Some of China's top aviation equipment, including the FC-31 stealth fighter jet, the J-10CE fighter jet and the Taihang turbofan engine, are on display at an ongoing defense expo in the UAE, with a Chinese expert seeing good export potential in the Middle Eastern market.
Representing the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) showcased a diverse range of aviation equipment, including fighter jets, drones, transport aircraft, helicopters, trainer aircraft, anti-drone equipment and aero engines at the 17th International Defense Exhibition and Conference, which kicked off on Monday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, AVIC said on its official Weibo account on Tuesday.
Among the products are the FC-31 fighter jet, the J-10CE fighter jet, the Y-20 transport aircraft, the Y-9E transport aircraft and the L15 advanced trainer aircraft, AVIC said.
Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday that China is displaying both its fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets at the expo, allowing countries in the region access to the cutting-edge aviation technology at the same event.
The US and European countries have been traditional suppliers of aviation equipment in the Middle East, but amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, things are changing, Wang said. He noted that, for example, regional countries might be unable to obtain the US' fifth-generation fighter jet like the F-35 because of complicated country-to-country relations in the region as well as the US' security interests. Many countries might also be worried about the reliability of Western equipment as well after some recent incidents.
China's fourth-generation J-10 series fighter jet has been widely deployed domestically, and the J-10CE variant has already been exported. The fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter jet, which shares origins with the FC-31, has also been commissioned in China, according to Wang.
Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), another Chinese aviation industry firm, said in a WeChat post on Monday that it for the first time brought top products including the Taihang engine and the AES100 engine to the expo.
Taihang is a high thrust turbofan engine independently developed by China that has been commissioned in numbers and has been successfully exported. This type of engine has reached the advanced level of international products of the same generation, featuring fuel efficiency during cruise, strong combat power in aerial engagements, and low maintenance workload, AECC said.
Leading Chinese defense companies are also participating in the event, which will run until Friday, to exhibit a range of naval equipment, including surface vessels, submarines, underwater weapons and unmanned systems, as well as products from other defense sectors such as land, air and space, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Tainan City of China's Taiwan, at 12:17 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The epicenter, with a depth of 14 km, was monitored at 23.24 degrees north latitude and 120.51 degrees east longitude, the CENC said.
Tremors were felt in Taipei, lasting for over 10 seconds, and several aftershocks occurred after the quake.
According to local media reports, two people are being rescued after a house collapsed in Tainan.
US Forces Korea denied reports spread by online media outlet Sky Daily claiming that 99 Chinese spies were captured by US forces and sent to Japan when martial law was invoked, stating that such allegations are "entirely false," South Korea media reported.
In a public statement released Monday, the US Forces Korea stated, "The depiction of US Forces and the allegations in the mentioned ROK media article are entirely false," according to South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh.
The statement continued, "US Forces Korea remains committed to [its] mission of maintaining stability and security on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. We urge responsible reporting and fact-checking to prevent the spread of misinformation that could harm public trust."
The media article refers to a Sky Daily article published on Thursday titled "99 Chinese Spies Working at the National Election Commission Transported to Japan." The outlet wrote, "On Dec. 3, 2024, South Korean martial law troops, in a joint operation with US Forces Korea, raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and arrested 99 Chinese nationals, who were then deported to the US Army base in Okinawa via the port of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin."
The South Korean National Election Commission on Friday denied the report in a public statement, as did the National Office of Investigation, the police body that is currently involved in the joint probe into South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, according to Korean Herald.
On December 12, 2024, addressing to the nation, Yoon mentioned the cases of Chinese nationals threatening the South Korea's national security. He also said that China's solar facilities will destroy forests across the country.
In response, Mao Ning, spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the same day that "We are surprised by those comments and find them deeply upsetting. We will not comment on the ROK's domestic affairs, but we absolutely oppose the ROK side associating its domestic affairs with Chinese elements, amplifying unfounded 'Chinese spy' accusations and throwing mud at normal economic and trade cooperation. None of these are conducive to a healthy and steady China-ROK relationship."
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Thursday inspected Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Xi made the trip shortly before the Spring Festival, the most important holiday for the Chinese people, which falls on Jan. 29 this year.
Xi visited a food market and a residential community in Shenyang, where he learned about the supply of goods during the holiday season and measures in place to meet residents' daily needs and optimize public services, as well as details of progress made in improving people's life.
For more than a decade, Xi, as the Party and the state's top leader, has made it a tradition to spend time with ordinary people ahead of the Spring Festival.
