China plans to tighten management of Antarctic tourism by bringing it under a formal legal regulatory framework, and proposes fines of up to 1 million yuan ($147,778) for conducting activities without authorization, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee announced on Monday, against the backdrop of a growing number of Chinese tourists to this polar area.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee will convene for its 23rd session from Tuesday to Friday. It will review the second draft to the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law, which proposes a systematic regulatory framework for Antarctic tourism, including a permit application system, clearly defined obligations for both tour operators and tourists, and penalties such as fines of up to 1 million yuan and a ban of up to 10 years on applying for permits, Huang Haihua, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said during a press briefing on Monday.

In December 2025, the 19th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee conducted the first review of the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law. Based on feedbacks from various parties, the draft has been revised with major changes including to accurately fulfill the duties as stipulated by international treaties, improve reporting mechanism in emergency occasions, better bridge with China's fishery law, and strengthen protection of the Antarctic environment by establishing corresponding legal liabilities based on the degree of environmental damage and the difficulty of ecological restoration.

The draft aims to strengthen regulation and safety oversight of Antarctic tourism by clearly defining tourism activities and requiring operators to obtain permits from the State Council's maritime authority. Applicants must submit detailed activity plans, environmental impact assessments, emergency response measures, financial guarantees, and insurance documents.

It also sets out distinct responsibilities for operators and tourists: operators must ensure safe, compliant transport and equipment and implement safety and emergency protocols, while tourists must follow Antarctic Treaty safety rules and environmental regulations. Visitors to Chinese research stations must comply with national rules and avoid disrupting scientific activities.

Post-activity reporting to the maritime authority is mandatory.

For enforcement, unauthorized Antarctic tourism or activities will be ordered to stop immediately, with offenders required to leave Antarctica, have illegal gains confiscated, and face fines ranging from 100,000 to 1 million yuan depending on severity. Serious violations may also result in a 10-year ban on applying for Antarctic activity permits.

Chinese tourists traveling to Antarctica has grown rapidly in recent years, and the Xinhua News Agency reported in October 2025 that some polar tourism companies have increasingly focused on the Chinese market, with some even deploying expedition staff speaking Chinese on board vessels.

According to Hu Jiaojiao, director of Polar Hub, a Tianjin-based organization focusing on glacier protection, China has now become the fastest-growing source of Antarctic tourists and the world's second-largest country of origin for Antarctic travel.

The growing human activities combined with climate warming are placing dual pressure on the Antarctic cryosphere. The Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law can both regulate the behavior of domestic institutions and tourists and align with China's responsibilities in polar ecological governance, Hu told the Global Times on Monday.

It is also highly consistent with the goal of balancing mass tourism demand with Antarctic environmental protection and guiding Antarctic tourism toward sustainable development, Hu said.

According to Nicole Zheng, marketing director polar expedition cruise company 66 Expeditions Cruises, they carry out pre-landing preparations and environmental management during travels in accordance with the standards and requirements of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.

Strict IAATO-based rules require thorough cleaning of clothing and gear, bans on carrying soil, seeds or organic matter, and prohibition on collecting natural Antarctic samples in order to prevent invasive species from accelerating the degradation of native ecosystems around glaciers. Visitor numbers and routes are tightly controlled, with a mandatory 5-meter distance from wildlife and restrictions on entering sensitive zones. All waste, including human waste, must be returned to stations or camps for centralized disposal, according to Zheng.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday emphasized the importance of upholding international rules, saying that the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has lasted for over a hundred days, has severely impacted the regional and international situation.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks during the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security here in India.

He said that the recent signing of the first phase of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, along with the conflict, has made many things clear to us.

He said that the settlement of any international and regional hotspot issues should be based on abiding by international rules. The law of the jungle may succeed for a while, but it is not sustainable.

The second is the importance of respecting national sovereignty, Wang said, adding that territorial integrity shall not be violated and a country's internal affairs shall not be interfered with. This is the most basic bottom line of international justice, he noted.

The third point is the importance of establishing a new vision of security, Wang said. Countries are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future. The practice of seeking absolute security of oneself at the expense of others will only backfire, he said.

The Chinese top diplomat said that the fourth is to understand the significance of new forms of war. Unconventional warfare, such as information warfare and cyber warfare, has become more visible in recent conflicts. Facing interwoven traditional and non-traditional security threats, it is the right time for BRICS countries to enhance dialogue and cooperation on security affairs.

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued a consular advisory on Wednesday, urging Chinese citizens to exercise caution when traveling to areas along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to the embassy's official WeChat account.

The embassy said it had recently received reports from Chinese nationals who were subjected to enhanced scrutiny by Thai immigration authorities and, in some cases, denied entry, after previously traveling to border areas such as Tak Province.

Chinese citizens are advised to fully understand the associated risks and carefully consider whether travel to border areas, including Tak Province and Mae Sot.

According to the advisory, Thai authorities have in recent years strengthened entry and exit management in border areas, stepping up efforts to prevent risks linked to illegal employment, telecom and online fraud, online gambling, human smuggling and trafficking, as well as other cross-border criminal activities.

Foreign nationals who have previously visited relevant areas, stayed for extended periods, exhibited unusual travel patterns, or who are linked to related cases, may be subject to close scrutiny and additional checks upon entry, the embassy said.

The embassy reminded Chinese citizens traveling to Thailand to plan their itineraries appropriately, avoid visiting sensitive border areas unrelated to normal tourism or business activities, and not to trust advertisements involving high-paying jobs, investment tours or gambling activities, nor to participate in any illegal activities.

For those who have previously visited Thai-Myanmar border areas and plan to re-enter Thailand, the embassy advised them to consult relevant authorities in advance on applicable policies and fully assess potential entry risks to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.

It is the second travel advisory issued by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand within two months.  

