On Friday afternoon, China's men's national 3x3 basketball team conducted its first open media session of the year during their training camp for the Paris Olympic Games. Head coach Wang Zhanyu underscored the urgency of preparing effectively for the upcoming games in Paris.

Zhang Ning, who resumed training on Thursday after completing his university studies during his vacation, will join Zhao Jiaren and Lu Wenbo next weekend at the Chengdu Basketball Masters Tournament.

"The primary challenge for the team right now is time," emphasized Wang. "Some players have just rejoined the team, so we need to capitalize on every moment to refine our tactics and strengthen team chemistry."

The 3x3 basketball competition at the Paris Olympic Games is scheduled from July 30 to August 5 at Place de la Concorde. With slightly over a month left, the training squad plans to participate in three tournaments to simulate competitive conditions.

"We will compete in Chengdu next weekend, Canada in early July, and Langfang in mid-July. Following these tournaments, we intend to proceed to a training camp in France for our final preparations before the Olympics," Wang added.

Last year, under the national team's strategy, Zhang Ning and his teammates played with various teams, partnering with international players and achieving significant success in top-tier FIBA events.

"Our players have gained invaluable experience from their international counterparts. We aim to showcase our distinctive style of play during our preparations," said Zhang Ning.

Yan Peng, participating in his second Olympic preparation cycle, observed that the team's competition has grown stronger since the last Olympics. However, he noted that the team's preparation this time is more comprehensive.

"Zhang Ning's skills in driving and shooting are exceptional, and he remains the core of our team," Yan emphasized.

The coaching staff will thoroughly assess the players' performance in both games and training sessions to determine the final roster for the Paris Olympic Games, considering their on-court combinations and effectiveness.

Chinese fans expressed mixed reactions to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Saturday. The celebrations of French culture and history was warmly cheered but also criticized in some parts.

The Chinese delegation, led by flagbearers Ma Long, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in table tennis, and eight-time artistic swimming world champion Feng Yu, joined the athletes' fleet of barges on a six-kilometer ride on the River Seine before arriving at Trocadero square.

"Considering the pouring rain, what if our athletes catch a cold during this four-hour opening ceremony?" a Chinese fan Li Jianqiu posted on Weibo. "The Olympics is supposed to showcase the athletes' best performance, but the opening ceremony is risking their health."

As the fleet passed through Paris landmarks, the fire-damaged Notre Dame caught attention. A large troupe of dancers, accompanied by music composed using sounds from the cathedral's reconstruction, received wide praise as a salute to firefighters and construction workers who saved the iconic building.

One of the most debated parts of the ceremony was the appearance of headless Marie Antoinette. Some argued it demonstrated the revolutionary history of France, while others felt showing beheaded figures to young audiences was "extremely dreadful."

The 10 new statues of historic French women lining the river were well-received by Chinese fans, providing a fresh angle on the country's rich history.

The ceremony concluded at Trocadero, where the Eiffel Tower lit up. The flame, which had been on an elaborate journey with a masked torchbearer and a mechanical horse, was passed on to French football legend Zinedine Zidane. Assassin's Creed video game enthusiasts widely celebrated the torchbearer's masked appearance.

Though some fans noted the Olympic flag was upside down at the ceremony, they saw it as a "mistake" rather than a sign of the organizers' relaxed attitude.

France's three-time Olympic gold medalist Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner then lit the Olympic cauldron, a seven-meter diameter ring suspended on a 30-meter hot-air balloon. Canada's Celine Dion sang Edith Piaf's "Hymn to Love" in her first public performance in years, drawing huge cheers from the crowd and fans from afar.

As Pan Zhanle miraculously, yet unsurprisingly, surpassed the French swimmer alongside him in the final 50 meters and touched the wall first, China's swim team secured the gold medal in the men's 4x100m medley relay.

The achievement upended the US's streak of winning gold in the event for 10 consecutive Olympics.

Twenty-two minutes later, the Chinese women's team clinched the bronze in the same event.

During the subsequent award ceremony, the swimmers from different countries gathered on the podium to celebrate and take selfies, marking the end of the swimming competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Despite the smiles and flashing cameras, the recent controversies surrounding this swimming pool were hard to overlook.

