Chinese scientists develop fast breeding rice in Xinjiang desert greenhouses

Chinese scientists have successfully developed fast breeding rice in desert greenhouses in Hotan Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, for the first time under the trial period, making the rice grow from planting to harvest in just 75 days.

The tech provides support for the country to carry out year-round cultivation and fast breeding of crops in desert areas, according to the Institute of Urban Agriculture (IUA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The technology was developed by the IUA's chief scientist Yang Qichang and his research team after five years of research. The team leverages rich solar resources in desert areas, implementing measures such as multi-layer vertical soilless cultivation and artificial light source control, making rice grow from planting to harvest in just 75 days. The tech reduces the rice's growth cycle by around 40 percent compared to rice cultivated in traditional fields, according to the Chengdu-based IUA.

"We used the local new rice for this cultivation by taking fast breeding tech. The seedling cultivation took 15 days. In February, we planted the rice seedlings in the soilless cultivation tanks. The entire production cycle is 60 days by far," Wang Sen, the IUA's researcher, also one member of the research team, told the Global Times on Monday.

The fast breeding of rice in the greenhouses in Hotan adopts vertical soilless cultivation technology, providing crops with good production conditions such as light, temperature, water, air, and fertilizer under intelligent LED supplementary lighting from artificial light sources, according to Wang.

Within the facility, the temperature, humidity, light intensity, and other conditions can always be controlled precisely. However, the costs of energy, operation, and construction are always high. As a result, the experiment utilizes the abundant light and heat resources in Taklimakan Desert to establish a desert greenhouse plant that significantly reduces costs, according to the IUA.

It's meaningful to "inspire more scientific research" in the field, to encourage scientists to explore various solutions to "ensure national breeding and food security," Wang noted.

The research team has also been exploring key technologies for the fast breeding of staple crops such as soybeans, corn, and wheat, as well as oilseed crops and cotton in the desert greenhouses in Hotan.

The research institution has been making efforts in exploring the tech of building vertical unmanned greenhouse during recent years. In December 2023, a 10-meter-high unmanned greenhouse rack, the tallest of its kind in the world, was built by the IUA in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Its cultivation procedures are completely automated, including sowing, thinning, harvesting and packaging, according to media reports.

How to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits: Wang Yi

The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affairs, and how to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits,  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a written interview with Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera on Thursday. 

Addressing a question on the Taiwan question given US continued arms sales to the island, Wang responded that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. We will strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort and greatest sincerity. In the meantime, our bottom line is also clear: we will absolutely not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way.

At present, the cross-Straits situation is stable on the whole. But it faces serious challenges as well. The biggest challenge comes from “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external disruptions. China will not sit on its hands with external disruptions, he stressed.

During the interview, Wang also made important explanations regarding the Gaza conflict, the Red Sea crisis, the Ukraine crisis and China-US relations.

Regarding the Gaza conflict, Wang stated that the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe that should not have happened, which has gone far beyond the bottom line of modern civilization. The international community must act now.

First, what is currently urgent is to achieve a cease-fire as early as possible, and this is the overriding priority. Second, unimpeded humanitarian assistance must be ensured at all times, and this is the pressing moral obligation. Third, further spillover of the conflict must be forestalled, and this is the practical necessity for preventing the situation from spinning out of control. Fourth, historical injustice to the Palestinian people must be redressed timely, and this is the right way to address the root of the conflict in Gaza, Wang pointed out. 

In response to concerns over the rising tensions in the Red Sea and China’s deployment of several hundred servicemen in an escort fleet for cargo ships, Wang stated that it must be noted that the ongoing escort mission by the Chinese navy is not related to the Red Sea situation. Maneuvers are being carried out in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia as authorized by the UN Security Council to deter pirates and conduct humanitarian operations.

When asked about how will China mediate in peaceful negotiations to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Wang said it is imperative to remain committed to political settlement. Conflicts and wars do not end on the battlefield but at the table. 

