In response to the US Embassy in Mexico's social media post quoting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that "We will counter China's influence by strengthening our alliances and diversifying supply chains," the Chinese Embassy in Mexico said on Friday that it firmly opposes such statement, noting that a lie, even if repeated a thousand times, will not become the truth.

Such remarks are filled with outdated Cold War mentality and zero-sum game thinking. The US never stops touting "strengthening alliances" and "diversifying supply chains," yet in reality, driven solely by self-interest, according to the official website of Chinese Embassy in Mexico on Friday.

The US flagrantly interferes in the internal affairs of Latin American countries, arbitrarily imposes unilateral and illegal sanctions, habitually shifts its own problems - such as drug trafficking and immigration - onto other nations, and routinely threatens to impose additional tariffs at every turn, according to the embassy. 

The US also deliberately jeopardizes the friendship between China and Latin America by sowing discord with the so-called "countering China's influence."

China-Latin America relationship stands upright with honor. Pragmatic cooperation between the two sides is not subject to any political conditions or third parties, meets the fundamental interests of the Chinese and Latin American people, and stands the test of history, said the embassy.

The Chinese Embassy solemnly urges the US side to restrain its arrogance and prejudice, respect the sovereignty and dignity of Latin American countries, and stop smearing and blackening China and China-Latin America relations. The embassy advises the US to carefully examine itself in the mirror, focus on self-improvement to address its domestic problems instead of shifting the blame onto others.

An outpouring of grief has followed news of the death of Bailong, a white horse that played a crucial role in the rescue of a drowning man in central China's Hubei Province earlier this month, with locals and people across the country mourning online and offline.

Despite medical efforts, Bailong, meaning "white dragon," died on Tuesday due to a sudden severe intestinal obstruction, seven days after the heroic rescue, according to Yelibay Dosunbek, Bailong's owner.

On Feb. 4, Yelibay Dosunbek, a 39-year-old Uygur from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, sprang into action on horseback to help a man who was drowning in the frigid Hanjiang River in the city of Xiantao.

Bailong, a 7-year-old mixed breed from Xinjiang, swam nearly 40 meters as Yelibay Dosunbek clung to its back, ultimately dragging the man to shore with the help of local winter swimming enthusiast Liu Hangzhou.

"Bailong carried me to the center of the river. Without him, I couldn't have made it," said Yelibay Dosunbek, who co-owns a local equestrian club in Xiantao.

Following the rescue, the horse showed symptoms like loss of appetite and diarrhea the next day, prompting immediate vet treatment.

On Feb. 6, local authorities granted the title of "righteous and courageous role model group" to Yelibay Dosunbek, Liu, and Su Shaogao -- Yelibay Dosunbek's friend who noticed the emergency and shouted for help. Bailong, whose conditions improved following treatment, was in attendance at the ceremony, donning a red sash.

Later on Feb. 6, the horse was found to be in deteriorating health, experiencing high fever and obstipation. Bailong died on Feb. 11 despite medical treatment.

"Sudden strangulated intestinal obstruction is not a rare emergency in equine animals. Once the disease occurs, the intestines are twisted together, and the mortality rate is very high," said Xiao Siyu, an associate professor at Huazhong Agricultural University who was part of a treatment team organized by the city's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs.

News of Bailong's death has sparked a flood of grief and admiration from locals and netizens nationwide.

Xiantao residents have been seen laying flowers by the Hanjiang River in tribute to the heroic animal. City authorities have also announced plans to erect a statue of the horse by the river, and said that the name of an upcoming local river-crossing event would be changed to the "Bailongma Cup," with Bailongma meaning "white-dragon horse."

"Thank you, brave Bailong, for fearlessly jumping into the water to save a life. May you rest in peace," a netizen posted on the Weibo social media platform under the username "Iron Mirror Princess_79891."

In recognition of Yelibay Dosunbek's heroic rescue, the Xinjiang chamber of commerce in Xiantao has announced that it will donate another white horse to the Uygur man.

"When the weather gets warmer in Xinjiang in late March or early April, a white horse from Yelibay Dosunbek's home of Xinjiang will be delivered to him," said Chen Huibing, president of the chamber, adding that the new horse will be a continuation of Bailong's legacy and a testament to ethnic unity.

Yelibay Dosunbek said that he does not regret rushing into the river. "Had I got another chance, I'd make the same choice to save a life again."

Zou Jiahua, a former vice premier of China's State Council, died of illness at the age of 99 in Beijing at 11:42 p.m. Sunday, an official statement said.

