Lai Ching-te continued to propagate the "two-state" rhetoric by claiming that the two sides are "not subordinate" to each other in his speech, fabricating fallacies about "Taiwan independence," advocating separatist views, and inciting hostility and confrontation across the Taiwan Straits, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Thursday, slamming Taiwan regional leader Lai who trumpeted secessionism in his provocative "Double Ten" (October 10) speech on Thursday morning.
This clearly demonstrates that Lai stubbornly adheres to the stance of "Taiwan independence," is filled with confrontational thinking, continuously provokes and stirs up trouble, and deliberately creates tensions across the Taiwan Straits, severely undermining peace and stability, Chen said.
The spokesperson said that after 1949, due to the prolonged civil war in China and external interference, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have been in a prolonged state of political confrontation. However, Taiwan has always been a part of Chinese territory, Taiwan compatriots have always been members of the Chinese nation, the government of the People's Republic of China has always been the sole legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan, he said. China has always been the motherland of all Chinese people, and upholding the one-China principle has always been a common consensus in the international community, Chen noted.
Different systems are not a barrier to unification, nor are they an excuse for division. The current fight against "Taiwan independence" is not a fight over systems, it is a fight between reunification and division, Chen highlighted.
Lai is deliberately scheming to fabricate justifications for splitting the country. Chen said that under the guise of so-called "democracy and freedom," Lai continues to seek "independence" by relying on external forces and military means, attempting to tie Taiwan onto the "Taiwan independence" chariot, he said, adding that "his separatist provocations are the root cause of turmoil and instability in the Taiwan Straits, which will bring disaster to the people of Taiwan".
Nothing Lai has said can change Taiwan's legal status as a part of China or the fact and status quo that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, he added.
"We have the confidence and capability to achieve the complete reunification of our motherland. No individual or force can stop the historical trend of national rejuvenation and reunification," Chen said.
China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges will reportedly conduct a series of tests on their platforms on Monday to ensure a smoother trading experience, as the combined turnover of the two bourses surged to 2.6 trillion yuan on the trading day before the seven-day National Day holidays, driven by various stimulus policies.
In order to ensure smooth transactions after the National Day holidays, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange will conduct system connectivity tests on Monday, when related securities firms can test their technological systems for trading after the holidays, according to a notice on the bourse's website.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai Stock Exchange will conduct a similar test on Monday, the CCTV news reported.
Following transaction delays during trading on September 27, the Shanghai Stock Exchange conducted a test on September 29 to ensure the platform's stability during peak order submission periods.
China's recent favorable policies including a cut in reserve requirement ratio and interest rates to support economic recovery have significantly boosted investor expectations. The recent stock rally has also increased the demands on trading systems.
On the last trading day before the week-long National Day holidays, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surged 8.06 percent to close at 3,336.50 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index jumped 10.67 percent to close at 10,529.76 points.
The Chinese stock markets are closed from October 1 to Monday.
Hong Kong's stock market continued to rise, with the Hang Seng Index increasing by 10.2 percent between September 30 and Friday.
Since the beginning of the fourth quarter, the overall market atmosphere has remarkably improved, Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po wrote in his blog on the official website of Hong Kong government on Sunday. The Hang Seng Index has risen to about two-and-a-half-year high, surging a total of 5,600 points over the past 15 trading days, or around 33 percent.
From the beginning of September to Friday, the daily turnover in the Hong Kong stock market reached about HK$192 billion ($24.72 billion), double the level recorded in August, according to official data, he wrote.
Due to a recent surge in securities account openings driven by market trends, the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (CSDC) opened its account platform and identity verification system on Sunday, a day earlier than scheduled, to manage the high volume of account reviews, according to media reports.
"Given the strong stock market performance in Hong Kong, the upward momentum may continue and A-share will likely open higher on the first trading day after the National Day holidays," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, said to the Global Times.
Recently, the country's central bank, top securities regulator and financial regulator have announced a raft of monetary stimulus, property market support and capital market strengthening measures to foster the country's high-quality economic development. "The strength and timing of this round of policy rollouts exceed the expectations of both domestic and global investors," Yang said.
