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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mexican President Condemns US Raids on Farm Workers

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    MEXICO CITY, July 11 (Xinhua) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday condemned recent U.S. raids targeting migrant workers in farm fields, calling them unfair and damaging to the U.S. economy.

    “These raids are deeply unfair and will cause serious damage to the U.S. economy,” Sheinbaum said at a daily news conference.

    Highlighting the significant contribution of both Mexican and other Latino migrants to the U.S. economy, she said: “Without this labor force, the fields in California and other states will go unharvested.”

    Following the California raids, Mexican consular officials have been visiting detention centers to determine the number of Mexicans detained, she said.

    She also announced increased funding for Mexican consulates in the United States, especially to strengthen legal support for detained citizens. “Our brothers and sisters there need legal assistance, and we will make sure they get it,” she said.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided two farms in southern California on Thursday. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo craft transported to launch site

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

    The combination of the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies to China’s space station, and a Long March-7 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launch site on Saturday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

    The cargo spacecraft will be launched in the near future at an appropriate time, according to the CMSA.

    Currently, the facilities and equipment at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan are in good condition, and comprehensive functionality checks and joint tests are scheduled to proceed as planned ahead of the launch, said the CMSA. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump visits Texas flood zone, rejects criticism over lack of early warnings

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    HOUSTON, July 11 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, responding to criticism of his policies and the federal government’s response to the massive July 4 flooding that left at least 121 people dead and more than 150 missing.

    The search continues, but officials in the hardest-hit Kerr County in central Texas say no survivors have been found since July 5.

    More than 2,100 rescuers from local authorities, 20 U.S. states and several federal agencies joined the search and rescue efforts.

    Local, state and federal governments have done an “incredible job” of flood relief, rescue and recovery, Trump said in Texas after surveying the damage.

    “We just took a quick tour of the area. It’s hard to believe the extent of the destruction. Trees that are 100 years old, just ripped out of the ground. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trump said.

    “This is truly an incredible job that you have all done,” the president said at the roundtable. “I have been in some very bad places, but I have never seen anything like this.”

    Asked by a reporter about his reaction to questions about why there were no early warnings about the flooding, Trump replied: “I don’t know who you are, but only a very angry person would ask a question like that.”

    The US president later lashed out at Democrats who criticised his administration’s response and called for an investigation. “All they want to do is criticise,” he said. “The public is understanding.”

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who accompanied D. Trump, praised the federal response to the flooding in Texas, calling it “quick and effective.” –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China Pavilion Day celebrated at Osaka Expo

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

    OSAKA, Japan, July 11 — The China Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka was held on Friday, drawing over 400 attendees including representatives from China and Japan, as well as delegates from various national pavilions and friendship organizations.

    A large-scale cultural performance themed “Colorful China, Shaping the Future Together” was staged during the event, with performers from China’s Shaanxi Province presenting traditional cultural shows, such as classical instruments performance, martial arts and acrobatics.

    Wu Shengrong, director of the China Pavilion, told Xinhua that since its opening on April 13, the pavilion has welcomed nearly 800,000 visitors from around the world.

    In addition, the China Pavilion has hosted over 20 cultural events featuring provinces and cities, enterprises and thematic exhibitions.

    Running from April 13 to Oct. 13, the expo was themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”

    The China Pavilion, one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions, covers approximately 3,500 square meters. Inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy scrolls, the pavilion’s architectural design embodies the theme of “Building a Community of Life for Man and Nature — Future Society of Green Development.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They’re Saying: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens Introduces the ‘Unearth America’s Future Act’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

     

    “The ambitious bill is Stevens’ response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors.”

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  This week, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced her plan to introduce the Unearth America’s Future Act which would remake America’s mineral supply chain to lower prices, create jobs, and stop dependence on China.

    Congresswoman Stevens formally introduced the bill today.

    Here’s what Michiganders are hearing about this bill:

    Detroit News: With China dominating, Stevens bill seeks CHIPS-like federal effort on critical minerals
    By: Grant Schwab

    Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens will introduce a bill this week urging the federal government to play a more active role in reducing U.S. reliance on China for critical minerals.

    “This bill is about real results. It will lower costs and create jobs by bringing mineral production back home, supporting Michigan workers, and keeping our supply chains strong,” the Birmingham congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate said.

    The package — called the Unearth America’s Future Act — would direct tens of billions of dollars in federal loans, tax credits and other funds into the next decade for initiatives to boost mining and refining of essential materials for the automotive, defense, health care and telecommunications industries.

    The ambitious bill is Stevens’ response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors. Those concerns only grew stronger after the Far East nation created a potentially “dire” situation for Michigan’s auto sector with export controls issued in response to President Donald Trump’s trade policies.

    “Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk. They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China,” Stevens said in an emailed statement.

    The fourth-term lawmaker’s package is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, a signature legislative achievement of former President Joe Biden.

    Politico’s E&E News: Dems prepare bill to provide $10B for critical materials
    By: Hannah Northey

    House Democrats are planning to unveil legislation this week that would set aside more than $10 billion for critical material projects to counter China’s dominance.

    Reps. Haley Stevens of Michigan and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina say the proposal would rival any trade deal President Donald Trump reaches with Beijing because it would restore U.S. supply chains faster.

    The language, according to Stevens’ and Clyburn’s aides, is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, which former President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.

    Michigan Advance: Stevens intros bill for critical materials to counter China
    By: Ben Solis

    U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) is working with her congressional colleagues to introduce legislation that will seek to counter China’s stranglehold on critical materials and set aside $10 billion to make it happen.

    Unveiled Tuesday, the Unearth America’s Future Act was described as a means to lower costs, create jobs and ensure Michigan workers and manufacturers are leading the way in critical mineral production.

    At present, the U.S. and many other nations are dependent on China for these materials, including cobalt, lithium and magnesium, which are needed in the manufacture of many high tech electronics. Stevens’ bill aims to fix that by putting money toward responsible domestic mineral production. The legislation would also support partnerships between government and private industry, with investments in innovation that would keep jobs in Michigan.

    “Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk,” Stevens said in a statement. “They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China. This bill is about real results.”

    WEMU: Rep. Stevens tries to boost American mineral production efforts
    By: Colin Jackson

    “The industry for materials key to American manufacturing could receive extra government support under proposed legislation from a Michigan congresswoman.”

    “The bill is named the “Unearth America’s Future Act.” It would create new federal loans, tax credits, and programs to spur the domestic production and refining of critical minerals like copper, magnesium, and aluminum.”

    “The policy proposal is a response to concerns about China’s dominance in the market for precious metals, especially those used in goods like smartphones or vehicle batteries.”

    “Stevens said that makes both the country’s and Michigan’s current situations untenable.”

    “Leaving Michigan’s entire manufacturing base on the hook for materials coming from minerals that are refined in China, that’s a risk. And that’s not working,” she said.

    WDET – Detroit, MI 

    “Democratic representative Haley Stevens says her bill takes a different approach. ‘What this bill is, is focused on public-private partnerships, supply chain opportunities, as well as recyclability, which is something that’s getting a lot of traction in the critical material space right now.’

    Michigan Public Radio – Detroit, MI 

    “Democratic Representative Haley Stevens calls her bill a comprehensive plan. ‘This will increase our resilience here in the United States of America, but it will also increase our domestic production capabilities, which means lowering costs, lowering costs, lowering costs. We need to lower costs, and that’s what this bill is going to be about as well and job creation.’

    WJR-Detroit, MI

    “It’s not acceptable to have this reliance on China, and so I put forward legislation.”

    “This bill will actually lower costs, get us jobs and end up paying for itself.”

    “We all know that this current administration is eager to cut deals with other countries. I’m eager to cut deals for Michigan. I am eager to put proof in the pudding and put forward real industrial policy that will deliver for our state.”

    Here’s what stakeholders are saying about the bill:

    David McCall, President of United Steelworkers International: 
    “Erasing the People’s Republic of China’s global lead in critical minerals will require a balance of domestic and international efforts. The USW applauds Rep. Stevens’ work to develop domestic mining and manufacturing jobs while ensuring export financing supports projects that respect strong labor rights and maintain strict air and water quality standards.”  

    John Bozzella, President and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation:
    “A healthy and competitive auto industry in America supports our economic and national security. Representative Stevens’ Unearth America’s Future Act makes good sense on multiple fronts: it’s a policy to secure critical material supply chains that bypass China and are essential for national defense; it will further modernize our domestic industrial base; and will support American manufacturing, innovation and auto industry jobs.”

