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# 关于中国的新闻报道

经济章节

引言

　　近期，西方媒体对中国经济的报道频繁，涉及多个领域，包括基础设施建设、消费刺激、贸易发展以及与西方国家的经济关系等。这些报道大多从西方视角出发，可能存在一定的偏见和双重标准。因此，有必要对这些报道进行客观的评价，以更全面、准确地理解中国经济的现状和发展趋势。

基础设施建设

　　西方媒体普遍认可中国在基础设施建设方面的成就。中国的高铁网络、城市化进程以及绿色城市建设都被视为世界一流。然而，报道中也常常提及中国在消费刺激方面的困境，认为中国的政治体制导致了消费需求的不足。

　　评价：中国在基础设施建设方面的成就确实显著，这不仅促进了国内经济的发展，也为全球经济贡献了宝贵的经验。然而，消费刺激方面的挑战需要从多角度进行分析。中国政府近年来已经采取了多项措施，如降低税收、提高居民收入等，以促进消费。尽管效果尚未完全显现，但这些努力表明中国正在积极应对消费不足的问题。

消费刺激

　　西方媒体常常批评中国的消费刺激政策，认为政府的控制措施限制了消费需求的增长。报道中提及中国家庭消费占GDP的比例较低，远低于发达经济体。

　　评价：中国的消费刺激政策确实面临挑战，但这并非单纯由政府控制所致。中国的消费文化和经济结构与西方国家有显著差异，消费习惯的形成需要时间。此外，中国政府近年来已经出台了一系列政策，如扩大内需战略、促进服务业发展等，以提升居民消费能力和意愿。这些政策的效果需要时间来检验，不能仅从短期数据进行评判。

贸易发展

　　西方媒体报道称，中国的贸易发展尤其是高科技产品的出口表现强劲，尤其是深圳在贸易方面的表现令人瞩目。然而，报道也提及中国面临的贸易壁垒和技术封锁。

　　评价：中国在高科技产品出口方面的表现确实令人赞叹，这得益于中国在科技创新和产业升级方面的持续投入。尽管面临贸易壁垒和技术封锁，中国仍通过自主创新和国际合作不断提升自身竞争力。深圳作为中国的科技创新中心，其贸易表现是中国经济韧性和创新能力的体现。

与西方国家的经济关系

　　西方媒体报道称，英国财政大臣计划访问中国，以“试探”中英经济关系的发展潜力。报道中提及英国政府希望在保障国家利益的同时，深化与中国的经济合作。

　　评价：中英经济关系的发展具有重要意义，双方在多个领域具有互补优势。英国作为金融中心，中国作为制造业大国，双方的合作有助于推动全球经济的复苏和发展。英国政府的访问计划表明，尽管存在一些分歧，但双方仍希望通过对话和合作实现互利共赢。

结论

　　西方媒体对中国经济的报道虽然存在一定的偏见和双重标准，但也提供了一些有价值的观点和数据。中国在基础设施建设、贸易发展等方面的成就有目共睹，同时也面临消费刺激和国际贸易壁垒等挑战。通过客观评价这些报道，可以更全面地理解中国经济的现状和发展趋势，并为未来的政策制定提供参考。

新闻来源： 2412220635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-21

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Politics

引言

　　西方媒体对中国政治的报道一直以来充满偏见和双重标准，这种现象在近期的报道中依然明显。以下是对最新西方媒体关于中国政治报道的客观评价。

1. 中国与美国的技术竞争

　　西方媒体频繁报道中国在技术领域的竞争，特别是对美国的挑战。例如，美国政府对中国网络设备制造商TP-Link的调查，被描绘成中国对美国网络安全的威胁。然而，这些报道往往忽视了美国自身在网络安全方面的问题，以及其对中国科技企业的不公平打压。

　　#### 评价

　　中国在技术领域的发展是全球科技进步的一部分，美国对中国科技企业的打压更多是出于政治和经济利益的考虑，而非实际的安全威胁。西方媒体应客观报道双方在技术竞争中的行为，而不是单方面指责中国。

2. 中国在美国地方选举中的影响

　　西方媒体报道称，中国政府通过非法代理人干预美国地方选举，试图推动对华友好的政治人物上台。这些报道往往缺乏具体证据，且忽视了美国自身在国际政治中的干预行为。

　　#### 评价

　　中国政府一贯坚持不干涉他国内政的原则，西方媒体的这类报道缺乏实际依据。相比之下，美国在全球范围内进行政治干预的行为更为普遍和明显。西方媒体应客观报道各国在国际政治中的行为，而不是仅仅针对中国。

3. 中国与美国的贸易限制

　　西方媒体报道称，美国对中国的贸易限制是为了保护国家安全和技术优势。然而，这些报道往往忽视了贸易限制对全球经济的负面影响，以及美国自身在贸易中的不公平行为。

　　#### 评价

　　贸易限制是美国单方面的保护主义措施，违背了自由贸易的原则。中国作为全球第二大经济体，有权利和能力在国际贸易中维护自身利益。西方媒体应客观报道贸易限制的全球影响，而不是仅仅站在美国的立场上。

4. 中国的政治体制与消费文化

　　西方媒体报道称，中国的政治体制与现代消费文化不兼容，认为中国的技术监控和社会控制阻碍了消费文化的发展。然而，这些报道忽视了中国在消费市场的快速增长和消费文化的多样性。

　　#### 评价

　　中国的政治体制和消费文化在快速发展中不断适应和调整，中国的消费市场已经成为全球经济的重要组成部分。西方媒体应客观报道中国消费文化的发展，而不是单方面强调政治体制的负面影响。

结论

　　西方媒体对中国政治的报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准，缺乏客观和全面的分析。中国在技术竞争、国际政治和贸易中的行为应被公正地报道和评价。西方媒体应努力提供更加平衡和客观的报道，促进各国之间的理解和合作。

新闻来源： 2412220635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-21

### 关于中国的新闻报道：文化章节

　　#### 引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国的文化报道呈现出多样化的趋势，涵盖了从传统文化到现代消费文化的广泛内容。然而，这些报道往往带有一定的偏见和双重标准，忽视了中国文化的多样性和复杂性。本章节将对这些报道进行客观评价，旨在提供一个更为全面和公正的视角。

　　#### 传统文化的传承与创新

　　西方媒体常常关注中国传统文化的传承与创新，尤其是在节庆活动和历史遗址保护方面。例如，关于澳门回归的报道，强调了中国政府在保护历史遗产和文化多样性方面的努力。然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国在传统文化传承中所采取的创新措施，如将传统文化与现代科技相结合，推动文化产业的发展。

　　#### 现代消费文化

　　西方媒体对中国现代消费文化的报道，往往集中在消费行为和政府政策的影响上。例如，关于中国消费社会的报道，常常提及政府对消费行为的控制和引导。然而，这些报道忽视了中国消费文化的多样性和复杂性，忽视了消费者在市场中的主动性和创造力。

　　#### 文化产业的发展

　　西方媒体对中国文化产业的报道，往往集中在电影、音乐和文学等领域。例如，关于中国电影产业的报道，常常提及政府对内容的审查和控制。然而，这些报道忽视了中国文化产业在全球市场中的竞争力和影响力，忽视了中国文化产品在全球市场中的受欢迎程度。

　　#### 社会文化的多样性

　　西方媒体对中国社会文化的报道，往往集中在少数民族文化和城乡文化差异上。例如，关于中国少数民族文化的报道，常常提及政府对少数民族文化的保护和支持。然而，这些报道忽视了中国社会文化的多样性和复杂性，忽视了不同社会群体在文化认同和文化表达方面的多样性。

　　#### 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国文化的报道虽然涵盖了广泛的内容，但往往带有一定的偏见和双重标准。这些报道忽视了中国文化的多样性和复杂性，忽视了中国在文化传承和创新方面的努力和成就。因此，在阅读这些报道时，有必要保持客观和批判的态度，全面理解中国文化的真实面貌。

　　#### 建议

　　为了更好地理解中国文化，建议西方媒体在报道中采取更为平衡和全面的视角，避免简单化和片面化的描述。同时，中国也应加强与西方媒体的沟通和合作，积极传播中国文化的真实信息，消除误解和偏见。

　　通过以上评价，我们可以更为客观和全面地理解中国文化的多样性和复杂性，推动中西文化交流与合作。

新闻来源： 2412220635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-21

### 关于中国的新闻报道

　　#### Technology

　　##### 一、中国的工程技术成就

　　中国在工程技术领域的成就举世瞩目，从世界一流的基础设施、生态友好城市到太空系统和高铁网络，这些先进的物质资本积累对中国经济的发展起到了至关重要的作用。然而，有西方媒体报道称，中国在供给侧的物质工程成就并未成功转化为需求侧的社会工程成就，特别是在刺激消费需求方面。

　　评价： 中国的物质工程成就无可否认，但西方媒体对中国在需求侧社会工程方面的批评存在一定的偏见。中国的政治体系强调稳定和控制，这种模式在短期内确实可能对刺激消费需求产生一定的负面影响。然而，中国政府近年来也在积极推动消费经济，通过各种政策措施刺激内需，并取得了一定的成效。西方媒体忽视了这些努力和成果，反而过分强调了中国政治体系的负面影响。