Wang Zonghao, head of China equity strategy research at UBS, said in a note sent to the media that he believes the short-term momentum of A-shares will likely continue until mid-October. "Historically speaking, Chinese stocks tend to perform better in October, showing a 1.5 percentage point increase compared to the monthly average," he said.
UBS announced an upward revision of the year-end target price for the MSCI China Index to $70, reflecting improvements in policy coordination, US rate cuts, and progress in corporate governance reforms.
A wave of capital that previously left Chinese equities for stocks in Japan and Southeast Asia is poised to reverse as investors rush to catch the rally, Bloomberg reported, citing market watchers.
China's largest and most advanced coal-to-liquid (CTL) project, using domestically developed second-generation technology, broke ground on Tuesday in Hami, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to CHN Energy Investment Group (CHN Energy).
The total investment in the project is approximately 170 billion yuan ($23.29 billion). Once operational, the project will produce 4 million tons of CTL products annually, including 3.2 million tons from direct liquefaction and 800,000 tons from indirect liquefaction.
The project combines coal mining, coal-to-oil conversion, coal chemicals, renewable energy, and new materials production. It features the world's first second-generation CTL technology and is the first coal-to-oil project in Xinjiang.
The group likened the project to a large oilfield sitting atop a sea of coal. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, creating 5,500 direct jobs, nearly 30,000 indirect jobs, and generating an annual industrial output of 31.4 billion yuan, greatly enhancing local industrial growth, said Zhou Xin, site manager at CHN Energy's Xinjiang Hami branch, the CCTV reported.
"The project taps into Hami's coal and renewable energy resources to build a national coal-to-oil and gas strategic base, boosting efficient coal use and strengthening Xinjiang region's role in China's energy security," Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
It represents a significant milestone in advancing China's energy transition and strategic security, according to the group.
CTL usually operates via two main methods: direct and indirect. In 2008, the world's first million-ton direct CTL plant was launched in Ordos, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, making China the sole holder of the advanced technology. The second-generation technology, which was developed through process improvements, will be used in the new 4-million-ton-per-year CTL project.
Given China's limited oil and gas reserves and abundant coal reserve, if carbon emissions can be managed, such as through enhanced carbon capture technology, the coal liquefaction project holds great potential and is a promising initiative for the future, Lin said.
On September 29, China held a high-profile ceremony to bestow its highest state honors in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Among these honorees, who stand as shining symbols of national and contemporary spirit, were Wang Yongzhi, a visionary rocket expert and pioneer of China's manned space program, who posthumously received the prestigious Medal of the Republic, and Xu Zhenchao, a technician awarded the national honorary title of "People's Craftsman."
"A great era calls for heroes and fosters heroes. A galaxy of heroes emerging generation after generation will ensure the lasting success of the Party and the people's cause," Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addressed at the presentation ceremony of the national medals and honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
From bustling container terminals to state-of-the-art satellite launch sites, various sectors have cultivated exceptional talent, driving Chinese modernization forward.
As China makes remarkable strides in technological development, a question arises: who is answering the call for a stronger technological nation, and why?
The stories of Wang and Xu may provide some insights. One is a visionary scientist in the high-tech sector, gazing toward the stars, while the other is a dedicated front-line worker, grounded in the realities of hands-on labor. As the country prioritizes technological innovation and talent cultivation, they inspire the younger generation to embrace their responsibilities in this transformative era and pursue the dream of establishing the nation as a world leader in science and technology.
Reaching for the star During the National Day holidays, some 400 kilometers above the Earth, the crew of Shenzhou-18 at the Tiangong space station are engaging in groundbreaking experimental projects.From their vantage point among the stars, they sent heartfelt birthday wishes to their motherland.
In Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, the 86-year-old Huang Chunping, former chief commander of China's manned space program rocket system, expressed his excitement with the Global Times about hearing the accolades emanating from the Great Hall of the People and inspiring news from China's space station.
Chinese scientists, backed by national support, who dare to explore and break through technological bottlenecks, deserve the honor, Huang said firmly and proudly.
Wang's recognition prompted Huang to reflect on his 60 years of devotion in China's space sector. "Every advancement in cutting-edge technology is deeply valued by our country and the people," Wang noted.
Having collaborated closely on missile development and the Chinese manned space program, Huang regards Wang as his most respected mentor, who embodied a forward-thinking vision, clear thinking, and unwavering loyalty to his motherland.
