A DNA forensic analyst from the Xiangyang Public Security Bureau, Central China's Hubei Province, identified a suspect using DNA extracted from a single drop of blood from a mosquito, ultimately helping police arrest the fugitive after he had fled to another region, Hubei Daily reported.

The analyst, named Zhang Mengting, has worked in forensic DNA analysis for six years, during which she has examined more than 16,400 biological samples with zero errors, according to the report.

For instance, in a criminal case that occurred in Gucheng county, Xiangyang, in August 2020, the crime scene was chaotic, making it difficult for investigators to obtain useful leads. 

Tracking the direction in which the suspect had fled, police discovered a makeshift shelter where the suspect was believed to have spent the night, Hubei Daily reported. 

Zhang then returned to the scene for a second inspection. After repeated meticulous searches, she discovered a two millimeter square bloodstain on a worn mat, believed to have come from a mosquito crushed by the suspect.

By cross referencing DNA extracted from the mosquito blood, police pinpointed the suspect's identity and apprehended the fugitive after he fled to another area, the report said.

"A single strand of hair, a drop of sweat, or a piece of dander at a crime scene can become the key to uncovering the truth," Zhang said, adding, "But real physical evidence never reveals itself voluntarily; only through patient and meticulous examination can investigators identify crucial clues from complex traces."

In addition to assisting in criminal investigations, Zhang has also used DNA comparison technology to help parents find their missing children. Over her six-year career, Zhang has employed DNA technology to identify suspects in more than 320 difficult cases, developed various technical methods that helped locate 35 trafficked individuals, and helped reunite 42 families, Hubei Daily reported.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening for a state visit to China, the first US presidential visit to China in almost nine years and Trump's second since November 2017, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. 

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump is visiting China from May 13 to 15, Xinhua reported. 

Trump was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the airport, according to Xinhua. 

Before Trump departed the US, he told reporters "good things are gonna happen" in China, according to video clips released by China News Agency, which cited the Associated Press.

Heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-US relations. We welcome President Trump's state visit to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.  

During the visit, the two heads of state will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-US relations and world peace and development, Guo said, adding that China stands ready to work with the US to expand cooperation and manage differences in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and provide more stability and certainty for a transforming and volatile world.

Chinese observers expect the leaders' summit to chart the course for the development of China-US relations in the period ahead, hoping the two major powers can expand the list of dialogue and cooperation, advance positive agendas, scale down the list of negative issues, and properly manage differences. This will not only set the tone for bilateral relationship to develop in a stable and sustainable manner, but also explore a correct way of future engagement, they noted.  

Delicate and consequential

As CEOs from big American conglomerates, including Tesla's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook, BlackRock's Larry Fink, Boeing's Kelly Ortberg and Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman joined Trump's delegation to China, a dramatic moment came when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang boarded the Air Force One unexpectedly in Alaska during a refueling stop, according to media reports. A report by The New York Times was headlined "Nvidia CEO hitches ride with Trump to China after last-minute invite." Earlier, media reported that Huang would not join the delegation.  

There is broad scope and enormous potential for pragmatic cooperation between China and the US. We look forward to deeper exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and US business communities under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, making new contributions to the stable, sound and sustainable development of China‑US relations, a spokesperson for China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said on Wednesday when commenting on the accompanying delegation of US business representatives.  

As Air Force One was heading toward Beijing, Chinese and US delegations held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges in South Korea on Wednesday on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, as well as on further expanding practical cooperation.

According to Xinhua, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also China's lead person for China-US economic and trade affairs, and US lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conducted the consultations. 

Guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the two sides upheld the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

Economic and trade issues are expected to remain one of the major topics among all the issues on the table for the high-stakes heads-of-state summit, Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.  

The inclusion of more high-tech and financial firms in the US delegation compared with Trump's 2017 visit to China sends a clear signal of the importance both sides attach to cooperation in these areas, He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times.

According to a report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) on April 23, half of the surveyed US companies still rank China among their top three global investment destinations, while 79 percent of respondents hold a positive or neutral outlook on the future of China-US relations in 2026, up 30 percentage points from last year.

Analysts noted that despite of differences and conflicts, an "equal and constructive" approach is essential to achieving practical outcomes, rather than relying on unilateral pressure. Many US economic and trade restrictions targeting China will ultimately hurt the US' own economic interests. 

