Another survivor pulled from rubble by Chinese rescuers in quake-hit Myanmar city Mandalay

Two Japanese tourists were detained for two weeks in China, then deported, for taking photos showing exposed buttocks at the Great Wall, a World Heritage site, Japanese media reported. The incident has sparked heated discussions among netizens, with some Japanese commenting "It's shameful for these two Japanese tourists to behave so disgracefully at a historical site."

In early January, a Japanese man in his 20s traveling in China exposed his buttocks at the Great Wall in Beijing, while a Japanese woman accompanying him took photos, the Japan Times reported on Friday.

The tourists reportedly told the Japanese Embassy they did it as a prank. However, they were detained for two weeks for violating the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, as their act of public nudity was deemed disruptive to social order, before being deported to Japan.

Japanese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that "the Embassy of Japan in China confirmed on Jan 3 that two Japanese nationals were detained by local authorities at the Great Wall."

They were subsequently released and returned to Japan in January, the ministry said in a statement.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing did not reply to requests for comment, as reported by the Japan Times.

Following the incident, Japan's NTV sent reporters to the site. A Japanese journalist expressed confusion over the tourist's behavior. 

"The Great Wall is at a high altitude, and in January, temperatures can drop to -15 C. It's hard to understand why the man would take off his pants to expose his buttock for photos in such freezing weather," the journalist said.

This incident has been reported by several mainstream Chinese media outlets, including People's Daily news app and the official Wechat account of China Youth Daily. The incident, meanwhile, sparked heated debate among netizens in both China and Japan. 

Some Japanese netizens commented, "it's shameful for these two Japanese tourists to behave so disgracefully at a historical site, two weeks' detention is too lenient," while others said, "Our country often complains about foreign tourists misbehaving, yet our own citizens are doing such things abroad." 

In China, the topic ranked 11th on Sina Weibo's trending list by Friday noon, with many netizens expressed their indignation, saying they couldn't understand the tourists' behavior. There are also some netizens praising the approach taken by the local police, noting that those who lack etiquette should be dealt with by such punishments.  

John Mutorwa Road, located in Rundu, in the Kavango East Region of northern Namibia, is celebrated as a major development that improves connectivity and boosts economic activity across local communities.

The road, constructed by China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO), was officially opened on Friday by its namesake, John Mutorwa, Namibia's deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport, marking a milestone for the region.

The Namibian government-funded project was completed last year and has since been lauded for its immediate impact on residents and businesses.

Jerry Kauyu, a consignment controller at the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA), which is responsible for the management of fresh produce business hubs, highlighted the road's role in facilitating accessibility and bridging previously separated communities.

"I'm an employee of AMTA, one of the beneficiaries of this newly opened road. We've been here since 2013, and this road is very significant because it has increased our traffic in terms of the people visiting the fresh produce hub and the community," said Kauyu in an interview with Xinhua. "We really appreciate this development, and it comes at a time that is very much needed for this dire industry."

Beyond improving transportation, the project has also created local employment opportunities.

Speaking at the official opening, Mutorwa noted that 61 unskilled workers from local communities had been employed during the construction phase, a testament to the government's commitment to building roads and creating economic opportunities for its people.

"This investment ensures that the community benefits from an all-weather reliable road that requires less maintenance while improving overall quality of life," he added.

Kennedy Chigumira, regional engineering manager at Roads Authority of Namibia, commended CHICO's efficiency and commitment to high standards. "Look at the quality of the work, and the adherence to engineering standards within specified timelines. CHICO managed to do it," Chigumira said.

Cui Yunke, managing director of CHICO in Namibia, told Xinhua that although the John Mutorwa Road project is modest in scale, it is one of the "small and beautiful" projects that have brought tangible benefits to local communities.

Wei Jinming, counselor for economic and commercial affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, noted that the smooth completion and successful handover of the road mark another achievement in China-Namibia cooperation and will effectively benefit local people.

"China will, as always, further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various fields and promote the continued development of bilateral relations," he said.

