Flower appreciation, family outings and cultural activities characterize the feeling around this year’s three-day Qingming Festival holidays, starting from Thursday. The tourism surge during this year’s holidays is far above that of the same period in previous years, as revealed by statistics from several travel platforms. Travel bookings on some travel platforms have reportedly doubled on a yearly basis.

Passenger flows started to peak from Wednesday evening and lasted until Thursday morning. On Thursday, ticket bookings in popular domestic cities increased 1.3-fold year-on-year, and hotel bookings in popular cities nearly doubled year-on-year, according to statistics from Qunar, a Chinese online travel agency.

Many tourists kicked off the holiday with short-distance train journeys. Among the top 20 routes with the greatest number of candidates waiting for available tickets, 18 depart from Beijing, Shanghai, and South China’s Guangzhou and Shenzhen to neighboring cities.

Railways across the country are expected to facilitate 17.5 million passenger trips on Thursday. The railway network across the Yangtze River Delta is expected to facilitate nearly 3.6 million passenger trips on Thursday, up 12 percent from the same period in 2019, China Railway announced on Thursday.

More than half of the passengers traveling by train chose cities that can be reached within a two-hour high-speed rail trip. Popular destinations by train in northern China included Beijing, Xi’an, Tianjin, Jinan and Qingdao.

In response to the near-record spring travel peak, local rail authorities launched "flower appreciation trains" on popular lines to further meet passenger demand.

According to a recent report released by domestic travel platform Trip.com, bookings for flower-viewing spots during the Qingming Festival holidays had risen more than sixfold year-on-year.
A Beijing resident surnamed Li was among the tourists who decided to engage in a flower sightseeing journey during the Qingming Festival holidays.

Li drove to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall in Beijing to enjoy the scenery on Thursday. Li told the Global Times that he was stuck outside the parking lot for nearly two hours, as there was no spare across four different car parks.

“The queue of cars waiting for parking spaces stretched all the way to the expressway,” Li said, adding that he was appealed by photos published on social media platforms showing suburban trains passing through a sea of flowers. 

Li also noted that he failed to book train tickets and was forced to stay in Beijing during the holidays.

“Because the Qingming Festival holiday is a short one, tourists tend to choose destinations that can be reached within a 2-hour high-speed rail ride or a 2-hour car ride, which allows some small towns to catch tourists,” said Xiao Peng, a research fellow at Qunar's Big Data Research Institute. 

Industry data showed that during the Qingming Festival holidays in 2024, domestic car rental orders increased by 240 percent year-on-year. Of these, 82 percent of the orders were leased for less than three days.

Some cities combined flower appreciation with the cultural activities celebrated as part of the Huazhao Festival, a traditional flower festival, during the holidays. Huazhao Festival is held in celebration of the flower goddess’ birthday in the second month of lunar calendar.

For example, the celebration for the Huazhao Festival started in late March in Jinan and will run until May 6. Traditional market and poetry cultural activities have boosted the popularity of the city of Jinan. 

Outside of domestic tourists, inbound travel is also surging, with a shortage of foreign language tour guides. The daily cost of hiring a tour guide has jumped to above 1,000 yuan ($138) for some languages such as Russian. Currently, English-speaking tour guides earn between 400 and 600 yuan a day, according to media reports.

The female giant panda Shuangshuang, residing at Japan's Kobe Oji Zoo, died on Sunday after suffering from severe heart disease for many years, according to China Wildlife Conservation Association's WeChat account on Monday.

According to the statement, Shuangshuang's condition had continued to deteriorate and the animal had begun to refuse to eat since March, even rejecting water and experiencing convulsions and other symptoms. Chinese and Japanese experts continued to implement all necessary rescue measures, but the animal was unable to be saved.

Shuangshuang was born in 1995, and arrived at Kobe Oji Zoo in Japan in 2000 for the purpose of jointly cooperative research between China and Japan on the international conservation of giant pandas, according to the release. Experts explained that a 29-year-old giant panda is equivalent to a nearly 100-year-old person.

Shuangshuang was diagnosed with senile heart disease during a routine examination in 2021. The Chinese and Japanese sides quickly organized a team of specialists to provide joint diagnosis, treatment and careful care, and the condition of Shuangshuang was relieved to a certain extent at that time.

According to the release, Chinese and Japanese sides also formulated a strict treatment plan. Both sides postponed the deadline for Shuangshuang's return to China on multiple occasions to prevent deterioration of her condition due to the long-distance transportation and the global pandemic, following the expiration of the giant panda cooperation agreement in 2020.

Chinese and Japanese sides will appropriately handle the body of Shuangshuang in strict accordance with the provisions of the cooperation agreement. Shuangshuang will be returned to China at the right time after specialized treatment.

After delegates of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) to this year's two sessions put forward proposals hoping that the Chinese mainland would once again gift giant pandas to Hong Kong, Vice Chair of the DAB Chan Yung said that there is a chance that "this could happen" before October 1.

Chan, who is also a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), told the Global Times on Thursday that it's crucial to ensure the well-being of the giant pandas upon their arrival, saying that they should not be neglected and allowed to become emaciated like those in the US. He believes that all residents in Hong Kong will cherish the pandas as treasures, and that their presence will significantly increase the number of tourists.

