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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI China: Button industry thrives in Qiaotou Town of E China’s Zhejiang

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Button industry thrives in Qiaotou Town of E China’s Zhejiang

    Updated: March 28, 2025 15:43 Xinhua
    A staff member sorts out button samples at a button company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County has been developing its button industry since late 1970s and has now become a renowned “Button Capital.” Currently, over 250 button enterprises in Qiaotou County provide jobs for about 16,000 people, and produce around 60 billion buttons with annual sales exceeding 4 billion yuan (about 550.6 million U.S. dollars). [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member designs new button products at a button company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member conducts quality inspection on buttons at a workshop in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a type of eco-friendly button made from recycled materials displayed by a button company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member packs button products at a button store in a trade center in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member takes advertising photos for buttons at a button company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member packs button samples at a button stall in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member works at a workshop of a garment company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member works at a workshop of a button company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member packs buttons for a customer at a button stall in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member works at a warehouse of an e-commerce company in Qiaotou Town of Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing cultural exchange event promotes unity, inclusion

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Guests mingle at “The Night of Lights” cultural exchange event in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    A vibrant cultural exchange event titled “The Night of Lights” was hosted in a Beijing cultural space on March 23, bringing together diplomats, students and business professionals from Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Türkiye and other countries. The gathering, centered on themes of “unity and inclusion,” created a warm atmosphere for cross-cultural dialogue through culinary delights, traditional attire and artistic performances.
    The evening buzzed with intercultural energy as participants sampled international delicacies like Pakistani samosas, Moroccan harira soup and Argentine madeleine cakes. Many of the attendees dressed in colorful national costumes, exchanging stories about their home countries and sharing their experiences of living in China.
    Safaa Merzane, a Moroccan student at Capital University of Economics and Business, has developed a deep appreciation for Chinese cuisine during her year and a half in the country. When asked about her most memorable cultural experience in China, she enthused: “The first idea that comes to my mind is the Chinese food. When I try spicy food, I think it’s so delicious!”

    Moroccan student Safaa Merzane shares her impressions of Chinese cuisine during the cultural event, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    Hina Shaikh, a teacher at the Pakistan Embassy College in Beijing, expressed her delight in participating. “There are many different foods, culture traditions and cultural performances I see today,” Shaikh remarked. “That has really amused me how people interact with each other, how they respect each other’s culture. And I feel very happy when I’m a part of such an event.” She particularly noted the eagerness of the young performers to showcase their cultural heritage through dance, music and traditional dress.
    Shaikh, who regularly participates in cultural activities through her work, added: “The students of the college are normally taking part in many cultural programs. Even in our college, there are lots of Chinese students come to perform. And we have culture programs.” In her opinion, these events act as vital bridges fostering international understanding and friendship.
    Tunisian students Sirin Jridi and Khaoula Louhichi from Minzu University of China enthusiastically shared their perspectives on China’s inclusive cultural environment. “I came to this event at my friend’s invitation,” Jridi explained. “We try to showcase our traditional clothes and some of our food and introduce them to a lot of nationalities. Of course, we have tried other people’s food and we really like it. We are willing to have more of this kind of events to participate in.”

    Tunisian exchange students Khaoula Louhichi and Sirin Jridi showcase their traditional attire at the cultural gathering in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    Louhichi also described how her understanding of Chinese society has transformed: “I used to think that Chinese people are cold. But when I came here, I just figured out it was totally wrong. I felt like really welcomed here.” She expressed admiration for China’s social harmony, where 56 ethnic groups coexist peacefully. “They’re all living in peace here, and Chinese culture is really immense. I really like it here. Chinese people are also very proud of their culture.”
    Louhichi credited Chinese government scholarships for enabling international students to experience the country firsthand. “Thanks to the scholarship that the Chinese government gives to other students, many people can come to China and experience the real China,” she said.
    She also praised China’s academic initiatives promoting cultural exchange. “Many universities host ‘cultural days’ during which students from all over the world will have stands and they will share with others their culture. I think in China, it’s so convenient to know other people’s culture,” she said.

    Attendees sample international delicacies at the cultural event in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    The event ended on a hopeful note, as participants called for more cultural exchanges. The lively gathering showcased how such initiatives celebrate diversity while creating genuine international bonds. As a reflection of China’s vibrant multiculturalism, it highlighted the country’s growing role in fostering cross-cultural understanding through openness and mutual respect.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global South’s modernization in focus at Boao Forum

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center in Boao, Hainan province, March 26, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

    Over the past two decades, Global South countries have contributed nearly 80% of world economic growth, solidifying their role as a key driver of global development. Their growing influence has made them a focal point at the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China’s Hainan province.

    At a panel discussion during the forum on March 26, experts explored the diverse paths to modernization for the Global South, emphasizing collaboration, self-reliance and inclusive development.

    Xiaojun Grace Wang, trust fund director at the U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), highlighted the varied modernization trajectories of these nations. “Each country has distinct concerns and priorities. Least developed nations and small island states, for instance, have unique considerations,” Wang noted. “We must listen to their collective voices, recognize their varying stages of development, and acknowledge that real strength comes from unity amid diversity.”

    She emphasized that cooperation should extend beyond the traditional North-South divide. “We must leverage the expertise and technology of developed nations,” she said, stressing that collaboration in diversity is key.

    Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, underscored the shared aspirations of Global South nations despite their regional differences. “From the Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, these nations share common values in globalization, forming the foundation for a broader global economic mainstream,” he said.

    Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, identified two major challenges facing the Global South. The first is internal: “These countries often express concerns but struggle to translate them into concrete actions,” he observed. The second challenge is external, particularly disruptions to the global trade system initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. “If globalization is hindered, poverty will deepen, leading to instability,” he warned.

    Zheng also criticized Western-style modernization for its exclusiveness and lack of inclusiveness. He argued that while Western nations have achieved prosperity, they have not actively helped poorer countries develop. “Economic disparity is detrimental to human rights,” he stated.

    Citing a Chinese proverb — “in adversity, perfect oneself; in success, perfect all under heaven” — Zheng said that this philosophy is reflected in China’s modernization approach. China worked hard to develop when it was poor and now seeks to assist other nations through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the New Development Bank, he explained.

    Danny Quah, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, stressed the importance of self-reliance. “Global South countries must demonstrate leadership in their own development,” he said.

    Quah underlined that economic growth and capacity building are essential for ensuring these nations control their own destinies. True development, he added, involves creating value — building infrastructure, improving public health, and unlocking the creativity and potential of people.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2nd Golden Panda Awards to be held in Chengdu in September

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The second Golden Panda Awards will be held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in September, recognizing outstanding films and TV series while promoting the giant panda cultural brand, organizers announced on March 25.

    Organizers attend a press conference to brief the media about the second Golden Panda Awards in Beijing, March 25, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Golden Panda Awards Organizing Committee]

    Xie Li, a member of the organizing committee for the 2025 Golden Panda Awards and secretary of the secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said the ceremony will take place in Chengdu on Sept. 12, 2025. 

    “There are 27 awards in four categories: film, TV drama, documentary and animation,” he said. “These awards cover best picture, director and screenplay, among others. The event aims to promote cross-cultural understanding through the selection of film and television works.”

    Li Junchen, deputy secretary-general of the Sichuan provincial government, outlined the awards’ “3+3+1” framework, which includes three main events, three side activities, and one extension activity.

    According to Li, the main events include the “Golden Panda Night” welcome, the “Golden Panda International Cultural Forum,” and the “Golden Panda Awards Ceremony.” The forum will gather politicians, scholars, and industry leaders to explore cross-cultural exchange and technology-culture integration. Winners in four categories will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will feature cultural performances.

    Li also disclosed that side activities include the “See the World with Panda” international film and TV exhibition, which will promote project cooperation and exchanges, as well as the “Let’s Watch Movies Together” film panorama featuring classic works via screenings. Additionally, the “Face-to-Face with Pandas” tour will offer close encounters with giant pandas while showcasing Chinese culture.

