Editor's Note: The Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene, on July 15 in Beijing, the third plenary session of its 20th central committee, which is expected to focus on deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization. John Ross, senior fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, shared his perspectives with the Global Times (GT) on his expectation on the upcoming meeting.
GT: How do you assess the significance of the coming Third Plenum for China's economic development and reform over the next decade, as the country faces growing geopolitical complexity in the world?
John Ross: The upcoming plenum is of great significance for both domestic and international reasons. Domestically, China has already achieved its first centenary goal - building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by its national standards. If China manages to double its per capita income by 2035 compared to 2020, it will well exceed the threshold for a high-income economy by international standards.
The living standards, life opportunities, demands, and expectations of China's population will have increased enormously. The Chinese economy will correspondingly become far more diverse and sophisticated. Achieving such a transformation in a country with 1.4 billion people - surpassing the combined populations of all other high-income economies - will stand as an unprecedented achievement in human history. This historical perspective underscores the profound significance of the plenum.
GT: In light of the opportunities and challenges ahead for China's economy, how do you anticipate the plenum will guide and advance economic reforms in critical areas such as technological innovation, capital market regulation, and accelerate the private sector, real estate, and opening-up?
John Ross: China's transition to a high-income economy requires a sustained increase in high-quality productivity, achievable only through substantial investments in research and development and the application of its outputs. This shift is already being realized in multiple sectors such as telecommunications, green industries, high-tech products such as drones, and social platforms.
The plenum will need to set forth guidelines for the widespread adoption of these advancements throughout the entire economy. China's technological leadership in these and other industries forms the foundation for its evolving role in the global economy and consequently as a leading technological innovator in its opening-up policies.
GT: How do you evaluate the role of the CPC's leadership and institutional advantages in contributing to the country's economic achievements and future development?
John Ross: The remarkable transformation of China, from being one of the world's poorest countries in 1949 to emerging as the world's second-largest economy within just over 70 years is entirely credited to the pivotal role and visionary leadership of the CPC. No other political party in the world can claim a comparable achievement. This stands as an objective fact.
GT: What are your expectations regarding the plenum's role in advancing China's distinctive modernization?
John Ross: Throughout each phase of its journey the country has consistently encountered diverse and evolving challenges. The CPC's resilience and vitality are evidenced by its ability to devise precise and effective responses to these challenges at every turn, as evidenced by the significant milestones achieved in China's economic and social advancement. Looking ahead, I am confident that the upcoming Third Plenum will mark another crucial step forward in this on-going transformative process.
Chinese industry insiders and experts said India's reported plan to make it easier for Chinese citizens to get visas to visit India is positive for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which is facing a surge in demand in the post-pandemic era.
The remarks were made in response to media reports that the Indian government is making preparations to cut down visa delays for Chinese technicians, under the pressure of the country's business groups, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
However, Chinese engineers and technicians are largely wary.
An executive from a Chinese technology company told the Global Times on Thursday that the news has been circulating for a while, but it depends on when the Indian authorities will heed to the calls from the civilian sectors and take concrete steps to lessen such curbs. "In fact, in recent months the Indian government has tightened the review process for visa extensions for Chinese citizens working in India."
"The Indian government treated the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens as a bargaining chip," the person said on condition of anonymity.
There has been a rather unfair approach being practiced by New Delhi. Visa applications submitted by companies from China's Taiwan Island, or companies of a joint venture, were processed on an expedited basis to help the Indian authority to realize its ambition to build India into a semiconductor manufacturing hub, the person said. "In contrast, a very lengthy process of application is awaiting Chinese nationals."
According to Bloomberg, the Indian Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is working with the ministries of home and external affairs to lay a framework that will fast-track visas for the engineers and technicians from China, with the aim to cut down the visa processing time to within 30 days from the four to five months it currently takes.
India used to put in place a blanket restriction on visa application by Chinese nationals after bilateral ties soured under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government since the two countries' border clash in 2020.
Chinese analysts called for New Delhi to drop its restrictive visa practices, which they refer to as a "double-edged sword" that both served the Indian purpose to look tough on China, but actually undermined its economic interests.
"China and India, the two largest developing countries in the world, are facing a surge in demand in people-to-people exchanges," Dai Yonghong, director of Institute of Area and International Studies, Shenzhen University, told the Global Times on Thursday. "Regrettably, such a demand has been suppressed by the Indian authority's visa restrictions."
Despite frayed ties, India still imports a lot of equipment from China, and many of these machines need technicians and engineers to operate and repair.
A report published by the Economic Times in June said that Indian electronics manufacturers have suffered $15 billion in economic losses and 100,000 job cuts due to escalating tensions with China. Visa delays for Chinese executives are hindering the industry's expansion plans, leading to a $10-billion export loss and $2 billion in value-added loss.
A Chinese national who recently returned from India told the Global Times that he once saw two Chinese engineers were maintaining a machine at an Indian industrial plant that needs 20 people to maintain, resulting in production efficiency being held back.