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General noted that China and the US are two of the main economic powerhouses of the world and any way they can deal with any of their differences in economic policies would be beneficial for the world as a whole, according to the UN website.

According to a CNBC earlier report, China and the US are supposed to "seal outcomes on potentially a huge range of issues."

Among a wide range of issues, the Taiwan question remains the most sensitive as it concerns the political foundation of China-US relations, analysts said. 

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and concerns peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in the region, and naturally also bears on China-US relations, Wu Xinbo, Dean of the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Bilateral to global  

Compared to President Trump's previous China visit in 2017, there have been major changes in both countries as well as the international landscape. Da describes 2017 as being a time at the tail end of neoliberal globalization, while in 2026, China and the US represent two major powers in a multipolar world that is polarizing and fragmenting.    

Guo Jiping, an international commentary column of the People's Daily, published an article on Wednesday titled "China-US relationship cannot go back to the old days, but it can embrace a brighter future." 

As this future takes shape under close global watch, international media outlets are paying high attention to Trump's visit and the upcoming meeting between the two leaders.

The Diplomat wrote that the summit's primary function is one of signal stabilization - providing a political assurance that competition, however intense, remains bounded within controllable limits. 

Viewed from a broader perspective on history, the importance of China-US cooperation in the global landscape is growing ever greater, read an article published by the People's Daily on Tuesday.

To understand the global significance of bilateral relations, Wu noted that on one hand, China's communication with the US on many topics, including tariff issues, actually represents not only China, but also the interests of the majority in the international community, particularly developing countries.

On the other hand, China-US consultations are needed to address a slew of global challenges, ranging from regional hotspot issues and energy security to global recovery and global public goods, Wu said. 

For China and the US, competition cannot replace coexistence, nor can differences overshadow cooperation. Rational engagement and pragmatic coordination represent the most rational and sustainable choice for both sides, according to Wang Dong, executive director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at Peking University. 

Through rational communication and cooperation, China and the US can not only stabilize the fundamentals of bilateral ties, but also inject certainty into global governance, resist the resurgence of bloc confrontation, and contribute to global development, regional peace and the steady transformation of the international order. This is also the global responsibility that both countries ought to shoulder, Wang told the Global Times.

As President Trump expects "good things" before his departure, Da Wei noted that despite issues and challenges, both China and the US share the will to maintain stability and are taking actions, which is in itself a positive news. 

In response to media inquiries regarding reports claiming that a Chinese-owned oil products tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing on Friday that according to information available so far, the attacked tanker is flagged by the Marshall Islands and carries Chinese crew members. So far, no casualties among the crew have been reported by the tanker.

According to reports from Reuters and other media outlets on the Thursday, a Chinese-owned oil products tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. At Friday's press briefing, a foreign media reporter asked Lin what information China could provide on the reported incident and what measures China would take to ensure the safety of Chinese ships and crew members in the region.

Lin said that the Strait of Hormuz is a strait used for international navigation. China is deeply concerned that a large number of vessels and crew members have been affected by the conflict and stranded in the strait.

The Chinese side believes that restoring smooth passage through the strait as soon as possible and safeguarding the safety of civilian vessels and crew serves the common interests of countries in the region and the international community, the spokesperson said. 

"China calls on all parties to take practical measures to prevent the situation in the strait from worsening. China is willing to work with the international community to continue making efforts to promote ceasefire and peace talk and to de-escalate the situation in the strait," Lin noted. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday wrapped up his official visit to China, the fourth in four years, during which he enjoyed a gourmet night at a restaurant transformed from a 600-year-old temple in Beijing's hutong, where Western culinary art meets Chinese culture. 

On Monday evening, Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez had dinner at TRB hutong, a Michelin-starred restaurant. 

Lucas Garigliano, a Spanish native and executive chef of the restaurant, which had received important guests from countries including France, UAE, Saudi Arabia and in Africa, noted that "this time was different," as it was the first time hosting a dignitary from his home country. 

According to Garigliano, the prime minister appreciated the cross-culture philosophy the chef works with. 