    Will Brown, Vice President of Government Relations & International Programs of the Aluminum Association:
    “This legislation is a significant step toward producing, collecting and securing more critical materials like aluminum in the United States. As one of only 11 mineral commodities included on the Department of Defense and all other government critical materials lists, aluminum is essential to modern life – in everything from cars, cans and smartphones to tanks and fighter jets. Congresswoman Stevens’ bill is a downpayment on American jobs, innovation and supply chain resilience.”

    Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of the American Critical Minerals Association:
    “The Unearth America’s Future Act recognizes the need for comprehensive legislative solutions aimed at catalyzing the growth of the U.S. domestic critical materials sector. China continues to demonstrate its persistent willingness to take any and all steps to maintain its monopoly over the global supply of critical materials. The U.S. must play a leading role in the diversification of these markets in order to ensure our economy is insulated from increased costs to consumers, delayed timelines for essential goods and services, and national security risks associated with our dependence on other nations for materials key to our defense sector. We applaud Representative Stevens for her continued leadership on the imperative nature of addressing these risks comprehensively and aggressively, and for continuing this important policy conversation. ACMA looks forward to working with Representative Stevens and Congress as this legislation is debated and considered.”

    Orit Frankel, CEO of the American Leadership Initiative: 
    “Congresswoman Stevens’s bill is a critical step to strengthening America’s national and economic security, while reducing our dependence on China’s critical mineral supply which China has withheld as leverage in the bilateral relationship.”

    Dinah McLeod, Director General of the Cobalt Institute:
    “Ensuring critical mineral projects have access to affordable finance often becomes a missing piece of the policy puzzle. Rep. Stevens’ Bill takes important steps to close the gap and get America growing its critical minerals capacity.”

    Alice Wu, Critical Minerals and Energy Supply Chains Policy Manager at the Federation of American Scientists: 
    “Geographic concentration in critical minerals supply chains puts American national security and our economy at risk. That risk has been made clear with recent trade disruptions such as the PRC’s changes to rare earth export license requirements. The Loan Program established by the Unearth America’s Future Act would reinvigorate investment in diversifying and onshoring critical minerals supply chains, while the public-private partnership would provide a flexible set of tools for the federal government to work with industry in mitigating project risks and supporting market stability.”

    Patrick Donnelly, Chief Commercial Officer of Anovion Technologies: 
    “Anovion Technologies considers this bill a vital step in strengthening the domestic battery materials industry. Synthetic graphite, which can account for up to 30% of the weight of a typical lithium-ion battery, is currently sourced almost entirely from China. Reducing reliance on China for this critical material is essential to securing the nation’s energy infrastructure, supporting the Department of Defense, and advancing the automotive sector.”

    Scott Monteith, CEO of Avalon Advanced Materials: 
    “The proposed legislation is a needed blueprint for how the United States government, in partnership with allies can spur economic growth and an innovation economy for the future. Avalon welcomes the bold initiative and looks forward to helping accelerate North American energy security.” 

    Matt Bedingfield, President of Mint Innovation:
    “Mint Innovation is a pioneering clean technology company that has developed a biotechnology to recover critical minerals from electronic waste. The Unearth America’s Future Act is a significant move forward for U.S. national security, bolstering domestic critical mineral production. The Unearth America’s Future Act’s definition of ‘Critical Minerals Manufacturing’ expands to the secondary market including recycled metals, improving mineral supply where traditional mining production will not meet growing demand. Additionally, greater access to funding by way of grants, loans, and research & development will support the growth of domestic critical minerals production across the entire supply chain. This will create new jobs for U.S. citizens, and improve the national and economic strength of the United States.”

    Teague Egan, CEO of EnergyX: 
    “This legislation is a pivotal step toward securing America’s leadership in the global critical materials market.  By aligning federal incentives, innovation, and workforce development, it positions the U.S. to lead globally while driving sustainable growth and industrial resilience at home.”

    Adam Handley, Executive Chair of Northern Minerals:
    “Ensuring access to critical minerals through strategic collaboration with allied nations and partners is vital to reducing reliance on single-source supply chains. We commend Rep. Stevens and the introduction of the Unearth America’s Future Act for rightly emphasizing the need for deeper international cooperation to build secure, resilient supply chains, and look forward to supporting its progress through Congress.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens to Introduce the ‘Unearth America’s Future Act’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

     

    Bill will lower costs for Michiganders, create jobs, and end dependence on China by bringing the supply chain for critical minerals home to America

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) announced she will introduce the Unearth America’s Future Act, a bold new bill that will lower costs, create jobs, and make sure Michigan workers and manufacturers are leading by bringing the critical mineral supply chain home to America.

    Critical minerals are essential to everything from smartphones and automotives to military systems and clean energy technologies. Currently, the United States remains dangerously dependent on foreign suppliers, especially China, for these vital materials.

    The Unearth America’s Future Act takes direct action to fix that by supporting responsible domestic mineral production, promotes partnerships between government and private industry, and invests in next-generation innovation, all while keeping jobs in Michigan and reducing reliance on foreign adversaries like China.

    “Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk. They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “This bill is about real results. It will lower costs and create jobs by bringing mineral production back home, supporting Michigan workers, and keeping our supply chains strong.”

    The bill follows a three-part strategy:

    • Targeted federal incentives to boost domestic mineral production.
    • Investment in innovation to drive clean, efficient, and competitive manufacturing.
    • Fair and strong labor policy to protect American jobs and workers.

    This bill stands in sharp contrast to recent efforts by President Trump and Vice President Vance to roll back domestic mineral policies, undermine long-term energy independence, and allow China to continue to control production and the supply chain.

    The Unearth America’s Future Act is supported by the United Steelworkers and is supported by and was developed through collaboration with a wide range of industry, labor, environmental, and trade organizations.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health attends 13th Nanjing Academic Symposium on Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation in Nanjing (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the 13th Nanjing Academic Symposium on Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation in Nanjing today (July 12) to share with liver transplant experts from around the world Hong Kong’s latest developments in organ transplantation, and the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in co-operation with the Mainland on organ donation and transplantation.
     
         In his address at the opening ceremony, Professor Lo said, “Hong Kong and the Mainland have a long-standing collaboration in hepatobiliary surgery. I have personally witnessed experts from both places jointly performing a number of complex liver transplant surgeries, achieving in-depth integration of technology and resources, which is an exemplary model of medical co-operation under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework. In recent years, Hong Kong and the Mainland have also made breakthroughs in organ donation and transplantation. In December 2022 and February this year, two cases of cross-boundary heart donation successfully saved the lives of two infants, exemplifying to the fullest the inseparable ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong as well as our shared principle and mission in protecting and saving lives. With the accumulation of experience, the channels and procedures for handling urgent cross-boundary organ transplant requests have now been streamlined and standardised. The HKSAR Government will continue to explore arrangements for regularising this mechanism.”
     
         He also shared the latest developments in the prevention and control of liver disease in Hong Kong. He said, “Since 1988, Hong Kong has provided universal hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns, significantly reducing infection rates among younger generations. As outlined in last year’s Policy Address, the Chief Executive also proposed to implement hepatitis B screening to prevent liver cancer. If patients can be identified at an early stage, it will facilitate ‘early identification and early treatment’, thereby effectively reducing risks of developing complications including cirrhosis and liver cancer.”
     
         The conference was jointly organised by the Jiangsu Anti-cancer Association, the Jiangsu Medical Doctor Association, and the Jiangsu Medical Association. The conference brought together international experts and scholars in liver disease, as well as senior health officials from around the world.
     
         Professor Lo then visited the Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University), where he exchanged views and shared experiences on enhancing hospital management and services with the President of Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University), Professor Liu Yun. He said, “The Hospital Authority (HA) is adopting China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version) developed by the Shenzhen Hospital Accreditation Research Centre to resume the hospital accreditation programme at its public hospitals. Through independent professional hospital accreditation organisations, various aspects of hospital performance are assessed in an objective manner, with a view to enhancing the quality of healthcare institutions and safeguarding patient safety. Moreover, the HA seeks to optimise the diagnosis process of the relevant specialties and improve the treatment outcomes through the establishment of the first stroke centre at Tuen Mun Hospital, as well as chest pain centres at both Queen Mary Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital in accordance with national accreditation standards, thereby enhancing the survival rate of patients.”
     
         Professor Lo added, “The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the accreditation programme under the Standards as well as the establishment of chest pain centres and stroke centres. These initiatives will not only improve healthcare integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and support Hong Kong’s integration into national development, but also leverage Hong Kong’s advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, so as to demonstrate the excellence of the national hospital accreditation standards to the international community.”
     
         The Assistant Director of Health (Drug), Mr Frank Chan; the Director (Quality and Safety) of the HA, Dr Michael Wong, and the Cluster Chief Executive of Hong Kong West Cluster of the HA, Dr Theresa Li, accompanied Professor Lo to attend today’s functions. They will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Scientists Successfully Clone Yak

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LHASA, July 12 (Xinhua) — A cloned yak was born via Caesarean section at a yak breeding base in Damsun County, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, on Thursday, researchers said.