Zou had also once served as a member of the Political Bureau of the 14th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress.

In the statement, Zou was extolled as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, proletarian revolutionist, and an outstanding leader in boosting China's economic development and national defense industry, and advancing the socialist legal system.

Taiwan authorities are considering an arms purchase package worth billions of dollars from the US, according to a Reuters report, which Chinese mainland experts regard as a proactive move of the island authorities aimed at currying favor with the Trump administration in terms of both easing tariff pressure and attempts to "resist reunification by force." 

However, in the face of firm resolution and strong capability of the Chinese mainland to achieve reunification, any more arms purchases are nothing but self-consolation to the island, experts said.  

Citing sources requesting anonymity, Reuters reported on Monday that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are "in talks with Washington" on arm sales, "hoping to win support from the new Trump administration."

One of the sources claimed that "the package is meant to demonstrate to the US that Taiwan is committed to its defense," per Reuters. A second source said the package would "include coastal defense cruise missiles and HIMARS rockets," noting that the total amount is likely to reach "somewhere between $7 billion to $10 billion."

According to the third source familiar with the matter, the island plans to "propose a special defense budget that prioritizes precision ammunition, air-defense upgrades, command and control systems, equipment for the reserve forces and anti-drone technology," Reuters said. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters said, adding the defense authority of the island declined to comment on specific purchases.

Before reports on the potential arms purchase, Lai Ching-te, the secessionist leader of Taiwan region, claimed on February 14 that DPP authorities would propose a special budget plan this year "to increase defense spending to over 3 percent of GDP," which media on the island claimed would likely to see more arms purchases from Washington.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that news of a possible arms purchase of the US weapon was probably deliberately released by the DPP authorities as "a proactive move aimed at currying favor with the Trump administration so the US would consider reducing trade and other pressures on the island." 

Reuters reported previously that the island of Taiwan "runs a large trade surplus" with the US, which surged by 83 percent in 2024, with the island's exports to the US hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors. Some Taiwan-based media also described the move reflects the DPP authorities' broader efforts to reduce the US trade deficit with Taiwan. 

The volume of Taiwan's exports of semiconductors to the US is huge, and if the US government does decide to increase tariffs on the region's semiconductor products, it would bring an undesirable impact on the competitiveness of the island's products, Lü mentioned. 

Lü added that by taking the initiative to woo the new US government through arms purchases, the DPP authorities also hope to gain more support from the US for "Taiwan independence." 

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, regards the Taiwan secessionist authorities' move to "resist reunification by force" is nothing but self-consolation and attempting to seek support by paying protection fees to the US.

Coastal defense cruise missiles and rocket systems like HIMARS are nothing new to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), and the PLA has much more comparable equipment of better capabilities, Wang said. 

"The 'Taiwan card' is becoming less and less valuable and harder for US to play," said Lü, "if the card could be played as a 'King' on the table 10 years ago, now it's probably just a 10 card." 

The US has been taking petty actions on the Taiwan question recently. From February 10 to 12, the US destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch transited the Taiwan Straits. The US State Department also removed language on its website that it does not support "Taiwan independence." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that US' move gravely backpedaled on its position on Taiwan-related issues. This is another example of the US clinging to its wrong policy of "using Taiwan to contain China."

We urge the US to immediately correct its wrongdoings, abide by the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiqués, handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence, stop using Taiwan to contain China, stop upgrading its substantive relations with Taiwan, stop helping Taiwan expand so-called "international space," stop emboldening and supporting "Taiwan independence," and avoid further severe damage to China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, Guo said.

A total of 27 people were injured during a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted island of Taiwan at 12:17 am Tuesday (Beijing Time), CCTV news reported.

The epicenter, with a depth of 14 km, was monitored at 23.24 degrees north latitude and 120.51 degrees east longitude, the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said.

According to the emergency medical management system of the local health and welfare departments, 27 people have been reported injured and are receiving medical treatment following the earthquake. Tainan city reported the highest number of injuries, with 16 cases, followed by Kaohsiung city with 3, Yunlin county with 4, Chiayi city with 3, and another person in Chiayi county, according to CCTV news.

Fire department of island of Taiwan reported 15 people have been injured and sent to the hospital for treatment. Additionally, according to local media, the earthquake caused buildings to collapse in Tainan city, and some individuals are trapped, according to China Central Television.

A resident surnamed Chu, living in Taipei, told the Global Times on Tuesday that he and his family are currently unaffected in the region. “Taipei just shook a few times, and everything is completely normal so far. However, some areas in Tainan city have been more severely impacted,” said Chu.