Local media estimated that India issued just 2,000 visas to Chinese nationals in 2024 from about 200,000 before the pandemic in 2019, according to Bloomberg.
Visa facilitation is an important component in a country's opening-up and business environment, streamlined visa application process increases a country's appeal to business community, investors and tourists, Dai noted, calling the Indian government to scrap visa restrictive measures for Chinese technicians, as well as Chinese government officials, scholars and tourists.
The complementarity between China and India in industrial cooperation is greater than that of India and Western developed economies, and China's advantages in technology, capital and management expertise can be of great use to India, Dai said.
"The Indian government needs to work on improving its business environment, so as not to hamper its industrialization, manufacturing sector upgrade and overall competitiveness," Dai said.
"I think the Indian government is wise enough to realize that the West may be not willing to give it the best of their technologies, capital and management," Dai said. "China should be the more suitable choice as a partner."
Lingshan Island is covered in green grass, lush trees, singing birds, and fragrant flowers in the summer. The sound of laughter resounds endlessly, and most of the tourists on the island come to see the "carbon-negative sea island". How did they achieve “Carbon-Negative”?
Carbon emission reduction is not an easy task, and the core of it is “electricity”. To change the way of life and production of the islanders, it is important to ensure that the island has a safe and reliable power supply.
To protect the safe and reliable operation of the island power supply, the State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company developed an innovative Submarine Cable Inspection Robot, which has increased inspection efficiency from the traditional 0.2 kilometers per hour to 3.2 kilometers. This changed the “fault repair” of submarine cables to “full monitoring.”
The State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company developed an innovative Submarine Cable Inspection Robot in action.
In addition, since 2020, the State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company has fully implemented the Lingshan Island distribution network renovation project, completing 12 low-voltage substation upgrades and replacing 7.8 kilometers of overhead wires.
What are the benefits of “Carbon-Negative”
The “Carbon-Negative” sign has promoted the steady improvement of Lingshan Island’s cultural tourism industry, forming a tourism aggregating effect.
To ensure reliable power supply throughout the tourist season, Gu Yongjun, Miao Zaiwei, and Xiao Yonglei, grid managers of the Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company of SGCC, carry out safe electricity inspection at each hostel every day before the peak of electricity consumption, helping to timely eliminate hidden dangers.
This year marks their 33rd year working on the island. “We are busier during the tourist season. It is hard, but we can see the whole island becoming more and more beautiful, and everyone's life getting better and better and that makes it all worth it, and we all feel proud of the work.” Gu Yongjun said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his sympathy to former US President Donald Trump on Sunday, following the shooting incident at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. China is paying attention to the incident, China's Foreign Ministry said.
The Chinese Embassy in Sweden refuted on Friday the erroneous remarks made by some Swedish politicians related to China on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, South China Sea issue and Taiwan question. The Chinese Embassy urged Sweden not to mirror China with the template of "a major country must be hegemonic," not to misjudge China by the trajectory taken by the Western powers, and not to fabricate false narratives designed to smear China.
According to the embassy, some Swedish politicians have stated that if Russia wins in its conflict with Ukraine, it will “encourage China to seize territory from other countries.” They also smeared China by claiming that the Philippines and Vietnam “are facing pressure from China” in the South China Sea, and that the island of Taiwan “is at risk of invasion” from mainland.
The Chinese Embassy refuted the attacks, clarifying that the Swedish side's remarks are filled with Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, making baseless accusations and attacks targeting China, which China strongly protests and firmly opposes.
It is known to all that China has adhered to the path of peaceful development, has never aggressed against any country, never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, and never undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. China has always been committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, adhered to developing friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and firmly pursued the strategy of openness, development and mutual benefit. China is not a threat to any country, but a force for peace and stability in the international community, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy said.
The spokesperson reiterated that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan has never been a country, but an inseparable part of Chinese territory. The one-China principle is a universal consensus in the international community and a basic norm in international relations, and it is also the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with all countries, including Sweden.
The Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are fundamentally different and cannot be compared, said the spokesperson, noting that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, while the Ukraine issue is a dispute between Russia and Ukraine as two separate countries.
The spokesperson added that equating the Taiwan question with the Ukraine issue is tantamount to distorting the cross-Straits relations as relations between two countries, creating "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," which is essentially challenging the one-China principle, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, interfering in China's internal affairs, and seriously violating international law and basic norms of international relations.
China urged the Swedish side to fully recognize the seriousness and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, earnestly adhere to the one-China principle, stop spreading irresponsible false statements, and take actions conducive to the stability of the Taiwan Straits and the development of world peace, the spokesperson said.
On the South China Sea issue, the Chinese Embassy noted that the matter is between China and several ASEAN members, and that China insists on negotiating and resolving maritime disputes with the directly involved parties, while firmly opposing to any maritime infringements and provocations.
With the joint effort of China and ASEAN members, the overall situation in the South China Sea remains stable. China is willing to continue working with ASEAN members to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation, the spokesperson said.
