Media and experts on the island of Taiwan have taken interest in a recent report by foreign news outlet Naval News claiming that the Chinese mainland is “suddenly building a fleet of special barges suitable for Taiwan landings.” The barges may enable the Chinese mainland to conduct landings at previously unsuitable sites and complicate the island’s defense strategies, Naval News speculated.
Naval News first reported on Friday that a number of specialized barges, at least three, but likely five or more, have been observed in Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China. These have unusually long road bridges extending from their bows.
Each barge has a very long road span which is extended out from the front. At over 120 meters this can be used to reach a coastal road or hard surface beyond a beach. At the aft end is an open platform which allows other ships to dock and unload, Naval News said.
The report noted that only a few beaches on Taiwan’s main island are suitable for amphibious landings, and these could be heavily defended. But these new barges change that, as they can land across rocky, or soft, beaches, allowing tanks to be delivered directly to firmer ground or coastal roads.
While Naval News mentioned the possibility that the barges could have a civilian role, it claimed they appear greatly over-spec for civilians uses.
The Chinese mainland has made no official announcements about the alleged barges as of press time.
Media on the island of Taiwan, including the Central News Agency and United Daily News, made coverages on the alleged barges late on Saturday. The title of the Central News Agency’s report focused on the barges’ capability to have tanks directly land on roads on the island of Taiwan, while United Daily News noted that the Naval News report was discussed by military experts on the island.
Lu Li-shih, a former captain of the Ching Chiang-class patrol corvette of the island of Taiwan, said that the new landing vessels can save the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) time in clearing obstacles on the beaches set by Taiwan’s armed forces, United Daily News reported. The report also quoted an anonymous retired officer as saying that these barges are not useful, because they would need to sail across the Taiwan Straits under the targeting of the island of Taiwan’s missiles and drones.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese mainland military expert, said the alleged barges, if turn out to be true, could be of civilian purposes. He told the Global Times on Sunday that such barges could be particularly useful in disaster relief missions, as they can quickly send supplies to land or quickly evacuate personnel.
If the barges indeed have military use, Fu pointed out that the Chinese mainland has an increasing variety of vessels for amphibious landing, with the PLA equipped with diverse options to address the Taiwan question when it comes to that.
“Resisting reunification by force” is a dead end, Fu said. The media hype has exposed a sense of anxiety regarding the PLA’s growing ability to address challenges in amphibious operations. Rather than speculating on the military purpose of these alleged barges, the focus should shift to making concrete efforts to promote a peaceful reunification, he said.
In response to a media inquiry on whether China is considering providing specific assistance to the people suffering from the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that severe wildfires occurred recently in Los Angeles area of the US, we express our condolences to the victims and extend our sympathies to the injured and the families of those affected.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday called the US' so-called forced labor accusation "completely unfounded," and reiterated that China will take resolute measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate and lawful rights and interests after the US Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday it is adding 37 Chinese entities to its list of those banned from exporting to the US over so-called Xinjiang forced labor practices.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced in a release published on its website on Tuesday the addition of 37 entities to its so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List over alleged "forced labor" practices in China's Xinjiang region, "marking the largest single expansion of the list to date."
Regarding the report, at a regular press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the US chooses to enact and enforce the malicious legislation on Xinjiang and blacklist Chinese entities on the basis of false narratives. The move is designed to interfere in China's internal affairs, harm China's interests and hold back China's development.
"We will take resolute measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate and lawful rights and interests," Guo said.
The companies include Huafu Fashion Co, one of the world's largest textile manufacturers, and 25 of its subsidiaries, according to Reuters.
The newly listed companies also include Donghai JA Solar Technology Co, which develops solar-energy products with polysilicon made in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Hongyuan Green Energy Co, which sources polysilicon from the region, according to the department. Zijin Mining Group Co and three of its subsidiaries, which source and extract zinc, copper and other metals from the region, are among the mining companies.
The latest additions bring the total number of companies on the list to 144 since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed into law in December 2021, Reuters reported. The US restrictions on these industries only reflect its failure to make its own green energy transition, rather than posing a real threat to China, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Such an approach will not only fail to stop China's development, but it will add more negative factors to China-US relations, Lü said.
South Korea's political turmoil continued to escalate on Monday, as South Korea's investigating authorities requested an extension of a warrant to arrest the country's impeached president, Yoon Suk-yeol.
