Q: Can you offer some background information on the tenth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting? What does China, the host country, expect from this meeting? What is China’s consideration for holding the Informal Discussion Between the Foreign Ministers of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand?

A: The LMC is an innovative type of regional cooperation mechanism among China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam featuring collaboration, consultation and shared benefit. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the six countries, the Mekong countries have successively announced with China the building of a community with a shared future, which means that countries in the region have all been committed to building a community with a shared future both bilaterally and multilaterally under the LMC mechanism. Connectivity across land, sea, air and the cyberspace has been enhanced, cross-border trade, investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation continued to deepen, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges have flourished, fostering ever-closer bonds among our peoples. The six countries have cultivated the Lancang-Mekong spirit of development first, equal consultation, practicality and high efficiency, and openness and inclusiveness, and worked together to build a Lancang-Mekong home that shares weal and woe in solidarity. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism. All Lancang-Mekong countries are now at a crucial stage of accelerated development. Facing a volatile international landscape and the rise of unilateralism, hegemony and protectionism, the Lancang-Mekong countries need to strengthen unity, enhance cooperation, and promote common development. China hopes to work with the Mekong countries at the LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to review the outcomes of cooperation, take stock of success experience, and plan for future development of the mechanism, so as to build a more resilient Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt and an even closer Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, providing greater stability and new driving forces for improving the well-being of people and promoting sustainable development in the region.

On the sidelines of the LMC meeting, as proposed by Thailand, the co-chair of the LMC, the Informal Discussion Between the Foreign Ministers of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand will be held for an in-depth exchange of views on the regional situation, jointly combating cross-border crimes and other issues of mutual interest and concern.

China, which has maintained one of the lowest incidences of fatal criminal cases, the lowest rates of criminal offenses, and the fewest cases involving firearms and explosives, is widely recognized as one of the safest countries in the world, a senior Chinese public security official said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Qi Yanjun, vice minister of public security, made the remarks at the conference. He said that public security organs have helped facilitate China's high-quality development by resolutely safeguarding public safety, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Also, Chinese police handled 1.739 million telecom fraud cases and arrested 366,000 suspects, including 3,442 major financiers and core members of the crime groups, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), senior police officer Jiang Guoli said at the press conference, Xinhua reported.

Public security organs have arrested 366,000 suspects, including 3,442 key figures in fraud syndicates, through special operations. These campaigns targeted criminal networks providing illegal services - such as online traffic promotion, money laundering, tech support, and human smuggling - for overseas fraud groups, a report by CCTV News said.

China has also continuously deepened international law enforcement cooperation and has sent specialized teams to countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines to carry out police cooperation, according to the conference, CCTV reported. 

Joint actions have led to the dismantling of more than 2,000 overseas fraud dens and the arrest of over 80,000 criminal suspects. These efforts have significantly deterred transnational criminal fraud networks and effectively curbed the high incidence of cross-border telecom and cyber fraud crimes.

According to data released by China's Ministry of Public Security, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Chinese police smashed over 590 organized crime groups and more than 8,900 violent criminal organizations, and solved around 105,000 related criminal cases, Xinhua reported.

The South African government has issued a Government Gazette officially withdrawing its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan's representative office in Pretoria. It has also called on the Taiwan authorities to relocate the institution to Johannesburg and rename the "Taipei Liaison Office" in Cape Town as the "Taipei Commercial Office." 

When asked to comment on the issue, the spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that the one-China principle is the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with countries around the world. It is also a fundamental norm in international relations and a widely held consensus within the international community.

The measures taken by the South African government are positive steps in upholding the one-China principle. They align with the spirit of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and form an integral part of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. China appreciates these actions and is willing to continue providing firm mutual support to South Africa on issues involving each other's core interests, Guo said. 

When Bong Boon Min, nephew of a Nanyang transport volunteer, left Sarawak, Malaysia in the 1970s to do contracting work, he had no idea of his family’s link to the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics. It wasn’t until years later, through a chance conversation with his uncle, that he discovered the untold story of his relative’s involvement in this wartime effort.
Since then, Bong has dedicated himself to uncovering and preserving this forgotten chapter. Although 73 years old now, he remains committed to the task.