    They said the cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, which is heavier than most newborn yaks.

    Xinhua News Agency reporters saw the calf, which had a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was already able to walk and was healthy.

    The project started in July 2023 under a joint initiative of a research team from Zhejiang University in eastern China, the Damsun County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region.

    To obtain a cloned yak, scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies.

    Fan Shengguo, who led the research team from Zhejiang University, said the cloning technology would play a key role in improving yak breeds and establishing a highland cattle breeding system in Xizang.

    Yaks are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and serve as both a key source of livelihood for local pastoralist communities and an integral component of the local ecosystem. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI AND CRENSHAW INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO PREVENT DRUG SHORTAGES BY ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced the Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the federal government’s ability to prepare for and mitigate future drug shortages by identifying vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

    The MAPS Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update its Essential Medicines List and create a map of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The map would include the country of origin, quantity manufactured, and other key information about critical drug products to identify supply chain weaknesses that could lead to shortages or other challenges in a future public health emergency. With this insight, HHS will be better equipped to predict disruptions, identify bottlenecks, and build resilience into the system—ultimately helping to prevent future public health emergencies. 

    The bill would also require the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of these supply chains.  The assessment would examine the key ingredients needed to manufacture essential medicines, overreliance on high-risk foreign sources, sole-sourced products, current domestic manufacturing capabilities, cybersecurity threats, and any other gaps that may reduce the federal government’s ability to identify health and national security risks related to our essential medicine supply chains.

    “Recent drug shortages have exposed serious gaps in our pharmaceutical supply chain — gaps that put lives at risk,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Right now, we lack full visibility into where and how our essential medicines are made. We don’t know the extent of our reliance on foreign agents for key drug ingredients, or how a natural disaster would impact the drug supply. The MAPS Act is a crucial step to provide us with a comprehensive roadmap. By increasing transparency, we can bolster the weaknesses in our supply chain, better prepare for future public health emergencies and protect the well-being of all Americans.”  

    “Too often, we fail to recognize domestic drug manufacturing for what it truly is—a national security issue,” said Congressman Crenshaw. “Every time we rely on foreign nations, especially our adversaries, for essential medicines or their ingredients, we hand them dangerous leverage over us. This bill is a critical step forward: it gives us the tools to map our pharmaceutical supply chains, identify vulnerabilities, and better prepare for threats before they arise.”

    According to the Association of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), ongoing and active drug shortages continue to be dangerously high, with 270 drugs currently in shortage. Despite progress from the FDA in preventing and mitigating drug shortages, these efforts are largely reactive. Shortage prevention efforts could be more effective if they were proactive and targeted to the most vulnerable and essential drugs.  

    Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) – the key ingredients that give a drug their intended effect – are largely manufactured overseas in China or India. The MAPS Act would establish a supply chain map including the origin of each drug, the location of the facilities used to manufacture them, and associated inspections and risks, such as recalls and import alerts.

    Endorsing organizations include: California Hospital Association, Texas Hospital Association, Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Angels for Change, CivicaRx, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), Phlow and Vizient.

    “ASHP strongly supports the MAPS Act. By requiring the Department of Health and Human services to coordinate with other agencies and the private sector to map the pharmaceutical supply chain, threats to the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain can be identified and addressed before they place patients at risk,” saidTom Kraus, Vice President of ASHP Government Relations.  

    “ASCO applauds the introduction of the MAPS Act, in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to improve stakeholder visibility into the supply of critical prescription drugs in this country and ultimately used to mitigate the harms patients face amid drug shortages,” saidLynn M. Schuchter, MD, FASCO, Board Chair of the Association for Clinical Oncology. “We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their bipartisan dedication to improving access to cancer drug treatments and other critical medications.”

    “Prolonged and persistent drug shortages over the past two decades are jeopardizing Americans’ access to critical treatments and increasing our vulnerability to disruptions from natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical instability,” said Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Pharmacopeia. “Building meaningful and lasting resilience across this complex supply chain requires comprehensive reform. The MAPS Act will improve our ability to leverage tools, like USP’s Medicine Supply Map, to detect risks, anticipate shortages, and safeguard national security. As we seek further insight on the sourcing of key starting materials and API for producing our most vulnerable medicines, these collaborations are critical for understanding our vulnerabilities, as well as unlocking innovative solutions, like advanced manufacturing and scalable synthesis technologies.”  

    “Angels for Change proudly supports the MAPS Act—a vital step toward ending drug shortages and protecting patients,” saidLaura Bray, Founder and Chief Change Maker of Angels for Change. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen transparency and coordination across the entire drug supply chain, helping to detect and prevent disruptions before they impact care. Building the reliable supply chain patients deserve will require collaboration across government and industry. We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their leadership in prioritizing the safeguarding of Essential Medicines that will benefit all US patients.”  

    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In Urumqi, a girl from Almaty successfully underwent an operation to reconstruct the Achilles tendon

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — A little patient from Almaty recently underwent successful Achilles tendon reconstruction surgery at the Children’s Hospital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, the Xinjiang News Portal reported.

    On June 12 this year, a married couple from Almaty with their daughter came to the medical workers of this hospital. As a result of a traffic accident that happened six months ago, the girl received serious injuries to her right leg. After the tragedy, stitches were put on the wound at the local hospital. However, due to damage to the Achilles tendon, the child’s right foot gradually stopped functioning normally, and the girl could only limp.

    The reconstructive microsurgery department at this hospital developed a reconstructive surgery plan for the patient and carefully carried out a series of procedures to ensure that her foot met the requirements for surgery.

    On June 27, the head of the department, Tian Jingshun, and his colleagues performed surgery on the girl. The surgical treatment technique was autoplasty, which means using the patient’s own tissue. Under a microscope, the doctors successfully separated a piece of tendon tissue from the girl’s leg, including skin and blood vessels, and sewed it to the injured foot.

    A week after the operation, it was observed that the sutured tendon had become viable, and the blood vessels and nerve tissues were functioning normally. It is expected that the girl will be able to conduct foot rehabilitation training in a month, and will return to normal walking in about three months, Tian Jingshun said.

    Let us recall that this is the third case of admission of a foreign minor patient to the reconstructive microsurgery department of this hospital this year. Over the past few years, the hospital has admitted a total of more than 500 patients from Central Asian countries.

    “China is a leader in the field of microsurgery. My colleagues and I are trying to meet the medical treatment needs of as many patients as possible from both Xinjiang and neighboring Central Asian countries,” said Tian Jingshun. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tianjin to host meeting of SCO Council of Foreign Ministers

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — A meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states will be held in Tianjin, north China, on July 15, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Saturday.

    The official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that at the invitation of the member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, foreign ministers of other SCO member states and responsible officials of the SCO permanent bodies will take part in the meeting.

    He added that the parties will exchange views on SCO cooperation in various areas, as well as on significant issues of global and regional scale.

    According to the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in addition to participating in the meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also visit China. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Poll: Diversity of civilizations drives human progress

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

    Scholars and experts from home and abroad share their insights on Friday with guests attending the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting at a subforum of the meeting on inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

    A majority of international respondents view inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning as a pivotal driver of human civilization, global peace and development, according to the results of a survey released on Friday.

    Among the survey’s 12,302 respondents in 41 countries, 89.8 percent agreed that intercultural engagement advances the common progress of humankind, with 91.8 percent of respondents from 18 to 24 years old and 91.6 percent of those ages 25 to 34 agreeing.

    In the survey, which was jointly conducted by China Media Group and Renmin University of China, 90.8 percent of the respondents agreed that respecting the diversity of civilizations is a fundamental principle of global society, and 89.4 percent believed that enhancing international cultural exchanges can foster mutual understanding among people of all nations.

    “It fully demonstrates that people worldwide have a strong aspiration for respecting civilizations and enhancing cultural exchanges,” said Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China Media Group.

    He made the remarks on Friday at Inter-Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning: Cultural Inheritance and Innovation, a subforum of the two-day Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, which began on Thursday in Beijing.

    More than 140 guests from over 20 countries and regions attended the subforum, at which the survey results were released.

    At the event, Renmin University of China announced the Global Research Program for Inter-Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning, which is dedicated to transforming the principles of the Global Civilization Initiative, put forward by President Xi Jinping in March 2023, into concrete actions.

    Its goals and tasks include establishing research centers for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations around the world, forming a global media collaboration alliance, and creating high-end exchange forums, a global youth forum, a joint fund and an international award.

