Editor's Note:

"Cognitive Warfare" has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country. 

Some politicians and media outlets have publicly smeared China's image by propagating false narratives in an attempt to incite and provoke dissatisfaction with China among people in certain countries. These means all serve the US strategy to contain China's rise and maintain its hegemony. The Global Times is publishing a series of articles to reveal the intrigues of the US and its allies' China-targeted cognitive warfare and expose its lies and vicious intentions.

In the 17th installment of the series, the Global Times revealed how the US military-industrial complex orchestrates cognitive warfare campaigns against China to incite the Philippines to confront China, how the US government has transitioned from the forefront to the background to exert influence on the Philippines, and what tactics have been used in these cognitive wars.

From manipulating public opinion through hyping the South China Sea issue to launching smear campaign against Chinese vaccines in the Philippines, the US military-industrial complex has been exposed for persistently instigating the Philippines behind the scenes to fabricate biased or false narratives and foment public misunderstanding regarding China.

Experts warned that this strategy risks pushing the Philippines toward greater conflict and jeopardizes its own interests.

What lobbying groups are behind these cognitive warfare efforts against China? What ties do they have to the US Department of Defense, the US government, and the Philippine military? And ultimately, what tactics do they employ in their coordinated cognitive warfare assault? This investigative report aims to unravel these dirty tricks.

Military forces disguised as think tanks

In the process of supporting the Philippines in provoking disputes with China over the South China Sea, there is a non-negligible American think tank behind the scenes, known as Project Myoushu at Stanford University, which focuses on South China Sea security issues.

The project became well-known to the public due to a notorious smear campaign against the China Coast Guard (CCG) in February 2023. Project Myoushu claimed that China had harassed the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) vessel by citing a so-called source. Subsequently, the PCG asserted that a Chinese ship had directed a laser at the PCG, while then US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, further fanned the flames by stating that the US stands with its ally in the face of alleged laser incidents. The Chinese Foreign Ministry later clarified the facts, saying that the CCG's on-site operations are professional and res trained, and the claim made by the Philippines has no basis in fact.

Taking its name from an "inspired move" in the ancient Chinese game Go, Project Myoushu was established in 2022. Ray Powell, who served in the US Air Force and currently leads Project Myoushu at Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, is an active figure in the narrative campaign against China on the South China Sea issue.

Reports show that Powell had served 35 years in the US Air Force, including a posting in the Philippines. After retiring in November 2021, Powell joined Stanford University as a research fellow.

In July 2023, Ray Powell visited with then Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of Western Command to discuss "how to leverage emerging technologies to help improve maritime domain awareness and illuminate gray-zone activities in the West Philippine Sea," according to SeaLight's website, an organization at Stanford University that Powell led.

The term "gray zone activity" has been used by some officials and scholars in the US to discredit China's policies and legal actions in the South China Sea. They use this term to accuse China of employing non-military means to "change the status quo" or "create tension."

"This is a blatant inversion of reality. In fact, labeling China with various cognitive tags regarding the South China Sea issue is itself a manifestation of the US' use of the 'gray zone' strategy," said Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

Powell has also given interviews to US-funded media sources to support the Philippines or levy groundless accusations against China over the South China Sea issue.

In addition to Powell and Project Myoushu, another think tank with military ties has been found to openly intervene in the South China Sea issue.

According to an article in the US Naval Institute's magazine Proceedings, the US Naval Institute initiated the Maritime Counterinsurgency (COIN) Project in July 2022, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The project is specifically aimed at China's activities in the South China Sea, as it has claimed that "China is working below the threshold of armed conflict to subjugate the large civilian maritime population of Southeast Asia […] who depend on access to the South China Sea for their daily livelihoods."

The initial concept of Maritime COIN has sparked intense discussion in the US and its partners since 2019. Several high-ranking US military officers, including Admiral John Aquilino, Vice Admiral William Merz, and Rear Admiral Fred Kacher, have been influenced by this concept.

According to the US Naval Institute, the Maritime COIN has published 19 articles from July 2022 to April 2024, and many of the authors have US military backgrounds. A retired Philippine rear admiral is also among them.

