📰 Global Times · 25

China to introduce new train timetable from July 1, including high-speed train service between Beijing and Urumqi
China's national railway network will implement a new train-running timetable starting July 1, which includes high-speed train service between Beijing and Urumqi for the first time. The upgrade aims to improve connectivity between different regions of the country and increase transportation capacity and efficiency.

Chinese expert criticizes Filipino FM's claim that Japan-Philippines delimitation 'nothing to do' with China, warns move serves ulterior purposes beyond bilateral talks
A Chinese expert criticized the Philippines' foreign minister for claiming that maritime boundary discussions between the Philippines and Japan have no relation to China. The expert argued that these talks involve areas near Taiwan and conflict with international law. The Philippines' foreign minister emphasized the importance of these discussions for national defense and stated they are solely between the Philippines and Japan.

Tokyo Trial debunks notorious Yasukuni Shrine's inverted narrative
The article discusses the Tokyo Trial's condemnation of Japan's wartime actions and criticizes the Yushukan Museum at the Yasukuni Shrine for distorting historical facts. It references Xiang Longwan, who argues that the shrine's exhibits deny the findings of the Tokyo Trial and promote militarist ideology.

DC gala shooting suspect voices grievances against US administration in writings to family: media reports
A man accused of shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner expressed grievances against the U.S. administration in messages sent to his family prior to the attack, according to media reports. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, referred to himself as a 'Friendly Federal Assassin' and criticized various administration policies, including military actions in the Pacific. The attack is being investigated as potentially politically motivated.

Local Insights: At the 13th Baku Global Forum, global participants look to China for new path of multilateralism and stability
The article discusses the 13th Baku Global Forum, where global participants expressed interest in China's role in promoting multilateralism and stability. The piece introduces 'Local Insights,' a new column by the Global Times English edition, which aims to provide original, field-based observations from Chinese scholars and professionals abroad, as well as international individuals in China.

Over 3,000 protests staged across US on one month of strikes against Iran, scale 'suggests mounting public dissatisfaction that risks more chaos': expert
Over 3,100 protests occurred across the United States on the one-month anniversary of U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. Demonstrations took place in major cities like Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Protesters expressed opposition to various policies of the current U.S. administration, including the war in Iran, federal immigration enforcement, and the rising cost of living. The events were described by NBC News as the 'single largest non-violent day of action' in American history.

Nearly 4.9 million visits from Taiwan to mainland in 2025 with one-third made by young people: CPPCC member
According to Xu Kewei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), nearly 4.9 million visits were made by Taiwan residents to the Chinese mainland in 2025, with young people making up more than one-third of these visits. Xu attributed this increase to policies facilitating cross-Straits travel and emphasized that peace and development are shared aspirations for both sides of the Straits.

China schedules next moonshot this year: developer
China plans to launch the Chang'e-7 lunar probe this year to explore the Moon's south pole, focusing on studying water ice deposits and other key features. This comes as part of Phase 4 of China's lunar exploration program. The information was shared by Sun Zezhou, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a leading engineer at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

NPC deputy calls to make comprehensive sex education a formal part of China's basic education curriculum
An NPC deputy, Chen Wei, has proposed integrating comprehensive sex education into China's basic education system, including mandatory classes starting in kindergarten. This comes amid reports of rising incidents of sexual assault on campuses and unintended pregnancies among teenagers. Statistics from the Girls' Protection public welfare team indicate that over 690 children were victims of sexual abuse in 2024, with girls making up over 90% of the victims.

Renowned scholar and political advisor expresses confidence in China's AI development, computing power
Wang Jian, a prominent Chinese scholar and political advisor, expressed confidence in China's advancements in artificial intelligence and computing power during an interview with the Global Times. He criticized the U.S. power grid as 'outdated' and suggested that addressing the electricity issue could be more challenging for the U.S. than launching objects into space. Wang also noted that much of the manufacturing for core electrical infrastructure is concentrated in China, which frustrates figures like Elon Musk.

China's 2026 defense budget set at 1.94 trillion yuan: spokesperson
China's 2026 defense budget has been announced at 1.94 trillion yuan ($281 billion), marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year's executed budget. The central government's share of this budget is 1.91 trillion yuan ($276 billion), reflecting a 7% increase. The announcement was made by Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. The government emphasized that defense spending increases are aligned with economic development and aimed at enhancing both国防 (m

Chinese courts step up crackdown on cyber crimes
Chinese courts have intensified their efforts to combat cybercrime, with a significant rise in the number of cases handled over the past five years. According to a report from the Supreme People's Court, there was a 158.5% increase in cases related to cybersecurity threats compared to the previous five-year period. The report highlighted specific offenses such as 'doxxing,' the unauthorized disclosure of personal information, and operating autonomous driving systems while intoxicated. These actions indicate a firm stance against emerging forms of cybercrime. During the second plenary meeting,

NPC deputy suggests better informing patients of fertility risks before treatment
Ruan Xiangyan, a doctor and deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, proposed establishing a notification system to inform patients of potential fertility risks associated with medical treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. She emphasized the importance of preserving fertility, particularly for those undergoing treatment for tumors, malignant diseases, or rare illnesses. Ruan highlighted her team's efforts in developing ovarian tissue cryopreservation technology in China since 2012, which led to the birth of the first healthy baby in China through this method in 2021.

