China steps up planetary defense efforts amid asteroid impact concerns

Recent reports of a potential asteroid impact have sparked widespread concern on Chinese social media, with many voicing safety worries. Amid the discussions, public attention has turned to China's recruitment of planetary defense experts. On Thursday, media reported that Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), visited the Earth Observation and Data Center - a move expert says highlights China's growing focus on this critical field.

Shan said during a symposium held at the center that recent efforts in asteroid monitoring and early warning have shown promising progress. He emphasized the need to strengthen technological innovation, actively explore new models of digital and intelligent supervision, and enhance capabilities in identifying, assessing, warning against and responding to safety risks, according to the official WeChat account of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.

The visit follows mounting worries from the public, after news broke out that an asteroid that could be as big as a football field could strike Earth in December 2032. According to an ABC News report on Wednesday, the chances of the asteroid named 2024 YR4 impacting Earth within the next decade have doubled within weeks, according to NASA astronomers.

When the detection of the asteroid was announced last month, NASA predicted just a 1.3 percent probability of it hitting Earth. The likelihood has now increased to 2.1 percent, per the report. On Friday, the European Space Agency (ESA) updated the likelihood of 2024 YR4 hitting Earth to 2.2 percent, making it the highest-ranked threat on ESA's risk list.

Scientists around the world are continuing observations to track its trajectory. "By April, additional data will be available, and by 2028, during the next observation window, we can better assess its probability of hitting Earth," Li Mingtao, a professor at the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times. 

If it does happen, Li said the asteroid is unlikely to directly hit Earth's surface but would disintegrate in the atmosphere. Even if it hits the surface, the asteroid would most likely land in the ocean. "A distant ocean impact would have minimal effects, while a near-shore impact might generate tsunamis impacting coastal areas. A land impact could generate shockwaves, thermal radiation, and light radiation, potentially devastating an area the size of a medium-sized city," Li noted.

A most viable solution at present is launching a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid at high speed, altering its orbit to avoid Earth. In 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission successfully demonstrated humanity's ability to change an asteroid's trajectory, China Science Daily reported.

Amid the public's heated discussions, netizens recently uncovered a 2025 public recruitment notice issued by the Major Project Center of China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Released on January 14, 2025, the notice revealed plans to hire three planetary defense specialists, whose responsibilities will include research on near-Earth asteroid monitoring and early warning.

"The visit by the CNSA head to the Earth Observation and Data Center, along with the recent recruitment of talents in this field, indicates that China has placed heightened attention on asteroid impact monitoring," Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The establishment of this position is likely more focused on management coordination, Kang said. Planetary defense primarily refers to a systematic engineering effort aimed at preventing near-Earth asteroids or comets from colliding with Earth through technologies such as monitoring, early warning, interception, or deflection. As such, it involves multiple units and various technical approaches, necessitating unified management and coordination.

China unveiled its first near-Earth asteroid defense mission NEA in September 2024, aimed at closely observing an asteroid before executing a kinetic impact to alter its trajectory around 2030, according to Tang Yuhua, a deputy chief designer of Chang'e-7 Mission, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The blueprint for the country's asteroid defense involves two spacecraft - an impactor and an observer - launched into space with one rocket. The observer will first move around the small asteroid to be targeted, for the purposes of detection, before guiding the impactor from afar to strike it. After the kinetic impact, the observer will further have an accompanying flight with the very asteroid that changes its orbit, according to Tang.

China pleased to see all peace efforts, including consensus reached by US and Russia: Wang Yi on Ukraine crisis

China is pleased to see all efforts toward peace, including the consensus reached by the US and Russia on peace talks, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday at an event on China at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany in response to inquiries about China's position on the Ukraine crisis.

The endpoint of any conflict is the negotiating table, and history will ultimately be just, Wang said.

