A stampede occurred on Monday afternoon at a middle school in Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, leaving three students seriously injured and 11 others with minor injuries, according to Xinjiang Daily.
At about 3:25 pm on Monday, a student accidentally fell at the entrance of a dormitory at No. 8 Middle School in Kashgar Prefecture, as students were heading to the classrooms, triggering a stampede, Xinjiang Daily reported.
Following the incident, emergency response plans were immediately activated, and relevant departments quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.
Treatment for the injured is ongoing, and a further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, according to Xinjiang Daily.
China's human rights stories are unfolding in a new era of comprehensive deepening reform and historic changes. It is a key component of China's poverty alleviation and whole-process people's democracy, a thorough reformation in judicial, medical insurance and other key sectors related to the national economy and people's livelihood, as well as a combination of numerous impressive and inspiring individual stories.
To be nurtured in youth, be educated, secure gainful employment, receive medical care when ill, be cared for in old age, have a place to live, and be supported when weak... these are the concrete embodiment of human rights, which explains that the greatest human right is the right to the happiness of the people.
For a long time, politicians and media outlets in a handful of countries have remained hostile and prejudiced toward China, leading to a lack of understanding among foreign audiences when it comes to the concepts and achievements of China's human rights development. But what is revealed in the daily lives of the Chinese people speaks to the most basic truth: Rights to survival and development are fundamental human rights.
The Global Times is launching a series of articles, telling the vivid stories about upholding human rights in the new era. We expect the series to become a window through which more foreign readers will understand how Chinese people recognize human rights and what efforts they have made to fight for and fully enjoy human rights in their daily lives.
After a long day at work, Ni Beiyue sits in front of his computer at home, eagerly immersing himself in the world of creating short videos with AI (artificial intelligence) tools. For nearly three hours, he brainstorms video content, generates mental images using AI, and makes the necessary revisions. It is late in the night when he finally uploads the finished video to an online platform, but Ni Beiyue feels quite happy and fulfilled.
It's hard to imagine that just a few months ago, the 45-year-old was a patient struggling with severe depression. With the help of AI tools, Ni Beiyue gradually channeled his heavy sadness into video creation, and eventually freed himself from hospitalization and medication - a miracle in the eyes of his doctor.
Mental health is a topic that the Chinese government and society have long cared about, and an important factor related to people's well-being. With the rapid development of AI technology in China, various AI companies, hospitals, regional governments, and social organizations are creatively applying AI to improve mental health and treat psychological disorders.
From using AI algorithms and large models for assessment, monitoring, and rehabilitation training, to employing AI-generated tech - which includes AI-generated image, music, and video creation - for supportive psychological healing, these initiatives have, to some extent, shown promising results, the Global Times learned. They showcase the warmth of human compassion shining through the rapid advancements in China's AI technology.
"I am grateful to have encountered AI during my darkest days," Ni Beiyue told the Global Times. "It saved me."
An outlet and bridge of emotion
In early 2023, Ni Beiyue was introduced to AI generative tools through a friend's recommendation, at a time when his mental health was poor.
Ni Beiyue works in the transportation system in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. He recalled that due to immense work pressure and other factors, he was diagnosed with severe depression and spent six months in the hospital, taking medication with no improvement.
To help Ni Beiyue overcome his struggles with depression, his friend Ni Kaomeng, a seasoned generative AI enthusiast, shared some text-to-video tools with him. Ni Beiyue was quickly captivated.
"I graduated from an art school, and my passion for artistic creation has never faded, although my job is unrelated to that," said Ni Beiyue. He said that the first time he used these AI tools, he felt his previous state of emptiness and confusion dissipate. "I seemed to see a glimmer of hope, as I could finally pick up art again."
Despite having little knowledge of this new field, Ni Beiyue's background in art, and the low entry barrier of generative AI tools, allowed him to quickly master the creation of AI videos. His creative enthusiasm then surged. Over the next four months, Ni Beiyue created and uploaded more than 120 self-made short AI videos, many of which featured lighthearted themes like cute animals. These videos garnered him a total of 30 million views, along with unprecedented confidence and joy.