US arms firms also have stakes in the South China Sea issue. According to the arms transfers database of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US has transferred many pieces of military equipment including aircrafts, ships, missiles, armored vehicles, and engines to the Philippines over the last 10 years.

Manila is also planning to procure a US-made Typhon mid-range capability missile system, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on August 29.

Observers said that US weapon makers are eager to see tensions in the South China Sea rise, so that they can sell more of their products to make profits.
Sophisticated network built on cognitive warfare players

The influence of the US military-industrial complex extends beyond the South China Sea issue, bleeding into other areas as well.

In June, Reuters published an investigative report revealing that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US military secretly launched a campaign to counter what it saw as China's growing influence in the Philippines. At the time, the Philippines had one of the worst inoculation rates in Southeast Asia.

Citing three former US military officials, a Reuters report referenced the operation as having been pushed by then US Special Operations Command Pacific General Jonathan Braga, who was reportedly a longtime advocate of increasing the use of propaganda operations as a tool in the global geopolitical competition.

The Pentagon's audit concluded that the military's primary contractor handling the campaign, General Dynamics IT, a US-based global aerospace and defense company, had employed sloppy tradecraft, taking inadequate steps to hide the origin of the fake accounts, according to a person with direct knowledge of the review, Reuters reported.

Why did the US launch such a cognitive war against Chinese vaccines? Reuters provides an answer: To counter what it perceived as China's growing influence in the Philippines. At the time, the Philippines had received vaccine aid from China, while US-produced vaccines had not yet been introduced in the Philippines.

These highly similar tactics lead to a suspicion of a connection between the narrative campaigns over the South China Sea and Chinese vaccines. Following the clues, the Global Times discovered that the key figures behind both operations are intricately linked.

The Global Times found that Braga, one of the initiators of the vaccine campaign, once visited the Hoover Institution in February 2020, engaging fellows in a roundtable discussion about the threats his command faced in the region. One of the fellows he met with is research fellow Joseph Felter.

The ties between the two individuals go far beyond this. Felter once served in the US Army Special Forces, while Braga was quickly reassigned to command the US Army Special Operations Command in mid-2021 after the launch of the vaccine campaign against China.

Joe Felter, as the former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, is familiar with the situation in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. He served as the principal advisor to senior US Department of Defense leadership for all policy matters pertaining to the development and implementation of defense strategies and plans for the region. Felter's resume shows that he has also been a military attaché in the Philippines.

Moreover, he also co-founded the defense company BMNT, which has close ties to the Pentagon and US military giants like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, according to the company's official website. Felter's role as a bridge between the US military and the Philippines has since become clear.

Felter is the director of Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. This indicates that Powell, while working on Project Myoushu, is required to report to Felter as the head of the center.

The intricate connections between Powell, Braga, and Felter, along with their profound military backgrounds, make the player network picture behind two typical cognitive wars against China much clearer.
A significant shift in strategy

The connections also highlighted a significant shift in the US' strategy: The military-industrial complex has begun to play an active role in the cognitive war against China.

"The US military-industrial complex is often involved in many global conflicts. Driven by its own interests, it benefits from escalating regional tensions," Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.

By creating instability in the region, the complex aims to stimulate demand from countries around the South China Sea, thereby fulfilling its economic interests, he noted.

The military-industrial complex seeks to leverage these initiatives to encourage the US Congress to approve larger budgets and to push the US Department of Defense to procure more weapons, Chen said.

The interests of the military-industrial complex are clearly driving the US strategy of cognitive warfare against China, Chen noted.

The expert further stated it is clear to see that the US government has shifted from a front-stage role to a behind-the-scenes one. This can help avoid direct involvement in controversies that may provoke public resentment or skepticism, as well as prevent "factual conflicts" with China.

Meanwhile, by packaging think tanks as neutral and objective "academic authorities," the US can better exert global public opinion pressure, according to Chen.

"This strategy may push the Philippines to escalate tensions in the region, ultimately jeopardizing its own interests. The Philippines is by no means the winner of the cognitive war," he stressed.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has embraced a recent panda craze as the third pair of giant pandas, gifted by the central government, arrived in the city on Thursday with enthusiastic crowds and panda-themed decorations welcoming the "national treasures."