He shared with the Global Times that one of Wang's mottoes is "the needs of the nation are our ideals."
Inspired by a sense of duty, Wang pursued the study of aircraft, missiles, and rockets to contribute to his country's progress. In 1992, he became the chief designer of China's manned space program, facing the challenge of catching up to 40 years of foreign advancements in manned spaceflight. Over the next 11 years, Wang and his team overcame numerous technical hurdles. The successful Shenzhou-5 mission in October 2003 marked China's first entry into space.
"While some Western researchers often work under contract, Chinese scientists view their efforts as a 'national mission.' We firmly believe that our country needs us," Wang said.
In Wang's home, several stacks of old notebooks filled his bookshelf. These notebooks, filled with densely written records about space exploration, are a collection that spans more than six decades of his work.
From these yellowed pages emerged China's proud achievements, such as the Dongfeng (DF) missile series, the Long March rocket series, and China's manned space missions, all of which have garnered increasing global attention.
Huang attributed these technological advancements to a "mutual commitment" between policymakers and scientists. In China, major advancements in national defense and space exploration are prioritized as key projects by the Party and the central government, fostering concentrated efforts for breakthroughs. This commitment empowers Chinese scientists to take bold decisions when faced with significant challenges.
Despite limitations in launch capabilities and engineering experience, China remained committed to its ambitions. Wang Yanan, chief editor ofAerospace Knowledgemagazine, remarked that this perseverance reflects both wise strategic decisions and the resilience of the Chinese people, coupled with a deep respect for technological progress.
Down to the earth As the sun rises above the horizon, casting a golden hue over the bustling Qingdao Porti n East China's Shandong Province, the air buzzed with the sounds of towering cranes and the ambitions of port workers. During the National Day holidays, over 4,000 technicians worked to optimize operations, enhancing the berthing and loading efficiency for nearly 100 large cargo vessels from around the globe. With a sense of joy in refreshing operational efficiency, port workers at the fifth largest port in the world shared their commitment with Global Times reporters during this traditionally busy holiday season.
For their idol, Xu, no matter how many world records he breaks or accolades he receives, his proudest identity remains that of "a qualified dockworker.
Recalling his first day of working in Qingdao Port in 1974, Xu still could remember clearly his original aspiration: "Work hard and be a good worker."
Now, 50 years later, as he received recognition from the Chinese top leader, with heartfelt sincerity, Xu assured the president that he would always stay true to the mission and continue nurturing a new generation of innovative technicians.
Xu was honored with a title that marks a historic milestone: he is the first technician in China to receive the national honor of "People's Craftsman."
"This recognition underscores the value of the technical workers in our country, and I am proud to be part of the workforce," Xu told the Global Times.
Xu's journey from an ordinary dockworker with a middle school education to a leader in the modern industrial workforce highlights the essence of a "knowledge and innovation-driven" nation in pursuit of advancements in science and technology.
In 1984, at the age of 34, Xu became one of the first container crane operators at Qingdao Port, a crucial role that directly impacted shipping costs. During the 1980s and 1990s, Qingdao Port grappled with low operational efficiency, drawing criticism from foreign customers who complained that prolonged stay times were driving up their costs.
Xu recalled that in the past, when imported equipment broke down, everyone had been accustomed to waiting for highly-paid foreign experts to come and fix it. During repairing, these experts would lock the doors to prevent port workers from learning their technologies. When some Chinese workers argued, these foreign specialists would assert, "Even if we were willing to teach, Chinese workers wouldn't be able to understand."
Determined to reverse this constrained predicament, Xu committed himself to studying the structure and principles of crane operation, and practicing his operational skills to boost work efficiency.
On April 27, 2003, his team set a world record by unloading 339 containers per hour, a feat dubbed "Zhenchao Efficiency." Since then, they have broken the container unloading world record nine more times.
In 2011, the "Xu Zhenchao Skills Master Studio" was established in the port. Under his leadership, in recent years, the team has filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects. They notably converted container tire cranes from oil to electric power, addressing a significant industry gap, and achieved zero emissions at the port, setting a global benchmark.
At 74, Xu is still committed to cultivating young talents in the process of intelligent construction of the traditional container terminal at Qingdao Port.
