A man with a total of 100 AirPods strapped to his abdomen attempted to enter the country via the Qingmao checkpoint, affiliated with the Gongbei Port in Zhuhai city, South China’s Guangdong Province, and was seized on the spot by customs officers recently, according to the General Administration of Customs of China.

While the man was entering from Qingmao on December 11, customs officers found that he looked nervous and deliberately covered his abdomen with a backpack, prompting them to stop him for inspection. 

Upon further inspection, customs officers discovered a total of 100 AirPods wrapped in plastic film around his waist and abdomen.

If individuals attempt to hide, disguise, conceal, falsely declare, or use other methods to evade customs supervision, and transport, carry, or mail goods or items prohibited or restricted from entering or leaving the ports, it constitutes smuggling, customs officers said.

If the circumstances are serious enough to constitute an offence, individuals may face criminal charges under Chinese law, said the General Administration of Customs of China.

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) warned on Monday about foreign spy agencies using internet users’ comments on Chinese social media to steal national secrets.

The country’s state security departments have discovered that some foreign espionage and intelligence agencies have exploited social media comment sections to steal national state secrets in recent years, disrupt cyberspace order, and pose a threat to China’s state security. Comment sections on social media platforms have increasingly become a primary venue for public social interaction, as they allow real-time discussions on diverse topics.

According to the MSS, foreign espionage and intelligence agencies often disguise themselves as enthusiasts of specific topics and lurk in online comment sections in terms of politics, economics, military, technology, and other subjects, using tactics such as questioning, debating, or making friends to probe for China’s state secrets.

State security investigations have found that certain foreign intelligence agencies employed methods such as manual screening or algorithmic detection to gather confidential and sensitive information – such as research equipment parameters, serial numbers, and information about R&D personnel – from the comment sections of videos related to China’s science and technology projects.

The MSS also found that foreign espionage and intelligence agencies recruit “paid posters” or use social media bots to fabricate and disseminate false statements in comment sections, aiming to discredit the Chinese government and its policies or distort China’s history to mislead the public.

Investigations by the MSS have revealed that some foreign intelligence agencies flood online comment sections discussing Chinese historical heroes with fabricated history, to defame and undermine China’s historical culture and iconic figures. Their goal is to undermine public admiration for these heroes and weaken recognition and pride in China’s historical and cultural identity.

Additionally, foreign espionage and intelligence agencies may create numerous accounts to shape public opinion on social media. They actively steer discussions by setting up specific topics, flooding comment sections, and controlling narratives to escalate conflicts and foster division, in a bid to skew public discourse and manipulate the direction of debates.

Investigations have uncovered instances where foreign intelligence agencies introduced sensitive topics and flooded discussions with inflammatory rhetoric, inciting dissent and amplifying public emotions in an attempt to provoke unrest and create chaos.

The MSS noted that in the face of actions by foreign spy agencies using the internet to steal state secrets and disrupt China’s cyberspace order, the Chinese public must remain vigilant and strengthen their awareness of state security and counter-espionage.

A woman in Panzhou, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, was detained for setting fire to a mountain in an attempt to collect plastic bottles which she planned to sell for money, according to a statement from the local government's official WeChat account on Monday.

According to the report, the woman, surnamed Luo, said that she believed people fighting fires in the mountains would leave behind many plastic water bottles, which she then planned to collect and sell for profit. 

Luo was found out to repeatedly use a lighter to ignite the weeds in the mountain forest. She has been detained by the local public security bureau on suspicion of arson.

The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," was held in Beijing on Saturday. During a discussion on the topic "Exploring the Path of Great Power Relations: Differences and Consensus," Fang Ning, chair professor at Sichuan University, stated that to observe US foreign policy today, it is essential to deeply understand the characteristics of US politics.

During the discussion, Cui Hongjian, professor of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University and panel moderator, posed a question: "Despite the many challenges we face today, is it still possible for major powers to ultimately reach some kind of consensus and return to the direction of stable cooperation?" 

In response, Fang remarked, "There is a general understanding or consensus that a country's foreign policy and international relations are greatly influenced by its domestic politics. I have studied four US presidential elections over more than a decade, and this time I've gained new insights. We often talk about fundamental issues or underlying logic. So, what is the underlying logic or fundamental issue in US domestic politics? It's essentially about elections, and about votes."