Doping became a hot topic during the swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Some, including media sources from the US and the Western countries, seemed eager to seize on any opportunity to disparage Chinese swimmers by linking them to doping.

The issue appears to go beyond sports, raising suspicions about the underlying motives. At what should be a venue for peace and friendship, this has almost become a new weapon to attack China.

US media and institutions have incessantly hyped the issue of doping at the Olympics, using it as a pretext to attack the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and criticize the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

However, on the contrary, doping issues involving athletes from the US often seem to be handled with much more leniency. In 2020, the US even passed the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, positioning itself as an international enforcer to intervene in doping cases worldwide, particularly targeting other nations.

Behind the US and Western "anti-doping" narrative lies a complex power dynamic that manipulates the sports field for political gain. The Paris Olympics once again highlighted how doping tests have been weaponized, severely disrupting the normal conduct of the Games. The abuse of anti-doping measures to create chaos in the Olympics is a prime example of the US-led "liberal international order" based on selective rule enforcement.

Paris farce

In the just-concluded drama that seems more fitting for a political stage than a sporting arena, the US and its allies have once again turned their attention to doping allegations, this time targeting the Chinese swimming team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

"I've lost count of how many tests I've done. I often get called for tests at 6 am," Qin Haiyang, a Chinese swimmer, candidly admitted during the press conference following the Paris Olympics' 4x100m mixed medley relay final on Saturday, where the Chinese team won silver, breaking the Asian record. "It really does impact our entire preparation rhythm," he added.

Earlier, Chinese swimmer Pan's victory in the men's 100m freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with a time of 46.40 seconds, a fresh world record, drew suspicion from foreign media. On Friday, Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei countered at an after-match press conference, asserting that Pan's performance was legitimate, questioning why no one scrutinized American swimmers Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

Pau Gasol, former NBA player and a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission, expressed "regret" over the frequent doping tests faced by Chinese swimmers at a press conference during the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday, calling for respect for WADA's authority and testing system.

According to the Chinese swim team, from May 5, when the team began training for the Paris 2024 Olympics, to July 22, the athletes underwent extensive international and domestic anti-doping tests, including both urine and blood tests, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Zhang, Qin and several competitive swimmers were tested over 25 times each, while most other athletes underwent more than 20 tests.

An insider told the Global Times that China has maintained a strict stance against doping violations, with an enforcement rigor that is arguably the highest in the world and recognized internationally as a high standard. China's punitive measures are also unique, involving severe administrative penalties for those who violate doping regulations. It can be said that China has been genuinely committed to anti-doping efforts over the years.
Compared to the frequent therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) applications by American athletes, China's requests for TUEs are notably few. This is also largely because doping has long been a zero-tolerance issue in China, the insider noted.

World Aquatics noted that since January, each Chinese swimmer has been tested an average of 21 times by various anti-doping organizations. In contrast, Australian swimmers were tested an average of four times, and American swimmers six times.

Moreover, on Saturday, IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that WADA and other authoritative bodies have the authority to decide the number of doping tests to ensure the fairness of Olympic competitions.

Smear campaign

As the proverb goes, you can never wake someone who pretends to be asleep. In the face of truth, some Western media remains willfully blind.

One of the US' favored strategies in recent years has been to incessantly hype suspicions of doping among Chinese athletes. This tactic, shrouded in a veneer of concern for fair play, often seems more like a calculated move to cast a shadow over China's sporting achievements.

The tactic is both incredibly disgusting and offensive, as no matter the frequency with which the international and Chinese official institutions have refuted and clarified the accusations, the US government, media, and opinion leaders just turn a blind eye and continue to maliciously smear China's credibility. With false accusations, they jointly conspire to draw the targeted Chinese athletes into an incredibly time-consuming and energy-draining self-justification trap, observers noted.