AI video creation serves as an excellent outlet for Ni Beiyue's negative emotions. He said that thanks to AI, now he has largely recovered, no longer needing medication for his depression. "Even my doctor was amazed," he added.
Ni Kaomeng was pleased with his friend's improvement in mental health. As the initiator of the China AIGC (AI-generated content) Industrial Alliance, a nationwide civil group of China's AIGC industry insiders, Ni Beiyue's experience has also inspired him to explore using AI tools to assist other groups facing psychological issues. He believes that AI tools can serve as an outlet for individuals with depression like Ni Beiyue to express their emotions, and can also act as a new bridge for patients with other mental health conditions - such as autism - to further connect with the world.
Ni Kaomeng said that in 2024, the alliance organized two public benefit activities related to children with autism, in collaboration with charitable groups. During these events, the artwork created by some autistic children was re-created and enriched using AI tools. The alliance also created an AI music video from their artwork, attracting tens of millions of views online.
"In my understanding, children with autism may have a lot to say internally, but find it difficult to express themselves through conventional means like language," Ni Kaomeng told the Global Times. "The low entry barrier of generative AI tools can help them present their inner thoughts and bridge the gap with the world." He said that the alliance members plan to hold more activities to support children with autism, including attempts to teach them how to create music using AI.
"If language limits some autistic children's expression, then we will use AI tools to break through that limitation," he noted.
In September, Ni Kaomeng's alliance held an online exhibition focused on supporting children with autism. In about two months, it gathered 537 pieces of themed drawings, many of which were also reinterpreted with AI tools. The artworks from these "children from the stars" became even more interesting and imaginative under the interpretation of AI.
"The combination of my child's drawings with AI has turned his dreams into reality," said the parent of a participating child with autism surnamed Ma. "He felt an immense joy."
More objective, quantifiable
There are over 10 million individuals with autism in China, with a conservative estimate of around 2 million children aged 0-14, according to the fifth report on the Development of Autism Education and Rehabilitation Industry in China released in April 2024. "Autism is the leading mental disability among children in our country," Feng Rui, director of the Chengdu Frontier Brain AI Innovation Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, told the media in April.
Diagnosing autism in young children has been challenging. Due to their age, very young children often struggle to express themselves fully and cannot undergo assessments effectively, making it difficult to distinguish autism from other developmental disorders, said Lü Zhuhai, a chief neurosurgeon at Nanjing Brain Hospital in East China's Jiangsu Province. Similarly, the diagnosis of adolescent mental health issues such as ADHD and depression may not be sufficient if it relies solely on the work of psychiatrists, as it lacks objective and quantifiable assessments, Lü added.
"In clinical practice, we often encounter parents of children with depression asking if their child can stop medication. However, the criteria for determining whether a child's depression has improved are usually quite vague, such as when a doctor asks the patient, 'Do you feel better?'" Lü told the Global Times. "We need more objective data to assess whether the situation has improved."
Interested in the potential of AI technology for diagnosing and rehabilitating mental health issues, Lü and his team have developed their own algorithm platform and database in recent years. They collected and analyzed various characteristic signals of mental disorders, such as neural networks, hormone levels, and brain waves, to assist in diagnosing children's mental health issues.
At Feng's innovation center, AI technology is also bringing about positive developments. For instance, a research team at the center has reportedly established an early diagnosis and identification system for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on AI technologies, such as deep learning, transfer learning, and manifold learning. This system fills a gap in the Chinese domestic field, "achieving a diagnostic accuracy rate of 91.67 percent," said Sichuan-based Fengmian News in April.
Lü said that most of these AI devices and technologies have not yet been applied at the hospital level, but this is a promising start. "In the future, we will collaborate with special education schools, rehabilitation institutions, and research institutes, to ensure that AI technology benefits more people with mental health issues, especially children and teenagers," he told the Global Times.
Government support
In July, the Chinese government released the "Implementation Plan for the Care and Promotion of Autistic Children (2024-2028)," which outlines a five-year initiative to improve the care service mechanisms and systems for children with autism. Notably, the plan includes the integration of 29 medical rehabilitation projects for children with autism into the national health insurance system, aimed at alleviating the medical and rehabilitation burdens on involved families.