Meanwhile, the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Seoul further complicates the situation. Representing the outgoing Biden administration, Blinken's visit aims to gain a deeper understanding of South Korea's complex and delicate political landscape, and show support for the pro-US factions within the South Korean government, experts said.
The Corruption Investigation for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), South Korean anti-corruption body, has refiled the warrant at the Seoul Western District Court to extend the deadline for the warrant to detain Yoon, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday.
On Friday the CIO had failed again to serve an arrest warrant on Yoon over his declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024 after presidential security service guards formed a human chain to prevent access to him.
The arrest warrant, the first for a sitting president, was due to expire at midnight on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Yonhap reported that South Korean state anti-corruption agency has asked the police to take over the execution of a warrant to detain Yoon.
"The CIO sent us an official letter requesting our cooperation without prior consultations," a police official told Yonhap News Agency. "We are internally carrying out a legal review."
Yonhap later on Monday said the state anti-corruption agency's letter asking police to execute a warrant to detain Yoon contains legal issues, police said Monday, effectively rejecting the request.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea on Saturday advised Chinese nationals residing in South Korea and Chinese tourists visiting the country to enhance their legal awareness and self-protection, according to a statement released on the embassy's WeChat account on Saturday.
The embassy asked them to stay away from local political gatherings and crowded areas, refrain from making public political statements, keep informed about traffic control caused by gatherings, and prioritize personal safety and travel security.
Park Jong-joon, chief of South Korea's presidential security service, on Sunday vowed to keep blocking the attempt to arrest Yoon, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Around 30 South Korean ruling party lawmakers gathered near the presidential residence to rally against investigators' efforts to detain Yoon on Monday, according to local media.
US weighing on ally
Also on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Seoul for talks on their countries' bilateral alliance and other issues, officials said, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Blinken on Monday said South Korea-US relations are "bigger than any one leader, any one government." And Cho said South Korea and US reaffirmed no vacuum in their bilateral alliance, said South Korean Foreign Minister Cho, per Yonhap.
Blinken's visit marked the first trip by a top US official since Yoon's impeachment. Blinken arrived in South Korea late Sunday, Yonhap said.
Yoon's surprise martial law imposition sparked concerns it could undermine the alliance with Washington, especially ahead of the launch of the second Donald Trump administration, Yonhap said.
Blinken is on a three-nation tour this week, with planned stops in Japan and France. The trip is widely expected to be his final overseas visit as the top US diplomat under the Biden administration.
Blinken on Monday reaffirmed the US' complete confidence in the strength of South Korea's democracy and the leadership of acting President Choi Sang-mok, according to South Korean finance ministry.
In response, Choi expressed gratitude for Washington's steadfast support and trust in South Korea's democracy and alliance. He further noted that Blinken's visit itself is a testament to the unwavering strength of the South Korea-US alliance.
Blinken's visit to South Korea and Japan during the US political transition period is aimed at consolidating what the Biden administration sees as one of its most commendable political legacies - the strengthening of the US-Japan-South Korea trilateral alliance to counter and contain China, according to Lü Chao, an expert on the East Asian studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.
Amid domestic unrest in South Korea, Blinken's visit seeks to encourage political stability within the country. At the same time, as Japan's new leadership shows a relatively more friendly and pragmatic attitude toward China, maintaining such trilateral alliance becomes crucial. Through this visit, Blinken aims to reassure both South Korea and Japan, preventing their complex historical and diplomatic issues from undermining the trilateral alliance, thereby ensuring the stability of the alliance strategy, Lü said.
Also, by being physically present in Seoul at the moment, Blinken's visit, although he carefully avoided mentioning or explicitly endorsing the impeached president, provided support to the extreme pro-US factions within South Korea, Lü told the Global Times on Monday.
In South Korea, which is in the midst of political turmoil following the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japan, Blinken intends to highlight the expansion of US cooperation with both nations as part of the Biden administration's "Indo-Pacific strategy," AP reported on Saturday.
Blinken is not scheduled to meet Yoon. Blinken is expected to steer clear of taking partisan sides in the deeply divided country but instead will focus on policy continuity, the AFP reported Sunday.
The turmoil and lack of a clear leader in Asia's fourth-largest economy comes just as the US is in the midst of its own political transition. While Biden has focused on nurturing US alliances, President-elect Donald Trump, who takes over on January 20, has been dismissive of what he sees as unfair commitments by the US, the AFP said.
Trump said during his latest presidential run that if he were in power he would have strong-armed South Korea into paying $10 billion a year for the presence of US troops, nearly 10 times what it contributes now.
