With this year's Mid-Autumn Festival drawing near, China's tourism market is gearing up for another surge in travel and consumption activity, building on the strong momentum from a bustling summer travel season, industry insiders and experts said.

They predict that this year's Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, from September 15 to 17, will see sustained high demand for short-distance travel. Combined with the upcoming National Day holidays, this is expected to inject continued vitality into consumption, contributing to economic growth in the latter half of the year.

Data from China's online travel services platform Fliggy showed a double-digit increase in bookings for hotels, domestic car rentals, and tickets for this popular traditional festival compared to 2019. The overall booking volume for the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays is significantly higher compared to the Dragon Boat Festival, despite both having a three-day duration.

Hotel reservations have surged by around 50 percent from 2019 levels, with high-end and boutique accommodation accounting for 60 percent of total bookings, according to a recent report published by Fliggy.

Several travel service platforms in China have reported that the Mid-Autumn Festival travel trend is dominated by short to mid-distance trips, with "micro-vacations" to nearby cities and provinces being especially popular. Routes within a two-hour drive or three-hour high-speed rail journey are particularly busy.

According to Tuniu, an online travel platform, nearly 40 percent of travelers are planning short trips to local or nearby areas during the festival, with around 30 percent opting to start their journeys 1-2 days before the festival.

Experts attribute the strong travel demand to favorable weather, off-peak prices, and the traditional cultural significance of family reunions during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Emerging travel trends, including cultural tours, urban leisure, and sports tourism, not only reflect an expansion in the Chinese consumption preferences but also promise to inject sustained vitality into the domestic economy," Jiang Yiyi, vice dean from the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Tuniu's report revealed that theme parks, resort getaways, and traditional cultural tours are among the most popular bookings for this year. Another online travel service provider Tongcheng reports a 77 percent increase in searches for ancient towns and gardens over the past week.

Moreover, the buzz surrounding China's home-developed blockbuster game Black Myth: Wukong has highlighted the rich cultural heritage of North China's Shanxi Province, where many of its filming locations are situated. As a result, Taiyuan, Datong, and Shuozhou in Shanxi have recently become popular destinations.

Data from the travel platform Mafengwo indicated that Mount Wutai in Shanxi, a notable filming location for the popular video game, topped the list of favored 'moon-viewing' destinations for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, per media reports.

Yu Jia, a tourism enthusiast from Changzhi in southeastern Shanxi, told the Global Times on Saturday that she has planned a driving holiday with two of her friends to Taiyuan and Datong, inspired by the cultural sites shown during the game.

China's recent summer travel season broke records for passenger volumes and saw strong growth in bookings and spending. Jiang expects this momentum to carry into the coming month, potentially boosting sectors like transportation, hospitality, and cultural products.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a notice on Thursday that it determined that brandy from the EU has been dumped in the Chinese market, posing a threat to the domestic brandy industry.

It also found that there is a causal relationship between the dumping practice and the threat of substantial harm, the MOFCOM said in the notice on its official website.

Provisional anti-dumping measures will not be implemented in this case for now, according to the notice. 

Chinese experts said the probe complies with Chinese law and WTO rules, while the initial decision takes into account the overall China-EU economic and trade relationship, creating a relatively favorable atmosphere for the ongoing consultations over the EU's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), and the EU should cherish China's sincerity.  

The decision not to impose provisional anti-dumping measures reflects a consideration of the overall economic and trade relationship with the EU. It is hoped that the EU will handle relevant trade friction in a compliant manner, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

While no measures are being taken now, China reserves the right to take further action if necessary, Cui said.

From the beginning, China has adhered to WTO procedures in addressing trade disputes with the EU. The investigation was initiated at the request of the domestic industry and conducted in line with WTO practices. This stands in contrast to the unilateral trade protectionism measures taken by the EU against some Chinese industries, Cui noted.

China's anti-dumping investigation into brandy from the EU, prompted by a complaint from the domestic brandy industry, neither targets any specific EU member state nor carries predefined findings, said China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in April.

China will conduct the investigation openly and transparently in accordance with Chinese law and WTO rules, while fully safeguarding the rights of all stakeholders, added the minister.

The MOFCOM held an anti-dumping hearing on imported EU brandy on July 18, 2024 which covered industrial damage, cause and effect, and public interest in the anti-dumping probe of related brandy products. It aims to ensure that the investigation procedure is fair, just and transparent, the ministry said.

China started the anti-dumping investigation on January 5, following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry. The probe is expected to end before January 5, 2025, but may be extended for half a year under special circumstances, according to the MOFCOM.

Fortunate Punungwe, a 20-something African radiographer, starts her daily work on Wednesdays by reviewing the patient list and making sure all the X-ray equipment is set up and working properly. Her work is mainly about using portable devices alongside artificial intelligence (AI) technology to spot tuberculosis (TB) patients in Zimbabwe, where over 40 percent estimated TB cases reportedly go undiagnosed.