　　##### 二、字节跳动在AI领域的竞争

　　字节跳动通过大幅降低其新AI模型的价格，进一步加剧了中国生成式人工智能（GenAI）市场的竞争。该模型具备“视觉理解”能力，能够理解文本、物体和图像中的空间关系，并具有增强的推理能力。字节跳动将该模型的价格降至行业平均水平的85%以下，极大地吸引了用户。

　　评价： 字节跳动在AI领域的竞争策略体现了中国科技企业的创新能力和市场敏锐度。通过降低价格，字节跳动不仅能够快速抢占市场份额，还能推动AI技术的普及和应用。西方媒体对此的报道相对客观，但未能深入探讨中国科技企业在全球AI竞争中的潜力和影响力。

　　##### 三、深圳在外贸领域的崛起

　　深圳作为中国南部的科技中心，有望在今年超越上海，成为中国外贸的新冠军。深圳的外贸增长主要得益于对电子产品和高科技产品的需求增加，以及跨境电商的扩展。

　　评价： 深圳的外贸增长反映了中国在全球科技供应链中的重要地位。深圳不仅是中国的科技创新中心，也是全球科技产品的重要供应基地。西方媒体对深圳外贸增长的报道较为客观，但未能充分展示深圳在全球科技供应链中的战略意义和影响力。

　　##### 四、中国在大数据领域的努力

　　中国成立了首家专注于数据整合和技术的国有企业，这表明大数据在中国经济转型中的重要性。该企业将致力于构建一个庞大的数据共享平台，涵盖高速公路、铁路、水路、航空和港口等多个领域。

　　评价： 中国在大数据领域的努力体现了其在数字经济时代的前瞻性和战略眼光。通过成立专门的国有企业，中国不仅能够更好地整合和利用数据资源，还能推动各行业的数字化转型和升级。西方媒体对此的报道较为客观，但未能深入探讨中国在大数据领域的战略布局和长远规划。

　　##### 五、Talkie应用程序的争议

　　由中国初创企业MiniMax开发的人工智能聊天应用程序Talkie因“技术原因”被从美国App Store下架。该应用程序允许用户与个性化的虚拟角色进行对话，并在全球范围内获得了广泛的关注和下载。

　　评价： Talkie应用程序的下架反映了中美科技竞争的复杂性和敏感性。尽管MiniMax将其归因于“技术原因”，但不排除地缘政治因素的影响。西方媒体对此的报道较为客观，但未能深入探讨中美科技竞争的背景和影响。

　　##### 六、中国的消费社会与政治体系

　　西方媒体报道称，中国的政治体系与现代消费文化存在不兼容的问题，特别是在面对中国新的技术威权主义时，这一点尤为突出。报道指出，中国的监控技术和审查制度与西方消费社会的基本自由存在矛盾。

　　评价： 西方媒体对中国政治体系与消费文化之间矛盾的报道存在一定的偏见。中国的政治体系确实强调稳定和控制，但这并不意味着中国无法发展出自己的消费文化。中国政府近年来也在积极推动消费经济，通过各种政策措施刺激内需，并取得了一定的成效。西方媒体忽视了这些努力和成果，反而过分强调了中国政治体系的负面影响。

　　##### 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国技术领域的报道存在一定的偏见和双重标准。尽管部分报道较为客观，但未能深入探讨中国在全球科技竞争中的潜力和影响力，也忽视了中国政府在推动消费经济和数字化转型方面的努力和成果。因此，在阅读西方媒体对中国的报道时，需要保持客观和批判的态度，综合考虑多方面的信息和背景。

新闻来源： 2412220635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-21

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Society 章节

引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国社会的报道呈现出复杂且多样化的特征。这些报道往往反映了西方对中国社会结构、消费文化、政府政策以及科技发展的不同观点。然而，由于文化差异和政治背景的影响，这些报道有时可能存在偏见和双重标准。本章将对西方媒体关于中国社会的报道进行客观评价，力求提供一个全面且中立的视角。

消费文化与社会结构

　　西方媒体常常将中国的消费文化与西方的消费社会进行对比。例如，《华尔街日报》和《金融时报》等媒体频繁引用约翰·肯尼思·加尔布雷斯的《富裕社会》一书，探讨中国消费文化的特点。这些报道指出，中国的消费文化在很大程度上受到政府政策的影响，与西方自由市场经济下的消费行为存在显著差异。

　　然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国独特的历史和文化背景。中国的消费文化并非简单的西方消费模式的复制品，而是在特定的社会经济条件下逐渐形成的。政府在促进消费方面采取了多种措施，如提高居民收入、改善社会保障体系等，这些措施在西方市场经济体系中同样存在，只是形式和方式不同。

政府政策与社会控制

　　西方媒体常常关注中国政府在社会控制方面的政策，如面部识别技术和监控系统的应用。这些报道往往将这些技术视为对个人自由的威胁，与西方社会强调的个人主义和自由选择形成鲜明对比。

　　然而，这些报道忽视了中国政府在维护社会稳定和公共安全方面的努力。中国是一个人口众多的国家，社会稳定和公共安全是维持经济发展和社会和谐的重要前提。面部识别技术和监控系统在打击犯罪、维护公共秩序方面发挥了重要作用。此外，这些技术的应用并非中国独有，西方国家也在广泛使用类似技术。

社会工程与人口政策

　　西方媒体对中国的人口政策和社会工程也有大量报道。例如，中国政府近年来推出的鼓励生育政策和改善育儿条件的措施，被西方媒体视为一种强制性的社会工程。这些报道指出，政府的干预措施未能有效提高生育率，反而加剧了社会的不满情绪。

　　然而，这些报道忽视了中国政府在应对人口老龄化和劳动力短缺方面的积极努力。中国的人口政策是根据国情和发展需要不断调整的，目的是实现人口与经济社会发展的协调。西方国家同样面临人口老龄化和劳动力短缺的问题，但采取的措施和方式不同。

科技与社会发展

　　西方媒体对中国在科技领域的快速发展给予了高度关注。例如，中国在物流数据共享平台建设方面的进展，被视为推动数字经济和实体经济融合的重要举措。这些报道指出，中国的科技发展在很大程度上得益于政府的强力支持和市场的积极参与。

　　然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国科技发展背后的艰辛探索和创新精神。中国的科技企业在全球市场上的表现和影响力逐渐增强，这不仅是政府政策的结果，更是市场竞争和企业自身努力的成果。中国的科技发展为全球科技进步做出了重要贡献，这一点在西方媒体的报道中常常被忽视。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国社会的报道虽然提供了丰富的信息和多样的视角，但也存在一定的偏见和双重标准。这些报道往往忽视了中国独特的历史、文化和社会经济背景，未能全面反映中国社会的复杂性和多样性。我们应当以客观和中立的态度看待这些报道，结合中国的实际情况进行综合分析，以便更好地理解中国社会的发展和变化。

新闻来源： 2412220635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-21

• China’s C919 jet faces crunch test as its network rapidly expands
• Single Chinese women fake baby bump photos to capture crucial moments before ageing
• China sanctions Canadian institutes, individuals over Tibet, Xinjiang rights row
• The new aerial radar penetrating the icy depths of China’s glaciers
• Why closing Pogos won’t solve the Philippines’ China problems
• Anxious China celebrity couple give short son hormone jabs to help him grow
• Chinese classicists battling to save Greek, Roman works from online conspiracy theories
• China property flare-ups resurface as crisis enters fifth year
• Rosewood Hotel Group targets Chinese travellers in Abu Dhabi, eyes further Mid-East expansion
• Beijing takes aim at ‘deceptive’ Pentagon report on Chinese military
• China diners combine dim sum with live wrestling as unique entertainment gains popularity
• Scientists find key nutrient missing in China-grown durian
• China and Vietnam tighten ties in a ‘3+3’ strategic pivot
• Fall of Syria’s Assad narrows China’s diplomatic space in the Middle East
• To maintain calm in the South China Sea, Beijing just reaches for the bilateral playbook

China’s C919 jet faces crunch test as its network rapidly expands

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291727/chinas-c919-jet-faces-crunch-test-its-network-rapidly-expands?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, is now serving 10 major cities across the country as domestic airlines move swiftly to deploy the new aircraft.

The aircraft, seen as a symbol of China’s achievements in tech and advanced manufacturing, also hit a new milestone on Thursday, carrying a total of 1 million passengers since its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.

The rapid roll-out will be a key test for the C919 as it strives to prove itself a reliable alternative to Boeing and Airbus’ single-aisle models, with more frequent flights posing challenges from deployment to maintenance.

“More flights between more cities mean real tests for the jet, but it can also raise its profile,” said Li Hanming, an aviation consultant.

China Eastern Airlines was the first carrier to put the new aircraft into service.

Since then, the jet has rapidly spread its wings to destinations across China as its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), has moved to ramp up production.

As of early December, three Chinese airlines – China Eastern, China Southern and Air China – were operating a total of 14 C919 planes, and were awaiting delivery on hundreds more.