China has detected a gamma-ray burst, designated as EP240315a, that originated approximately 12.5 billion light years away using its Einstein Probe (EP) astronomical satellite, also known as the Tianguan satellite, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday. This is the first instance of humanity detecting soft X-ray signals from an early universe explosion, opening a new window for research into the young cosmos.
The relevant research paper has been published online in the international academic journal Nature Astronomy on Thursday, Xinhua said.
There are numerous violent explosive events in the universe. Such events occur randomly and vanish swiftly, resembling fleeting cosmic "fireworks." Observing these cosmic "fireworks" is of great significance for researching frontier issues in fields such as black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmic evolution, the report said.
"Gamma-ray bursts rank among the universe's most violent explosions, usually generated by the explosion of massive stars," said Liu Yuan, a research fellow at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). On March 15, 2024, the EP satellite first captured the weak pulse signal of EP240315a in the soft X-ray band. The brightness of EP240315a fluctuated rapidly and gradually disappeared after more than 17 minutes.
Subsequently, multiple astronomical telescopes around the world observed EP240315a in succession. The research results show that it originated in the distant early universe. At the time, the universe was just 10 percent of its current age, and it took 12.5 billion years for the signal of EP240315a to reach the Earth, read the Xinhua report.
"Compared with other gamma-ray bursts, EP240315a stands out as unique," commented Wu Xuefeng, one of the corresponding authors of the paper and a research fellow at the Purple Mountain Observatory of CAS. For example, the X-ray brightness of EP240315a is relatively dim at the peak of the burst, and the time gap between X-rays and gamma-rays for EP240315a is significantly longer than other bursts. These characteristics will prompt the scientific community to re-examine the generation mechanism of gamma-ray bursts, Wu said.
Many experts at home and abroad said that the observation results of EP240315a by the EP satellite have deepened humanity's understanding of early universe gamma-ray bursts, offer fresh insights into the origins and evolution of the universe, Xinhua reported.
The EP mission is one of a series of space science missions led by CAS. This is an international collaboration effort, featuring contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Germany, and the French space agency CNES.
Launched into space in January 2024, the satellite has achieved several initial discoveries, such as an uncommon transient phenomenon, advancing understanding of the universe and extreme physical phenomena, Xinhua reported.
It aims to help scientists detect the first light from supernova explosions, search for and pinpoint X-ray signals accompanying gravitational wave events, while identifying dormant black holes and other faint, transient celestial objects.
Chinese actor Wang Xing human trafficking incident in Thailand has dampened the enthusiasm of some Chinese tourists for travel to Thailand, with a few even canceling scheduled trips to the country at a high cost. While it is understandable that some travelers now hesitate to travel to Thailand, some frequent visitors to the country hoped that Thai authorities will make tangible steps to crack down on traffickers, helping tourists to ease their worries.
Wu Zhiwu, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Thailand, met with Thailand's Senior Inspector General, Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, on Sunday. Thatchai briefed Wu on the recent efforts by Thai police in case involving missing Chinese national and reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to further strengthening the prevention and crackdown on transnational crimes. Wu spoke positively of Thailand's determination and efforts in ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals, according to a release of the Chinese Embassy on Sunday.
Both sides conducted in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation to jointly combat transnational crimes, including telecom fraud and human trafficking, read the release.
Chinese tourist numbers might fall by 10 to 20 percent during the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays due to safety concerns among travelers, after Wang Xing the Chinese actor recently fell victim to a human trafficking gang using Thailand as a gateway, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), Thai media outlet the Bangkok Post reported.
The owner of a travel agency in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, surnamed Cao, told the Global Times that more than 50 percent of her clients had canceled their bookings to Thailand after Chinese actor Wang Xing went missing near the Thai-Myanmar border.
A woman surnamed Fu told the reporter from the Global Times that she had planned to take her parents on a trip to Bangkok and Phuket during the Spring Festival holidays, but her parents became reluctant to travel to Thailand after they heard about Wang Xing's incident. Fu had already booked flights and hotels for the whole trip, but now she could only cancel the trip and swallow the loss of 10,000 yuan ($1,364).
Another netizen, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times that she had planned to visit Chiang Mai, but since the city is quite close to Myanmar and with safety concerns, she also canceled her planned trip, preferring to visit after Thailand becomes safer.
Some online travel agencies said they have also been affected by the alleged recent trafficking case, with the owner of an agency running Thai diving projects told the Global Times that about five percent of customers had temporarily canceled their orders. However, other agencies that customize travel itineraries for tourists said that order sales had experienced very limited impacts.
