China, Iran and Russia on Tuesday wrapped up a maritime drill after practicing night live-fire shooting and rescue operation of simulated hijacked commercial ships near Iran. A Chinese expert said the exercise has boosted the three countries' naval  capabilities in dealing with non-traditional security threats.

The return of the participating warships from the three countries to the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday afternoon local time marked the successful completion of the maritime drill phase of the Security Belt-2025 joint exercise, China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) news media center, reported on Wednesday.

The maritime drill phase was held in a region near Chabahar Port from Monday to Tuesday, featuring training courses such as maritime target strikes, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), damage control, as well as joint search and rescue operations, China Bugle reported.

According to a video released by the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday, the exercise featured live-fire shooting of heavy machine guns against maritime targets, night live-fire shooting practices, light communication practices, rescuing simulated hijacked commercial ships and a fleet review.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the exercise has boosted the three navies' maritime combat capabilities through maritime strike and damage control trainings. The drill focused on non-traditional security threats, such as countering maritime terrorism and anti-piracy.

Routine joint exercises among the three sides continuously enhance their navies' interoperability, and the three sides' joint command and control as well as joint strike capabilities were displayed through the drill courses, Zhang said.

The Security Belt-2025 joint exercise kicked off on Sunday and is expected to conclude on Thursday, according to a previous statement released by the PLA Navy on its official WeChat account. The exercise as a whole features three phases, an assembly and preparation phase, a maritime drill phase and a harbor summary phase.

The guided missile destroyer Baotou and the comprehensive replenishment ship Gaoyouhu from the PLA Navy's 47th escort task group took part in the exercise. Iran sent more than 10 vessels of various types, including the Jamaran and Alvand destroyers, while Russia deployed ships including the Hero of the Russian FederationAldar Tsydenzhapov and Rezky corvettes, according to the PLA Navy release. In addition, South Africa, Pakistan, Oman and other countries sent observers to participate in the exercise.

The aim of the exercise is to deepen mutual military trust and pragmatic cooperation among the participating countries' militaries, the PLA Navy said.

The public security authorities have imposed an eight-day administrative detention on a man who used AI tools to fabricate and spread rumors that a celebrity lost 1 billion yuan ($138.2 million) gambling in Macao, the authorities announced on Friday.

Since March 10, a rumor claiming that a top-tier celebrity lost 1 billion yuan ($138.2 million) gambling in Macao has been circulating on online platforms, sparking heated discussions and widespread speculation among netizens. An investigation by cybersecurity authorities revealed that a netizen surnamed Xu, 36 years old, in an attempt to gain traffic and illicit profits, used the AI content-generation feature of an app at 10 am on March 10, 2025, to create and publish a fabricated post titled "Top celebrity exposed for losing 1 billion yuan in overseas gambling, triggering a public outcry." The post quickly spread across online platforms, leading to significant public discussion and causing related rumors and topics to repeatedly trend. This severely disrupted public order. The public security authorities have imposed an eight-day administrative detention on Xu, according to the released from the Ministry of Public Security's cybersecurity department.

"The boy was an avid reader of literature and history, particularly captivated by the poetry of Du Fu," said Chen Qiuying, who taught Chinese President Xi Jinping Chinese in 1965, when Xi was a teenager.

Du, the most revered realist poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was celebrated for his profound empathy and compassion for the common people in his works. This spirit is echoed in Xi's firm commitment to fighting poverty and promoting the wellbeing of the people.

"Xi implored me to recommend more of Du Fu's works," Chen recalled. "He possessed a composed and rational demeanor, immersing himself in extensive reading and profound contemplation."

Four years later, as an educated young student, Xi volunteered to go to Liangjiahe, a secluded and impoverished village nestled in the rugged terrain of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

With him, Xi carried two suitcases filled with books. During his seven years there, Xi devoured whatever books he could find, from ancient Chinese textbooks to foreign novels such as Stendhal's The Red and the Black and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.

"During those days in Liangjiahe, Xi never ceased reading and reflecting," said Dai Ming, who shared a cave dwelling with Xi back then.

Xi's keen interest in different cultures has since continued unabated, whether as a local official or as the top leader of China. When serving as secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, he invited scholars to deliver lectures on both Chinese and Western philosophies.
In November 2019, during his first state visit to Greece, Xi toured the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the iconic and ancient Acropolis. He took a moment at the sunlit entrance on the museum's third floor, the east and west sides adorned with exquisite pediment sculptures from the Acropolis: the birth of Athena and the fierce contest between her and Poseidon for the title of protector of Athens.