Among a series of proposals made by the DAB delegates to the two sessions in mid-February ahead of the annual political event, there is hope for Southwest China's Sichuan Province to once again gift giant pandas to Hong Kong.

As the first generation of giant pandas living in Hong Kong, An An and Jia Jia, have passed away, leaving only Ying Ying and Le Le, who arrived in 2007, Ocean Park Hong Kong is ready to welcome new giant pandas at any time, Chan said.

"Gifting pandas to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China would be of profound significance. It could also attract tourists to visit Hong Kong," the official said.

Chan also suggested that the pandas could be named Zhi Zhi and Xing Xing, reflecting a transition that the city has been experiencing from well-governed to prosperity.

Ocean Park recently hosted the 2023 Sichuan Nature Conservation Week in November, 2023, introduced a group of red pandas and also extended the stay of the current three red pandas for another 20 years, according to the park's website.

"Giant pandas are top-tier ambassadors of goodwill, and Hong Kong is greatly looking forward to their arrival. It also represents a pivotal moment for connecting internationally and sharing China's story," Chan said.

When the new pair of giant pandas arrives, they will be well taken care of in the Panda pavilion at Ocean Park, Chan told the Global Times. "We won't let them become emaciated like those in the US."

"My favorite is the top celebrity, Hua Hua, and I believe the mainland has a lot of experience in protecting giant pandas and can enhance exchanges with Hong Kong," said Nixie Lam Lam, a panda lover in Hong Kong.

Especially since Hong Kong is also an international city, strengthening the promotion of panda conservation can make the cause of panda protection more international, Lam, who is also a local lawmaker, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"I hope more young people from Hong Kong can join volunteer activities aimed at protecting pandas, especially considering the success of the mainland's promotional efforts for pandas. In fact, some young people from Hong Kong have previously had the opportunity to intern at the Sichuan panda base in the mainland," Lam said.

The two giant pandas currently residing in Hong Kong, Le Le and Ying Ying, have been in the city for over 16 years. Ocean Park celebrated their 18th birthday (equivalent to 54 human years) last August with a special surprise of two giant ice cakes, according to local media reports.

The cakes were made with their favorite ingredients such as bamboo, purple sweet potatoes, carrots, and pear juice. They featured a summer-themed peach pink orange color as the main hue, topped with forest green "18-year-old" ice pops.

South Korea and India are not parties directly involved in the South China Sea issue, and their attempts to get involved are driven by external forces like the US and the pursuit of self-interests, said Chinese experts, who also warned that their intervention will only exacerbate the divisions and conflict in the region, after the foreign ministers of the two countries recently expressed so-called grave concerns on the issue.

According to Reuters, South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk told a briefing that "we are gravely concerned about the recent and repeated use of water cannons in the South China Sea," on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference during a visit to Manila on Tuesday, India's foreign minister S Jaishankar said that India supports the Philippines upholding its sovereignty and hopes to find new areas of cooperation including in defense and security. 

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that maritime disputes are issues between the countries concerned. Third parties have no right to interfere whatsoever. "We urge relevant parties to face squarely the facts and truth on the South China Sea issue, and respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and the efforts of regional countries to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable," Lin noted.

South Korea and India have been relatively cautious in their attitudes toward the South China Sea issue in the past, but in recent years they have increased their involvement for several reasons, Chinese experts said on Wednesday. 

First, there are external factors, namely pushing and encouragement from the US. This also indicates a further coordination of policies between the US and India, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times. 

In addition, both South Korea and India have their own interests. For India, the energy resources in the South China Sea region, including oil wells and natural gas, are very attractive. For South Korea, the sea routes in the South China Sea region are very important. "The completely pro-US policy adopted by the Yoon Seok-yeol government has already caused an imbalance in China-South Korea relations, so South Korea is more inclined to tilt toward the US and develop small circles," Chen said. Another consideration is geopolitical, which is to contain China, Chen noted.

The interference of South Korea and India may have an impact on the negotiations between China and other countries in the South China Sea region, further exacerbating division and instability in the region, experts said.

China's JH-7A fighter bomber provided close air support to ground forces in a recent cross-service exercise, with analysts saying on Monday that the multirole aircraft has demonstrated its versatility in an attack role.

In collaboration with special forces from the army, navy and air force, an aviation brigade attached to the air force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command recently practiced close-range aerial fire support, the PLA Southern Theater Command said in a press release on Monday.

The aircraft involved in the exercise is the JH-7A fighter bomber, according to the press release.

During the exercise, the cross-service special forces on the red team were slowed down by suppressive fire of the blue team when launching an assault at a hostile vantage point. It was at this point that they requested aerial fire support.

Under the cover of electronic warfare aircraft, the JH-7A aircraft quickly arrived at the scene and established contact with the ground units. The ground units provided attack coordinates to the JH-7A, assisting the pilots in quickly locking on and attacking targets before reporting battle damage evaluations.

The blue team responded by locking on the red team's aircraft using man-portable air defense missiles, but the red team's special forces members had already alerted the aircraft, giving it the advantage of releasing jamming flares and evacuating the mission area.

