As South Korea's martial law chaos entered its fourth day, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), called on Friday for President Yoon Suk-yeol to be "immediately suspended from his duties." 

Han's reversal from his previous stance is viewed by Chinese expert as a sign that the likelihood of Yoon's impeachment is increasing. Yoon's unexpected move of declaring martial law has had significant impact on the country's relations with the US and Japan, the expert added.

Han called an emergency meeting on Friday and claimed that he has "credible evidence" Yoon mobilized troops in a bid to arrest politicians on the night of martial law, and that Yoon "poses a danger to the country and its people," the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

If Yoon continues to serve as president, there is great concern that extreme acts like this emergency martial law will be repeated, Han said, the report noted.

Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), confirmed earlier on Friday that Yoon had ordered the arrest of prominent lawmakers of the ruling and main opposition parties shortly after he declared martial law, including the main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-Shik, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Han's latest remarks ran counter to his position on Thursday when he pledged his party would fight the opposition-led impeachment motion scheduled to take place at around 7 pm Saturday.

"This could be an indication that Han may support the impeachment, which means the likelihood of the motion passing is on the rise," Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday, adding that confirmation of the "arrest list" from the intelligence agency and the public's negative perception have further exacerbated the unfavorable situation for Yoon, Xiang said.

The motion to impeach the South Korean president requires at least two-thirds, or 200 of the 300-seat parliament, to vote in favor for it to pass. The opposition parties currently hold a combined 192 seats in National Assembly, which means it needs at least eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to vote with opposition parties.

However, Xiang noted that many senior members within the ruling party wish to maintain party unity and avoid a repeat of the situation eight years ago when former president Park Geun-hye was impeached. 

The dramatic incident is believed to have had significant impact on South Korea's diplomatic relations, particularly with the US and Japan.

Following Seoul's imposition of martial law, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled his plans to travel to South Korea in the near term, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's trip to South Korea set for January will also likely be postponed, Asia News Network reported, as will the visit of Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to the country scheduled for late December.

On Wednesday, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Yoon had "badly misjudged" his decision to declare martial law, and it had been seen as "deeply problematic" and "illegitimate," according to Reuters.

"From the US perspective, Yoon's move is seen as a regression of what it believes to be 'democracy,' which will undoubtedly disappoint and irritate Washington and in turn affect the US-South Korea alliance; while on the Japanese side, the improvement of ties with its neighbor looks like it will be stalled," said Xiang. Furthermore, US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation may also face challenges, he added.

The 10th International Symposium on Sun Tzu's Art of War kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, under the theme of "Sun Tzu's Art of War and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," during which Chinese and international attendees exchanged their views on the classic Chinese treatise on military strategy and the significance of Sun Tzu's military philosophy for the modern world. Attendees said the wisdom of Sun Tzu's military philosophy of conflict prevention over warfare is still needed and relevant today, and it also carries China's principles for handling frictions in the region.

The event, organized by the China Research Society of Sun Tzu's Art of War, was attended by over 350 representatives from around 30 countries and regions, including senior military officers, former governmental officials, as well as scholars. 

At the opening ceremony, General Yang Xuejun, head of the PLA's Academy of Military Sciences said in a keynote speech on Thursday that this year's symposium focuses on inheriting the vein of the millennium-old culture, studying the principles of the wisdom of military science, grasping the trend of global development, and jointly building the foundation for peace and stability. He added that it closely centers around the theme of "The Art of War and Mutual Learning among Civilizations", practices President Xi Jinping's concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, implements the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and deeply explores ways to promote mutual learning among civilizations and peaceful coexistence with the wisdom of Sun Tzu, jointly uncovering the contemporary value of China's traditional military culture.

General Ling Huanxin, political commissar of the Academy of Military Sciences, said at the opening ceremony that research into traditional culture is not about seeking an ancient time that has long gone, but carrying the past into the modern era, and Sun Tzu's Art of War contains the spiritual cores of innovation, surpassing, inclusiveness, science and humanism, and is of significant value to the times.    

The symposium comprises keynote speeches, plenary sessions and special sessions. The six special sessions focus on such including "Exploring Ways of Civilization Coexistence by Applying the Wisdom of Sun Tzu", "Contemporary Cultural Value of Sun Tzu's Art of War", according to the organizer. 

The world today is evolving into an increasingly complex web of interdependence, cooperation, and competition, with pressure mounting on states to effectively employ the tools of statecraft to attain their political objectives, said Harold Raugh, vice president of the International Commission of Military History, in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the symposium.

