A Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Tuesday for a three-month mission to support the Central African country's response to the Ebola outbreak, Xinhua News Agency reported.  

Luku Maleyo Marius, a representative of the DRC Ministry of Health, welcomed the team at the airport, saying that China's dispatch of the medical experts represents timely and strong support for the Congolese government and people, according to Xinhua. 

Whenever the DRC faces major public health challenges, China has consistently extended timely assistance, he said, adding that he looks forward to the mission further strengthening the country's epidemic prevention, control and treatment capacities, and helping bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible.

The assistance effort came after the World Health Organization determined on May 17 that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC constituted a "public health emergency of international concern," with a host of nations such as the US, Canada, Thailand and Vietnam ramped up border inspections and introduced restrictive entry requirements to guard against the spread of the virus.

Speaking with the Global Times on Monday evening ahead of their departure, team members noted the assistance mission embodies China's commitment to global anti-epidemic cooperation. The experts will adapt proven epidemic control experience to local realities and help strengthen the DRC's capacity for Ebola prevention and clinical care.

China experience

The latest outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976, and laboratory tests identified the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, according to media reports. 

WHO told the Global Times in a previous response that case fatality rates in the past two Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreaks, reported in Uganda and in DRC in 2007 and 2012, have ranged from approximately 30 percent to 50 percent. No specific treatment exists for BVD, but early supportive care improves survival.

Members of the Chinese expert team this time have extensive experience in epidemic prevention and control and bring expertise in public health as well as traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Working alongside the China Medical Teams already in the DRC, they will support local Ebola prevention and control efforts and promote cooperation with local medical and disease control institutions.

Before departing from Beijing Capital International Airport, the leader of the expert team, Lu Ming, Second-level Inspector from Department of International Cooperation of National Health Commission (NHC), told the Global Times that China has dispatched experts in different fields, and the team will fully leverage their professional expertise and, based on firsthand epidemiological information, develop targeted prevention and control measures to support outbreak response and management.

Under the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in the DRC, the team will also work with Chinese institutions, enterprises and local Chinese communities to promote public awareness of epidemic prevention, strengthen frontline preparedness and reduce the risk of imported cases to China, Lu said.

Another member of the expert team, Xu Ke, director of Hepatitis Laboratory from National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Global Times that his work focuses on laboratory collaboration, including virus testing and analysis, monitoring viral mutations, exploring improved diagnostic methods, and examining genetic sequence changes.

Apart from the virus's deadly risks, the complicated social conditions in epidemic zones constitute one of the biggest obstacles to containment, Xu told the Global Times. "Core affected areas are located in conflict zones with tangled geopolitical situations and restricted population mobility, rendering epidemic prevention much harder than previous efforts."

Confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC have reached 343, the country's Health Minister Roger Kamba said Monday, cited by the Congolese Press Agency, the country's official news outlet, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

BVD is a zoonotic disease, with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir. Human infection occurs through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife, and subsequently spreads from person to person through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces or items, WHO introduced.

Regardless of the strain, early and active supportive treatment can significantly reduce the mortality rate, and the key lies in early detection and timely intervention, Jiang Rongmeng, vice president of Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University and another member of the expert team, told the Global Times.

Experience from previous infectious disease responses in Africa shows that countries prone to Ebola outbreaks often share similar public health and economic conditions, as well as cultural practices that create conditions conducive for virus transmission, said Jiang, who was also a member of the expert team that participated in China's 2014 aid mission to Africa to combat the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.

Traditional burial practices in the DRC often involve washing, touching or staying close to the body. Therefore, as the Ebola virus can spread through contact with bodily fluids, unsafe burials are a major driver of new transmission chains, according to a report by Xinhua.

Jiang added that prevention and control of an outbreak need to take into account both natural and social factors, as natural factors include exposure risks from the ecological environment such as wild animals and social factors include traditional burial practices, Jiang said.

"Against this backdrop, this brings us back to China's experience in infectious disease prevention and control, characterized by full public mobilization. Infectious disease control is not only the responsibility of experts or the government, but the whole society. This approach enables developing countries to contain diseases at relatively low cost rather than relying on expensive equipment or advanced facilities," Jiang said.

Continued efforts

Chinese medical personnel have long been stationed in the DRC prior to the expert team's arrival. Since the outbreak began, the 24th batch of Chinese medical teams assisting the DRC has promptly activated emergency response measures, established a prevention and control system, conducted training and drills, coordinated epidemic prevention supplies, and improved environmental sanitation at their base, per Xinhua.

These team members have remained on the front line of clinical care, strengthened infection prevention measures, provided guidance on epidemic control for Chinese-funded enterprises, and safeguarded the health of local residents as well as Chinese nationals in the country, according to Xinhua.

Already in 2014, an Ebola outbreak swept across Africa, with more than half of those infected losing their lives. While most countries withdrew their medical workers from Africa amid widespread panic, China's 24th medical team to Guinea headed into the epidemic-hit regions. They helped address critical gaps in local medical services and provided strong support for the local fight against Ebola, according to Health News, the media outlet affiliated with the NHC.

"Diseases know no borders," Lu said. In past responses to infectious diseases, the Chinese government has also received support and assistance from many countries. Following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak, China quickly dispatched a medical expert team and provided relevant material support, demonstrating its sense of duty as a responsible major country, Lu added.