Concluding with a close win by the red team, the live-fire exercise boosted understanding among combat elements in the air, on the ground, and at sea. It also enhanced the aircraft's close-range aerial fire support capability, and led to the formulation of a standardized procedure for future combat operations, the PLA Southern Theater Command said.

The exercise further displayed the PLA's joint operational capabilities among different military services and branches, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

A highlight of the drill is that the JH-7A, originally a fighter bomber mainly designed for tactical bombing, anti-ship and air-to-air self-defense missions, is tasked with a close air support attack role, the expert said.

It displayed the JH-7A's versatility, particularly after China retired its only dedicated attack aircraft, the Q-5, the expert said.

Pakistan takes "immense pride" in its unique and "time-tested friendship" with China. The two countries are not only connected by land, rivers, and mountains, but also by a heart corridor, founded on the shared values of mutual respect, trust, solidarity, and support, said Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi.

Hashmi also stressed that as Ambassador of Pakistan to China, he and his team are committed to "implementing the consensus reached between the two countries' leadership to fortify the strategic trust between the two countries, strengthen ties across multiple domains, and build an even stronger China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era.

The Pakistani diplomat made the remarks during an event to celebrate the 84th National Day of Pakistan hosted by the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing on Monday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong was also present at the event.

"China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners, and good brothers. The ironclad friendship between the two countries, deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, remains rock solid and keeps growing from strength to strength," Sun said.

"China is glad to see that Pakistan's general election was smoothly held, and a new government has been formed. We sincerely hope that Pakistan will enjoy social stability and economic growth and open up a new prospect for national development," he noted.

According to Hashmi, Pakistan and China and the peoples of the two countries have overcome hardships and celebrated triumphs, standing shoulder to shoulder in good and difficult times, in the true spirit of the iron brotherhood.

"Our relationship remains a source of peace and stability in the region and beyond. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crown jewel of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), stands as a shining testament of win-win cooperation," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Hashmi also paid great tribute to Pakistan's Founding Fathers, especially Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Underscoring the significant strides the country has made over the decades across multiple fields, the ambassador highlighted the resilience and ability of Pakistan to bounce back stronger in the face of challenges.

He also recalled the groundbreaking diplomatic initiatives undertaken by Pakistan on the international stage for the promotion of peace, harmony, and development. The ambassador lauded the contribution of the Pakistani community in the promotion of China-Pakistan ties, while calling for further expansion of business and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The event attracted several senior Chinese officials, resident ambassadors, diplomats, Pakistani community members, representatives of Chinese state-owned and private enterprises, intelligentsia, and leading media figures.

A troupe of Chinese and Pakistani children also performed at the reception, symbolizing the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country with a population of 240 million people, and a rich and diverse cultural heritage spanning over five millennia. Some glimpses of this heritage were on display at the event.

Editor's Note:

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his inspections, Xi has always paid great attention to ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities.

Over the past decade, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of ecological civilization and advancing the Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts are creating a "Beautiful China."

The coming five years will be critical to the building of a "Beautiful China." The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects that Xi is concerned with, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts. From these portraying, we can see how Xi's thought on ecological civilization is put into practice and further inspire public action.

In the first installment, the Global Times explores Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, a key birthplace and early adopter of Xi's ecological ideas, to witness the green shift of this international Garden City. The "Xiamen solution" is a crucial component of the vision for building a beautiful China and the "Xiamen practice" has also contributed valuable Chinese wisdom to the global marine governance.
Over the Spring Festival holidays, Xiamen residents' beloved Yundang Lake was transformed into a dazzling display of lights and color, creating a festive atmosphere. Strolling along the lake trail, people were greeted by the harmonious blend of vibrant red lanterns and lush green trees, while the crystal-clear lake water mirrored the graceful movements of elegant egrets.

However, it is hard to imagine that just a few decades ago, Yundang Lake was a starkly different scene.

The once Yundang Port, spanning nearly 10 square kilometers alongside the East China Sea coastline, was drastically reduced to a mere 1.6 square kilometers of enclosed inner lake due to reclamation efforts and dike construction. Rapid urbanization and population growth in the surrounding area exacerbated ecological issues, placing immense environmental strain on Yundang Lake.

As paper mills, tanneries, breweries, and other factories sprang up along its shores, indiscriminately discharging industrial waste and sewage directly into the water, Yundang Lake transformed into a foul-smelling body of water, choked with sewage, littered with garbage, teeming with mosquitoes. People living nearby were left to endure the unbearable stench and suffer the consequences of this form of environmental degradation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping cherishes Xiamen deeply. From his post in the coastal city to leadership roles in Fujian and the central authorities, Xi's ecological protection initiatives on Xiamen have yielded significant results.

As a key birthplace and early adopter of Xi's ecological ideas, Xiamen has pursued systematicecological governance and contributed to high-quality development through marine ecological restoration for over 30 years, fostering harmony between man and nature.

Now, Xiamen has built a beautiful bay living environment, enhancing the ecological vitality of the coastal zone, and contributing the "Xiamen solution" to domestic and international urban marine ecological protection.