This is an era in which Sun Tzu's timeless and wise precepts of "Cautious War" and "Defeating the enemy without fighting," emphasizing conflict prevention over warfare, are particularly needed and relevant. 

Yang Xiao, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Thursday on the sideline of the symposium that the philosophy of "Cautious War" or "Shen Zhan" in Chinese can be found in China's strategy for handling complex and sensitive geopolitical issues. For instance, a few countries in the region are having maritime disputes with China, which has always insisted on solving the problems via negotiations and being extremely restrained and professional in using force. 

"Although some frictions exist, there is no military conflict that brings chaos and disaster to the region surrounding China. And the Art of War doesn't just focus on 'power' but also stresses the importance of 'trend.' Therefore, we see that China has successfully solved or eased tensions with its neighbors peacefully based on not only military strength but also diplomatic wisdom," Yang noted.

China can even realize cooperation and joint development with the vast majority of regional countries, because we know that peace and development are the common desire of the people of different countries, which is the 'trend', Yang said.  

Spyros Katsoulas, assistant professor of International and European Affairs at the American College of Greece, also an attendee of the event, told the Global Times that the Art of War could also be titled "the Art of Avoiding War," adding that he finds that the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by the Chinese president is also connected to the notion of "Cautious War" in the Sun Tzu's work, as the GSI is an initiative of peace and really welcomed worldwide. 

Katsoulas said he was impressed by the GSI, as it calls all countries to stay committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation. War and sanctions are not fundamental solutions to disputes; only dialogue and consultation are effective in resolving differences "I hope all states of the world can share the same prudence and we can maintain and preserve peace as long as we can."

Speaking to high school students, Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te used deceitful rhetoric to manipulate young people into supporting "Taiwan independence" at great cost, aiming to exploit innocent youth as tools for "Taiwan independence," and such actions are shameful and reprehensible, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Wednesday. 

Chen's comments were in response to Lai's recent remarks to high school students, in which he made so-called "three peace options," rejected the signing of a cross-Straits peace agreement and the 1992 Consensus, while once again promoting "non-subordination" rhetoric across the Taiwan Straits.

Chen said on Wednesday that "Taiwan independence" cannot coexist with peace across the Taiwan Straits and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their provocations pose the greatest threat to regional peace and stability. 

Lai's so-called "path to peace" is, in fact, a path of destruction that ignores the safety and well-being of Taiwan's youth and the general public. It disguises preparations for war and conflict under the banner of "peace." pushing Taiwan step by step toward danger and disaster, said Chen.

We hope that the people of Taiwan, especially its youth, will recognize the true intentions behind Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' agenda to seek "Taiwan independence," and strongly reject their provocative actions in pursuit of "Taiwan independence" and work to turn crisis into safety to make Taiwan embark on a sustainable and lasting path to peace, said Chen. 

In response to an inquiry about Ma Ying-jeou's recent criticism of Lai for promoting the "two-state" fallacy, Chen said reunification represents an inevitable historical trend and the only viable path; the concept of "Taiwan independence" is a regressive and doomed pursuit. 

Lai persistently adheres to a "Taiwan independence" position, advancing the "two-state" rhetoric and seeking external support for his agenda. This stance contradicts the course of history and is bound to fail, said the spokesperson. 

Chen emphasized that the Chinese mainland is committed to strengthening communication and cooperation with political parties, organizations, and key figures in Taiwan, based on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence." 

The mainland will continue to promote cross-Straits exchanges, advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and pursue the ultimate goal of reunifying the motherland, Chen said.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that a meeting between Chinese and US defense chiefs requires a suitable atmosphere, and communication must be guided by principles.

The spokesperson made the remarks at a regular press conference on Thursday when asked whether the absence of a meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries at the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus will affect communication with the next US Secretary of Defense. He was also asked about China's position on military dialogue between the two countries, under the background that there are occasional voices from the US side urging for military dialogue between the two countries.

Wu said that China maintains clear principles for developing military relations between China and the US, which are that China's sovereignty, dignity, and core interests are inviolable. Meetings require a suitable atmosphere, and communication must be guided by principles. 

The US side should not present a posture of seeking dialogue while knowingly engaging in actions that harm China's core interests, Wu said. "Don't they have s any self-awareness in their hearts?" he asked.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the regional government have rebutted the groundless attacks and malicious slanders against various aspects of Hong Kong in a so-called resolution passed by the European Parliament on Thursday. The Commissioner's Office slammed the move as "a poorly staged political farce," while the SAR government said it will not be threatened by such barbaric and despicable acts.

