The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday slammed Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for distorting facts and smearing China, and said his toxic rhetoric and action are pure political theatrics for selfish political gains, after the Philippine defense chief claimed that he would continue to do his "duty" following China's sanctions against him. 

It is precisely the irresponsible and reckless provocations of a small handful of people like him that have aggravated China-Philippines disputes and soured bilateral relations, and will ultimately jeopardize the interests of the Philippines and its people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday. 

Teodoro repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China, which undermines China's legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations. To uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests, China has decided to prohibit Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his spouse and child from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and not allow organizations and individuals in China to engage in any transaction, cooperation or other activities with them, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

Chinese experts said that Teodoro has repeatedly misrepresented China's rights-protection actions in the South China Sea and China's assistance to the Philippines, causing serious damage to bilateral ties. The sanctions also serve as a warning to certain Philippine politicians who have been hostile toward China not to further sabotage China-Philippines relations.

Sanctions against saboteur

When asked about what are the "irresponsible remarks" made by Teodoro that led to the sanctions against him, Lin said at the press conference on Friday that "Teodoro is one of the most blatant among the handful of hostile actors towards China in the Philippines. His reckless behavior will backfire and it is the interests of the Philippines and all its people that will bear the brunt." 

When asked whether China's announcement of sanctions against Teodoro will affect China's future assistance to the Philippines, Lin said that "if people like Teodoro are allowed to undermine again and again the efforts of the two sides to stabilize ties, they will hurt ultimately the fundamental interests of the Philippines and its people."

Following China's sanctions against Teodoro, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) claimed on Friday that "while the imposition of sanctions is China's sovereign prerogative, the Philippines views it as an unfriendly act that further complicates bilateral relations," according to Philippine media outlet GMA Network.

In a statement early Friday, Teodoro claimed he had been sanctioned for "speaking truth" and said "I will just keep doing my duty," according to Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN News.

The claim from the Philippine side that China's sanctions are an "unfriendly act" completely distorts the truth and shifts the blame, Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Teodoro's tenure under the Marcos administration has been marked by repeated attempts to distort the reality of China's maritime rights-protection enforcement in the South China Sea, economic aid, and diplomatic engagement, with the purpose of misleading the public and the global community, Chen said, noting that whether backed by domestic factions or external, extra-regional powers, Teodoro has acted as a deliberate saboteur of China-Philippines relations.

Teodoro alleged at the Shangri-La Dialogue that China had provided fertilizer and fuel to the Philippines but did not show good faith on a long-term basis, and "no matter how they sugarcoat their assistance to us, it doesn't cut the mustard." He also claimed the Philippines was under severe threat both territory-wise and politically by China.

In response to Teodoro's remarks, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on June 2 that this Philippine defense secretary is known for vilifying China. His latest rhetoric shows his complete disregard of the welfare of the Philippine people and lack of appreciation for kindness. All he cares about is selfish personal gains to the point that he would perform political theatrics even when people's well-being is at stake. 

China's sanctions against Teodoro send a clear message that those who repeatedly make anti-China remarks, distort facts and smear China's image must bear the consequences, especially when such words and deeds deliberately defy objective facts, Ge Hongliang, deputy director of the College of ASEAN Studies at Guangxi University for Nationalities, told the Global Times. 

China has rarely imposed targeted sanctions of this kind on politicians from Southeast Asian countries, and the move reflects Beijing's firm and unequivocal stance to safeguard its legitimate interests, the expert said, noting that it also serves as a warning to certain politicians in the Philippines whose negative actions are undermining bilateral ties.

Meddling in maritime issues 

China's sanctions against Teodoro come amid a series of provocative moves and maritime related rhetoric from the Philippines that have drawn protests from Beijing, including Manila's promotion of so-called Japan-Philippines maritime delimitation talks covering waters east of China's Taiwan island.

An Associated Press report on Friday also noted that Teodoro, who was appointed defense chief by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June 2023, "has been one of the most vocal critics" of China's actions in the South China Sea and against Taiwan island. 