Travel agencies providing travel services to Thailand noted that regular group tours are safe as long as visitors avoid going to the border area or stay out late at night.
Wu Yuan, a frequent traveler to Thailand, told the Global Times that her previous experiences visiting Thailand are unforgettable, adding that she hopes that Thai authorities will make tangible steps to crack down on traffickers, helping tourists to ease their worries.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released a statement on Friday saying that Thailand attaches great importance to the safety of tourists and will make its best efforts to provide Chinese tourists with a quality travel experience. The TAT will work closely with relevant authorities, including government agencies and private companies, in a joint effort to facilitate and protect the safety of all tourists traveling to Thailand, according to the statement.
The priority for traveling is safety, it is understandable that some travelers are now holding a wait-and-see attitude toward travel to Thailand, Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Army has carried out joint drills to evaluate annual combat readiness in high-altitude and cold environment conditions in the Karakoram Mountains at the start of the new year, featuring drones, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.
According to a China Central Television (CCTV) report on Monday, a unit of the Xinjiang Military Command has been conducting reconnaissance tactical drills in an unfamiliar high-altitude area. Multiple forces of reconnaissance, armored and firepower units participated with a range of equipment to test their operational capacity.
In the Karakoram Mountains during the ongoing drills, the reconnaissance unit swiftly maneuvered to the designated area and established a reconnaissance position upon after receiving intelligence from a higher command. Meanwhile, the aerial reconnaissance unit deployed drones to conduct real-time battlefield monitoring.
The command post quickly analyzed the enemy situation and issued combat orders, with all operational units immediately responding. The armored unit swiftly assembled, mobilized their vehicles, and launched an assault on the forward positions. The artillery unit adjusted firing parameters as instructed, preparing for fire support.
According to a participant of the exercise, due to rapidly changing battlefield conditions, the reconnaissance unit must be stealthy, efficient and swift when carrying out missions, which requires the unit not only to possess strong military skills but also to be familiar with the terrain and topography of the battlefield.
The CCTV report shows that as the drills continued, the reconnaissance unit advanced the frontline rapidly, using radar systems, drones and telescopes to conduct comprehensive detection of the enemy’s forward positions.
After obtaining information on enemy troops’ deployments and firepower configurations, an assault group formed by the armored unit launched successive charges. Under the cover of tanks, troops carried by infantry fighting vehicles quickly dismounted and advanced toward the target area, successfully seizing the position.
In accordance with the operational requirements for high-altitude and cold regions, the troops have researched system-based reconnaissance, said Zhou Hongxin from the Xinjiang Military Command. Through targeted enhancement and gap-filling trainings, and repeated rounds of combat drills, each combat unit could spot their shortcomings, which compels PLA soldiers and officers to address and overcome deficiencies, thereby enhancing overall ability.
This year’s military drills officially began on January 2 with all military troops carrying out exercises throughout the country, from the Gobi Desert, the coastal frontlines, the snow-covered plateaus to the dense mountain forests.
On Thursday, drills of a destroyer detachment from the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command began in full swing. A formation of advanced destroyers and frigates cast off and set sail for designated waters to conduct a series of high-intensity, combat-oriented drills, according to CCTV.
Meanwhile, an air force aviation brigade conducted its first training flight at the beginning of the new year, integrating aerial tactical competitions into their drills. Pilots engaged in realistic combat scenarios, carrying out air combat confrontations, close-range air support, and air-to-ground attack drills across multiple training subjects. The training aims to comprehensively hone the pilots’ combat skills in a simulated battlefield environment, CCTV reported.
Song Xiaojun, a military affairs commentator, said the highlights and characteristics of different services in diversified drills can be summarized with three phrases – actual combat, high intensity and systematization.
Song said that this year’s New Year drills are related to deepening the reform of the joint operational system, which means that different military services and branches should find points of closer interdependence in future operations. Only in this way can they achieve the maximum effect of joint operations and, in turn, constrain the enemy’s decision-making space to force them into difficult situations, CCTV reported.
In a hot pot restaurant in downtown Shanghai, several young South Koreans gather around a steaming pot and chat while enjoying their meal. At a zoo in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, a little girl exclaims, "So cute!" in Japanese while pointing to a panda, with her smiling parents behind her. At Zhangjiajie in Central China's Hunan Province, Korean tourists excitedly capture breathtaking mountains with their smartphones.
Since China further relaxed its temporary entry policy in November to include more countries, including South Korea and Japan, an increasing number of tourists from these two countries have been flocking to Chinese scenic spots, including famous streets and shops.