“We urge countries outside the region, including Sweden, to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, and not to provoke trouble or become disruptors and troublemakers in the South China Sea,” the spokesperson noted.
After the British Union Jack, which had flown over Hong Kong for more than 150 years, was lowered for the last time on June 30, 1997, terms such as "Her Majesty" and "Governor," which had persisted in various Hong Kong laws, finally made their exit on Wednesday.
Some legal representatives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) hailed it as necessary legal reforms to remove such outdated colonial references and fill gaps in the law.
The Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR passed the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 in its third reading, officially removing terms like "Her Majesty," "Governor," from the legal texts of several Hong Kong laws.
The bill is divided into 15 parts, with the most notable being Part 14, which concerns amendments made for legal adaptation, according to media reports.
The modifications in Part 14 include replacing "Her Majesty, her heirs and successors" with "the Central People's Government or the Government of the HKSAR in accordance with the Basic Law and other laws"; "Governor" with "Chief Executive"; and "Governor in Council" with "Chief Executive in Council."
In an interview with Yangcheng Evening News, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR government Cheung Kwok-kwan said that the Part 14 was proposed by different policy bureau of the Hong Kong government, including the Department of Justice, suggesting amendments to various expressions and provisions in statutory laws. Most of the proposed amendments are of a terminological or technical nature.
The purpose of the legal adaptation amendments is to ensure that certain provisions or expressions in ordinances and subsidiary legislation in force before July 1, 1997, conform to the Basic Law of Hong Kong and reflect Hong Kong's status as a SAR of the People's Republic of China, appropriately mirroring the policy intentions of the relevant policy bureau.
"The issue of inaccurate legal terminology has existed for many years and should have been addressed long ago," Chan Man-ki, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the LegCo, wrote to the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government and the Chairman of the Legislative Council's Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services in September 2022, urging the acceleration of the "decolonization" of local laws.
On Wednesday, Chan Man-ki told Yangcheng Evening News that the long-term presence of colonial-era legal provisions in Hong Kong posed a significant obstacle to the implementation of patriotic education.
This amendment directly adapts expressions that do not conform to the constitutional status of the HKSAR, such as deleting terms like "Her Majesty" and "Governor," and this amendment effectively and swiftly implements the "decolonization" of local laws, correctly reflecting the constitutional order of the HKSAR, Chan was quoted as saying in the media report.
"I believe this amendment will enable Hong Kong's local laws to keep pace with the times," Chan said.
Willy Fu, a law professor who is also director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, welcomed and supported the second and third readings of the bill.
27 years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, it is necessary to undertake legal reforms to remove these outdated colonial references and fill gaps in the law, Fu said, noting that this is a necessary and appropriate measure that deserves support.
Hong Kong residents should set aside their colonial nostalgia, unite, and fully support the SAR government's lawful administration. By relying on the motherland and connecting with the world, Hong Kong can leverage its unique advantages, integrate into the national development agenda, boost the economy, pursue development, and benefit people's livelihoods, Fu noted.
"Hong Kong can achieve a renaissance, faithfully implementing One Country, Two Systems and steadfastly maintaining its prosperity and stability. The future of Hong Kong will certainly be brighter," he said.
Terms such as "Her Majesty," "royal family," and "loyalty" might lead to misunderstandings that Hong Kong has not fully returned to the motherland in many aspects, potentially forming long-term misconceptions about One Country, Two Systems, Priscilla Leung, Chairperson of the LegCo's Bills Committee, was quoted as saying in media reports on Wednesday.
Hong Kong was a member of an international treaty in 1989, but has since ceased to apply the relevant regulations. Revising them after 35 years is hard to accept, and Leung said that she hopes that all departments will expedite their work to complete the adaptation process as soon as possible.
China's Shandong aircraft carrier group reportedly started its first far seas exercise of the year after it was spotted on Tuesday operating in the West Pacific, where another group of Chinese and Russian warships are conducting a joint maritime patrol.
Amid Taiwan Straits and South China Sea tensions, as well as the US-led RIMPAC 2024 exercise that blatantly targets China, Chinese naval activities, not aimed at any other country, serve to enhance combat capabilities and deter unstable security factors, experts said on Wednesday.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong, the Type 055 large destroyer Yan'an, the Type 052D destroyer Guilin and the Type 054A Yuncheng were spotted sailing in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, the news website of the US Naval Institute reported on the day, citing a news release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff.
The Japanese news release said that the Shandong was observed conducting flight operations with its fighter aircraft and helicopters.
The Chinese aircraft carrier group was spotted sailing in the South China Sea near the Philippines in June, and analysts said that the carrier likely sailed from the South China Sea via the Bashi Channel to the south of the island of Taiwan into the Philippine Sea in the West Pacific.
A release by the defense authority on the island of Taiwan said that it spotted 37 PLA aircraft of various types around the island conducting air-sea joint training along with the carrier Shandong and other PLA Navy vessels on Wednesday.