The jets are already flying regularly between China’s three main gateway hubs: Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, which handled a combined 292 million passengers during the first 11 months of 2024.

They are also serving on routes to regional nodes including Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi’an, Hangzhou and Taiyuan. Last week, Haikou, the capital of the tropical island province of Hainan, became the 10th destination to welcome a C919 flight.

The cities are among the highest-profile – and most profitable – destinations in China, with seven of the 10 ranked among China’s top 10 largest municipal economies in 2023.

“Routes among and from the three main hubs are the most frequent, profitable ones,” said Li. “The C919 is seeking to make its presence felt in a hyper-competitive segment.”

Comac hopes the C919’s rapidly increasing network coverage and visibility will help its bid to be certified by Western regulators.

“The more carriers buy it and the more people fly on it, the more foreign regulators will be convinced of its reliability,” said a manager at Comac, who declined to be named citing company policy.

The C919 is currently being evaluated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for a critical certification that Comac will need to obtain if it is to start pitching the jet to overseas buyers.

Comac president He Dongfeng travelled on C919 flights from Shanghai to Beijing and Guangzhou in October and November, respectively. He led an expert team to attend feedback sessions with operators and discuss potential solutions.

China Eastern now has nine C919s in service and is adding more capacity to routes from Shanghai to Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Xi’an and Taiyuan. The carrier currently uses a C919 on up to four flights every day.

China Southern has taken delivery of two C919s since August, which fly to Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Haikou. Air China also has two C919s in service that shuttle between Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

But Li said the C919 will be placed under greater pressure as it flies to more cities and its service frequency ramps up, which could lead to servicing, maintenance and deployment challenges.

There have been some posts on Chinese social media in recent months about C919 flight delays and cancellations.

“Everything about the C919 is under the microscope,” said Li.

Single Chinese women fake baby bump photos to capture crucial moments before ageing

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3291199/single-chinese-women-fake-baby-bump-photos-capture-crucial-moments-ageing?utm_source=rss_feed

A new craze has swept social media in China in which young, single women who are not pregnant wear fake bellies to take maternity photos in advance of giving birth.

The so-called pre-set photoshoot trend sees the women hoping to capture and celebrate significant moments while they are still in their prime.

It has shocked many Chinese parents, who wonder how “single but pregnant,” once considered shameful in traditional Chinese culture, has now become popular among Generation Z.

The country continues to see a trend of low marriage rates and declining birth rates.

In the first nine months of 2024, only 4.75 million couples registered marriages, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

However, amid the decline, the “premade maternity photos” craze was propelled into the national spotlight after a video posted online by “Meizi Gege,” a Generation Z influencer from Hunan province in central China who has more than 5.7 million followers on a major social media platform.

On October 13, she shared photos from a maternity photoshoot showcasing her slender figure and youthful glow, and exclaimed.

“While I’m still slim, I wore a fake belly to take maternity photos and enjoyed a pre-made life. I even did it with my best friend!” the influencer said.

In the video, the photographer is seen attaching accessories to her, while another person helps put on the “fake belly,” she then proudly shows off her perfect figure.

A woman who had seen the video said: “I have learned something new. I am going to buy a fake belly and take maternity photos while I am still at my slimmest!” to which the influencer replied: “How can people be so smart!”

Another 26-year-old graduate said that she had already taken her maternity photos at 23, despite not being married yet, while a third said that she had taken wedding photos at 22, “just in case I get wrinkles by 30”.

Taking pre-set maternity photos is not complicated.

All you need is a “fake belly,” available in various textures and sizes for the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy from online stores.

The popularity of such photos is driven by women’s desire to ensure they have beautiful maternity photos regardless of body changes later in their pregnancy.

However, there has been public concern that they reinforce “white, skinny, and young” beauty standards, promoting anxiety about appearance and body image among new mothers.

The photos often suggest that women must maintain a youthful, slim figure during pregnancy, an expectation that is clearly unrealistic, according to critics.

The craze stirred humorous and lively discussions among Chinese netizens, with one person saying: “I will shoot my 70th birthday photos now and then post them on social media later. It will make me look so young!”

Another joked: “I will find some time to arrange my funeral pictures before I die.”

“I must take more photos while I am still young, so I can use them for online dating when I am older.”

China sanctions Canadian institutes, individuals over Tibet, Xinjiang rights row

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291896/china-sanctions-canadian-institutes-individuals-over-tibet-xinjiang-rights-row?utm_source=rss_feed

Beijing has sanctioned two Canadian institutes and several individuals as tensions with Ottawa continue to worsen over Tibet and Xinjiang.

The Uygur Rights Advocacy Project, the Canada Tibet Committee and 20 people from the two organisations had been placed on the sanctions list, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Sunday, citing China’s anti-sanctions law.

Their assets within China have been frozen, all transactions and cooperation projects have been banned, and persons on the list are barred from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, from Saturday, according to the ministry.

The move comes after Canada imposed sanctions on eight former and current senior Chinese officials earlier this month, citing alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang – home to the mainly Muslim Uygur ethnic minority group – and in Tibet.

The new aerial radar penetrating the icy depths of China’s glaciers

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3291887/new-aerial-radar-penetrating-icy-depths-chinas-glaciers?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese researchers have penetrated the icy depths of glaciers in the country’s northwest, using new aerial technology to take a more detailed picture of resources in the “water tower of Asia”.

The team from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used airborne ice radar, also known as ice-penetrating radar, to map the topography, thickness and volume of various valley glaciers in the Qilian Mountains in Gansu province.

The area is part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the world’s highest and a source of water for more than 2 billion people.

“[The project] realised the measurement of ice thickness of compound valley glaciers under complex terrain conditions for the first time,” the institute said on Friday, adding that the technology was at a world-leading level.

Mounted on remote-sensing aircraft, the radars emit electromagnetic waves that can penetrate thick layers of ice, including in glaciers. When the waves hit internal features like rocks, they are reflected and the echoes are analysed to generate maps of the terrain.

“Unlike traditional technologies that are mainly used to obtain glacier surface information, aerial ice radar has the ability to penetrate the glacier’s surface to obtain information about the interior and bottom of the glacier,” Zhu Jinbiao, deputy director of the institute’s Airborne Remote Sensing Centre, told state news agency Xinhua.

The institute said the aircraft were also equipped with three-dimensional lidar to help create perspective maps of the glaciers.

During 13 flights from September to November, the team used the equipment to survey several glaciers, including the Qiyi glacier and the Laohugou glacier No 12 in the Qilian Mountains.

The data was then converted into models of the glaciers’ elevation and topography, along with a survey of ice reserves and thickness.

The accuracy of the glacier thickness measurements were verified using ground penetrating radar, according to the institute.

Airborne ice radars are typically mounted on crewed aircraft, but now drones are also being used to transport them.

A team at Stanford University has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with an ice-penetrating radar called Peregrine that has been used to study a glacier in Norway.

The goal is to use Peregrine to conduct regular surveys of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets which are threatened by climate change and warming, according to a report by the US Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers magazine IEEE Spectrum.

Glaciers in the Qilian Mountains, which feed water into Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, along with other glaciers in China, are also melting and shrinking as the climate warms.

Why closing Pogos won’t solve the Philippines’ China problems

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3291737/why-closing-pogos-wont-solve-philippines-china-problems?utm_source=rss_feed

For years, Pogos flourished in the Philippines, bringing in billions of pesos in revenue while also opening the door to crime and corruption. Now, as Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s government races to shut down the last of these controversial offshore gaming operators by year’s end, critics warn that the deeper vulnerabilities they exposed remain unresolved.

Money laundering, human trafficking and cyber fraud have all been linked to the once-booming Pogo industry, which catered largely to a Chinese clientele and peaked in 2019 with nearly 300 operators. Today, only 17 remain, with authorities expecting all to cease operations by December 31.

“You can expect that there will be no more licensed Pogos operating by the end of this year,” Alejandro Tengco, head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), said at a national security forum this month.

But Tengco himself admitted that “simply eradicating Pogos is not enough” – echoing concerns that without broader reforms to governance and enforcement, the banned operators could simply go underground, exploiting the same porous systems that allowed them to thrive in the first place.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who spearheaded a Senate investigation into the Pogo-linked human trafficking case involving former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, believes the issue reveals a deeper rot. “What was on trial … in our Senate hearings was the systems, the laws, the policies that made way for people like her – and perhaps even nations – to abuse and exploit the vulnerabilities of our institutions,” Hontiveros said.

Guo, accused of using a false Philippine identity and acting as a Chinese intelligence operative, became the face of the Pogo controversy earlier this year. Her alleged ties to human trafficking and cyber fraud have raised alarms about how foreign-linked criminal networks can exploit systemic weaknesses to infiltrate the country.

But she is just one piece of a larger puzzle, warns Chester Cabalza, president of the International Development and Security Cooperation think tank in Manila. Figures like Guo, who denies the charges against her, are only “one part of the diversified faces which reveal the complexity of psychosocial operations, political and economic poisons of China for non-kinetic warfare,” he said.