The response followed the European Parliament's adoption of three resolutions on "human rights issues" in China's Hong Kong region, Iran and Cambodia on Thursday.

According to a press release from the European Parliament, the resolution said Hong Kong must "immediately and unconditionally" release all "pro-democracy" figures sentenced on national security charges, including Jimmy Lai and Chung Pui-Ken.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR on Friday slammed the "erroneous" resolution for openly interfering with the judicial proceedings of national security cases in the region, smearing the NSL and disparaging the rule of law and human rights situation in Hong Kong.

"The European Parliament's act is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, which trampled on the spirit of the rule of law," a spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office said, calling it "a poorly staged political farce that is completely unacceptable."

A HKSAR spokesperson said on Thursday that many common law jurisdictions, including the US, UK and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security, adding that the European Parliament has turned a blind eye to facts, demonstrating typical despicable political manipulation and hypocrisy.

The European Parliament resolution was passed after 45 people convicted of "conspiracy to subvert the state power" were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 50 months to 10 years in Hong Kong earlier this month, including former legal professor and instigator of the Hong Kong unrest Benny Tai Yiu-ting. It was the first case of subversion of state power in Hong Kong.

Dominic Lee Tsz-king, legislative council member of the HKSAR, told the Global Times on Friday that the individuals were convicted for violating laws, and the sentences were determined through a fair legal process, which is a manifestation of the rule of law; in contrast, it is the "unconditional release" proposed by the European Parliament that harms it, Lee said.

Regarding the resolution's suggestion to impose sanctions on SAR officials, the SAR government said it despises the so-called sanctions and will not be intimidated by such barbaric and despicable acts.

As for calls to revoke Hong Kong's favorable customs treatment, Lee said this challenges the principles of international trade, which could harm global economic interests, including those of European businesses.

Hong Kong and the EU are important trading partners. The total value of bilateral merchandise trade reached HK$510 billion ($65.5 billion) in 2023. "Any malicious acts that undermine mutually beneficial relations would harm the interests of the EU and its companies," the SAR government said.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the latest move by the European Parliament reflected the institution's inherent arrogance, hypocrisy, and double standards in its understanding of China.

"It's another attempt to undermine Hong Kong's governance and rule of law, and weaken its significant position in the global trade and financial system, which will undoubtedly complicate China-Europe ties," Li told the Global Times.

China strongly condemns and firmly rejects the wanton and provocative action that Lithuania's Foreign Ministry, without any reason, declared relevant diplomatic personnel of the Office of the Chargé d'Affaires of China in Lithuania "persona non grata" and demanded that they leave the country within the time required, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.

As many are aware, on issues concerning China's Taiwan region, Lithuania has been acting in serious violation of the one-China principle and breached the political commitment Lithuania made in the communiqué on the establishment of China-Lithuania diplomatic relations, according to the spokesperson of the ministry.

This has caused severe difficulty for bilateral ties. Three years on since the downgrade of bilateral ties with China, Lithuania has again taken detrimental action that further exacerbates the relations.

China calls on Lithuania to immediately stop undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations. China reserves the right to take countermeasures against Lithuania. 

We hope the upcoming new government of Lithuania will follow the prevailing international consensus, abide by the one-China principle, and foster conditions for the normalization of China-Lithuania relations, according to the spokesperson.

Relations between China and Lithuania soured after the Baltic state allowed the island of Taiwan to open its so-called representative office in Lithuania in 2021, which China called a blatant violation of the one-China principle and international rules. China later downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of chargé d'affaires.

Lithuania's incoming prime minister said he's open to restoring diplomatic relations with China three years after a trade dispute led to Beijing downgrading its ties with the Baltic nation, according to a Bloomberg report.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday at a regular press briefing that China also noted that a new Lithuanian government is about to be formed and several political leaders have expressed their desire to improve relations with China.

The Chinese side hopes that the new Lithuanian government will take concrete actions to abide by the political commitments made in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adhere to the one-China principle, and promote the return of bilateral relations to the right track, said Lin. 

Forty-five people convicted of "conspiracy to subvert the state power" were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 50 months to 10 years in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday held a hearing at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to deliver sentences for the case of "conspiracy to subvert the state power" in Hong Kong.