It marks the first time the Shandong has embarked on a far seas exercise beyond the first island chain this year, observers noted, further mentioning that they are looking forward to seeing if the carrier will make new breakthroughs in terms of training intensity, new tactics practiced and new locations reached.
The aircraft carrier Shandong and its escorts are not the only PLA Navy warships currently operating in the West Pacific.
Citing the Russian Pacific Fleet, Russian News Agency Tass reported on July 4 that the Russian corvette Sovershenny joined the PLA Navy's Type 052D destroyer Yinchuan, Type 054A frigate Hengshui and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu at a designated meeting point to commence the fourth joint Russia-China maritime patrol in the Asia-Pacific region since 2021 to bolster naval cooperation and maintain peace and stability.
The joint group is set to conduct anti-submarine and air defense drills and practice search and rescue measures at sea during their joint patrol, Tass reported.
The China-Russia joint group was spotted entering the West Pacific from the East China Sea via the Osumi Strait from July 4 to 5, according to Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff.
Additional PLA Navy warships, including the Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa, the Type 903A replenishment ship Kekexilihu, the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng and Type 054A frigate Yantai, also entered the West Pacific by July 1. They first entered the Sea of Japan from the East China Sea via the Tsushima Strait, then entered the West Pacific via the Tsugaru Strait, two separate news releases by Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said.
China has yet to officially announce these naval activities. Observers wonder if there is a link between the aircraft carrier Shandong's far seas exercise and the China-Russia joint patrol, reflecting on possible training objectives, and where the warships would travel to, considering the ongoing security tensions over the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, and that the Chinese and Russian naval activities are coinciding with the US-led RIMPAC exercise being held around Hawaii Islands, with China believed to be set as an imaginary enemy.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the China-Russia joint maritime patrol has become regular occurrence, and such activities can further consolidate the strategic mutual trust between the two countries and the two militaries.
It is not impossible that the Shandong carrier group and the China-Russia joint group join force in the West Pacific waters to conduct mock confrontation drills or joint defense drills, Zhang said.
In addition to traditional areas such as the East China Sea, the West Pacific and the North Pacific, it cannot be ruled out that the groups could sail to regions farther away, such as the East Pacific and South Pacific, which completely conforms to the international law and practices, Zhang said.
The Chinese drills combined with the China-Russia joint patrol are completely different from the US-led RIMPAC exercise, as they are not targeted at any other country. The RIMPAC, on the other hand, is obviously simulating a scenario in which the US militarily interferes in the Taiwan question in case of a conflict, analysts said.
Another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Wednesday that while the PLA Navy's exercises and drills are prescheduled and are not related with the ongoing situations, they contribute to regional peace and stability by deterring unstable factors and provide strategic power balancing.
The goal of any exercise should be enhancing combat capabilities and safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development interests, the expert said.
When Lucas Fan received his friend Jim in Beijing in June 2023, Lucas had to order a taxi for Jim every time he needed one as Jim, from Ireland, could not link his international bank card with WeChat or Alipay payment functions. As the two main social networking apps in China, WeChat and Alipay are virtually indispensable in nearly every aspect of daily life, from chatting, working to shopping, and from taxi-hailing to making electronic payments.
But had Jim pushed his visit back by a month, he would have found it more convenient to travel as a foreigner in China. Alipay and WeChat Pay started to comprehensively upgrade their systems in July 2023 to optimize support for international bank cards to better serve a growing number of international travelers along with bolstering international exchanges.
According to official data, in 2023, the national border inspection authorities checked in a total of 210 million inbound travelers, recovering to 62.9 percent of 2019 levels and the number is expected to continue to grow in 2024.
"This [payment difficulty of foreigners] is indeed an unexpected new problem as mobile payment has developed very rapidly in China," Sun Yeli, Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, told domestic and foreign journalists after the closing of China's annual national legislative session in Beijing.
Sun noted that the Chinese central authorities have paid great attention to this issue and have established a coordination mechanism to solve it.
"We are optimizing each step of the inbound tourism process, streamlining procedures ranging from visa applications to flight arrangements, hotel check-ins, shopping, and sightseeing. With the implementation of these measures, foreign tourists visiting China will enjoy the same level of convenience in accommodation, transportation, and shopping as domestic tourists," Sun said.
"We sincerely welcome tourists from all over the world to visit China, enjoy the charm of Chinese culture, discover rapid changes in the country, and experience the hospitality of the Chinese people," Sun noted. Get through 'reverse digital divide'
The new mobile payment represented by barcode payment has become the mainstream payment tool in China. However, in most countries around the world, especially in some developed economies, bank cards are still the mainstream payment tool.
In recent years, with the rapid development of informatization and digitization in China, the popularity of mobile payment has increased rapidly. Now, the popularity of digital payment in China may be twice as high as in other countries. And everyone in the country is very accustomed to using a mobile phone for all aspects of life. However, this has made China too "digitized" to be "out of touch" internationally. Some people say that this has created a "reverse digital divide" between China and foreign countries.