    The extension activity, “Our Panda,” invites global submissions of short videos, photos and written works featuring panda-inspired creative pieces that highlight harmony between humans and nature.

    Gao Zhongwei, deputy director of the Golden Panda Awards organizing committee office and director of the executive committee office, updated the status of global submissions as of the prior day: 1,788 entries were received, comprising 71 films, 385 TV dramas, 854 documentaries and 478 animations. Of these, 1,373 entries — 77% of the total — originated from 104 countries and regions across five continents.

    Eligible works are outstanding film and television productions that premiered or screened between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025. With the submission deadline set for April 25, 2025, organizers encourage more film and television institutions and industry associations to participate, Gao said.

    Organizers noted that the jury panel covers five continents, with overseas experts making up over 40% of the jurors. The panel includes internationally renowned film and television experts to ensure professional evaluations and authoritative results.

    A poster for the second Golden Panda Awards. [Image courtesy of Golden Panda Awards Organizing Committee]

    Organizers noted that the Golden Panda Awards will be market-driven, featuring enhanced industrial functions such as project incubation and copyright trading to encourage cooperation in the global film and television industry. Additionally, they plan to develop “film and television plus culture plus ecosystem” experiences based on the giant panda’s intellectual property and Sichuan’s cultural tourism resources.

    The biennial Golden Panda Awards aim to uphold standards by collecting and selecting works that reflect shared human values, while facilitating cross-cultural exchanges and learning through film and television, the organizers said.

    The inaugural Golden Panda Awards in 2023 drew 7,024 submissions from 104 countries and regions. Foreign entries made up 70% of submissions, and foreign works accounted for 60% of the winners, demonstrating the event’s extensive global reach.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Consumer expo expected to be biggest ever

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The upcoming fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, to be held from April 13 to 18 in Haikou, Hainan province, is expected to attract the highest number of participants compared with past editions, which points to the confidence of global consumer enterprises in China, the Ministry of Commerce said.

    The event, the largest consumer goods expo in the Asia-Pacific region, will become China’s first significant international expo this year, and an important platform for the country to further boost consumption and expand high-quality development, said the ministry, the co-organizer of the expo.

    In the recently delivered Government Work Report, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year’s tasks.

    “This year, the expo is expected to attract the participation of more than 1,700 companies and over 4,100 brands from 71 countries and regions. This scale far exceeds the previous four editions,” said Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

    Hainan Free Trade Port is a pioneer in China’s opening-up efforts. An FTP system focused on trade and investment liberalization as well as facilitation will be “basically established” in Hainan by 2025, according to the plan.

    The holding of the consumer expo, coupled with the policies of the FTP, is expected to help drive the growth of duty-free shopping, catering, accommodation, and tourism consumption in Hainan, promoting its development into a globally influential tourism and consumption destination, the ministry said.

    This year, the United Kingdom will serve as the guest of honor, and the UK, France, Switzerland and Slovakia will showcase their products in the form of national exhibition groups, according to the local government of Hainan.

    In addition, different provinces and cities across the country will showcase popular domestic products and time-honored brands. In addition to the exhibition of products, services consumption — such as healthcare and wellness, sporting events and artificial intelligence — will also be highlights of the event this year.

    “With the hosting of four editions of the consumer expo, international consumer enterprises have increasingly felt the charm of the Hainan FTP and felt that the door of China’s reform and opening-up is opening increasingly wider,” said Gu Gang, vice-governor of Hainan.

    In the first two months, total retail sales of consumer goods in China reached 8.37 trillion yuan ($1.15 trillion), up 4 percent year-on-year, and the growth rate was 0.5 percentage point higher than the whole year figure of last year, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Initiative for boosting sustainable development via digital sci-tech released at Zhongguancun Forum

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Initiative for boosting sustainable development via digital sci-tech released at Zhongguancun Forum

    BEIJING, March 28 — Participants at a parallel forum of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing unveiled an initiative on Thursday, calling for global collaboration to leverage digital science and technology to accelerate sustainable development and address global challenges.

    Nearly 200 representatives from international organizations, as well as domestic and foreign scholars, attended the International Forum on Sciences for Sustainable Development, which is one of the activities of UNESCO’s “International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033).”

    The Beijing Initiative on Digital Science and Technology for Sustainable Development released at the forum outlines key objectives, including promoting innovative applications of digital sci-tech in sustainable development, and expanding the use of big data, artificial intelligence, space technology and the Internet of Things to address challenges — such as biodiversity conservation, climate change, disaster risk reduction and poverty alleviation.

    The initiative emphasizes the development of digital tools to optimize energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and enhance natural resource management capabilities.

    The initiative also proposes building global platforms for sharing digital resources and technologies, strengthening the role of digital tools in policy formulation, and promoting public engagement and education concerning sustainability through digital means.

    A highlight of the initiative is the proposal to launch international big-science programs on digital sustainable development — aiming to unite global research institutions, governments and private sectors to establish collaborative platforms for cross-border technology R&D, data sharing and standard-setting. These programs will prioritize technology transfer and capacity-building, particularly for developing nations, to ensure equitable and inclusive global cooperation.

    Guo Huadong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director-general of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, said that digital technologies and open data are pivotal to solving sustainability challenges.

    Highlighting data-sharing achievements, Guo noted that China launched SDGSAT-1, the world’s first satellite dedicated to serving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on Nov. 5, 2021. Since its launch, the satellite has captured over 420,000 data scenes — which were freely shared worldwide.

    According to Guo, China had met the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 52 percent of its environmental indicators by 2022 — well ahead of schedule. Beijing, China’s capital, ranks first nationwide in terms of environmental SDG indicators, with average PM2.5 concentration showing an annual average reduction rate of 7.56 percent from 2015 to 2023, according to satellite observations.

    Scientists from 104 countries have utilized the data supplied by SDGSAT-1 to inform research efforts and in policy making. Applications span urban planning, environmental monitoring, agricultural monitoring and disaster response. Notable projects enabled by this satellite include the development of sustainability data products for BRICS nations, the conducting of SDG assessments for African countries, and analysis of light pollution on the Iberian Peninsula.

    “In the future, a satellite constellation is expected to be built to serve as a sharper ‘eye in space’ for global sustainable development,” Guo added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ATAGS procurement to strengthen India’s firepower capabilities, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Following the news that India has signed a contract for the procurement of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS);

    Harsh Deshmukh, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

    “The procurement of 307 ATAGS and 327 towing vehicles signed with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems for Rs. 6,900 crore ($820 million) will significantly expand India’s fleet of indirect firepower delivery platforms. Capable of delivering precise long-range strikes at a rate of 5 rounds per minute, these indigenous 155mm howitzers will substantially enhance the Indian Army’s firepower, while bolstering the country’s autonomy in defense manufacturing. The towing vehicles, which are part of the current procurement program, will enable swift deployment of the ATAGS units.

    “The escalating tensions along India’s northern borders, particularly with China which deployed advanced artillery like the PCL-181 in the high-altitude regions, highlight the need for India to strengthen its land-based firepower. China’s rapid military modernization, particularly its emphasis on mobile and long-range artillery systems, has heightened the urgency for India to address threats of potential conflicts in regions such as Ladakh, which has already witnessed deadly skirmishes in the past. Similarly, along the Pakistan border, where sporadic fire exchanges between the two sides are not uncommon, ATAGS offers a decisive edge. Its long-range capability ensures deeper strikes into enemy territory, enhancing the Indian Army’s operational reach.

    “According to GlobalData’s “Artillery Systems Market Size and Trend Analysis Including Segments, Programs, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2034,” India is expected to invest over $5.3 billion on procuring various types of towed artillery systems over the next ten years, reflecting its focus on enhancing its land-based combat capabilities through indigenous procurement.