    Zhang Donggang, Party secretary of Renmin University of China, said: “Only through protection and research can exchanges and mutual learning be achieved. This initiative aims to bring together domestic and international scholars from various fields to pioneer original, landmark and forward-looking research, collectively charting a new blueprint for the progress of human civilization.”

    Keynote speakers from home and abroad had an in-depth exchange of views on topics such as how digital technologies help boost cultural exchanges, inheritance and innovation.

    Su Bomin, dean of the Dunhuang Academy, a national institution for the conservation, management and research of the world-famous Mogao Grottoes in Gansu province, shared the importance of embracing new technologies and strengthening efforts for cultural inheritance. “Our digitalized work plays an important role in academic research, cultural inheritance and exhibitions, as well as promoting Dunhuang culture on integrated media platforms,” Su said.

    Colin Chinnery, cofounder of the Beijing-based Sound Art Museum, said the museum is trying to go beyond the boundaries of music and explore how digital technologies and museums can create more enriching content. “We invite artists and musicians from all around the world to help us launch projects in China, to have audiences experience nature in a different way. All this is only possible through digital technologies,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: French police launch investigation into social media platform X

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

    The Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Friday that the social media platform X is under investigation by French police.

    At this stage, X is primarily accused of two offenses — “impairing the operation of an automated data processing system by an organized group,” and “fraudulently extracting data from an automated data processing system by an organized group,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a press release.

    The investigation has been assigned to the Directorate-General of the National Gendarmerie (DGGN), Beccuau added.

    In January, the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office received two formal complaints, submitted respectively by a member of the French parliament and a senior official at a French public institution, Beccuau said, adding that both complaints alleged that X’s algorithm had been exploited for the purpose of foreign interference.

    The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed in February that it was examining these complaints, before announcing on Friday that it had opened the investigation “based on verifications, input from French researchers, and information provided by various public institutions.”

    Laurent Buanec, CEO of X France, stated on the platform in January that X “has strict, clear, and public rules aimed at protecting the platform from hate speech,” adding that it “fights disinformation” and that its algorithm “is designed to avoid recommending hateful content.” 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Chinese Nationals Charged for Alleged Roles in Multimillion-Dollar Money Laundering, Alien Smuggling, and Drug Trafficking Enterprise

    Source: US FBI

    Defendants allegedly smuggled Chinese nationals into the United States to work at grow houses in suburban neighborhoods, cultivating and distributing kilogram-sized quantities of marijuana

    BOSTON – Seven Chinese nationals were charged today in connection with a multi-million-dollar conspiracy to cultivate and distribute marijuana across the Northeast that used interconnected grow houses concealed inside single-family properties in Massachusetts and Maine. It is alleged that Chinese nationals were smuggled into the United States to work in these grow houses without access to their passports until they repaid their smuggling debts.

    The following individuals have been indicted on one count each of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, as well as additional charges listed respectively:

    1. Jianxiong Chen, 39, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy, 11 counts of money laundering and one count of bringing aliens into the United States;
    2. Yuxiong Wu, 36, of Weymouth, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and four counts of money laundering;
    3. Dinghui Li, 38, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering;
    4. Dechao Ma, 35, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering;
    5. Peng Lian Zhu, 35, of Melrose, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy;
    6. Hongbin Wu, 35, of Quincy, Mass.; and
    7. Yanrong Zhu, 47, of Greenfield, Mass. and Brooklyn, N.Y.

    Six defendants were arrested this morning. Yanrong Zhu remains a fugitive.

    “This case pulls back the curtain on a sprawling criminal enterprise that exploited our immigration system and our communities for personal gain. These defendants allegedly turned quiet homes across the Northeast into hubs for a criminal enterprise – building a multi-million-dollar black-market operation off the backs of an illegal workforce and using our neighborhoods as cover. That ends today,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

    “Today, we arrested members of an alleged Chinese-run drug trafficking organization who are accused of running a massive marijuana cultivation and distribution scheme that has raked in millions and contributed widely to the illegal drug trade here in the Northeast,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Equally disturbing is that Jianxiong Chen – the accused ringleader of this organization – is charged with paying to smuggle a Chinese national across the Mexican border to work at his grow houses. This takedown highlights the need for a sustained law enforcement effort, across all levels, to shut down and thoroughly investigate the organized criminal enterprises behind these unlicensed and illegal operations.”

    “The Massachusetts State Police share the resolve of our federal and local partners to support safer communities across the Commonwealth,” said Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Troopers assigned to our Special Services Section used their training and skill in this Operation to respond to the concerns of our neighbors, disrupt these illicit growing activities, and improve the quality of life across Massachusetts. Each of these properties can now return to their intended purpose as homes which our communities desperately need.”

    According to the charging documents, from in or about January 2020, the defendants allegedly owned, operated or partnered with a network of interconnected grow houses in Massachusetts and Maine to cultivate and distribute kilogram-sized quantities of marijuana in bulk. Specifically, the enterprise allegedly operated grow houses in Braintree, Mass.; Melrose, Mass.; and Greenfield, Mass., among other locations in Massachusetts, Maine and elsewhere. It is alleged that the grow house operators maintained contact with each other through a list of marijuana cultivators and distributors from or with ties to China in the region called the “East Coast Contact List.”

    It is alleged that Chen controlled several grow houses in Maine as well as a home in Braintree, Mass., which served as a base of operations for the enterprise. Marijuana manufactured by the interconnected grow house network, as well as bulk cash from dealers, was allegedly delivered to and redistributed by Chen at this Braintree residence. It is further alleged that co-conspirators concealed the marijuana and cash they were delivering to Chen inside the engine compartments of their vehicles. During a search of the home in October 2024, over $270,000 in cash was allegedly recovered from the house and from a Porsche in the driveway, as well as several Chinese passports and other identification documents inside a safe.

    Data extracted from Chen’s cell phone allegedly revealed that he helped smuggle Chinese nationals into the United States – putting the aliens to work at one of the grow houses he controlled while keeping possession of their passports until they repaid him for the cost associated with smuggling them into the country.

    It is alleged that profits from the marijuana sales, which totaled in the millions of dollars, were used to purchase luxury homes, automobiles, jewelry and other items in Massachusetts including to expand the enterprise through the purchase of real estate.

    Additional October 2024 searches of grow houses located in Braintree and Melrose where Ma and Zhu resided, respectively, allegedly resulted in the seizure of over 109 kilograms of marijuana, nearly $200,000 in cash and numerous luxury items including a gold Rolex watch with a $65,000 price tag still on it.

    It is further alleged that the enterprise conducted bulk cash transactions with operators located in the Eastern District of New York. According to court documents, in June 2023, Hongbin Wu and Yanrong Zhu were stopped by law enforcement after leaving a grow house in Greenfield, Mass., during which $36,900 in cash was seized from the defendants.

    The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, at least two years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charge of bringing aliens into the United States provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and MSP Superintendent Colonel Noble made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; New York State Police; Maine State Police; and the Braintree, Westchester County and New York Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Chinese Nationals Charged for Alleged Roles in Multimillion-Dollar Money Laundering, Alien Smuggling, and Drug Trafficking Enterprise

    Source: US FBI

    Defendants allegedly smuggled Chinese nationals into the United States to work at grow houses in suburban neighborhoods, cultivating and distributing kilogram-sized quantities of marijuana

    BOSTON – Seven Chinese nationals were charged today in connection with a multi-million-dollar conspiracy to cultivate and distribute marijuana across the Northeast that used interconnected grow houses concealed inside single-family properties in Massachusetts and Maine. It is alleged that Chinese nationals were smuggled into the United States to work in these grow houses without access to their passports until they repaid their smuggling debts.

    The following individuals have been indicted on one count each of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, as well as additional charges listed respectively:

    1. Jianxiong Chen, 39, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy, 11 counts of money laundering and one count of bringing aliens into the United States;
    2. Yuxiong Wu, 36, of Weymouth, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and four counts of money laundering;
    3. Dinghui Li, 38, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering;
    4. Dechao Ma, 35, of Braintree, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering;
    5. Peng Lian Zhu, 35, of Melrose, Mass. also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy;
    6. Hongbin Wu, 35, of Quincy, Mass.; and
    7. Yanrong Zhu, 47, of Greenfield, Mass. and Brooklyn, N.Y.

    Six defendants were arrested this morning. Yanrong Zhu remains a fugitive.

    “This case pulls back the curtain on a sprawling criminal enterprise that exploited our immigration system and our communities for personal gain. These defendants allegedly turned quiet homes across the Northeast into hubs for a criminal enterprise – building a multi-million-dollar black-market operation off the backs of an illegal workforce and using our neighborhoods as cover. That ends today,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

    “Today, we arrested members of an alleged Chinese-run drug trafficking organization who are accused of running a massive marijuana cultivation and distribution scheme that has raked in millions and contributed widely to the illegal drug trade here in the Northeast,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Equally disturbing is that Jianxiong Chen – the accused ringleader of this organization – is charged with paying to smuggle a Chinese national across the Mexican border to work at his grow houses. This takedown highlights the need for a sustained law enforcement effort, across all levels, to shut down and thoroughly investigate the organized criminal enterprises behind these unlicensed and illegal operations.”