The “Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics” refers to over 3,200 overseas Chinese drivers and technicians who returned from Southeast Asia to support Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), according to the Xinhua News Agency.

After the war broke out, the Burma Road, completed in 1938, became China’s pivotal international supply route in the southwest. However, China lacked experienced drivers and mechanics for heavy-duty transport vehicles. Upon learning this, Tan Kah Kee, chairman of the Southeast China Relief Fund Union, called for volunteers to return and serve.

Between 1939 and 1942, they transported over 500,000 tons of military supplies and more than 15,000 vehicles into China, along with countless civilian goods. Over 1,000 volunteers sacrificed their lives in the process, Xinhua said. Although none of the volunteers remain alive today, their heroic stories continue to resonate across China and Southeast Asia.

On the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Global Times interviewed descendants of the volunteers in Malaysia and Singapore. They shared memories of their elders and described efforts to preserve and pass on this history.

Patriotism unspoken

Bong’s voice trembled with emotion as he recalled the past. “Every time I think about it, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed,” he told the Global Times.

Bong’s uncle, Kho Hai Seng, never spoke of his wartime experience – even to his family. This silence is common among many descendants of the mechanics, whose elders never spoke of their sacrifices.

“In the 1970s, I came across a book about the Nanyang volunteers and was shocked to learn how closely my hometown was tied to this nearly forgotten chapter of history,” Bong said. During a trip back in the 1990s, a conversation with Kho finally awakened this long-buried memory. That marked the beginning of Bong’s journey to gather records and track down other descendants.

Bong carefully documented his uncle’s story: Kho was born into a wealthy Chinese merchant family in Sarawak. He was well-educated, could drive, and had worked in a machine shop – living a life of comfort. Yet in August 1939, he gave it all up to join the volunteer corps and return to war-torn China.

Kho’s unit transported supplies from northern Burma into China. Just six months into 1939, 10 drivers perished in crashes. Their bodies were often buried in situ, facing south toward their homeland. Malaria and Japanese air raids posed constant threats. When a vehicle broke down and the driver failed to escape, the volunteers became sitting targets. After the road was bombed in 1942, Kho’s unit disbanded. He later lost his right arm in combat and left to the battlefield.

In another case, 77-year-old Singaporean Thong Kwee Chin, daughter of a volunteer, told the Global Times that her father never spoke of the past.

After years of searching, Thong’s older sister, Tang Yebi, gradually pieced together a clearer picture of her father, Tang Renwen: his own father had run a tailor shop in Malaya. When the War of Resistance broke out, he willingly gave up his comfortable life to join the fight. He stood out among more than 3,200 volunteer mechanics, delivering wartime supplies along the treacherous Burma Road.

Many other descendants have followed in their elders’ footsteps – resurrecting stories of courage and sacrifice long buried in history.

“The Nanyang volunteers were a symbol of the overseas Chinese community’s collective support for the motherland. These were some of the best and brightest youths of their time, whose return showed deep emotional ties and strong identification with China. They were defenders of peace and remain a vital part of our shared history,” said Xia Yuqing, professor and deputy director of the overseas Chinese research institute at the Yunnan Chinese Language and Culture College, Yunnan Normal University.

Keeping the flame alive

“I’ve been tirelessly trying to find descendants and promote this history – publishing articles and notices in newspapers to get the word out,” Bong said.

In 2010, Bong managed to contact a historical research institute in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. They were surprised to learn that three volunteers from Sarawak were still alive. With support from local Chinese institutions, Bong’s efforts to raise awareness gained momentum.

Surviving volunteers were often moved to tears that someone still cared enough to record their stories. Yet Bong’s journey wasn’t always smooth – some descendants, unaware of their parents’ past, mistook him for a scammer or treated him with suspicion.

Fortunately, his persistence paid off. More people began to trust him. “There’s no payment for this work,” Bong said, “but helping preserve this history is reward enough.”

Bong proudly displayed the commemorative medal granted to his uncle Kho by the Chinese government at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held on September 3, 2015. The medal was conferred to veterans, military commanders and representatives of international friends or their surviving family members who supported China’s resistance efforts, said Xinhua. This medal embodies a deep reverence for the heroes in the war, the aspiration to carry forward the great spirit of the war, as well as the Chinese people's firm resolve to cherish peace and forge ahead into the future, per Xinhua.