"In Beijing, in a temple transformed into culinary art, shines the talent of Spanish chef Lucas Garigliano: tradition, creativity, and authenticity dish by dish," wrote Prime Minister Sanchez on X on Tuesday.

Garigliano and his Chinese wife, Deng Jia, the Pastry chef at TRB Hutong, shared with the Global Times the menu they prepared for the dinner, which fuses traditional Spanish flavors, innovative Western techniques and Chinese culinary aesthetics. 

In "Red devil shrimp," the ingredients include Yunnan amur caviar, fermented cabbage and omelet, Garigliano shared, combining the Chinese raw materials and Spanish classic egg-and-potato cuisine.

For the palate cleanser, Garigliano prepared douzhi, Beijing's traditional fermented mung bean drink, paired with Mindong yellow croaker, pine nut and coriander.

"It's a refreshing light dish," he introduced, adding that it uses French techniques and "for me, it's very meaningful because it shows my respect for this city." 

Garigliano told the Global Times that he adjusted the sour, even stinky notes of douzhi to make it milder while preserving its authenticity, "keeping the original things, but making it accessible for all [international guests]."

Mrs Sanchez really enjoyed the douzhi as she knew the local drink is an indispensable part of many Beijingers' everyday diet, said Garigliano. 

Garigliano said serving the prime minister and his wife felt like welcoming family. 

Though the couple felt the stress during the preparation week, the atmosphere turned relaxing and intimate once the guests arrived. Sanchez and his wife already knew about the restaurant and its specialties. 

Garigliano recalled the prime minister's comments, "Sanchez said, 'You are very brave to be in China and working in such a different culture and country. But obviously we have been here different times and we appreciate that we understand why you are doing this. So keep pushing. We are proud of you and we really appreciated the variety and how you combine the flavors'." 

For pre-desserts, Sanchez chose the "Moonlight flower," or Tanhua Yixian, which used sugar petals as well as a pineapple sorbet with Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea. 

Tanhua carries the meaning of fleeting beauty and is widely appreciated in Chinese culture. The dessert is in flower shape and served with dry ice below, lasting only a few hours, to highlight its preciousness. "I want to use the technique learned in France to present this beauty," Deng said. 

Pure white in appearance, "It tastes like bingtang hulu" - a traditional Chinese snack of candied hawthorn" - which is sweet outside, sour inside with a good, harmonious combination. "Just like French, Spanish and Chinese culture," Deng said. 

The chef couple told the prime minister about their journey in the past decade: learning French cuisine in Paris, working in Dubai and settling in Beijing a year and a half ago. The prime minister couple listened carefully and even corrected Garigliano's Spanish pronunciation of "buckwheat," as he is now more fluent in English than his mother tongue. 

Garigliano wanted Prime Minister Sanchez to experience not only Chinese cuisine, but to experience it from the perspective of someone who has been living with Chinese culture understanding that "different cultures, at some point they are not that different." 

China-Spain bond

Garigliano, as a grassroots chef, sees his career as sharing some features with Sanchez's diplomatic endeavor - we are both "seeking different horizons, understanding different cultures. We share some common values." 

"Actually our small family is just an example of the relationship between Spain and China," Deng said. 

Garigliano and Deng got married years ago, yet Garigliano had the dream of having a Chinese-style marriage ceremony. In April 2025, his dream came true. Garigliano invited 75 friends from Spain to Deng's hometown Sanmenxia, Central China's Henan Province, for a traditional Chinese marriage ceremony.

Their guests were impressed by China's high-speed railway and dynamic development. 

Garigliano also reflected that he has seen increasing European diners, including Spanish, coming to his restaurant since he started working here. "When you walk around in China, not only in Beijing, I can hear Spanish more frequently everywhere. The curiosity level for China has increased." 

Garigliano visited China in 2019 for the first time. "I feel China is opening up to the world more and more, attracting people from all over the world. This is part of the growing process that the country is going through," he added.

The chef expects that people-to-people exchanges will further strengthen mutual trust, enhance trade and cooperation, and deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Overseas buyers examine Christmas decorative products at the Canton Fair complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on April 26, 2026. During the second phase of the 139th Canton Fair, a variety of festive decorations, including Christmas dolls and tree ornaments, attracted many foreign customers who stopped by to ask questions and negotiate deals. Photo: VCG

China's ports are expected to see a peak in cross-border passenger flows during the May Day holiday, which runs from May 1 to May 5, with average daily inbound and outbound trips projected to reach 2.25 million and the single-day peak expected to exceed 2.4 million, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Tuesday.