It is imperative to uphold objectivity and impartiality. All sides should play their due part, and build up mutual trust to create conditions for ending hostility and starting peace talks. More importantly, no one should form factions or provoke bloc confrontation, Wang emphasized.

With the US presidential election approaching, Wang stated that the China-US relationship bears on the wellbeing of the Chinese and American peoples and the future of humanity and the world. 

China is sincere in improving its relations with the US. Meanwhile, the US still sticks to its misperception of China, and presses ahead with its misguided policy to contain China, he noted.

Whoever is elected, the Chinese and American peoples will still need to engage in exchanges and cooperation, and the two major countries must find the right way to get along with each other. The China-US relationship cannot go back to its past. But it should, and can fully, have a bright future, Wang said.

Blinken arrives in Shanghai with little optimism on major breakthrough due to US’ mind-set

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday afternoon to begin the second official visit to China of his tenure. Some Chinese experts said whether this visit, which shows Washington's eagerness to cooperate with China, can achieve a breakthrough depends on the US' mind-set and attitude. 

But given that the US continues to send signals of "pressuring for demands," experts hold low expectations for a positive outcome from Blinken's ongoing China visit. 

Blinken is scheduled to travel to China from Wednesday to Friday where he will meet with senior Chinese officials in both Shanghai and Beijing to talk about a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, according to a statement issued by the US State Department earlier. 

Some Western media also hold a cautious view of this visit. The New York Times said "Blinken goes to China with potential trouble on horizon" as the visit comes as Democrats and Republicans are vying to appear tougher on China. Reuters said Blinken arrived with bilateral ties "on a steadier footing," but with a daunting array of unresolved issues threatening the stability of relations between the two countries. 

The Associated Press also listed the major divisions between China and the US and key issues that Blinken is going to bring up on the trip including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions in the Middle East, the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue.

Just before Blinken boarded his plane, the North America and Oceania department of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the media on Monday, providing a 3,000-plus-word statement about the details of the visit. 

It not only reiterated a welcoming attitude but also elaborately outlined the five main objectives of the visit, including establishing correct perceptions, enhancing dialogue, effectively managing differences, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly undertaking the responsibilities of a major country.

 The briefing is also considered a negotiating memorandum provided to Blinken, experts said.

"There is a gap in attitudes between China and the US, which relates to the ways and ideas both sides take to handle bilateral relations," Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The fundamental approach of the US is to view China as its most significant strategic competitor and its most severe geopolitical challenge, so the US adopts measures to contain and suppress China under the guise of containment, while simultaneously it  needs China to cooperate as well as make concessions on a range of issues important to the US, Wu noted. 

"On one hand, the US wants to suppress and guard against China, and on the other, it expects China to dance to its tune," Wu said. 

Despite this gap in attitudes between the two countries, for the Biden administration, with the continuing increase in uncertainties in Ukraine and the Middle East, the US can no longer afford to divert attention to potential frictions and conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, which might consume even more energy and resources, some experts said. 

Under the Biden administration's strategy of maintaining communication channels through normalized and routine high-level exchanges to reduce miscalculations and prevent uncontrolled competition leading to conflicts, Blinken has taken the baton from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to make a routine visit to China, Sun Taiyi, assistant professor of Political Science at Christopher Newport University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

However, although a number of US high-ranking officials have been making frequent visits to China, the US continues to signal its strategy of "applying pressure for its demands" and seeking more favorable "bargaining chips" for discussions, experts said. 

For instance, US Trade Representative announced a new round of Section 301 investigations into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, and some US officials reportedly suggested that some Chinese banks could be cut off from the global financial system. It also rallied Japan and Australia to back the Philippines in provoking confrontations in the South China Sea, and published the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, spreading lies about China's Xinjiang and Hong Kong regions. 

The US is drafting sanctions that threaten to cut some Chinese banks off from the global financial system, arming Washington's top envoy with diplomatic leverage that officials hope will stop Beijing's commercial support of Russia's military production, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most lately, the US Senate passed a TikTok divestment-or-ban bill late on Tuesday and also passed a sweeping foreign aid package which includes arms support for the island of Taiwan. 