"As a member of the expert team, I feel honored to contribute my expertise to the Ebola response, helping to achieve outbreak control goals and further advancing the vision of building a global community of health for all," Lu told the Global Times.

"China has a long-standing tradition of friendship with African countries. As practitioners, we are also committed to contributing our professional expertise," Xu said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a Monday press conference that China and Africa are good brothers sharing weal and woe. "We feel for the DRC over the new outbreak of Ebola." 

Supporting African countries' response to Ebola is a shining example of building the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and also an important part of ten partnership actions of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing summit. "As we speak, Chinese medical teams are on the ground fighting the disease shoulder to shoulder with African people," the spokesperson added.

The 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), running from Wednesday to Saturday and which is expected to draw around 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries, is underway in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

The forum features seven thematic tracks and more than 170 dialogues, speeches and discussion sessions. More than 300 business events are also scheduled, including closed-door consultations, thematic roundtables and business breakfasts, Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday that the forum's plenary session is scheduled for Friday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to attend and deliver a speech, per Xinhua.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Tuesday that at the invitation of the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, from Thursday to June 8, Vice President Han Zheng will travel to Russia to attend the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and also visit Belarus.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference the same day that the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an important platform for discussions on global economic governance and consensus-building on international cooperation. The theme of this year's forum is "Pragmatic Dialogue: the Path to a Stable Future," which is highly relevant. China looks forward to working with other participants to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, practice multilateralism, and build a more just and equitable global governance system, Mao added.

"China is Russia's main economic and trade partner, and our cooperation is developing at a very fast pace," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui was quoted as saying on the official forum website.

Observers noted that bilateral cooperation between China and Russia has expanded comprehensively in both breadth and depth, extending not only to the economic field but also to political, cultural, humanitarian and social domains.

In addition to the main business program, business forums of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, the regional consultative forum "Business Twenty" (B20), the Forum of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Forum of Creative Industries, the Forum on Pharmaceutical Security, and the youth forum "Day of the Future" are organized on the sidelines of the SPIEF, Ushakov said.

In recent years, Moscow's diplomacy has increasingly shifted toward deeper engagement with the Global South and emerging economies, according to Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Notably, the US has sent an official delegation to this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the first time in several years, according to multiple Russian media reports. The delegation is led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts. Cook, who is overseeing the White House ballroom expansion project, is listed as leading the official US delegation to the forum, Reuters noted.

Cook is the first US official to attend the forum since 2017/2018, Reuters reported, citing the Kremlin.

According to the TASS news agency, Cook will be among the participants in the "Russia-US: Dialogue of Cultures" session, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

Zhang also highlighted another notable arrangement at this year's forum. According to Russia's state-run Rossiya-24 television channel, citing Ushakov, Saudi Arabia will serve as the guest country at the 2026 edition.

The country's delegation will be led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy. 

"Approximately 200 representatives from key departments and institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as banks and Saudi Aramco," he said, per the report.

"As a leading Middle Eastern power and a key member of OPEC, Saudi Arabia plays an important role in global energy markets and the region's geopolitical landscape," Zhang said. "By selecting Saudi Arabia as the guest country, Russia is seeking to strengthen its influence in the Middle East and reinforce its regional partnerships, while also leveraging Saudi sovereign wealth to attract investment and deepen cooperation in areas such as energy and manufacturing. The move reflects both geopolitical considerations and Russia's economic recovery needs."

Deals signed at the forum are expected to total 6.4-6.5 trillion rubles ($81-83 billion), primarily in the infrastructure, energy and artificial intelligence sectors, according to experts cited by Russian media Izvestia.

Launched in 1997, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has grown into one of Russia's most important international economic forums.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday condemned the launch of so-called maritime delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines, calling the talks completely illegal, null and void.

The response came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wrapped up talks in Tokyo, with a joint statement released late Thursday announcing that the two countries would begin formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf between them.

Chinese experts noted that the area Japan and the Philippines intend to delimit falls within China's continental shelf and EEZ. They argued that Tokyo and Manila are attempting to bypass China in drawing maritime boundaries near Taiwan island. Such a move, they said, constitutes a serious provocation and reflects efforts by the two countries to coordinate their China-related strategies while serving as a forward outpost for the involvement of outside powers in the region.

Severe violation

At Friday's regular press briefing, when asked about Japan and the Philippines' plan to start talks on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between Japan and the Philippines, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the area the two countries announced they will delimit is east of China's Taiwan island. According to China's domestic law and international law including UNCLOS, China has exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in this area.

Japan and the Philippines' so-called maritime delimitation talks constitute a severe violation of China's maritime rights and interests, UNCLOS and other international law and basic norms governing international relations, Mao added.

"China strongly deplores and firmly opposes that and has lodged serious protests with both countries," she said.

"The so-called delimitation talks are completely illegal, null and void, and will have no effect on China's claims to rights in the area east of Taiwan island or exercise of China's lawful rights. China urges Japan and the Philippines to immediately stop any violation of China's maritime rights and interests and take concrete actions to uphold regional peace and stability," Mao said.