At the same time, China expects all parties and stakeholders to engage in the process of peace talks in due course, Wang noted. "As the war is taking place in Europe, it is all the more necessary for Europe to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis and to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework for the lasting peace and stability in Europe," Wang said.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in separate phone calls and said both men expressed a desire for peace, Reuters reported. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he and Putin agreed "to stop the millions of deaths taking place" in the conflict, stressing Washington and Moscow will "immediately" engage in direct negotiations aimed at ending the crisis. "We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately," Trump said.

According to Reuters, Trump ordered top US officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, to begin talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine.

As the conflict is about to enter its fourth year on February 24, Ukraine and its supporters including Japan and France are preparing to submit to the UN General Assembly a resolution on February 24 that would urge a cease-fire in Ukraine, Kyodo News reported on Thursday. 

Wang also said on Friday at MSC that since the day after the conflict started, China has consistently advocated for a resolution through dialogue and consultation. "President Xi Jinping has put forward a four-point proposal, which is the most authoritative interpretation of China's position, stating that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be adhered to, that the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be taken into account, and that all efforts toward peace should be supported," Wang said.

"We have actively engaged in mediation based on these principles and have launched the 'Friends for Peace' Group with Brazil and other countries of the Global South. Development of situation has demonstrated that China's views are objective, fair, rational and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community," Wang said.

When questioned about the so-called China supporting Russia through oil and gas trade, Wang said that China and Russia, two major neighbors with long borders, have drawn lessons from past challenges and developed a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era that is non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

"China and Russia have normal economic and trade exchanges. If China does not import oil and gas from Russia, how could it meet its demands and ensure the need of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people?" Wang said.

Myanmar says attaches great importance to severely cracking down on online gambling, telecom fraud

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Sunday evening issued a statement, saying that China and Myanmar had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation and jointly combating cross-border crimes such as telecom and online fraud and human trafficking.

The Myanmar side expressed that it attaches great importance to severely cracking down on illegal and criminal acts such as online gambling and telecom fraud, the statement said.

According to the statement, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Chinese Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi on Feb. 14 held talks with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe and Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, respectively.

During the talks, the Myanmar side introduced the specific measures taken by the Myanmar government to combat online gambling and telecom fraud in the near future, and said that it will strengthen coordination with China and other relevant neighboring countries to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and explore the establishment of a regular cooperation mechanism to jointly combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, the statement said.

The Chinese side positively evaluated Myanmar's determination and efforts in protecting the safety of Chinese citizens, and stated that online gambling and telecom fraud seriously infringe upon the safety of people's lives and property.

China is willing to actively carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Thailand, adopt comprehensive measures, and address both the symptoms and root causes, to jointly stop criminals from committing crimes in relevant countries, eradicate the "tumor" of online gambling and telecom fraud, and maintain the normal order of exchanges and cooperation among regional countries, the statement said.

China is pleased to see all efforts toward peace, says FM on US-Russia talks on Ukraine

China is pleased to see all efforts that have been made toward peace, including the consensus reached by the US and Russia regarding peace talks and looks forward to the timely participation of all parties and stakeholders in the peace talk process, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday at a regular press conference.

Guo's remarks were made in response to a question about China's view on talks between US and Russia on Russia-Ukraine conflict on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier Ukraine will "never accept any decisions between the US and Russia" regarding the outcome of peace negotiation without Ukraine's participation. Concerned about being sidelined by Washington in the peace talks, European leaders on Monday held an emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris. 

"China has always held that dialogue and negotiation are the only way out for resolving the crisis. We have consistently been committed to promoting peace talks," Guo said.

TikTok restores service in the US after hours of shutdown

China hopes the US will earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Monday in response to media questions on TikTok restoring service in the US as well as the proposed deal by Donald Trump that will see the US have 50 percent ownership in a joint venture.

TikTok has operated in the US for years and been very popular with American users, the spokesperson said, adding that it has played a positive role in boosting US employment and consumption.

Speaking at a rally on Sunday ahead of his inauguration, Trump said, "We have to save it [TikTok]," adding that the US will seek a joint venture to restore the short-video sharing app used by 170 million Americans, Reuters reported.