Teodoro has led efforts to deepen Manila's defense and security engagements with the US, including by broadening annual combat exercises with American forces that now include joint naval patrols and drills in the South China Sea. He has also led efforts to forge visiting forces' agreements with countries including Japan, France, Canada and New Zealand, per AP. 

South China Sea tensions between China and the Philippines have risen to a high level, driven in part by the growing involvement of external forces such as the US and Japan. These two countries are using the Philippines as a strategic pawn against China, while Manila is relying on outside powers to take a tougher stance, a trend that has sharply increased regional security risks and will ultimately harm the Philippines' own interests, said Ge. 

Chen also noted that China's measured, proportionate countermeasures also serve as a warning to certain Philippine politicians not to trifle with China, exploit the goodwill of the Chinese people, or treat bilateral relations as a political game. When politicians treat state policy as a playground for personal agendas, their lies will ultimately inflict severe damage upon their own nation.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents in Beijing on Friday.

Chinese national security authorities have found that foreign espionage and intelligence agencies use part-time photography work and paid research assignments as inducements to recruit individuals in China online, directing them to attend military and technology exhibitions to take photographs or collect measurement data and then provide the information to overseas entities, according to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Sunday.

According to the MSS on its official WeChat public account, such seemingly fragmented and publicly available information can, after systematic collection, integration and professional analysis, reveal sensitive core secrets to foreign espionage and intelligence agencies.

Details captured under high-resolution lenses often convey more information than textual descriptions, according to the MSS. At air shows, seams in aircraft fuselage panels, rivet patterns, and even the reflective properties of coatings may reveal the manufacturing level of stealth materials. At electronics exhibitions, information such as circuit board layouts and chip models, when analyzed, can be used to infer the anti-jamming capability and processing speed of electronic warfare systems.

The MSS said that photographs of military equipment also contain a large amount of exploitable reference information. In a high-resolution image of a fighter jet, the background and surrounding reference objects can be used to accurately estimate its length, width, and height, which in turn allows inference of its fuel capacity, combat radius, and maneuverability. 

Information obtained from a single piece of equipment may be limited information, but the cumulative effect of such data can be significant. If information on supporting components of the same weapons system — such as radar vehicles, command vehicles, and reloading vehicles — is continuously collected across different exhibitions and time periods, it can be used to reconstruct the system’s full operational structure. 

By comparing differences in models displayed in different years, it is also possible to infer the system’s technological evolution and development progress, according to the ministry.

The MSS has reminded the public that they should reject suspicious unsolicited approaches and remain highly alert to individuals who initiate contact, offer high payments, and request the use of professional equipment such as telephoto lenses, 3D scanners, or signal analyzers to photograph specific military equipment, research facilities, or exhibition details. 

The MSS also reminded the public to comply with exhibition confidentiality rules by strictly following organizers’ photography regulations. In addition, they should guard against “jigsaw-style” intelligence gathering by remaining cautious of so-called clients who, under the guise of academic research or commercial cooperation, repeatedly request sensitive parameters or internal materials, in order to prevent the leakage of key data and core technologies.

The 18th Straits Forum will be held in east China's Fujian Province in mid-June, a mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The main conference of the event is scheduled for June 13, with the coastal city of Xiamen serving as the primary venue, according to Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

A series of related events will also be held across other parts of Fujian, Zhu said.

"The trees you helped fund all those years ago have grown into a vast forest. When will you come to see them? I really want to meet you again," said Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in China, in a heartfelt video message to Ronald Sakolsky in the U.S.

Across the Pacific, 69-year-old Sakolsky was deeply moved by the video. He replied that he would do his best to make the trip and hoped to plant a tree with Yin. The two have agreed to meet in China in the near future.

In 1985, Yin married into Salawusu village in Uxin banner, Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the heart of the Mu Us sandy land, the village was surrounded by endless dunes.