Several major mainstream media outlets have played an essential role in the US' chain of fabricating and spreading the "doping" accusation. The latest round of hype started from a July 30 article by The New York Times (NYT), which quoted two anonymous sources "with direct knowledge of the matter," as saying that two Chinese swimmers "tested positive in 2022 for a banned steroid," including one who was named to be in the Olympic team in Paris. It viciously hinted that the swimmer used drugs and was unqualified for the ongoing Olympics.

Regardless of WADA's responding statement on the same day, which dismissed the NYT's accusations, mainstream US media like The Associated Press soon joined in spreading the slander, by citing one-sided sources from among US swimmers who expressed "disappointment" in their Chinese competitors.

It's infuriating that self-claimed professional US news agencies play up anti-China sentiment in the Olympic arena while setting facts aside. "The politicization of anti-doping continues with this latest attempt by the media in the US to imply wrongdoing on the part of WADA and the broader anti-doping community," WADA said at the end of the statement, noting that it has been "unfairly caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions."

Similarly, before the Paris 2024 Olympics took place, the US had launched a round of misinformation campaign against Chinese swimmers, so as to exert public pressure on China and its athletes on the eve of this global sporting pageant.

In early July, some mainstream US media including the NYT, NBC, and CNN intensively reported that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation, into "how anti-doping authorities and sports officials allowed elite Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a banned substance," to "escape punishment and win a slew of medals."

The case they mentioned was about United States Anti-Doping Agency claiming that 23 Chinese swimmers were suspected of using a banned drug in 2021. It's worth noting that, WADA and FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation Association) had determined it was an accidental food contamination incident and absolved the involved swimmers after conducting an investigation, but the US government departments and media still hyped the case with misleading, suggestive language, which was "extremely rude and evil-minded," said observers in media and sports reached by the Global Times.
Worse still, US media publicly disclosed the complete name list of the 23 swimmers involved after they had been proven innocent. WADA prohibits making public the names of the innocent athletes who have been cleared of wrongdoing, Shang Ximeng, a research fellow at the Center for International Sport Communication and Diplomacy Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. She added that US media had seldom exposed the names of US athletes involved in similar cases.

"But this time, the media deliberately made the names of Chinese swimmers public and put them in the spotlight, so as to harm their reputation and bring disruption to their matches," she told the Global Times. "That was immoral and against the rules."

Weaponizing sports

American sports history is riddled with instances in which athletes caught using performance-enhancing drugs were shielded from consequences.

For example, at the 1996 Olympic trials, Mary Slaney tested positive for steroids but claimed her positive result was due to birth control pills. US authorities later believed her and reinstated her eligibility. Similarly, in 1998, Dennis Mitchell's positive drug test was absurdly attributed to excessive sex and beer, a flimsy excuse that was accepted.

The intersection of politics and sports has been a longstanding tool for the US to exert influence. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter called for a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, garnering support from 65 countries.

David Niven, a political science professor from University of Cincinnati, asserts that understanding American life requires understanding its politics and sports, noting a resurgence of political activism in sports.

Shang noted that funding is an another tool the US uses to exert its jurisdiction in sports. Contributing about $3 million annually to WADA, the US leverages this to attempt to place more Americans as decision-making roles in WADA, threatening to cut funding otherwise. The Rodchenkov Act allows the US to conduct independent investigations and levy penalties, causing unease for WADA and the IOC. This act places US legal standards above global anti-doping efforts.

However, the global anti-doping field continues to harbor persistent malice toward China. As China's strength has become increasingly apparent, it has faced baseless accusations for a long time. Today, China has earned the respect and recognition of WADA through its own integrity and rigorous anti-doping efforts, analysts said.

All necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety and fairness of the 2028 Olympic Games, said the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics (LA 2028) at a press conference on Saturday. The press conference addressed potential security concerns, and the long-arm jurisdiction granted to the US by the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committees are working diligently to ensure fairness for all participants at the Los Angeles Games, said Casey Wasserman, the LA 2028 organizing committee's chairperson, when responding to Chinese media's query.

The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which was passed by the US Senate on November 16, 2020, grants the US the power to criminally prosecute and judge those involved in doping among American athletes, and even sue the International Olympic Committee.