    “The ATAGS will be complementing the in-service airlift capable M777s and the self-propelled K9 Vajras. This mix of artillery deployment enhances the Indian Army’s flexibility in a dynamic mission environment along the borders. With ATAGS already exported to Armenia, India will also continue to look to for export opportunities for this potent platform in international markets in order to keep the production cost down through economies of scale.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Laos Railway facilitates cross-border travel

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUNMING, March 28 — The China-Laos Railway has safely handled over 50 million passenger trips since its launch on Dec. 3, 2021, according to the railway operator.

    A flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the 1,035-km railway links Kunming of southwest China’s Yunnan Province and the Laotian capital of Vientiane. It has significantly enhanced regional connectivity, boosted regional economic growth, facilitated people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and demonstrated great development potential as a golden transport corridor.

    The China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. said that as of Friday, it had operated 71,000 passenger train trips on the railway, serving more than 480,000 international travelers from 112 countries and regions worldwide.

    The railway operator has observed sustained growth in passenger traffic, with monthly ridership surging from 600,000 people during the initial operational phase to 1.6 million across the entire route.

    Railway authorities from China and Laos have partnered with tourism departments to promote international travel services along the railway, bringing vigor to tourism-related industries, including scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants near the route, according to the company.

    Moreover, the China-Laos railway’s service upgrades now feature multilingual support, including Chinese, Lao and English, through translation devices at stations and onboard trains, alongside health-focused amenities such as portable blood pressure monitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ways and Means members: Don’t cut programs that protect American workers, trade

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and 13 of her committee Democratic colleagues today called on Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemerto and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reinstate recently canceled international labor programs that are critical to protecting American workers and defending U.S. trade.

    The members also called on the administration to block any attempts by Elon Musk and DOGE to cut the Department of Labor’s International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) staff and the programs they administer.

    “American trade policy relies on critical federal programs working overseas to challenge unfair competition from governments that commit egregious abuses in global supply chains,” the members wrote. “By eliminating these and other technical assistance projects, the Administration is surrendering an essential tool for leveling the playing field and holding our trade partners accountable. As Members of the Ways and Means Committee, with constitutional authority to oversee American trade policymaking, we strongly urge you to immediately reinstate canceled international labor programs in trade partner countries and fully fund ILAB to carry out its vital mission.

    In addition to Sánchez, the letter was signed by Representatives John B. Larson (D-Conn.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.), Donald Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).

    Full text of the letter is available here and follows:

    March 21, 2025

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer
    Secretary
    Department of Labor
    200 Constitution Ave NW
    Washington, DC 20210

    The Honorable Jamieson Greer
    Ambassador
    United States Trade Representative
    600 17th Street, NW
    Washington, D.C. 20508

    Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Ambassador Greer:

    As Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, we urge you to reinstate recently canceled international labor programs that are critical to protecting American workers and defending U.S. trade, and to also protect the U.S. Department of Labor’s International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) staff and the programs they administer from further cuts. ILAB and its programs work to ensure that U.S. trade policy does not result in the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs to countries with lax labor protections. Our committee has consistently supported funding ILAB to ensure U.S. trade agreements and policies are enforced because American workers and businesses should never have to compete with goods subsidized by unfair trade practices, including forced labor and child labor. 

    ILAB’s projects around the globe are key to achieving a level playing field for American workers and ensuring that American consumers are not complicit in buying products tainted by forced or child labor overseas. For example, a recently canceled ILAB project in Uzbekistan, supported by a broad coalition of American apparel companies, has been instrumental in eliminating the systemic use of forced and child labor in the Uzbek cotton sector. Just last year, in one of dozens of such findings, ILAB raised awareness of the use of forced labor in Indonesian nickel mines, which have flooded the global market, placing domestic producers at a significant disadvantage. ILAB also works to address China’s efforts to profit from slave labor, playing a leading role in the U.S. government’s Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force that works with Customs and Border Protection to enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. 

    As we begin the six-year review under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), we do so with an acute awareness that ILAB provides essential support to USTR to enforce the rules of the USMCA, including through dozens of cases brought under the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, ensuring that companies in Mexico can’t undercut American jobs and manufacturers by skirting the USMCA’s labor requirements. As the eyes and ears of the U.S. Department of Labor abroad, ILAB is the lynchpin in our efforts to ensure that Mexico and other trading partners are playing by the rules. 

    American trade policy relies on critical federal programs working overseas to challenge unfair competition from governments that commit egregious abuses in global supply chains. By eliminating these and other technical assistance projects, the Administration is surrendering an essential tool for leveling the playing field and holding our trade partners accountable. As Members of the Ways and Means Committee, with constitutional authority to oversee American trade policymaking, we strongly urge you to immediately reinstate canceled international labor programs in trade partner countries and fully fund ILAB to carry out its vital mission.

    Sincerely,

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Key takeaways from seven National Meetings on Xizang

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Editor’s note: March 28, 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of the democratic reform that ended feudal serfdom in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Since 1980, a total of seven National Meetings on Xizang have set key policies shaping economic growth, social progress and long-term stability, providing guidelines for the region’s modernization and governance. Here, China.org.cn reviews key policy takeaways from these meetings, providing insight into the strategies that have driven Xizang’s transformation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Leads Demand for Pam Bondi to Appoint a Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Breach Involving Senior Trump Appointees

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    18 Senior Trump Administration Officials, Including Cabinet Members, Were Using Open-Source Commercial Messaging App Signal to Discuss Confidential War Plans, Jeopardizing National Security 

     

    Letter Argues Trump Appointees’ Episode of Incompetence is in Violation of the Espionage Act  

     

    Members Demand Appointment of Independent Special Counsel to Investigate and Bring Potential Charges as Demanded by Law 

      

    Read the Letter Here  

    Washington, DC – Congressmen Dan Goldman (NY-10) led 5 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding she appoints an independent special counsel to investigate the security breach involving senior Trump officials sharing classified military plans on an unsecured messaging app. 

    Under the Espionage Act, the unauthorized disclosure of national defense information is subject to penalties, including fines or imprisonment. Specifically, the statute criminalizes the transmission of classified information to unauthorized individuals. Additionally, the Federal Records Act prohibits the removal, alteration, or destruction of records documenting federal agency activities, a regulation Mr. Waltz seemingly violated by setting all messages to automatically delete after a specified period. At this juncture, it remains unclear whether former President Trump or senior members of his administration are broadly utilizing Signal chats to circumvent both the Federal Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act. 

    “This egregious breach of security protocol – from an Administration whose leader was criminally charged with violating laws related to classified materials and who once called for a political opponent to be jailed for possessing classified materials on a private email server – is unacceptable and demands an immediate and independent investigation. This security breach may run afoul of multiple laws, including those requiring the proper protection of classified information and requiring that all official communications be preserved,” the members said. 

    Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a Signal chat titled “Houthi PC Small Group” by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on March 13th. Signal, an unsecured messaging platform, is susceptible to surveillance by foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran. The chat contained 18 other senior officials from the Trump Administration, including Vice President Vance, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, and CIA Director Ratcliffe. 

    Given the potential violations of the law and AG Bondi’s position in the Administration, the members demand the appointment of an independent special counsel to avoid conflicts of interest.  

    “As Attorney General, it is your responsibility to uphold criminal laws that protect the security of our nation and its military. It is also your duty, as you acknowledged during your Senate confirmation hearing, to enforce these laws impartially, including by avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest. We trust that you will act swiftly and decisively by appointing a special counsel to investigate this breach and, if warranted, prosecute anyone who knowingly and willfully violated our criminal laws, putting at risk the safety and security of our most sensitive secrets and our servicemen and women. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter,” the members concluded. 

    Read the letter here or below: 

    Dear Attorney General Bondi, 

    We write to express our shock and disgust at the recent alarming report about the most senior officials in the Trump administration sharing classified military operations plans with a reporter on an open-source, commercial messaging app, as detailed in The Atlantic article, “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.” This remarkably careless and dangerous episode calls into question the integrity of our national security procedures and the security of our most sensitive military and intelligence information. Given the gravity of this error and the need for independent review, we believe that your appointment of a special counsel to investigate the conduct of these senior administration officials in this case is both urgent and necessary. 