A splashing recovery

"It was a momentous occasion for Xiamen people to undergo a consciousness awakening."

Wang Yanyan, chief engineer at the Xiamen Municipal Administration of Parks and Gardens, still vivid remembers how tough the battle against environmental pollution was when it was launched in the city in 1988.

In March 1988, Xi, then serving as executive vice mayor of the city, set in motion a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the lake.

"The vice mayor personally spearheaded the ecological protection of a lake, and with unprecedented efforts, took out 10 percent of the city's annual infrastructure investment for two consecutive years - 10 million yuan - for lake governance," Wang told the Global Times.

Xiamen, as one of the first four special economic zones in China, was also in the critical stage of reform and opening-up in the late 1980s. Despite financial constraints, the city's leaders showed remarkable courage and commitment to the cause.

"The efforts put into the lake's restoration were truly exceptional for the time," Wang emphasized.

Since then, Yundang Lake has witnessed five major restoration projects, with a total investment of nearly 1.99 billion yuan ($270 million).

"Sewage interception is the key to restoring the beauty of Yundang Lake," Xie Xiaoqing, the general manager of Xiamen Municipal Urban Development and Construction Co, Ltd, told the Global Times, noting that over the years, Xiamen has taken bold steps to clean up the lake, shutting down 210 polluting factories, building top-notch sewage treatment facilities, and updating the rainwater and sewage disposal systems in over 800 communities.

"Previously, whenever raindrops fell on the ground in Xiamen, my heart would start to worry, because the rain would make the smell of Yundang Lake even worse. But now, we have improved the water quality in the lake basin from the source, so I can rest easy knowing that the lake is no longer a concern," Xie said.

Zhang Weipeng, the director of the Yundang Lake Protection Center, praised the current innovative use of natural sea tides to flush out lake pollutants as a decision rooted in science and foresight.

Thanks to these measures, Yundang Lake has undergone a remarkable transformation, blossoming into a vibrant hub of finance, tourism, and residential living in Xiamen.

The successful restoration of the lake serves as a shining example for future lake remediation projects in Xiamen, while also inspiring a collective commitment to ecological civilization across the city.

A great example

In January 1986, Xi emphasized at a meeting in Xiamen that "protecting natural scenic resources has far-reaching implications and great significance." But how to balance the relationship between ecological environment protection and development construction?

Xi's position is clear: Can we use partial destruction to achieve development on the other side? I think it is very clear to me that Xiamen cannot exchange development in other aspects at this cost.

In 1994, after gaining legislative power for economic special zones, Xiamen enacted its first substantive local regulation, the "Xiamen Environmental Protection Regulations." Since then, Xiamen has successively enacted more than 10 maritime regulations.

In addition to investing in governance and actively implementing legal safeguards, Xiamen has also implemented a series of institutional innovations, such as establishing the Municipal Government's Marine Management Office, pioneering the formation of a specialized marine cleaning team in China, strictly prohibiting the introduction of heavily polluting projects, and rationalizing the layout of industrial concentration zones.

The ecological protection of bay-type cities is a global issue. Problems such as dense population, industrial agglomeration, high pressure on resources and the environment, environmental pollution, and reduced biodiversity tend to restrict economic and social development.

In 2002, Xi, then deputy Party chief and governor of Fujian, proposed the idea of shifting Xiamen's urban planning from island-based to bay-based.

Since then, the city has undertaken a succession of comprehensive renovation and development projects in five bay areas, aiming to create a "beautiful blue bay" surrounding the city.

A closer look at the city's urban planning reveals the thoughtful "concessions" made to protect the environment: To protect over 500 trees, the Tianyuan Bridge in Wuyuan Bay takes a bend to avoid disturbing the Chinese white dolphins; the plan for the Xiang'an Cross-Sea Bridge was changed to a more costly and labor-intensive underwater tunnel; and Xiamen even built a mountain road with only three lanes to avoid any harms to reservoirs and plants.

Amid the bustling cityscape, Xiamen has set aside a 3-hectare natural reserve for the blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philippinus), known as the "most beautiful bird in China." This sanctuary provides a safe haven for these majestic creatures to breed and thrive, making Xiamen their northernmost breeding ground in the world.

However, these "concessions" are not compromises. In Xiamen, the sea isn't just a backdrop - it's a way of life. The city's dedication to preserving its natural heritage serves as a shining example for bay cities around the world, showing that with careful planning and a deep respect for nature, economic and social development can coexist harmoniously with the environment.

Guided by Xi's ideas, over the past 36 years, Xiamen has pioneered the concept of comprehensive bay-area governance in domestic coastal regions and invested a total of 105.6 billion yuan in marine ecological protection and restoration, aiming to construct a bay city where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.

The impressive economic development achievements also complement the good ecological environment: In 2023, Xiamen's total economic output exceeded 800 billion yuan for the first time, reaching over 806.6 billion yuan.

The wetland restoration project in Xiamen has set a great example to the world for "making peace with nature," Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for the ocean, made the remark at the 2023 World Ocean Week in Xiamen, in November 2023.