    “The Massachusetts State Police share the resolve of our federal and local partners to support safer communities across the Commonwealth,” said Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Troopers assigned to our Special Services Section used their training and skill in this Operation to respond to the concerns of our neighbors, disrupt these illicit growing activities, and improve the quality of life across Massachusetts. Each of these properties can now return to their intended purpose as homes which our communities desperately need.”

    According to the charging documents, from in or about January 2020, the defendants allegedly owned, operated or partnered with a network of interconnected grow houses in Massachusetts and Maine to cultivate and distribute kilogram-sized quantities of marijuana in bulk. Specifically, the enterprise allegedly operated grow houses in Braintree, Mass.; Melrose, Mass.; and Greenfield, Mass., among other locations in Massachusetts, Maine and elsewhere. It is alleged that the grow house operators maintained contact with each other through a list of marijuana cultivators and distributors from or with ties to China in the region called the “East Coast Contact List.”

    It is alleged that Chen controlled several grow houses in Maine as well as a home in Braintree, Mass., which served as a base of operations for the enterprise. Marijuana manufactured by the interconnected grow house network, as well as bulk cash from dealers, was allegedly delivered to and redistributed by Chen at this Braintree residence. It is further alleged that co-conspirators concealed the marijuana and cash they were delivering to Chen inside the engine compartments of their vehicles. During a search of the home in October 2024, over $270,000 in cash was allegedly recovered from the house and from a Porsche in the driveway, as well as several Chinese passports and other identification documents inside a safe.

    Data extracted from Chen’s cell phone allegedly revealed that he helped smuggle Chinese nationals into the United States – putting the aliens to work at one of the grow houses he controlled while keeping possession of their passports until they repaid him for the cost associated with smuggling them into the country.

    It is alleged that profits from the marijuana sales, which totaled in the millions of dollars, were used to purchase luxury homes, automobiles, jewelry and other items in Massachusetts including to expand the enterprise through the purchase of real estate.

    Additional October 2024 searches of grow houses located in Braintree and Melrose where Ma and Zhu resided, respectively, allegedly resulted in the seizure of over 109 kilograms of marijuana, nearly $200,000 in cash and numerous luxury items including a gold Rolex watch with a $65,000 price tag still on it.

    It is further alleged that the enterprise conducted bulk cash transactions with operators located in the Eastern District of New York. According to court documents, in June 2023, Hongbin Wu and Yanrong Zhu were stopped by law enforcement after leaving a grow house in Greenfield, Mass., during which $36,900 in cash was seized from the defendants.

    The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, at least two years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charge of bringing aliens into the United States provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and MSP Superintendent Colonel Noble made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; New York State Police; Maine State Police; and the Braintree, Westchester County and New York Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nearly 800 killed while trying to access aid in Gaza: UN

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

    Nearly 800 people have been killed while trying to access humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that as of July 7, the OHCHR had documented 798 killings in aid distribution areas in Gaza. “Including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites and 183, presumably on the routes of aid convoys,” she said.

    She also noted that most of the casualties resulted from gunshot injuries.

    Shamdasani said that such a situation is unacceptable, yet it continues. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: More policy options in H2 to spur growth

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

    Staff members operate at an assembly line of the north China base of FAW-Volkswagen in Tianjin, July 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Despite persistent global headwinds, recent economic data from China have demonstrated resilience in the first half of this year, coupled with a potential de-escalation of tensions between Beijing and Washington, prompting major foreign financial institutions to revise upward their full-year growth projections.

    As the economy faces external uncertainties and a high base effect from the previous year, experts said additional fiscal and monetary policies will be needed in the second half of the year to achieve the annual growth target of around 5 percent.

    The consumer price index, according to the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday, rose 0.1 percent in June from a year earlier — a turnaround from the previous four months’ decline, as the country’s consumption-boosting initiatives are translating into greater consumer confidence and spending.

    The purchasing managers’ index for China’s manufacturing sector also rose for a second straight month in June to 49.7, with more industries returning to growth, and high-tech and consumer goods production remaining robust, the bureau said late last month.

    Given that China’s pro-growth policies are helping the domestic economy maintain its growth momentum in recent months, Goldman Sachs raised its forecast for China’s GDP growth in 2025 by 0.6 percentage points, from 4 percent to 4.6 percent.

    Similarly, JPMorgan has revised China’s GDP growth forecast to 4.8 percent year-on-year from 4.1 percent, while Morgan Stanley has raised its projection by 0.3 percentage points to 4.5 percent.

    “The complexity, severity, and uncertainty of the current external environment are on the rise, which will undoubtedly have an impact on the stable operation of our economy,” Li Chao, a spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a news conference in late June.

    Achieving China’s 5 percent annual growth target will demand a more forceful policy push in the coming months, with fiscal measures poised to take center stage, economists said.

    “In the second half of the year, China should continue to expedite the issuance and use of the remaining quotas for ultra-long-term special treasury bonds and special-purpose local government bonds, in order to better leverage their effects in boosting investment and promoting consumption,” Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities, said.

    Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance announced the issuance of 11 ultra-long-term special treasury bonds in the third quarter, with four of them seeing their timelines accelerated compared with the previous plan released in April. This will help maintain a continuous flow of funding to support policies meant to boost consumption, analysts said.

    It is possible for policymakers to expand the issuance of ultra-long-term special treasury bonds this year to provide sustained support to the consumer goods trade-in program, should the remaining funding run out ahead of schedule, said Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International.

    Meanwhile, ramping up the issuance of special-purpose local government bonds is also a viable option, as it can help accelerate infrastructure investment and stabilize economic recovery, Wang added.

    Analysts also expect the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, to leverage its policy tool kit to maintain ample liquidity in the financial system and support domestic demand.

    Citing the improved near-term growth outlook, Japanese investment bank Nomura trimmed its rate-cut forecast for the fourth quarter this year to 10 basis points from 15 basis points, while retaining estimates for a 50-basis-point cut in the reserve requirement ratio.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: For the first time, blueberries from the Chinese city of Dandong will be served on the tables of residents of the capital of Belarus

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — Blueberries from the Chinese city of Dandong in Liaoning Province (Northeast China) will soon be served on the tables of residents of the capital of Belarus for the first time.

    According to the Liaoning Daily newspaper, 2 tons of blueberries from the city of Dandong recently passed customs inspection and will be delivered to Minsk via the Manzhouli road checkpoint on the Chinese-Russian border.

    Dandong City is located on the Liaodong Peninsula, where the climate is moderately warm. Due to the excellent natural conditions, the city’s blueberry industry has been rapidly expanding in recent years. Now the city has formed a production chain in this industry from blueberry cultivation to export.

    “Dandong blueberries are in great demand in the domestic market, which prompted us to actively develop the overseas market,” said Li Xian’ao, director of one of the local trading companies.

    Blueberries contain anthocyanin pigments, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, tannins, organic acids and vitamins. In folk medicine, blueberries are used as a fixative for children’s stomach upset, and for inflammation of the mouth and throat. Blueberries are considered one of the best sources of phytonutrients with antioxidant action, they are used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Fruit extracts improve visual acuity and eye accommodation.

    According to statistics, in 2024, the total area of blueberry cultivation in China exceeded 73 thousand hectares. Thus, China has become one of the countries with the fastest growth rate of production of these nutritious berries. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Online course at Lu Ban’s Workshop at MTUCI trains Russian specialists in 5G technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TIANJIN, July 12 (Xinhua) — An online course on the application of 5G technologies and other relevant areas was recently completed at the Lu Ban Workshop at the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI).

    Using Chinese technology and 5G equipment that meets Chinese standards, teachers shared advanced knowledge in the field of digital technology with students. As a result of the classes, students not only expanded their theoretical knowledge base, but also improved their practical skills and increased their ability to solve practical problems.

    Lu Ban’s workshop, which officially opened at MTUCI in June this year, was established jointly by MTUCI and Tianjin Vocational College of Electronics and Information Science. It is becoming an important bridge for Chinese-Russian cooperation in the field of digital technologies.

    “We have trained teachers. The curriculum covers advanced technologies in the digital economy, such as 5G and the Internet of Things. To date, a total of 1,246 Russian teachers have been trained,” said Qian Guoliang, head of the Department of Modern Communications Technology at Tianjin Vocational College of Electronics and Information Science.