Compared with figures from previous years, 2.25 million daily cross border trips will be a record high during the May Day holiday.

Inbound and outbound passenger flows at major international airports are expected to rise notably, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport projected to handle 102,000 border crossings per day, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport 55,000, Beijing Capital International Airport 49,000, and both Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport 20,000 crossings each, said the NIA.

Meanwhile, passenger flows at land ports adjacent to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR are expected to remain at high levels. In Shenzhen, Luohu Port is projected to see 230,000 cross-border trips per day, while Futian Port is expected to handle 210,000. In Zhuhai, Gongbei Port is expected to record 396,000 trips per day, followed by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port with 129,000, according to the NIA.

The NIA said it is currently operating all inspection lanes at full capacity to ensure that Chinese citizens do not wait more than 30 minutes in immigration clearance queues, and to ensure safe, efficient, and smooth port operations.

The EU's draft Cybersecurity Act, under the pretext of cybersecurity and supply chain security, represents a typical practice of politicizing trade issues and security overreach, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Monday.

The remarks were made in response to a media inquiry regarding the European Commission (EC)'s draft revision of the EU Cybersecurity Act. The MOFCOM spokesperson said that on April 17, the ministry formally submitted its comments to the EC on the draft revision of the EU Cybersecurity Act, expressing China's serious concerns and official position.

China believes that the draft, under the pretext of cybersecurity and supply chain security, introduces highly subjective and arbitrary "non-technical risk" factors. In particular, it establishes lists of "countries of cybersecurity concern" and "high-risk suppliers," and excludes listed countries and suppliers from EU-related supply chains across 18 sectors, including energy, transport, and information and communications technology. China considers this a typical case of politicizing trade issues and security overreach. 

In the comments submitted to the European side, China stated that the draft contains multiple issues, according to the spokesperson.

First, it is suspected of violating core World Trade Organization (WTO) principles such as most-favored-nation treatment and national treatment. It is also inconsistent with several WTO agreements, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, as well as the EU's own commitments on services trade liberalization.

Second, it is believed to go beyond the legal mandate of the EU and encroach on the exclusive authority of member states in managing national security affairs.

Third, it is expected to cause substantive damage to China-EU economic and trade relations, severely disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and ultimately hinder the EU's own digital and green transformation process.

In its comments, China suggested that the European side delete provisions in the draft concerning "countries of cybersecurity concern" and "non-technical risks," and remove or substantially revise the criteria for identifying "high-risk suppliers" as well as the related restrictive measures, said the spokesperson.

China also expressed the hope that the EU will give full attention to and carefully consider China's comments and proposed revisions, strictly adhere to WTO rules, avoid adopting discriminatory restrictive measures, and help maintain the stability and smooth functioning of China-EU and global industrial and supply chains, said the spokesperson.

China will closely monitor progress in the revision of the draft and stands ready to engage in dialogue and communication with the European side on this matter, the MOFCOM spokesperson said, noting that if the EU insists on enacting the proposal into law and adopts discriminatory treatment against Chinese enterprises, China will be compelled to take necessary countermeasures. 

China hopes that the EU will not underestimate its firm determination to safeguard national interests and the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises, and to prevent a setback in China-EU economic and trade relations, the ministry spokesperson noted.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that the EU's draft cybersecurity law's reference to "high-risk suppliers" has drawn attention. Once such designations are applied, related digital and network products could face restrictions, indicating that the provision may go beyond purely technical considerations, the expert said.

Jian noted that defining risks at the country level rather than the product level reflects a political rather than technical approach. Such criteria deviate from market-based and technology-driven standards, raising questions about the objectivity and fairness of the framework, he said.

If the law is implemented in a way that targets China, it could subject Chinese firms to restrictions, undermining market principles and fair competition, said Jian, noting that such an approach could disrupt global industrial and supply chains, while also proving detrimental to the EU's own technological progress and industrial development.

He stressed that greater attention should be paid to whether enforcement is selective or discriminatory.

