A local resident from Xuzhai Village in Dongyang, East China's Zhejiang Province, makes decorated lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 3, 2024. Decorated lanterns from Xuzhai Village have a long history, integrating multiple techniques including wood carving, bamboo weaving and tailoring. They're sold in other parts of China as well as overseas markets. Photo: VCG

China's manufacturing sector showed signs of improvement in August, with the Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 50.4, up 0.6 percentage points from July, bringing the index back above the expansion threshold. 

The data suggest a pickup in demand, steady employment levels and improving business confidence, but challenges remain in the face of external uncertainties, according to the survey published on Monday.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity, while a number below signals a contraction. 

The production index in August saw a slight increase in the expansion range, while the new orders index reversed its contraction in July and returned to expansion territory.

According to surveyed enterprises, growth in new orders was mainly driven by improvements in basic demand and various promotional measures. 

Employment in the manufacturing sector stabilized in August, with the employment index hovering in expansion territory. 

Manufacturers in the industry generally believe that factors such as business expansion, new product releases and an improvement in economic conditions will drive sales growth. 

Wang Zhe, a senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said that the August PMI data suggest a modest recovery in the manufacturing sector, with both supply and demand expanding, but challenges remain in achieving stable growth in the face of external uncertainties.

The Caixin data showed that external demand weakened in August, with the new export order index falling below the critical point for the first time this year, marking the lowest level since December 2023. 

China's official manufacturing PMI released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) came in at 49.1 in August, down from 49.4 in July. 

Zhao Qinghe, an NBS statistician, attributed the slight drop to factors such as extreme weather and off-season production in some industries. 

Zhou Maohua, an economist at China Everbright Bank, told the Global Times on Monday that there is a need for increased implementation of macroeconomic policies, with a continued focus on boosting effective demand and promoting domestic circulation. 

The key priority is to accelerate the implementation of policies to fully unleash their benefits and boost market confidence. Additionally, policy support should be optimized based on the uneven recovery of different industries, Zhou added. 

A US Navy patrol aircraft was reportedly spotted as a Philippine Coast Guard ship rammed into a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea on Saturday, with experts saying the US plane serves as encouragement for the Philippines to conduct bolder and riskier provocations.

The Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701, which has been illegally stationed at China’s Xianbin Jiao, on Saturday lifted its anchor and conducted continuous maneuvers, stirring up troubles in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. CCG Vessel 5205 took measures including verbal warnings, monitoring and control in accordance with the law and regulations, Liu Dejun, a CCG spokesperson, said in a statement on Saturday.

In the process, the Philippine MRRV-9701 deliberately rammed into CCG Vessel 5205 in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, causing a collision for which the Philippines bears full responsibility, Liu said.

Liu demanded the Philippines to immediately withdraw its ship from the Chinese reef.

The CCG also released a video showing the Philippine ship sailing into the path of the Chinese vessel, causing the collusion.

The Philippines has repeatedly attempted to send supplies to the MRRV-9701 that has been illegally anchored in the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao since April, first using ships then using a helicopter, marking serious violations to China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The latest movement by the MRRV-9701 showed that, unlike the Philippines’ old warship illegally grounded at China’s Ren’ai Jiao, the MRRV-9701 is capable of moving on its own, observers said.

Xue Chen, a research fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times that if the MRRV-9701 runs short of supplies, it should withdraw from Xianbin Jiao and return to the Philippines.

It exposed that the Philippine ship’s deployment at Xianbin Jiao is aimed at creating a false concept to smear China in the international community, with the aim of violating China’s sovereignty, Xue said.

During the incident, a US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft was spotted on-site disrupting the CCG’s law enforcement operations, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster China Central Television.

A Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday that the US military aircraft could gather intelligence and potentially carry out jamming on Chinese vessels.

The P-8A’s presence serves as an encouragement to the Philippines to conduct harder provocations, the expert said, noting that US aircraft could also serve as an aerial military “journalist” contributing to its scheme of throwing mud on China.

Such moves will only sabotage peace and stability in the South China Sea, experts said, predicting new rounds of provocations by the Philippines in near future, backed by the US.