During the Philippine President's visit to Japan, the two sides issued a Japan-Philippines Joint Statement on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in which they claimed the leaders of the two countries have decided to commence formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the EEZ and the continental shelf between the two countries "in order to enhance legal certainty in the region."

The move was widely interpreted as carrying strategic implications beyond maritime administration. Singapore-based newspaper The Straits Times reported that the move signals a formal effort to define boundaries between Japan and the Philippines, which share overlapping maritime interests "and a common wariness about China" in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

The report further noted that "the groundwork had already been laid." The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which allows each country's forces to enter the other's territory for joint drills and disaster relief, took effect in September 2025. Four months later, Tokyo and Manila signed an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement governing the sharing of military supplies and services, according to the report. Analysts said it suggested that the latest move is part of a longer-term strategic alignment.

"The prerequisite for maritime delimitation is that the waters concerned involve only maritime claims generated by opposite or adjacent coasts of the negotiating parties. Where third-party rights are involved, especially in areas where sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction disputes remain unresolved, any bilateral arrangement must not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of a third party," Yang Xiao, a research professor at the Institute of Peaceful Development under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

Yang noted that this is a basic principle of international law and is also reflected in UNCLOS. Given that the waters involved are closely linked to the maritime rights and interests of Taiwan island and its adjacent waters, which concerns China's sovereignty, rights and jurisdiction, neither Japan nor the Philippines has the authority to make arrangements concerning the area while bypassing China, he said.

"The announcement of maritime delimitation talks at this particular moment is not simply about maritime cooperation between the two countries," Yang said. "It reflects an attempt to bind their interests together across these waters, connect the island chain and strengthen coordinated efforts against China."

"In international maritime practice, one important bottom line is not to prejudice the interests of a third party," Yang added. "If Japan and the Philippines insist on pushing forward, it will not automatically grant legitimacy to their claims. Instead, it could create further disputes, widen divisions and undermine regional peace and stability."

Dangerous military cooperation

Beyond the planned maritime delimitation negotiations, the two countries also highlighted coast guard cooperation in the maritime cooperation section of the joint statement, saying they had decided to further promote exchanges between maritime law enforcement agencies, including through joint training and capacity-building activities.

The cooperation agenda also extends well beyond the coast guard. The joint statement stated that the two leaders decided to continue closely working together to further promote the transfer of military equipment, including destroyers, TC-90 aircraft and radar systems. Tokyo also reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to the capacity building of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The commitments further demonstrate the growing ambition behind bilateral military cooperation. Reporting on the development, The Independent noted that Marcos Jr. represents the first potential major customer for Japanese arms since Takaichi's government lifted a ban on lethal weapons exports in April.

"This policy shift marks a significant departure from Japan's postwar pacifist stance as the nation accelerates its military and arms industry development," according to the Independent.

A number of international media outlets and observers have linked the strengthening Japan-Philippines partnership directly to China. The Associated Press reported that "Both nations have China firmly in mind as they tighten a military relationship that the United States hopes will act as a bulwark against Beijing."

Japanese news agency Jiji Press described the meeting and joint statement as marking an "increasingly evident quasi-alliance against China."

"The economic cooperation outlined in the joint statement largely continues existing trends, but cooperation in the political and military fields represents a dangerous move, one that carries disruptive implications for regional peace," Yang said.

"Japan is breaking through previous constraints imposed by its pacifist constitution, exporting offensive weapons and sending military personnel to Philippine territory. These developments reveal a shared intention to target China and reshape the existing regional order," he added.

Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday that both countries have demonstrated clear ambitions in relation to the South China Sea and East China Sea.

"To feed their ambitions, they are further strengthening their collusion," Chen said. "Japan hopes to deepen its presence in the South China Sea by using the Philippines as a strategic foothold, while the Philippines seeks greater military support and arms supplies from Japan. Each side is pursuing its own interests."

Chen argued that the statement carries strong Cold War undertones, seeking to align positions on the East China Sea, South China Sea and even the Taiwan question in opposition to China.

At Friday's press briefing, when asked about reports that orders from Japan's Ministry of Defense have tripled over the past five years due to rising demand for surface-to-air missiles, aircraft and other weapons, Mao said, "We have noted the reports with deep concern. The reactivation and rapid rise of Japan's military industrial complex represents another major development in Japan's accelerating remilitarization. It is raising widespread concern both within Japan and across the international community."

"Senior officials of the Japanese government spare no effort to promote arms sales in the world in an attempt to develop the military industry into an economic pillar of the nation. This contravenes Japan's self-claimed image as a 'pacifist nation'," Mao said, asking, "Does Japan intend to return to the path of militarist expansion? All peace-loving people in the world, including the Japanese people, must stay on high alert."

South Korean relevant departments have conveyed Seoul's position to the US through various channels after US Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Xavier Brunson described South Korea as a "dagger in the heart of Asia" regarding Seoul's geostrategic value, and the South Korean government is believed to have expressed regret and concern over the remarks while asking Washington to exercise restraint, Yonhap News Agency reported on Sunday, citing South Korea's presidential office.

According to Yonhap, South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and officials from the defense ministry, foreign ministry and other departments delivered Seoul's message to Washington through diplomatic and security channels.