    According to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz added Goldberg to a Signal chat entitled “Houthi PC small group,” which included a principals committee of 18 of the most senior members of the Administration – including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, among others. On this group chain that included a journalist, Secretary Hegseth included a detailed tick-tock from Central Command of a highly classified planned military strike in Yemen. Signal is an unsecure messaging app likely targeted by surveillance from adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran; indeed, we are lucky that the Houthis did not receive the detailed plans with sufficient time to prepare a counterattack, jeopardizing the security of our servicemen and women. 

    Notwithstanding Secretary Hegseth’s prototypical denial of the clear facts by attacking Mr. Goldberg, the Trump Administration has confirmed the authenticity of the text chain. This egregious breach of security protocol – from an Administration whose leader was criminally charged with violating laws related to classified materials and who once called for a political opponent to be jailed for possessing classified materials on a private email server – is unacceptable and demands an immediate and independent investigation. This security breach may run afoul of multiple laws, including those requiring the proper protection of classified information and requiring that all official communications be preserved. 

    Under 18 U.S.C. § 798 of the Espionage Act, unauthorized disclosure of national defense information can be punished by a fine or imprisonment. Specifically, the statute criminalizes any of the following uses of classified information: communicating the information or making it “available” to unauthorized persons; publishing the information in any manner; or using the information in any other manner that goes against U.S. interests or benefits a foreign entity. To successfully prosecute an individual under 18 U.S.C. 798, the government must prove the following elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) the information in question is classified; (2) the disclosure was unauthorized; and (3) knowledge and intent of the disclosure – unless it is an act of reckless negligence. As the first two elements are undoubtedly met, an investigation is necessary to determine whether there is evidence that reckless negligence occurred. 

    Separately, the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. § 31) requires federal agencies to maintain records documenting their activities, ensuring safe storage and efficient retrieval, and disposing of records according to agency schedules. In the event that records have been unlawfully removed, destroyed, or altered, Section 3106 mandates that federal agency heads notify the Archivist of the United States and initiate action with the Attorney General to recover unlawfully removed records, or the Archivist will do so if the agency head fails to act. In this case, Mr. Waltz set the messages to be deleted after one or four weeks. An investigation is required to determine if there were any protocols set in place to preserve these records, and whether other such Signal chats are being used to circumvent the Federal Records Act and possibly the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 

    Further, the Department of Defense (DOD) has an express prohibition on the use of Signal as a means of transmitting non-public DOD information unless previously authorized. As the head of the Department, Secretary Hegseth’s adherence to DOD’s own regulations is, of course, essential as an example to those who serve under him. Moreover, an investigation is needed to determine whether other classified information or materials have been shared on Signal by the Secretary of Defense or other members of DOD. 

    Given the fact that those included in the Signal group include the Vice President, other cabinet officials, and the most senior officials in the White House, it is self-evident that you, as a similarly-situated politically appointed cabinet official, cannot conduct an investigation without the appearance of a conflict of interest. Under 28 CFR § 600.1, the Attorney General is required to appoint a special counsel when she determines that criminal investigation of a matter is warranted and that investigation by a United States Attorney’s Office or litigating Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) would present a conflict of interest; and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel. Here, this standard is easily met. 

    As Attorney General, it is your duty to enforce criminal laws designed to protect our nation’s and our military’s security. It is also your duty, as you acknowledged at your Senate confirmation hearing, to impartially enforce our criminal laws, including by avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest. We trust that you will take swift and decisive action by appointing a special counsel to investigate this breach and, if appropriate, charge anyone who knowingly and willfully violated our criminal laws, jeopardizing the safety and security of our most closely held secrets and our servicemen and women. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: John James, Don Davis Introduce Legislation to Procure More Fighters for the Air National Guard

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John James (Michigan 10th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representatives John James (MI-10) and Don Davis (NC-1) introduced the Air National Guard Squadron Preservation Act, which requires the Air Force to sustain fighter aircraft procurement and production to fully recapitalize the Air National Guard. This legislation would ensure that the aging A-10 fighter squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base would be recapitalized with a new fighter mission. 

    Retaining the overall combat strength in the Air National Guard while America is already short pilots and maintainers, as China continues to close the capabilities gap, is critically important as we work to modernize our fleet. 

    Rep. James issued the following statement regarding the legislation:

    “Air National Guard fighter units represent 21 percent of the total Air Force, 30 percent of the Air Force combat power, and 94 percent of homeland defense—at 40 percent of the cost. The Guard is far too critical to our national security to ignore. Selfridge Air National Guard Base is uniquely positioned on our Northern border and Great Lakes, highly lethal, cost effective, and crucial to our local and state economy. Our nation called on Michigan for two world wars and a global pandemic. My bill will assure that Selfridge is prepared and ready to answer when America calls again.”

    Rep. Davis issued the following statement:

    “It is imperative to prioritize taking the necessary steps to ensure the continued production and procurement of fighter aircraft. Our country will be better prepared for global threats, and the American people will be safer,”     said Congressman Davis.

     The Air National Guard Squadron Preservation Act:

    • Makes it U.S. policy to maintain the Total Fighter Force needed to confront any threats by retaining force structure through the fighter squadrons across the Air National Guard (ANG).
    • Amends the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act Air National Guard recapitalization plan to include “fifth generation fighter aircraft” in the language.
    • Requires the Air Force to continue production and procurement of an “advanced capability fighter aircraft” and a “fifth generation fighter aircraft” to replace all legacy capability fighter aircraft within each ANG fighter unit.
    • For this Act, the definition of “advanced capability fighter aircraft” means F-15EX, F-16 Block 70/72, and future variants. “Fifth generation fighter aircraft” means an F-35 or F-22 aircraft.
    • Requires the Air Force to fulfill this procurement requirement by entering in to or modifying a procurement contract.
    • Requires the GAO to conduct a review of advanced capability fighter aircraft—to assess any procurement challenges and to issue recommendations on how to solve those challenges.
    • Requests that the Air Force, in consultation with the ANG, conduct a study on continued procurement of advanced capability fighter aircraft to recapitalize the ANG.

    View the legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amo Elevates Rhode Island’s Blue Economy in First Hearing as Ranking Member

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment held its first hearing of 119th Congress on the Blue Economy

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment Gabe Amo (RI-01) delivered remarks in the first Subcommittee on Environment hearing of the year. In the hearing titled To the Depths, and Beyond: Examining Blue Economy Technologies, Congressman Amo highlighted Rhode Island’s success in growing the Blue Economy while calling out President Trump’s systematic disinvestment in science and economic development.

    “Thanks to investments in the Blue Economy, my home state — the Ocean State — is home to thriving blue industries such as commercial fishing, tourism, defense production and shipbuilding, as well as marine manufacturing, offshore wind, and oceanic research. Estimates show that the Blue Economy employs more than 36,000 workers in Rhode Island and contributes over $5 billion to our gross domestic product every year,” said Ranking Member Amo. “I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join me in pushing against the Trump administration’s attacks on science and the Blue Economy.”

    WATCH CONGRESSMAN AMO’S OPENING REMARKS HERE

    BACKGROUND

    Congressman Gabe Amo serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Environment on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over research at the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental standards, and climate change research and development, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers the National Weather Service. Congressman Amo has advocated for Rhode Island’s Blue Economy through a district-wide tour of stakeholders — from marine manufacturing companies to offshore wind training programs to leading experts in ocean research and academia.

     

    REMARKS AS DELIVERED

    Thank you, Chair Franklin, for today’s hearing on the Blue Economy. And thank you to our witnesses for agreeing to share your perspectives.

    Since the days of Roger Williams and the Gaspee Affair, the ocean has been central to Rhode Island’s identity. But water isn’t just a key to our past — it’s critical to our future.

    Thanks to investments in the Blue Economy, my home state — the Ocean State — is home to thriving blue industries such as commercial fishing, tourism, defense production and shipbuilding, as well as marine manufacturing, offshore wind, and oceanic research. Leveraging our state’s natural strengths has ushered in a new age of prosperity for workers, small businesses, and research institutions.