One main difficulty for foreigners in making mobile payments lies in the low success rate of overseas individuals using Alipay and WeChat to link overseas bank cards, as well as payment limits.
When overseas users enter China and want to link a third-party payment app, they need to provide real-name information. Some overseas users may be unwilling to provide their personal information for personal privacy concerns. In addition, the transmission of cross-border information is a long-standing difficult issue even in the traditional financial area due to different principles and rules in various countries in the issue.
Aside from mobile payment, foreigners were also reported to encounter obstacles in using cash and international cards in China. A typical example of this is foreigners like Jim who had difficulties in hailing and making payments in taxis in China, as due to the popularization of online payment, most Chinese taxi drivers receive orders on car-hailing apps and present a QR code to passengers to effect payment. Fewer and fewer of them handle cash, not to mention POS devices.
"Taxis are often the first local service that overseas business people and tourists come into contact with after arriving, and it is also one of their main ways of getting around the city. However, payment difficulties are particularly prominent in taxis," Yang Guoping, chairman of the Shanghai Dazhong Transportation Group and a representative to the 14th National People's Congress, told China Business Journal.
High transaction fees are also another obstacle. The single transaction fee for foreign card payments is basically between 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent, with VISA and MasterCard having a single transaction fee of around 3 percent, while the single transaction fee for domestic cards is around 0.6 percent, and mobile payment fees are even lower, with Alipay at 0.38 percent, according to a report published by yicai.com.
Many domestic merchants are not willing to pay high cross-border credit card transaction fees, but rather encourage foreign tourists to use cash, Alipay, or WeChat Pay, according to the report. Step up efforts to address problems
Facing these problems, Chinese authorities and platforms are moving fast to address the obstacles to help facilitate foreigners' stay in the country.
On February 23, the State Council executive meeting reviewed and approved the "Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment Services to Facilitate Payments," (referred to as the "Opinions"), emphasizing the need to focus on the payment inconvenience of groups such as the elderly and foreigners coming to China.
On February 29, the People's Bank of China held a meeting to promote the optimization of payment services. On March 1, the State Council Information Office held a regular policy briefing on further optimizing payment services and enhancing payment convenience.
Zhang Qingsong, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, introduced the specific content of the above mentioned "Opinions," including promoting the improvement of the bank card acceptance environment and adhering to the positioning of cash as the bottom line, among others.
On the evening of March 7, the "Opinions" were officially released, closely followed by implementations by various platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.
If Jim came to Beijing now, whether arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or the Daxing International Airport, he could go directly to a service center outside the international arrival gate and seek help from staff to install Alipay or WeChat.
He could also directly withdraw RMB from the ATMs beside the service desk if he did not wish to bother with buying a Chinese phone card or had worries about personal information security. The service center could also provide him with smaller bank notes if necessary.
If he uses Alipay with real-name registration, he would be able to make a single transaction with a maximum limit of $5,000 and a maximum annual transaction limit of $50,000.
If Jim was a first-time user of WeChat Pay from abroad, he could also directly add his international bank cards to quickly activate the WeChat payment function without needing to buy a Chinese phone card. By linking an international card, he could use WeChat Pay in China within a certain amount of spending without verification.
As one of China's most international metropolises, Shanghai led the charge in providing international visitors with convenient payment services.
Since late 2023, Shanghai has taken the lead in installing over 36,000 points of sale (POS) machines that can accept foreign bank cards in commerce, cultural, and tourism sites, airports, and railway stations throughout the city, according to the Shanghai government website.
Near Yuyuan Garden, one of the most popular tourist sites in downtown Shanghai, small boards that read "Visa, Master, JCB… now available" are seen on the cashier counters of most shops and restaurants there. According to a cashier at a three-story shop selling souvenirs, clothes, and skincare products, the shop started offering foreign bank card payment services in November 2023, when Shanghai hosted the 6th China International Import Expo.
This improvement has particularly excited many foreign excursionists, who have little time to withdraw cash or get used to China's digital payment systems.
"I can't wait to directly pay with my bank card; that's much better and convenient for us international visitors," a Japanese college student told the Global Times ahead of the Chinese New Year in February. She planned to have a week-long stay in this city.
According to yicai.com, the coverage rate of key merchants accepting foreign cards in Shanghai and neighboring Zhejiang Province in East China has exceeded 90 percent. Determined to further open up
According to media reports, by 2023, millions of foreigners in China had used mobile payments and truly enjoyed the convenience. In the fourth quarter of 2023 particularly, the scale of mobile payment transactions by inbound travelers significantly increased, with a total of 35 million transactions amounting to 5 billion yuan ($695.6 million).
By taking multiple measures to improve the convenience of mobile payment, it is not only an important starting point for Chinese mobile payment to go global, but also a vital part of China's recent efforts to expand international exchanges, including tourism and trade, experts pointed out.
Improving the convenience for foreign nationals to work and study in, and travel to China has been included in the Report on the Work of the Government (2024) announced during the just concluded two sessions.