The Blue House said that it was unable to disclose the specific details of the discussions held through diplomatic and security channels between South Korea and the US, but noted that it was aware of Brunson's recent series of public remarks and that Seoul and Washington have been maintaining communication at various levels regarding all relevant issues, Yonhap reported. 

"When they (the Chinese) look out from the east coast of China, what they see is there's Korea, the dagger in the heart of Asia," Brunson said in a recent podcast interview, according to a transcript posted on the website of the Strategic Studies Institute at the Army War College.

"(Then) there's Japan again, sort of that shield that's sort of a backstop, if you will, for them trying and their ambitions beyond that into the South China Sea and then down to their southeast is the Philippines," he added.

Brunson's remarks exposed a mindset of treating allies such as South Korea as subordinates and as tools to contain China, Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. He noted that the remarks were full of arrogance toward South Korea and provocation against China, ignoring the fact that South Korea is a sovereign country. 

Brunson's rhetoric has also drawn attention from South Korean media. The Korea Herald said that although a Cheong Wa Dae official declined to elaborate on the government's position regarding Brunson's remarks, security watchers say the message was likely that of regret.

South Korea's local media outlet News1 said the presidential office complained to the US over the remarks, while broadcaster JTBC reported that such concerns had been raised 10 times previously.

According to JTBC, the South Korean government told Brunson that the commander of US Forces Korea should act in accordance with agreements reached by the leaders of South Korea and the US, and should not make remarks that could cause misunderstanding or undermine regional peace.

The report said Brunson's latest remarks not only provoked China but also made South Korea, a US ally, uncomfortable. Despite Seoul repeatedly conveying its concerns, Brunson has continued to make unexpected remarks, and the government attaches great importance to this situation, JTBC reported.

Brunson's latest rhetoric was not the first of its kind. According to a Chosun Daily report in May 2025, the US commander had described South Korea as a "fixed aircraft carrier" in the region. 

In response to Brunson's recent remarks, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in South Korea questioned on Thursday whether Brunson's hostile and aggressive anti-China comments were authorized or he intended to challenge the consensus reached during the meeting between Chinese and US heads of state in Beijing. The spokesperson asked whether referring to the host country as military weapons such as an "aircraft carrier" or a "dagger" reflects his belligerence or an attempt to use other countries as pawns.

The responsibilities of USFK are clear, and China's position toward US Forces Korea is also clear, the spokesperson said, adding that China hopes the commander of US Forces Korea will respect countries in the region and do more to promote regional peace and stability. 

"We have noticed that some South Korean media outlets published commentaries cautioning Mr Brunson that 'you crossed the line.' We would also like to tell the US Forces Korea commander that 'your rhetoric has indeed crossed the line,'" the spokesperson said.

Chinese analysts said Brunson's remarks also reflect South Korea's awkward position within the US-South Korea alliance, suggesting that Washington and Seoul may face deeper contradictions in their regional strategic goals, which appears to be not fully aligned. 

In addition to media coverage and criticisms, some South Korean netizens also expressed strong dissatisfaction over Brunson's remarks. 

On social media platform X, a South Korean netizen wrote that the remarks laid bare Washington's view of South Korea as little more than a military base or colony, noting that a defeatist mentality within South Korea that the country cannot defend itself without the US had also contributed to Washington's misperception. 

Another netizen said the South Korean government had reportedly warned Brunson 10 times to be careful with his words, but he ignored all of them, exposing how the US treats South Korea as a Pacific outpost and calling the episode a "diplomatic disaster." 

A netizen said in Korean on Gasengi.com that in the long run, US forces in South Korea should be further reduced and eventually leave, and that South Korea should safeguard its own security with its own hands.

Discussions within South Korea over Brunson's remarks indicate that regional countries are now paying more attention to strategic autonomy and are increasingly unwilling to simply follow the strategic arrangements of major powers. Instead, they are placing greater emphasis on making decisions based on their own national interests, Lü said. 

With two months to go before Busan hosts the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung inspected preparations and urged the city to address controversy over alleged accommodation price gouging. Lee noted that many Chinese tourists have been visiting Busan. He also mentioned that unfriendliness, overcharging and racial discrimination are among the biggest threats to the city's tourism industry, saying such practices could seriously damage Busan's image, according to South Korean media.

At a briefing on preparations for the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Haeundae District, Busan, Lee raised the issue while discussing large-scale international events and efforts to attract tourists, according to South Korean media the Financial News.

Lee said "If talk of lodging price gouging comes up again when we host large-scale events in the future, it will badly damage Busan's image," and urged officials to "prepare and respond well." In particular, he addressed reports that some lodging businesses had raised prices and canceled reservations ahead of the BTS concert, according to the report.

With BTS concerts scheduled in Busan on the 12th and 13th of next month, reports on online communities of one-night rates in the Busan area reaching up to several million won have sparked controversy, per Kyunghyang Shinmun.

According to a video of the briefing released by JTV News, an official said during the meeting that cruises from China were increasing rapidly and that Busan would strengthen its tourism reception system to attract more visitors. Lee then noted that when he visited Jagalchi Market, merchants told him that many Chinese tourists had been coming and that Chinese visitors, in particular, had strong consumption demand for food.

Lee then said that it shows Busan is a region with enormous potential, especially in tourism. But the biggest obstacles to tourism are unfriendliness, overcharging and, in particular, forms of racial discrimination, which can do great damage. These are things they need to be careful about, according to JTV News.