The pair, An An, a male, and Ke Ke, a female, both born in June 2019, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport by special flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at around 11 am, and then was transferred to a special bus to arrive at their new home in Ocean Park Hong Kong at around 1 pm, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Upon arrival, the two will be quarantined for 30 days. Afterward, they will spend time acclimating to their new environment before meeting the public in December, Xinhua revealed.

They are to join four others currently living in Hong Kong, bringing the total number to six, making it the city with the largest number of giant pandas outside the Chinese mainland, chinanews.com reported.

On Thursday afternoon, escorted by local police, the panda convoy smoothly entered the Ocean Park Hong Kong. Accompanied by the park's band, dozens of eager panda enthusiasts waved panda-shaped balloons and signs, cheering in joyful welcome, the Global Times learned.

"The adorable image of the giant panda is simply irresistible," said Jane, a member of the crowd. 

"The event was quite grand and impressive, clearly showing that the Hong Kong SAR government places great importance on this new pair of giant pandas. We were also very excited," Jane told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"When I talked to my friends in the mainland about this, they mentioned that the previous pandas that came to Hong Kong live long lives, so they feel reassured about An An and Ke Ke's arrival," Jane said.

The central government gifted Hong Kong with its first pair of giant pandas in 1999. However, both pandas passed away in 2016 and 2022 at the ages of 38 and 35, respectively. Jia Jia, which died at 38 in 2016, was the world's longest-living captive giant panda. The central government gifted a second pair in 2007 and they had recently given birth to twin panda cubs, Xinhua reported.

Now with six pandas, Paulo Pong Kin-Yee, chairman of Ocean Park said on Thursday that the nursing team has made thorough arrangements to care for the lovable mammals. The two exhibition halls feature four designated areas for the pandas, ensuring ample space for their needs. Additionally, sufficient staff is available to ensure the well-being of the pandas, Pong stated, according to Hong Kong's local media.

The arrival of the new pair came ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which is also a highlight of the hundreds of celebrations in Hong Kong. 

LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "LONGi"), a China-based solar technology company, recently published a research paper titled Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with bilayer interface passivation online in the journal Nature as the first corresponding author. It reported the research results of breaking through the efficiency limit of single-junction solar cells by developing crystalline silicon-perovskite dual-junction tandem solar cells.

The dual-junction tandem solar cells are considered to have the potential to exceed the theoretical efficiency limit of single-junction solar cells in terms of photovoltaic conversion efficiency. For decades, research institutions and teams worldwide have been committed to achieving this goal. 

In November 2023, LONGi announced that its crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell has been certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with an efficiency of 33.9 percent. This achievement has set a new world record for the efficiency of this type of cell and surpasses the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction semiconductor photovoltaic materials.

The company employed a double-layer staggered passivation strategy, which more effectively suppresses the non-radiative recombination at the perovskite interface while ensuring efficient charge transport. To better achieve structural coupling between the perovskite top cell and the crystalline silicon bottom cell, LONGi has developed a patented technology for silicon heterojunction solar cells with an asymmetric textured surface. The front surface of this silicon cell has a fine textured surface, facilitating the solution-based preparation of perovskite film, while the rear surface of the silicon cell uses a standard large size textured surface to achieve better passivation and infrared spectral response. 

Making a series of key technological breakthroughs, LONGi's tandem team has achieved a certified conversion efficiency record of 33.9 percent for ultra-high-efficiency perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem solar cells. This is the first time that the efficiency of tandem solar cells has been experimentally proven to exceed the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit of single junction solar cells, marking a milestone achievement.

The work also received strong support and assistance from the co-corresponding agencies, including Soochow University, Clean Energy Research Institute of China Huaneng, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

In recent years, LONGi has maintained intensive R&D activities in the field of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, continuously achieving breakthrough progresses. Currently, the two-terminal tandem prototype devices (1 square centimeter) developed by LONGi's tandem team have been authoritatively certified with a record efficiency of 34.6 percent. The commercial-sized two-terminal tandem cells developed for mass production and the world's first square meter four-terminal tandem modules have been certified with efficiencies of 30.1 percent and 25.8 percent, respectively. These results demonstrate a significant efficiency advantage over single junction silicon cell technology. This achievement has greatly boosted the global photovoltaic industry's confidence and expectations for the next generation of ultra-high-efficiency tandem photovoltaic power generation technology.