NPC deputy suggests optimizing vacations, breaks to stimulate domestic consumption
Zhang Yi, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested optimizing vacation schedules, including introducing spring and autumn breaks for primary and secondary schools, to stimulate domestic consumption. This aligns with China's broader strategy to transition toward a consumption-driven growth model, as emphasized in recent government reports and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

From Pegasus to Blades of the Guardians, film IPs fuel Xinjiang's tourism boom, NPC deputy tells GT
The article discusses how film intellectual properties (IPs), such as 'Pegasus,' 'My Altai,' and 'Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert,' have contributed to a tourism boom in Xinjiang, according to Kong Feifei, a deputy to the National People's Congress and Deputy General Manager of Ili Cultural Tourism Industry Group Co. Ltd. The piece highlights Xinjiang's natural and cultural attractions as filming locations and emphasizes their role in promoting the region's tourism industry.

China's astronaut center addresses challenges of long-term human survival on exoplanets: political advisor and China's first female taikonaut to enter space station
Wang Yaping, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and China's first female taikonaut, discussed the China Astronaut Research and Training Center's efforts to establish a ground-based research facility focused on long-term human survival beyond Earth. She highlighted the rapid progress of China's manned space program and mentioned that taikonauts from Hong Kong and Macao are preparing for future missions.

CPC Central Committee, State Council congratulate Chinese Winter Olympics delegation
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council issued a congratulatory message to the Chinese delegation for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The delegation achieved its best-ever results at an overseas Winter Olympics, winning 15 medals (five gold, four silver, six bronze). The message praised the athletes for their sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and contribution to international friendship, highlighting their role in showcasing China's strength and image globally.

China stresses Taiwan at 'core of core interests' after Xi-Trump call; Room for 'relying on US for independence' illusion will only shrink further: expert
Following a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, China reiterated that Taiwan is a core interest and emphasized that the U.S. must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution. A spokesperson from the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office stated that the Taiwan issue is central to China's national interests and a non-negotiable red line in Sino-U.S. relations. The article also mentions that an expert believes the room for Taiwan to rely on the U.S. for independence is shrinking.

Chinese, Iranian diplomats meet before US-Iran nuclear talk; move reflects Teheran's willingness to seek intl support: Chinese expert
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin met with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing ahead of planned U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman. The discussion centered on the Iran nuclear issue, with China reiterating its stance in favor of a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and opposing the use of force or sanctions. China also emphasized its support for Iran's right to peacefully use nuclear energy.

Uruguayan president visits Great Wall, Palace Museum on 2nd day of China trip; Chinese expert says growing interest in CPC history shows wish to learn from China
Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi visited the Great Wall of China and the Palace Museum during his second day of a state visit to China. He was accompanied by his delegation and engaged with local staff and tourists. The visit was documented through social media posts and videos shared online.

Chinese FM holds strategic dialogue with Russia's Shoigu; Wang warns the world 'faces risk of regressing to law of jungle'
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Beijing for a strategic dialogue. Wang warned that the world faces a risk of regressing to the 'law of the jungle' and emphasized the need for China and Russia, as major powers and UN Security Council members, to uphold multilateralism and promote a more just global governance system.

Takaichi skipping of TV debate due to 'hand injury' sparks dissatisfaction from Japanese politicians, netizens, saying Takaichi avoids key questions including Unification Church scandal
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi skipped a televised debate with opposition leaders ahead of the February 8 general election, citing a hand injury sustained during campaign activities. The decision sparked criticism from politicians and netizens who suspect she was avoiding scrutiny over the Unification Church scandal, which has been linked to her name in recent documents.

Trump claims India will buy Venezuelan oil, welcomes China's investment; Chinese expert notices remarks 'unilateral,' no confirmation from Indian side
US President Donald Trump claimed that India will begin purchasing oil from Venezuela rather than Iran, and stated that China is welcome to invest in the oil sector. A Chinese expert noted that these remarks were unilateral and lacked confirmation from Indian or Venezuelan authorities. Indian media covered the claim but reported no official response from New Delhi.

No case of Nipah virus disease detected in China so far: China's disease control authorities
China's National Disease Control and Prevention Administration reported that no cases of Nipah virus disease have been detected in the country. The agency noted that the current outbreak in India is concentrated in West Bengal, which does not share a land border with China. It emphasized that the virus is primarily spread through direct contact with infected animals, patients, or contaminated objects, and that the risk of transmission through the environment is low. Authorities stated that the impact of the Indian outbreak on China is minimal but warned of potential imported cases and urged预防(

China's first Type 054B frigate reaches operational capability, official media reveals amid warship's first commissioning anniversary
China's first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe, has reached operational capability one year after its commissioning. The ship has made advancements in stealth technology, combat command systems, and fire control integration, enabling it to perform comprehensive combat operations and various maritime missions. The information was reported by official media.