The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level-IV flood-control emergency response on Sunday for Anhui, Henan, Chongqing and Shaanxi, while maintaining the same level of response for Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan.

From Sunday to Wednesday, heavy rainfall is expected to sweep across eastern and northern parts of southwest China, eastern parts of northwest China, areas between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River, areas between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, as well as the northern and western parts of areas south of the Yangtze River. Some small and medium-sized rivers in high-risk areas could exceed warning levels.

The ministry has urged local authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring of rainfall and water-level conditions and issue early warning information in a timely manner.

Special emphasis should be placed on ensuring the safe operation of reservoirs during the flood season and stepping up flood prevention efforts for smaller rivers and mountain torrents, according to the ministry.

Editor's Note:

"Building an ecological civilization concerns the well-being of the people and the future of the nation."

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, pointed out: "Respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature is essential for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects."

As outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, securing major breakthroughs in strategic tasks of overall importance to Chinese modernization and making major new progress in the Beautiful China Initiative are set as key objectives.

The Global Times is launching a series of articles titled "BeautifulChinaING." From the perspectives of the beauty of nature, the beauty of system and the beauty of lifestyle, the series uses both Chinese and international cases as entry points. Through field reporting and video storytelling, it explores how green development has become a defining feature of Chinese modernization while showcasing China's role as a responsible major country providing global public goods.

In this installment, as May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity, we turn our focus to the Chinese merganser in the Changbai Mountains, where decades of conservation, scientific innovation and community participation are helping revive one of the world's rarest birds while showcasing China's broader ecological restoration efforts.

In May, the Changbai Mountains in Northeast China's Jilin Province awaken with new life. Wildlife activity grows increasingly frequent as spring spreads across the forests and rivers.

Inside the nursery room of a wildlife rescue station five kilometers from Erdaobaihe Town, veterinarian Cui Xiucheng bends over to observe two tiny, fluffy creatures. The Chinese merganser ducklings flap their fragile wings excitedly as they splash around in a small basin of water.

The pair had recently become separated from their flock before being discovered by tourists and brought to the rescue station. Now, in a temperature-controlled environment and under careful feeding plans, they are growing steadily.

Behind this seemingly ordinary scene lies a conservation effort that has lasted for more than a decade.

Researchers at the Changbai Mountain Academy of Science told the Global Times that the Chinese merganser - a relic species dating back some 70 million years - is often referred to as the "giant pandas of birds." Highly sensitive to water quality and ecological conditions, the species is widely regarded as an indicator of ecosystem health. In recent years, sustained conservation efforts have driven a rapid recovery in its population.

May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity. Against this backdrop, the story of the Chinese merganser in the Changbai Mountains has become a vivid example of China's broader ecological conservation achievements.

Guardians in the forest

According to Cui, rescuing Chinese mergansers requires highly specialized work.

In late May to early June each year, mother ducks leave the nest with most of their ducklings soon after hatching. Yet one or two eggs are left behind, having failed to hatch due to temperature fluctuations or insufficient incubation time, Cui told the Global Times.

"At that point, I bring the eggs back to the rescue station and place them in artificial incubators that replicate the temperature and humidity conditions of the wild," Cui said.
Rescue operations are not limited to eggs. Injured or stranded ducklings also frequently require intervention.

In one rescue case in 2025, rescue workers found a weak duckling that had failed to jump out of an artificial nest box and was in critical condition. They rushed it back to the station for emergency care.

To help the duckling survive, Cui and other staff members prepared live cold-water fish every day, feeding it seven to eight times daily while carefully adjusting portions according to its growth stage. As the bird grew, its appetite became astonishing, consuming more than 100 small fish per day.

"They only eat tiny live fish from Changbai's cold-water streams, and the water quality has to remain extremely clean," Cui explained.

Alongside feeding, workers gradually introduced the duckling to simulated wild environments and trained it to forage independently.

After more than a month of intensive care, during the peak feeding period for wild merganser flocks, the bird was released into the river. Only after watching it quickly blend back into the wild group did the rescue team finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Since joining the rescue station in 2018, I start work at 7 am almost every day, and emergency rescues sometimes happen in the middle of the night," Cui said. "But seeing these endangered birds gradually recover makes every effort worthwhile."

The Global Times learned from the Changbai Mountain Academy of Science that surveys conducted in 2013 found only three natural nests remaining in the Toudao Baihe river basin, with fewer than 10 Chinese mergansers left in the area.

The turning point came through systematic policy support.

Facing severe population decline, local authorities launched key scientific research and conservation projects aimed at comprehensive species recovery. In 2018, Jilin initiated a long-term Chinese merganser conservation program covering the Changbai Mountains through 2030, according to China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Today, after years of effort, the population of Chinese mergansers in the region has multiplied significantly.

Between 2022 and 2025 alone, this rescue station successfully treated and rescued more than 130 wild animals, including nationally protected species such as Chinese mergansers, sika deer, leopard cats, black bears, roe deer, goshawks and kestrels.
Technological evolution in artificial nests

Behind the population rebound lies an evolving system of conservation technology.