Beyond the immediate crimes tied to Pogos, the crackdown has reignited debates about China’s influence in the Philippines.

“Pogos aren’t isolated entities; they’re part of a larger web of malign influence and foreign interference,” said Dindo Manhit, president of the Manila-based Stratbase-ADR Institute think tank. “Tackling this requires a whole-of-government strategy, not fragmented, reactionary measures.”

Political scientist Aletheia Valenciano of the University of the Philippines agreed, warning that shutting down Pogos is “not 100 per cent indicative that pro-China elements who supported Alice Guo have indeed lost their influence in the country”. She stressed the need for coordination among agencies such as the Bureau of Immigration, Pagcor, and the police to root out systemic corruption and improve oversight.

Valenciano also pointed to Beijing’s long-term influence strategies, which extend into political, economic and societal dimensions. While initiatives like cultural and student exchanges may seem benign, “these could be leveraged for future influence”, she told This Week in Asia, noting that China often takes a decades-long view.

The Chinese embassy in the Philippines has distanced itself from the Pogo controversy, reiterating that it opposes offshore gaming and supports the Philippine government’s efforts to root out criminal syndicates. In June, it urged the Marcos administration to ban Pogos “at an early date so as to root out this social ill”.

And earlier this month, the embassy announced that nearly 200 Chinese Pogo workers had been repatriated from the Philippines, “showing once again the determination of the two countries in cracking down on offshore gambling and transborder crimes”.

Meanwhile, the economic implications of shutting down Pogos are not to be overlooked. Last year, Pagcor collected 5.1 billion Philippine pesos (US$92 million) from the industry. But analysts argue that the long-term benefits of the ban far outweigh the short-term revenue loss.

“China-linked Pogos threaten our sovereignty, disrupt social order, and tarnish our reputation as a reliable destination for investors,” Manhit said.

“If the Philippines is perceived as a breeding ground for crime, we risk losing the trust and confidence of potential investors who could otherwise fuel our economic growth,” he told This Week in Asia, adding that country would prefer investments from partners “who share our commitment to the rule of law, transparency, and ethical business practices”.

Not everyone believes the Pogo ban will significantly alter the Philippines’ economic relationship with its top trading partner, however. “Our economic ties with China far surpass the unfortunate episodes linked to Pogos,” said Enrico Gloria, an associate political-science professor at the University of the Philippines and a doctoral student at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He further noted that the Philippines’ bilateral trade with China has steadily increased in recent years.

Gloria warned against oversimplifying the Pogo issue as an indictment of China’s broader influence. The ban, he said, should be seen as a “focused and decisive measure by the Marcos administration to protect the economy from illicit activities that add little to no value to the country”.

For some observers, the Pogo debacle reflects missed opportunities during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to manage Chinese influence more selectively.

Gloria argued that failing to rein in Pogos early on has fuelled public resentment towards China. “As a result, proponents of stronger ties with China now face the difficult task of countering the narrative that closer relations with China inherently lead to more Pogos, along with crime and instability,” he said.

Ultimately, the Pogo ban is only the beginning of a broader reckoning. As Gloria noted, the Philippines’ ability to combat large-scale crime and foreign interference cannot hinge on its relationship with China – “or any other country”. What’s needed now is a commitment to reform that addresses the cracks in governance that allowed criminal outfits to take root and prosper.

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Anxious China celebrity couple give short son hormone jabs to help him grow

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3291176/anxious-china-celebrity-couple-give-short-son-hormone-jabs-help-him-grow?utm_source=rss_feed

The wife of China’s Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming has sparked a heated discussion on hormone treatment after she decided to give growth injections to their teenage son, who appeared to have stayed at the same height for years.

Zou’s wife Ran Yingying, a former TV hostess and now an online influencer, said in mid-December that she and her husband had been anxious about one of their their sons, nicknamed Haohao, for two years.

This prompted them to take him to hospital for hormone treatment to make him grow taller, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.

The couple, who are both 162cm tall, have three sons. Haohao, 11, is 136.6cm in height, about 30cm shorter than his brother who is two years older.

Ran said she noticed Haohao seemed not to grow at all over the past two years.

His mother has been researching studies and surveys about boys’ growth and has tried various would-be solutions to stimulate his growth.

She once sent the boy to play basketball. But while other boys grew taller, Haohao’s height remained the same.

Earlier this month, Ran took Haohao to a Shanghai hospital where doctors told her “it was necessary” to administer a growth hormone otherwise, he would miss the “best opportunity” for growth.

The medication, a daily shot, costs from 200 to 2,000 yuan (US$27 to US$275) per injection in China, depending on the brand and different volumes required depending on the child’s weight.

Ran said they were hesitant about adopting the method because it means that Haohao will require a daily injection and might develop an inferiority complex.

“But Haohao is quite optimistic. He said he is not afraid of receiving the injection,” Ran said in an online video clip.

“He said many athletes had undergone hormone treatment. He said maybe one day he will become an athlete, like his father.”

Ran added that when she administered the first injection her hands were shaking but her son comforted her by saying it did not hurt.

The mother said she is clearly aware of th at the treatment could affect individual children differently.

“As a mother, I will try my best to help him grow better,” she said.

Zou, 43, won gold medals in boxing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. He and Ran, 40, married in 2010.

Ran’s video has trended on mainland social media and has attracted 20,000 comments.

“Don’t be over anxious. Some kids grow early while some grow late,” said one online observer.

However, another person said: “Many people feel inferior for being short. So if you have enough money and doctors approved, you should take your kids to receive this injection. If you do not, you will regret it for your whole life.”

“Try other ways for growing tall, like skipping, hanging on a horizontal bar and jumping high”, said a third.

Chinese classicists battling to save Greek, Roman works from online conspiracy theories

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3291875/chinese-classicists-battling-save-greek-roman-works-online-conspiracy-theories?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese academics studying the Western classics are battling an increasingly popular conspiracy theory that Greek and Roman literature, philosophy and even famous monuments are hoaxes.

The pseudo-historical school – as its detractors have called it – has been around for years, but what was once a fringe position has become increasingly prominent online with some noted nationalist intellectuals helping to amplify conspiracy theories, with some even questioning whether Aristotle and his surviving works were real.

Mantineia Liu, a postgraduate student studying Western classical philosophy at Shanghai’s Fudan University, said that over the past 10 years she had seen this idea spreading from small groups in certain chat groups to something her older relatives keep bringing up when she went home for family gatherings such as Lunar New Year.

But she feels that since 2017, the conspiracy theory had “suddenly expanded”. More than once older family members have said to her: “I’ve heard that all these Western historical and cultural relics are faked, is it possible? ”

An associate professor studying classical Western philosophy at a top Chinese university echoed Liu’s comments.

“People who are really interested in ancient philosophy, thought or history don’t buy this kind of view, and it’s often taken as a joke in academia, but it has a huge market among the general public,” the academic, who asked not to be named, said.

“I think it is somehow a product of modern society,” said the associate professor, adding that most people would not be interested in a serious lecture about Aristotle’s works, but claims that the Greek philosopher’s works had been faked were an easy way to gain attention online.

He said that because so many people on the internet and even around him held these views, he sometimes had to explain why they were wrong or fight to defend his field of inquiry.

One example that struck him was when, a few years ago, he was visiting the Louvre in Paris with a friend – an engineer who had graduated from a prestigious university in China – who asked him if it was possible that all this cultural heritage could be faked.

“I was so shocked and found it unbelievable,” he said, adding that the feeling was similar to someone visiting the terracotta warriors in China and suspecting that they might have been faked by later generations.

Both Liu and the associate professor said the increasing prominence of nationalist views was another factor fuelling the rise, with some prominent intellectuals backing the pseudo-historical school of thought.

One such figure is Jin Canrong, a leading specialist in China-US relations at Renmin University in Beijing and an adviser to the Chinese government.

Last year, a video clip of his speech on Aristotle went viral. In it, he claimed that the existence of ancient Greek philosophers, including Aristotle, was not supported by written records.

Another is Huang Heqing, a retired art history professor at Zhejiang University, one of China’s leading universities, who received a PhD from the Sorbonne in Paris.

This summer, he told Southern Weekly newspaper that “the fact that Western history is fabricated can no longer be hidden and Western pseudo-history is bound to collapse”.

He believes the collapse will happen within five to 10 years, adding: “I think the history of civilisation will be rewritten in the future, and the truth is that China is the main birthplace of human civilisation”.

“Two years ago, we [the pseudo-history school] were in a very bad position, but since 2023, the whole society has started to accept it,” Huang said.

He has published two books this year to spread his ideas, as well as posting videos on social media, mainly aimed at young people. “Youngsters don’t have any admiration for the West, so they can easily understand [these ideas],” he said.

Huang has also cast doubts on ancient monuments from Mesopotamia and Egypt, saying the latter is “actually a fairy tale fabricated by Western orthodox historians”, and that the Pyramids and Sphinx are made of concrete and were built in the 19th century.

An online seminar hosted by Huang and other prominent members of the pseudo-historical school in December last year attracted an audience of more than 100,000.