"I think there are some risk factors in the future US-China relations. One is the Taiwan question, especially around May 20 when the island's regional leader-elect is set to assume office," Sun Chenghao, head of the US-EU program at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

"If the US acts too excessively or provocatively, I believe it could impact cross-Straits relations as well as US-China relations," Sun said. 

There was a brief period of optimism and positive atmosphere following the meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in November 2023, which has now vanished given a series of negative moves by Washington lately, some experts said. 

"Under these circumstances, it is difficult to expect any positive progress from Blinken's visit to China. The actions of the US have made China feel that it is not a credible partner, seeking only to secure what it wants while presenting unreasonable concerns and demands for interest," Wu said. 

Party chief and general manager of gas company in SW China's Chongqing dismissed for overcharging customers

Che Dechen, secretary of the Party committee and general manager of the Chongqing Gas Group Corporation, has been removed from his position after a joint investigation found local residents in Southwest China's Chongqing were overcharged for their gas by the company.

Residents from multiple districts in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality complained recently that their gas bills had increased significantly after they changed to new gas meters.

On April 13, the local authority announced that it had set up a joint investigation group to probe the problem.

During a press conference on Friday, the local authority announced that through on-site inspections, experimental testing, data comparison, experts' analysis and judgment, typical case verification, and other methods, the investigation team verified the situation and found that Chongqing Gas Group Corporation and other gas companies had indeed overcharged some residents for their gas.

According to the investigation, between January and April this year, mistakes on a total of 1,085 records led to excessive charges for 190,500 cubic meters of gas.

Other problems include chaotic gas billing cycles ranging from seven days to 13 months, disorganized work in changing gas meters, an insufficient workforce and lack of internal supervision and management.

The local authority ordered the gas companies to fully refund the residents the overcharged gas fees which were confirmed and identified through investigations.

In addition, 14 cases in which companies were found to have violated laws and regulations have been filed for investigation.

Che Dechen, secretary of the Party committee and general manager of the Chongqing Gas Group Corporation has been removed from his position.

Meanwhile, a work group has been deployed to the company to conduct a thorough rectification of the issues.

For the next step, the municipal authority will instruct the relevant department to enhance supervision and law enforcement to compel gas companies to improve their service and management.

Japan sending special unit to Asia-Pacific 'endangers regional stability'

After Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force announced its intention to dispatch a special security unit to the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese observers said the move is to deter China's influence in region and it constitutes a major breakthrough for Japan in the military field to cooperate with US regional strategies, which threatens regional peace and stability. 

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) said it will dispatch a special security unit to the "Indo-Pacific" region to offer capacity-building support to coast guards in the region, Japan's NHK reported on Tuesday. 

The MSDF says the deployment will come in May or later to help regional coast guards enhance their capabilities in conducting inspections of suspicious ships and other skills.

It has not revealed details on exactly where the unit will be sent and how long the mission will be.

Sources close to the Japanese defense ministry told NHK that the move comes in response to requests from multiple Pacific Island countries, and that the special unit will provide support for several days for each country.

This will be the first time an SDF special unit will provide capacity-building support for foreign agencies.

"This is a major breakthrough for Japan in military terms, and it must be met with high vigilance by the international community," said Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

In recent years, Japan has been rapidly accelerating its military buildup, attempting to break through its previous exclusively defense-oriented policy, but there has never been a precedent for sending "special police teams" to other countries, Lü said.

He noted that this is a major move by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after his visit to the US where he took part in a trilateral summit with leaders of the US and the Philippines earlier this month.

The US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines also held a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea earlier this month.

Japan's move is intended to widen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region after the US Coast Guard announced an increase in maritime patrols and training activities in June last year, a military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times. He said Japan's move is aimed at both cooperating with US strategy in the Asia-Pacific region and countering China's cooperation with regional countries. 