On March 10, 1947, a provisional war crimes tribunal in Singapore officially began the trial of the perpetrators of the "Sook Ching Massacre," a mass killing that took place in the city in 1942. Most of the victims were of Chinese ethnicity. At the time, a Nanyang Siang Pau newspaper journalist named Xie Songshan recorded the trial proceedings.

From the testimonies of the victims and the confessions of the Japanese war criminals, Xie learned of numerous atrocities committed by the Japanese military, which had a profound impact on him.

He later wrote in the preface of his poetry collection, "The victims were all our compatriots, and this is indeed a great sorrow. I recall the time when fathers lost their sons, brothers lost their younger brothers, wives lost their husbands, and children cried for their fathers; there were even entire families that were slaughtered…"

The survivors of the massacre have gradually passed away, but this heavy history should not be easily buried by the sands of time.

Japanese occupation of Singapore

On December 8, 1941, Japanese troops landed in Kota Bharu and then advanced rapidly to occupy the Malay Peninsula, with their sights set squarely on Singapore. The Nationalist government in Chongqing notified the British, expressing their willingness to mobilize overseas Chinese people to cooperate with the British military in resisting the Japanese invasion. Chinese businessman Tan Kah Kee was entrusted with the important task of organizing the Overseas Chinese Mobilization Council.

The association was established on December 30, 1941. It had several departments, including a labor service department responsible for recruiting workers for the government, a security department in charge of patrolling and maintaining public order in various streets, a publicity department dedicated to promoting resistance against the Japanese invasion, and a civilian armed forces department responsible for organizing the overseas Chinese volunteer army. Under the association's organization, local ethnic Chinese people actively responded, with the number of registrants reaching 3,000 in a week, and the total number of subsequent registrants reaching 10,000.

Unfortunately, the Japanese army advanced rapidly, and the Singapore overseas Chinese anti-Japanese volunteer army had to engage in combat with the invading Japanese forces using poorly-made weapons issued by the British army, even before completing their basic military training.

Under the fierce attacks from the Japanese army, the Chinese volunteer army suffered heavy losses and had to retreat to their headquarters at the Nan Chiau Teachers' Training School, where they were subsequently ordered to disband by the British army. The association also completely ceased fundraising in January 1942, and hurriedly transferred the last amount of funds, totaling S$1.6 million, to the Executive Yuan of the Nationalist government in Chongqing before the fall of Singapore.

During the Japanese invasion, local ethnic Chinese people resisted tenaciously in various ways. As Lee Kuan Yew once pointed out, at that time, the only ones who had the courage and confidence, and dared to stand up against the invaders were the Chinese.

After occupying Malaya, General Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese 25th Army began to readjust the administrative divisions of Malaya established during British colonial rule. Malaya was renamed "Malai," and it was divided into 10 states. At the same time, Singapore was renamed "Syonan-to" and designated as a special city, serving as the military and political hub for Japan's southern occupied territories.

Given the special strategic position of Southeast Asia in the Japanese military's plans, the Japanese army formulated three major guidelines for the military and political affairs of the occupied territories: Restore public order, swiftly acquire important national defense resources, and ensure the occupying army's "self-sufficiency in the local area." Among these, the second guideline was deemed the most urgent, while the other guidelines aimed to ensure the smooth achievement of this goal.

Furthermore, the Japanese military explicitly stated in their guidelines that during the course of the war, in order to obtain national defense resources and achieve local self-sufficiency for the military, it was necessary to tolerate, to the greatest extent possible, the heavy pressure on the livelihood of the local population, and pacification work must not violate the above objectives.

In other words, Southeast Asia, as a key resource area in the overall strategy of the Japanese military, had to serve Japan's strategic goal of "fighting to sustain the war." Therefore, the task of the occupying army was to maintain a high-pressure governance mechanism to ensure that the Japanese military could "maximize" the extraction of local resources.
Brutal slaughter of overseas Chinese

Due to the fact that ethnic Chinese people made up over 70 percent of Singapore's total population at the time, targeting and controlling this group became a primary objective for the Japanese occupying authorities.