On April 24, the embassy issued a separate reminder, saying a number of Chinese citizens had recently been deceived by criminal groups under the guise of "high-paying jobs" or tourism, and were induced to travel via Thailand to border areas between Thailand and Myanmar, where they were reportedly involved in telecom and online fraud and other illegal activities. 

The reminder added that some individuals were subjected to forcible physical control, violence, and unlawful detention, seriously endangering their lives, safety, and lawful rights and interests. The embassy urged Chinese citizens to strengthen risk awareness, enhance personal safety precautions, stay away from illegal activities, and ensure their safety. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing on Tuesday.

China places ties with Myanmar as a priority in neighborhood diplomacy, and supports the new Myanmar government in coordinating development and security imperatives to find a correct path of development that suits its national conditions and wins popular support, Xi told Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a state visit to China.

Xi said that China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, pursues a friendly policy toward all the people of Myanmar, and firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Noting that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), Xi said China stands ready to share its development experience with Myanmar and jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, which is underpinned by political amity and mutual trust, win-win development, security coordination and people-to-people exchanges.

As Myanmar's neighbor with the longest shared border, China is a trustworthy friend and partner, Xi stressed, calling on both sides to strengthen solidarity and collaboration in a changing and turbulent international landscape.

Xi called the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor a flagship project of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, saying both sides should steadily advance the safe construction of key projects to help Myanmar develop its economy and improve people's livelihoods.

Xi said China is willing to increase support for Myanmar's post-earthquake reconstruction, and the two sides should continue to combat criminal activities including online gambling, telecom fraud and drug trafficking.

China supports all parties in Myanmar in advancing peace and reconciliation through talks to achieve lasting stability in northern Myanmar, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Myanmar and its people, he said.

Hailing the time-honored "pauk-phaw" friendship between the two countries, Min Aung Hlaing thanked China for its long-standing and selfless support for Myanmar's development, stability, peace and reconciliation, adding Myanmar will firmly adhere to the one-China principle.

Noting that China's implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan brings important opportunities for its Asian neighbors including Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar hopes to deepen all-round cooperation with China, jointly build the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and elevate bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese enterprises and personnel in Myanmar and will make every effort to ensure their security. Myanmar is willing to work closely with China to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud and safeguard border security and stability, he added.

Myanmar fully supports the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi and stands ready to deepen multilateral communication and coordination with China, he said.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in areas including transportation and people's livelihoods.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Min Aung Hlaing. A welcome banquet was also held for him around noon.

In the face of global challenges, a top priority is to fulfill the obligations enshrined in the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said this at a press conference held to present a white paper titled "More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China's Principles, Proposals and Actions."

The Taiwan regional Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have bowed and scraped to cater to external forces and have degenerated into outright traitors to the nation, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday, stressing that "we sternly warn the DPP authorities that anyone who forgets their ancestors and betrays the nation will, without exception, be nailed to history's pillar of shame."

Zhang made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that after Japan and the Philippines announced the launch of "maritime delimitation talks," the mainland has emphasized the one-China principle, saying that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits should jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while the DPP authorities falsely claimed that "the two sides of the Straits are not subordinate to each other, China has no right to interfere and no right to speak on behalf of Taiwan." They also claimed that Taiwan has signed "fisheries agreements" with Japan and the Philippines respectively and will continue to discuss maritime issues with Japan and the Philippines. Some media also reported that Japan has rejected the DPP authorities' request for dialogue. 

Zhang said that the waters that Japan and the Philippines have announced they intend to delimit are located east of Taiwan island, where China has an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. By bypassing China and unilaterally launching so-called "delimitation talks," Japan and the Philippines have seriously infringed on China's maritime rights and interests, seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and their move is completely illegal and invalid.

The DPP authorities have bowed and scraped to cater to external forces and have degenerated into outright traitors to the nation. Facing unanimous condemnation from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the DPP authorities have changed their tune again, reheating the fallacy of "Taiwan independence" in an attempt to shift the focus and deceive the public, said Zhang. We sternly warn the DPP authorities that anyone who forgets their ancestors and betrays the nation will, without exception, be nailed to history's pillar of shame, she noted. 

Multiple Japanese media outlets reported on June 10 that Yohei Kono, former president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former speaker of the House of Representatives, passed away on June 8 at the age of 89. Throughout his life, Kono advocated friendship with China and deep reflection on Japan's wartime responsibilities. He issued the Kono Statement, which acknowledged historical wrongdoing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that we mourn for Mr. Yohei Kono's passing and offer our deepest sympathies to his family. Lin made the remarks at the regular press briefing on Thursday when asked what is Chinese Foreign Ministry's comment on Kono's passing and how China assess his contributions to China-Japan relations.

Mr. Kono is a dear old friend of the Chinese people. He held a correct view of history. In 1993 when he served as Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Kono issued an official statement on the "comfort women" issue to acknowledge the Japanese government's responsibility and express remorse and apology. Even to this day, the statement continues to exert a positive influence. Mr. Kono is regarded as a flagbearer in upholding Japan's pacifist Constitution. He once said, "Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which clearly stipulates that Japan renounces war and does not maintain war potential, represents our determination, resolve, and ideal," Lin said.

He dedicated his life to China-Japan friendship, visited China numerous times, and made important contributions to advancing bilateral relations and promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. On his deathbed, he still had China-Japan ties at heart and said in tears that he wished to make one last visit to China. Unfortunately, due to his worsening condition, Mr. Kono's wish was not fulfilled, Lin added.

Mr. Kono once said he would never forget the impact and joy when the two countries realized the normalization of diplomatic relations. History should not be forgotten, the conviction should be carried forward, and the commitments made should be honored. Under the current circumstances, these words hold even more relevance, Lin said.

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.