Wang Zhuocong, associate researcher at the institute of zoology under the Changbai Mountain Academy of Science, described the gradual evolution of artificial nesting boxes.

"We first began experimenting with artificial nests in 2012. The earliest versions were very simple wooden boxes," Wang told the Global Times.

After years of refinement, the reserve's artificial nests have now reached their fourth generation. Internal climbing nets help Chinese mergansers safely jump out of nests, bark-like outer coverings provide a more natural appearance for nesting females, and environmentally friendly anti-corrosion coatings protect the structures from freeze-thaw cracking, Wang said.

The results have been striking. Wang said that in 2020, six artificial nests in the Toudao Baihe basin successfully produced 42 Chinese mergansers. By 2023, as many as 17 artificial nests were used, producing 116 hatchlings.

Snakes and weasel-like predators are among the merganser's main natural enemies. Snakes consume eggs, while yellow-throated martens not only prey on eggs but also attack incubating females.

To address the problem without disrupting ecological balance, conservation teams adopted cautious solutions. Snake repellents containing substances such as realgar and garlic extract were deployed around nests, while anti-marten barriers made from blunt plastic mesh were installed to deter predators without harming them.

"We cannot protect one endangered species by destroying others," Wang stressed.

Today, local authorities have also installed real-time monitoring cameras, carefully placing them during brief periods when female ducks temporarily leave the nests after laying eggs. The system allows researchers to observe breeding behavior while quickly identifying emergencies that require rescue intervention, Wang said.

Yet Wang emphasized that there is much work to be done before the Chinese merganser can be removed from the endangered species list.

As she pointed out, key priorities include restoring habitat connectivity by removing or modifying river barriers that obstruct migration routes, and expanding the large-scale installation of predator-resistant artificial nests with temperature and humidity controls.

Even so, the Chinese merganser's return already reflects the broader ecological recovery underway in the Changbai region.

"The fact that Chinese mergansers are returning to use artificial nests shows that forest resources across the Changbai Mountains are recovering," Wang said. "And if they can survive here and raise offspring successfully, it means the rivers contain abundant food and biodiversity, and the water quality is excellent."

Shi Guoqiang, head of the protection division at the Changbai Mountain Nature Conservation and Management Center, told the Global Times that conservation achievements during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) have been especially significant. Chinese merganser populations have steadily increased across the reserve. Meanwhile, in recent years, the Siberian tiger, a flagship species of the northeastern forest ecosystem, has also left increasing traces and has been captured on hidden cameras.

"The return of flagship species demonstrates that the Changbai Mountains ecosystem is becoming more complete, while habitat connectivity and ecological integrity continue to improve," Shi said.
Living alongside Nature

The 2026-2030 period marks a critical stage for China in its quest to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035, with harmony between humanity and nature standing as a distinctive feature of Chinese modernization, reported Xinhua on March 9, 2026.

For the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, coexistence between humans and nature also forms a central part of its long-term vision.

Shi told the Global Times that the reserve has actively encouraged nearby residents to participate in conservation work. Local residents are recruited as ecological forest rangers and patrol personnel, with experienced workers able to advance into leadership positions.

Cui has witnessed the change firsthand.

"Public awareness of wildlife protection has improved significantly in recent years," he said. "Now, usually, whenever someone comes across an injured animal, they take it to the rescue station."

Not long ago, a lost wild boar piglet even ran underneath a patrol vehicle seeking shelter and help, Cui recalled with a smile, describing the animal as "surprisingly intelligent."

Environmental education has also become increasingly immersive and localized. During events such as bird-loving week, students and community groups are invited to research and science education bases where they learn to build bird nests, participate in habitat restoration and experience wildlife patrol work firsthand.

Biodiversity conservation efforts across other parts of China have also yielded notable results. On Wednesday, the People's Daily Online reported that more than 500 milu deer, an endemic Chinese species, were born this year at a national nature reserve in Central China's Hubei Province, marking a breeding peak for the population.

Meanwhile, China National Radio reported on Wednesday that through continuous habitat restoration, population monitoring and ecological corridor construction, numbers of the Hainan gibbon in Changjiang County, South China's Hainan Province, have steadily increased, making the area a national model for the protection of rare and endangered species.

As the sun sets, the rescued Chinese merganser duckling released from the nursery has now adapted to life in the wild, foraging alongside its flock in shallow waters. Back at the rescue station, Cui remains busy caring for newly injured animals.

"As long as the forests stay green and the streams stay clear, these birds will always have a home," Cui said. "And that home belongs not only to the birds, but to everyone living on this land."

A video showing a post-1999-born man from Zhoukou, Central China's Henan Province, reportedly earning around 30,000 yuan ($4,100) a month by breeding cockroaches has gone viral online, local media reported.

The man, surnamed Xing, said he entered the industry after noticing the growing popularity of exotic pets among young people, per the report.

"Young people like reptile pets and I saw a market opportunity, so I gradually started learning and gaining experience," Xing said.

He explained that he initially fed the cockroaches carrots before switching to a mix of fruits, vegetables, wheat bran and flour-based feed, all prepared by himself.

Footage from the interview showed Xing building his own breeding facility, where egg carton trays were neatly stacked on shelves to serve as habitats for the cockroaches. Crushed food was spread across the racks, and the insects would crawl out on their own to feed.