Xu always eagerly anticipates the annual skills competition, viewing it as a vital platform for identifying talent and motivating workers to enhance their skills. He takes pride in the improved educational backgrounds of recent participants, many of whom have surpassed the records of their predecessors.
"They are as determined to excel as I was in my time," he noted." In this new era of rapid technological advancement, the opportunities available to tech talent to showcase their skills are expanding significantly."
By 2023, eight of the world's 10 busiest ports were in China, underscoring the nation's commitment to excellence in logistics and technology.
A broader and brighter journey Profiling distinguished Chinese scientists and technologists like Xu, Huang, and Wang reveals a common thread: their destinies are intertwined with that of their nation, marked by a relentless pursuit of self-reliance and resilience.
At the founding of the People's Republic of China, the nation had fewer than 50,000 scientific and technological personnel, with only about 600 focused on research. Today, China boasts the largest number of full-time research and development (R&D) personnel globally, along with the most comprehensive academic system and talent pool.
China has also made major headway in establishing a system of national laboratories and achieved fruitful results in developing core technologies in key fields. Substantial progress was made in the R&D of high-end equipment, such as aircraft engines, gas turbines, and 4th-generation nuclear power units. A stream of innovations emerged in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology. These achievements have further enhanced the country's capacity for innovation-driven development.
In July, China announced plans to deepen reforms in its scientific and technological system during the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party. The strategy emphasizes education, talent, and innovation as essential for modernization, aiming to enhance resource mobilization for technological breakthroughs and integrate reforms across education, science, and human resources.
In Xu's studio, a down-to-earth yet inspiring message he penned captures the sentiments of countless Chinese workers: "Nation-building requires talent from all walks of life; it depends not only on scientists, but also on skilled workers. As a worker, you must master your craft, for you too can contribute to the nation."
From a young age, Xu has dreamed of becoming a scientist, drawn to astronomy and physics. Yet he and his colleagues have found profound fulfillment in their current roles, rivaling that of scientists.
"Workers are the builders of our nation, transforming scientists' grand visions into tangible realities. Whether scientists or workers, we are all making every effort to contribute to the country's goal of becoming a world leader in science and technology," Xu said.
In one of the northern exhibition halls of the National Museum of China, a sculpture of a gargoyle, which was originally designed as a foremost part of the rainwater drainage system of Paris' famed Notre Dame cathedral, sits silently among orderly arranged devices, ready to accompany visitors on a journey between the past and the present, the virtual and the real.
With Notre Dame cathedral about to complete its restoration and reopen to the public in December after a massive fire, an immersive augmented reality (AR) exhibition depicting the cathedral's history of construction, destruction and reconstruction will kick off at the National Museum of China on Thursday.
The exhibition, jointly held by the museum and the Public Establishment in Charge of the Conservation and Restoration of Notre Dame de Paris and sponsored by the L'oreal Group, is also part of celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.
Although this is a touring exhibition, the unique part of the stop at the National Museum of China is four original sculptures embellishing the cathedral and reflecting the mid-19th century taste for symbols and a fantasy Middle Ages, including a gargoyle, a chimera and a plant-covered human figure. The Chinese curatorial team of the National Museum put forward the idea of adding real cultural relics to the AR exhibition to enhance immersion and successfully reached an agreement with the French side.
"We would like to relate the history of the Notre Dame de Paris, a shared cultural legacy of the whole world with a novel digital method that has been approved and appreciated by younger generations," Zhu Xiaoyun, director of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Museum of China and the Chinese curator of the exhibition, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Zhu noted that the exhibition, a result of China-France cultural cooperation, interprets the meaning of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations very well.
"Mutual learning refers to learning from each other's advantages. What the exhibition showcases regarding how a cultural legacy with a history of more than 800 years has been revived from fatal destruction provide us new insight into the museum's duty to conserve immovable cultural legacies," Zhu noted.
Stepping into the exhibition hall, visitors can use a provided tablet computer to travel across the ocean and through time to see the world of Notre Dame. There are over 20 cylinder-shaped tables set in the hall with a QR code pasted on each one. When scanning these codes with a tablet, a portion of a painting depicting the cathedral at different eras unfolds so that visitors can see the many details of its history, such as how its Gothic ceiling was built.