    Estimates show that the Blue Economy employs more than 36,000 workers in Rhode Island and contributes over $5 billion to our gross domestic product every year. Across the country, there are approximately 2 million workers supporting the Blue Economy who contribute about $373 billion to our nation’s GDP.

    To find out more, I embarked on a multi-day, multi-stop tour of Rhode Island’s First Congressional District’s Blue Economy in October. I learned about leaders training union workers pursuing careers in offshore wind. I engaged with researchers and higher education leaders working to deepen our understanding of the ocean. I saw how cutting-edge manufacturing companies are growing their footprints and investing in our communities.

    Tools like artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing ocean-based industries and driving growth in the Blue Economy. Rhode Island has companies utilizing cutting-edge aquatic data collected through underwater drones that is increasing our national defense capabilities.

    We must continue to invest in the Blue Economy. It supports innovation, our workforce, and our resiliency efforts. It’s about protecting our global innovation leadership. We need public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders rowing in the same direction.

    I hope there are shared values in our committee about leveraging our ocean to advance scientific research, spur economic development, and defend our national security. But I am, at this moment, not certain those priorities are shared by the leadership at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House. Time and time again, we have seen President Trump and his billionaire supporters, stand in the way. They have systematically undermined and jeopardized our progress in an area where we should continue to have great leadership. Take, for example, the whiplash firing and rehiring of staff, the cancelling of contracts, and the freezing of grants across our government — including at NOAA and the National Science Foundation and countless other key areas.

    Can anyone really claim that chaos and confusion supports economic development? I think the answer is clear.

    Hacking and slashing away at our federal agencies slows scientific progress that is urgently needed, threatens economic stability, undermines disaster preparedness, and can hinder national security. My state has welcomed NOAA with open arms. It will turbocharge ocean research innovation and initiatives that will grow our Blue Economy.

    Innovation has always — always — been a collaborative effort between government, academia, non-profits and private industry. Collaboration between government and academia has driven foundational “moonshot” innovations. Private-public partnerships have turned breakthroughs into real-world applications and scaled them rapidly. However, Trump and DOGE and the actions of the last several weeks have worked overtime to turn back the clock. Crippling federal support for research at universities and the private sector are dimming the prospects for future scientific discovery. It is cutting off pathways and opportunities that lead to careers in science and innovation.

    The actions of President Trump have driven universities to lay off staff, issue new guidance for graduate students, and push away the very expertise that we urgently need now to continue our advances in the Blue Economy. Researchers are left scrambling. Organizations are being forced into crisis mode and students are dissuaded from pursuing careers in STEM.

    These funding cuts are threatening America’s already tenuous global leadership in ocean research and innovation. Elon Musk is opening the door to competitors around the world, and adversaries like China, who are already catching up to our investments in research and development.

    So I end with this. What does it mean when the United States, a nation struggling to stay at the forefront of science, is unilaterally disarming and letting our strongest scientific tools wither on the vine?

    Look, I hope we can find a bipartisan consensus to push back against these decisions. Because if not, there will come a point where recovery may no longer be possible.

    With that, I yield.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Recognized As Most Effective Freshman Lawmaker in the 118th Congress

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Congressman Lawler rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    Washington, D.C. – 3/26/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) was named to the the Top-10 of the Most Effective Lawmakers in the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress (2023-2025), according to the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL). Congressman Lawler ranked 6th among House Republicans, 8th overall, and 1st among freshman lawmakers in the 118th Congress.

    Congressman Lawler’s effectiveness speaks to his bipartisan, common sense approach to legislating, working with Republicans and Democrats to get things done on behalf of the residents of the 17th Congressional District.

    In the 118th Congress, Rep. Lawler introduced 58 bills, with 7 passing the House and 1 becoming law. Additionally, 5 of his bills were incorporated into larger legislative packages that were signed into law. 

    H.R. 9106, Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 was signed into law as a standalone bill. Other bills that were incorporated into legislative packages that were signed into law include H.R. 3099,  Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act, H.R. 3774, Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act, H.R. 5923, Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act, H.R. 7040, Undetectable Firearms Reauthorization Act, and H.R. H.R. 9437, Partners in Diplomacy Act.

    Congressman Lawler’s legislative success far exceeds the average freshman in the 118th Congress. His effectiveness placed him in CEL’s “Exceeds Expectations” category, a distinction given to lawmakers who outperform their peers based on party status, seniority, and committee positions.

    The CEL, a nonpartisan research center co-directed by scholars from the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, released its Legislative Effectiveness Scores (LES) highlighting the most effective lawmakers. The scores are based on the Member’s ability to sponsor and advance meaningful legislation. 

    “From day one, my focus has been on delivering common sense solutions for the hardworking people of my district,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17). “Being recognized as one of the most effective lawmakers in my first term is a reflection of that commitment. Whether it’s securing funding for critical infrastructure, supporting our law enforcement, or advancing policies to lower costs and strengthen our economy, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m just getting started.”

    “As the representative for New York’s 17th District, I’ve been laser-focused on addressing the needs of my constituents,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “This recognition highlights that you don’t need seniority or a chairmanship to make a real impact—you just need the drive to get things done and be willing to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”

    Lawler’s strong performance underscores his commitment to pragmatic governance and bipartisan problem-solving – qualities that have earned him praise not only in New York but also in Washington.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

    ###

    The full report can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 43 officials, 5 entities penalized for bridge collapse

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Authorities in Northwest China’s Shaanxi province have held five entities and 43 public officials accountable for negligence and dereliction of duty in connection with a highway bridge collapse that left 62 people dead or missing in July last year.
    The collapse occurred on July 19, when flash floods caused by heavy rainfall swept away part of a bridge in Zhashui county in Shangluo, Shaanxi province. The disaster sent 25 vehicles plunging into the river below, causing direct economic losses estimated at 157.51 million yuan ($21.68 million).
    Following the incident, an investigation team led by the Ministry of Emergency Management and composed of experts in bridge engineering, water resources, transportation, meteorology and geology was formed in accordance with the emergency laws. The probe examined the performance of local governments and relevant departments to determine their responsibilities.
    Investigators found that the collapse was caused by a combination of mountain and basin-wide floods that carried large amounts of floating debris, including tree trunks, which clogged the bridge piers. The pressure of the water and debris exceeded the piers’ bearing capacity, ultimately causing the foundation to fail.
    The assessment also revealed serious flaws in the construction, management, design and supervision of expressway bridges, as well as inadequate river-related oversight. Investigators identified illegal subcontracting, non-compliant construction practices and falsified supervision and testing records as key issues.
    The Shaanxi Provincial Department of Transportation, the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Water Resources, the Shangluo and Zhashui governments, and Shaanxi Transportation Holding Group were the entities held accountable.
    Of the 43 individuals penalized, 38 received disciplinary and administrative punishments within the Communist Party of China, while three were given warnings or admonishments. Two others were arrested on suspicion of criminal activity, along with one individual from a construction consulting firm.
    Authorities have since proposed a series of preventive measures, including strengthening responsibility for major safety risks, improving disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities on expressways, enhancing oversight of river-related infrastructure and enforcing a lifelong accountability system for expressway construction quality.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Improved connectivity drives growth in Xizang