Rescue personnel are still assessing the damage. Furthermore, the meteorological authorities of island of Taiwan announced that a magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurred in Dapu township, Chiayi county, at 12:17 am Tuesday, with a depth of 9.7 kilometers. The epicenter was located 37.9 kilometers southeast of the Chiayi county government, and the tremors were felt across the island. 

The earthquake caused strong tremors across the entire island of Taiwan, with noticeable shaking reported in Quanzhou, Xiamen and Fuzhou in East China’s Fujian Province, and Ningbo, Hangzhou in East China’s Zhejiang Province, Shanghai also felt the tremors, according to CCTV News on Tuesday.

A Fuzhou resident surnamed Chen told the Global Times on Tuesday that he was preparing to sleep when the tremor caused his bed and window to shake. Chen mentioned he was not overly concerned about the earthquake and many of his friends shared their experiences during the earthquake on the social media platform WeChat moments.

A resident in Xiamen surnamed He said she only heard the window glass shake gently for a brief moment. “Many of my colleagues mentioned that they slept soundly and did not even notice the earthquake,” He said.

The meteorological department has issued alerts for over 20 counties and cities in island of Taiwan, according to CCTV. Additionally, from 12:21 am to 12:32 am on Tuesday, multiple earthquakes of magnitude-4 and above occurred in different districts of Tainan city.

A traveler named “Daerduotutu” had just arrived in Taipei on Monday. She told the Global Times that she was exporting photos from her phone when an earthquake alert notification appeared, followed by the tremor. “The house shook slightly, causing the ceiling to sway, but no major issues occurred. I feel confident about continuing my trip to Tainan in a few days,” said Daerduotutu.

A resident named Jianxiu in Changhua county in the middle part of the island told the Global Times that his village house remained undamaged just as it survived the 7.3-magnitude quake in April 2024. “I felt noticeable shake and just went to bed. My mother is a bit worried. Last year’s earthquake frightened her,” said Jianxiu.

Work and schools in the severely affected district in Tainan city will be suspended for one day to allow residents time to clean up and repair their homes, according to local media reports.

Local Chinese governments have incorporated measures, such as subsidies, tax cuts, paternity leave extensions, childcare services and better healthcare for mothers and children, into their annual work reports as China's provincial-level regions have been holding "two sessions" since the beginning of 2025.

The work report of Central China's Hubei Province prioritizes "alleviating concerns over childbirth" as its top livelihood project for 2025. The supporting measures include carrying out free disease screening services for the newborns, ensuring house-buying subsidies for families with more than one child, and enhancing oversight and enforcement to guarantee the proper implementation of maternity, paternity and parental leaves. 

The government work report of Beijing outlined plans to enhance supportive policies aimed at creating a "birth-friendly society," with diversified childcare services covering the capital city's urban areas. The government work report of Tianjin committed to developing integrated city-level childcare service centers. East China's Zhejiang Province outlined bettering the system of fertility support policies and incentive mechanisms, as well as pilot programs on universally beneficial childcare services in its work report.

In addition to including childbirth incentives in government work reports, local lawmakers and policy advisors from Hubei, Zhejiang, East China's Jiangxi and Southwest China's Sichuan provinces explored additional strategies to encourage higher birth rates.

Xing Hui, a member of Hubei Provincial People's Congress and Party Chief of Xiangyang Central Hospital, proposed extending maternity leaves for both the mother and father respectively to 180 days and 30 days. Xing also suggested offering companies government subsidies and tax cut to offset the costs incurred by the extended leaves.

Cai Xiangfen, a member of Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, advocated for providing both one-time and long-term financial allowances to families. The family with more children will get more money from local governments. She also recommended covering medical expenses related to infertility and high-risk maternal care through the medical insurance fund.

Zhejiang policy advisor Jin Zhenzhen recommended that public kindergartens offer daycare for children aged 2-3 years old so that their parents can have time to go to work. Jin said some large enterprises could even set up "pre-kindergarten classes" with government subsidies to assist employees with childcare.

Li Jianmin, a professor of Institute of Population and Development at Nankai University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that adopting more proactive policies can help restore people's willingness to have children.

"However, shifting public willingness to have children is a long-term process. Immediate effects from these stimulus policies cannot be expected within one or two years. The strength and continuity of policies are crucial. The public will keep watching," Li said.