In 2016, Bong organized a campaign to retrace the Burma Road. Many descendants from Southeast Asia joined the journey. “It was a long, hard road, but we all finished it.”

“Afterward, I told the surviving volunteers, ‘I went there. I saw it, I walked it,’” Bong said.

Meanwhile, efforts to commemorate this history have led to the construction of memorials. For example, on May 14, 2025, a pavilion was completed in Malaysia-China Friendship Park, Sarawak, to permanently honor the Nanyang volunteers, according to Yunnan Daily.

“Learning and preserving the memory of the Nanyang volunteers helps overseas Chinese understand the past, reflect on the present and look to the future,” Thong said. “Places like the National Museum of Singapore and the War Memorial Park still bear traces of their history.”

“China’s current prosperity came through unimaginable hardship. Our generation knows this deeply, and we tell the younger generation. They come to understand it too,” Bong said.

“I have five children. Every one of them knows the story of the Nanyang volunteers,” he added.

As Xia emphasized, the volunteers’ legacy is a shared memory of Chinese people everywhere – and a powerful educational resource. “Their patriotic spirit still resonates, helping unite overseas Chinese and fostering deeper cultural identity. We must honor this history, especially among the youth.”

“This spirit is a lasting source of strength. These ordinary, kind-hearted people helped change the course of history. Their collective force made a real contribution to the global fight against fascism,” Xia said.

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Sunday said that the failure of a recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan's local legislature shows that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s political manipulation runs against the will of the people.

During the vote on Saturday, the Kuomintang party scored a sweeping victory, retaining all 24 seats.

Responding to the outcome, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP, driven by its pursuit of "Taiwan independence" and avarice for one-party monopoly, repeatedly stirred up political strife at the expense of Taiwan people's well-being.

The DPP has resorted to every means to suppress political dissent, create "green terror" and deepen social division, fully revealing its hypocritical nature of "fake democracy, real authoritarianism," Chen said.

When asked to comment on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement on sanction imposition on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Armed Forces Minister General Alvaro Lopez Miera and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, citing human rights violations as the reason, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that China firmly opposes the US using the so-called human rights pretext to impose unilateral sanctions and interfere in Cuba's internal affairs. 

The US announced its first sanctions on Friday against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel for his role "in the Cuban regime's brutality toward the Cuban people," AFP reported.

The US has maintained a comprehensive blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba for over 60 years, causing severe suffering to the Cuban people. Sanctions should be lifted immediately, rather than intensified, Lin said.

Lin said that China firmly supports Cuba in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and in safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity. 

Lin urged the US to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. "I would like to emphasize that if the US truly cares about human rights, it should reflect on its own human rights violations in Guantanamo and around the world over the years," Lin said.

In response to media inquiries regarding Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's reported "visit" to Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize, with planned "transit" stops in New York and Dallas, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated on Wednesday, "We firmly oppose any form of official interaction between the US and China's Taiwan region, and resolutely oppose Lai's 'transit' stops in the US under any pretext or in any form."

Chen urged the US side to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, and to handle Taiwan-related issues with prudence so as to avoid sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. "We sternly warn the Lai authorities: seeking 'independence' by relying on the US is futile and doomed to fail," Chen said.

The one-China principle is a consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations, upheld by the vast majority of countries around the world. It is where justice lies, reflects the people's aspiration, and aligns with the trend of the times, Chen added. He expressed hope that the relevant Latin American and Caribbean countries will recognize the overarching trend, handle Taiwan-related matters with caution, and join the big family of China-Latin America friendship and cooperation.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for more joint endeavors between Chinese and Australian medical technology researchers during his third stop in his China visit.

He has attended a Medical Technology lunch in Chengdu on Thursday promoting bilateral business deals in the space, including the manufacture of Australian-owned Cochlear hearing devices in western China, Australian media outlet SBS news reported.

"Australia is a world leader in medical research. And Australian and Chinese scientists are working together towards new breakthroughs. Today in Chengdu, we brought together leaders in the medical technology industry from Australia and China. Together, our two countries can bring new hope and better health to people right across the world," Albanese posted on X.