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A view of the Lhasa-Nyingchi Highway in the Xizang autonomous region on Sept 3. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The Xizang autonomous region’s modern transportation network, spanning more than 120,000 kilometers of highways along with expanding rail and air links, is driving economic growth, social progress and deeper integration with the rest of China.
    By the end of last year, Xizang’s total road mileage had reached 124,900 km — nearly double the figure in 2012 — marking a significant milestone in the region’s transportation infrastructure, according to the regional transportation authority.
    Rural connectivity also saw major progress, with 309 rural road projects completed last year. The projects added 17 townships to the paved road network, raising the township connectivity rate to about 98 percent. The total rural road mileage reached 94,800 km, said Dawa Ngodrub, deputy head of the region’s transportation department.
    Dawa Ngodrub recalled the region’s past, saying that 70 years ago, Xizang, known as the “roof of the world”, was a place where high mountains and large rivers posed formidable barriers.
    “In the plateau’s pastoral areas, people relied on primitive and ancient transportation methods like post roads, cableways and rafts. Material exchange was a labor-intensive affair, mainly relying on people and livestock carrying goods,” he said, adding that it was a major bottleneck restricting regional development.
    Xizang ended its long-standing isolation in 1954 with the simultaneous opening of the 4,360-km Sichuan-Xizang and Qinghai-Xizang highways, marking its first highway access. On July 1, 2006, the full operation of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway ended the region’s railway-less past. Since then, an expanding network of roads, railways and air routes has driven Xizang’s socioeconomic transformation.
    Following the Qinghai-Xizang Railway’s inauguration, the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway, an extension of it, started operations in 2014 and was upgraded to high-speed service in 2021, reducing travel time between the two cities from eight to nine hours by car to two hours and 20 minutes by train.
    The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway, Xizang’s first electrified railway, entered service in June 2021. Major cities such as Lhasa, Lhokha, Nagchu, Shigatse and Nyingchi are now connected by main railway lines, with the region’s railway operation mileage expected to reach 1,187 km by the end of last year, data from the department showed.
    The impact of these transportation advancements is deeply felt at the grassroots level. Lhatse, a 31-year-old forklift driver from Shigatse working at the Lhasa West Freight Station of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, is a prime example.
    He started working as a loader in 2012, and as freight volume grew following the 2014 opening of the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway, he learned new skills and earned a forklift operation qualification certificate.
    With a stable monthly income of more than 10,000 yuan ($1,376), he encouraged his brother and uncle to join the industry. The railway has not only boosted his career, but also improved his family life.
    “This year, I bought a car,” he said proudly.
    Lhatse also praised the improved transportation network.
    “Before, poor transportation meant my family couldn’t visit me,” he said. “Now, with the train from Shigatse to Lhasa taking just over two hours, they visit annually and even tour the Potala Palace before heading home.”
    The railway has also helped migrant workers like him balance farming and work, with more than 100 fellow villagers now working as loaders at the Lhasa station.
    In Changkar village, Dingri county, Kunga has also benefited from the improvements.
    “The journey from our village to Shigatse, once 10 hours by car, is now less than four hours, and the trip from Dingri county to Lhasa, which took six days by truck two or three decades ago, now takes just eight hours,” said Kunga.
    Better roads have also revolutionized access to medical services.
    “In the past, serious illnesses often meant a long and risky trip to Shigatse or Lhasa, and some poor families had to rely on local remedies,” he said. “Now, reaching a hospital is much easier, and living standards have improved.”
    With improved access to railways, the region has seen growth in the tourism and logistics industries.
    According to China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group, by February this year, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway had transported more than 38.75 million passenger trips in and out of Xizang and 925.63 million metric tons of goods.
    The Lhasa-Shigatse Railway has seen 15.47 million passenger trips and has carried 58.284 million metric tons of goods, while the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway has facilitated 3.69 million passenger trips and hauled 11.37 million metric tons of goods.
    This year, Xizang will expand investment in transportation, enhance logistics efficiency and reduce costs, aiming to further promote high-quality growth, said Dawa Ngodrub, deputy head of the region’s transportation department.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: TikTok to launch interactive shopping platform in Europe

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Social media giant TikTok announced Thursday that it will launch an interactive e-commerce platform in Italy, France, and Germany on March 31.

    The company, known for pioneering the short video format, said the new platform will enable users in the three countries to purchase products from local brands and distributors directly through its smartphone app.

    This marks TikTok’s first e-commerce venture in Europe, following its success in China and other markets. The company has chosen the three largest economies in the European Union as the initial launch destinations.

    The platform will feature “shoppable videos” and “live videos,” allowing users to buy products showcased in their personalized feeds. TikTok said this “e-commerce discovery model” aims to provide a more tailored shopping experience.

    “It brings the interaction between sellers and consumers back to the center of the experience, recreating the proximity and dialogue typical of traditional commerce,” the company said in a statement.

    According to TikTok, the platform has 22.8 million users in Italy, meaning more than one in three Italian residents are active on the app.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chery launches new cars in Czech Republic

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken on March 26, 2025 shows a vehicle during a launch event of Chery in Prague, the Czech Republic. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese automaker Chery has officially launched four new models of its OMODA 5 and JAECOO 7 in the Czech market.

    Attending the launch event Wednesday in the Czech capital were more than 700 people including officials, representatives of trade associations, automobile dealers and Chery’s business partners.

    Calling sustainable development and green transition a global consensus, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Feng Biao told the audience that in the field of new energy vehicles, China is willing to engage in mutually beneficial cooperation with the Czech Republic and share technological expertise, making joint efforts to combat climate change and contributing to global sustainable development.

    Cooperation between Chinese and Czech businesses would help advance economic and trade relations between the two countries, improving the well-being of the two peoples, Feng added.

    Shen Zaoshi, deputy general manager of Chery’s European Union region, told Xinhua that Chery has conducted extensive market research to ensure the new models launched would meet local consumers’ demands.

    Noting that the Czech automotive market is relatively mature with consumers with strong purchasing power, Shen said that Chery, with its technological and product advantages, would provide local consumers with more options.

    According to the company, Chery will collaborate with its local partner Grand Automotive Central Europe to establish a sales and service network, with about 30 sales outlets to be set up in the Czech Republic by the end of 2025.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spain, Chinese quantum company collaborate to build Europe’s largest integrated computing center

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The ChinaLink ESGt, a venture capital led by Spanish entrepreneur Javier Romero, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Chinese quantum computing company Origin Quantum on Wednesday in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, on the joint development of Europe’s largest integrated computing power center.

    According to the agreement, both parties will integrate technology development and product research in quantum computing, and jointly explore the construction of an integrated computing power center combining supercomputing, quantum computing and artificial intelligence computing in Spain, and a classical-quantum hybrid computing cloud service platform.

    Additionally, the two companies will collaborate on the development of quantum-resistant encryption technologies and their applications to enhance information security in the quantum era.

    ChinaLink ESGt, which has invested in leading global companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, SpaceX, and the Chinese renewable energy company Sungrow, is currently building a quantum research lab in Malaga, Spain. The company plans to partner with global organizations, including Origin Quantum, to establish the facility as Europe’s largest integrated computing center. The center is expected to reach a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, encompassing both classical and quantum computing infrastructure.

    “China’s quantum computing development is world-leading, and we aim to bring the top quantum computing companies to Spain to create an international collaborative laboratory,” said Romero. He also highlighted plans to explore applications of quantum computing in fields such as finance, renewable energy, and biomedicine in partnership with China.

    Guo Guoping, chief scientist at Origin Quantum and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, emphasized that Spain’s exploration of quantum algorithms for healthcare, artificial intelligence, and other fields offers a valuable reference for the global practical application of quantum technology.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Installed non-fossil fuel power capacity reaches 2B kilowatts

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 8, 2025 shows an offshore photovoltaic power project in the waters of Zhaoyuan City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s installed non-fossil fuel power generation capacity surpassed 2 billion kilowatts for the first time at the end of February, according to the latest data released by the China Electricity Council.

    The figure accounted for 58.8 percent of the country’s total installed power generation capacity.

    The installed capacity of new energy generation, represented by wind and solar power, reached 1.46 billion kilowatts at the end of last month, accounting for 42.8 percent of the country’s total power generation capacity.

    Official data showed that China’s installed capacity of non-fossil fuel power generation surpassed 1 billion kilowatts for the first time at the end of June 2021.

    The quick increase in the installed capacity reflected the power sector’s continued efforts to optimize the energy structure and accelerate the green and low-carbon transition.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tariffs: Job protectors or trade killers?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Every month, the UN trade and development agency (UNCTAD) provides an update on what’s happening in the world of global trade. In March, the focus was on tariffs, and the report revealed that, whilst global trade reached a record $33 trillion last year, the outlook for 2025 remains uncertain, with mounting tensions, protectionist policies and trade disputes signalling likely disruption in the coming months.