Ni Kaomeng expressed his enthusiasm for this plan, saying that it signifies a commitment from the government and society to allocate more resources to support children with autism. Ni Kaomeng, who is also the deputy head of the Wenzhou Federation of Social Science, shared that the federation regularly organizes activities to care for children with autism and other mental health issues.
On a broader scale, the State Council of China in 2022 issued a plan to improve policies on national health during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), which places greater emphasis on mental health. The plan stated the goal of slowing the rising trend of mental health disorders and effectively controlling severe mental illnesses and occupational diseases by 2025.
With national support, AI has significant potential in the detection and intervention of mental health issues, said Ni Kaomeng. He envisioned several possible applications of AI technology in this field, such as "AI psychologists" based on large language models, and an "AI network manager" that can monitor the depressive and suicidal tendencies of underage users through their posts.
"In the future, the government will encourage AI companies and institutions to participate more actively in serving patients with mental health issues, through ways such as policy subsidies and service purchases," he said. "It will be a 'two-way effort.'"
Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries. They welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China's support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance, according to a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee held on Tuesday in Riyadh.
The meeting marks China's efforts to maintain dialogue between the two nations to ensure the ties steer clear of conflicts in the Middle East, Chinese experts said, noting that it also highlights China's role of being a reliable peacemaker amid wariness in the region over uncertainties coupled with the change in the US government.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, with the participation of the Chinese delegation headed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li and the Iranian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi, according to a handout published by China's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries by adhering to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international law, including respecting national sovereignty, independence and security.
China stressed its readiness to continue to support and encourage the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran toward developing their relations in various fields.
The three countries welcomed the continuous progress in Saudi Arabia-Iran relations, which provides opportunities for direct exchanges between the two countries at all levels and across all sectors.
Since the thawing of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran that began in March last year, significant changes, such as the Palestine-Israel conflict, have occurred in the situation, Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times.
The second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee not only seeks to solidify the progress made in improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but also aims to ensure that the ties between the two nations can steer clear of conflicts in the Middle East, Wang said.
Conflict between Iran and Israel has escalated since early October when Iran fired approximately 180 missiles at Israeli targets. Tehran said the strikes were retaliation for the assassinations of several leaders of regional resistance groups, among other reasons.
The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 26 that it conducted "precise and targeted" airstrikes on targets in Iran in response to recent attacks from the country.
Since September 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attacks on Lebanon in an escalation of the conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
China, Saudi Arabia and Iran on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the Israeli military operationsin both Palestine and Lebanon, condemn the Israeli attack and its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, and called for ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestine and Lebanon.
The three countries held that the ongoing cycle of violence and escalation poses a serious threat to the security of the region and the world, including maritime security.
The three countries reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognized principles under the auspices of the United Nations.
China is, to some extent, an important promoter of peace in the Middle East, while the US has played the role of a conflict instigator in the region, Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.
Liu said that in the face of uncontrollable regional conflicts, the US and some Western countries have failed to fulfill their responsibilities as major world powers to promote peace. Therefore, China's cooperation with regional countries could help promote the easing of conflicts.
An international academic conference on the ideas of human rights in ancient Chinese classics was hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Hunan Provincial Committee and Hunan University at the historic Yuelu Academy in Changsha, Central China’s Hunan Province on Wednesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and representatives from think tanks from China and several countries, including the US, Canada, Italy, Japan and Pakistan, attended the event and shared their perspectives on human rights.
The Global Times extracted key points from scholars’ views on the human rights concepts embedded in traditional Chinese culture, the significant achievements China has made in human rights endeavors, and the differences in human rights perspectives between the East and the West.
Zamir Awan, a non-resident fellow with the Center for China and Globalization and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology
The Chinese approach to human rights is deeply rooted in its unique political ideology, cultural heritage and historical context. China places a strong emphasis on collective rights over individual rights, prioritizing economic development, social stability and national sovereignty as essential components of its human rights philosophy. This approach is shaped by the belief that development is a fundamental human right, and without a stable and prosperous society, the enjoyment of other rights becomes secondary or unattainable.