    Lu Ban’s workshop at MTUCI is closely linked to the needs of Russia’s digital economy industry, and enterprises in China’s communications industry are actively involved in the workshop’s teaching activities, he added.

    Lu Ban Workshop, named after the famous ancient Chinese craftsman Lu Ban, is a brand of international vocational education initiated and promoted by Tianjin City Government.

    To date, China has built 34 Lu Ban Workshops in 30 countries and regions around the world. 10 of them were established in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Pakistan, Cambodia, Egypt and other SCO countries.

    Lu Ban’s workshop at MTUCI has provided powerful support to China and Russia in educating highly qualified specialists of international class who meet the needs of information technology development, noted Anastasia Kazantseva, Deputy Director of the Department for the Development of Digital Competencies and Education of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation.

    Lu Ban’s workshop in Russia will continue to gain strength and show broader development prospects, she said. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Chair Emeritus McCaul on CBS’ “Face The Nation”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees — joined Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face The Nation” to discuss the latest on Iran, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and President Trump’s efforts to secure our border.

    Click to watch

    Excerpts from the interview:

    On his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill: 

    “What I’m voting for is a border security measure, $80 billion, [including] $12 billion to reimburse states like mine. I’m voting for $150 billion that will go to our Department of Defense — at a time when what we saw with Iran [this] is desperately needed. The world is on fire: Eastern Europe and Indo-Pacific. Then the tax cuts. I mean, if we don’t extend these tax cuts, it’ll be the largest tax increase in American history. For those three reasons, I’m a yes.”

    On the significance of President Trump’s limited strike in Iran:

    “The world in the Middle East is safer today than it was seven days ago, a week ago. That is highlighted by the fact that the proxies didn’t light up — Russia didn’t come to their aid, [and] China basically ran back for cover. Iran is on its own and psychologically is very damaged. The deterrence is real. The damage was real. This was a masterful military operation, the likes of which I haven’t seen since my father’s war, World War II.”

    On President Trump’s border security efforts:

    “… [F]ifteen to 20 million people came in under the Biden administration, and [the Trump administration is] trying to get some sanity involved in the United States. I think deterrence is the key here. And Margaret, it is working. You know, the apprehension rate at the border — and Texas is the biggest one — has gone down to almost zero. I mean, the border is just about secure. Catch-and-release is over, and the threats are going away.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anand concludes visit to Japan and Malaysia to strengthen Indo-Pacific partnerships  

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded her successful visit to Japan and Malaysia to deepen Canada’s strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

    In Tokyo, Japan, Minister Anand met with Iwaya Takeshi, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and to sign the Canada-Japan Security of Information Agreement. This was an important milestone in the strategic partnership between Canada and Japan as the agreement will deepen defence and security collaboration between the two countries.

    Minister Anand also met with Hayashi Yoshimasa, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, to discuss security and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

    At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference Plus Canada, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Minister Anand highlighted Canada’s commitment to collaborate with ASEAN to address global security threats and enhancing economic security and supply-chain resilience. Canada’s sustained engagement with ASEAN reinforces Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) in promoting security, economic opportunity and strong international partnerships.

    While the ASEAN- Canada Strategic Partnership is thriving, it is unfolding in the context of increasing global instability. At the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Minister Anand emphasized Canada’s support for international law and ASEAN’s central role in upholding a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. She noted that Canada views the ARF as a vital platform for constructive dialogue on pressing global and regional challenges, including the crisis in Myanmar, tensions in the East and South China seas, military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and growing insecurity in the Middle East.

    While in Kuala Lumpur, Minister Anand met with Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign, and several of her counterparts from:

    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Switzerland
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam

    Minister Anand used these meetings to advance bilateral and multilateral economic opportunities, as well as shared priorities, in the region.

    After the conference, Minister Anand spoke with ASEAN and Canadian trade negotiators, as well as business representatives, to build on the work of the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, the Minister of International Trade, to conclude an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA). This agreement would bolster trade and investment opportunities in the region for Canadian businesses.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Meeting of SCO Foreign Ministers Council to be held in Tianjin

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

    BEIJING, July 12 — The Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States will be held in Tianjin on July 15, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced here Saturday.

    At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, foreign ministers of other SCO member states and heads of SCO’s permanent bodies will attend the meeting, the spokesperson said, adding that parties will exchange views on SCO cooperation in various fields and major international and regional issues.

    In addition to attending the meeting, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also pay a visit to China, said the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 113,000 Trucks Crossed Manzhouli Port in H1 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — A total of 113,000 trucks crossed the Manzhouli checkpoint on China’s border with Russia in the first half of this year, the Zhongxinshe News Agency reported.

    In the period from January to June this year, the volume of freight transported via the road through this checkpoint reached a record level of 1.167 million tons, an increase of 6 percent year-on-year.

    The Manzhouli checkpoint in the city of the same name in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region borders Russia’s Zabaikalsky Krai. The growth in cargo turnover through it indicates a good trend in the development of the country’s foreign trade, the agency reports.

    Currently, the road checkpoint is used to transport mainly liquefied petroleum gases to China, and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other types of agricultural products, from China.

    In order to maximize the throughput capacity of the border crossing point, the local customs service has taken various measures to reduce the time required to pass customs control. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE listens to views expressed by CECA on Policy Address (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers (CECA), chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, held luncheon meetings for three consecutive days this week (July 9 to 11) to listen to the views expressed by CECA members for the forthcoming Policy Address and the overall development of Hong Kong.
     
         Mr Lee said, “This is the first meeting for the new term (second term) of CECA members. I warmly welcomed the three new members of the CECA, namely Dr Zhu Min, who served as the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, along with two enterprises of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” – the founder of BrainCo, Mr Han Bi-cheng, and the founder of Unitree Robotics, Mr Wang Xing-xing, for attending the meetings in Hong Kong. During the meeting, they emphasised that Hong Kong is bestowed with its unique advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the world, excellent education and research capabilities, and advantageous geographical location, and it is also an international financial centre with free flow of capital. These advantages would greatly attract Mainland enterprises to list in Hong Kong and use Hong Kong as the gateway to go global. “
     
         The CECA conducted in-depth discussions on a range of important issues under three major themes:
     

    1. Economic advancement and sustainability – including how to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the international financial, shipping and trade centres amid geopolitical changes and economic restructuring.
    2. Innovation and entrepreneurship – including how to promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries, proactively nurture emerging industries, expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis, and proactively attract capital and talents to assist in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. 
    3. Regional and global collaborations – including how to leverage the opportunities of our motherland and deepen international exchanges and co-operation, strengthen ties with countries along the Belt and Road and explore emerging markets such as the Middle East, the ASEAN, South America, and Central Asia in order to seek new opportunities, and to provide high quality professional services to Mainland and international enterprises, amid an ever‑changing geopolitical landscape and constantly increasing uncertainties.

     
         Mr Lee said members of the Council are all distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields or internationally renowned scholars, experts or entrepreneurs. He thanks all members for actively providing him with valuable insights and wise counsel regarding the current situation and vision for future developments of Hong Kong. These contributions have provided important references for the overall development strategies of Hong Kong and the upcoming Policy Address.
     
         The three meeting sessions were chaired by the Chief Executive. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Acting Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, and the Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU), Dr Stephen Wong, attended the three sessions respectively.
     
         The Chief Executive will deliver his fourth Policy Address this September, for which the public consultation commenced on June 16.
     
         The Chief Executive established the CECA in 2023 to seek advice on the strategic developments of Hong Kong with a view to leveraging the opportunities from national and global developments. The second term of the CECA took effect on July 1. For the membership of the CECA, please refer to the website of the CEPU (www.cepu.gov.hk/en/CECA/membership.html), which serves as the secretariat of the CECA.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Paired assistance transforms desert-edge village in NW China’s Xinjiang

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

    As summer draws crowds to Hotan County in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Daoxiang Village comes alive with the rich aroma of lamb and corn dishes. Visitors from across China fill its restaurants, homestays and craft shops.

    Located on the southern rim of China’s vast Taklimakan Desert, Daoxiang Village, with its name literally meaning Rice Fragrance Village, was once a traditional farming village with a long history of rice cultivation. However, in recent years, it has transformed into a vibrant rural tourist destination.

    This notable change is a direct result of China’s long-running “paired assistance” program, under which 18 provincial-level regions and the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen support the development of Xinjiang.

    Since 2021, Beijing’s aid projects, including a multi-million yuan investment to establish a “rural complex with folk culture,” have helped upgrade Daoxiang Village’s infrastructure — improving water, electricity, roads and gas.

    Renovations of 219 houses, meanwhile, preserved the traditional Uygur Aywan architectural style, a hallmark of local residential design, but also integrated modern comforts in this process.