Building a private conversation with the cathedral throughout the exhibition, visitors can explore the secrets of its Gothic architecture, including its religious background and historical changes, in the virtual world by clicking the buttons on the screen. According to the curator, the information about the cathedral is so vast that it would take at least four hours to finish scrolling through the entire content on the tablet.
Four original fragments of the building are arranged among these devices, allowing visitors to shuttle between the virtual and real worlds and get closer to the essence of French culture.
"This was just a digital exhibition at the beginning in which we used new technology to introduce something that the public doesn't know very well. Now we also have real artifacts. This is important because we are using all these elements to recreate reality and to provide more information," Gergely László, director of operations and quality of French tech company Histovery and also the French curator of the exhibition, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Zhu said that cultural institutions in China and France have jointly launched a series of events to celebrate 2024's special anniversary and promote people-to-people exchanges. This year, the cultural symbol that is Notre Dame will be a messenger for this celebration.
The exhibition will travel to Hong Kong after the Beijing leg.
From exquisite craftsmanship to traditional medicine, and from solemn rituals to vibrant folk art, intangible cultural heritages weave a rich tapestry of Chinese identity, decorating the various facets of contemporary Chinese people's lives.
In this series, the Global Times culture desk will walk readers through China's most renowned traditions. For centuries, the essential elements of Chinese intangible cultural heritage have been passed down from master to apprentice, from generation to generation. Today, the ancestral wisdom is being reinvigorated by a new generation of inheritors with creativity. On the surface of a brown-black ebony fan, numerous patterns of golden osmanthus flowers and an ancient pagoda were intricately carved, showcasing the fan's unique Chinese aesthetics.
This fan is a "national gift" presented by the fan-making brand Wangxingji at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. At a national banquet prior to the event, a demonstration of the making of Wangxingji's fans was held in front of numerous international guests and foreign heads of state, who expressed great appreciation for the art. Produced through 86 handcrafting processes, the "black paper fan" is also the most iconic product of Wangxingji, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) brand that has showcased China's fan-making artistry since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Unlike many other fan products, the water-resistant black fans decorated with Chinese poetry inscriptions represent the wisdom of Chinese craftsmanship and literati spirits while exhibiting a demure aesthetic taste. Traditional Wangxingji black fans are an optimal way for the public to engage with the 150-year-old local history and appreciate the continuous integration of modern elements in its designs.
Benchmark for ancient fansFans made of materials such as sandalwood and silk are part of Wangxingji's diverse products. Nowadays, the company has created 19 different kinds of fans and more than 10,000 types of decorative fan patterns. "Every single one of our products is still handmade," revealed the company's director Sun Yaqing, adding that their "handcrafted tradition in the mechanized age" is what has made their ICH legacy most valuable.
Sun is not only the brand's leader, but also the ICH inheritor of a fan-making technique called "la hua." It refers to using thin steel wires to carve intricate patterns on fans. Wangxingji's fan-making techniques are a time-honored tradition dating back to 1875, when the brand was first established in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.
Around that time, Wang Xingzhai, the founder of the brand, created a "color painted black fan" with his wife. The piece was unique and set a clear benchmark for ancient Chinese fan-making industry.
"The whole black fan was evenly covered with a sort of glittery paint made from gold. The paint's nuanced color differences were the result of the gold's different degrees of purity. The fan's skeleton was decorated with colorful snail shells too," Wang Siyi, the deputy manager of the cultural and creative department of Wangxingji, told the Global Times.
In ancient time, artifacts such as Wangxingji's finely made fans were often given by the Chinese royals as gift to overseas guests. Liu Jiao, an insider of the Chinese arts and crafts history, told the Global Times that although it is small, a Chinese fan can "embody the country's aesthetic spirit and cultural narratives."
Wangxingji's fans often showcase visual imagery inspired by traditional Taoist philosophy. One striking example is a black fan featuring the literary classic "Four Books and Five Classics." This fan boasts an astonishing aesthetic, featuring the text inscribed in 120,000 Chinese characters, each measuring just one millimeter. "Nowadays, fans are not only a useful everyday tool. They are cultural objects that display one's aesthetic and invite people overseas to notice the depth and diversity of Chinese folk culture," Sun told the Global Times. Keeping up with times
The success of Wangxingji on the global stage has not slowed down its momentum. It has always been Sun's motto that "If the fan does not connect with people, then it is not an ICH legacy." This philosophy drives her to explore innovative ways to keep the Wangxingji fan relevant and "in-trend."