Yin knew that the only way to tame the sands was to plant trees. In 1986, she sold one of her family's sheep to buy 600 saplings, which she planted around her home. Soon after, a fierce sandstorm struck, leaving fewer than 10 trees alive. But Yin refused to be discouraged.

"If around 10 survived, later it might be 100, then 1,000," she recalled.

Undaunted, she and her husband Bai Wanxiang headed deep into the sand dunes, bringing saplings and tools along. For 40 years, a roughly 2-meter-long steel rod was Yin's trusted tool. She would jab it into the sand to make a hole, drop in a sapling, water it, and press the soil firmly with her foot. After decades of relentless use, the rod had worn down by about 67 centimeters.

Over the past four decades, government-led efforts and desertification fighters like Yin have driven a dramatic transformation of the landscape. More than 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land around Yin's home have been reclaimed, with over 8 million trees planted.

Today, about 85 percent of the Mu Us sandy land in Uxin banner — around 8.4 million mu — has been brought under control, and forest coverage has risen to 32.92 percent.

In 1999, Sakolsky, who was then teaching at a school in central China's Henan Province, happened to see a TV show about Yin's efforts and was deeply moved. He raised $5,000 through a foundation to support Yin's tree-planting work.

Yin was stunned when she received the donation.

"A complete stranger had raised such a large sum for me without even checking who I was. I had to make sure those trees thrived. I couldn't let that trust go to waste," she said.

"With more people worldwide showing concern, I came to understand that this is a dream shared by all humanity," Yin said.

Further down the tree-lined road stands a stone monument engraved with the words "Citizens of Earth." On its reverse side are the names of supporters from both China and abroad, each of whom contributed to the woodland in their own way.

Yin's perseverance has inspired more than 240 households in the surrounding areas to take up tree planting, with each planting over 3,000 mu of forest.

The pair of giant pandas Xingqiu and Yilan arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, on Sunday morning, marking the start of a new phase in China-Australia panda conservation efforts.

The two giant pandas departed Southwest China's Sichuan Province for Australia on Saturday afternoon. Their trip was around 11 hours across approximately 8,800 kilometers, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Xingqiu, a four-year-old male, and Yilan, a three-year-old female, both from the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, are set to settle at Adelaide Zoo for the next decade.

Li Dong, Chinese consul-general in Adelaide, said on Saturday that Chinese culture values that "joy alone is not as good as joy among all," and China is eager to share its love for giant pandas with Australia, Xinhua reported.

The pair of pandas will stay in the Bamboo Forest exhibit at Adelaide Zoo and be introduced to the public after a brief quarantine, according to a statement sent by the Adelaide Zoo to the Global Times on Sunday.

We've been in constant communication with our Chinese counterparts and after lots of discussion and careful consideration, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan were chosen as the best fit for Adelaide Zoo, it said.

The statement also noted that Xing Qiu and Yi Lan are both young pandas and were chosen with not only their ability to adapt to the Adelaide environment in mind but also their suitability as a breeding pair when they are older.

In a statement, Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the federal government was proud to partner with the SA government and Zoos SA (which runs Adelaide Zoo) to make the pandas' arrival possible, according to Australian media ABC.

"I am looking forward to welcoming Xing Qiu and Yi Lan to Adelaide, and visiting the Adelaide Zoo with my daughters early next year, once the pandas are out of quarantine," Wong said, according to ABC.

The only pair of giant pandas in Australia, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, returned to China from Adelaide Zoo in November.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said at a farewell reception for the pandas that over the past 15 years, China and Australia had achieved significant progress in panda conservation, disease prevention, and healthcare.

"We appreciate the fact that these national treasures of China say a lot about the friendship and relationships that exist between Australia and China, which are incredibly important," Dr Phil Ainsley, director of the Adelaide zoo, told the Global Times during a previous interview.

Major turmoil in the South China Sea is unlikely to occur in the near term, and China has the capability to maintain peace and stability in the region. However, certain countries should not harbor any illusions, as China will respond decisively to actions that infringe upon its rights and claims, Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, told the Global Times during the 2024 Symposium on International Maritime Dispute Settlement and International Law held in Beijing on Monday.