After the mixed doubles table tennis final match was held at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, Chinese gold medalists Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, North Korean silver medalists Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, and South Korean bronze medalists Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon, posed for a group selfie. This friendly interaction among these athletes has sparked widespread discussion.

When Kim, the North Korean female player, experienced a microphone issue at the post-match press conference, Wang took the initiative to check and gave a hand, showing a good sportsmanlike demeanor.

Despite being competitors on the field, athletes' ability to communicate and interact amicably on the podium demonstrates the deep friendship and mutual respect among them. The photograph of the three nations not only captures their moment of glory but also embodies the Olympic spirit's essential values of friendship and unity.

Sun expressed gratitude towards her partner Wang, stating that the Olympics is the most sacred and prestigious competition.

"Participating in an international competition and the Olympics for the first time, I feel both happy and a bit regretful," Kim said after the final match. 

"We have learned a lot from competing against the world's top-ranked Chinese team. We will train harder and aim to win the gold medal next time... the Chinese team are the world's top team, we did our best" she said.

Regarding Wang as an idol, Shin said, "At the Chengdu mixed team event, I went to ask for Wang Chuqin's autograph and took a photo with him. He was very friendly."

"I've faced Wang in mixed doubles many times. His strength is impressive, and it's difficult to return his shots. Every time I have to return his ball, I feel that it's a real challenge, a feeling of 'as expected of the world number one.'"

These interactions and mutual respect between athletes transcend national and ethnic boundaries, highlighting the sincerity and inclusiveness present in competitive sports, experts said.

The "emotional entanglement" between Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle and Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers during the ongoing Paris Olympics, which began with a misunderstanding but ended in friendship, has captured the attention of Chinese netizens over the past few days.

The story started when Chalmers did not acknowledge Pan's greeting before the men's 100 meters freestyle swimming competition, which Pan interpreted as "deliberate."

In a subsequent media interview, after Pan broke his own world record to win gold in the men's 100 meters freestyle, he expressed disappointment that Chalmers did not respond to his attempt at friendliness. Pan also remarked that some foreign swimmers lacked respect for Chinese athletes and coaching staff.

Pan's comments quickly went viral on Chinese social media, leading many netizens to criticize Chalmers for his perceived bad manners and arrogance.

Chalmers later clarified that he had not seen Pan's greeting and reached out to him personally afterward. He also sent a private apology to Pan, who responded positively by exchanging swim caps with Chalmers.

Chalmers shared photos on social media of the exchanged swim caps, including Pan's, and their handshake. They also exchanged contact information, and Pan said he is looking forward to showing Chalmers around Shanghai, the first stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 in October.

As spectators cheered and celebrated Team China's exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics, the presence of foreign coaches has sparked extensive discussion among Chinese netizens, with many praising their dedication.

During the Olympics, Chinese rhythmic gymnasts made history to win the country's first Olympic group all-around gold medal in Paris. It was the first time a team from outside Europe has won Olympic gold since the event was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

Anastasia Bliznyuk, serving as coach of the Chinese rhythmic gymnastics team, played a pivotal role in this historic victory, earning recognition and praise from many Chinese netizens and gymnastics enthusiasts.

Bliznyuk, a two-time group all-around champion in rhythmic gymnastics from Russia, has been coaching the Chinese team since 2022. With the ban on Russian athletes by the International Olympic Committee, Bliznyuk has realized her Olympic aspirations through the success of the Chinese team, according to media reports.

A video shared by Chinese netizens depicting Bliznyuk and head coach Sun Dan nervously empathizing with the competing Chinese team in a previous competition has been widely shared and discussed by Chinese netizens, with many expressing gratitude for the Russian coach's support.

One comment stated that that's probably why the Chinese rhythmic gymnastics athletes could win, because the coaches on the sidelines appeared to be competing themselves. 

After she took on her role as coach in China, Bliznyuk began learning Chinese to improve communication. Nearly three months later, she could express herself in Chinese and started coaching her team members in the language, according to Russia Today.