In February 1942, the Japanese military ordered ethnic Chinese people aged 18 to 50 to report to gathering points. After a brief interrogation, those detained were taken to the coast or remote areas to be executed in what became known as the "Sook Ching Massacre." Sook Ching is a Chinese term meaning "purge through cleansing." This massacre was referred to as "Sook Ching" because the Japanese military issued small slips of paper stamped with the Chinese character "Jian" (meaning "examine") to those who were released. Once these slips were used up, the character was indiscriminately stamped on the clothing or bodies of the released individuals.

Experts pointed out that in practice, the Japanese military transported large numbers of unarmed civilians to execution sites without any investigation, so scholars and experts argue for a redefinition of Sook Ching as a genocide rather than a massacre.

The main purpose of the Japanese military's "cleansing" campaign was to eliminate ethnic Chinese people who resisted the Japanese invasion.

After the "cleansing" began, the Japanese forces ordered all Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to gather at 28 screening centers across the island for inspection, with the Japanese gendarmerie responsible for identifying and screening anti-Japanese individuals. The results of this "examination and cleansing" changed the fates of countless ordinary people.

Those who passed the "examination" received a paper stamped with the Chinese character "Jian," or had the character printed on their bodies and clothing. By contrast, those who failed the "examination" were labeled as "anti-Japanese subversives" and were transported by truck to execution sites.

Some historic materials indicate that the Japanese gendarmerie seemed to use five criteria to determine whether an individual was "anti-Japanese element": First, members of volunteer military forces; second, communists; third bandits; fourth, those carrying weapons; and fifth, individuals listed as anti-Japanese suspects by Japanese intelligence agencies.

However, substantial evidence suggests that the Japanese military did not adhere to these standards during their searches. Reports indicate that the gendarmerie's conviction process was extremely brief and arbitrary. All men who spoke the Hainan dialect, for example, were treated as communists.

According to testimonies from post-war trials of Japanese personnel and accounts from various witnesses, the Japanese military often determined the fate of detainees based solely on brief questioning or visual assessments at the concentration sites. In summary, the so-called "cleansing" was essentially a massacre driven by personal biases, resulting in the indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.

The death toll from this massacre remains a topic of heated debate. Regardless of the exact number of victims, the massacre stands as an indelible crime committed by Japanese fascists during World War II.
Attempts to twist truth in post-war era

During the 1950s, a Japanese government committee was established to take charge of recommending the parole and release of war criminals to the Allied Nations. The committee's recommendations are still closed to the public in Japan, but can be read in the national archives of the UK and the US.

As an example of the committee's recommendations, in 1952, the British government was asked to consider parole for Onishi Satoru, who took part in the Sook Ching Massacre as a Kempeitai officer and was sentenced to life imprisonment by a British war crimes trial. The recommendation says that the figure of 5,000 victims of the massacre was untrue and that his war crimes trial had been an act of reprisal. Although this recommendation was not approved by the British government, it reflects the Japanese government's refusal to admit that mass murder had occurred in Singapore. Among many Japanese nationals, the war crimes trials were, and still are, regarded as a mockery of justice.

Beginning in 1962, numerous human remains dating back to the occupation were found in various locations around Singapore. Prolonged discussions between the Singaporean and Japanese governments relating to these deaths led to a settlement in 1967. This was reported in the Japanese press, but only as minor news.

During negotiations with the Singaporean government, the Japanese government rejected compensation demands but agreed to provide funding in other forms as a "gesture of atonement." However, the Japanese government ultimately refused to accept legal responsibility for the massacre or to investigate the death toll.

As many survivors began publishing memoirs and historians released research on the Sook Ching Massacre, the truth about the tragic event gradually came to light. Unfortunately, this did not garner widespread attention from the Japanese public.