When it comes to actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses, Mao said that "we believe they should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles. If it involves Chinese companies, China's laws and regulations should be observed."

TikTok announced it is restoring services Sunday (US time), just hours after Trump said he would sign an executive order on his first day in office to "extend the period of time before the law's prohibitions takes effect." Trump also pledged that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order. 

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive," read a statement TikTok posted on social media platform X. 

"It's a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States," per the statement.

The news of the popular social media platform's service resumption prompted cheers, with many users expressing their excitement at being able to use the app again after about 12 hours of shutdown.

"TikTok has become an important social platform for many people in the US and is also part of a broader business ecosystem for many American companies," Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday, noting that for many American users, TikTok isn't just one of many options — it provides unique services and emotional value that other platforms may not offer.

"It has made significant efforts to respond to user innovations and meet special needs, which sets it apart," Zhou said.

Zhou also noted that for the Biden administration, "this reflects that its previous policies against the Chinese app may not align with public interest and sentiment. This could explain why many people have expressed support for TikTok online and opposed Biden's unilateral approach."

However, some users also expressed concerns over how long this resumption will last, given the lingering uncertainties surrounding TikTok's future. One American user named Author Tracey Vanessa King said, "But for how long?" among all the positive "welcome back" posts.

Although TikTok is resuming its services in the US following Trump's remarks, the app remains unavailable for download on Apple and Google app stores in the country as of press time.

TikTok serves as a hub for a diverse array of individuals and businesses across the US, contributing to a vibrant online community. According to a report published by the economics consultancy Oxford Economics, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that leverage TikTok's capabilities effectively have the opportunity to realize growth, stimulating economic activity within businesses and their supply chains and through employees' spending in the wider economy.

"SMB activity on TikTok contributed $24.2 billion to GDP in the US in 2023, while supporting 224,000 jobs," the report said.

"The resumption of TikTok is undoubtedly good news for many American users in many fields. However, although it has resumed, there is still no long-term solution in sight, partly due to the influence of certain politically driven forces within Congress that continue to support a ban," Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Monday.

Meanwhile, many American users who called themselves "TikTok refugees" have been actively putting up posts on the Chinese lifestyle social media app Xiaohongshu several days ahead of the US ban on January 19. Many users expressed how much Xiaohongshu appealed to them and stated that they are not going back.

An American user named TC Townsend wrote on Xiaohongshu, "I found a new home, and I love it... Whatever happens, I ain't coming back."

Data security responses

In a separate response to a question from a foreign report on the remarks made by Elon Musk questioning whether one "should allow a platform like TikTok to operate that had the potential to harvest American data as well as control the type of content it would broadcast in the US," the foreign ministry spokesperson responded that "we believe that internet companies need to observe local laws and regulations." 

As for the Chinese government, we attach great importance to data privacy and security and protect it in accordance with the law, Mao said. 

The Chinese government has never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or provide data located abroad against local laws, the spokesperson noted.

Also, when asked by another foreign media reporter about China's response to Elon Musk's remarks on Sunday on X claiming that "it was unbalanced to allow TikTok to operate in the US and not allow his social media platform X to operate in China," noting that it's "something needs to change," Mao said on Monday that the Chinese government manages the Internet in accordance with law. We welcome Internet companies across the world to operate in China as long as they abide by China's laws and regulations and provide safe and reliable products and services.

Chinese Embassy says it despicable for UK to shelter HK anti-China criminals

The Chinese Embassy in the UK said it is despicable for the UK to shelter criminals in response to UK foreign officials' meeting with four anti-China individuals seeking to destabilize Hong Kong who are wanted by the Hong Kong police. The embassy said that the four individuals' egregious actions seriously endanger national security, severely undermine the fundamental interests of Hong Kong, and have a serious impact on the principle of One Country, Two Systems which is a bottom line that must not be crossed.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the spokesperson of the embassy expressed strong opposition and condemnation to the UK officials' blatant interference in the rule of law in Hong Kong and in China's internal affairs, after UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West met with Carmen Lau and three other disruptors wanted by the Hong Kong police.