Blinken's visit aims to assess the situation and conduct field research to gain a deeper understanding of South Korea's complex and delicate political landscape, and to accurately gauge the key issues at play, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
Blinken seeks to demonstrate support for the pro-US factions within the South Korean government. He also seeks to influence forces in South Korea that strive for diplomatic balance, so as to prevent drastic swings in South Korea's current policies, Li noted.
As a representative of the Biden administration, Blinken hoped that South Korea and Japan could closely coordinate to serve the US need for strategic competition with China. However, the reality is that the legacy of strengthening South Korea-Japan cooperation left by the Biden administration may gradually unravel with the return of Trump administration, he said.
Some politicians in South Korea's conservative ruling party are reportedly hyping Chinese involvement in political activities. While political turmoil is set to prolong in South Korea, dragging China into its domestic battles is viewed as an unwise move, said a Chinese analyst, noting that the move is to shift attention away from President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment.
South Korea's ruling party is "facing allegations of stoking anti-Chinese sentiment in an effort to shield impeached President Yoon" from punishment and two lawmakers from Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) "sparked controversy" by claiming that Chinese residents in South Korea were openly supporting rallies calling for Yoon's impeachment, South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday.
"Chinese people are at the forefront everywhere, supporting impeachment," PPP lawmaker Kim Min-jeon said at a pro-Yoon rally near the president's residence last week. Another PPP lawmaker, Yoo Sang-bum, wrote on Facebook that Chinese nationals were "heavily participating" in pro-impeachment rallies, according to South China Morning Post.
South Korean media Hankyoreh also reported Kim's remarks on the rally on Monday.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea on Saturday released a notice, reminding Chinese nationals residing in South Korea and Chinese tourists visiting the country to stay away from local political gatherings and crowded areas, refrain from making public political statements, keep informed about traffic control caused by gatherings, and prioritize personal safety and travel security, according to a statement released on the embassy's WeChat account.
Some politicians from the ruling party are inflating Chinese involvement to deflect domestic attention and pressure from President Yoon's impeachment, a tactic that is not surprising given that some PPP conservative politicians have historically aligned with the US and Western countries in promoting negative narratives about China, Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.
Xiang noted that the Chinese community in South Korea is sizable, and the protest culture in South Korea sometimes looks more cultural rather than confrontational. Some Chinese nationals may participate in such events out of curiosity. The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has reminded Chinese nationals, reflecting the clear stance on the issue.
Xiang said political turmoil in South Korea is likely to prolong, with no resolution in sight in short term. While ongoing conflicts between political factions will continue, creating instability and uncertainty, dragging China into domestic political battles at this time is not a wise move.
The impeached President Yoon made a televised address in December, in which he mentioned cases involving Chinese nationals in South Korea and also claimed that "Chinese solar power facilities will destroy forests nationwide." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China absolutely opposes the South Korean associating its domestic affairs with Chinese elements, calling the comment deeply upsetting.
After Chinese actor Wang Xing went missing and was later rescued in an area near the Thailand-Myanmar border, Thai officials and media have expressed concern about the possible impact on the country's tourism industry.
A member of staff from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) told the Global Times on Wednesday that they have attached importance to the incident related to Wang and are closely monitoring news developments and discussions on Chinese social media platforms, while assessing whether it may affect tourists' travel passion, especially during the Chinese New Year period which falls from January 28 to February 4.
The employee emphasized that TAT will, as always, maintain close collaboration with the Tourist Police and other departments to do its utmost to ensure the safety of tourists traveling in Thailand.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Tuesday that she welcomed the news of the Chinese actor's safe return, and the government was handling the issue carefully to prevent any negative impact on tourism, according to the Bangkok Post.
In response to concerns about insecurity in Thailand on social media, Shinawatra said the situation must be managed effectively and tasked the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to monitor and manage online narratives surrounding the incident, reported Thai media outlet Khaosod.
Bangkok Post reported that Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and South Pacific, said the TAT assigned its five offices in China to track news and discussions happening on Chinese social media.
Khaosod reported that the incident has become a crucial test of Thailand's ability to balance its tourism ambitions with the increasing security challenges along its borders.
On Sunday evening, a netizen named Jia Jia, who claims to be Wang's girlfriend, posted on Sina Weibo that Wang had been invited to Thailand for an audition, but contact was lost with him at the Thailand-Myanmar border on Friday.
The post sparked widespread discussion online on Monday and subsequently drew the attention of Chinese and Thai authorities.