Commenting on a reporter's inquiry concerning that Taiwan regional authorities attempt to set up new overseas offices in certain countries or rename existing offices named after Taipei to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community, serving as the political foundation for China to establish and develop relations with other countries. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future.

Mao pointed out at the Monday press conference that for some time, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have been using the pretext of exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, science, technology, culture, and education, desperately attempting to breach the ironclad international commitment to the one-China principle. They seek to expand their so-called international space by resorting to tactics such as so-called "dollar diplomacy", bribery, coercion, and inducements, enticing certain countries to overstep boundaries or play ambiguous games on the Taiwan question, thereby undermining China's relations with those countries. 

We sternly warn the DPP authorities that the complete reunification of China is an unstoppable trend, and pursuit of "independence" is ultimately a dead end, the spokesperson said. It is hoped the relevant countries recognize the malicious intentions of the Taiwan regional authorities and take concrete actions to strictly adhere to the one-China principle, safeguarding the political foundation of bilateral relations, Mao added.

When asked to comment on the development of China-Russia cooperation and recent signs of a possible improvement in bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington in the future, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China and Russia enjoys a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have remained unaffected by external interference, maintained healthy and stable development, and are at their best period in history. China-Russia cooperation is neither targeted any third party, nor influenced by any third-party factors. 

China is willing to continue working with Russia to consolidate their permanent good-neighborly friendship and steadily advance all-round strategic coordination on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party, continuously deepening mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, the spokesperson said on Friday's routine press conference. 

Friday marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance. On February 14, 1950, the two sides signed the treaty and other agreements. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries exchanged three notes, declaring null and void the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance and the other agreements which were signed by the Soviet Government and the Kuomintang Government of China on August 14, 1945.

An innovative floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel equipped with a carbon capture and storage facility has been completed in Shanghai, according to Science and Technology Daily.

The vessel is the first of its kind in the world and is scheduled for delivery by the end of February, according to the newspaper.

The FPSO, measuring 333 meters in length and 60 meters in width, has a daily production capacity of up to 120,000 barrels of crude oil.

It has a unique ability to capture carbon dioxide emissions generated during both navigation and oil production processes. Additionally, it utilizes the heat energy from exhaust gases to generate electricity, achieving dual objectives of environmental protection and energy efficiency, the news report stated.

Offshore oil and gas operations are known to produce substantial amounts of carbon dioxide annually. The deployment of carbon capture and storage facility on such vessels offers a promising solution to reduce emissions from offshore production and processing activities.

Editor's Note:

In August 2019, in a reply letter to residents of Xiadang Township in Ningde, East China's Fujian Province, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed delight over local villagers being lifted out of poverty and living a better life. After 30 years of unremitting efforts by the people, Xiadang has become a place that is easily accessible by road with a brand new image, while local residents have a stronger sense of happiness and fulfillment, Xi said, "which vividly proves the old adage that weak birds take flight early, and constant dropping wears away a stone."

Early in 1990, Xi wrote an article titled "Water droplets drilling through rock," using this natural landscape as a metaphor for the process of poverty alleviation in economically backward areas. The article was included in the book Up and Out of Poverty, a compilation of Xi's major works from September 1988 to May 1990 when he was the Party chief of Ningde. The book, along with Eradicating Poverty, a book of excerpts from discourses on poverty alleviation by Xi, have been published in different languages to provide reference points for other countries to shake off poverty.

In light of this, the Global Times is launching the series "constant dropping wears away a stone," to share compelling poverty alleviation stories. In this first installment, we focus on three cases demonstrating how small industries bring big happiness.

Nestled in the misty mountains of Southwest China's Guizhou Province, where ancient traditions whisper through bamboo groves, the vibrant world of Miao embroidery comes to life with every stitch crafted by local artisans.

Guizhou has long been one of the most impoverished regions in China, grappling with a combination of geographical, economic, and infrastructural challenges that make daily life a struggle for many families. However, during China's monumental anti-poverty campaign - unprecedented in scale - Guizhou embarked on a transformative journey that harnessed local resources, introduced innovative methods, and revitalized traditional culture, ultimately achieving zero poverty by 2020.