Media reports said since 2007, the lessons of treating Yundang Lake have been included in the coastal governance training course of the Chinese government's foreign aid project, and such courses have been provided to more than 100 developing countries and nearly 2,000 officials and technical personnel around the world.
A rooted initiative

During the winter months, Xiamen becomes a haven for flocks of cormorants seeking shelter and sustenance in the tranquil waters of Xinglin Bay. The sight of these majestic birds soaring through the sky in unison is a breathtaking spectacle.

"Whether the ecology is good or not, the birds know best," said Guo Qiang, a member of the Xiamen Bird Watching Association, who eagerly captures the beauty of these overwintering birds with his camera.

With years of experience behind the lens, Guo said he felt lucky to see firsthand the positive impact of Xiamen's efforts to restore its marine ecosystem.

There are countless dedicated bird enthusiasts like Guo in Xiamen on hand to document the birds' behaviors and movements, serving as guardians of the city's precious ecological treasures.

The essence of Xi's thought on ecological civilization has truly taken root in the hearts of Xiamen residents, becoming a natural and heartfelt commitment for all,Zhang said, noting that currently in Xiamen, the focus on ecological protection has transformed from government-leading to active public action.

Zhang shared a heartwarming story about a recent incident at Yundang Lake. "During the cold wave a week ago, many people called to ask the conservation center to pay attention to the warm work of the birds. We immediately sent experts to the field and made emergency plans to respond to people's concerns," he said.

Zhang's WeChat account is a hub of activity, with groups dedicated to cleaning the lake, testing water quality, and managing the "Xiamen Yundang Blue Volunteer Service Team."

One inspiring member of this team is Chen Yajin, donning a blue vest after retiring at 65 to become the "citizen lake chief." He spends his days patrolling the lake, gathering feedback from the public.

On the picturesque ecological artificial island of Maluan Bay in Xiamen, the Global Times observed citizens actively participating in the "tree adoption activity." They rolled up their sleeves, bent down, and lovingly tended to the trees they had adopted, carefully placing nameplates, watering, and nurturing the once barren land that had been transformed by the hard work of local villagers.

One young mother, Zheng, shared her thoughts with Global Times as she participated in the activity with her children. "We bring our children here to plant trees, to show them that the beauty surrounding them is not easy to come by. President Xi brings ecological wealth and green well-being to Xiamen, which is extremely precious for us," she said. "We want to instill in them a sense of responsibility as caretakers of the environment."

"Most children now all know that the plants and animals in the sea and mountains of Xiamen are their good friends. With the companionship of these well-cared-for friends, they will grow up healthier and stronger," Zheng said.

Editor's Note:

"Cognitive Warfare" has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country.

Some politicians and media outlets have publicly smeared China's image by propagating false narratives in an attempt to incite and provoke dissatisfaction with China among people in certain countries. These means all serve the seemingly peaceful evolution of the US strategy to contain China's rise and maintain its hegemony. The Global Times is publishing a series of articles to reveal the intrigues of the US-led West's China-targeted cognitive warfare, and expose its lies and vicious intentions.

In the ninth installment in the series, the Global Times reveals how the Philippines is intensifying its cognitive warfare against China by accusing Beijing of causing environmental damage in the South China Sea. The truth is, however, that it is the Philippines' "grounded" military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) that is causing significant harm to the marine environment. The Philippines, instigated by the US, disregards facts and continues to obfuscate while intending to mislead the international community. This approach is not conducive to the easing of tensions in the South China Sea, and the only way to resolve the dispute is through dialogue.
In the recent past, the Philippines has consistently promoted negative narratives about China, leveling accusations of environmental destruction in the South China Sea and mulling court action against China again. However, an investigation by the Global Times has revealed that it is actually the Philippines' "grounded" military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao that is causing significant harm to the marine environment and its biodiversity.

The Philippine military vessel, built during World War II and has long been in a state of disrepair, has been stranded on Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea for 24 years, continuously releasing a large amount of pollutants into the surrounding reefs and waters. Scientific studies have shown that the toxins from the paint on the hulls of military ships can cause irreversible damage to marine organisms and potentially harm human health.

However, the US has not only turned a blind to Philippines' destructive behaviors, but also continued to encourage the Philippines' provocative actions by aiming slander at China.

Chinese experts pointed out that in its sinister attempt to steal the Chinese territory, the Philippine government stranded a battered military vessel on the beautiful reef in the South China Sea and failed to keep its promise to tow it away for 24 years. As it was impossible for the country to carry out environmental protection and sewage treatment with regard to the vessel, they strongly slammed the Philippines for being "extremely irresponsible and uncivilized" for the discharge of a large number of naturally occurring and man-made pollutants into the surrounding reefs and waters.

Meanwhile, the experts warned that the US is merely using the Philippines as a pawn, as part of its attempt to rally allies to implement its Indo-Pacific Strategy to contain China.

If Manila thinks that the US will help the Philippines maintain its so-called national interests and security, it is engaged in a fool's errand.