On Tuesday evening, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand said on its official WeChat account that according to notifications from the Thai side, Wang was successfully rescued on Tuesday afternoon local time.
The Chinese Consulate General in Chiang Mai told the Global Times on Tuesday evening that Tak Immigration had met with Wang.
Wang was recognized as a victim of human trafficking after an initial inquiry, said Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, an inspector-general with the Royal Thai Police, on Wednesday, reported the Bangkok Post.
In a video released by The Beijing News, on the airplane to Bangkok after he was rescued, Wang revealed that some armed men pushed him into a car after he was taken across the border into Myanmar. He was then housed in a building where there were at least 50 other people, and was not allowed to leave, and there was another building with a lot of people from different countries. His head was forced to be shaved, as everyone else there, he added.
Pitaneelaboot said in accordance with relevant procedures, Thai staff from multiple departments will protect and take care of Wang, coordinate with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand to send Wang back to China when he and his relatives are ready. It is expected to take no more than one to two days, according to CCTV News.
Despite Wang's rescue, many Chinese netizens have expressed concern about the safety of traveling to Thailand. Thai tourist authorities announced they have a target of at least 8 million Chinese tourists this year after welcoming 6.73 million in 2024, according to the Bangkok Post.
Chen Hong, executive director of Asia Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that it is understandable that the government is worried about the tourism market, but at the same time it should consider how to make more efforts to protect the safety of Chinese tourists.
"Thailand and other Southeast Asian regions have always attracted many Chinese tourists with their beautiful scenery and culture. However, in recent years, increasing number of reports about scams and extortion on Chinese nationals who travel to Southeast Asian countries have had an impact on the region's image," Chen said.
"For some scam traps that exist, Thai tourism authorities can prompt tourists to be more vigilant by sending safety alerts to their phones," said Zhang Lingyun, a professor and executive editor-in-chief of Tourism Tribune, a tourism and hospitality academic journal in China.
"Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries need to attach great importance to police cooperation with China to jointly fight crime and ensure the safety of tourists. At the same time, Southeast Asian countries need to jointly take large-scale, long-term action to maintain regional security and stability and create a favorable tourism environment," Chen said.
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi on Wednesday revealed that she has been suffering from depression. On the same day, the agency representing Zhao expressed its support for Zhao in facing challenges but stressed it will not tolerate slander.
“We fully accept feedback and suggestions, and we sincerely reflect on our shortcomings and apologize for them,” the company, YinheKuyu Media, wrote on its Sina Weibo account. The company said that they sincerely hope that everyone will provide Zhao time and space, and await her return.
The company said that they are aligned with Zhao in planning her work schedule, and are striving to arrange and coordinate related work based on a full agreement.
But “we will not tolerate any baseless and malicious slander, and we sincerely apologize to those friends who have been unjustly harmed,” the company noted.
Some netizens commented under the agency’s Weibo account that the company should bear some responsibility for Zhao’s condition, triggering more discussions over the issue.
The 26-year-old young star’s physical conditions has triggered public concerns over the past few days with videos clips circulating online showing her walking unsteadily and failing to hold a spoon. Social media speculations have been circulating about her being hospitalized for aphasia, a disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and use a language.
In response, Zhao apologized for her appropriation of the public resources and revealed that she began experiencing feelings of depression in 2019 but she neglected them.
In the post on Wednesday, she reviewed the development of her illness.
In 2021, her psychological condition further developed into physical conditions including skin allergy. Despite of treatment, the symptoms didn’t go away, and she started to consult a psychologist to relieve the emotional stress.
In 2023, pneumonia, emphysema, pityriasis rosea, urticaria, night sweats, being startled awake, and sensorineural hearing loss occurred one after another, she revealed in the post. In addition, she was stricken by a slew of unfortunate events of her relatives, which resulted in her continuing neglecting her health conditions.
In 2024, she suffered noticeable physical symptoms such as frequent retching, dizziness, joint pains, neck pains, and worsening allergies. However, she still thought it was due to normal side effects caused by taking targeted allergy medication.
She said she did not want her illness to become a “publicity stunt.”
Depression is a disease and “it’s no longer something that can be resolved simply by ‘cheering up’ or ‘speaking out,’” she wrote on Sina Weibo, China’s X-like platform.
She reminded the public to understand mental illness and value psychological treatment.
In her post, she also disclosed her sufferings of slanders and the experience of being beaten by a teacher and later a company staffer.