Industrial report calls for optimizing China's nuclear power layout

As of the end of 2023, China is leading the world with 26 nuclear power units currently under construction, with a total installed capacity of 30.3 GW. However, a report released by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) highlights a discrepancy between the capacity of nuclear power and the requirements to meet the country's "dual carbon" goals. The report suggests that constructing nuclear power projects in central provinces, where the electricity supply gap is prominent, could help optimize the layout of nuclear power plants.

According to the report titled "China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2024", in 2023, China's commercial nuclear power units continued to operate safely and stably, with two new commercial nuclear power units added throughout the year, bringing the total number to 55 units with a total installed capacity of 57.03 GW, ranking third in the world. 

Nuclear power accounts for 4.86 percent of the China's total electricity generation, resulting in a reduction of 340 million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions, Wang Yiren, chief expert behind the report, said at the International Forum on Nuclear Energy Sustainable Development while releasing the report. 

The country's commercial nuclear power units are located across eight provinces, mainly in coastal areas, with Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang ranking the top three regions in China in terms of total installed capacity, Wang noted. The nuclear power generation in provinces of Fujian, Liaoning, and Hainan account for over 20 percent of their total power generation in the provinces, with percentages of 27.3, 23.4, and 22.7 respectively, according to Wang.

The report highlighted the ongoing challenges in the development of nuclear power in China, including the discrepancy between installed capacity and the necessary requirements to meet "dual carbon" goals, the current layout of nuclear power construction falling short of building a new type of power system, and the absence of industrial scale for comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy.

To address the mismatch, the report calls to optimize the layout of nuclear power by initiating construction of nuclear power projects in central provinces with prominent electricity supply gaps. 

Shu Yinbiao, a consultant from State Grid Corporation of China, said that it is advisable to initiate the pre-project and construction work for nuclear power projects in the central region around 2030. He suggested to include the sites for nuclear power plants where preliminary work has been completed within the national planning as soon as possible and construction should be started at the appropriate time.

The central region lacks the necessary conditions for large-scale development of wind and solar energy resources. Therefore, nuclear power has become a better choice to achieve sustainable energy supply and replace coal-fired power, Shu noted.

Additionally, the use of nuclear power should be regarded as a support for power supply in the northwest region of China, integrating wind, solar, and energy storage to achieve complementary and integrated development of power grid, according to Shu. 

But China advocates the construction of nuclear power projects in coastal regions, Shu highlighted, considering resource conditions and energy demand and strong voltage support capabilities to power grid. 

In the 11 provinces (cities) along the eastern coast, it is expected that by 2030, the total installed capacity of nuclear power will reach 120 million kilowatts, with the proportion of electricity generation reaching 18.5 percent, Shu noted. 

Zhang Tingke, secretary-general of CNEA, said at the forum that it is estimated that by 2035, the proportion of nuclear power generation in China's total power structure will reach around 10 percent, which is equivalent to the current global average level, resulting in a reduction of approximately 900 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

As another effort to meet "dual carbon" goals, the report suggests to include nuclear power in the existing green low-carbon trading systems, helping to fully identify the clean and low-carbon attributes of nuclear power.

China's nuclear power development is in line with the global trend of using the clean energy to achieve climate goals and ensure energy security. One of the reasons for China to progress nuclear power in a fast and steady pace is because China regards nuclear safety as the lifeline of nuclear energy development. 

Nuclear safety has been prioritized above all else. The three nuclear accidents in history have had a huge impact on global nuclear energy development, constantly reminding us to remain highly vigilant about nuclear safety," Zhang told the Global Times. There has never been a Level 2 or higher International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES)-rated operational event in China, according to Zhang. 

To increase nuclear power security management system and boost the public's understanding toward nuclear power, the report also suggested including the atomic energy law as part of the country's legislative plan, as well as the revision of the Act on Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution and conducting legislative research on nuclear damage compensation laws.

Compared with major nuclear power countries around the world, in 2023, China's nuclear power units achieved higher scores for the WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators) comprehensive index than the US, Russia, France, South Korea, and other major nuclear power countries. The index reflects the overall level of nuclear power units in terms of power generation capacity and safety performance, according to the report.