In his opening speech, Jin said: “The West is the world’s model of modernisation, and we definitely need to study it carefully, and that includes studying the origin of its history.

“We must acknowledge the true part, but we also have the right to question the false part. This work has actually been done by some scholars in the West, so non-Western scholars certainly have the right to do it”.

Some point out that such statements reflect a growing trend in Chinese society to push for a less Western-centric version of history as China rises on the world stage.

Wang Xiangyuan, a professor at Beijing Normal University, wrote in an article in 2020 that questioning and deconstructing the roots of Western culture – including ancient Greek civilisation – had become a trend among some Chinese academics at the beginning of the 21st century.

Wang cited He Xin, formerly a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who first claimed in his 2013 book Research on the Pseudo-History of Greece that much of Western classical history had been faked.

He argued that much ancient Greek literature and philosophy, including the Homeric epics and the writings of Aristotle, could not have been preserved and transmitted in their entirety because of the difficulty of preserving written material.

Wang pointed out that more concrete historical data, more in-depth research and more convincing conclusions were needed to support the pseudo-history theories, but highlighted that “this trend reflects the rejection and veto of the Western-centric view of history and the world-historical system constructed by Westerners”.

However, this is not the attitude of the Chinese government. Last month Beijing hosted the first World Conference of Classics, an event that was jointly organised with Greece.

The event received official support from President Xi Jinping. In his message to the event, Xi praised the achievements of Ancient Greece, saying it had flourished at the opposite end of the Eurasian land mass to China more than 2,000 years ago at a time when both had made great contributions to civilisation.

Xi also urged scholars in the field to “make greater contributions to promoting civilisational inheritance and development, civilisational exchanges and mutual understanding”.

Various civil society cultural exchanges are also very active. Since early November, 279 artefacts from the collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, including pottery, murals and sculptures, have been on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Despite the increasing popularity of pseudo-history among the general public, the young academics interviewed did not think it would affect their research.

Although Liu said she did not pay much attention to historical conspiracy theories, she feels that academics should take responsibility for stopping misleading views spreading among the public.

“These issues have been discussed in academia for many years, and there has been much research to confirm the existence of these ancient civilisations. However, this hasn’t been well communicated to the general public, leaving a void for pseudo-historians,” she said.

China property flare-ups resurface as crisis enters fifth year

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3291879/china-property-flare-ups-resurface-crisis-enters-fifth-year?utm_source=rss_feed

One of China’s leading developers is now on authorities’ radar for default risk. A major Hong Kong builder is asking lenders to extend loans. Another industry peer is selling an iconic but largely empty mall in Beijing.

As China’s property debt crisis enters its fifth year, there’s little indication that distressed developers are finding it easier to repay debt as a slump in home sales continues. Their dollar bonds are still trading at deeply distressed levels, debt issuance has nearly dried up and the sector a notable laggard in the stock markets.

Alarm bells went off again in recent weeks, when the banking regulator told top insurers to report their financial exposure to China Vanke to assess how much support the country’s fourth-largest developer by sales needs to avoid default. Over in Hong Kong, New World Development sought to delay some loan maturities while Parkview Group put a landmark commercial complex up for sale in Beijing.

The latest signs of stress are adding to concerns that the worst is far from over for the housing sector, once a powerful growth engine and now a big drag on demand for items from furniture to cars. And they are particularly worrying because Vanke’s woes show the liquidity crisis is hurting one of the few big builders that have avoided default. The trouble faced by its Hong Kong peers, meanwhile, means the contagion is increasingly felt offshore.

“While recent government policies have helped to arrest the speed of decline, it could take another one or two years for the sector to [hit] bottom,” said Leonard Law, senior credit analyst at Lucror Analytics. “Against this backdrop, we can’t rule out the possibility of some more defaults next year, albeit the overall default rate should be much lower than before.”

Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to ease the slowdown, including interest rate cuts, slashing purchasing costs and restrictions, as well as state guarantees for bond sales by stronger developers. Top leaders also pledged to stabilise the property market next year at a key economic meeting earlier this month.

However, the rescue measures adopted so far have focused on preventing a collapse in property prices, protecting owners of unfinished flats and using state funds to help absorb excess supply. At the same time, policymakers chose to look on as former industry behemoths China Evergrande Group and Country Garden Holdings defaulted.

This is why the banking regulator’s queries over insurance firms’ exposure to Vanke’s bonds and private debt have drawn much attention. The insurers conducted similar checks in March as fears grew over the builder’s repayment risks. Separately, Vanke executives have visited several insurers in the past few weeks, urging them not to exercise put options on some private debt that would soon become open to them.

“If there is no turnaround in property sales, asset disposals remain slow in a weak property market, and financial institutions become more cautious and require additional collateral, we believe Vanke could see a liquidity shortage sooner than expected,” Jefferies Financial Group analysts including Shujin Chen wrote in a note. “We still put the likelihood of a government bailout at below 50%.”

Vanke’s dollar bond due May 2025 dropped about 10 cents in the past week to around 80 cents on the dollar, the biggest weekly decline in more than a year. Its 2027 note also slumped to 49 cents, signalling investor doubts about a full redemption.

Vanke’s woes come at a time when capital markets continue to show weak investor confidence in the sector: mainland Chinese and Hong Kong developers have issued $67.3 billion of bonds this year, putting the market on track for its smallest annual issuance in at least in a decade, according to Bloomberg data. Meanwhile a Bloomberg stock gauge of Chinese builders has risen 3.7% this year versus 24% for a broader index tracking the country’s firms listed in Hong Kong.

In another worrying development, distressed Hong Kong builder New World Development is asking banks to postpone the due dates of some bilateral loans, a move that deepens concerns over its ability to service one of the heaviest debt loads of its kind. Controlled by the family empire of tycoon Henry Cheng Kar-shun, the developer had total liabilities of HK$220 billion ($28.3 billion) at the end of June and recorded its first annual loss in two decades.

New World’s debt struggle is an ominous sign that China’s property woes are spreading. According to its 2024 annual report, the builder derived 73% of its property development and investment revenue from mainland China.

Some perpetual notes from the developer of projects including the K11 Art Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui have recently fallen to a record low of around 30 cents. Its shares are down 57% this year.

Meanwhile, Parkview Group, a Hong Kong-based high-end developer whose founding family hails from Taiwan, is seeking buyers for an iconic commercial complex in Beijing’s central business district, as it grapples with high loan servicing costs and low occupancy rates. A Chinese state-owned firm is said to be interested in purchasing the asset, which is known for its unique pyramid-shaped structure and includes a shopping centre, hotel, office towers and an arts hub.

“Hong Kong developers are facing a double-whammy in the current down cycle,” said Daniel Fan, a credit analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “China’s property market, where many of them are involved, shows no sign of a strong recovery while Hong Kong’s market correction is still ongoing.”

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Rosewood Hotel Group targets Chinese travellers in Abu Dhabi, eyes further Mid-East expansion

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3291835/rosewood-hotel-group-targets-chinese-travellers-abu-dhabi-eyes-further-mid-east-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed

Hoteliers in Abu Dhabi view China as their top priority, as shown by Rosewood Hotel Group’s efforts to put in place the necessary infrastructure to tap into the Chinese market, according to the managing director of its Abu Dhabi branch.

The current top clientele for Rosewood Abu Dhabi hail from the United States, Europe and Middle East, said Remus Palimaru, managing director of Rosewood Abu Dhabi. “Outside these groups, our number one target and attention remains China, not only for us, also for our competitors and for the city,” he said.

Palimaru said local culture and tourism officials were pushing hard for Rosewood to accept payments like WeChat to ensure that it was ready for travellers from China.

“We want to be ahead of the game, as we’ve put a lot of effort into letting China know that we are open for business,” he said.

Hong Kong-based Rosewood Hotel Group was among the pioneering hoteliers to recognise the growing significance of the Middle East, according to Radha Arora, president and co-chief development officer of the group. That includes the region’s “pivotal role in hosting significant global events and attracting a large influx of visitors and investors”.

In July 2011, New World Hospitality paid US$229.5 million to acquire Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and, two years later, changed its name to Rosewood Hotel Group. Sonia Cheng Chi-man has taken on the role as its chief executive officer.

Cheng is the only daughter of tycoon Henry Cheng Kar-shun, 77, chairman of Chow Tai Fook and property giant New World Development. He and the family were ranked Hong Kong’s third richest this year by Forbes, with a net worth of US$22.1 billion.

Rosewood’s entry into the gulf, or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, dates back over 15 years, with the opening of Rosewood Jeddah in 2007 and Rosewood Abu Dhabi in 2013.

“With a mother ship in Hong Kong it is a plus [to attract Chinese tourists] because we have the experience with successful hotels in those markets,” Palimaru said, adding that Rosewood Abu Dhabi also wanted to tap into business from travellers using the city as a transfer hub.

“Besides having Alipay and WeChat, ideally we also need to have experienced Chinese speaking staff,” he added. “We have several Cantonese chefs and servers, [so] we’re a bit ahead of other hotels.”

The Abu Dhabi hotel is delivering a business performance “four times” beyond initial expectations, Palimaru said, adding that CEO Sonia Cheng visited Rosewood Abu Dhabi six weeks ago.