In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Education ordered the deletion of passages relating to Japanese wartime atrocities in Asia from school textbooks, and instructed textbook authors to replace the term "aggression" with less emotive terms, such as "advance." Descriptions of the Singapore massacre in high school history textbooks are particularly rare. According to research in the 1990s, just eight out of a total of 26 textbooks mentioned the event. The most widely used textbook states simply that "atrocities took place in Singapore and elsewhere." Other textbooks say that the Japanese army massacred tens of thousands of overseas Chinese people in Singapore and Malaya, but even these descriptions are limited to one or two lines, and give no details.

The historical distortion surrounding the Sook Ching Massacre is not an isolated case. In the eight textbooks approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education in April 2005, descriptions of Korean forced labor have all but disappeared, as has the term "comfort women."

The Sook Ching Massacre cannot be viewed as the actions of "a few evil individuals," but only as an extension of Japan's aggression. It was a large-scale, organized, and systematic campaign of slaughter and plunder against the Chinese community, an unforgettable part of the atrocities committed by Japanese fascists in Asia.

As Japan's Ambassador to the Philippines recently intervened in the South China Sea issue, he might do well to reflect on his country's historical role in Southeast Asia during World War II. The Philippines should also consider whether accepting the overtures of a neighbor with a bloody past and no inclination for reflection is akin to inviting a wolf into the house. A careful examination of 20th-century Asian history reveals that a responsible attitude toward history must be grounded in remembrance and an understanding of reality. Only by correctly recognizing history can we better shape the future.

The story was originally published on National Humanity History magazine.

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.

A performance by dancers of the National Ballet of China closed the two-month-long Open Door to Art summer festival in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall (FCCH) on Saturday night. 

According to Liu Qi from the National Ballet of China, the performance for young children included selections from the classic ballets The Four Little Swans and modern ballet pieces like On the Road and Song of the Wilderness. 

The Open Door to Art summer festival has been held each summer for the past 31 years. According to Xu Jian from the Beijing Poly Forbidden City Theatre Management Company, the summer festival has built a platform for audiences to experience the art of Beijing performed by the country's national-level art troupes and international artists as well. 

The year 2024's festival also hosted artistic tours to Beijing, its neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province with a variety of visiting and art experiences.

The upcoming release of Black Myth: Wukong on Tuesday has attracted worldwide attention. The game's trailers and gameplay demos have garnered over 100 million views on Bilibili, China's equivalent of YouTube, and over 10 million views on YouTube. According to SteamDB, a third-party Steam database website, Black Myth currently holds the top spot on the global sales chart.

As China's first true AAA title - a game characterized by high development costs, long production cycles, and significant resource investment, Black Myth represents a major breakthrough of the Chinese gaming industry.

The game is set against the backdrop of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. After Tang Monk and his disciples successfully obtained Buddhist scriptures, Monkey King (Sun Wukong) was named Fighting Buddha and gradually vanished without a trace. The player, known as the Destined One, embarks on an epic journey to uncover the truth behind the legendary tale.

Ke Yuheng (LK), a prominent online influencer who participated in a demo of Black Myth, told the Global Times that the player controls a young monkey (Destined One) who, inspired by the legendary tale, becomes determined to follow in Sun Wukong's footsteps on the journey to the West.

"Right now, we still don't know if the 'Destined One' is actually the true Wukong or just a spiritual successor, but the available material suggests that this is a world where Buddhist teachings have declined and demons run rampant," LK noted.

Cultural export

The game review site IGN China has showered the title with praise, calling it a "masterpiece." "Black Myth is a truly competitive game on the global market. I believe it will be a strong contender for Game of the Year, and after this, Game Science will undoubtedly become one of the world's top ARPG developers," said Charles Young, an IGN reviewer.

While the game's massive popularity in China can partly be attributed to national familiarity with Journey to the West, the fact that it has captivated international audiences - many of whom lack this cultural background - suggests that Black Myth is on the right path.

Many overseas players have been inspired by the game to start reading the original book Journey to the West. Fans of Black Myth have even started posting videos online, sharing their understanding of Chinese mythology and the Journey to the West story.

"Hey, have you read Journey to the West? Because this game got me to read it, and now I'm going back to reread it," wrote Reddit user Gamskining in a post about the game.