Many view this act as an example of the US prioritizing domestic law over international law, substituting US rules for international ones, and showcasing a "long-arm jurisdiction" approach.

Eliyan Knighton, who competed for the US in the men's 200 meters at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, had previously tested positive for the steroid (trenbolone) in an out-of-competition doping test, but before the Paris Olympic trials began the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) unexpectedly decided that the positive result was due to contaminated meat.

In Knighton's case, USADA issued a public statement before the World Anti-Doping Agency had reviewed the case or the appeal period had expired.

China's Anti-Doping Center called on international testing agencies to increase the frequency of anti-doping checks on US track athletes during the Paris Games on Thursday and recommended that the Athletics Integrity Unit intensify anti-doping oversight of US track and field to prevent potential doping issues.

The US has ignored its long-standing doping problems while focusing on "extraterritorial jurisdiction" and imposing sanctions on other countries. This has severely impacted the performance of Chinese swimmers.

Prior to the Paris Olympics, some US institutions and media stirred controversy over alleged doping issues with Chinese swimmers. According to the World Aquatics, since January 2024, Chinese swimmers have undergone an average of 21 drug tests per athlete, compared with four for Australian swimmers and six for US swimmers.

When Los Angeles successfully bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics, it promised that the games would be the most environmentally friendly in history, a goal that will be largely achieved through a "no-car" policy, a fact that was reiterated by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a recent press conference.

At the same time, the rise in homelessness in the area has turned some subway trains and buses into de facto shelters, making many passengers feel unsafe, with notable violent incidents exacerbating these concerns.

"The Los Angeles Olympics received a special security waiver from the US government in January, three years earlier than any previous Olympics. This means the federal government has already begun efforts to ensure the safety of the games," Wasserman said.

"Our top priority is to prepare thoroughly to address all possible challenges - whether related to security, operations, or other aspects and to deliver an incredible Olympic Games for the world," he added.

China’s Ministry of Commerce and six other government departments released an announcement on Friday about upgrading the national car renewal process, vowing to provide higher subsidies and a simpler application process, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The subsidy for consumers who scrap old cars and buy new ones will be increased to 20,000 yuan for purchasing a new-energy vehicle (NEV) and 15,000 yuan for a fuel vehicle, according to the announcement. The previous subsidy levels were 10,000 yuan for NEVs and 7,000 yuan for fuel vehicles. 

The review and subsidy allocation process for scrapping cars and renewal will also be optimized, and local governments will be asked to issue detailed action plans.  

China launched the car trade-in and renewal process on April 24 this year, in a bid to boost domestic consumption.  

Xu Xingfeng, an official with the Ministry of Commerce, said that as of June 25, the ministry has received about 113,000 applications for car trade-in and renewal subsidies and the application volume has seen an accelerating growth trend. 

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that in July, NEV production stood at 984,000 units, up 22.3 percent year-on-year, while sales of NEVs totaled 991,000 units, up 27 percent on a yearly basis. 

The domestic monthly retail penetration rate of NEVs reached 51.1 percent in July, which means that in China, the majority of consumers opted for NEVs when purchasing passenger cars, according to statistics released by the China Passenger Car Association on August 8, 2024.  

Citing three senior Iranian officials, Reuters reported on Tuesday that only a cease-fire deal in Gaza stemming from hoped-for talks this week would hold Iran back from direct retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil.

Analysts said if the Reuters report is accurate, Iran, by linking the potential retaliation against Israel and the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, is keeping its options open.

When asked whether China was in direct or indirect contact with Iran regarding its retaliatory actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China has been calling for international efforts to bring an early end to the conflict in Gaza as soon as possible and prevent further spillover. China plays an active role in easing regional tensions. 

"We support all efforts that contribute to permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, and will work with the international community to deescalate the situation and avoid further escalation of the conflict and confrontation," Lin said.

Iran has been preparing for potential retaliation against Israel, but it is also waiting for the right timing and assessing the optimal method of the attack, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"If Iran were to retaliate against Israel at this moment, it would bear a heavy diplomatic burden, as the retaliation could undermine the ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Gaza," Sun said.