“There is a very heightened excitement about not only our brand, but where the city is going, and how well positioned Abu Dhabi is in the GCC market,” Palimaru said, adding that the gulf market has outperformed many other markets in the world.

Rosewood currently operates 51 properties across 23 countries, with over 30 properties currently under development. This reflects one of the industry’s strongest pipelines in terms of a brand’s complete portfolio, according to Arora, the co-chief development officer.

“Our commitment to the Middle East remains unwavering as we continue to explore the vast opportunities within this dynamic region,” he said, adding that Rosewood has three other properties in the pipeline besides the opening of Rosewood Doha in the first half of 2025, in Diriyah, the Red Sea and Amaala.

Arora said that familiarity with the region allows Rosewood to capitalise on the region’s potential to emerge as a global hub with an increasing demand for ultra-luxury travel and hospitality.

Consumption behavior has shifted from a desire for a good value proposition to quality and high services, he said. “Our customers are willing to pay more for the best experiences.”

Rosewood’s growth strategy is to remain “highly selective, focusing on destinations that our customers desire and experiences that exceed expectations”, Arora said, adding that he is optimistic about the growing demand for luxury hospitality and emerging opportunities to target new customer segments.

Besides the Middle East, Rosewood is also focused on expanding into strategic global markets. In the first half of 2025, the hotelier will debut its Rosewood brand in Japan and the Netherlands, with the opening of Rosewood Miyakojima and Rosewood Amsterdam, and will also add Rosewood Mandarina to its portfolio in Mexico.

“These developments emphasise our group’s presence in key markets globally while adapting to the evolving needs of modern travellers to deliver exceptional guest experiences,” Arora said.

Beijing takes aim at ‘deceptive’ Pentagon report on Chinese military

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291852/beijing-takes-aim-deceptive-pentagon-report-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed

Beijing hit back on Saturday at a US Defence Department report on the Chinese military, labelling the report deceptive and calling the United States the “largest threat to global security”.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said China expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the annual report, which was released on Wednesday.

The report “misinterpreted China’s defence policy ... spread rumours, slandered the Chinese military, and exaggerated the ‘China military threat’,” Zhang said in a ministry statement.

The China Military Power Report has been released each year for the past two decades and is the Pentagon’s most comprehensive unclassified report on China’s defences.

The 182-page document relates mostly to developments in China up to December last year but does cover some major events in 2024, including a new section on corruption investigations of defence officials.

It also highlighted an expansion in quantity and type of weapons in China’s nuclear arsenal, saying the number of nuclear warheads had grown by about 20 per cent to 600 in the year to mid-2024.

Zhang responded by blaming Washington, saying the US had made an “enormous investment” in its own nuclear forces, was developing new-generation nuclear warheads, and expanding nuclear risks through the Aukus mechanism.

“The United States should in turn reflect on itself, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in its national and collective security policies, and give a responsible account to the international community,” he said.

Beijing also accused Washington of accelerating the militarisation of Taiwan and warned that its arms sales to and military ties with the island would “fuel the arrogance of separatists in Taiwan and raise tensions in the Taiwan Strait, if not lead to … war”.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary. Like most countries, the US does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state but is opposed to any changes in the status quo and is committed to arming Taiwan for self-defence.

Zhang said Washington’s defence policy had become increasingly “confrontational, offensive and risky” in recent years, as reflected by its military operations in countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

“It was the United States that used its military superiority to maintain unipolar hegemony, impose ‘regime change’, incite ‘colour revolutions’ and exert extreme pressure at every turn,” he added.

Zhang called on Washington to view China and its military development “in a positive and rational manner” and promote “healthy and stable development of bilateral ties between the two militaries”.

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China diners combine dim sum with live wrestling as unique entertainment gains popularity

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3291157/china-diners-combine-dim-sum-live-wrestling-unique-entertainment-gains-popularity?utm_source=rss_feed

Diners at Cantonese tea restaurant in China can enjoy dim sum while watching live professional wrestling, a unique form of entertainment that has sparked much attention on mainland social media.

Unlike the genuine sport, professional wrestling, which is widely known as pro wrestling, is a choreographed stage combat performance. The wrestlers are both athletes and actors.

Pro wrestling evolved from the common practice of match-fixing among wrestlers in the United States in the 19th century, who later sought to make bouts shorter, more entertaining, and less physically taxing.

The most famous pro wrestling event in the world is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the US.

In China, pro wrestling is often confused with martial arts performances and sports, and its popularity remains low.

However, in December, a tea restaurant in Jiangmen, in southern China’s Guangdong province, creatively merged pro wrestling with dim sum culture.

Xiao Xin, organiser of Chinese Dim Sum WWE, set up a wrestling ring in the middle of a restaurant.

Diners are required to pay an extra 388 yuan (US$53) for seats around the ring, with 760 spots available. Tickets sell out in just two days.

The event’s most popular storyline features Sam, a foreign “villain”, who defeats Chinese competitors until Liu Xuanzheng, a 168cm Chinese pro wrestler, steps in and turns the tide to win.

Liu, hailed as China’s top pro wrestler, began his career in 2002 and brought back wrestling techniques from South Korea. He wins over his towering foreign opponent with quick movements and an iconic offensive throw, adding excitement to the match.

The wrestlers also interact with the diners.

After serving food, a waiter unexpectedly tears off his clothes and jumps into the ring as a wrestler.

In another scene, Sam and a masked man fight outside the ring, snatching food from diners’ tables to use as weapons.

One diner compared it to a kung fu movie about the legendary Chinese martial artist Wong Fei-hung, saying: “I felt like I was in a classic movie scene, enjoying dim sum while watching people fight.”

Another commented: “The wild nature of wrestling mixed with the laid-back vibe of dim sum culture creates a captivating combination.”

The pro wrestlers also have their regular jobs.

Sam is an English teacher in the southern city of Zhuhai, the masked man is a bus mechanic, and the female wrestler works as a flight attendant.

Event organiser Xiao Xin noted that they all share a passion for pro wrestling and took time off from their jobs to perform at the restaurant, aiming to boost the profile of pro wrestling in China.

Mainland media outlets have reported that most pro wrestling matches in China are held in bars, parks or abandoned warehouses, with only about five live events a year, each attracting just a few hundred people. Newcomers typically earn under 500 yuan (US$69) per bout.

For many Chinese, pro wrestling is seen as an entertainment performance involving little technical skill.

A veteran grappling fan wrote on social media: “These athletes actually require top-tier wrestling skills such as floor techniques, high-flying moves, and more.

“They perform thrilling attacks while ensuring the safety of themselves and their opponents. They also need acting skills and resilience.”

The unique mix of dim sum and pro wrestling has sparked widespread attention online, with related topics hitting 24 million views on one major social media platform alone.

One netizen said: “This adds another unique cultural label to Guangdong. Thumbs up for those who love and persist in pro wrestling, this is very meaningful.”

“Chinese pro wrestlers could add some kung fu into their performances, which may give them more recognition,” said another.

Scientists find key nutrient missing in China-grown durian

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3291480/scientists-find-key-nutrient-missing-china-grown-durian?utm_source=rss_feed

Durians grown in China could be missing or extremely low in some key nutrients, according to a study into the nutritional profile of the tropical fruit taking root in Hainan.

In the first study of its kind, scientists found that, compared with durians grown in Southeast Asia, the Chinese-grown fruit displayed a surprisingly different nutritional profile.

For example, Monthong, or golden pillow, durian grown in China did not contain the antioxidant quercetin at all, while its Thai counterpart contained huge amounts, researchers at the Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences found.

In fact, the only Hainan durian variety that was found to have quercetin was the long-stemmed Kan Yao, but it was at a level 520 times lower than the same variety grown overseas and 540,000 times lower than the levels in the Thai Monthong.

As for gallic acid, a compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, the team said it was not detected in Kan Yao, a result that was consistent with previous studies. But its levels in Monthong were “significantly lower than the levels previously reported”.

A 2008 study of Thai durians reported 2,072 micrograms of gallic acid per 100 grams in Monthong, 906 times higher than the 22.85 nanograms per gram of the Chinese-grown fruit.

“The differences in climate and content of minerals and nutrients in the soil could affect the accumulation of nutrients during the durian growth process,” said lead author Zhang Jing at the Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of the Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

“This could lead to higher levels of certain substances, while others might be absent,” she added.

In a paper published in the Chinese-language journal Food and Fermentation Industries on December 12, the researchers said the main antioxidants found in the three durian types studied – Monthong, Kan Yao and Musang King – were procyanidin B1, catechin and quercetin.

“The results … indicated that Kan Yao has the strongest in vitro antioxidant activity [of the three],” the scientists said.

China is the world’s biggest importer of the pungent, prickly fruit, buying 95 per cent of global exports. In 2018, it began large-scale cultivation of durian in Hainan province, the country’s only tropical island with a climate suited to growing the fruit.

Durian is a nutritious fruit high in Vitamin C, potassium, dietary fibre and other nutrients. Unlike most other fruit, it is also high in fat.