Xing told the reporter that he can manage the breeding farm by himself and that the operating costs are relatively low. According to Xing, young cockroaches can sell for about 300 yuan per jin (500 grams), while even lower-grade stock can fetch between 60 and 70 yuan per jin.

The video quickly drew attention online, with some netizens expressing curiosity about the uses of cockroaches beyond being used as feed or food. Others joked that they were inspired to "switch careers" and start breeding cockroaches themselves.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

Xi held talks with Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi noted that China and Russia signed the treaty 25 years ago, establishing by law the institutional foundation of long-term good-neighborliness, friendship and comprehensive strategic coordination.

Since then, the bilateral relationship has achieved leapfrog development, Xi added.

Today, the international landscape is undergoing momentous changes, and the world risks returning to the law of the jungle, Xi said, adding that against this backdrop, the China-Russia treaty of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation has further proven to be advanced, scientific and relevant.

China supports the further extension of the treaty, said Xi, adding that China will work with Russia to jointly honor the spirit of the treaty and firmly advance China-Russia back-to-back strategic coordination.

Editor's Note:

"Building an ecological civilization concerns the well-being of the people and the future of the nation."

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, pointed out: "Respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature is essential for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects."

As outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, securing major breakthroughs in strategic tasks of overall importance to Chinese modernization and making major new progress in the Beautiful China Initiative are set as key objectives.

The Global Times is launching a series of articles titled "BeautifulChinaING." From the perspectives of the beauty of nature, the beauty of system and the beauty of lifestyle, the series uses both Chinese and international cases as entry points. Through field reporting and video storytelling, it explores how green development has become a defining feature of Chinese modernization while showcasing China's role as a responsible major country providing global public goods.

In this installment, we turn our focus to China's broader fight against desertification and the growing public participation behind it. Through the stories of young volunteers planting trees in Minqin County, Northwest China's Gansu Province, and similar efforts across the country, this story examines how grassroots action, youth engagement and long-term ecological restoration are becoming part of the wider practice of building a Beautiful China.

This spring, many young Chinese people have chosen not to spend their holidays at popular tourist attractions, but on the edge of the desert in Minqin County, Northwest China's Gansu Province.

On social media, "Come to Minqin and plant a tree" has become a trending topic. Young people from across the country have paid their own way to travel there, carrying shovels and saplings on their backs, planting native sand-fixing plants amid wind and sand. In doing so, they have turned "going to the desert to plant trees" into a new public welfare trend.

As of May 5, the 2026 "Come to Minqin and plant a tree" volunteer campaign had received more than 50,000 online registrations and attracted 46,000 volunteer visits in total. At its peak, more than 4,000 volunteers booked slots in a single day via the online platform to come to Minqin to plant trees, the People's Daily reported.

This trend also stands as a vivid testament to the country's broader green development efforts.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, China completed afforestation of 36.6 million hectares over the past five years, restored 289,600 mu (19,307 hectares) of wetlands, and treated 10.13 million mu of desertified land. The country has continued to see reductions in both desertified and sandy land areas, becoming the first in the world to achieve "zero growth" in land degradation.

Zhao Yu, who works in the internet industry in Beijing, is one of the volunteers coming to Minqin. She first came across stories about Minqin's desertification control efforts on short video platforms and was moved by the persistence of Zhong Lin, a young man born in 1998 who returned to his hometown, and local residents who have spent years guarding the oasis.

In March, she arrived in Minqin. She had originally thought planting trees was simply about "digging a hole and putting a sapling in it." But after truly stepping into the desert, she found that preventing and controlling desertification was far more arduous than she had imagined - and far more concrete.

"I used to think ecological civilization and green development were somewhat distant from ordinary people," Zhao told the Global Times. But in Minqin, she said, she felt for the first time that ecological civilization could be a tree planted by ordinary people with their own hands. It could also be the genuine efforts of a group of young people bending over in the wind and sand to bring more green to the desert.

From screen to sand

The first thing Zhao felt after arriving in Minqin was a strong sense of contrast.

Before setting off, Minqin had been, to her, simply a destination many young people were heading to under related topics on social media platforms like Douyin and RedNote. Only after arriving did she realize that the wind and sand pressure borne by this land was far more direct and heavier than what she had seen on screen.

On the way to Minqin, the scenery outside the car window gradually turned vast and desolate. Along the way, she heard local residents explain that Minqin lies between the Tengger Desert and the Badain Jaran Desert like "a sandwich," and has long faced the pressure of being hemmed in by the two deserts.

Planting trees in the desert was not as easy as she had imagined. This year, the base adopted a new planting method, putting sand-tolerant plants into nutrient cups for mixed planting, in order to improve the survival rate and enrich biodiversity.

Saxaul trees, also known by their scientific name Haloxylon ammodendron, are highly drought-resistant plants that help stabilize sand dunes and form shelter belts. A single saxaul tree can help stabilize about 10 square meters of desertified soil.

Volunteers were divided into different groups. Some distributed saplings, some filled soil, some dug holes, and others watered and backfilled them. Since the nutrient cups were relatively tall, the holes had to be dug deep - sometimes above knee level. The loose sand would quickly slide back into the hole soon after being shoveled aside, so one hole often required several people to work together.