The embassy spokesperson said that the four individuals have long engaged in anti-China activities seeking to destabilize Hong Kong, and the law enforcement actions taken by the Hong Kong police are necessary to uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong and defend national security.

We urge the UK to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law, stop emboldening those anti-China individuals seeking to destabilize Hong Kong and stop harboring criminals, said the spokesperson.

Chinese FM responds to whether to resume Japanese seafood imports after 1st independent testing of seawater near Fukushima completed

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that to ensure independent sampling and monitoring by China and other stakeholders is one of the commitments made by Japan on the issue of the discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. Mao said they learned from relevant authorities that Chinese research institutions have completed the tests and analysis of China's first independent sampling. No abnormality was seen in the activity concentration of tritium, caesium-137 and strontium-90.

In response to whether the above testing results prove the safety of the discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, Mao stated that Japan's unilateral action taken in spite of concerns of neighboring countries and the international community lacks legitimacy and rationality.

China's firm opposition to Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea remains unchanged, Mao said, adding that in the absence of any compulsory international mechanism to stop the discharge, independent sampling by stakeholder countries on a continuous basis as a method of monitoring is an effective way to control the risks that come with the discharge.

Meanwhile, Mao said they noted that professional agencies pointed out that one single test provides limited reference. China will continue to work with the international community to urge Japan to fulfill its commitments, put the discharge under strict international oversight and continue the independent sampling and monitoring of the water.

Zhang Yanqiang, a professor of law of the sea studies at Dalian Maritime University, said that radioactive substances are different from other materials. Many radionuclides have no effective treatment technology, and some long-lived radionuclides may spread with ocean currents and have bioaccumulation effects. 

Although the current values have not exceeded normal levels and normal radiation doses, we cannot predict whether this will still be the case in five or 10 years, and it still needs long-term monitoring," Zhang told the Global Times on Thursday.

When asked whether this would lead to the resumption of Japanese seafood imports, Mao stated that the Chinese government always puts people first and firmly safeguards the food safety of our people.

On the issue of resuming imports of Japanese aquatic products, the spokesperson said China always follows a science-based approach. The first independent sampling and testing is just one of the steps for Japan to implement its commitments on the discharge issue. 

The resumption of Japanese aquatic products depends on results from a series of data including those from China's continuous independent sampling and monitoring and whether Japan will take concrete measures to effectively guarantee the quality and safety of exported aquatic products to China, Mao said.

According to information from the China's National Nuclear Safety Administration, October 2024 marked China's first independent sampling of the Fukushima nuclear wastewater release.

As per the workflow of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), specific data will be compiled and released by the IAEA.

Chinese tech start-up DeepSeek unnerves US with low-costs AI model on par with OpenAI's o1

Chinese tech start-up DeepSeek is shaking the US' AI sector with its open-source approach and low-cost models, drawing curiosity and significant coverage from US media and AI forums about how this Chinese company has produced competitive AI systems comparable to those developed by US tech giants, all while navigating the strict semiconductor restrictions imposed by the US government on China. The Global Times on Saturday talked to the company and several AI industrial observers to illustrate the phenomenon behind.

"China's cheap, open AI model DeepSeek thrills scientists," Nature wrote three days after a large language model called DeepSeek-R1 was released by the Chinese company on January 20. Its performance on certain tasks in chemistry, mathematics and coding is on par with that of OpenAI's o1, the Nature report said. 

"How China's new AI model DeepSeek is threatening US dominance," a CNBC report on Friday emphasized concerns over DeepSeek's impact on US dominance in AI. It wrote that "a little-known AI lab out of China has ignited panic throughout Silicon Valley after releasing AI models that can outperform America's best despite being built more cheaply and with less-powerful chips."