As close neighbors, the enthusiasm for travel to China among tourists from the two countries has rapidly increased. According to data from China's travel service provider Trip.com, from December 31, 2024, to January 1, 2025, inbound travel orders from South Korea and Japan increased by 215 percent and 145 percent year-on-year, respectively.
On social media, traveling to China for a weekend or holiday getaway has become a trendy activity among young people in South Korea and Japan. Similarly, many Chinese tourists, particularly those from the eastern regions, also enjoy visiting nearby Japan and South Korea for a refreshing and relaxing weekend.
The year 2025 and 2026 is the China-Japan-South Korea Cultural Exchange Year, and the booming "weekend tourism circle" is becoming a vibrant window for people of the three countries to visit each other's homelands and gain a deeper understanding of each other's cultures, societies, and modern developments.
Tourism serves as a bridge to promote mutual understanding among the Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean people, helping to eliminate misunderstandings and prejudices at the grassroots level, considering the complex historical and political ties among the three countries, said Zhang Lingyun, professor and the executive editor-in-chief of Tourism Tribune, the leading tourism and hospitality academic journal in China. "The 'weekend tourism circle' plays a positive role in strengthening the friendly relations of the three peoples, and contributes to regional peace and stability," Zhang told the Global Times.
'Travel to China after work'
"Travel to China after work on Friday" has reportedly become a popular key phrase and trending hashtag on South Korean social media platforms. The younger South Korean generation's travel choices are increasingly focused on short trips, such as two nights and three days, reported The Korea Economic Daily in November. "This is ideal for what are known as 'night owl travel destinations,' where travelers can enjoy a trip to China after finishing work on Friday evening and return on Sunday or Monday," the article stated.
Cities in Eastern China that are closer to South Korea, such as Shanghai, Qingdao, and Dalian, naturally become the preferred weekend destinations for South Korean tourists. In Shanghai, Global Times reporters have come across many fashionably dressed young South Koreans shopping and taking photos along the Bund, Wukang Road, and Xintiandi. South Korean tourist and content producer Saea recently uploaded her travel vlog about Shanghai on YouTube, which has attracted more than 840,000 views. In this 29-minute video, she shares many exciting moments from her time in the city, such as visiting Yuyuan Garden, enjoying local-style noodles, and savoring hot pot. "I also watched the sunrise at the Oriental Pearl Tower with my friends at the Bund, and it was really fun and enjoyable," Saea told the Global Times.
In her eyes, Shanghai has a lively atmosphere and is seen as a pioneer in fashion and trends. "The European-style buildings were fantastic for taking pictures, and there was an abundance of food, and transportation was convenient with subways, buses, and taxis." Saea has also traveled to other cities outside of Shanghai, such as Harbin, where the local dish "Guo Bao Rou (fried pork in scoop)" left a strong impression on her. "There are many restaurants in South Korea that serve delicious Guo Bao Rou, but when I tried the original in Harbin, it was truly perfect," she recalled.
On social media, there has been an increase in photos and videos shared by Japanese tourists showcasing their experiences while visiting the Great Wall, exploring ancient Chinese streets and towns, and trying on traditional Chinese clothing or Hanfu.
Starting from November 30, 2024, tourists from Japan, along with visitors from eight other countries including Bulgaria and Romania, are able to enter China visa-free for up to 30 days.
Japanese tourist SU, who goes by the screen name "SU channel" on YouTube, told the Global Times that he decided to travel to China as soon as a visa-free entry option became available. The 30-day validity period has made SU eager for more than just a brief weekend getaway, and he has visited numerous locations across the country, from major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, to smaller northeastern cities such as Shenyang and Dalian.
"I appreciate the size and level of development of Chinese cities, many of which surpass those in Japan, and I also enjoy exploring historical and cultural sites," SU said to the Global Times. "I was particularly moved by the old town and cultural heritage of Dalian."
"I'm also considering traveling to China again in 2025."
Tourism boom
China's temporary visa-free travel policy has significantly boosted inbound tourism from Japan and South Korea. On November 30, 2024, the first day of the visa-free policy for Japan, the number of inbound Japanese tourists increased by 107 percent year-on-year, as reported by Beijing Business Today on December 1.
Travel bookings from South Korea to China during this year's Spring Festival holiday (from January 28 to February 4) surged by 452 percent year-on-year, according to data from online travel agency Trip.com.
The influx of Japanese and South Korean tourists to China is not surprising, as the new policy brings novelty and reduces costs for them since the implementation of the visa-free policy, Zhang said. "Moreover, Japan and South Korea are China's geographical neighbors, and we share a deep cultural connection in history," he told the Global Times. "This cultural proximity makes Chinese tourism particularly attractive to them."