China advocates for a pluralistic view of human rights, asserting that each country has the right to interpret human rights in a way that aligns with its cultural values, historical experience and developmental priorities.
China’s efforts in promoting South-South cooperation, particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), are framed as contributions to global human rights by fostering development, reducing inequality and creating opportunities for shared prosperity among developing nations.
China’s success in lifting millions out of poverty and advancing economic growth positions it as a key player in global human rights discourse, promoting a view that the pursuit of collective prosperity is an essential pathway to realizing human dignity for all.
A critical challenge to human rights is the political use of human rights by certain powers, particularly in the Western world, as a tool for advancing geopolitical interests. Human rights issues are often highlighted selectively, targeting rival nations while overlooking violations committed by allied countries.
For instance, the US frequently publishes reports criticizing the human rights records of countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Cuba, portraying them as violators of fundamental rights. At the same time, countries allied with the US, such as Israel and India, despite having documented records of human rights violations, receive far less criticism. This selective approach raises concerns about double standards in the global human rights discourse.
Nations that oppose Western political agendas are often labeled as human rights violators, while those aligned with Western powers are depicted more favorably.
This politicization undermines the credibility of international human rights advocacy and creates a perception that human rights are used as a strategic tool to weaken geopolitical rivals rather than as a sincere effort to uphold human dignity.
Peter Hediger, a Swiss sinologist, historian and international security policy expert
The creators of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) have claimed that the Declaration is derived from ideas of the American and French Revolution in the 18th century. The Western powers still pretend to agree with this.
However, this view is incomplete, biased and erroneous. In various Chinese classics, written hundreds of years before the American and French revolutions, many corresponding ideas can be found which focus on the well-being of the people. It is the merit of the current Chinese leadership to rediscover and disseminate this fact.
In the course of history, China has accumulated a wealth of wisdom and ideas of good governance. Many of these thoughts may have occurred under a different label, but their contents are identical or close to ideas promulgated in the UDHR. They did not come in any judicial framework of laws, but were addressed to the rulers as binding moral obligation.
The implementation of the UDHR on a global scale relies on single member states, but here comes a dilemma. The linkage between the UDHR and the sovereignty of nations is an area full of traps and mines.
Apart from social differences and discrepancies among and within member states, the biggest inequality lies in the refusal of some influential powers to acknowledge and respect the different political systems of member states.
In today’s world, a sincere and efficient implementation of the UDHR is only possible in a multipolar world order, where each nation is taking responsibility and care of its particular needs. Therefore, the West splitting the existing world into two camps – those who practice democracy and those who do not – is too simplistic. China has proven that, other than blindly following the course set by Western democracies, it has found another valid way.
Christophe Peschoux, former section chief of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
“Human rights” has been used and misused in the past decades that I think it is useful to revisit this term. Human rights have been clouded and blurred by misconceptions, misunderstandings and above all by political manipulations to the point that they have come to be derided by many and held in suspicion.
They have been weaponized by powerful states – the US and the West – against other states to shame them, embarrass them, pressure them in attempts to weaken and destabilize them.
As the expression goes, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. To refresh our understanding of what their value is for us, not in the abstract, but practically in our lives, concrete and spiritual, we need to look beyond the legal norms, what underpins them: the principles and values. To clarify the meaning of these terms: life is a value (we value life, we cherish it because it is precious, the most precious that we have). “You should respect life” is a moral principle. A principle is a precept to guide our life.
I am convinced that the values that underpin modern human rights norms, as expressed in the UDHR, can be found in every society, culture and civilization. The best way to make them grow and flourish on Chinese fertile soil is not by adopting them uncritically from outside, nor by transplanting them mechanically or repeating them like an article of a new faith.
China Coast Guard (CCG) conducted law enforcement patrols on Thursday in the territorial waters and surrounding areas of China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. This rights protection patrol was carried out by the CCG in accordance with the law, according to a statement released by the CCG on Thursday.
The Chinese military on Wednesday conducted combat readiness patrols over the territorial waters and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and surrounding areas. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said the latest move, involving naval and air forces, was a lawful patrol activity.