Jian also called for greater dialogue between China and the EU, noting that cybersecurity is a global challenge that requires cooperative and rules-based governance. Addressing such issues through consultation and multilateral coordination, rather than unilateral restrictions, would be more constructive and sustainable.

On the afternoon of April 16, German time, the 18th "Taicang Day" event was held in Munich. The State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company participated in this Sino-German economic and trade exchange event for the first time, and delivered a thematic presentation on green supply guarantee, green grid construction, high-quality power services, and green partnerships, systematically showcasing its green performance capabilities and power supply guarantee strength in empowering foreign-invested enterprises in China.

Suzhou is a strong manufacturing city and a highland of open economy, home to over 19,000 foreign-invested enterprises, attracting 185 Fortune Global 500 companies to invest in 508 projects in Suzhou. State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company implemented the "Transforming Work Style, Strengthening Guarantee, and Promoting Development" power supply service improvement campaign, promoting innovative measures such as "open-door power connection," modular leasing of power equipment ("full power sharing"), and tiered power supply, continuously creating a first-class power business environment.

As the "Hometown of German Enterprises in China," Taicang has attracted over 560 German-invested enterprises. State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company adheres to the principle of synchronized power grid construction and industrial development, accelerating the upgrading of the power grid to provide ample power support for enterprise development.

The German Schaeffler Group is the world's second-largest manufacturer of rolling bearings and a globally renowned automotive parts supplier. In 1995, the group established its first factory in Taicang. Over the past 30 years, Schaeffler has completed more than 10 capital increases in Taicang. "We compiled an electricity usage file for Schaeffler, recording its electricity capacity increasing from 1,000 kVA in 1995 to 65,600 kVA now, an increase of more than 60 times," explained a staff member from the State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company.

On January 4, 2023, Schaeffler submitted a 4,000 kVA capacity increase application, and the State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company completed the on-site survey the following day. The core power supply processes, including solution response, acceptance, and power connection, were completed in just four working days, and meter installation and power connection were also completed soon thereafter.

This efficient service is a prime example of the Suzhou Power Supply Company's service to foreign-invested enterprises. Currently, the State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company has established 20 "open-door power connection" demonstration zones throughout the city, taking the lead nationwide in raising the low-voltage access standard to 200 kilowatts, and solidly implementing the power extension investment policy. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, it has saved customers more than 10 billion yuan in power connection costs.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and China's Ministry of National Defense voiced China's firm opposition and protests on Friday over the entry of a Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) vessel into the Taiwan Straits, while the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) vowed to resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Friday that the Chinese military has handled the entry of the Japanese SDF vessel in accordance with laws and regulations. Guo added that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan have already severely impacted China-Japan relations. The Japanese side is compounding the wrongdoing by sending the SDF vessel into the Taiwan Straits to flex its muscles and deliberately provoke China.

Guo noted that this action severely undermines the political foundation of China-Japan relations and threatens China's sovereignty and security. China firmly opposes it and has lodged strong protest against Japan.

"The Taiwan question bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the political foundation of China-Japan relations. It is a red line that must not be crossed. China urges the Japanese side to do serious soul-searching on its wrongdoings, return to the right track at once, exercise prudence in its words and actions, and stop going further down the wrong path," Guo noted.

Also on Friday, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, said that China has lodged solemn representations and strong protests with the Japanese side, questioning what Japan intends to achieve through such deliberate provocations and repeated mistakes. Zhang said by stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Straits, the SDF vessel has sent the wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, adding that this will only fuel greater indignation among the Chinese people and strengthen our resolve to resolutely counter Japan's provocative acts of playing with fire. 

"We urge Japan to come to its senses, abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and refrain from going further down the wrong path," said Zhang, adding that the Chinese military remains on high alert at all times, firmly countering all foreign interference attempts and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command on its WeChat account that from 4:02 to 17:50 on Friday, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Straits, sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed naval and air assets to track and monitor the vessel throughout the process, ensuring an effective control of the situation.

Forces of the Eastern Theater Command will remain on high alert at all times, and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability, Xu said.

Following China's solemn stance, the incident has drawn close attention from Japanese media outlets. Kyodo News issued a breaking news report titled "Chinese Foreign Ministry says Japanese SDF vessel enters Taiwan Straits." The article noted that a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday that a vessel of the Japanese SDF had sailed into the Taiwan Straits, and that China had lodged a strong protest against Japan.