Albanese is paying an official visit to China from July 12 to 18, traveling to Shanghai and Beijing, with Chengdu marking the final leg of his trip. 

On Thursday, the Australian Prime Minister visited giant panda Fu Ni in Chengdu, who returned to China from Australia last year. Albanese wrote on social media that the "cute" panda is part of a "long-standing friendship between Australia and China."

As Taiwan's regional leader Lai Ching-te is reportedly preparing to visit Central and South America next month, meaning Lai will likely to make a "transit" stop in the US, there has been mounting speculation within the island about how much "transit fee" Lai will have to pay.

The spokesperson for the US State Department claimed that "transits of the US by high-level Taiwan officials are in line with past practice, and fully consistent with its policy,"Straits Times reported on Friday, although the spokesperson didn't confirm Lai would transit.

Spokespersons of Chinese Foreign Ministry and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office had voiced firm opposition separately on Tuesday and Wednesday to any form of official interaction between the US and China's Taiwan region, and denounced Lai's attempt to "transit" through the US under any pretext or in any form.

Both urged the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, to handle Taiwan questions with utmost prudence, and to refrain from sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

In recent days, there has been much discussion within the island regarding the amount of the "transit fee" that Lai will have to pay. 

With the current US government reshaping US relations with the world, Lai's "transit" through the country will inevitably come with a hefty "toll" or "transit fee," Taiwan's United Daily News said. 

Some opinions also hold that Lai's trip may not be able to proceed. Analysts say one factor that could derail the stopover would be relatively better US-China ties, which could prompt the US president to cancel Lai's visit, according to South China Morning Post. 

Given various subjective and objective factors, Lai may find it hard to get what he wants, Macao-based Jornal San Wa Ou reported. Even if he can land in New York, his activities may be strictly restricted. "If that's the case, it will be self - humiliation, and it would be better not to go," the report said.

The primary purpose of Lai's visit is not about his upcoming August trip to Paraguay, but rather to use "transit" through the US as a way to showcase the latter's support for the island, Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

The expert also characterized the remarks by the US as part of Washington's habitual use of the "Taiwan card." In exchange for a "transit" opportunity, Lai may offer concessions in trade or security, such as increasing arms purchases from the US or aligning more closely with US strategies to contain China, Zheng noted.

Lai's visit reflects the mindset of sacrificing Taiwan's long-term interests for partisan gains — a move that, experts said, typifies the approach of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces on the island.

A top Chinese warplane designer said that future fighter jets will incorporate unmanned systems, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as other advanced technologies, moreover, they should be produced like mobile phones. A Chinese expert said that this vision is highly forward-looking, signifying a substantial enhancement in the nation's all-encompassing capabilities across domains.

During the recent visit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Shandong to Hong Kong, the newly developed carrier-based fighter jet J-15T made its public debut on the carrier's deck, attracting widespread attention.

Sun Cong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, also the chief designer of China's J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet, stated in an exclusive interview that unmanned system operations and AI will certainly be applied to fighter jets, the CCTV News military channel reported on Tuesday. 

He explained that the J-15 focuses on energy maneuverability and weapon use, while the J-35 will emphasize informationization and speed — prioritizing rapid response throughout the entire process from detection and engagement to withdrawal.

"With advances in technology, China's carrier-based aircraft will become more intelligent in the future," Sun noted.

Sun also said that the production speed of aircraft will accelerate in the future, noting, "We need to produce aircraft the way we produce mobile phones."

He added that the analogy of producing aircraft like mobile phones means all functions will be software-based, with the platform and functions designed independently. When the platform is modified, integrating the functions will result in something new, Sun said.

Highlighting the need to accelerate aircraft development, the chief designer noted that the research and development cycle for an aircraft typically spans roughly 15 to 20 years. "But if other countries start introducing new innovations every five years, we'll quickly fall behind at our current pace," he warned.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that Sun's remarks are highly forward-looking, as they offer a phased target for development.

This means future aircraft would need highly standardized interfaces to allow for plug-and-play upgrades, as well as open architectures with both forward and backward compatibility, according to Wang.

Enabling aircraft to upgrade like mobile phones implies a major leap in capabilities across all aspects of the aircraft's complex systems, enabling rapid and flexible system-wide iteration, the expert noted.