Obvious damage

The Philippines' illegally "grounded" warship on Ren'ai Jiao was built by the US military during World War II. True to the workmanship of the time, the ship was covered in toxic paint, which can easily become a pollutant. Twenty-four-year stranding has resulted in the release of metal and paint corrosion, concentrated emissions from fossil fuel combustion, and domestic waste into the surrounding waters and reefs. These emissions and toxins continue to spread, causing irreversible and sustained damage to the surrounding marine life, Yang Xiao, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times.

He emphasized that this not only leads to the death of marine animals such as fish and shrimp, but also causes cumulative harm to aquatic plants. Furthermore, through the food chain, it poses significant adverse effects on the marine ecosystem of the South China Sea and humanity by extension.

Previous cases showed that such environmentally detrimental ship painting practices have resulted in severe environmental pollution incidents and vehement protests from local fishermen.

For example, the Book called The Development of Japanese Warships: The Transitioning of Technology and Ships (1956), written by Japanese author Shizuo Fukui who was also an Imperial Japanese Naval and Japanese Coast Guard officer, cited a specific example from 1942 near Japan's Kure Naval Base, where the frequent passage of warships coated with highly polluting paints led to many fish dying, triggering mass protests from the surrounding community.

"These mobile warships already caused extremely severe pollution, let alone a dilapidated ship from the World War II era that remains stranded for an extended period," Yang suggested. "The pollution generated by a ship that remains docked for prolonged periods is more challenging to dilute in seawater."

A report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2019 identified hull scrapings, marine coatings and anti-fouling systems as potential sources of microplastics to the oceans.

These toxic substances include mercury oxide, organotin compounds (TBT), and copper compounds among others. Ample scientific research indicates that these toxins can cause irreversible and pathogenic pollution to marine organisms. Moreover, these toxins have the potential to enter the human food chain, Yang explained.

The expert called for urgent scientific sampling, comparison, and analysis research by international organizations and environmental groups, with the consent of the sovereign state, to assess the potential risks posed by the stranded Philippine warship.

"The Philippine authorities have turned a blind eye to numerous domestic governance issues, and instead, have been focusing on stirring up tensions in the South China Sea. These actions not only waste resources but also burden the entire nation with the heavy economic costs of military competition. It is imperative for the Philippine government to prioritize addressing the significant environmental damage issues that have inflicted serious trauma on the Filipino people and future generations," Yang asserted.

In 2023, the Filipino people organized a series of protests against the severe environmental pollution and damage caused by the Philippine government's land reclamation projects, attracting international media attention.

The expert urges immediate action to mitigate the ongoing damage caused by the "grounded" warship and demands compensation from the Philippines for polluting Chinese territories and nearby waters.

Yang also proposes enhancing relevant environmental protection measures in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, in order to safeguard the environment and ecology of the region.
Black hands

The Philippines has been hyping up the coral damage in the South China Sea since September 2023 and exploring the possibility of pulling China into another international dispute settlement organ.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on September 21, 2023, stating "the Philippines' accusations have no factual basis," and went on to urge the Philippines to stop creating a fictitious political drama.

"If the Philippines truly cares about the ecological environment of the South China Sea, it should tow away the illegally 'grounded' warship on Ren'ai Jiao as soon as possible, stop it from discharging polluted water into the ocean, and not let the rusting warship cause irrevocable harm to the ocean," said the spokesperson.

"It seems that the Philippines is attempting to intensify the situation in the South China Sea by building a causal link between the damage and the so-called 'destructive fishing activities' of Chinese fishermen," Lei Xiaolu, a professor at the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS), Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Manila is exploring legal options against China over its alleged destruction of coral reefs within the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone (EEZ)."

"The Philippines asserts that the disputed waters are within its exclusive economic zone and invokes the 2016 ruling. However, China has consistently insisted that the 2016 ruling is null and void." Lei stated. "The two states have positively opposed point of view on the validity of the Arbitral Award, in this case, any new proceedings based on that Award can neither resolve the disputes between them, nor assist the parties to protect and preserve the marine environment."

It is more akin to a new 'lawfare' against China," Lei said.

Ge Hongliang, deputy director of the College of ASEAN Studies at the Guangxi University for Nationalities, also noted that while the aforementioned lawsuit may not have a substantial impact in practice, it does hold symbolic significance as it increases international pressure on China's actions in the South China Sea.

Yang also believes that the US has intensified its cooperative efforts with the Philippines in launching a second arbitration, with US think tank involvement.

"Their typical tactic involves US think tanks unilaterally quoting the Philippines' claims and creating so-called reports criticizing China. High-ranking officials from the US military and diplomatic sectors then amplify these claims on social media platforms to generate public opinion momentum, without mentioning any of China's various environmental protection activities in the South China Sea, including the conservation of the white dolphin," Yang explained.

"The South China Sea, with its breathtaking beauty, has been a cherished homeland for Chinese fishermen for generations. It also serves as a vital ecological and environmental barrier for the coastal countries in the region. Therefore, it is imperative that we prioritize the protection of its delicate ecosystem, just as we value our own eyes," Yang emphasized.

"In this advanced and civilized 21st century, we cannot allow a World War II-era vessel to continue emitting and discharging pollution, relentlessly destroying the ecological environment of the South China Sea, causing harm to its marine life and vegetation, jeopardizing the well-being of the surrounding communities, and posing a threat to the safety of future generations," he said.