Fang further explained that observing US foreign policy necessitates studying the distinct characteristics of US political system, particularly voter behavior and attitudes. He noted that modern political science, shaped by US elections, also serves electoral needs. He identified this as a fundamental issue.

As agreed by China and India, China's Special Representative on the China-India boundary question, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and India's Special Representative and National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval will hold the 23rd meeting of Special Representatives for China-India Boundary Question in Beijing on December 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Monday. 

Not long ago, the Chinese and Indian leaders met in Kazan and reached important common understanding on making good use of the Special Representatives mechanism on the China-India boundary question. The two sides are in close communication on holding a meeting under the mechanism, Lin said previously during a regular Monday briefing.

Since China and India reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area, following the two leaders' meeting on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, bilateral relations have emerged from the low point, with an evident improvement momentum, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Monday.

China and India have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area and China will work with India for the implementation of these resolutions in October. 

Lin said at a regular press conference on October 22 that "Over a recent period of time, China and India have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area following close communication through diplomatic and military channels. China commends the progress made and will continue working with India for the sound implementation of these resolutions."

On December 5, Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hong Liang and Joint Secretary of the East Asia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs of India Gourangalal Das co-chaired the 32nd Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs in New Delhi, according to a readout released by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affair. 

The two sides positively evaluated the solutions reached by the two countries on border issues, and agreed to continue to fully and effectively implement the relevant solutions and take measures to further ease the border situation, according to the readout. 

These interactions all indicate that both sides are actively engaging in positive diplomatic efforts and are working to implement the consensus reached between the two leaders in Kazan, with the goal of bringing China-India relations to a path of healthy development, Qian said.

Nine people are missing after heat insulation materials caught fire at a cold chain warehouse under construction in Rongcheng, East China’s Shandong Province at around 1 pm on Saturday afternoon, local emergency management department of Rongcheng announced. Rescue work is ongoing and investigation in the cause of the fire is underway.

The warehouse belongs to Qidong Haitong Cold Chain Logistics Co under Lanrun Group, said the announcement.

UNESCO added traditional Chinese wooden arch bridges, traditional Li textile techniques, and Qiang New Year festival to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Thursday, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

All the three items were previously included in 2009 in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The full names of the three items are "traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges," "traditional Li textile techniques: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering," and "Qiang New Year festival."

After being transported to a launch pad at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on Tuesday, a new member of China's Long March carrier rocket family, the Long March-12, has been scheduled to undertake its maiden flight in the next few days.

Experts said due to its enhanced overall capacity, the new rocket, which is the country's first single-core liquid carrier rocket with a diameter of 3.8 meters, will gradually replace China's older 3.35-meter diameter series. With better reliability in attitude control, the Long March-12 is expected to become the basic model for future reusable rockets in China.

The rocket, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, features a two-stage configuration. The first stage is powered by four liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, each with a thrust of 1,250 kilonewtons, while the second stage uses two liquid oxygen/kerosene engines with a thrust of 180 kilonewtons each, China Central Television reported.

Its payload capacity to low Earth orbit is no less than 10 tons, and its capacity to reach a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit is no less than 6 tons. The rocket's fairing is standardly available in diameters of 5.2 meters and 4.2 meters, allowing for multi-size adaptation based on different missions, the report said.

Apart from the 5-meter diameter Long March-5 rocket, the "fatty" in the family, the Long March series typically features a diameter of 3.35 meters, while solid rockets are generally slimmer, with diameters usually below 3 meters. 

The Long March-12 rocket represents a significant advancement in the country's space launch capabilities, as the increased diameter addresses the limitations of the previous 3.35-meter rockets, allowing for more powerful engines, enhanced payload capacity, and better expandability of rocket thrust. Therefore, the Long March-12 is expected to significantly improve overall launch capability compared to previous generations, gradually replacing the older 3.35-meter models, Chinese space analyst Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Tuesday.

According to CCTV, the pioneering shape of the Long March-12 is based on the improved development of China's new generation of main liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, the YF-100 series, and is the result of repeated verification, research, and testing. 

This notable feature allows for both railway transportation to various launch sites and the optimization of compatibility between the rocket's diameter and the number of engines, facilitating capability expansion and thus laying the groundwork for future reusable rockets, experts said.