Zhao is known for her roles in The Romance of Tiger and Rose, Dating in the Kitchen, The Long Ballad, and The Story of Pearl Girl.
China aims to transform its cities into livable, resilient and smart spaces through continuous urban renewal programs that enhance the urban landscape, improve residents' living conditions, and stimulate domestic demand.
A State Council executive meeting held on Friday, which analyzed urban renewal work, called for accelerated efforts to renovate old residential communities and urban villages.
It also emphasized the need to improve urban infrastructure, restore urban ecosystems, and preserve urban history and culture.
Chen Jie, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that China's urbanization rate has exceeded 66 percent, following a rapid and large-scale urbanization process over recent decades.
However, with the rapid advancement of urbanization, issues such as inadequate underground pipe networks and poor urban planning are becoming more prominent. Chen noted that the urban renewal programs are specifically designed to address these common challenges faced by cities.
The State Council meeting also called for increased efforts to attract more private capital into urban renewal initiatives, pledging support for innovative approaches tailored to local conditions to promote high-quality urban development.
Dong Yu, executive vice president of the China Development Planning and Research Institute at Tsinghua University, said that urban renewal projects present significant market potential, but due to their substantial capital requirements and long operating cycles, a sustainable model is needed, one in which the government provides guidance while private capital and the public participate in urban renewal efforts.
According to an official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the implementation of urban renewal projects must be grounded in thorough investigations and surveys. These efforts should address issues raised by the public and resolve problems that hinder a city's competitiveness or impact its sustainable development.
In 2025, China aims to complete the renovations of old urban residential communities that were built before 2000, complete the renovation of aging gas pipelines that have been identified, and eliminate fetid water bodies in county-level cities.
The country will also continue to renovate underground pipe networks and corridors, promote the classification of urban solid waste, and construct pocket parks and urban green corridors, according to the ministry.
Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) successfully ignited its independently developed 600-kilogram thrust-class high-end turbofan engine on Friday, according to a statement published by the company on its official WeChat account on Saturday.
This engine can operate at an altitude of 15,000 meters and a speed of Mach 0.8. It also feature capabilities such as long endurance, and high reliability. It is primarily intended for use in high-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other applications.
From initial design to manufacturing, assembly, and first successful ignition, the engine was completed in less than eight months. According to the plan, the engine is expected to make its first flight in June 2025, with final certification to be completed by 2026. This will significantly enhance China's capability in the 1.5 to 4-ton UAV category, according to the statement.
Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, attended the opening ceremony of the cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Thursday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
During the opening ceremony, Ma noted that the festival offers Taiwan youth a rare and valuable life experience. Despite the icy and snowy external environment, the exchanges between youth from both sides of the Taiwan Straits are warm and vibrant — a phenomenon we hope to see,Ma said.
Ma emphasized that such enthusiastic interactions can melt even the hardest ice and snow, deepening friendships and paving the way for a brighter future across the Straits, according to the report.
A delegation of young people from China's Taiwan island led by Ma is in Harbin for a nine-day cross-Straits youth exchange program running from December 18 to 26.
The cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival, scheduled to take place from December 18 to 24 in Harbin and other cities in Heilongjiang, is featuring a range of activities, including the screening and awarding of short videos created by young people from both sides of the Straits, alongside immersive winter sports experiences.
About 1,000 individuals from Taiwan, primarily young people, are expected to participate in the event, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Wang Ping-chung, a Taiwan political news commentator and former spokesperson of the New Party, told the Global Times that through exchanges between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, it is increasingly important for them to realize that people on both sides share a close kinship, and that the future of Taiwan is closely intertwined with the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Through Ma's visit, more people in Taiwan are expected to learn about the city of Harbin, and a wave of enthusiasm for ice and snow is expected to rise on the island in the future, Wang said.
Apart from attending the opening ceremony of the cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival, the delegation led by Ma visited Harbin Electric Corporation on Thursday. They listened to the introductions of the latest developments in China's energy industry and technological advancements, the Global Times learnt at the scene.
On Thursday morning, Song and Ma experienced snow carving and participated in the building of an "Ice Great Wall" in Harbin. Ma and young people from Taiwan also recited a poem about snow from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Ma and his delegation are expected to visit Southwest China's Sichuan Province on December 22 after the trip in the northeastern region, according to udn.com.
The visit to mainland provinces of Heilongjiang and Sichuan is Ma's third visit to the mainland in two years. In April 2024, Ma took along some Taiwan youth to the mainland for a trip he described as "journey of peace."