On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced a visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg on a trial basis at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).
In January, China had already announced five measures, including shortening visa application forms, lowering visa fees for the entire year, exempting some applicants from fingerprinting, providing walk-in without appointment visa application services, and extending a unilateral visa-free policy to a select number of countries including France and Germany on a trial basis.
At a press conference on February 7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin revealed that, as of the time of the conference, China had signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries that cover different types of passports, and had reached agreements or arrangements to simplify visa procedures with 44 countries. China has a complete mutual visa exemption with 23 countries.
These measures show China's determination and concrete efforts to keep opening up, experts noted.
They proposed to continue to expand the scope of visa exemptions so that more foreign travelers can get a chance to enjoy China's large and diverse landscapes, the convenience brought by the 5G network and high-speed bullet trains, and understand China through first-hand experience rather than some second-hand biased reporting.
Looking back on the brotherhood between China and the Philippines that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte highlighted during his visits to China while in office, many Chinese people fondly remember the friendly atmosphere between the two countries during his presidency, and appreciate the independent foreign policy the former leader pursued.
When the Global Times recently visited the Philippines, many local people praised Duterte for the significant improvements he made in social security, public wellbeing, and the economy. On local social media apps in the Philippines, one can also see many people sharing videos of Duterte's life after retirement.
Recently, Global Times reporters Hu Yuwei, Fan Wei, and Zou Zhidong (GT) visited and exclusively spoke with Duterte (Duterte) in Davao, the Philippines, where he repeatedly called for rational and friendly dialogue with China on current intense bilateral relations.
He expressed sadness over the disputes in the South China Sea and the policies adopted by the current administration toward China. He warned that the US is trying to provoke a war between China and the Philippines and cautioned that the US will not risk American lives for Filipinos. He hopes that the Philippines can turn back from its detrimental path and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation. GT: Based on current China-Philippines relations, what kind of message would you like to convey to the people of both the Philippines and China?
Duterte: First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation for China and the Global Times for coming here to interview us and talk about the relations between China and the Philippines. We should deal with the geopolitical mess that we are in. So China could get a clear view, at least around the former president of what we would like to happen between the Philippines and China.
When I was elected as president then (in 2016), I tried to craft an independent foreign policy, not really against America. I have no quarrel with America. But the problem was our foreign policy was dovetailing theirs, and not so good with China. So I started on a neutral foreign policy. I announced to the world that I had no friends and no enemies to fight. I just want to be neutral. And I did not have to kowtow to anybody's foreign policy, especially the Americans. I know that the previous administrations were always favoring the Americans in everything. Whatever be the events, whatever be the problems of Southeast Asia or the world, for that matter, it seems that China here in Asia is doing everything that is possible to encourage that we gather as good neighbors, especially when President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). That was really intended to galvanize relations between Asian countries.
But America, from a foreign policy standpoint, appears to be very hostile. So if you stick with America, if you identify yourself with America, then everything becomes blurry with our relations with China and the rest of the ASEAN countries.
Most of the ASEAN countries have followed a very neutral, independent foreign policy. I would have wanted that. Had I listened to the advisors of government, I could not have improved the relations between the Philippines and China. That is why I slowly detached myself, and, at least in foreign policy, and announced to China that we are not enemies, that we have never been, and never will be in our lifetime.
Now the BRI was meant to attract cooperation between ASEAN member states and China. America was very wary about that, very suspicious, and so they called us not to join as it was "bait for us." There's nothing wrong with economic cooperation. So I made it clear that I was more of a friend.
I must reiterate that I do not have a quarrel with the America. I just don't like their behavior. Their behavior is because at one time or another, they were imperialists. After Spain, they also occupied my country. And even though they say that it was good for the Philippines that they came and educated us, that's nonsense.
We could have developed on our own. We do not need anybody. We do not even need China. We could have developed the Philippines on our own without any interference from anybody.
Now in terms of geopolitics and trade, we have robust trade relations between China. Before I went to Beijing, the durian fruit and mangos were not acceptable to China. After I visited China and talked to the president, humbly asking [the Chinese government] to consider the plight of my nation, so that we earn money at least through our exports, because we are an agricultural country. When I came home, China opened the door.
So I was very appreciative of the brotherly gesture, almost like to cry. That was really very kind to us Filipinos.
Now even in the bilateral trade, China is near, America is far. We have some trade relations with America but not good for a day-to-day, like food. I don't think that we have really good trade relations with America. Maybe they are kind, I do not care to know, because I'm not interested.
Now our bilateral relations [with the US] focus on trade and maybe defense. We've been talking about it. There are issues with the island of Taiwan. We do not tinker with Taiwan. Taiwan is a province of China so we understand.
Here in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), when I was president, there was no quarrel. We can return to normalcy. I hope that we can stop the ruckus over there, because the Americans are the ones pushing the Philippine government to go out there and find a quarrel and eventually maybe start a war.
So I am very sure of that - America is giving the instructions to the Philippine government to "not be afraid because we will back you up."