The senior maritime expert believes that year 2024 marked a turning point for security situation in the South China Sea. "Since the illegal ruling of the 2016 arbitration, China has taken a series of measures to stabilize the situation and stabilize relations between China and the claimant countries. However, in 2024, the trend toward stabilization in the South China Sea has to some extent been reversed. This is evident from the frequent provocations by the Philippines around Huangyan Dao and Ren’ai Jiao. He added that in the future, this situation may continue, however, major turmoil in the South China Sea is unlikely to occur in the near term, and China has the capability to maintain peace and stability in the region.

The Philippines passed two laws – the Philippine Maritime Zones (PMZ) Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes (PASL) Act – on November 8, in an attempt to solidify the illegal ruling of the 2016 arbitration case through domestic legislation, illegally including China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands and their related waters in its maritime zones.

In a countermeasure response, China on November 10 released the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard (CCG) has stated it will continuously strengthen patrols and law enforcement in the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and related maritime areas.

China also deposited to the UN the Statement on the Baselines of the Territorial Sea Adjacent to Huangyan Dao and the Chart on December 3.

"If the Philippines undertakes further provocative actions at Ren’ai Jiao in 2025, the possibility cannot be ruled out that China may take measures such as removing the Philippine military vessel that has been illegally 'grounded' there for decades," said Wu. He emphasized that certain countries should not harbor any illusions, as China will undoubtedly take action against any infringement of its rights and claims.

Wu believed that there will be a “window period” for joint development and exploration in the South China Sea among surrounding countries in 2025. Wu noted that in 2024, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries mentioned in their joint statements the intention to engage in joint development at sea.

The joint statement between China and Vietnam issued on October 14 mentioned to promote consultations on maritime joint development and to make substantial progress in the delimitation of maritime areas outside the Beibu Gulf, actively advancing cooperation in low-sensitivity maritime areas and enhancing maritime search and rescue cooperation.

On November 9, China and Indonesia issued a joint statement, according to which, the two sides reached important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims.

“This is a very important sign, especially regarding the content of joint development in maritime areas with overlapping claims in the China-Indonesia joint statement. Maritime joint development cooperation is crucial for all parties involved, as the disputes in maritime areas with overlapping claims in the South China Sea are extensive and involve multiple countries, making it difficult to resolve all disputes in a short time, or even in coming generations. Countries will certainly have to return to the path of cooperation; it is only a matter of time. If China and Indonesia, as well as China and Vietnam, can ultimately bring about cases of joint maritime cooperation and development, it will have a very positive demonstration effect,” Wu said.

Wu said he has just returned from the US after attending an exchange meeting. He told Global Times reporters that several American scholars believe that the US will not "scale back" its offensive against China regarding the South China Sea issue in 2025.

"Previous analyses suggested that in 2025, US pressure on China will focus more on economic and trade issues, while actions on the South China Sea issue would weaken. However, American scholars I met with generally disagree with this view. The US will not change its direction of exploiting the South China Sea issue to contain and suppress China; it will not allow the outside world to perceive a weakening of the US-Philippines alliance. The only uncertainty is whether it will adopt new means and methods,” Wu said. He added that China must prepare to respond in all aspects to face the unpredictability of the future.

The US insisted on arranging Lai's "transit" to offer platform for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, seriously violating the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sending a seriously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China strongly protests this and has lodged a stern representation with the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Friday.

Taiwan regional Leader Lai Ching-te is reportedly completing "transiting" through Hawaii and Guam and is scheduled to return to the island on Friday.

Lin said the Taiwan question is the primary, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. The actions of "Taiwan independence" are incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, honor US leaders' commitments not to support "Taiwan independence," cease official exchanges between the US and the island of Taiwan, stop hollowing out or undermining the one-China principle, and cease any form of support or tolerance for "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their activities and take concrete actions to stabilize China-US relations and maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, said the spokesperson.