In 2010, Wangxingji established a cultural and creative park that includes facilities like a museum, workshops and also a section dedicated to cross-field cultural products. A notable example of their innovation came during the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, during which Wangxingji launched a fan collection by collaborating with the event organizers.
Wang Suxian, the manager of the cultural and creative department of Wangxingji, told the Global Times that such presentations are aimed to attract young consumers. In order to promote the brand, the Wangxingji team has also tried to expand its scope of creative design sharing both online and in people daily lives.
The Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia's first international comprehensive esports competition, was launched in Shanghai on Tuesday. Wang Xinyang, co-founder and executive director of VSPO, noted that the tournament will consolidate the relatively fragmented esports system in Asia, with esports expected to become more standardized and internationalized in the near future.
"Asia is by far, when you talk about esports, the strongest region in the world. With the ACL, to be able to bring and unite all these players together under one tournament is truly fantastic," Honorary Chairman of the ACL and Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan told the Global Times.
Vice President of the International Olympic Committee Ng Ser Miang, along with esports players from around the world, participated in this summit to discuss the further maturation and development of the esports ecosystem in China and across Asia, while also preparing for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
Shaping future of esports
In July 2024, China initiated the establishment of an esports working group within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), with the VSPO leading the creation of new international standards for esports. The hosting of the ACL tournament signifies that the VSPO will also begin setting benchmarks for future cloud-based, immersive virtual sports events.
The inaugural ACL tournament plans to set up "Skyring" esports arenas in several core countries and regions across Asia, once again creating a high-precision, cross-regional, and transformative XR gaming competition zone. This will provide an unprecedented level of immersion and interactivity for viewers, marking a new milestone in the esports experience.
Zeng Zhuowei, the reigning Street Fighter 6 World Champion, stressed the importance of both mass participation and professional care in the esports industry, noting that both are indispensable.
"Looking back at my first time competing abroad, since I was playing multiple events, I had very short breaks in between. I was so exhausted that I even fell asleep standing up. In such situations, it's really hard to maintain peak performance. So, a tournament that ensures a great fan experience while also giving players ample rest time would be the ideal format," he said.
To stay true to the grassroots nature of esports while ensuring professional players get enough rest, the ACL tournament offers various types of open qualifiers, providing opportunities for non-professional players. Through a rigorous selection process, it has created a dedicated path for talented "grassroots" players to rise through the ranks.
"As esports become a widely recognized form of sport, thanks to their success at the Asian Games, the Olympic Esports Week, and the Esports World Cup, we believe that international multi-title esports tournaments represent the future of the industry, and the ACL marks a commitment to that future," Ying Dino, founder of the VSPO, told the Global Times.
Ying also noted that the hosting of top-tier esports events, particularly the Olympic Esports Games, will be a milestone event for the industry, significantly enhancing the global integration of esports resources. China power
The diversification and globalization of esports have been further accelerated by the emergence of domestically produced AAA games like Black Myth: Wukong, elevating the status of Chinese games on the international stage and boosting the development and cooperation of the global esports market.
"I don't think Black Myth: Wukong represents the beginning of a new era for Chinese games, as Chinese games have long held an important position on the world stage. The arrival of Black Myth: Wukong further proves the strength of Chinese games and the country's ability to export culture," Faisal noted.
Whether it's traditional games like Black Myth: Wukong or the booming development of esports, both demonstrate that China's gaming industry is steadily increasing its global influence and competitiveness.
Esports have been officially recognized as the 99th sports category in China. In the first half of 2024, China's esports industry achieved a total revenue of 12 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), an increase of 4.43 percent year-on-year. The actual sales revenue of China's esports gaming market reached 69.143 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 7.24 percent. China firmly holds the position as the world's largest esports market in terms of production scale, the number of users, and growth rate.
"The inclusion of esports as a profession has not only promoted professionalization and standardization, but also led to the establishment of related majors in several universities to meet future market demand," a gaming expert and Hearthstone competitive player ranked in the top 100 in China surnamed Luo, told the Global Times.