    Luz Maria de la Mora, the Director of the International Trade Division at UNCTAD, is responsible for producing the Global Trade Update. Earlier in her career, she was part of Mexico’s negotiating team that brokered the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1992, the legacy of which is still disputed to this day.

    She explained to UN News that tariffs themselves are not necessarily a problem: the issue is the uncertainty that results from big economic players ripping up the playbook of international trade rules.

    Luz Maria de la Mora: Tariffs, which are essentially a tax on imports, have been part of an international trading system that has been in place for almost eight decades.

    First, there was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, also known as GATT, in 1948, and this was replaced by the World Trade Organization (WTO), in 1995. These organizations basically created a set of rules, giving certainty to producers, investors and exporters that tariffs wouldn’t change every year.

    Tariffs are used widely, but they are imposed following rules that have been negotiated within the WTO or regional organizations.

    UN News: The biggest tariffs are between developing countries. Why?

    Luz Maria de la Mora: Developing countries normally tend to have higher levels of protection, and there are several reasons. One is that you may want to develop a certain industry in the automotive or chemical sector. One way of helping an industry develop and grow is by protecting it, through tariffs, from foreign competition. The downside is that production of those goods for the domestic market is more expensive, and you may also deter competition.

    © ILO/BMF Media

    Workers sort through peppers in a processing plant in Mexico.

    A second reason why developing countries apply tariffs is that there are instances in which governments need revenue. Tariffs are a tax, and a tax is income that a government can spend on social spending, health, education or infrastructure. But again, this means higher costs on imported goods for consumers.

    UN News: You were heavily involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement [between the United States, Canada and Mexico]. What did it achieve and why was it controversial?

    Luz Maria de la Mora: NAFTA was a very daring proposition at the time for several reasons. It was the first free trade agreement between developing and developed countries, an experiment that had never been tried before. Practically all tariffs between the three nations were eliminated.

    NAFTA transformed Mexico’s economy. There was more investment in the manufacturing sector, and many jobs were created. Today it is a world-class sector, and Mexico became the fourth largest producer of automobiles worldwide. It proved that integration can make your economy more efficient and it can create more opportunities.

    UN News: Those who criticize NAFTA say that the reduction in tariffs meant a reduction in protection for certain sectors and there were workers who lost out. Are you saying that ultimately workers benefited in each country?

    Luz Maria de la Mora: Of course, in every free trade area, there are always winners and losers. I’m not saying that everything was rosy, and some sectors and companies ceased to exist. But the transformation that you see in those regions and areas of the country that were able to integrate into the North American supply chain has really been very, very encouraging. In the big picture, you can see that there has been a positive effect.

    But trade policy has to go hand-in-hand with policies that ensure those who lose out can be trained. You need to have some kind of government intervention to be able to maintain people in the workforce.

    © ILO

    A worker at a factory in Zhejiang, China prepares wood for export.

    In Mexico, for example, there were a lot of support programmes in the agricultural sector, to help producers face competition from the United States and from Canada.

    They also started producing more in the fruit and vegetable sector, which basically Mexico did not exist before, and today the country is the number one exporter of tomatoes, avocados, berries and some other fresh produce to the United States. This has helped the U.S. consumer to have a more balanced and healthy diet as a result. Conversely, Mexico benefits from easy access to grains, wheat, corn, sorghum and also some kind of beef, pork and poultry.

    UN News: We’re talking at a time when many international trade agreements are being questioned. Do you think that we’re on the verge of a global trade war?

    Luz Maria de la Mora: Many important actors in global trade, such as the United States, the European Union and China, are imposing tariffs or measures that are not always in line with their commitments in the WTO.

    That is creating uncertainty and uneasiness on the part of the private sector, because when the big actors start making their own rules, instead of following the rules of WTO, questions are asked: why are they doing this? Why are they not using the system and the rules that we have in place to address their problems?

    There have always been differences among countries, with certain sectors more affected by changes than others, and economic conditions can require certain kind of interventions.

    When Member States make unilateral decisions, without going through the WTO or UN System, it can create uncertainty, which may end up creating a slowdown in investment decisions in the private sector, in trade, economic growth and job creation.

    UN News/Daniel Dickinson

    Communities in developing countries like Madagascar rely on exports, such as lobster, to survive.

    UN News: If we do see a slowdown in the global economy, who is likely to suffer the most?

    Luz Maria de la Mora: Developing countries. Ninety-five developing countries depend on their exports, which puts them at the mercy of international pricing trends and on the growth of the global economy.

    These countries need an international trading system that works, that offers certainty, where they know which regulations they face and where the rules are not changed without notice, without negotiation, without any previous warning of what is coming.

    That is why it is so important that multilateralism remains in place.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New Russian ambassador to US arrives in Washington DC

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Russia’s new Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev arrived in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

    Darchiev will informally present his credentials to the Trump administration on Thursday, according to the U.S. State Department.

    U.S. Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Louis L. Bono will attend the informal credential presentation in Washington, D.C. at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time (1815 GMT) Thursday, according to schedule posted on the U.S. State Department website.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Darchiev as the new ambassador to the United States on March 6. The position had been vacant since last October, when the previous envoy, Anatoly Antonov, left his post. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.60 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.60 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, March 28, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB78.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on March 28, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.50%

    RMB78.5 billion

    RMB78.5 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年03月28日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Suspect arrested, charged in connection with Tesla arson attack in US

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Las Vegas resident has been arrested and charged in connection with a violent Tesla arson attack in the Nevada city earlier this month, authorities said on Thursday.

    Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson, said the U.S. Department of Justice in a statement.

    Kim was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers on Wednesday and remains in federal custody. The Las Vegas resident made his initial appearance on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla collision business, according to the statement.

    “Today’s federal charges demonstrate our strong partnerships and collaboration with law enforcement partners and the joint pursuit to end domestic terrorism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada in the statement.

    According to allegations in the complaint, on March 18, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers responded to an emergency call about a person setting vehicles on fire and hearing gunshots at a Tesla collision business. During the investigation, it was determined that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm were used to damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles, and graffiti was sprayed to write “Resist” on the front of the building.

    If convicted, Kim faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for the arson charge, the statement added.

    Kim’s attack at the Tesla service center in Las Vegas was the latest of its kind to target Tesla cars, dealerships and charging stations across the nation in protest of the company’s CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency.

    “Has there ever been such a level of coordinated violence against a peaceful company?” Elon Musk wrote in a post on socia media X last week, adding that “I understand not wanting to buy a product, but this is extreme arson and destruction.”

    Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke in a show of support for Musk, describing violence against Tesla as domestic terrorism. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also described attacks on Tesla as “nothing short of domestic terrorism” and announced charges against three individuals responsible for the violent destruction of Tesla properties.

    “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars,” Bondi noted in a statement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Danish leaders reject US claims on Greenland

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A man takes photos in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday reaffirmed that Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, rejecting recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States would “go as far as they have to” to acquire the island.

    “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. That is not going to change,” Frederiksen told Danish media. “Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people,” she added.

    Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen also criticized what he called a “false narrative” in U.S. political circles suggesting Greenland is eager to become American.

    Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described Trump’s rhetoric as a “veiled threat” and “deeply inappropriate,” warning that the United States was escalating tensions. “It is the people of Greenland who determine Greenland’s future,” he said.

    Meanwhile, a demonstration has been planned in front of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen on Saturday to protest what organizers call “unwanted pressure” from Washington.

    The White House announced Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will visit Pituffik Space Base on Friday to meet U.S. troops and review the security situation. Earlier plans for Usha Vance to attend cultural events in Nuuk and Sisimiut, including a dog sled race, have been canceled.