A New York Times report wrote "The company built a cheaper, competitive chatbot with fewer high-end computer chips than US behemoths like Google and OpenAI, showing the limits of chip export control," in a report titled "How Chinese AI Start-Up DeepSeek Is Competing With Silicon Valley Giants."

Attention on the Hangzhou-based startup began in December of last year following the launch of its large-scale AI model, "DeepSeek-V3." This new model quickly gained traction among AI enthusiasts, sparking discussions that transcended borders and made their way to international social media platforms and tech forums.

As of press time, there was no official response from the team, which media widely seen as "a mysterious team" that rarely spoke to media and overtly present themselves.

When asked to comment on the external attention surrounding DeepSeek's development of a free, open-source large language model on Saturday, DeepSeek informed the Global Times that it could not provide additional information at this time. They recommended referring to the technical report for a better understanding of its model.

According to a notice released by DeepSeek in an open communication group, the company stated that it "does not engage in external project cooperation, nor does it provide privatization deployment and related support services." Additionally, DeepSeek emphasized that it will concentrate on research and development to develop more advanced models, encouraging everyone to "please look forward to it."

"DeepSeek's technological approach challenges the US's dominance and monopoly in AI technology, proving that US' chip restrictions have been ineffective," Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Saturday, in explanation why DeepSeek has ignited wide attention from not only China but the Silicon Valley in the US.

The US is currently seeking to uphold its dominance in the field of artificial intelligence through various policies and administrative regulations, with a focus on safeguarding its edge in computational and algorithmic capabilities, the expert said. 

Tian Feng, former dean of the Intelligence Industry Research Institute at Chinese AI software giant SenseTime, described DeepSeek's ability to achieve impressive generative results with lower training costs, along with its complete open-source approach to technology and foundational models as a move likely to "redefine the development rules for AI."

It demonstrates comparable advantages to OpenAI's o1 model, along with a training cost of only about $6 million for its V3 model— about one-tenth of what Meta invests in comparable AI models, Tian told the Global Times on Saturday.

NVIDIA Senior Research Manager Jim Fan said on X that "We are living in a timeline where a non-US company is keeping the original mission of OpenAI alive - truly open, frontier research that empowers all. "

According to an anonymous post on Teamblind, a forum for verified Big Tech employees, Meta's AI department is feeling the pressure, according to a report by media outlet The Decoder. The post wrote that Meta is "in panic mode. Engineers are moving frantically to dissect DeepSeek and copy anything and everything we can from it."

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg took to Facebook recently to outline his company's response, saying that in 2025, Meta aims to develop an AI assistant that can serve more than a billion people. "This will be a defining year for AI," Zuckerberg wrote, according to the The Decoder report.

The approach taken by the Chinese tech start-up has put unprecedented pressure on US AI companies, as it is likely to attract more users and developers globally to participate in high-end AI development, which may weaken the market share and influence of American AI companies, according to Tian.

The US stringent measures guard against China in the field of AI, covering various aspects such as chips, talent, computing power, algorithms, and data, and it can be said that "no means are being spared in their sanctions," Li Baiyang said. 

However, how China's AI innovates testifies its minimal impact, instead, such restrictions have caused many American companies to miss opportunities for collaborative development with China's industrial innovation, Li Baiyang said. 

The New York Times, as mentioned above, left the question of China-US competition in AI open-ended. It wrote that "If the best open source technologies come from China, they argue, US developers will build their systems atop those technologies. In the long-run, China could emerge as a central player in AI innovation globally."

Li Baiyang said DeepSeek's open-source technological route applications embody China's inclusive and accessible mindset, which is of great significance for strengthening the ecosystem of China's AI industry.

"China can achieve significant breakthroughs by pursuing our own path, as long as we continue to innovate," Tian said. 

US President Donald Trump recently announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure investment in the US. Three top tech firms will create a new company, called Stargate, to grow artificial intelligence infrastructure in the US, according to CNN. 

