on a production line in Suqian, East China's Jiangsu Province on August 28, 2024. From January to July, new solar installations in China totaled 123.53 gigawatts, a year-on-year increase of 27 percent, maintaining steady growth. Photo: VCG

On Thursday, at 11:23, an Air China C919 aircraft with the registration number B-919X, landed smoothly at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. It taxied slowly through a water cannon salute, as it was welcomed at the airport. Air China's first C919 aircraft has now officially joined the fleet.

The C919 aircraft is an important milestone in the development of China's large aircraft industry. As the country's national carrier, the introduction and operation of the C919 is part of Air China's continued mission in the new era, and is a vivid example of transforming the company into a world-class enterprise.

Air China has consistently prioritized safety while introducing the C919. It has established four professional groups with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in terms of aircraft maintenance, personnel training, ground support, and operation control. It also selected business linchpins to participate in aircraft selection, production supervision, personnel training, and operation preparation.

In addition, Air China established a pilot team. The team completed the first round of high-quality pilot conversion training, completing the systematic training of dispatchers, flight attendants, safety officers, and ground support personnel, solidly promoting the creation of maintenance support capabilities, and comprehensively creating service quality risk management and operation service standards. This process directly contributed to the smooth introduction of C919, as well as safe and efficient operations.

Air China had a considerable selection of the C919 aircraft. The aircraft is an extended-range aircraft with a loose two-class layout of 158 seats, including eight business class seats and 150 economy class seats.

It has adopted domestically produced seats with full functionality, created exclusive cabin entertainment programs and safety instructions videos, and provided customized in-flight supplies and other exclusive configurations to provide passengers with a better travel experience.

Air China will work intensively, efficiently, and in an orderly fashion to complete various tasks including the testing of ground support, route verification flights, on-site training, emergency evacuation procedure demonstrations, and new model operation certification to ensure the first C919 is successfully brought into commercial operation.

Air China has long been committed to supporting the development of domestically produced large aircrafts. In July 2020, Air China's first ARJ21-700 passenger aircraft was brought into operation. So far, Air China has introduced a total of 29 ARJ21 passenger aircrafts, with more than 70,000 safe flight hours.

In April 2024, Air China signed a purchase agreement with COMAC for 100 C919 aircrafts, which are scheduled to be delivered to Air China in batches from 2024 to 2031.

In the future, Air China will actively work with partners such as COMAC to consolidate the aircraft operation guarantee system, give full play to its route network advantages, strengthen market promotion, and select high-quality routes, in a bid to lay a solid foundation for the large-scale operation of the C919.