Zhao's group had eight or nine people, and over several days, they planted nearly 100 saplings.

The physical hardship soon became tangible. When the wind and sand were strong, sand would get into their hats, masks, shoe covers and the seams of clothing. Under the noon sun beating down on the sand, those working would soon be drenched in sweat.

But what impressed Zhao most was not the hardship, but the tacit understanding that formed among the young people on site. She saw that many volunteers were around 20 years old, and quite a few had never participated in environmental protection activities before or even held a shovel. Yet after arriving, they all carefully learned how to distribute saplings, dig holes and backfill them, worried that the saplings they planted might not survive.

One detail particularly touched her. A teenage girl in her group said while planting trees, "I must make sure the tree I plant survives."

Zhao said the remark helped her immediately understand the state of mind of many young people after arriving in Minqin: "They were not there for an easy visit and a selfie. They truly hoped that the trees they planted with their own hands would take root, sprout and grow."

She also noticed that local residents were especially warm toward volunteers from other places, whether in terms of accommodation, meals, transportation or other services.

The thought deeply touched her. "Planting trees here carries not only the enthusiasm of young people from outside, but also Minqin people's cherishing of and expectations for their homeland," Zhao told the Global Times.

After returning to Beijing, Zhao posted her experience online, and the response surprised her. She said the questions she received most often from netizens were how to sign up, how to get to Minqin and whether they could make donations. Many people also sent her long private messages expressing a keen interest to take part.

After receiving all these messages, and seeing how enthusiastic people were, she made a separate guide video, compiling information on registration methods, travel routes and precautions.
Growing groves

In Minqin, the arrival of young people did not begin only this year.

According to the People's Daily, as early as 2006, Ma Junhe, a local resident of Minqin, and his friends jointly launched a volunteer association. In 2007, they organized volunteers online for the first time to come to Minqin to plant trees and fight desertification. In the first year, only around 20 people answered the call and came to the desert to plant trees.

More than a decade later, the internet has continued to play a role, but in a different way. Short videos, variety shows and social media platforms have brought Minqin onto the phone screens of more young people.

The Global Times learned from the Minqin county publicity department that in February 2024, the production team of an online variety show filmed a program in the county, where the guests and Zhong Lin, a young entrepreneur who returned to his hometown in Minqin, jointly planted 180,000 saxaul trees on the edge of the Tengger Desert.

After watching the program, many young people made the journey to the county, and took part in tree-planting activities.

In February 2025, the county issued a recruitment notice for the "Come to Minqin and plant a tree" public welfare tree-planting campaign. Soon afterwards, more volunteers from across the country began arriving in Minqin to take part in voluntary tree planting.

The Global Times learned from the Minqin county publicity department that since the campaign was launched, it has attracted more than 92,000 volunteer visits from across the country.

Zhong said he experienced failure when he first began working on nonprofit desertification control.

When he first tried to plant 500 saxaul trees, most of them failed to survive due to his lack of experience. He later studied materials on desertification control, sought advice from local villagers, summarized the lessons learned and planted another 53 hectares of saxaul trees. He also moved his home to the edge of the desert to guard the saplings as they grew. The survival rate of that batch of saxaul trees reached 80 percent.

"Planting trees in the desert is something Minqin people have been doing for generations," Zhong told the Global Times. Now, through the "Come to Minqin and plant a tree" initiative, more and more young people from across the country have joined in, and many parents have brought their children here to plant trees, Zhong said. "This is the meaning of what I am doing."
Grassroots synergy

The continuous influx of volunteers has also brought new tests to this northwest China county, which has a relatively small permanent population.

The Global Times learned from the Minqin county publicity department that, since 2025, in order to ensure the smooth and orderly operation of the "Come to Minqin and plant a tree" volunteer campaign, Minqin has refined services and support around the full process of volunteers' needs, covering meals, accommodation, transportation and tree planting. Local authorities have also set up police, medical and emergency service points.

Such efforts are emerging in more places. In the Hunshandake Sandy Land in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, spring tree planting has also attracted many volunteers.

During this year's May Day holidays, a public welfare spring planting campaign was launched in the Hunshandake Sandy Land in Inner Mongolia. On the first day, more than 300 volunteers from different places planted drought-resistant and sand-fixing species such as yellow willow and caragana on 6.7 hectares of mobile sandy land, with professional technicians providing on-site guidance, reported the Inner Mongolia TV.

From Minqin to Hunshandake, and from offline volunteer tree planting to internet-based public welfare platforms, the ways in which the public participates in desertification prevention and control are becoming more diverse.

Behind this public participation is China's long-term process of advancing large-scale land greening and desertification prevention and control. According to a report released by the National Greening Commission, by 2025, various regions across China had built 3,071 "internet + voluntary tree planting" bases, launched 62,000 responsibility-fulfilling activities throughout the year and received more than 33 million visits.

For Zhao, these grand figures eventually came back to a small detail in everyday life.

One day, her niece, who is still in kindergarten, suddenly said to her, "Auntie, I want to plant a tree." Zhao asked what kind of tree she wanted to plant. The child replied, "A saxaul tree."

The answer surprised Zhao. She said she had not told the child in detail about the tree-planting process in Minqin, yet the name "saxaul tree" had already taken root and begun to sprout in the child's heart.