Welcoming attitude to China

Throughout the Paris Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation was supported by a total of 34 foreign coaches across over 20 sports, such as boxing and skateboarding. Additionally, numerous foreign experts and medical personnel were engaged in the preparation for the games. 

These professionals not only contributed to enhancing the athletic performance of Chinese athletes but also fostered strong bonds with everyone during the coaching process, according to media reports.

In the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation included a total of 51 foreign coaches, making up over 65 percent of the coaches in the delegation. These coaches hailed from 19 countries and regions including the US, Canada, Russia, France and Japan. 

The Chinese delegation's impressive qualification for all seven sports and 15 disciplines, competing in 104 out of 109 events, including 35 events for the first time at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, can be attributed to the country's openness to international coaching teams. This welcoming attitude has been instrumental in driving the growth and success of winter sports in China, according to the Beijing Daily.

Innovative training methods

Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Monday that the foreign coaches are not only highly professional, but also dedicated, with a strong work ethic.

"The foreign coaches are accustomed to sharing their international insights and successes to guide our athletes, offering them valuable opportunities to broaden their horizons," Wang added. 

In terms of the technique of the Chinese rhythmic gymnasts, Bliznyuk said that she believes that Chinese rhythmic gymnastics schools have their unique characteristics, as they are characterized by synchronization, graceful movements and a distinctive Chinese style. If the rhythmic gymnastics schools of Russia and China were to join forces, even greater results would be achieved. 

Meanwhile, the Chinese female boxers also clinched a total of three gold and two silver medals, representing the best Olympic performance for Chinese boxing. In the lead-up to the Olympics, the Chinese women's boxing team enlisted the expertise of a coaching team from Cuba to refine and sharpen the techniques and tactics of the Chinese athletes. 

Li Qian, one of the Chinese boxers, said that the Cuban coaches provided valuable and practical expertise. Their main focus was to work on offensive tactics, with a more aggressive approach, as reported by the media. 

In an interview, Coach Raul Fernandez Liranza mentioned that the results are a culmination of the collective efforts of many individuals. He highlighted that his team conducted extensive research and preparation in the initial stages, followed by multiple overseas training sessions, competitions and exchanges in the later stages. "I hope we'll be in the same position in the next Olympics," he said.

Italian coach Patrizio Antonio Parcesepe helped distance race walker Yang Jiayu improve her endurance and acclimate to hot weather conditions. Yang won gold in the 20 kilometers walk at the Paris Olympics.

Yang said that she gained valuable insights from Coach Patrizio, and she also received words of encouragement from her coach during the Paris Olympics competition.

Alongside the players' training and China's established training system, foreign coaches have introduced innovative training methods and techniques. When introducing foreign coaches, Wang Chunlu, a former short track speed skating world champion, emphasized the importance of continuously learning and comparing different coaching approaches to find the training methods that work best for China's athletes.

When considering the ongoing trend of sports transcending national borders and becoming increasingly globalized, Shen Yi, a professor on international relations at Fudan University, highlighted that this evolution reflects the advancement of human society. Sports exchanges have played a crucial role in the global movement of talent in today's era of globalization, Shen added.

China's inclusivity and magnanimity are evident in its open-minded approach. "As China welcomes talent from all corners of the globe, everyone is expected to fulfill their role," Shen said. 

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday announced the birth of panda twins early Thursday morning in Hong Kong, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The pair, a female and a male, are cubs of Ying Ying and Le Le, pandas given as a gift by the central government to Hong Kong in 2007.

Ying Ying and Le Le successfully completed natural mating in Ocean Park in March. After five months of gestation, the female giant panda Ying Ying finally gave birth to the twins.

A team of animal care professionals, together with experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, are working around the clock to take care of Ying Ying and the newborn twins until their condition fully stabilizes, according to the Information Services Department of the HKSAR government, as reported by Xinhua.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee thanked the central government for gifting the pandas, which he said fully demonstrates its care and support for the HKSAR.

He said that this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the birth of the first pair of giant panda cubs in Hong Kong is of special significance.

According to the Ocean Park, this birth is a true rarity, especially considering Ying Ying is the oldest giant panda on record to have successfully given birth for the first time. 