    Early adopters of these upgrades, Gheyret Roziemet and Patime Bak, who are a couple, were inspired after visiting successful rural tourism sites in Kashgar and Ili, also in Xinjiang. Encouraged by local officials and the village support team, they also chose to turn their home into a homestay business.

    The couple took out loans to finance the required renovations, keeping the original wooden beams and brick walls while adding bright glass windows, grape arbors and flower beds.

    Patime Bak manages the homestay kitchen, roasting lamb and serving mutton soup, while the couple together cultivate corn used to prepare traditional farm-style corn dishes that are proving popular with visitors, thereby boosting their income.

    “Now as a boss, I earn several times more monthly than when I worked as a laborer,” Patime Bak said with a smile.

    During peak seasons, their courtyard often fills with diners enjoying sunset views across the desert, savoring the rich aroma of roasted lamb amid the rustling of rice stalks.

    Today, by leasing their farmland to others and running the homestay, the couple’s annual household income reaches over 200,000 yuan (about 27,982 U.S. dollars). They are planning to renovate an adjacent unused house and use it as an additional guesthouse next year, to welcome even more guests.

    Thanks to local rural revitalization policies, committed local officials and continuous funding support from Beijing, more than 1,000 residents in the village now find employment through an “agriculture plus tourism” model, running restaurants, guesthouses and craft shops.

    Amyna Gheyret, a local agritainment business owner, said with gratitude: “Thanks to Beijing’s aid, our villagers have work and incomes. My family earns around 5,000 yuan monthly now. With tourism, our wallets keep getting fuller.”

    Daoxiang Village’s transformation exemplifies the profound urban-rural changes spurred by China’s paired assistance efforts in Xinjiang.

    Launched in 1997 and significantly expanded in 2010, this cross-regional initiative has funneled resources into local development. It has become a cornerstone strategy for boosting prosperity and promoting unity in China’s vast western regions.

    This policy provides financial resources, technical expertise and talent from more developed eastern regions to boost Xinjiang’s development.

    Beyond Daoxiang Village, similar stories of transformation are unfolding across Xinjiang under the paired assistance program. In Hotan, a textile project supported by Beijing and south China’s Guangdong Province has created over 700 jobs in its first phase alone, empowering locals like Zulaya Tursuntohti with stable employment and technical skills.

    Meanwhile, in Aksu, digital empowerment is reshaping rural livelihoods. E-commerce incubators launched with help from the city of Hangzhou in east China, have trained over 9,500 locals in livestreaming and online sales.

    Over the past few years, numerous aid projects, ranging from automated planting workshops to textile enterprises and modern cultural tourism sites, have taken root across farming and herding areas, injecting vital momentum into local economic and social development.

    “It’s all thanks to good rural revitalization policies, hardworking county officials and the help from aid funds,” said Patime Bak, “That’s how we got the good life we have now.” 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Int’l guests vow further all-round civilizational dialogue at ministerial meeting

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

    International guests from more than 140 countries have vowed to continue civilizational dialogue at all levels and across sectors, according to a declaration released at the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.

    Under the theme of “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” the meeting, held on Thursday and Friday in Beijing, attracted over 600 political figures, scholars and experts.

    Diversity is the basic feature of the world and the very charm of human civilization, and civilizations thrive and prosper through exchanges and mutual learning, which serve as a major driving force for human progress and world peace and development, according to the declaration.

    As the current international landscape is fraught with changes and turbulence, all countries should advocate equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, deepen exchanges and cooperation, expand mutual learning, and work together to tackle global challenges, the declaration read.

    It urged efforts to enrich exchanges, broaden cooperation channels, strengthen institutional platforms, and explore ways and means to build a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations.

    An action plan was also released at the meeting, highlighting 50 future development cooperation projects between China and other developing countries in the fields of culture and civilization in the next five years, among other programs. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Xixia Imperial Tombs inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PARIS, July 11 — China’s Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO’s 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France.

    With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60.

    Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries.

    Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works.

    The Xixia Imperial Tombs are the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period that has survived to the present day.

    According to the World Heritage Committee, the site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions. It also bears witness to the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Roads during the 11th to 13th centuries.

    The Committee commended the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government in the protection and management of the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs.

    Rao Quan, vice minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said that China will remain steadfast in fulfilling its obligations under the World Heritage Convention, further enhance holistic and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and improve conservation capacity and standards.

    A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows people visiting the Xixia Imperial Tombs scenic area in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 5, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement for the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:

    “Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. In 2016, a Permanent Court of Arbitration released its decision on the South China Sea case between China and the Philippines.

    “Canada reiterates that this July 12, 2016, decision is legally binding on the parties and provides a foundation for the peaceful resolution of competing maritime claims in the region, consistent with international law.

    “China’s coercive and dangerous actions against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels — including the use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers, ramming, forcible towing, and the unlawful boarding of vessels — endanger the safety of seafarers and seriously degrade regional peace and security. Canada continues to call on China to abide by the tribunal’s decision and cease all actions that escalate tensions and threaten maritime safety.

    “As outlined in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is working with ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, to ensure full respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the South China Sea. 

    “Canada also welcomes ongoing efforts by ASEAN member states to develop an effective and substantive code of conduct for the South China Sea. An agreement on a common way forward is essential to set conditions for effective, responsible, collaborative management of maritime resources, maintenance of maritime safety, and preservation of marine biodiversity.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement for the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:

    “Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. In 2016, a Permanent Court of Arbitration released its decision on the South China Sea case between China and the Philippines.

    “Canada reiterates that this July 12, 2016, decision is legally binding on the parties and provides a foundation for the peaceful resolution of competing maritime claims in the region, consistent with international law.

    “China’s coercive and dangerous actions against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels — including the use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers, ramming, forcible towing, and the unlawful boarding of vessels — endanger the safety of seafarers and seriously degrade regional peace and security. Canada continues to call on China to abide by the tribunal’s decision and cease all actions that escalate tensions and threaten maritime safety.

    “As outlined in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is working with ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, to ensure full respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the South China Sea. 