The African continent as a whole accounts for 23 percent of TB cases and 33 percent of deaths globally., according to an article published on WHO website.

At the beginning of the year, Zimbabwe in collaboration with Chinese tech company Infervision, applied AI in larger scale in local community TB detection. Punungwe joined the program and received training at that time.

According to her, the wide use of digital technology, especially AI, has been a "game-changer" for Zimbabwe, with far-reaching impact on the country's healthcare system.

"Before, the screening process was slower and relied a lot on the radiographer's experience. Now, with AI, we can analyze X-rays much faster and handle more cases each day without sacrificing quality. This also means patients can get diagnosed and start treatment much sooner, which is crucial in stopping the spread of TB," she told the Global Times on Wednesdays.

Punungwe now could screen about 80 to 150 patients on a busy day. And she believed that the cutting-edge technology imported from China has been "making a real difference" in the lives of local people.

Bilateral cooperation momentum in emerging industries like AI is just a recent example of Chinese companies' active participation in Africa's digital and technological transformation. From building digital infrastructure, launching mobile payment to setting up tech know-how training center, there has been no shortage of evidence underscoring how collaboration between China and Africa complements each other's advantage, leads to win-win result and illustrates South-South cooperation that defies zero-sum mind-set.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which China-Africa cooperation flourished. The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be also held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. Industry insiders expected that the summit to build on previous achievements, while unfolding a new chapter of digital and tech cooperation between the two economies that will close Africa's digital divide and open new avenues to propel its modernization and industrialization push.

Cooperation in tech, digital fields

A spokesperson of Infervision told the Global Times on Wednesday that cooperation in emerging sectors like AI has allowed Chinese companies to fully leverage their advantages, taking account of China's expertise in AI good quality data and leading technology advancement. Also, there's capacity building and knowledge transfer throughout the process, which enable local professionals to improve their skills. The company also plans to further advance to more sub-Saharan African region where rates of TB remain high.

China is currently one of the major countries exporting AI technology and products to Africa. The booming AI cooperation also aligns with the development priorities of the African region, where a number of countries have rolled out AI strategies and stepped up investment in digital infrastructure.

Recent estimates suggest that AI could increase boost Africa's economy by $2.9 trillion by 2030 - the equivalent of increasing annual GDP by 3 percent.

"Collaboration between China and Africa in AI and digital technology has the potential to be revolutionary. Some of the African development problems in Africa can be addressed with the help of China's AI tech breakthroughs," Toumert AI, the General Secretary of the China Morocco Friendship Association, told the Global Times.

As the two economies further spearhead cooperation, he also highlighted the massive opportunities that AI technology could unleash for Africa's modernization efforts across several sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Observers stressed that as the expansion of digital infrastructure lays the foundation for widespread application of AI, African nations can also benefit from China's experiences in developing and implementing digital infrastructure to further boost their technological capabilities.

In addition to infrastructure, cooperation between China and Africa in the digital sector has takes taken various forms in the past decades, ranging from information devices, mobile phones and internet applications, which have enhanced Africa's level of digital connectivity and brought technological convenience to its residents, a spokesperson of Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Transsion told the Global Times. Transsion accounts for over 40 percent of Africa's smartphone market.

Setting an example

Since 2000 when the FOCAC was formally founded,Since the founding of the Forum on FOCAC in 2000, Chinese companies have helped African countries build a communications backbone network of 150,000 kilometers and a network service covering nearly 700 million user terminals, according to the white paper entitled "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals." white paper.

Botswana's Digital Delta Data Center, undertaken by the Botswanan branch of China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co (CJIC), is another case of Chinese companies' involvement in Africa's digital infrastructure construction. The two-storey date data center, located at the capital of Gaborone, is another milestone of BRI cooperation and has become the country's largest data center when delivered last year.

Li Qing, the manager of the Botswanan branch, told the Global Times that the data center is vital to ensuring Botswana's network data security.

"Network data exchange will no longer be conducted through data centers in other countries. Meanwhile, the internet speed is also expected to greatly improve, which in turn will significantly promote the development of network transaction, data mobile payment, contributing to digital economy growth in Botswana," Li noted.

Africa is a "blue ocean market" with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. It also has the world's youngest population, meaning that its digital economy has great potential and will expand steadily with the penetration of digital infrastructure, the Transsion spokesperson said.

"We look forward that the upcoming summit will deepen bilateral ties and usher a new chapter of cooperation between China and Africa, especially leading to substantial, deeper development in digital and technology fields," the spokesperson said, stressing that China will play an even greater role in Africa's future digital transformation.

While certain Western forces have been spreading false narratives around China-Africa cooperation and stigmata slandering on digital collaboration, observers stressed that China's engagement with Africa is based on mutual benefits and mutual respect, and is voluntary.

"China's approach, which addresses Africa's genuine needs at heart, is fundamentally different from certain Western countries' whose moves which are out of zero-sum and hegemonic mind-set," Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.