Fundamental institutional reforms are necessary, especially in income distribution and healthcare, Li pointed out. "For example, we need to figure out ways to deal with the "motherhood penalty," where women face restricted job opportunities, reduced income, less chances of promotion in the workplace after having children," Li said.

According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's birth number in 2024 increased by 520,000 compared with 2023, but the total population at the end of 2024 dropped by 1390,000 than the end of 2023.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Thursday that the steel industry is an important basic industry of the country and the real economy is the foundation of the national economy.

Xi made the remarks while visiting a cold rolling mill of Bensteel Group in Benxi City, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

In response to certain US lawmakers once again proposing a so-called "bill" and threatening to impose sanctions on officials, judges, and prosecutors of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on a so-called list of "sanctions," a spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Saturday.

Since the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong, the social order has been restored, the spirit of the rule of law has been demonstrated, and the rights and freedoms enjoyed by HKSAR residents have been fully guaranteed in accordance with the law. The HKSAR is integrating into the national development framework and enhancing its international influence. It has also regained its position as the world's freest economy, and now ranks third globally as an international financial center. Additionally, it ranks among the top in the world for "global competitiveness," "talent competitiveness," and "investment environment," which reflects the confidence of the international community in HKSAR, said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson emphasized that the essence of the rule of law is that laws must be followed, and violations must be punished. Lawfully combating crimes that endanger national security aligns with the principles of the rule of law and international norms, said the spokesperson.

Certain anti-China politicians in the US ignore the facts of good governance in HKSAR, repeatedly fabricating malicious laws and threatening to sanction officials, judges, and prosecutors of the HKSAR. This openly tramples on the spirit of the rule of law and violates the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, fully exposing their ignorance, prejudice, and hypocritical double standards, the spokesperson said. 

The spokesperson said the historical trend of "one country, two systems" remaining stable and enduring, and HKSAR's transition from governance to prosperity, will not change. Any threats or intimidation can't shake the prosperous and stable situation in HKSAR, nor can they obscure the fact that the rights and freedoms of residents in HKSAR are fully guaranteed. They also can't undermine the firm determination of patriots in performing their duties in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said. 

We urge certain US politicians to recognize the overall situation, stop their reckless actions, and immediately stop the political manipulation and despicable behavior of interfering in Hong Kong affairs, the spokesperson noted.

On Saturday, the government of HKSAR also issued a statement strongly condemning US lawmakers' attempt through a so-called "bill" to intimidate HKSAR personnel safeguarding national security. 

China’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday announced that a delegation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command will visit Japan.

Experts interviewed by the Global Times said that the Eastern Theater Command delegation’s Japan visit yields positive significance, as it helps eliminate misunderstandings and misjudgments, reducing the probability of unexpected accidents.

According to the Chinese Defense Ministry, a PLA Eastern Theater Command delegation will visit Japan in mid-January under a mutual agreement.

During the visit, the delegation will meet with leaders of Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Force, and visit related military units. The visit will help enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, and promote China-Japan defense exchanges.

“Since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba assumed office, China-Japan relations have begun to ease up and stabilize,” Lian Degui, director of the Department of Japanese Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday. He noted that the troops commanded by the Eastern Theater Command are in direct contact with Japan’s Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces. Against this backdrop, the Eastern Theater Command delegation’s Japan visit is particularly important.

“This is an important way to improve relations and enhance mutual trust; this move shows that the two sides are meeting each other half way, and that exchanges between the defense authorities of the two sides will help the relationship between the two countries gradually stabilize.”

The visit of the Eastern Theater Command delegation to Japan is the second exchange between the Chinese and Japanese defense authorities within two months. Prior to this, a delegation of young and middle-aged Japanese officers visited China from November 26 to December 4. Some commentators said this exchange showed a stable and positive atmosphere in the China-Japan defense relations.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that the China-Japan young officers exchange program began in 2001, and it has played an important role in enhancing understanding and trust between the defense authorities of the two countries. The development of China-Japan defense relations should consider the overall situation and look at the long term. We are willing to work with Japan to continue to promote mutual visits and exchanges and provide positive energy for the improvement and development of bilateral relations.

From May 14 to May 20, 2024, the 13th delegation of young and middle-aged officers of the PLA visited Japan. This is the first visit to Japan by a delegation of officers of the PLA since 2019.

Military expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Monday that since the Eastern Theater Command is responsible for maritime and air areas including the East China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands, the theater's frontline troops have many opportunities to make contact with Japan's maritime and air forces. So the visit of the Eastern Theater Command delegation to Japan is of great significance to the defense authorities of the two countries, especially in terms of the frontline maritime and air forces of both sides facing the East China Sea. It will help eliminate misunderstandings and misjudgments between the two sides, reduce the probability of unexpected accidents, and maintain peace and stability in the region.