The healthy competition between China and the US in AI depends on the US attitude.  As the two leading powers in the global AI field, China and the US compete in the AI industry, but there is also significant room for cooperation, especially in AI governance, Li Baiyang added. 

‘I never expected the rescue teams to arrive so quickly’: Monks and nuns in Xizang earthquake-stricken areas share experiences of being rescued

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri county, Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region caused varying degrees of damage to temples in the epicenter region. Monks and nuns in these temples, like other residents, received care and rescue efforts amid the merciless natural disaster. During a recent visit to the earthquake-stricken area in Dingri county, the Global Times observed monks and nuns actively participating in the protection of historical relics in the affected temples. They also went temporary shelters to provide emotional and spiritual support to the grief-stricken and anxious victims.
"After the earthquake, some vloggers took advantage of our focus on earthquake relief to secretly visit Zongbu Temple, a local nunnery in Chamco township. They filmed videos, alleging that the temple was damaged but left unattended. They also falsely claimed that injured nuns were left without assistance. These are completely rumors, which made me very angry," Ngawang Tsering, deputy director of the SangKar Chosde Monastery management committee, told the Global Times. He explained that immediately after the January 7 earthquake, he sought assistance from the Dingri county government and rushed to Zongbu Temple with local residents to conduct rescue operations. After firefighters, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and other emergency rescue forces arrived in Chamco township, they treated Zongbu Temple as a key rescue point and carried out simultaneous relief work across other disaster-stricken areas in the township. "Injured nuns were also promptly sent to the hospital by ambulance. Unharmed nuns were brought to the monastery management committee for care. They were properly resettled," he emphasized.

Nun Chodron from Zongbu Temple was the first to escape when the earthquake struck. In an interview with the Global Times, she said that Zongbu Temple, located halfway up a mountain in Gadan village, Chamco township, suffered damage during the quake. "Only some 10 minutes after the earthquake, staff from the monastery management committee and residents of the township drove up the mountain to rescue us. Shortly after, firefighting and military personnel arrived. I truly didn't expect them to reach us so quickly. Without their swift rescue, one trapped nun among us might not have survived," she recalled.
The Global Times has learned that currently, the four injured nuns in the temple are receiving medical treatment at hospitals in Xigaze city and Dingri county. Meanwhile, those in good conditions have been settled in a temporary shelter next to the monastery's management committee. During the visit, the Global Times found that these shelters are stocked with cotton-padded shoes, blankets, thick clothing, instant noodles, bottled water, and fresh produce, ensuring the basic needs of affected monks and nuns are fully met.
Tsering Wangdu, director of the SangKar Chosde Monastery management committee, explained to the Global Times that after the earthquake struck on the morning of January 7, monks and nuns from both Zongbu Temple and SangKar Chosde Monastery were relocated to a temporary shelter next to the monastery's management committee by that afternoon. By 9 am the following day, government departments had urgently dispatched eight prefabricated houses, and rescue teams completed the construction of all the prefabricated houses by around 5 pm that same day. Basic living supplies and equipment, including vegetables, tsampa, butter, bowls, and cooking utensils, were also provided that day. "If we need any living supplies, we only need to request them from the government departments, and within two to three hours, rescue personnel will deliver everything we need. Our monks and nuns have received meticulous care and attention from the Party and the government," Tsering Wangdu told the Global Times.
After ensuring the proper resettlement of monks and nuns affected by the earthquake, protecting the valuable historical relics within the temples from further damage or theft became a speicial task for local government officials and monastery management committee staff. According to the committee staff, the SangKar Chosde Monastery, which has a history of over 500 years, is a key cultural relic protection site in Xizang region. Zongbu Temple, with a history of more than 400 years, is similarly recognized as a key cultural relic protection site in Xigaze city. Both temples house numerous historical artifacts, including statues, thangkas, murals, and scriptures, all of which hold immense artistic and historical value. Any damage or theft of these relics would result in significant losses. Therefore, the Dingri county government and the monastery management committee implemented temporary lockdown measures at both temples, establishing targeted protections for these invaluable relics.