Any attempt to rely on the US for "independence" will hit a wall, and any efforts to use Taiwan island to contain China are bound to fail, Lin said.

In response to another inquiry on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island as Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te has completed "transiting" through Hawaii and Guam, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the foremost, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.

Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C,'" as Lai returns from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through Hawaii and Guam.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Palau on Friday, Lai claimed that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are "not subordinate to each other," which Lin also refuted on Friday, saying that the separatist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the connivance and support from external forces are the greatest threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

Lai and the DPP authorities have consistently used various pretexts to promote "Taiwan independence" separatism. Regardless of what they say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China, nor can they stop the historical trend that China will be and must be reunified. The attempt to rely on external forces for independence is doomed to fail, Lin said.

Also on Friday, Lai claimed that he is confident in deepening cooperation with the next Trump administration in the US. The day before, he had a phone call with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.

In response, Lin said that China has repeatedly stated its firm position on this matter. We urge the US to recognize the "Taiwan independence" separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, and the serious harm that "Taiwan independence" separatist actions pose to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

The US should adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, stop interfering in Taiwan affairs, stop meddling in China's internal affairs, and cease supporting or conniving "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, said Lin.

In response to UNESCO on Wednesday inscribing Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian congratulated China on this achievement on Thursday.

Lin stated that the Spring Festival is the oldest and most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture, a time for bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, as well as for family reunions. Familiar customs such as writing Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, and dragon and lion dances embody the values of peace, harmony, and unity in Chinese civilization. These customs are not only part of China's heritage but also belong to the world.

Lin also mentioned that nearly 20 countries worldwide recognize the Lunar New Year as a public holiday, with about one-fifth of the global population celebrating the festival in various ways. Furthermore, the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly officially designated the Lunar New Year as a UN holiday last year.

"In just a month and a half, we will be celebrating the Spring Festival of the Lunar Year of the Snake," Lin Jian said. "We warmly welcome journalists and friends from all over the world to come to China and experience the rich and vibrant Spring Festival culture. We also sincerely hope for the resolution of conflicts around the world, harmonious coexistence of different civilizations, and closer bonds between people of all nations, so that we can all celebrate the Spring Festival together and share in its joy."

The listing of the Spring Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is an acknowledgment of not only its Chinese roots but also the ideas it carries that connect all humanity.

China has made clear solemn position on the G7's erroneous remarks related to China, and given that the G7 members say they seek constructive and stable relations with China and stand ready to cooperate with China to address global challenges, they should champion the spirit of mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao made the remarks in response to the G7 foreign ministers' meeting statement, which proposed seeking constructive and stable relations with China, cooperating with China to address global challenges, while demanding that China cease supporting Russia's defense industry, hyping up the so-called Chinese overcapacity issue, and making wrongful comments on issues related to the East China Sea, South China Sea, and China's Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong.

Mao said China has been objective and just on the Ukraine crisis and actively promoted talks for peace, and China has never provided weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, even drones for civilian use, and opposes using civilian drones for military purposes. Meanwhile, normal economic ties and trade between China and Russia should not be disrupted or coerced by any third party.

Mao also said the so-called allegation of China's overcapacity has been proved a false one by a large number of informative facts and statistics. "We hope relevant countries will keep an open mind and pursue fair competition," Mao said.

The spokesperson noted that China's position on issues related to the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong is consistent and clear-cut. "We firmly oppose the G7 undermining China's sovereignty and interfering in China's internal affairs. We urge G7 countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations and look after their own affairs."

"As we speak, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace in our world and international peace and development are facing unprecedented challenges. As a responsible major country, China always upholds fairness and justice, pursues openness and inclusiveness and brings benefits to the world through its development," Mao noted.

We hope the G7 countries will stop being indulged in geopolitical games, discard the narrow zero-sum mindset and make concrete contributions to international solidarity and cooperation, Mao said.