The study focused on polyphenols, natural plant compounds that can act as antioxidants to neutralise harmful free radicals which increase the risks of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

To evaluate the antioxidant functions of domestically grown durians, the team collected samples which were 90 per cent ripe on trees from a farm in Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county in the south of Hainan.

The team detected a total of 26 polyphenolic compounds in the Monthong, Kan Yao and Musang King varieties, which were found to have 19, 22, and 18 different compounds respectively.

Catechin, an antioxidant also found in green tea, was unique to Monthong, according to the study. Kan Yao uniquely contained quercetin, nicotiflorin, procyanidin B1 and trans-cinnamic acid.

Procyanidin B1 is also found in grape seeds, apples, peanut skin and cranberries, and is being studied as an anticancer drug.

The team said the types and concentrations of polyphenolic compounds were closely related to the farming location, variety and ripeness of durian.

The scientists cited the 2008 study that found Monthong durian in Thailand had the highest variety of polyphenolic compounds among five varieties analysed, with quercetin being one of the dominant bioactive substances.

“This differs from our results,” they wrote. “Kan Yao had the highest variety of detected polyphenolic compounds. While quercetin was not detected in Monthong, it was found to have esculin, catechin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid,” they said, referring to other polyphenols. Esculin, for example, has been found to be antidiabetic.

Zhang said nutritional analyses of durian from Southeast Asia provided reference ranges, but there were no clear thresholds indicating what levels were good or bad.

Zhang also said the results did not yet fully represent durian cultivation in Hainan.

“Our current results are preliminary with samples from one farm. To build a big picture of nutritional values, we will extend sample gathering to more plantations in different areas in Hainan.”

The team also aims to identify nutrients that could be improved, such as substances that could promote ovarian health. Previous studies have shown that durians could be used to create a supplement to help treat infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome.

“By identifying one or several substances that help with ovary recovery and protection, we could further study how they are synthesised and regulated at the genetic level,” she said.

“Once we understand which genes control the accumulation of these compounds, we can enhance those genes through breeding to increase the levels of beneficial substances in durian.”

China and Vietnam tighten ties in a ‘3+3’ strategic pivot

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3291739/china-and-vietnam-tighten-ties-33-strategic-pivot?utm_source=rss_feed

It’s not every day that China pioneers a new diplomatic mechanism. But earlier this month, it launched a “3+3” dialogue with Vietnam – a first for Beijing, which has traditionally relied on a simpler “2+2” format in bilateral relations.

The dialogue, which focuses on diplomacy, defence and public security, comes at a time when Southeast Asia is increasingly being seen as a geopolitical chessboard for superpower rivalry.

Analysts say the move signals China’s ambition to draw Vietnam closer into its orbit, while Hanoi seeks to hedge its bets by balancing ties with other global powers.

“This framework is crucial for Beijing,” said Huynh Tam Sang, an international-relations lecturer at Vietnam National University. “It helps facilitate Vietnam’s alignment with China, particularly at a time when the US, under Trump 2.0, could leverage Vietnam to counter China’s influence in Southeast Asia.”

Officials from both countries’ foreign affairs, military and public security circles assembled for the meeting. Vietnamese state media reported that the session was held at the vice-ministerial level, and China’s state-run Global Times hailed the mechanism as a “pioneering effort”.

Typically, Beijing’s bilateral mechanisms involve a “2+2” format, featuring foreign and defence ministers. It has established such mechanisms in the past with Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Indonesia, among others. Vietnam, meanwhile, has similar dialogues with the US, Russia, Australia and France.

The inclusion of public security in the new China-Vietnam format has raised eyebrows, however. Analysts point out that it reflects deep concerns on both sides about domestic stability and the spectre of regime change. Bill Hayton, an associate fellow with British think tank Chatham House’s Asia-Pacific Programme, called the inclusion of public security “very striking”.

“This is evidence that, when it comes to the ‘dark arts’ of regime survival and maintaining domestic stability, the two communist parties regard each other as key partners,” Hayton said. “They both have a fear of pro-democracy ‘colour revolutions’ initiated by Western powers and they want to share expertise in how to counter them.”

In the run-up to this month’s dialogue, a series of high-level meetings were held between the two countries’ leaders. In August, Vietnam’s new General Secretary To Lam visited Beijing, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen their countries’ cooperation on combating separatism, preventing “colour revolutions”, and safeguarding political and regime security.

Colour revolutions are reference to non-violent protest movements aimed at bringing about political change that often adopt a specific colour or symbol to unify supporters. Examples include the 2003 Rose Revolution in Georgia and Orange Revolution of 2004-05 in Ukraine.

For Vietnam, deepening cooperation with China is a delicate dance. While Hanoi values its relationship with Beijing, its leaders are equally determined to maintain room to manoeuvre on the global stage. Vietnam has been actively diversifying its foreign relations in recent years, cultivating closer ties with the United States, Japan and other regional partners.

“It is essential for Hanoi to communicate to Chinese leaders the ‘special’ and ‘unique’ characteristics of the bilateral relationship,” Huynh said.

“By exercising limited deference toward China, Vietnam can acquire greater flexibility to expand its manoeuvring space,” he added, noting that this strategy has allowed Hanoi to quietly manage its disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Unlike the Philippines, which has frequently engaged in high-profile naval stand-offs with China, Vietnam has opted for back-room diplomacy to keep tensions in check.

This pragmatic approach has yielded some successes. Huynh pointed out that Vietnam has managed to mitigate some of Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea while maintaining a strong enough relationship to leverage this as a counterweight against other powers.

One of the most revealing aspects of the recent dialogue was its focus on public security, highlighting a shared concern about political survival. For both governments, widespread unrest – such as 2014’s anti-China protests in Vietnam that threatened to spiral into broader anti-government demonstrations – are a nightmare scenario.

“That worried the communist parties of both countries,” Hayton said. By including public security in their dialogue, they were signalling to each other that maintaining domestic stability is a shared priority, he said.

“This may prevent either side from making drastic moves that could damage the other’s interests,” Hayton added.

Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales and a Vietnam country specialist, framed the 3+3 mechanism as a “natural outcome” of the overlapping interests of two neighbours “rather than a new hierarchical order signifying Vietnam’s shift into China’s orbit”.

“China is the only partner to share a common land and maritime border with Vietnam where economic crime and smuggling, illegal immigration, human trafficking, telecoms fraud, cybersecurity, and tracking and recovering assets of criminals who have fled abroad are common challenges,” Thayer said.

“Both are socialist states that face domestic political challenges to one-party rule as well as external challenges by individuals, groups and countries that are perceived as seeking to interfere in their internal affairs.”

At its heart, the new dialogue between them was primarily aimed at managing their relationship in a way that serves both sides’ interests, he said, adding that relations will still be managed by the long-established China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation established in 2006 and co-chaired by their respective foreign ministers.

Could the 3+3 framework be replicated with other countries? Analysts are sceptical. While China has close ties with other communist-led nations like Laos, the “asymmetric nature” of that relationship complicates the picture, according to Hyunh.

Laos depends heavily on Chinese funding for its infrastructure and Beijing has obliged by providing billions of dollars’ worth of finance, he said.

Hayton added that the 3+3 structure only makes sense in relationships where public opinion is both a concern and a manageable factor.

“There would have to be both disputes between China and the other country and tools of public opinion management,” he said.

“It is unlikely that such a structure would be useful in, for example, China’s relations with the Philippines.”

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Fall of Syria’s Assad narrows China’s diplomatic space in the Middle East

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3291346/fall-syrias-assad-narrows-chinas-diplomatic-space-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed

After Russia and Iran’s regional power projection, China’s diplomacy is the most visible victim of the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad at the hands of a coalition of rebel forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The list of participants at an international summit on Syria held in Jordan last Saturday manifestly marked a blow to Beijing’s ambitions to increase its diplomatic standing on the world stage. The meeting’s line-up in Amman included Arab diplomats, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and new European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Russia’s and Iran’s exclusions are not surprising as they materially supported the Assad regime with arms and troops during the civil war that broke out in Syria 13 years ago. China has offered the former Syrian strongman tacit political backing, as well as promises of economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and help for reconstruction.

This more nuanced commitment, coupled with its official policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries and expanding trading ties in the region, should position China as a potential mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts. It seems relevant parties think otherwise, including a regional kingmaker such as Saudi Arabia, which has close diplomatic links with Beijing and is its second-largest oil supplier.

China’s absence from the Jordan summit could suggest that the new masters in Damascus do not believe that China can play a neutral role in the transition. Turkey and the Sunni Arab participants – at the moment the true winners in the new Syrian reality, given Shiite Iran’s strategic defeat – might see any possible Chinese contribution as irrelevant.

As far as the United States and European Union are concerned, they are likely to be wary of China’s attempts to expand its diplomatic footprint in the Middle East and beyond. Beijing has reportedly helped the Iranians overcome sanctions and political pressure imposed by the US in recent years.

In the eyes of Washington and most European governments, this means the Chinese have also indirectly propped up Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel and the US’ influence. This axis includes Islamist groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants, the Palestinian Hamas movement, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq’s Shiite militias.