The patrols came after China released the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao on Sunday.
"The patrols by the China Coast Guard and Chinese military demonstrate China's position of sovereignty in the maritime area through concrete actions," Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday.
These patrols were also intended to uphold maritime order in the region, Chen said, noting that they aimed to regulate the management of the waters surrounding Huangyan Dao, signaling to the Philippines and the US that China would take corresponding law enforcement actions.
"Through maritime patrols, China can effectively demonstrate and exercise its rights, thereby upholding its legitimate interests in the relevant waters," Chen said.
Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday that these patrols could further deter the provocative actions of the Philippines, indicating that China is taking the initiative in maritime rights protection.
According to video footage obtained by the Global Times on Monday, CCG vessels recently conducted patrol enforcement exercises in formation in the waters of Huangyan Dao. The video clip showed that the drill involved multiple vessels, including large thousand ton-class patrol ships and smaller, more maneuverable hundred ton-class vessels.
"China's determination to uphold its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights will not change," Ding said.
According to the Financial Times on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that the military is considering the procurement of the "Typhon" intermediate-range missile launch system.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday the Philippines, by bringing in this offensive strategic weapon, is enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race. Such a move is provocative and dangerous, and it is an extremely irresponsible choice to its own people and people of all Southeast Asian countries, to history, and to regional security.
"What the region needs is peace and prosperity, not the missile system or confrontation. We once again urge the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct its wrongdoings as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path," Lin said.
A former lawyer in Pu'er city, southwest China's Yunnan Province, who previously defended drug-related cases, was found in possession of almost 500 grams of drugs. He was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
The convicted lawyer, surnamed Yang, drove a car carrying the drugs and was stopped and searched by police. The police found a total of 480.82 grams of opium and 8.04 grams of heroin hidden in various compartments in his car and his clothes.
Using his experience as a lawyer, Yang claimed that his actions constituted "possession" rather than "trafficking" and that he had no intent to sell for a profit.
Nevertheless, the court in Pu'er rejected Yang's appeal, emphasizing the risk that transporting such a large volume of drugs poses to public safety.
China stands ready to enhance communication and cooperation with other parties on hosting APEC in 2026 to deliver more results through practical cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific and beyond, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Saturday.
It is reported that China offered to host the 2026 APEC, which has received support from other APEC economies and endorsement at this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
In response, the spokesperson said that APEC is an important economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific. To advance Asia-Pacific cooperation, China took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility by offering to host APEC in 2026, which is welcomed by APEC members and received their endorsement at this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
China attaches great importance to Asia-Pacific cooperation and hosted APEC twice in 2001 and 2014, the spokesperson said, adding that China will host APEC for the third time in 2026.
"China stands ready to enhance communication and cooperation with other parties on hosting APEC in 2026 to jointly implement the Putrajaya Vision 2040, advance the building of an Asia-Pacific community and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, deliver more results through practical cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific and beyond," said the spokesperson.
The world's first electric running humanoid robot "Tiangong" went open source on Monday, a move that is expected to facilitate secondary development of humanoid robots and accelerate robots' integration into human life.
Developed by Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, Tiangong is claimed to be the first full-sized humanoid robot driven purely by electric power.
Using "Tiangong" as a foundational platform will advance secondary development in embodied robotics and exploration in various cutting-edge areas like body mechanics and embodied intelligence, Xiong Youjun, the general manager of the center, told the Global Times.
"The 'Tiangong' mother platform has undergone extensive testing and validation. After being open-sourced, other enterprises and research institutions can directly use it, which shortens the industry's development cycle and reduces research and development costs, the Global Times learnt from Liu Yizhang, a manager responsible for Tiangong from the center.
The open-source project covers two versions of the humanoid robot - "Tiangong 1.0 LITE" and "Tiangong Pro," with software development and structural design documents already available to researchers and collaborators, Liu said
By the end of the year, the center plans to release additional open-source structural blueprints, software architecture, and electrical systems, according to Liu.