As the game's preview sessions have rolled out, numerous international media outlets and invited influencers have provided in-depth coverage and reviews. These articles have not only praised the game's technical and artistic achievements but have also highlighted its cultural significance.

"If you understand Chinese, you'll never forget how beautifully the prose and dialogue in this game is written. It's the kind of writing that befits a major Chinese work," said a reviewer from the video game site GamesRadar.

However, the game's plot, which draws heavily from Journey to the West, has proven challenging for those unfamiliar with the source material. This has been cited by many foreign reviewers, including IGN, as a reason for not awarding the game a perfect score.

"Black Myth stands alone in terms of both cultural content and the themes it explores. The subject matter of Journey to the West is something that only Chinese people can fully grasp, while the understanding of the story in the West is relatively superficial," Chinese professional game reviewer Natto told the Global Times.

Natto acknowledged that cultural differences might create some discomfort for non-Chinese-speaking players, but he believes there is no need to change to cater to the global market. 

"Back in the day, Chinese PC gamers had to rely on translations by fans who had to learn the games bit by bit through self-study. If a game is good enough, people will naturally want to learn about the story behind it," he noted.

Sacred sites

Black Myth features both main and side quests that aim to recreate the original story while incorporating a wealth of traditional Chinese cultural elements. The game uses advanced technologies like real-time ray tracing to deliver cinematic-quality visuals.

"The appearance of the Diamond Sutra and the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Dharani in the trailers may symbolize that the 'Destined One' will retrace the path of the pilgrimage, defeating demons along the way and helping to reincarnate and redeem those left behind. This reflects the Buddhist philosophy in the game," noted LK.

It integrates elements such as Daoist talismans, Buddhist artifacts, ancient architecture, and traditional clothing, with game scenes inspired by famous Chinese landmarks like the Great Wall, the Mogao Caves, and Mount Huangshan, allowing players to experience a rich oriental atmosphere.

Recently, the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism released an official promotional video for Black Myth. The video showcases real locations from the game, including Xiaoxitian (Small Western Paradise), Yuhuang Temple, and Tiefo Monastery, drawing many bloggers to visit these sites as part of a "cultural pilgrimage."

"It is said that to accurately depict the story settings in Black Myth, the development team visited several locations in Shanxi to conduct research, incorporating many elements of Shanxi's famous painted sculptures," Yang Jie, a representative from the Shanxi Digital Cultural Experience Center, told the Global Times.

Shanxi is home to approximately 80 percent of China's surviving wooden structures from the Yuan Dynasty and even earlier. The province has the largest number and variety of ancient buildings in China, including numerous examples from the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Jin, and Yuan periods.

Black Myth also recreates architectural and scenic details from sites like the Faxing Temple in Changzhi, the Foguang Temple in Xinzhou, and the Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao, as well as the Tiefo Monastery in Gaoping, transporting players back to ancient China. "The game's near 1:1 reproduction of China's landscapes, temples, and sculptures is undoubtedly part of our cultural export," Yang said.

A number of high-quality Chinese TV series have been rolled out by younger directors who have made a name for themselves in recent years with creative production ideas. One such work, Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, a newly released thriller generating buzz on Chinese social media, exemplifies its director's exploration of creative expression.

The 21-episode Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, centers around the journey of Shen Xing, played by actor Guo Qilin, who finds himself in a remote border town while on a quest to locate his missing uncle. Along the way, he encounters Uncle Cai, a mysterious figure portrayed by veteran actor Francis Ng, who introduces unexpected twists and challenges to Shen's journey, creating a thrilling narrative filled with intrigue and moral dilemmas.

The series airing on streaming platform Youku has an 8.2/10 rating on China's major review platform Douban. Many netizens, at home and abroad, have commented that they saw humanity in the show.

What sets Escape from the Trilateral Slopes apart is its capacity to weave together multiple genres. While it features elements of mystery and suspense, the series also explores profound themes related to human nature, morality, and the struggle for survival. Directed by Mu Xincen, a fresh voice among the new generation of Chinese directors, the series' narrative is intricately layered, particularly through the perspective of Shen Xing, who copes with the challenges faced by young people as they navigate the complexities of modern life.