    Greenland had been a Danish colony until 1953 when it became an integral part of Denmark. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli airstrike kills Hamas spokesperson in N Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken on March 24, 2025 shows rubble of buildings damaged by an Israeli shelling in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that it killed Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou in an overnight airstrike in northern Gaza.

    In a statement, the military described al-Qanou as “one of Hamas’ key inciters,” accusing him of using media platforms for propaganda, psychological terror, and spreading false information about Hamas’ activities both within and outside Gaza.

    Earlier on Thursday, Hamas said al-Qanou was killed in an airstrike on his tent in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Several other individuals were reportedly injured in the strike, according to Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television, citing health officials.

    Hamas vowed that the killing of its spokesperson would only strengthen its resistance efforts.

    Al-Qanou died when an Israeli missile struck his tent in Jabalia refugee camp at dawn on Thursday. His death is the latest in a series of high-profile Hamas figures targeted by Israel as part of its ongoing assassination campaign.

    Israeli airstrikes resumed on March 18 after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which had been in effect since Jan. 19, collapsed.

    Following the breakdown of the truce, Israeli forces launched ground operations across southern, northern, and central Gaza. The death toll from this latest escalation has exceeded 855, according to Gaza-based health authorities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Prominent Taiwan scholars condemn political persecution by Lai Ching-te, DPP authorities

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A total of 75 scholars in China’s Taiwan region have issued a joint statement condemning political persecution and abuse of power by the island’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, led by Lai Ching-te.
    In the statement issued on Wednesday, the scholars, including medical scientist Chen Pei-jer, and Daiwie Fu, an honorary professor with the Institute of Science, Technology and Society at Taiwan-based Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, called for defending democracy, the rule of law, and peace and security in Taiwan, asking the authorities led by Lai to immediately stop their wrongdoing.
    The statement came after increased political persecution and online harassment which separatist forces and DPP supporters on the island perpetrated against those who disagree with “Taiwan independence” secessionist views and actions of the DPP and Lai.
    In a recent high-profile case, a woman from the mainland who married a man in Taiwan and expressed her support for China’s reunification online under the nickname Yaya, had her residence permit in Taiwan revoked by the island’s authorities and was forced to leave the island on Tuesday, separating her from her husband and three children.
    The case has sparked an outcry across various sectors of Taiwan society, with many speaking out against the abuse of power and misconduct by the DPP authorities.
    The joint statement on Wednesday slammed Lai for his continuous demonization of the mainland since taking office, the suppression of dissenting voices within Taiwan, and the implementation of increasingly hostile policies towards the mainland which has led to a deterioration of cross-Strait relations.
    It labeled the Lai-led authorities as “the greatest destroyer of democracy and rule of law in Taiwan, and a potential threat to the island’s peace and security” — urging people in Taiwan to stand up and defend “their hard-won democracy and freedom of speech.”
    It also urged the authorities to immediately implement effective measures to improve cross-Strait relations, maintain a peaceful and stable environment, and ensure that people in Taiwan can live in a free and democratic setting while sharing the prosperity resulting from peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.
    Yang Chih-yu, spokeswoman for the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, expressed support for the scholars and voiced concern over the potential online harassment and attacks that these scholars may face.
    People from a variety of sectors in Taiwan also voiced dissatisfaction and concern over political provocation and persecution by the authorities there.
    An article run by the Taiwan-based United Daily News commented that Taiwan residents are increasingly experiencing an intimidating atmosphere in which they are being punished for their thoughts and speech — a reality in sharp contradiction with the DPP’s self-styled image of seeking democracy and freedom.
    A medical worker in Taiwan said on social media that the current tense atmosphere concerning speech in Taiwan is a result of the grip of “a green monster” — a coalition of the DPP, which often uses the color of green to represent itself in election campaigns, and the authorities, media and internet forces under its control.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Investigation report released for deadly bridge collapse in NW China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A bridge collapse in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, which left 62 people dead or missing, was caused by mountain torrents and regional flooding, according to an investigation report released on Thursday.
    The incident occurred on July 19, 2024 involving a highway bridge in Zhashui County in the city of Shangluo, causing 25 vehicles to plunge into the river below, according to the report approved by an investigation and evaluation team comprising departments such as the Ministry of Emergency Management.
    The disaster was triggered by mountain torrents and regional flooding, which caused large floating debris, such as timber, to accumulate at the bridge piers, the report said. The combined pressure from the flowing water and the debris exceeded the piers’ load-bearing capacity, leading to the breakage of the bridge piers and collapse of the entire bridge structure, according to the report.
    The collapse has also exposed issues related to the construction management, design, construction, supervision, and river regulation of highway bridges, the report said.
    The bridge collapse resulted in direct economic losses of approximately 158 million yuan (about 22 million U.S. dollars), according to the report.
    It added that the provincial disciplinary inspection and supervisory commission, in accordance with laws and regulations, held those responsible for the disaster accountable.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s TB cure rate remains above 90%

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China has maintained a national tuberculosis (TB) cure rate exceeding 90 percent since 2012, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration announced on Thursday.
    Since 2012, China has seen a continuous decline in TB, a major infectious disease and global public health challenge, with both the incidence and mortality rates dropping by approximately 30 percent, the administration told a press conference.
    During the same period, the country’s annual reduction rate of TB cases is twice the global average, while the mortality rate remains at a relatively low level, according to the administration.
    Liu Qing, a senior official with the administration, noted that in recent years, China has implemented various measures and made remarkable progress in TB prevention and control.
    “Moving forward, the administration will improve inter-agency coordination, enhance proactive screening, and reduce the financial burden on patients through strengthened policy support,” Liu added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tiangong researchers to experiment on flatworms

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    After zebrafish and fruit flies, China’s Tiangong space station is set to host a new life form — planarians, according to Chinese scientists.
    Zhang Wei, director of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told China Youth Daily in a recent interview that an upcoming Chinese manned spaceflight will carry dozens of planarian fragments into orbit.
    Planarians are flatworms renowned for their extraordinary regenerative ability. When their bodies are severed, they can regrow complete heads or tails, making them ideal models for studying tissue regeneration mechanisms, Zhang said.
    The experiment will include the use of the small universal biological culture module in the space station’s life and ecology experimental cabinet. Different planarian segments will be studied as they initiate regeneration in orbit, with samples collected at critical intervals for fixation and imaging analysis.
    “Using planarians as model organisms, we aim to investigate how space environments affect their regenerative patterns and physiological behaviors,” Zhang was quoted as saying by China Youth Daily.
    “The study will explore the molecular mechanisms behind space-induced changes in regeneration processes and examine gravity’s impact on cell proliferation, migration and differentiation, ultimately enhancing our understanding of fundamental regeneration principles.”
    Experts have explained that, with a 520-million-year evolutionary history, planarians are widely used in biological research due to their astonishing tissue repair abilities. Even when bisected, both segments can regenerate new muscles, skin, intestines and even complete brains, a process that can theoretically repeat indefinitely. Studying planarians holds significant implications for combating cellular aging and age-related degenerative diseases in humans.
    Meanwhile, Wang Yifeng, a senior mission planner at the center, said that upgraded experiments involving zebrafish, which were brought to Tiangong during previous manned missions, will continue.
    “Zebrafish share 87 percent genetic similarity with humans. This research not only addresses microgravity-related health issues but may also unlock new osteoporosis treatment methods on Earth,” he told China Youth Daily in the same report.
    In April last year, four zebrafish measuring about 3 centimeters were brought aboard the Tiangong space station by the Shenzhou XVIII crew. They lived 43 days in orbit, setting a record for being the longest surviving fish in space.
    Chinese astronauts have also performed fruit fly experiments to help researchers better understand the creature’s growth, development, locomotor characteristics and biological rhythms under space microgravity and hypomagnetic conditions.
    According to Zhang, Chinese scientists plan to conduct experiments on mice aboard Tiangong in the near future, focusing on neural, skeletal, muscular and immune systems studies. They will be parts of long-term orbital survival experiments with mammals that will help scientists better prepare China’s future crewed lunar and Mars missions.

    MIL OSI China News –