"Under this circumstance, if the cease-fire negotiations do not yield results, or if Israel makes further military strikes against Hezbollah or Hamas, Iran's retaliation against Israel would be seen as more justified," he said.

According to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, by linking the potential retaliation against Israel and the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, Iran is keeping its options open.

Reaching an agreement on Thursday is extremely challenging due to the substantial disparities in the basic understandings of the negotiations between Hamas and Israel, Liu told the Global Times on Wednesday, as Hamas is eager to move forward with the implementation of the existing agreement, whereas Israel is adamant about reopening negotiations.

In comments published on Tuesday, US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake confirmed that Washington is asking allies to "help convince Iran to de-escalate tensions," Reuters said. However, on the same day, the US State Department approved potential weapons sales to Israel totaling roughly $20 billion, including an anticipated sale of up to 50 F-15 fighter jets valued at more than $18 billion, according to CNN.

The US is sending a clear message to Israel that it is a steadfast protector, while at the same time, the US is working to deter Iran from initiating any significant retaliation on Israel that could potentially draw the US directly into the conflict, experts said.

Sun said. "It is precisely the US' indulgence that has led to the tragedy in Gaza today. The US is the true instigator behind this crisis," he said.

There are always appeals to separate sports from politics, but the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games has shown a complex interplay between global sports events and geopolitics.

With China and the US, two countries locked in fierce competition in almost all arenas, tied in Olympic golds, the two countries' performances at the Paris Olympics mirrored their strength and how they compete: Washington weaponized the anti-doping rules to serve its purpose of dominating its opponents, while China, being respectful of the regulations, rebutted the US slander with strong results and medals.

"The Chinese sports delegation achieved a record-breaking performance, winning 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals across 11 major events and 14 sub-events, totaling 91 medals. This marks the best result for China in an Olympic Games held overseas since it began participating in the Summer Olympics in 1984," Zhou Jinqiang, vice chief of the Chinese delegation, told a news conference in Paris on Sunday.

This brought China level with Team USA in the gold medal table with 40 golds.

Not only did Team China achieve outstanding performances in its traditionally strong disciplines such as diving and ping-pong, it also branched out and made breakthroughs in fields that were not its strong points.

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle broke his own world record on the way to winning the men's 100-meter freestyle, finishing in 46.40 seconds for China's first swimming gold medal in the Games.

Meanwhile, Chinese tennis ace Zheng Qinwen won the women's singles gold, the first time a Chinese or Asian woman had won a singles gold in the Olympics.

Furthermore, in emerging sports such as freestyle scooter, rock climbing, breakdancing, skateboarding, and surfing, young Chinese athletes pushed their limits and showcased the vibrant, energetic, confident spirit of China's new generation of athletes.

Those results proved that China is on the fast track to becoming a major power in sports, thanks to the country's thriving comprehensive national strength, Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, who is also a national political advisor, told the Global Times. "The development of sports is closely associated with a country's development level, economy and degree of civilization. For example, a starving person would have no chance of practicing freestyle scooter."

Zhang said Team China's results at the Paris Olympics showcase China's advanced capabilities in terms of cultivating and training athletes, as well as the outstanding qualities of Chinese people such as diligence, hard work, and pursuit of excellence. It also embodies the highest standards of sports ethics such as perseverance, fair competition, and respect for rules.

Zhou from the Chinese delegation also noted that Chinese athletes, whether during competitions or when interacting with the media, displayed grace, natural friendliness and an evident love for their country and pride in being Chinese.

Chinese Badminton silver medallist He Bingjiao won millions of hearts with a fine display of sportsmanship when she stood on the podium.

With a silver medal around her neck, He held a small badge of the Spanish flag, paying tribute to her semi-final opponent Carolina Marin, who suffered an injury to her right knee, forcing her to retire and leave Paris empty-handed.

Stalemate between China, US

China and the US drawing level for golds obviously drew attention from US media. CNN published an article on Monday saying that "the race was dramatically close as the two sporting superpowers went head-to-head in yet another aspect of their geopolitical rivalry in a Games that was at times overshadowed by a doping controversy."