But I do not think that America will die for us. And yet America has so many bases in the Philippines now; I objected to it when the US wanted to build a military base in Philippines. Then with the consent of the president of the Republic of the Philippines, they have so many bases.
I am sorry for my country. I am not the president anymore. I cannot run. But if there is a way we can reverse the situation, we might find a way inside to implode somewhere. And if God would allow it then perchance I would be able to reverse the situation. I would remove the bases.
And I would tell the Americans, you have so many ships, so you do not need my island as a launching pad or as a launching deck for you. GT: What are your feelings about the change of the friendly diplomatic policy toward China that you always pursued and the peace you created in the South China Sea?
Duterte: I'm very sad. And I hope that we can bring it back again. With the present situation, there has to be a plan.
GT: The current Philippine government has taken a more hardline stance on the South China Sea issue, including the Senate's passage of the Maritime Zones Act, and has attempted to push more fishermen into disputed waters, which is seen as not conducive to dialogue and peaceful settlement. What's your comment?
Duterte: It's not been possible to talk since the current administration took office. Maybe one remedy is I can talk to the Chinese government. We can talk about easing up a little bit; And I will tell the people that this is the protocol that China wants too, and that it's good.
During my term, China allowed fishing [by Philippine fishermen] and nobody was disturbing them.
So, if you want a mid-term change, a radical change, we will have a hard time. You can begin to talk to others, not necessarily with me, but with others. But I'm the only one who's visible right now because I am not afraid of the situation.
GT: During your visit to China in October 2016, we saw a great improvement in China-Philippines relations, and the Chinese side made proper arrangements regarding your concerns. Do you remember how the consensus was reached at that time?
Duterte: The Chinese side allowed us to go there to fish. We do not quarrel with that. We do not ask for any solution to this issue now. We just leave it that way as long as there are no military [conflicts].
It was a very good arrangement. Everybody was happy. And if China should also go there and fish, then go there and fish. If the catch is already enough, then they can go back home. GT: The current Philippine government has strengthened its military ties with the US, opening up new military bases in the Philippines and there have also been some voices shifting toward the US economically. How do you view the "deepening" of US-Philippine relations?
Duterte: It is very hard to comprehend the Philippines detaching a little bit and remaining neutral. That cannot happen until the end of the current term. We'll just have to wait it out. But in the meantime, we should educate the Filipino people and I can always go back to my public life.
I am retired, but I suppose I can still stand and call for a press conference and express my views about it and express my sentiments.
We have bilateral relations with America, but if your foreign policy is crooked or favors one country and is sometimes hostile because you are with America, then everything is wrong. That is the problem.
In terms of the Taiwan question, I said that's a province of China. There was a revolution (Chinese People's War of Liberation) in China between Chairman Mao Zedong of the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang. They (Kuomintang) retreated to an island, which is a part of China. And some in Taiwan want to be independent, and America is supporting them, despite the fact that they know it is illegal because Taiwan is part of China's territory. That's the problem.
So, including the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and the island of Taiwan, and asking for bases, a foreign policy that is not taken care of by the government by allowing itself to be attached to another country, is really at war every day.
In the matter of principle, there is a quarrel going on because there is the US telling everybody, "Okay, you fight. Do not be afraid because we are here." It's antagonistic and hostile.
GT: How do you think China and the Philippines can return to the table of dialogue and negotiations on the South China Sea issue?
Duterte: It will come after Marcos. We will just have to wait. You cannot talk to him because it is the Americans that will tell him what he should say to you. So it's forever a cycle of incongruity.
Lastly, I would say that we are not enemies.
Remember that. We do not have any quarrel with China. We know that if it would come, it would come because of the Americans. So we have to accept it because our government admittedly allowed it.
But we will always be friends. I can assure you.
Maybe we can look for ways to convince political leaders that this president is dragging us through a situation that can harm the relations between China and the Philippines.
GT: People have given you various tags regarding your governing style. For example, among your political opponents, there is a voice that believes you are too friendly to China on the South China Sea issue. However, many Chinese people are full of praise for the strong and powerful actions you've taken to deal with drugs and terrorism, as well as your independent foreign policy approach despite pressure from the US, and they often refer to you as a man of iron will, or a strong leader. What do you think of all these tags?
Duterte: First of all, let me explain. In the matter of foreign policy, and even in the matters of governance, it is a matter of principle.
The principle that I see is that I see things from the right perspective.
That is, whether or not it would be good for my country to remain neutral and not to entertain invasive activities.
The second is in governance. I'm a hardliner, especially on drugs, criminality, and every facet of governance. But I try to be friendly with all. And it's not a pretend friendship with China.
I really love China more than the Americans, simply because I do not believe in their habit, and the habit of saying things and doing what they are doing now. It is a pity that the BRI program has been slowed down [in the Philippines], maybe because of the economy. But I still hope that China will grow more powerful.