For the villagers of Huawu in Xinren Miao Township, Guizhou's Qianxi city, the art of Miao embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage, was their magic weapon helping them shake off poverty and achieve prosperity.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, gave the thumbs up to using Miao embroidery to pass down ethnic, traditional culture, aid in the battle against poverty, and promote rural vitalization when visiting the villagers of Huawu on February 3, 2021, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi noted that "The treasures of ethnic culture are also the pride of the entire world. Miao embroidery is both traditional and fashionable, both a cultural treasure and an industry. It can promote not only traditional culture but also rural revitalization. Traditional ethnic culture like Miao embroidery must be kept alive and developed well."

Following the approach put forward by Xi, Huawu has made the ancient art of Miao embroidery a significant driver in the revitalization of rural industry, turning itself into one of China's beautiful leisure villages, Xinhua reported.
Return hometown to start own business

Yang Wenli, a 30-year-old woman born in Huawu village, still vividly remembers when Xi went on an inspection tour of the village's poverty-alleviation workshop to learn about the development of the Miao embroidery industry and the preservation of traditional ethnic culture.

"I was greatly encouraged. In the future, I will cultivate more excellent embroiderers and I hope that one day our Miao embroidery works can be showcased at more international platforms, allowing traditional cultures like embroidery and wax dyeing to be known and loved by more people around the world," Yang told the Global Times.

Yang was not originally involved in the industry. While she started to learn traditional Miao embroidery from an early age, she had not imagined that this local craft, which nearly every woman in the community was able to do, could lead to something greater than just making clothes for people.

After graduating from high school, in order to ease her family's financial burden, she found a job at an embroidery factory in East China's Zhejiang Province. It is at this factory that she encountered machine embroidery.

"A senior worker told me that the machine can embroider any pattern. I was dubious of her words. Then I drew a random pattern and gave it to her, and she embroidered it with the machine," she recalled.

That ignited a dream of mastering the use of such machines to create Miao embroidery in Yang's heart.

After a learning period at the factory, Yang became proficient in operating the embroidery machine. After discussion, Yang and her husband pooled their money to buy a second-hand embroidery machine and returned home to start their own business.

At first, Yang set up a small family workshop. In 2019, with the support and assistance of the local government, she established a Miao embroidery workshop in Huawu village.

"We returned to our hometown to start a business not only to earn money for a better life, but also to help more women like me find employment through embroidery. We want to ensure that the children here are no longer left-behind children like our generation," Yang said.

To this end, Yang provided free training in embroidery techniques and machine operation for local embroiderers, while also taking orders in the market to ensure that everyone had work and income.

Today, Yang has a design team to innovate the styles, colors, and accessories of Miao embroidery clothing, while also venturing into the cultural and creative sector by producing bags, scarves, and other products. She has also transformed her workshop into a new 1,600-square-meter factory, utilizing fully automatic sewing and embroidery machines.

Her workshop has, so far, created job opportunities for 22 villagers. The highest monthly salary of embroiderers in Yang's workshop reaches 8,000 yuan ($1,103), according to Yang.
Connect ethnic culture with fashion

As an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, Peng Yi has been thinking about how to pass on and develop Miao embroidery techniques since the day she started learning. A native of Huawu village, Peng has been deeply influenced by Miao batik and embroidery since childhood.

During her learning process, she developed a dream of promoting and revitalizing these ancient art forms. In 2015, to connect ethnic culture with fashion and bring it into the homes of many, Peng went to pursue a master's degree in ethnic and folk art at the Guizhou Minzu University. After graduating, Peng returned to Qianxi and established a company.

For Peng, inheritance is the most important aspect. She carefully taught her students the techniques of Miao embroidery and batik, requiring them to submit one or two batik paintings and a small piece of embroidery each week. She discussed each piece with her students, guiding them to adjust their techniques, and collaboratively researching and developing new technologies and products.

She also continuously visits other inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and folk artists, participates in various exhibitions, and works hard to promote the embroidery and batik products of Huawu Village.