"This is Greece's version of Shan Hai Jing," Xi remarked, alluding to China's own ancient compendium of ancient myths and legends.

"He is not only interested in a single artifact," said Dimitrios Pandermalis, then president of the Acropolis Museum. "He possesses a profound fascination with the civilization of ancient Greece and its history, along with a keen appreciation for ancient Greek art and architecture."

Prime Minister Modi's recent positive remarks on China-India relations are appreciated and China is willing to work with India to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and promote the healthy and stable development of the relationship, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need to strengthen ties with China despite past tensions, advocating dialogue over discord and cooperation over conflict, during an interview with MIT research scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, which was released on Sunday. Modi also underscored that India and China should engage in healthy and natural competition rather than confrontation.

Experts view Modi's remarks as a pragmatic approach to China-India relations, acknowledging that cooperation and competition can coexist.

Being partners in mutual achievement and realizing "a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant is the only right choice for China and India," Mao said on Monday. 

China is willing to work with India to fully implement the consensus reached by their leaders, take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to advance exchanges and cooperation across various fields and levels, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-India relations, Mao added. 

During the conversation with Fridman, Modi highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between China and India, stressing their shared contributions to global civilization. "The relationship between India and China isn't something new. Both nations have ancient cultures and civilizations. Even in the modern world, they play a significant role. If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way," Modi said, according to a report from NDTV.

Noting that two neighboring countries are bound to have occasional arguments, PM Modi said that differences between them are also natural. He drew parallels with the scenario of a family, saying that even within them, not all things are perfect. "But our focus is to ensure that these differences don't turn into disputes. That's what we actively work toward," the PM said, according to The Hindustan Times. 

Modi's remarks underscore the Indian government's current pragmatic approach to advancing China-India relations, building on the positive momentum since the Kazan summit of the leaders. His remarks align with the broader trend of bilateral ties returning to a path of stable and healthy development, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. 

Qian noted that since the meeting in Kazan, China-India relations made positive strides with both sides implementing the important consensus, strengthening exchanges at all levels and practical cooperation, resulting in a series of positive outcomes, said the expert. 

For example, in December, 2024, China and India held the 32nd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi, and the two sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels, and safeguard sustainable peace and stability in the border areas, according to a release from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Modi also mentioned the border disputes when talking with Fridman. He said that "We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time, since there's been a five-year gap."

Qian said that after years of standoff, the China-India border issue has returned to a stable and manageable state. Moving forward, he said, both sides may enter the next phase of negotiations, although the process could be lengthy.

The key priority is ensuring the effective implementation of existing agreements with full compliance. At the same time, both sides need to explore ways to steadily advance the resolution process beyond the current stage, said Qian.

He also noted that resolving the China-India border issue requires sustained joint efforts and the use of multi-tiered diplomatic mechanisms to achieve a fair and reasonable settlement.

During the conversation, Modi also highlighted the importance of managing competition responsibly. He described cooperation between India and China as essential for global stability and prosperity.

 "And since the 21st century is Asia's century, we want India and China to compete healthily. Competition is not a bad thing, but it should never turn into a conflict," said Modi, according to Hindustan Times. 

"Healthy, natural competition is a normal part of international relations. Every country navigates both cooperation and competition, and China and India, as neighboring major powers, are no exception. The key is to ensure that differences do not escalate into confrontation," Qian said.

At the same time, China and India are at different stages of development, and competition in emerging industries is unavoidable. However, as long as this competition remains fair, constructive, and regulated, it can serve as a catalyst for both countries to strengthen their own growth and development. Competition is not a challenge to avoid but an opportunity to seize, said Qian. 

Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday highlighted the challenges posed by China's rise as a "dominant economic and strategic force," claiming that it "hampers India's ability to position itself as the natural leader of the Global South," according to The Times of India. 

Dwivedi's remarks reflect the trust deficit in China-India relations, despite recent positive momentum. They also highlight the contradictions in India's China policy—while India seeks to expand economic cooperation with China, it remains strategically ambivalent, carefully balancing engagement with geopolitical caution, said Qian, calling for joint efforts in continuing improving ties. 

In response to an inquiry about US President Trump's remarks that the US will supply India with military equipment, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Friday that in developing relations and conducting cooperation between nations, it is important not to use China as a talking point, nor should it be an opportunity to incite group politics and bloc confrontation.

According to Reuters, the US will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and will eventually provide F-35 fighter jets, Trump told reporters on Thursday after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Regarding the remarks, Guo, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that the Asia-Pacific region is a hub for peaceful development, not a chessboard for geopolitical maneuvering. Forming exclusive circles and engaging in group politics will not bring security and will only harm regional and global peace and stability.