I dream of China and the Philippines working together; of better people-to-people exchanges. Most of the Filipinos are pro-American because of the educational system; I dream of Filipinos also gaining new views. There's a school in Fujian named after my mother; an exchange of peoples brings better trade and better bilateral relations.
The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have enhanced their infringement in the islands and reefs they illegally occupied in the South China Sea, according to a report Chinese think tank Grandview Institution released on Tuesday. Experts from the institution also warned of increasing illegal resupply activities by the Philippines to the illegally grounded warship in the South China Sea in 2024.
In recent years, China’s land reclamation and deployment of defensive military facilities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, out of its concern for maintaining national sovereignty and security, have been hyped up by the Western media as a testimony of the alleged "China threat" theory. Thereafter, the US and other extra-regional countries have been intensifying their interference, especially military interference, in the South China Sea issue. Their intervention has further worsened the maritime security environment in China’s periphery. In sharp contrast, the Western media turns a blind eye to the fact that Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia have occupied more than 40 islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands over the past four decades, and kept expanding land area, building facilities and deploying military capabilities on some of these islands, read the report.
In particular, Vietnam and the Philippines have further intensified their construction activities on occupied islands and reefs since 2022. Vietnam has carried out large-scale land reclamation on several islands and reefs, increasing the land area by three square kilometers, far exceeding the total construction scale of the past forty years. The Philippines has frequently attempted to reinforce its construction on the illegally grounded warship at the Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef).
These actions have complicated and escalated the disputes, and have had an impact on peace and stability, the report said.
On May 9, 1999, the military vessel BRP Sierra Madre illegally intruded into China's Ren'ai Jiao, or what the Philippine side calls as the Second Thomas Shoal, running aground due to purported "technical difficulties."
According to the report, the vessel Sierra Madre has been grounded in the Ren'ai Jiao for a long time with over ten Filipino soldiers stationed and this has constituted actual encroachment of the Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippine military's Western Command is responsible for commanding the grounded troops and the Philippine Navy sends ships to resupply the grounded troop.
In 2022, the Philippine Navy conducted 11 illegal resupply activities to the Ren'ai Jiao, while in 2023, the number increased to 14 with more disguised approaches, according to the report.
Liu Xiaobo, director of the ocean research center of the Grandview Institution, told the Global Times that, before 2023, the Philippine Navy supplied the grounded military vessel once a month, but after that, the number of illegal resupply activities increased.
The current trend shows that the illegal supply actions in 2024 will continue to increase, according to Liu. "In order to reduce sensitivity, the Philippines has rented civilian ships - instead of sending military vessels - to supply the stranded ship under the escort of coast guard ships, but the Philippines has been reportedly taking advantage of the opportunity of resupplying troops to transport illegal construction materials to the grounded ship and China firmly opposed such attempt."
In addition, the Philippines currently invites international media to board transport ships and openly hype up China's so-called "interception actions" against them in order to gain sympathy and support from the international community. However, images accompanying the report show that compared to before, the main deck of the vessel Sierra Madre as been partially reinforced and renovated in 2023, indicating that the Philippines had secretly transported building materials long ago.
The report also points out that the Philippines has enhanced construction on the islands it occupied in the South China Sea. Apart from Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines has illegally occupied eight islands and reefs in China's Nansha Islands, namely, Mahuan Dao, Feixin Dao, Zhongye Dao, Nanyao Dao, Beizi Dao, Xiyue Dao, Shuanghuang Shazhou, and Siling Jiao. In June 1978, it unilaterally went beyond its territorial scope to set up the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group," which violates China's territorial sovereignty.
Before 2022, the Philippines conducted less construction on the occupied islands and reefs. But in March 2022, the Philippines built a new helicopter landing pad on the Mahuan Dao; and in May of that year, the Philippine Coast Guard established command observation stations on the Mahuan Dao and others. These command observation stations monitor surrounding vessels and report information to the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters, according to the report.
In January 2024, Manila's military chief Romeo Brawner told media that the Philippines would develop islands in all the nine islands and reefs in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops.
The Philippines Coast Guard recently claimed that China was attempting to build an "artificial island" in the Ren'ai Jiao. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Monday "the Philippines has repeatedly spread rumors, deliberately vilified China and tried to mislead the international community. None of those attempts will succeed."
Wang also urged the Philippines to stop making irresponsible remarks, face up to the facts and return to the right track of properly handling maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation.
Liu believes the Philippines will continue to advance its confrontational South China Sea policy in 2024. He points out that main factors contributing to the escalation of the disputes between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea include the pro-US stance of the Marcos government, the increased assistance from the US and its allies to the Philippines, as well as the joint defense commitment of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty that backs and encourages the Philippines' provocative actions of encroachment.
In addition, the Philippines has strengthened its maritime military capabilities in recent years, providing it with confidence, Liu said. But ASEAN countries will continue to be important forces in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea with China as resolving disputes through peaceful means and maintaining regional peace and stability remains a consensus between ASEAN countries and China despite the differences in their concerns and positions on the South China Sea issue, Liu noted.