According to Lian’s analysis, during this exchange, China and Japan will elaborate their respective positions on issues of concern to enhance strategic mutual trust. "Such strategic mutual trust not only helps both sides understand each other's strategic intentions, but also serves as an important cornerstone for improving bilateral relations,” Lian said. 

This is not the first time officers from the PLA Eastern Theater Command to visit Japan.

According to a report by Nikkei, a general-level delegation of the PLA visited Japan in November 2018. The delegation consisted of six people, including Lieutenant General Sun Herong, deputy commander of the Eastern Theater Command. It was the first time senior officers of the PLA Eastern Theater Command have interacted and communicated with leaders of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

Amid growing concerns over a potential TikTok ban in the US, Chinese social media app "RedNote," or Xiaohongshu, has quickly risen in popularity, securing a top spot on Top Free Apps list in Apple App Store in the US.

At Chinese A-share market's opening on Tuesday, RedNote-related stocks surged, with companies like Foshan Yowant Technology and Inly Media Co reaching their daily limit during pre-market bidding.

A large group of TikTok users based in the US, calling themselves "TikTok refugees," were seen on the Chinese social media platform. Many of them posted videos in which they shared reasons for joining a platform primarily designed for Chinese-speaking users.

They said that they moved to RedNote as they fear they are not going to be able to access TikTok after January 19. "US government is claiming that it is because of data privacy concerns as the parent company of TikTok is Chinese," one of the newcomers, a US netizen named "WakoGeek" explained on a video she posted on "RedNote."

The US Supreme Court held a two-hour discussion on January 10 regarding the future of TikTok in the US, according to an audio livestream on the court's website. On December 6, 2024, a US federal appeals court upheld a law mandating ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest the app within the US by January 19, 2025 or face a ban, Reuters reported.

"Our government vilifies China, claiming China will use TikTok to turn Americans against the US. We all think that is ridiculous. So as a protest, and with much humor we collectively decided to join RedNote and willingly give our info to China to show our government we don't care and challenge them," Amy, a US netizen from Massachusetts who opened her account on "RedNote," told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Many of US netizens settling into RedNote now are engaging with Chinese netizens, eager to learn how to use the new app and build communities around their interests, especially on pets like dogs and cats. Posting cat photos is often nicknamed as paying "cat tax" on the app.

Nina from Texas is one of the new users, and she posted photos of her collection of cats, books, and toys.

"After I opened an account on 'RedNote,' I found it very similar to TikTok and it's one of the few Chinese apps available in the US App Store," Nina told the Global Times. "I personally would love to interact with Chinese users as well as US users. I hope the platform will add an in-house translation feature for comments."

She also noted the shop option in the app, and expressed hope that it will soon be available to international users.

Chinese netizens welcomed the American users will open arms. One popular comment on Xiaohongshu said "Friends who come over from TikTok, I want to say, you are not refugees, you are brave explorers."

Some Chinese netizens began to find creative ways to interact with the American users, including asking US netizens to help them with their English homework.

In the meantime, numerous videos have been shared on the platform by existing users offering English-language tutorials on how to navigate the Putonghua-dominated app while overcoming language barriers. Tips include how to activate Chinese-English subtitles and use the app's translation feature to understand Chinese content. "Welcome" comments were frequently left under newcomers' posts and tips were given on how to use the app. "If you are interested, you can click on the link in the comments to join a group chat," a Chinese netizen wrote, aiming to provide important information to the newcomers.

A Chinese netizen surnamed Liu, who posted some tips on using "RedNotes" for international users, told the Global Times she noticed many international users had questions about navigating the app. By sharing these tips, she wanted to help them use the platform more effectively and to prevent the spread of content that may be inappropriate or incompatible on the app.

"The fundamental principle of communication is openness and inclusiveness. We hope they will share their perspectives on China, giving us the opportunity for fair communication," Liu said.

According to The New York Times, there is a chance that US President-elect Donald Trump will "try to rescue the app," which boasts 170 million users in the US, but the law that seeks to ban the short-form video app is scheduled to go into effect the day before his inauguration.

"We are still hoping for a miracle to happen, and even if the ban doesn't go into effect I would still love to remain on 'RedNote,'" Nina said. "The Chinese people here are so kind and I wouldn't want to part ways with such a lovely community."