The Paris Olympics has become a new arena for competition between China and the US, reflecting the increasingly intense rivalry between the two countries on the international stage, Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University, told the Global Times.

He said sport nowadays is no longer just about technical and physical prowess, but has also become an important means of showcasing national soft power and maintaining an international image.

Using the "doping controversy" as an example, he said that after smearing Chinese athletes in recent months over the so-called doping problems, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reviewed the Chinese athletes' case and found no evidence to dispute the conclusion that they had been contaminated.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers then threatened to cut US funding for WADA, accusing it of failing to properly investigate alleged doping by Chinese Olympic swimmers.

Last week, China hit back. The China Anti-Doping Agency called for intensified testing on US athletics and the rebuilding of global trust in fair play, after US Olympic sprinting star Erriyon Knighton tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone during an out-of-competition test in March 2024, which also brought other doping scandals in US track and field into the public spotlight.

Shen said the performances of China and the US during the Olympics also mirrored the fundamental difference between the two countries in how they participate in global affairs: China tends to enhance its global status and capabilities by participating in international competition and adhering to the existing international rules system. However, when faced with a strong competitor, the US is willing to go so far as to bend the rules, smear opponents and manipulate international organizations to ensure victory.

That is why the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics (LA 2028) had to make solemn promises at a press conference on Saturday that the US Olympic and Paralympic Committees are working diligently to ensure fairness for all participants at the Los Angeles Games.

The US practice of using hegemony and long-arm tactics to gain victory may be heightened in 2028, but China's strength and willingness to fight back will help ensure a more stable and fair Olympic Games, as well as an international order, said experts.

Iran may retaliate against Israel in a way similar to the previous round in April, but the intensity and scope could be larger with the deployment of proxies, Chinese experts said, as Israel and the US brace for potential attacks from Iran and Lebanese group Hezbollah, which could happen "as soon as Monday." 

However, the likelihood of a large-scale Middle East war being triggered is minimal, they said. 

Israeli officials said they believe a joint or separate attack by Iran and Hezbollah is "inevitable," and are considering launching "a preemptive strike" to deter Iran, media reported, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened its security chiefs for a meeting late Sunday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries on Sunday that although the exact timing is unknown, the attack by Iran and Hezbollah could start in the next 24-48 hours, meaning as early as Monday, Axios reported citing sources.

On what seems like "the brink of a wider war," Zhu Yongbiao, executive director of the Research Center for the Belt and Road at Lanzhou University, believes Iran may organize a retaliation similar to the form of the previous round in April, which are all fundamentally of "a performative nature," but the intensity and scale, as well as the value and quantity of targets, may moderately expand. 

However, Iran will avoid involvement in a direct military conflict with Israel to prevent being drawn into potential military actions with the US, which is their top concern, Zhu told the Global Times on Monday.

Even if Iran takes such actions, the likelihood of triggering a large-scale Middle East war is minimal, Zhu said, "but Iran's involvement through its proxies will likely increase."

Pentagon has boosted US forces in the Middle East by deploying extra fighter jets and warships, and sending the commander of US Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, who was expected to arrive in Israel on Monday, to finalize preparations with the Israel Defense Forces.

Zhu said the US deployment is primarily aimed at deterring Iran and preventing it from inflicting serious harm on Israel. He noted that the US is currently caught in a dilemma, as it is unwilling to engage in a war with Iran at this stage and opening a new front, and at the same time it can do nothing about Israel's reckless aggression. 

This has led to a peculiar scenario in which the US is being manipulated by Israel, the result of the US own indulgence of the country for a long time, Zhu said.

After a massive typhoon recently swept through parts of eastern and southern provinces of China, a large number of oysters appeared on the beaches of coastal cities, as local residents flocked to the shores with buckets, sacks, and various tools to collect the crustaceans, the China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

According to a video clip posted by a netizen from Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, a beach in Shenzhen was covered in oysters, with city residents rushing to the shores, some carrying buckets of oysters directly to their homes. Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, also saw oysters piled up on the beach, according to CCTV.