Queqiao-2 relay satellite mission a complete success, capable of providing service for future lunar exploration: CNSA

China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Friday that Queqiao-2 relay satellite mission completed in-orbit communication tests and it has been a complete success. The satellite is capable of providing relay communication services for the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project and subsequent domestic and international lunar exploration missions.

After being launched into space on March 20, Queqiao-2 relay satellite underwent mid-course corrections, lunar braking, and circumlunar orbit maneuvers. It entered a 24-hour period elliptical mission orbit around the moon as planned on April 2, according to a release from the CNSA.

On April 6, Queqiao-2 successfully completed a communication test with Chang'e-4 probe, which is conducting an exploration mission on the far side of the moon. From April 8 to 9, Queqiao-2 also conducted communication tests with the Chang'e-6 probe.

The Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 communication and navigation technology experiment satellites, which were launched concurrently, entered circumlunar mission orbits on March 29 and successfully separated on April 3, beginning a series of communication and navigation technology verifications.

Queqiao-2 relay satellite and the Tiandu satellites use a circumlunar elliptical frozen orbit as their mission orbit. Since the moon's shape is irregular, spacecraft flying close to the moon are affected by lunar gravity and other factors, causing potential orbital deviations. The circumlunar elliptical frozen orbit is a stable orbit that minimizes deviations for the spacecraft flying in it.

The CNSA listed several favorable reasons for choosing a circumlunar elliptical frozen orbit for Queqiao-2's mission. Compared to Queqiao-1, Queqiao-2's mission orbit is closer to the moon, resulting in a significant boost in data transmission communication rates. Moreover, a circumlunar elliptical frozen orbit improves coverage of lunar south pole communications and help conserve satellite fuel, allowing Queqiao-2 to remain in its orbit for an extended period with minimal fuel usage.

Queqiao-2 relay satellite will provide relay communication services for the Chang'e-4 mission and the upcoming Chang'e-6 mission as planned, and will carry out corresponding scientific explorations when appropriate, the CNSA said in the release.

Yellen tries her favorite Sichuan cuisine in Beijing

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday evening, did not wait long to get a bite of genuine Sichuan cuisine. Yellen is currently on a six-day China visit lasting through April 9.

According to media reports, Yellen went directly to a Sichuan restaurant in Dongcheng district to sample her favorite kind of Chinese food.

Staff at the restaurant gifted their American guest Sichuan embroidery, a noted part of China's intangible cultural heritage. In return, Yellen offered souvenir coins bearing her name.

According to the US media, Yellen used to be a regular at a Sichuan restaurant while teaching at Berkeley.

During her visit to the restaurant in Beijing, the American official enjoyed classic Sichuan cuisine including boiled beef and mapo tofu.

Previously, Yellen had also enjoyed Cantonese food for her first dinner after landing in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province on Thursday. That meal involved a selection of iconic dishes including roast goose, chilled sweet and sour pork, crispy tofu, and an assortment of Cantonese dim sum.

"We welcome more American officials to taste Chinese cuisine and experience traditional Chinese culture. We also hope that while American officials understand Chinese cuisine, they can deepen their understanding of China and its people, and respect the development rights of the Chinese people," one Chinese netizen commented on Sunday.

Welcoming American officials to taste Chinese cuisine does not equate to accepting sanctions and restrictions; what would truly improve China-US relations would be concrete actions from the US, others wrote.

Yellen’s trip eyes on ‘further stabilizing’ China-US ties; Washington needs Beijing’s cooperation to resolve national debt crisis

US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, a US senior official who is believed to be pragmatic and less hawkish toward China than many of her peers, has arrived Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, and kicked off her 6-day visit to China from Thursday to Tuesday (April 4-9), with Chinese experts saying on Friday that Yellen is trying to seek helps from China to solve US economic challenges, and they said US officials need to adjust its arrogant attitude and speak nicely when asking helps.

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice Premier of the State Council, has met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Guangzhou. The two sides discussed in-depth key issues related to the global, economic and financial fields of China and the US.