"Tiangong" has an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour and a maximum running speed of 12 kilometers per hour, leading in its category. It can move smoothly across diverse terrains such as slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand.
Some representatives from Peking University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, UBTECH, and Jianghan University said that they believe the open-source project could drive development across the humanoid robotics supply chain. Liu explained that many core components are independently developed by companies, but performance standards remain inconsistent. Open sourcing the robot will allow development on a unified platform.
Since its official release in April 2024, Tiangong has already been applied in multiple scenarios, including warehouse pick-and-place tasks and patrols for electrical plants, the Global Times learnt.
The industry has been identified by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a new frontier for technological competition and a key driver of economic growth.
Previously, the Shanghai-based National Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Center also unveiled its open-source general-purpose humanoid robot Qinglong. Qinglong stands at 185 cm tall and weighs 80 kg, according to the company.
As Lima, the capital of Peru, gears up for the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, the close bonds and growing cooperation between China and Peru were also on vivid display on the streets of the city on Tuesday.
The 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Week began this week in Lima. Under the theme of Empower. Include. Grow, senior officials, ministers and leaders from APEC's 21 member economies, which together account for almost two-thirds of world GDP and half of global trade, will tackle core challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, including climate change, sustainable energy solutions, the digital economy transition and trade facilitation.
The "APEC vibe" was palpable from the airport to major streets as colorful billboards previewing the crucial meeting were ubiquitous, with many containing obvious "Chinese characteristics."
"Build a diversified and harmonious world with Chinese wisdom," read a massive billboard at the baggage hall of Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport.
At the parking lot of the airport, while there were more cars from Japanese and South Korean brands, there were also several Chinese brand cars, including one made by Chinese carmaker BYD and another brand new one made by Hongqi. On the streets from the airport to downtown Lima, there were also many billboards put up by various Chinese companies.
"Welcome to APEC!" read one billboard carrying the logo of Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco), which also contained Chinese- and Spanish-language messages of "supporting Peru's development."
Chinalco has long been investing in Peru. In June 2018, the company announced plans to invest $1.3 billion to expand its operations at Peru's Toromocho copper mine.
Another Chinese firm that has made a major investment is Chinese iron and steel giant Shougang Group. On the streets of Lima on Tuesday, Shougang Hierro Peru also put up several billboards in a show of support for Peru's hosting of the APEC leaders' meeting this year. "Wish the 2024 Peru APEC meeting a complete success!" one billboard read.
China and Peru have enjoyed growing cooperation in a wide range of areas in recent years, including in investment and trade.
Peru was one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic relations and a comprehensive strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China. It was also the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China.
In 2019, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, which has achieved fruitful results, with increasingly close collaboration in the economy, trade, finance, culture and other fields.
In addition to growing cooperation, there were also vivid displays of the deep historical bonds shared by the two countries on the streets of Lima on Tuesday. On the way from the airport to downtown, there were several "Chifa" restaurants with Chinese names.
"Chifa," a word that originated from the Cantonese dialect for "having meals," has become the term that Peruvians use to refer to Chinese restaurants.
Peru is one of the Latin American countries where Chinese immigrants first arrived and settled in large numbers.
Further highlighting the deep friendship between China and Peru, locals were also quick to share their connections to China and extend warm welcome to Chinese guests. A worker for APEC Peru 2024 at the airport told the Global Times that his grandmother was Cantonese, and although he hasn't been to China, he feels "close to China."
Another worker at a hotel named Sergio also told the Global Times that China is viewed as a very friendly country in Peru with a long historical tradition, and that he enjoyed watching Chinese kung fu films.
China on Sunday released the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard (CCG) has stated to continuously strengthen patrols and law enforcement in the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and related maritime areas.
The Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, which is a natural step to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.
The spokesperson said that Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory. In accordance with international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao.
The government statement on Sunday said the baselines were announced in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone promulgated on February 25, 1992.
The move comes after the Philippines' introduction of the so-called Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act on Friday, for which China has summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China to lodge solemn representations.
Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that China has been steadily conducting work related to baselines of our territorial sea over the years. Yet the timing of the release of the baselines and the CCG statement are countermeasures against the Philippines' provocation through domestic legislation.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the so-called "Philippine Maritime Zones Act" aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation and illegally include China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao and their relevant waters into the Philippines' maritime zones.