"Chinese government has provided strong support to the esports industry, with a series of policy documents highlighting its crucial role in new consumption and economic growth," he added.
The upcoming basketball season marks the 30th anniversary of the top-tier league. To further invigorate the season , the governing body,the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), introduced a new competition the CBA Club Cup to be added during international breaks in the season.
This new competition arrives at a time when China's national basketball scene is seeking to rebuild its credibility and strength on the international stage, especially following the disappointing performance of the Chinese men's national basketball team.
While the national team now faces a dry spell without major international competitions until the 2027 FIBA World Cup, the CBA's decision to launch the Club Cup represents a crucial step in providing local players with increased opportunities to develop under competitive conditions.
The Club Cup's structure offers a refreshing departure from the standard home-and-away format of the CBA league, instead adopting a tournament-style competition during two designated international break windows: November 2024 and February 2025.
As senior players are likely to prefer a break at such times, the Club Cup competition is a pivotal moment particularly for young and homegrown players.
Many of these athletes might otherwise spend large parts of the regular season warming the bench, only get on the court when a starting player is injured or suspended. In this new competition, the younger players will have a stage to showcase their skills more frequently, allowing them more opportunities to hone their skills and grow.
More significantly, the Club Cup will adopt FIBA's 10-minute quarters, which aligns with international standards and provides domestic players with an invaluable learning experience different from the league's 12-minute quarters.
The additional 48 games that the Club Cup brings to the CBA schedule will not only serve as a proving ground for emerging talent but could also rejuvenate the spirit of a league that has faced challenges in recent years.
From a financial perspective, the nearly 10 million-yuan ($1.42 million) prize pool is an enticing incentive for CBA clubs, some of which have been struggling financially. Thanks to CBA's long-time partners such as TCL, the prize money could be a lifeline for these teams, pushing them to invest more seriously in their younger talents in the tournament.
For the league as a whole, this influx of money into the competition could fuel greater excitement and fan engagement, breathing new life into the sport.
The ultimate goal of the CBA Club Cup, however, goes beyond financial incentives or temporary relief for struggling clubs. It is about building a pipeline for young players who can one day elevate Chinese basketball to new heights.
China is still searching for its next generation of basketball stars, and the Club Cup could be the platform that produces them.
Rising talent Cui Yongxi who recently joined NBA franchise the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year two-way contract, has shown that with the right support and opportunities, young Chinese players can make significant strides, as that's what the fans are expecting the Club Cup could offer.
Recently, the 45,000-square-meter rooftop solar photovoltaic power station of Zhejiang Mingde Precision Machinery Co Ltd, located in the Deqing Economic and Technological Development Zone in East China's Zhejiang Province, was connected to the grid for power generation.
This rooftop photovoltaic power station has a total installed capacity of 5.7 megawatts, capable of generating over 5.3 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 4,400 tons and generating revenue of 3.7 million yuan ($507,000) for the enterprise.
According to reports, Zhejiang Mingde Precision Machinery Co Ltd manufactures machinery and equipment components with a complete industrial chain of "casting + machining + product assembly."
During visits, staff from State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company discovered that a large portion of the company's factory roof remained undeveloped. They utilized the "Photovoltaic Sky Eye" platform to calculate the available area for rooftop photovoltaics, assess the potential of photovoltaic resources, and promote rooftop photovoltaic development for the enterprise.
In March this year, State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company fully leveraged its resources to support project advancement. They established a "Power Service Express" that provided one-stop services for business consultation and technical guidance throughout the process, from project application acceptance and access scheme formulation to construction design review and grid-connected acceptance and commissioning. The project was completed within six months, demonstrating the "acceleration" of power supply services.
Since the start of this year, State Grid Huzhou Electric Power Supply Company has focused on building the "greenest" energy consumption system. Together with government departments in Deqing county, it established the country's first county-level energy green transformation and development center to promote technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and new models in the energy sector.
The local power supply company has signed aggregation agreements for 420,000 kW of photovoltaic resources on the virtual power plant platform, with all energy storage users.
It has continued to develop the "observable, measurable, adjustable, and controllable" functions of distributed photovoltaics, enabling all 52 distributed photovoltaic dispatching terminals in Deqing county to be observable and measurable, with the total installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation reaching 201,200 kWh.
"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.