"Zongbu Temple sustained damage during the earthquake. With aftershocks continuing in the disaster area, it is challenging for us to enter the temple for inspections or to carry out protection efforts. As a precaution, we established a checkpoint at the base of the mountain where the temple is located. Police officers, temple management staff, monks, and nuns are stationed there in 24 hours to prevent unauthorized personnel or vehicles from entering. Once the situation stabilizes, we will begin rescue efforts for the relics. For the less-damaged SangKar Chosde Monastery, we have removed all valuable relics and securely stored them under the supervision of personnel assigned by the Dingri county's public security bureau. Our monastery management committee has also dispatched officials and enlisted monks and nuns to help safeguard these relics," said Ngawang Tsering.

In the face of cruel natural disasters, the monks and nuns who have been rescued can also become helpers and provide help to the needy people with the heart of helping the world and the people. Tsering Wangdu said that after the earthquake, some affected residents requested the assistance of monks and nuns to handle funeral arrangements for the victims, chanting scriptures for the deceased and praying for blessings for the living. To meet these requests, we organized the resettled monks and nuns into groups and dispatched them to various villages in Chamco township to provide assistance to affected residents, he said.

"In this earthquake, more than 100 people lost their lives, and Chamco township was one of the hardest-hit areas. We quickly allocated monks and nuns to conduct funeral services for the victims in different villages," said Thubten, a monk in SangKar Chosde Monastery. "The Party and the government have provided sufficient living guarantees for all affected people, including monks and nuns. As religious figures, we have a responsibility to comfort the victims' families and provide emotional support to believers in such moments of sudden natural disaster."

"We followed traditional customs to conduct funeral rites for the victims and offered timely comfort to their families. In performing the religious ceremonies for the deceased, we spared no effort to ensure they rest in peace. For the living, we provided solace and encouragement, inspiring them to remain confident in the future. We assured them they need not worry about their livelihoods because the Party and the government will always care and help us," said Thubten.

Over 35,000 border management crime cases handled in 2024: National Immigration Administration

In 2024, over 35,000 cases hindering border management were investigated in China, with more than 79,000 criminal suspects apprehended and 906 criminal gangs dismantled, according to the latest data released by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Tuesday, CCTV News reported.

Among them, 328 major and significant cases were placed under special supervision and 518 key fugitives targeted in the special operation against serious crimes against border management were successfully apprehended, said the NIA.

The immigration authorities have also taken stringent measures to crack down on illegal activities related to firearms, explosives, drug trafficking, and smuggling in border areas, according to the report.

A total of 494 drug cases involving 653 individuals were uncovered. Among them, there were 105 cases involving over 10 kilograms of drugs, with a total of 7.8 tons of various drugs seized, along with more than 2,000 firearms and over 100,000 rounds of ammunition confiscated.

In order to strengthen safeguards for the security and stability of the national borders, the NIA has implemented multiple specialized measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The NIA has coordinated with immigration management departments across China to advance a special operation aimed at severely cracking down on crimes related to border management, so as to form a strong deterrent against prominent cross-border crimes.

Between June and October 2024, immigration authorities deployed 104,000 police and auxiliary officers, while also mobilizing 85,000 community and social volunteers to conduct a summer security crackdown and rectification operation, according to the NIA.

By doing so, a number of individuals involved in ongoing criminal activities were apprehended, and several dangerous security factors were eliminated.

The NIA has continued to strengthen efforts to address illegal employment, entry, and residence by foreigners in China. 

China has deployed public security's exit and entry management bureaus nationwide to maintain rigorous oversight in investigating and handling such cases, with a focus on key areas, industries, and locations. 

The bureaus have closely monitored activities such as organizing illegal entry, employment, and marriage fraud involving foreigners, and are cracking down on crimes involving trafficking and fraudulent marriage of foreign women.