He said the main task for this meeting is to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in their meetings and telephone dialogue, and seek to provide appropriate responses to key concerns in China-US economic relations, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.

"I opened meetings with Vice Premier He Lifeng for frank and substantive conversations on our bilateral economic relationship. It is crucial that the two largest economies in the world seek progress on global challenges and closely communicate on areas of concern," Yellen said in a post on social media platform X on Friday afternoon.

On Friday, Yellen also had round-table discussions with economic experts and business leaders from the US and some other countries from Europe and Japan to discuss the economic situation of Chinese market, as well as opportunities and challenges linked to the Chinese economy. Yellen also attended an event with leading representatives of the American business community in China, hosted by AmCham China, and delivered remarks on the bilateral economic relationship.

According to her released schedule in coming days, which expected to include meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and senior Chinese officials who in charge different economic and financial sectors of China, analysts said Yellen's trip eyes on further stabilizing the China-US relations as US President Joe Biden doesn't want a fragile and uncertain bilateral ties with China, and Washington needs China's cooperation to solve its headaches at home: a national debt problem and save US backward production capacity by adding pressure to China's development in new energy technologies with the pretext of "overcapacity."

Jin Canrong, the associate dean of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Friday that "Yellen is an official who is different from the hawkish ones in Washington who actively push for confrontation with China, she is relatively pragmatic and moderate."

In the phone call between the presidents of the two countries on Tuesday evening, Biden is probably asking for China to permit Yellen's visit, as we can see Yellen kicks off her visit very soon after the phone call, which means that the US has prepared for the visit for a long time, and they are just waiting for China's green light, Jin said.

"According to this, we can have a conclusion that the US is asking for something urgent. Washington's national debt problem could be the top of the agenda. Yellen might ask help from China in the field of monetary policy," Jin noted.

The Congressional Budget Office warned in its latest projections that US federal government debt is on a path from 97 percent of GDP last year to 116 percent by 2034, which is higher even than in World War II. The actual outlook is likely worse, Bloomberg reported on April 2.

The CNBC reported on March 1 that the debt load of the US is growing at a quicker clip in recent months, increasing about $1 trillion nearly every 100 days.

Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Friday that in this visit, the Biden administration is seeking the further stabilization of China-US relations in the presidential election year. "The two sides are expected to discuss about coordination on macroeconomic policy and trade, and this is not only important to China and the US, but also significant to the world."

But as a US official with pragmatic and relatively friendly image to China, Yellen this time presented her tough stance in some areas. According to the website of US Department of Treasury, "During her engagements in China, Secretary Yellen will advocate for American workers and businesses to ensure they are treated fairly, including by pressing Chinese counterparts on unfair trade practices and underscoring the global economic consequences of Chinese industrial overcapacity."

Washington will not allow "a glut of Chinese production to wipe out American manufacturers of green technology," Yellen has warned ahead of a trip to China, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Li said the US should take the issue about "overcapacity" more objectively, because China's productive capacity is determined by the global demand and the efficiency and market size of China.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that Yellen's expression is a bad signal for China-US trade ties, as this is implying that when the US development in areas like new energy and electric vehicle (EV) is facing backward or even failure, Washington is trying to contain China's productive capacity to protect its backward capacity.

"This is very disappointing, as this is indecent for a US Secretary of Treasury to blame and contain China's development in advanced areas to protect US' backward productive capacity," Lü noted.

At present, China's EV export and photovoltaic industry have unshakable status in the world market, the US' measure to contain China in these fields will receive no outcomes, Lü said. "Chinese economic and financial officials can give Yellen a good lecture about how to mobilize resources in the market and whole society to develop a new industry. The EV industry is an example of the success of China's market economy."

Chinese analysts said that Yellen and the Biden administration should understand that, if they are coming to China to ask for help and cooperation, they need to adjust their arrogant attitude and speak nicely, and don't ask for unfair competition to confront and contain China, who will never submit to pressure based on hegemonic logic.