The cities of Shanghai and Chengdu, along with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, are some of the most popular travel destinations for Japanese and Korean tourists, Zhang said. Zhangjiajie, due to its successful marketing, is seen as a symbol of filial piety by many South Koreans, who like to accompany their parents to visit the park, Zhang said. "Also, Zhangjiajie has seized this opportunity to provide customized services for Korean tourists, such as recruiting more Korean-speaking staff, and introducing direct flights between South Korea and this destination."
Better services, including multilingual offerings and diverse payment options, are crucial for tourist attractions and businesses in China, as they seek to capitalize on the burgeoning "weekend tourism circle."
Hot pot, for instance, is a popular dish among South Korean tourists visiting China. Lately, some hot pot restaurants in downtown Shanghai have been receiving an average of 60 to 200 South Korean customers daily, accounting for approximately 15 percent of their total clientele, the Global Times learned.
"South Koreans enjoy a lively and cheerful dining atmosphere, and some customers specifically ask if we can sing birthday songs for them," said Liu, a manager at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in Shanghai. "To accommodate this, we have set up Korean signage and provided birthday greeting services in Korean," Liu told the Global Times. The "weekend tourism circle" is a promising start for China's burgeoning inbound tourism industry. From weekend getaways to longer vacations, "China is expected to become an important destination for young people from Japan and South Korea for graduation trips, study tours, and even wellness travel," said Cai Hong, head of the Department of Tourism Management at the Capital University of Economics and Business.
Baek Seo-Hui, a South Korean student at Fudan University who has been in China for over seven years, usually travels around the country with friends or family during her spare time. This former president of the Association of South Korean Students in Shanghai suggests that South Korean tourists consider taking a few extra days off in addition to their weekend trips to China, so as to fully appreciate the unique charm of different Chinese cities.
"First, as the development levels of cities across China differ, experiencing the atmosphere of various cities can provide a better understanding of the characteristics and diversity of China's regional economic development. Second, China is a multi-ethnic country with 56 ethnic groups, so visitors can experience a rich tapestry of minority cultures. Additionally, if possible, I strongly recommend experiencing the culinary culture found in different cities across China," said Baek.
Strengthening connections At the 15th China-Japan-South Korea Cultural Ministers' Meeting in September 2024, the three countries agreed to strengthen cooperation to achieve the goal of increasing mutual visits among the three countries to 40 million by 2030.
The growing popularity of the "weekend tourism circle" undoubtedly instills strong confidence in the three countries to achieve this goal, and serves as a convenient channel for enhancing mutual understanding and promoting cultural exchanges among their peoples.
Due to historical and geopolitical reasons, the sentiments among the people of the three countries have been complex, leading to some hard feelings toward each other at the grass-roots level, said Zhang. "However, it is precisely because of this, that we need to enhance mutual understanding and effectively eliminate misunderstandings," he said.
"I believe that Japanese and South Korean tourists can experience the real China through their own observations and travel experiences. Likewise, we should be more accommodating toward foreign visitors as well," he noted.
The first step in breaking down stereotypes about a country, is often through visiting it and engaging with its people in person. On China's social media platform Xiaohongshu, a Japanese tourist with the screen name "Ayaka" shared several touching moments from her recent first-ever trip to China. "The landscapes and cuisine of China captivated me, but what moved me even more was the warmth and kindness of the people," she wrote. "My journey in China allowed me to experience the hospitality and friendliness of the locals, and I am deeply grateful for every warm moment."
"I think there are indeed some biases and misunderstandings among the people of China, Japan, and South Korea," Baek told the Global Times. "Nonetheless, true understanding and mutual respect can be deepened through personal experiences and face-to-face interactions. Diplomatic exchanges at the government level and people-to-people communication are equally essential."
On January 1, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) announced the results of the "CJK (China, Japan, and South Korea) Spirit Word of the Year 2025" selection, with the Chinese word for "future" winning the highest number of votes. TCS secretary-general Lee Hee-seop noted that, "future" reflects the optimism and determination of the people in the three countries to build closer ties in the coming years.
The geographical proximity, cultural similarities, and today's significant economic connections among China, Japan, and South Korea highlight the need for increased communication among the three sides, said Baek. "Traveling to each other's countries encourages the peoples of the three countries to perceive, accept, and respect each other's cultures with a more open mindset, thereby laying a solid foundation for the harmonious development of trilateral relations," she concluded.