The US government's decision to once again postpone the announcement of a final determination for additional tariffs on a wide range of Chinese products, including electric vehicles (EVs), fully reflected the growing opposition from US businesses and industries, Chinese experts said on Sunday.

As the US continues to intensify its crackdown against Chinese products, the costs for US businesses and consumers will continue to increase, which will in turn translate into growing criticism of the protectionist US actions. Washington should stop politicizing trade issues and focus on addressing disputes through ongoing talks, experts noted.

The US Trade Representative's Office (USTR) was scheduled to announce the final determination for the hefty tariffs last week, but on Friday it delayed the announcement again, Reuters reported on Friday.

A USTR spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying that it would make the final determination public "in the coming days."

This was the second time that the US delayed the announcement. At the end of July, the USTR also announced that the implementation of the tariffs, which had been scheduled for August 1, would be delayed for at least two weeks.

The postponements came as the USTR faces growing criticism from US businesses and industries, which are worried about additional costs resulting from the tariffs. Some EV battery makers, including Ford Motor Co, urged the USTR to reduce the proposed 25 percent tariff on graphite used in battery anodes, according to Reuters.

"I think the postponements are due mainly to the opposition from the US domestic industries," Xin Qiang, an expert on US studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Xin said that many US businesses will still have to buy the products from Chinese producers even if the US government imposes additional tariffs, but "only at higher costs."

He said that the US government has previously ignored the opposition of US domestic industries in implementing additional tariffs on Chinese products. However, "the opposition toward the planned tariffs on a new batch of Chinese products has grown louder, which is having a greater impact on the US government's decision-making, because it faces the risks of economic losses if it continues to crack down on China."

Chinese officials have also repeatedly criticized the US crackdown against Chinese businesses and products, as the two sides continue to hold talks.

On August 27 and 28, Wang Yi, 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, held talks with visiting US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Chinese and US trade officials also plan to hold a meeting in North China's Tianjinon September 7, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced on Thursday.

Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Sunday that the ongoing talks are conducive for the two sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and at least try to find ways to address policies that affect bilateral and even global trade.

Xin noted that Chinese officials repeatedly raised serious concerns over the additional US tariffs during recent talks.

"If the US government hopes to stabilize China-US ties, imposing additional tariffs will only cause further damage," Xin said.

As Japan seeks another record defense budget of 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion) for fiscal 2025, Chinese experts said on Saturday that the continuous increase reflects the militarism resurgence of the country which has committed serious humanitarian crimes in the past, and that Japan's dangerous ambition warrants global vigilance and should be jointly stopped by the international community.

Japan's Defense Ministry requested a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen for fiscal 2025 on Friday, aiming to enhance remote island security by deploying unmanned vehicles "amid China's growing military assertiveness," Japanese media outlet Kyodo News reported.

The ministry also wants to use its budget to prompt acquisition of foreign missiles and expand the domestic production base for those capable of striking distant targets, according to the report.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference on Thursday that in recent years, Japan has continuously hollowed out the pacifist constitution, seeking to break free from the constitutional restraints, significantly increase its defense budget, intensify military connections with countries outside the region, and continued to run wildly on the dangerous path of expanding military preparations. This deserves high vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community, Wu said.

"We urge Japan to face up to and deeply reflect on its history of aggression, and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions. We will never allow militarism to rise again," the spokesperson said.

Chen Hong, executive director at the Asia Pacific Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Japan's planned record defense budget is driven by its ambition to expand military presence, particularly to strengthen its influence in the Southeast Asia region.

Chen added that the continuous rise can also be attributed to the ongoing pressure from the US on its ally to bolster Japan's budget to support Washington's military deployment in the so-called Indo-Pacific region.

Lü Chao, dean of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University and research fellow at the Charhar Institute, underscored that the hype of "China's growing military assertiveness" by Japan as an excuse to expand defense budget is completely groundless. "China has never made any so-called military threats against any country, including Japan, and the development of the Chinese military is entirely for self-defense," Lü said.

In contrast, Japan has continued to provoke China on the South China Sea issue, the Taiwan question, and the Diaoyu Dao issue, with the aim of creating tension and shifting the blame to China for increasing defense budget, Lü told the Global Times on Saturday.

According to the Japan Times, the country's budget request for fiscal 2025, a roughly 10 percent increase over last year's record 7.7 trillion yen, is the third of a five-year spending plan of around 43 trillion yen, as Japan aims to spend two percent of its gross domestic product on defense by 2027.

Experts emphasized that Japan's remarkably high defense budget, which far exceeds its actual defense needs, is raising concerns among neighboring countries and the international community. They warned that it's crucial to remain vigilant to prevent a resurgence of militarism in Japan.

Japan must learn from the lessons of history, take concrete actions to completely forgo militarism, and avoid losing credibility with neighboring Asian countries and the international community, Chen said.

The US is also urged to abandon unilateralism as well as double standards, given the fact that its promotion of the "Indo-Pacific strategy" is a contributing factor to the resurgence of Japanese militarism, Lü said.

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.