China's efforts in environmental protection have been widely recognized and trusted by neighboring countries in the surrounding seas. To strengthen the ecological protection of the South China Sea and fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, China initiated a campaign to protect and restore Yongshu Jiao, Zhubi Jiao, and Meiji Jiao in the Nansha Islands, on January 1, 2019. These efforts also include regular surveys and assessments to gradually understand the evolution of the coral reef ecosystem, scientifically determine the areas that require priority protection, and implement targeted conservation efforts at coral reef ecosystem restoration work.

At a commercial building on the busy Nanjing Road West in downtown Shanghai, two groups of people almost come to blows over a lease negotiation dispute. The situation threatens to escalate as angry lessees and lessors consider seeking redress at the courts if the conflict isn't resolved promptly.

But the dispute is quickly resolved, thanks to the first-time intervention of local law enforcement agencies. After a thorough analysis and in-depth discussions on matters including the contract implementation and lease structure adjustment, the two sides, in the presence of police, market supervisors, and lawyers, gradually calm down, and bring negotiations eventually back on track.

During the process, authorities "made use of multi-party resources that complement each other's advantages, and paid much attention to the settlement of multiple disputes," said a Shanghai-based lawyer Xu Hongmei, who participated in this mediation in June 2023. "That provides a guarantee for enterprises to conduct business without distractions," Xu told the Global Times.

The Nanjing Road West case is a vivid example of the "three-party linkage mechanism" by the Shanghai police. The establishment of the mechanism, which means police stations, judicial offices, and law firms work together in resolving grassroots disputes, was promulgated by the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau in 2023.

An article published by the People's Daily on January 4, in which reporters visited police stations, judicial offices, and law firms in Shanghai to see how the creative mechanism resolved conflicts and disputes among the people, expounded on the lessons that grassroots governance could be drawn from the mechanism.

Chinese experts on government affairs management said the "three-party linkage mechanism," which embodies the integration of law, principle, and human sentiment, is another innovative attempt in improving Chinese grassroots governance ability, which can effectively promote social harmony and stability.

Resolve disputes in the bud

In daily life, some seemingly small matters, such as neighborhood, property, and parking disputes, are actually major events in the minds of the public. Sometimes, dealing with these matters may create a knot in the hearts of the involved parties, and the cost of legal action can be high.

The "three-party linkage mechanism" in Shanghai is a creative attempt to solve this problem. To date, the mechanism has been established in all 353 police stations across this city, according to the People's Daily report.

The jurisdiction of the Nanjing Road West police station is one of the city's key CBD (Central Business District) areas. The 1.62-square-kilometer area gathers 31 commercial buildings.

Multipurpose real estate is of huge economic benefit to the city, but it can easily be a source of various kinds of contradictions and disputes, among which commercial consumption disputes account for more than 50 percent, said Chen Wei, director of the police station.

"Such disputes may escalate quickly if they are ineffectively managed and controlled in the initial stages," Chen told the Global Times.

Early in 2019, the Nanjing Road West police station set up an in-house legal public service station at a Shanghai landmark shopping mall, and invited local law firms to sign up to serve at the station.

Since then, with the guidance of the "three-party linkage mechanism" introduced later, all 30 legal service stations in this area have covered more than 400 enterprises and public institutions, providing offline consultations for 268 people, and helping resolve 144 disputes of various kinds, according to the Jing'an Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

Deploying the mediation work in advance is one of the important concepts of the "three-party linkage mechanism" in Shanghai's grassroots governance. Through early detection, early intervention, and early mediation, contradictions can be nipped in the bud.

In downtown Hongkou district, for instance, quarrels on matters including greenery and the height of the walls used to regularly happen among residential community neighbors. "Some people even came to me with iron chains, asking for an explanation," local grassroots Party official Zhu Zhenyu told the People's Daily.

The local police station then launched the "three-party linkage mechanism." Under the joint efforts of the police, judicial mediators, and lawyers, residents of the two communities buried the hatchet. Moreover, residential developers tore down the old wall and replaced it with a new 2.5-meter-tall one, "and that satisfied all the residents involved."

"As society develops, our work is also changing," Chen Jinbiao, deputy director of the Public Order Department of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, told the People's Daily. "If some conflicts and disputes are not resolved in time, they are likely to escalate into criminal cases. Therefore, we move from passive protection to front-end prevention."

"This is also our exploration of adhering to and developing the 'Fengqiao experience' in the new era," Chen noted.

The "three-party linkage mechanism" is an integrated social governance measure that can give full play to the strengths of the police station, law firm, and judicial office in the mediation of mass disputes, Xiong Yihan, vice-president of the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Xiong noted that in the past, police and lawyers often stepped in at the end of a civil dispute when relations were tense.

"At present, various organizations are emphasizing the need to identify and solve problems in the bud, which is a proactive problem-solving thought and strategy," he said.

The public security department is playing to its strengths by offering a platform, mobilizing the resources of all parties, lawyers, and mediators to actively make mediation more effective, Xiong noted.
Joint effort of multiple parties

The implementation and promotion of the "three-party linkage mechanism" has not only resolved a large number of contradictions and disputes, but has also mobilized more resources to aid in its implementation, thus, constantly building a solid foundation for grassroots governance, said observers.