Song pointed to an important technical parameter for launch vehicles, the length-to-diameter ratio, which affects the rocket's stability during recovery. 

"Theoretically, a more optimal length-to-diameter ratio enhances the stability of a reusable rocket. The previous 3.35-meter rocket was relatively slender and long, making it more challenging to control its attitude. By increasing the diameter, the length-to-diameter ratio can be reduced, making it easier to control the rocket's stability and facilitating recovery," he said. 

The expert anticipates that the Long March-12 rocket will become the basic model for future reusable rockets in China, while allowing for the development of various configurations based on it. This standardization will be crucial for the future of rocket recovery and reuse, Song noted.

Previous media reports said the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site will be equipped with two liquid rocket launch pads. The first launch pad will be dedicated to the Long March-8 carrier rocket, while the other launch pad will provide launch services for the Long March-12 vehicle.

China is planning to develop the next-generation BeiDou system that is technologically more advanced, functionally more powerful and offers higher quality services.

An experimental satellite of the system is scheduled for launch around 2027, while network deployment will begin by around 2029 and be completed by 2035.

China and Russia on Friday conducted their ninth joint strategic air patrol, which saw the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's latest H-6N bombers flying over the Sea of Japan for the first time on this kind of cruise mission.

Capable of aerial refueling, the H-6N bomber can significantly expand the joint patrol's scope of deterrence and strike, said experts reached by the Global Times.

Following the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, on Friday, the two sides conducted their ninth joint strategic air patrol in airspace over the Sea of Japan, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Friday.

It is the ninth joint strategic air patrol between the two militaries since 2019, with the goal of effectively testing and enhancing the joint training and operating capabilities between the two countries' air forces, the PLA Air Force said in a press release on Friday.

This China-Russia joint strategic air patrol is the second of 2024. The first joint patrol of the year was held on July 25, and saw the two countries' bombers flying over airspace over the Bering Sea, China Central Television (CCTV) reported at the time.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Friday that the main purpose of the routine joint strategic air patrol by the Chinese and Russian militaries is to enhance strategic mutual trust between the two countries and their armed forces, improve the level of strategic cooperation between the two militaries, increase their ability to jointly address security challenges, and maintain peace and stability in the region and the world.

During the joint patrol, there was no entry into any other country's territorial air space, showing that China and Russia are not seeking military expansion. Instead, they aim to safeguard national security and maintain regional and global peace and stability by strengthening their joint defense capabilities, as they send a message of peace, Zhang Junshe said.

The joint patrol traversed a vast amount of airspace and navigated complex meteorological conditions. The large-scale and high-frequency joint air patrols by the two militaries demonstrate the rapid response and long-range operational capabilities of their air forces, proving the efficient combat readiness of their aircraft under real combat conditions, Zhang Junshe said, noting that the joint patrol enhanced and reinforced the intelligence sharing and collaborative combat capabilities between the two militaries, showcasing the high level of strategic mutual trust between them.
In one session during the joint combat patrol over the Sea of Japan, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet escorted two Chinese H-6N bombers and a Russian Tu-95 bomber. This marks the debut of the H-6N in a combat patrol, China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA's News Media Center, reported on Friday.

The H-6N was first unveiled as a new type of long-range strategic bomber in the National Day military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2019, the Xinhua News Agency reported at the time.

The H-6N is a home-made strategic bomber capable of midair refueling and long-range strikes, Xinhua reported.

Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times on Friday that compared with the H-6K, which participated in previous China-Russia joint patrols, the H-6N has longer range, and through aerial refueling, it can significantly expand the joint patrol's scope of deterrence and strike.

The H-6N likely has also received upgrades in terms of airborne weapons and equipment, making it the most advanced bomber in service with the PLA Air Force, Zhang Xuefeng said. "It also means that after the troops received delivery [of the H-6Ns,] they have already achieved operational capability after strict training," he said.

Song Zhongping, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that Russia's participating aircraft, the Tu-95, has a longer range than the H-6K, but through aerial refueling, the new H-6N has the same cruising range as the Russian bomber.

Deploying the H-6N means that China is willing to send its most advanced weapons into the China-Russia joint strategic patrol, Song said. He pointed out that the H-6N bomber represents a stronger deterrent force, showing the two countries' capabilities in safeguarding strategic sea lanes along the first island chain.