    “Canada also welcomes ongoing efforts by ASEAN member states to develop an effective and substantive code of conduct for the South China Sea. An agreement on a common way forward is essential to set conditions for effective, responsible, collaborative management of maritime resources, maintenance of maritime safety, and preservation of marine biodiversity.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Member of Armed Services Committee, Peters Helps Advance Strong National Defense Bill to Bolster Michigan’s Defense Capabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – As a member of the Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped advance the annual National Defense Authorization Act out of committee. Peters successfully authored and secured provisions in the bipartisan bill to strengthen U.S. national security, invest in Michigan’s military facilities and robust defense sector, support our nation’s long-term strategic efforts to combat aggression by adversaries like China and Russia, fund initiatives to clean up PFAS contamination, and give our servicemembers a pay raise. The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
    “Across Michigan, our servicemembers, defense manufacturers, and top-notch military installations play an essential role in keeping our nation safe and secure,” said Senator Peters. “I was proud to secure investments in this bill to bolster those defense assets and capabilities, while supporting statewide economic growth. This bill also helps us meet the rising threats posed by our adversaries like China and Russia to protect both folks at home and our troops serving around the world.”
    The National Defense Authorization Act sets annual policy for the Department of Defense (DOD) and has been signed into law for more than 60 consecutive years. 
    Peters led or supported the following provisions, including authorizing more than $18 million in funding for Michigan’s military facilities: 
    Investing in Michigan’s Military Facilities
    $9 million for Runway Improvement at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: This funding would allow for runway improvements at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to prepare for basing of future missions, including the KC-46 Tankers and F-15EX fighter jets that were announced for Selfridge following years of persistent work and advocacy by Peters. 
    $5.2 million to Construct Two New Taxiways at Selfridge: This funding would support the construction of two new taxiways at Selfridge to prepare for basing of future missions including Selfridge’s two missions. This includes $2.8 million for the construction of Taxiway Alpha and $2.4 million for the construction of Taxiway Bravo.
    $4.4 million for Camp Grayling All-Domain Warfighting Training Complex: This funding would kickstart the Camp Grayling All-Domain Warfighting Training Complex (ADWTC) critical for military training exercises like Northern Strike. The ADWTC provides a state-of-the-art facility where servicemembers can plan, lead, and execute realistic training. The ADWTC is critical for growing military training exercises like Northern Strike and ensuring this critical exercise remains the premier training exercise in the country.
    Permanent Funding for Northern Strike: Peters secured report language urging permanent funding for the annual Northern Strike Exercise, which is the largest all-domain reserve forces exercise. Northern Strike provides a realistic training environment and robust training experiences for units and leaders to strengthen joint all-domain warfighting – and helps keep Michigan central to our national defense operations.
    Bolstering Collaborative Combat Aircraft Production: Senator Peters secured language in the bill that directs the Air Force to move forward with initial full-scale production of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Peters has pushed forand secured language to support the development and integration of CCAs, including during a hearing last year with the former Secretary of Defense and a recent hearing with the current U.S. Air Force Secretary. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters has also secured language to help position Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a potential location for CCA fielding. He led a provision included in recent government funding legislation requiring a report regarding basing criteria of CCAs. This report will include an evaluation of whether existing Air National Guard bases with legacy fighter missions, such as Selfridge, may be appropriate locations for the basing of CCAs.
    Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center at Selfridge: Peters led a provision in the bill underscoring the growing threat of cyberattacks on both manned and unmanned military vehicles and platforms, as well as critical infrastructure that interacts with advanced vehicles. The provision recognizes the work of the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan to identify cyber vulnerabilities to secure joint ground vehicle platforms and prevent cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The bill encourages vehicle cybersecurity at places like GVSC who is working to establish its Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center, which will also be located in Michigan at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. In addition to supporting our Armed Forces and servicemembers, the Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center will support Michigan’s auto industry and help establish Southeast Michigan as a hub for all auto-cyber activity in the country. Peters has continuously used his role on the Armed Services Committee to support the GVSC, and recently warned DOD officials about the consequences of potential cuts at the GVSC.
    Emergency Response Authority Act: Peters successfully secured an amendment to give states more flexibility in deploying Army Guard and Reserve (AGR) personnel with specialized skills for emergency response. This proposal would allow AGR forces to respond to state declared emergencies, such as floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, for a total of 14 days per person. This provision empowers states to respond to major disasters more quickly and effectively.
    Supporting Our Servicemembers and Their Families
    Pay Raise for Servicemembers: This bill includes pay raises of 3.8 percent for military servicemembers. 
    Addressing PFAS Contamination
    Improving Transparency of PFAS Cleanup & Remediation Efforts: Peters successfully included a provision that requires DOD to submit annual reports detailing site-specific funding, progress, and barriers for all interim PFAS remediation and cleanup efforts. This includes timelines, performance metrics, and the status of the actions. Peters’ provision also requires DOD to create a public online dashboard within one year to display updated PFAS cleanup data, funding, timelines, and community points of contact. Peters has worked with communities across Michigan for years on PFAS remediation efforts. Peters convened the first-ever hearing on PFAS contamination in the Senate, and convened a field summit in Grand Rapids in November 2018 to shine a light on how local, state and federal governments are coordinating responses to address PFAS contamination. He has also passed numerous bills into law to help address PFAS contamination and protect Michiganders. Michigan is home to a number of military installations where PFAS contamination has been detected, including Camp Grayling and the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.
    Ensuring Access to Clean Drinking Water for Communities Affected by PFAS Contamination: The bill contains a Peters led initiative to direct DOD to provide bottled water to communities with private drinking water wells with high levels of PFAS contamination as a result of DOD activities. 
    Supporting Michigan’s Defense Sector
    Bolstering Infantry Squad Vehicle Production: The bill also authorized $34.4 million to maintain continued production and fielding of General Motors (GM) Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). GM Defense conducts its testing, research, and development of projects at the Milford Proving Ground in Oakland County, where two of its key programs of record were conceived, and employs over 50,000 people in Michigan.
    Supporting Munition Production in Grayling: The bill includes $31.9 million to support production of the Army’s Individual Assault Munitions (IAM), which will soon be made at a new production facility being constructed in Grayling, Michigan. This new facility is expected to employ 70 people in 2025 and expand to an estimated 100 employees by 2027. 
    Boosting Made in Michigan Ground Vehicle Production: The bill authorizes robust funding for the Army to produce new, modernized Strykers as well as Abrams tanks. This funding would help ensure that Made in Michigan testing and development of ground vehicles like the Strykers are operating with cutting edge technology designed to keep our servicemembers safe.
    Bolstering Military Aircraft Engine Industrial Base: Peters secured a provision that requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a roadmap for bolstering our military aircraft engine industrial base to support existing and planned platforms. 
    Expanding Fuel Cell Use: This provision Peters secured authorizes $5 million for research and development of multi-modular fuel cells, primarily to be used in electric vehicle charging stations and mobile generators. This research will help increase the reliability of power for military installations and improve DOD’s energy management and efficiency plans. 
    Strengthening Cybersecurity and Advanced Technology Capabilities
    Protecting Against Phishing Attacks: This report language, secured by Peters, requires DOD to issue a strategy on implementing the adoption of phishing-resistant authentication across the Department. There has been an increase in phishing attempts targeting officials at DOD to retrieve personal information that allows hackers and foreign adversaries to gain access to delicate national security information. This provision would ensure that DOD takes steps to protect sensitive national security information and protect American lives.
    Preventing Manipulation of DOD-Generated Media: Peters secured an amendment he led which would require DOD to implement digital content provenance across the Department. Digital content creation, editing, and distribution tools are increasingly more accessible, and can be easily weaponized against the U.S. by our foreign adversaries who seek to threaten our national security, spread anti-American propaganda, and weaken our institutions. The amendment would help prevent DOD media content from being manipulated and used maliciously against our country by creating a pilot program to implement authenticity information on DOD-generated media. This builds on Peters’ bipartisan Digital Defense Content Provenance Act, which he secured in a previous national defense bill and requires DOD to create a course at the Defense Information School to teach personnel about the threats posed by synthetic media such as deepfakes, as well as emerging technologies and key concepts of digital content provenance. The bill also created a pilot program at DOD to assess the feasibility of establishing content standard technologies on DOD-produced and owned media content.
    Strengthening U.S. Cyber Workforce: Peters secured a provision that would require a report on the implementation of the DOD Cyber Workforce Strategy. DOD has struggled to attract and retain a skilled cyber workforce. The DOD Cyber Workforce Strategy was designed to identify difficulties and provide specific activities to increase applications and retainment of the cyber workforce, both military and civilian. A skilled DOD cyber workforce benefits all Americans.
    Enhancing DOD Weapons Systems to Protect Against Real-Time Cybersecurity Threats: The bill includes specific directives for the DOD to enhances its weapons systems with technology to track cybersecurity threats. This will all for weapons systems at Military bases in Michigan and across the country to track cyber threats in real time and constantly update the health and security of their cybersecurity operations. 
    Developing U.S. Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Capabilities: The bill would provide increased funding for the development of new and innovative design and production of low-cost, uncrewed systems. The bill would also require a strategy to develop a secure domestic supply chain of critical components for small UAS systems.
    Advancing Counter-UAS Technologies: The bill would authorize increased funding for various counter-UAS activities, and require a strategy for countering drone technologies and assessing resources or authorities needed for drone incursion response to ensure we are equipped for the future of warfare. It would direct the Army, Navy, and Air Force to provide briefings on their respective service plans for counter-UAS capabilities. 
    Supporting U.S. Security Interests Around the World
    Planning for Enhanced Operations in Artic Region: The bill includes a provision authored by Peters that recognizes the current geopolitical challenges and opportunities presented by the Artic region, and supports efforts to better understand the emerging need to enhance operations in the region. Specifically, the bill encourages the Secretary of Defense to partner with interagency organizations, including the Center for Arctic Security and Resiliency and the Joint All Domain Weather Operations Center, to coordinate federal agency planning for Arctic operations as well as testing of systems to support Arctic operations.
    Support Israel’s Defense Against Emerging Threats: Peters secured funding in the bill to help increase U.S. collaboration with Israel to develop emerging defense technologies to meet the warfare challenges of the future. Peters also secured a provision that would establish a cooperative program between the U.S. and Israel for advancing C-UAS technologies and joint research. Peters introduced bipartisan legislation last Congress to bolster collaboration between the United States and Israel on emerging technologies.
    Strengthen Efforts to Combat Anti-Tunneling Activity: The bill authorizes additional funding to strengthen current collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to combat Hamas and strengthen anti-tunneling activity in the Gaza strip. As part of the DOD’s collaboration with the IDF, Israel shares its counter-tunnel technology with the DOD and Department of Homeland Security to combat growing threats at our borders, as well as similar threats faced on the Korean Peninsula and in multiple locations in the Middle East. 
    Support for Taiwan: This bill would strengthen security cooperation across the defense industrial bases of U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. The bill would support Taiwanese defense needs and strengthen U.S.-Taiwanese defense collaboration. The bill would also direct the Defense Department to assess Taiwan’s critical digital infrastructure and identify potential actions to help strengthen it.
    Counter Chinese Communist Party Aggression: The bill includes numerous provisions to counter aggression from the Chinese government, including a provision requiring a report on the intelligence capabilities of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cuba.

    MIL OSI USA News –