The resolution of the lease negotiation dispute, which took place at a commercial building on Nanjing Road West in June 2023, was an example showing the joint efforts of multiple parties in making the mechanism work. That day, before the two involved sides turned the verbal argument into a physical fight, local police rushed to pacify them, and judicial mediators and lawyers arrived within 30 minutes to help mediate the conflict. Then, the district's commercial commission hosted an online coordination meeting for the two sides, with local market supervisors also in attendance.

At the city level, the Public Security Bureau in Shanghai has adopted a lively approach to resolving disputes. They work closely with the Party committee, and various government departments including education, civil affairs, health, market supervision, housing management, and judicial professional committees. This collaboration has led to the establishment of a more effective mediation system, resulting in a significant improvement in resolving vexing problems for the public.

In addition, for problems in key industries such as real estate and labor relations, the Shanghai public security organs rely on "reminder letters" and "comprehensive treatment proposals" to give relevant departments suggestions to deal with, promoting the transformation from solving isolated cases to dissecting a universal difficulty in one field.

Since 2023, Shanghai has issued a total of 136 suggestions and reminders in several areas, which have provided substantial support in improving the overall management of local communities, greatly contributing to enhanced grassroots governance.
Integration of law and human sentiment

Resolving conflicts and disputes among the public and helping the parties involved find closure and satisfaction is no easy task. However, the "three-party linkage mechanism" has proven to be an effective approach that considers the legal, rational, and emotional aspects of these situations comprehensively.

In June 2023, for instance, late at night, a tenant surnamed Wei contacted Gu Xiaofen, a community police officer at the Pujin Road police station of the Minhang Public Security Sub-bureau in Shanghai.

"I will fight them to the end!" Wei declared. Wei was frustrated with a three-party rent dispute involving the landlord and sub-landlord, and firmly believed that a power outage had intentionally been caused by the landlord as a form of punishment.

Gu and Wei engaged in a lengthy conversation that night, joined by a mediator from the judicial office. Together, they aimed to understand the challenges faced by the sub-landlord and find a way to resolve the impasse. Gu also sought legal advice from a lawyer to clarify the nature of the contract between the parties involved.

Thanks to the "three-party linkage mechanism," this complex rental dispute, with conflicting interests and intense emotions, was successfully resolved in a short time.

"Sometimes, relying solely on the police is not enough to convince both parties. By involving lawyers and mediators, the people involved can not only experience the warmth of mediation, but also receive professional legal services, making it easier for them to rationally assess their interests and reach a consensus," Jin Jie, the director of the Guidance Brigade of the Grassroots Basic Work Division of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, told the People's Daily.

To encourage the public to seek legal assistance proactively, the Shanghai public security authorities have also implemented more intelligent and information-based methods, such as online mediation services. Since 2023, they have had over 50,000 online legal consultations and conducted over 11,800 scheduled mediations. These efforts aim to provide accessible and efficient support to those in need.

The "three-party linkage mechanism" embodies the characteristics of Chinese-style urban grassroots governance and is conducive to promoting social harmony and stability, Xiong pointed out.

"China is a society with a large population, and in the process of governance, the relevant departments are exploring a model that is different from the Western society's pursuit of a single legal route, but a combination of self-governance at the grassroots level, virtue, and rule of law," Xiong noted.

Just like the "three-party linkage mechanism," it not only emphasizes procedural justice but also takes into account the simple justice views of ordinary Chinese people, ensuring both procedural justice and substantive justice, and striving to meet the diverse interests and demands of the public.

The integration of law, principle, and human sentiment, and the aggregation of multiple forces to address public concerns have made such modernization of governance in these mega-cities highly popular among the Chinese people, Xiong pointed.

Xiong also believes that in the future, the mechanism will be actively promoted and adaptively applied to different fields in other cities and rural areas.

China on Thursday slammed US' petition to probe into China's shipbuilding industry for alleged unfair practices as “trade protectionism” and “lacking factual basis.”

The remarks come after the United Steelworkers and other unions filed a petition with the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday outlining alleged “unreasonable and discriminatory acts, policies, and practices” that have helped China dominate global shipbuilding, the Financial Times reported. 

He Yadong, spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) said that the accusations made by some US organizations against China are completely unfounded.

Multiple reports have pointed out that the decline of the US shipbuilding industry is mainly due to overprotection while the development of the Chinese shipbuilding industry has benefited from increasing technological innovation and high-end, intelligent and green development, He said.

“US blaming China for its own industrial development issues lacks factual basis,” He said.

The petition was filed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The USTR office said it will review the allegations from the unions and decide within 45 days whether they merit a probe, according to media reports.

He said that the Section 301 measures are typical examples of unilateralism, which violates the basic principles of the WTO and disregards multilateral trade rules. Previous Section 301 measures taken by the US against China have been ruled to violate WTO rules.

It is hoped that the US will make prudent decisions and avoid making same mistakes. The Chinese side will closely follow how it proceeds and take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights, He added.