"This move severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," the spokesperson said, adding that China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Ding said releasing baselines demonstrates China's longtime sovereignty over and effective jurisdiction of Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters. Clear baselines can guide the CCG law enforcement operations in the region to be more accurate, targeted and effective.
Lei Xiaolu, a professor of law with the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, Wuhan University, told the Global Times that according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states can have a territorial sea width of 12 nautical miles (22.22 km), as well as the exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles) and continental shelf (up to 350 nautical miles).
With China's release of the baselines, interests claims in Huangyan Dao and adjacent waters are clear, clarifying rights and obligations in the relevant maritime areas and helping China better exercise its rights in those areas, Lei said.
Philippine coast guard vessels have repeatedly intruded into waters adjacent to Huangyan Dao since the second half of 2023. Lei said that with the baselines, the CCG can clearly identify whether those vessels intruded into China's territorial sea and can conduct law enforcement more accurately.
Also the CCG will be able to identify whether the waters are China's territorial sea and take measures if they find illegal fishing activities by Philippine fishermen to better conserve fishery resources and protect and preserve the marine environment, Lei noted.
The CCG said on Sunday in a statement that it will continuously strengthen patrols and law enforcement in the territorial waters off China's Huangyan Dao and relevant waters.
Huangyan Dao is inherent territory of China. For a long time, China has continuously, peacefully, and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao. In recent times, the Philippines has frequently dispatched military and law enforcement vessels and aircraft, and public service ships to provoke trouble in the waters and airspace near Huangyan Dao, seriously infringing on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, according to the CCG statement.
The Philippines has also incited fishing boats to illegally operate in the lagoon of Huangyan Dao. According to the information commanded, some Philippine fishing boats are suspected of engaging in illegal activities such as using poisons for fishing and capturing endangered aquatic wildlife, which harm the fragile ecosystem of the relevant maritime areas.
The CCG will continue to strengthen patrols and law enforcement in the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and related maritime areas in accordance with China's Coast Guard Law, fisheries law, Marine Environmental Protection Law, and other laws and regulations, as well as in reference to international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The CCG will firmly maintain good order in the relevant maritime areas, resolutely protect the ecological environment and biological resources of the relevant maritime areas, and firmly safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, read the CCG statement.
The delimitation of related territorial sea baselines takes time and the work started long ago, therefore the release is a response to provocation and is a reiteration of China's stance, not an escalation in China's initiative, Ding stressed.
Firm resolution
Ding noted China has a rich toolbox, policy reserves and diverse means to safeguard its territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Also on Sunday, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly released the standard names of some islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Standard names released this time, 64 in total, include Houteng Xidao, Ren'ai Nanjiao, Ren'ai Beijiao.
Standard names previously released in 1983 and 2020 regarding some islands and reefs in the South China Sea remain valid, as noted in a statement on the Ministry of Natural Resources' official website.
Ding said the release of standard names is a continuation of past publications and indicates China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands and reefs. Along with changes in the natural geographical conditions in the South China Sea, for example, there may be new islands and reefs emerging, China will continue to update the standard name list in line with the changes and the needs to safeguard interests, Ding said.
China has exercised restraint on the South China Sea issue and has consistently adhered to managing differences and resolving territorial and maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation. However, China will take corresponding measures to safeguard its rights in response to the Philippines' continuous provocations politically, legally and at sea, in neglect of advice, Ding said.
Ding predicted that the Philippines might initiate a smear campaign against China's legitimate actions, and even introduce external forces such as the US to conduct provocative operations at sea, "which will be within China's scope of response."
China has demonstrated its resolution and capability to defend its sovereign security and development interests in the South China Sea, Ding said. "Our firm resolution will not be shaken by Philippine provocation or its collusion with other countries," he noted.
The Philippines is advised to carefully consider where the country's long-term interests lie and return to the path of negotiation and communication rather than taking bold, unilateral moves and stir up troubles in the South China Sea, the expert said.