Industry insiders speculated that the oysters may have come from surrounding areas where artificially farmed oysters are raised, but this is just an assumption, and the specific origin of the oysters is still under investigation, CCTV reported.

However, the action of collecting oysters after the typhoon still poses hidden risks, according to the report. Under the influence of the peripheral circulation of the typhoon, strong winds and long waves will be generated in the coastal areas, and there is a danger of being swept away by the waves if people go to the beach and fail to take due care.

The beach may also have sharp and dangerous objects including glass shards and nails after low tide, which can easily lead to foot or hand injuries. Dangerous marine organisms, including jellyfish and sea urchins, whose venom can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries, can be found in the near-shore seawater.

Because the freshness of the seafood cannot be guaranteed, some of the oysters may have been soaked in seawater for a long time. In addition, these oysters may also carry a large number of pollutants and harmful substances.

As the summer heat begins to wane and the days grow shorter, the traditional Chinese calendar ushers in the 13th solar term known as the Beginning of Autumn, or Liqiu, on Wednesday. Marking the end of the sweltering summer and the beginning of cooler weather, this period signifies a time of transition and preparation for the harvest season, which lasts until August 22.

At this time, the average daily temperature in most parts of China has remained above 22 C for five consecutive days, so autumn in the meteorological sense has not yet arrived. In ancient China, this period was divided into three pentads, each reflecting changes in climate, dew and fauna. The first pentad marks the arrival of the cool breeze, which is eagerly awaited after the oppressive heat of the previous period. In the second, nighttime temperatures drop, causing moisture in the air to condense into mist and leading to the appearance of what is known as "white dew." In the third, summer cicadas shift from their loud and continuous song to the intermittent and subdued calls of cold cicadas.

There is a saying that goes, "If it rains on the day of the Beginning of Autumn, a good harvest is expected." The Beginning of Autumn is a pivotal moment for farmers, who adapt their agricultural practices to the changing climate. The cooler temperatures and reduced humidity create optimal conditions for crops like rice, corn, and sweet potatoes to mature. Farmers closely monitor their fields, ensuring timely harvests and planting to make the most of the remaining warmth and sunlight. 

The Beginning of Autumn is not only an agricultural milestone but also a cultural celebration rich with traditional customs and practices. In some regions, there is a time-honored tradition of weighing people on this day. Families gather to compare their weights from the Beginning of Summer, or Lixia, to the present, playfully noting any changes. This practice, though light-hearted, is rooted in the belief that maintaining a healthy weight reflects overall well-being.

In Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, the celebration of the Beginning of Autumn includes eating peaches.The peach stones are kept until Chinese New Year's Eve and then thrown into the stove and burned into ash. People believed that in this way, plagues could be prevented over the coming year.

There's also a culinary tradition that traveled through time. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), people would put gourds outside for a day before the Beginning of Autumn, and then eat them on the day to drive off the summer heat. Today people in North China's Tianjin still keep this custom, believing that eating melons such as towel gourds, white gourds and bitter gourds can prevent diarrhea in autumn and the coming winter and spring. It is known as "eating autumn."

In addition to these culinary customs, the Beginning of Autumn is a time for health practices rooted in traditional Chinese therapy. As the body adjusts to the cooler weather, the high season for illnesses such as stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, and throat inflammation arrives. 

Experts suggest people try cupping therapy as a solution. Indeed, the "mysterious Eastern power" of cupping therapy has also made an appearance on swimmers' backs at the Paris Olympics, including renowned Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei, who sported cupping marks at the Olympic swimming venue when she was doing acclimatization training.

As the Beginning of Autumn arrives, the emphasis on aligning oneself with the season's changing energy is paramount. It is also encouraged to gradually reduce the consumption of cold food and drinks, which can shock the system. Instead, moderate physical activities are suggested that promote gentle sweating, help release toxins, and naturally cool the body.

The Beginning of Autumn, with its blend of agricultural significance, cultural richness, and health-conscious practices, is a time of harmony between humans and nature. As people across China celebrate this solar term, they honor the wisdom of their ancestors, embracing traditions that have been passed down through millennia to maintain health, ensure a bountiful harvest, and welcome the cool embrace of autumn.