"I firmly believe that traditional Miao embroidery and batik will continue to write more fashionable stories. We not only need to preserve Miao embroidery and batik, but also strengthen and expand the ethnic handicraft industry, allowing the lives of our elders and fellow villagers to flourish like the patterns of Miao embroidery and batik," Peng told the Global Times.

Today, Peng's studio has innovated over 100 batik and Miao embroidery cultural and creative products, including clothing, office supplies, and home decorations.

"The development of embroidery and batik needs to keep pace with the times; only through continuous innovation can more people appreciate these works, allowing the art of batik and embroidery to flourish," she stressed.

Join to save the ancient craft

Luo Yang, from East China's Shandong Province, was one of those who were attracted by the charm of traditional Miao embroidery and batik, thus deciding to join the industry to help preserve the culture.

In 2009, Luo went to a primary school in Qianxi as a voluntary teacher. It was during this year of teaching that she discovered the unique charm of Miao embroidery and batik.

After 2010, Luo went to work in Shanghai, but Miao embroidery and batik kept lingering in her mind. After getting married in 2021, she discussed her dream with her husband who supported her and later went to Qianxi with Luo to promote Miao embroidery.

The couple discovered that while Miao batik are exquisite, the inheritance of this art form faced challenges due to the acceleration of industrialization and urban-rural integration.

Many young people left their hometowns for work, leaving behind the elderly and children in the villages, and the techniques at that time struggled to enter the market. The younger generation was reluctant to learn, putting this ancient craft at risk of disappearing, Luo explained.

"I studied art design and have over a decade of experience in the advertising industry in Shanghai, which makes me think that I can do something to help the protection, inheritance, promotion, and development of the two intangible cultural heritages," Luo told the Global Times.

Thus, Luo established a company to start her entrepreneurial journey, while her husband Yang Ming, who is now the principal of a primary school in the Gaojin township, Qianxi, focused on promoting intangible cultural heritage in schools.

"I took senior Miao wax dyeing artisans, most of whom are dubbed as 'old aunts,' in the village to visit places where the industry of Miao embroidery and batik is more developed. They gradually understood that batik is not outdated, but a craft that is still loved by many people and can create practical value. This restored their confidence in their ethnic traditional technique," Luo said.

She said that the moment she saw some of these "old aunts" were willing to pick up their wax knives again, her eyes were filled with tears.

Now, Luo routinely organizes batik and embroidery training in her company, and invites professional teachers to teach new techniques. She has also taken Miao batik works to exhibitions in bigger cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

In 2023, a large-scale Miao batik and embroidery work titled "Miao Rhythm: Flame of Inheritance," designed by Luo and Yang, made a stunning debut at the Hangzhou Asian Games Museum. With its unique artistic charm and cultural value, the work was permanently preserved by the Asian Games Museum.

According to Yang, the Miao embroidery products her workshop creates are sold to countries including the UK, France, and India, and are popular among local customers.

In the summer of 2024, Yang managed to secure a cross-border order. "At that time, several foreign tourists visited our workshop. They were very interested in our Miao embroidered hats. They ordered 1,000 hats and later added another 3,000."

Now, Yang's daughter has also fallen in love with this traditional craft and has become a new generation of inheritors. "She says she wants to be a designer when she grows up. I think that is great. I told her that when you become a designer, you can combine advanced design concepts with traditional Miao batik and embroidery to create more beautiful things and continue to pass on this traditional craft."

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday said that China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, actively advance the consultations of the code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC), strive to conclude the COC at an early date, and jointly keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable.

Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks on Wednesday in response to a media inquiry regarding China-ASEAN relations and disputes in the South China Sea, as media reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on Tuesday for a "conclusion" of the COC "as soon as possible" to address and solve disputes in the South China Sea.

The spokesperson said that what China takes away from growing its relations with ASEAN is to properly handle and solve differences through the Asian Way of friendly consultation. China stays committed to resolving the relevant disputes through negotiation and consultation with the states directly concerned in the South China Sea.

Malaysia is the current chair of the ASEAN. In a speech on Monday, Anwar said ASEAN's relationship with China needs to grow beyond traditional trade and investment and focus on preparing the region for future challenges, warning that artificial intelligence (AI) and fresh American tariffs threaten to upend the global economy, the South China Morning Post reported.