China’s diplomatic woes in the Middle East were evident even before Assad’s overthrow. Its efforts to facilitate a peaceful solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has entered its second year, have proved ineffective. The shuttle diplomacy of Chinese special envoy for the Middle East Zhai Jun has achieved no concrete results, while Israeli ties with Beijing have hit rock bottom in the face of China’s support for Palestinian claims against those of Israel.

The reality is that there is too much power in the hands of the US or regional actors such as Turkey for China to play an important geopolitical role in the Middle East. The current unstable situation in Syria portends a further increase in the diplomatic action of Washington and Ankara.

The US has shown it still calls the shots in the Middle East. Israel could not have degraded Hamas in Gaza and scored points against Hezbollah and Iran without US political and military support. Washington has also been able to promote a truce between Israel and Hezbollah and is reportedly set to favour a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. For its part, Turkey was evidently behind the victorious push by anti-Assad rebels and is now positioning itself as the primary broker in the Syrian political transition.

Some might claim that US president-elect Donald Trump is looking for US disengagement from Syria, potentially creating a geopolitical void that China could strive to fill. However, Washington’s complete disentanglement is unlikely. The protection of Israel was one of the central planks of Trump’s foreign policy, and the evolution of the political situation in Syria will inevitably have repercussions on the Israeli security landscape.

For instance, the persistent presence of the Islamic State (Isis) terrorist group on Syrian territory is an element of instability. If anti-Assad forces were to remain gripped in an inter-rebel civil war, Isis fighters in Syria could regain ground and also threaten the Israeli border.

Washington has already emphasised that the current fighting between pro-Turkish rebel units and US-backed Kurdish militias in northern Syria might weaken international efforts to counter Isis operations. In addition, Trump would be forced to help Israel should jihadist formations hostile to Israel dominate the scene in Damascus.

With the US, Turkey and Israel appearing to have the upper hand in the current Middle Eastern dynamic, it is hard to imagine how China can find some room for diplomatic manoeuvre.

There is a chance that Beijing’s diplomacy in the Middle East could reclaim a central role if its Iranian partners – who emerged battered from recent clashes with Israel – were to accept a resumption of talks to rein in their nuclear programme in the face of Trump’s return. China was part of the negotiations in 2015 that led to the multilateral agreement on the limitation of Iran’s nuclear activities, which Trump killed in 2018 during his first presidential stint.

In case of a revival of the international diplomatic process, China could again play the role of facilitator given its close ties with Iran. The ball is now in the Iranian camp, but Tehran does not seem inclined to negotiate with the incoming US president.

To maintain calm in the South China Sea, Beijing just reaches for the bilateral playbook

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290698/maintain-calm-south-china-sea-beijing-just-reaches-bilateral-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed

Despite their ongoing rivalry over the South China Sea, Malaysia and China continue to keep close ties.

Back in 2019, the two Asian powers agreed to set up a bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) specifically for dealing with maritime issues. In October this year, it was finally set into motion.

Details of the consultation were scant – both sides said only that they would improve practical cooperation.

But this bilateral method appears to be Beijing’s go-to approach to handling South China Sea disputes. And although the strategy has had both wins and fails, maritime experts say the very existence of mechanism plays a crucial part in preventive diplomacy that both manages tensions and fosters consensus.

One of the main reasons Beijing uses this approach is to stop interference from other countries that could complicate or escalate issues, according to Luo Liang, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

He said that while China and Malaysia had strong ties, unresolved maritime disputes in the South China Sea persisted, underscoring the need for preventive measures to manage potential conflicts.

“When relations between China and Malaysia are strong, both countries can push forward with pragmatic cooperation and enhance their communications,” Luo said.

“Should any maritime incidents or minor disputes arise, having an effective channel already in place is crucial, similar to the practical mechanisms that China has established with Vietnam and the Philippines.”

He said Beijing had a history of using this particular bilateral playbook, which somewhat proved its effectiveness. For example, bilateral negotiations led to agreements that established the land and maritime borders in the Gulf of Tonkin more than two decades ago.

These agreements facilitated the creation of a joint hydrocarbon exploration and development zone in the Gulf of Tonkin in 2004, though no commercial exploitation has yet occurred.

Zheng Zhihua, an associate professor specialising in maritime affairs at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that without these bilateral mechanisms, situations would deteriorate.

“Even if the efficacy of such mechanisms remains limited, they also serve as a means of preventive diplomacy and are important for building consensus,” Zheng said. “Consensus, even a minor one, does not form in a vacuum but is built through continuous communication between parties.”

This was seen earlier this year when a provisional agreement was reached between China and the Philippines over resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal at the ninth BCM in July. It de-escalated a major confrontation that took place on June 17 when the Chinese coastguard conducted boarding inspections on a Philippine ship and confiscated their firearms.

Georgi Engelbrecht, a senior analyst for the Philippines at the International Crisis Group, said it made sense for Manila and Beijing to engage in talks given the increase in maritime face-offs between Chinese and Philippine vessels since late 2023.

“The June 17 incident was particularly worrisome, even for Beijing. The dialogue is also a textbook confidence-building measure, so there are no losses for both [sides] entering into it,” Engelbrecht said.

Although the details remain unclear, the agreement does not prejudice either country’s position in the disputed waterway. Its enforcement, though, is inconsistent. While some recent resupply missions have been without incident, in August there were ship collisions near Second Thomas Shoal.

Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, noted differences in expectations of the BCM between the Philippines and China.

He said Beijing remained hopeful that it would yield fruitful results in resolving disputes and fostering cooperation, but any potential progress was being slowed as Manila focused on strengthening ties with the US under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.

“But the good thing is that the BCM is still ongoing,” Banlaoi said. “During the time of president Duterte … there was a creation of working groups to really cooperate. Under the current government, nothing is really happening except talks and talks, but it is good to talk and have a channel to communicate.”

At the third BCM meeting, Beijing and Manila decided to engage in actual cooperation on joint exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources.

This decision culminated in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Oil and Gas Development in November 2018. However, the progress was stalled and the talks on the cooperation ended due to constitutional constraints and concerns about Philippine sovereignty.

Engelbrecht said the objective of the BCM was different for the two Philippine leaders.

“Under Duterte, the main aim was most likely to find an avenue to talk about tensions at sea but also improve relations more broadly. Under Marcos Jnr, it is a channel to really discuss maritime incidents,” he said.

“During Duterte’s time, some issues were discussed but some were not resolved. Case in point, Chinese presence in the EEZ [exclusive economic zone] of the Philippines and access to Scarborough Shoal for Philippine fishermen. Under Marcos Jnr, the most recent dialogue contributed to de-escalation, but did not fully reinvent the picture,” Engelbrecht said.

However, in the Gulf of Tonkin, Beijing and Hanoi have maintained a multitude of bilateral agreements, mechanisms and platforms, according to Luo.

China and Vietnam have established three working groups to discuss sea-related issues: matters regarding the waters outside the mouth of the gulf; cooperation in fields such as fisheries, marine scientific research, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; and consultation on cooperation for mutual development at sea.

An impressive 16 rounds of negotiations have been held on the waters beyond the mouth of the gulf, the group discussing cooperation in other fields has met 16 times, and the working group for joint development has convened 13 times.

“By focusing on less sensitive areas, a firm foundation can be built,” Luo said. Given the delicate and sensitive nature of sovereignty issues, beginning with less contentious areas was a strategic way to build mutual trust, he said.

But things do not always go smoothly. In April 2016, China and Vietnam completed a joint survey of the waters beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin. According to a Chinese report, this survey was expected to improve the level of maritime scientific research cooperation between the two countries and create a strong basis for further joint development and delimitation negotiations in the area.

“After the survey was completed, negotiations hit a stalemate as significant differences emerged regarding the priorities of joint development and maritime delimitation, with neither side prepared to make concessions,” Luo said.

Despite these challenges, Luo noted that the two sides eventually overcame their disagreements and agreed to progress simultaneously on maritime delimitation and joint development.

However, Zheng pointed out that the presence of three working groups did not guarantee consistent progress in resolving the disputes between Beijing and Hanoi, and the bilateral mechanisms had a limited role in any eventual dispute resolution.

“Yet, it would be incorrect to dismiss the working groups as entirely ineffective,” Zheng said. “These groups ensure ongoing dialogue between the two nations. In the event of incidents, they provide a platform for discussion and cooling down tensions.”

Bilateral mechanisms were, by nature, short-term, Engelbrecht said. They have the potential to “grow deeper”, but they are not a “panacea”.

As Beijing maintains three distinct dialogue platforms with major South China Sea claimants, it reflects this preferred strategy.

“It comes at a time of heightened tensions – so by following the bilateral playbook, China sends a message of commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes while reducing the weight of Asean or claimants to work together,” Engelbrecht said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Meanwhile, according to Banlaoi, the China-Philippines maritime tensions are like “boiling water”.

“If it is covered in a pressure cooker, then it is going to explode,” he said. “But the BCM provides a little air so that this pressure will not explode into an uncontrollable situation.”