Several other Japanese media outlets, including the Kyoto Shimbun, Okinawa Times, Saga Shimbun, and Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, have reposted Kyodo News' report.

Some Japanese media outlets also published more detailed coverage of the remarks made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The Mainichi Shimbun quoted Guo as saying that the Chinese military had handled the entry of the Japan SDF vessel in accordance with laws and regulations, and that Guo stated Beijing had lodged a strong protest with Japan. Nippon Television Network reported that Guo further criticized Japan for deliberately sending SDF warships to flex military muscles, and that such moves laid bare Japan's dangerous attempt to meddle in affairs related to Taiwan Straits.

Japan's move to send a vessel into the Taiwan Straits may aim to hype its so-called "regional security concerns" and is a show of force, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. 

It intends to test the Chinese mainland's response to the Taiwan question and send a "pro-Taiwan" signal to the secessionist DPP authorities, laying bare the negative policies and risky tendencies of Japan's administration on Taiwan-related affairs, Xiang said.

String of provocations

There has also been a string of provocative incidents targeting Chinese nationals in Japan recently. On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Japan revealed a recent series of terror threats received by the embassy as well as the absence of effective measures by Japanese police.

Shi Yong, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Chinese Embassy in Japan, revealed on Thursday that on March 5, an organization claiming to consist of former Japanese police officers and former SDF members sent a terror threat letter to the embassy. Nineteen days later, a serious incident occurred in which active-duty Japan SDF member Kodai Murata broke into the Chinese Embassy by scaling the wall carrying a knife on March 24. Just one week after the break-in incident, on March 31, another individual claiming to be a reserve SDF member sent a terror threat to the embassy via the internet, according to CCTV News.

Addressing the regular press conference on Friday about the recent incessant harassment and provocations targeting Chinese missions in Japan, Guo said that soft-pedaling such incidents and even distracting attention from them or spreading disinformation will only lead to more such incidents with even more dreadful consequences, and put more Japanese people under its harmful impact. The malevolent emergence of neo-militarism in Japan could also threaten peace and stability in the region. 

"We once again urge the Japanese side to reflect on and correct its policy and behavior, conduct a thorough probe and take full responsibility for the incident," Guo said.

Xiang noted that the recent series of provocative incidents are not isolated. Japan's domestic political landscape has become increasingly right-wing, leaving less room for rational voices, and with the continuous growth of its defense budget, right-wing conservative forces are attempting to create external tensions to justify security policy adjustments. 

"In addition, the frequent occurrence of extremist acts reflects the fact that radical tendencies in Japanese society have not been effectively contained, which is an outcome of the country's overall rightward shift," the expert said.

The General Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, has issued new guidelines to strengthen basic-level firefighting work, mandating improved investigation mechanisms and promoting a shift in fire safety governance toward prevention, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday. 

The guidelines set out clear requirements for fire departments to conduct fire accident investigations and handling in accordance with the law, officials from the National Fire and Rescue Administration said during a press briefing on Wednesday. 

For ordinary fires, the focus will be placed on "rectification." The guidelines require enhancing investigations into technical and managerial responsibilities, thoroughly examining underlying causes, and using the findings to improve production processes and refine standards, thereby achieving proactive and targeted prevention and control. 

The guidelines also require improving the filing and review system for fires with multiple fatalities. Starting this year, the investigation report for such fire incidents must be submitted to the National Fire and Rescue Administration for review before approval, and national fire investigation experts will be dispatched to provide guidance, so as to prevent superficial investigations and perfunctory accountability. 

For major fires, the incident will be listed for priority supervision and faces escalated investigations. The Work Safety Committee of the State Council will place each major fire under prioritized supervision, and the National Fire and Rescue Administration will establish on-site supervisory teams. For cases of a serious nature or with a significant social impact, investigations will be elevated to a higher level. After cases are concluded, the investigation results and full details of the fire will be made public. 

In addition, China will grant liability exemptions or leniency to firefighters who have duly fulfilled their duties, aiming to encourage firefighting officials to take responsibility and act proactively, and to avoid situations where "those who conduct inspections are held accountable, while those who do not inspect bear no responsibility."