The Park also said on its social media platform that the public will have to wait a few months before they can officially meet the cubs.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, attended a ceremony on Friday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda and the Hong Kong Ocean Park.

The agreement aims to better implement the central government's gift of a pair of giant pandas to the HKSAR in 2024, according to China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda.

An 8-year-old girl in East China's Zhejiang Province pressed the red button next to the ATM in a bank and used the intercom to seek assistance from the bank staff after getting separated from her family at night, according to thepaper.cn on Tuesday.

The monitoring center at a local bank in Zhejiang received a call from the self-service bank intercom recently, where staff learned that a young girl had become separated from her family while returning home with her grandfather after a dance class. 

Without mobile phone numbers to contact her family, the bank staff reported the situation to the police and stayed with the girl to comfort her. The police then quickly arrived and escorted the girl home to the address she provided.

According to the report, the girl's mother had taught her to press the red button next to an ATM to reach someone who would help her in times of trouble. When she found herself separated from her grandfather, she used this method to seek help.

Many netizens praised the girl for her intelligence and quick thinking in seeking help using the ATM's red button.

Since the beginning of this year, multiple places across China have reported corruption cases in the funeral service industry. Experts said corruption in the sector can leave a negative influence on social morality and funeral services, as a public service sector, should not be profit-oriented.

Data shows that at least 18 practitioners in the funeral service sector from across the country including East China’s Anhui, Jiangxi and Jiangsu provinces, Southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and Northeast China’s Jilin and Liaoning provinces, have been caught in corruption investigation since the beginning of this year, as regions across China kicked off a campaign to root out misconduct and corruption in the funeral and burial sector.

Experts noted Monday that corruption in the funeral industry is not just about money but represents a negative impact on social morals, trust, and respect, as well as a significant harm to traditional culture.

Among these personnel in question, 12 were directors, deputy directors or former heads of the local funeral homes, and another six were incumbent officials or former officials from the local funeral management bureaus in the counties, according to a report from Chinese Newsweek on Sunday.

Several people among the personnel investigated have been engaged in the funeral industry for a long period of time. For example, Yang Tao, general manager from Kangrong Industrial Co in Quxian county in Dazhou city, Sichuan, who was placed under investigation for corruption this May, has been working in the sector for over 30 years.

So far, Dazhou authorities have prosecuted 89 suspects, according to chinanews.com.

Since April, multiple places including Anhui, Liaoning and Jilin have launched campaigns against misconduct in the funeral service sectors targeting problems such as charging illegal fees, illegal construction and operation of cemeteries and corruption among personnel.

Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times on Monday that the misconduct of these “flies,” or corrupt low-ranking officials, not only directly affects people’s lives but also undermines Chinese tradition.

Chinese people pay great respect to the deceased, therefore the corruption in the funeral industry harms public interests and the social custom, Zhu said.

According to Zhu, the phenomenon of excessive and arbitrary charges, from the morgue all the way to the cemetery, has damaged traditional Chinese culture. He noted that as a public service industry, the funeral service sector should not be profit-oriented.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, announced on Tuesday to choose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. 

"One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep. It's personal. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his own," Harris said in a statement, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Walz, 60, previously served as a US House representative. He was elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He emerged from the most accelerated vice presidential search in modern history from a shortlist that included half a dozen Democrats, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, according to CNN.

In his remarks to a raucous crowd of more than 10,000 at Temple University, Walz described his upbringing in a small Nebraska town, his 24 years serving in the Army National Guard and his prior career as a high school social studies teacher and football coach, Reuters reported. 

Democrats hope that having Walz on the ticket will help shore up support in key battleground states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Those are strongholds of the Democratic party, although Harris' opponent and former President Donald Trump flipped them when he clinched the White House in 2016. US President Joe Biden flipped them back to the Democrats with his 2020 victory. This time around, the three states are crucial to winning the election.

According to polling data compiled by the US election information website Real Clear Politics, as of Tuesday, Harris leads Trump by an average of 0.5 percentage points in national polls, but Trump still leads in several key swing states, media reported. 

In reaction to the selection of Walz, Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that "this is the most Radical Left duo in American history. There has never been anything like it."