The Central Government firmly supports the HKSAR in safeguarding national security and punishing all acts that undermine national security in accordance with the law, and firmly opposes the interference of certain Western countries in China's internal affairs and their attempt to smear and undermine Hong Kong's rule of law by using relevant case, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday in response to the sentencing of 45 separatist activists in the case of conspiracy to subvert state power.

The sentencing was announced on Tuesday, with former legal professor and instigator of the Hong Kong unrest Benny Tai Yiu-ting sentenced to 10 years in prison, and secessionist Joshua Wong Chi-fung to 56 months in prison. This is the first case of subversion of state power in Hong Kong. 

In total, 47 people were initially prosecuted in a case involving the so-called 35-plus political strategy aimed to "paralyze" the city's government. Two were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, while the other 45 were convicted under the charge.

Apart from Benny Tai and Joshua Wong, former lawmaker Au Nok-hin was sentenced to six years and nine months, Andrew Chiu Ka-yin was sentenced to seven years, and Ben Chung Kam-lun to six years and one month, China Central Television reported. The prison sentences ranged from 50 months to 10 years, according to the report. 

Following the sentencing, Western media including CNN and BBC spared no time in voicing their support for what they claim to be "pro-democracy figures," while calling the national security trial "controversial."

The sentences delivered by the Hong Kong court are in line with the expectations of the legal community, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator and deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"This is a landmark case for Hong Kong's judicial development and progress. The case has established the right track and direction to maintain Hong Kong's law and order," Chu said. 

"The judges have withstood immense pressure from Western countries and made rulings in accordance with the law," Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times, "It highlights the effectiveness of the National Security Law for Hong Kong in safeguarding national security and maintaining stability, as well as the courage and determination of the SAR government and its judicial department."

The court's rulings have gained wide recognition among local residents, Lau said, further enhancing the authority and effectiveness of Hong Kong's legal system. 

"The verdict also serves as a warning to external forces attempting to interfere in Jimmy Lai's trial, making it clear that their schemes will not succeed," Lau added. 

Willy Fu, a law professor who is also the director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, said the case is about the trial of "the source of social unrest and violence in Hong Kong, and the main culprit behind the disruption of Hong Kong's prosperity, stability, and democratic rule of law."

During the trial of this case, the US and some Western countries exerted pressure through arbitrary attacks and smear campaigns, and some politicians clamoring for sanctions against officials of the SAR government and court judges. 

"They attempted to interfere with the court's independent judgment and influence its rulings. Their hypocritical double standards and schemes to disrupt Hong Kong and contain China have been fully exposed and must be strongly condemned," Fu said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations via video to the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which opened in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Wednesday.

Noting that a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation is rapidly advancing, Xi urged efforts to embrace the digital, internet-based and smart development trends.

He called for accelerating innovative, safe and inclusive growth in cyberspace, and jointly striving for a brighter "digital future."

China is willing to work with countries around the world to take historical initiative in information revolution, and jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, to make the internet better benefit the people and the world, Xi said.

International students experience traditional Chinese medicines' cupping therapy at a teaching and research base at Southwest University in Chongqing Municipality on Novemeber 21, 2024. Photo: VCG

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday presided over a State Council executive meeting to study and promote the healthy development of the platform economy.

The meeting also discussed a draft law on hazardous chemicals safety, and approved a draft decision to amend and abolish some administrative regulations.

The meeting noted that the development of the platform economy is of significance in expanding domestic demands, keeping employment stable, ensuring people's livelihood as well as developing new quality productive forces.

It called for efforts in strengthening the system of industrial internet platforms, supporting consumer internet platform companies to tap market potential and promoting the law-based and orderly cross-border flow of data.

Standardized operation and orderly competition of platform enterprises should be advanced, the meeting said, adding that their quality should also be improved to give full play to the platform economy's role in boosting employment.

The meeting discussed and approved a draft law on the safety of hazardous chemical substances and decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for deliberation.

It was emphasized at the meeting that efforts should focus on establishing a prevention mechanism to manage safety risks at different levels and root out hidden hazards. It was essential to enhance safety management throughout the entire process of production, storage, utilization, operation, and transportation to resolutely curb the occurrence of major accidents, according to the meeting.

The meeting also underscored the importance of improving the professional skills of industry personnel, promoting the large-scale equipment upgrades, and expediting the phase-out, upgrades and renovation of outdated chemical facilities.

Additionally, it decided to revise certain provisions in 21 regulations, including one regulation regarding the supervision of medical equipment, and abolish four regulations.