Guo said that under the strategic guidance of leaders of China and ASEAN countries, the vision of building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future is well received and great progress has been made in building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.

Guo emphasized that China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for years running. Our negotiations with ASEAN to upgrade to free trade area 3.0 have been substantially concluded. 

The visa-free arrangement between China and other countries, including Malaysia, has produced remarkable results, and the "Lancang-Mekong visa" policy was officially launched. China and Malaysia have always been the key players in upholding peace in the Asia-Pacific and promoting development there, Guo said.

Guo added that China supports Malaysia in assuming the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN. We stand ready to work with Malaysia to bring about more bright spots in China-ASEAN cooperation in economy and trade, digital transformation, industrial and supply chains, green development, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, among other fields, strive for coordinated advances in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the three global initiatives, and ASEAN community building in a mutually reinforcing way, and help regional cooperation produce more outcomes.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded on Tuesday to questions regarding US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and the WHO, as well as the US President Donald Trump's claims about the Panama Canal.

In response to the White House's announcement to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China expresses concern over the US announcement. 

Guo noted that climate change is a common challenge faced by all humanity, and no country can remain unaffected or isolated from its impact. China will work with all parties, upholding the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, to actively tackle the challenges of climate change and jointly promote the global green and low-carbon transformation.

Regarding the US withdrawal from the WHO, Guo said that the WHO plays a central and coordinating role in global health governance. The role of the WHO should be strengthened, not weakened. China will continue to support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities, deepen international public health cooperation, enhance global health governance, and promote the construction of a community of shared health for humanity.

China's position on issues related to the Panama Canal is consistent and clear, Guo said in response to a question concerning Trump's claim that China was effectively "operating" the Panama Canal and that the US would take back the canal. "I have no additional information to share," Guo said.  

In a speech delivered on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned China 14 times, claiming a "China shock" to world trade was caused by the so-called "over-capacity," while at the same time expressing a willingness to "engage and deepen" EU's relationship with China.

The WEF kicked off its 2025 session on Monday (local time) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. According to the WEF's website, this year, the five-day annual meeting convenes under the title Collaboration for the Intelligent Age, with global leaders gathering to address key global and regional challenges.

Per a transcript from the WEF's official website, von der Leyen said in her speech that "When China joined the WTO [World Trade Organization] 25 years ago, the impact of rising Chinese exports was called the 'China shock." She went on to say that "Today, some are talking about a second China shock" caused by the so-called "over-capacity," adding "we must respond to this." 

However, von der Leyen also said "we must engage constructively with China - to find solutions in our mutual interest."

The European Commission President added that "2025 marks 50 years of our union's diplomatic relations with China. I see it as an opportunity to engage and deepen our relationship with China, and where possible, even to expand our trade and investment ties."

"Von der Leyen's contradictory and divided remarks regarding China reflect the EU's dilemma in its policy toward China," Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

On one hand, the EU is aligned with the unified strategy of the US to contain China. This approach views China as a competitor and an ideological rival, aiming to pressure it into ceding its interests, Zhao said.

However, the EU also takes its own interests into account, as it acknowledges that engaging in fierce competition with China has caused significant harm to the EU itself. Furthermore, this approach has not only offended China but has also generated discontent within EU, the expert noted.

According to European news website Euractiv, von der Leyen did not explicitly refer to the new US president's plan to put up trade barriers in her speech. Instead, she made a case for what's at stake for Americans in their country's trading relationship with Europe.

US President Donald Trump has promised to address a longstanding trade deficit with the EU, saying he will reverse that by imposing tariffs or making the EU buy more US oil and gas, Reuters reported.

The lack of explicit mention of the US' tariff threats may indicate the EU is subtly suggesting that China should be Washington's primary focus, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

The EU should consider adapting to new circumstances in its economic cooperation with China and not attribute normal business competition between China and the EU to other factors, said Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noting that if the EU can reach a consensus with China on this matter, there will be greater space for cooperation given the complementary advantages of both sides.