In response to Australian defense ministry's claim on Thursday that an Australian air force patrol aircraft experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional" interaction with a Chinese Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Australian military aircraft deliberately intruded into China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao without China's permission, infringing on China's sovereignty and endangering China's national security, and China's measures to expel the aircraft were legitimate, professional and exercised with restraint.

Military experts told the Global Times on Thursday that measures taken by the PLA Air Force were professional and restrained. Anyone who attempts to provoke trouble in the South China Sea will be met with targeted countermeasures, and their schemes will not succeed.

The Australian statement claimed that on Tuesday, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional interaction" with a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force J-16 fighter aircraft.

"The PLA Air Force aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft. This was an 'unsafe and unprofessional' maneuver that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel," the statement claimed. The statement also claimed that "No injuries were sustained by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel nor was damage caused to the RAAF P-8A."

Australia's hype over the Chinese PLA aircraft's so-called "unsafe" interaction reflects its strategic short-sightedness in regional security issues. While collaborating with the US strategy of "maritime containment of China," Australia is also advancing its own selfish agenda. Its actions of infringing on China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao and threatening China's national security, while shifting blame and shirking responsibility, are highly irresponsible and detrimental to the healthy development of bilateral relations, Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"The facts are very clear: the Australian military aircraft intruded into China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao, violating China's sovereignty and security. It will definitely be met with expulsion of the PLA, which is a justified action of defense and a legitimate right. No country would tolerate foreign military aircraft intruding into its airspace, and every nation would take corresponding measures in response, applying different levels of interception and countermeasures based on the nature of the provocation," Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhang said that certain countries have become accustomed to the tactic of "a thief crying 'stop thief,'" hypocritically accusing China first in order to cover up the truth. Their goal is to dominate international public opinion while diverting attention from their own actions—sending warships and aircraft into the South China Sea, promoting its militarization, and undermining regional peace and stability.

"Australia's consistent approach not only aims to discredit the PLA but also seeks to use public opinion to pressure the PLA into abandoning legitimate self-defense. In other words, Australia wants China to take no action when its military aircraft conduct close-in reconnaissance and other intrusive operations against China. This is pure wishful thinking," Zhang pointed out.

Ding stated that under the banner of "freedom of navigation and overflight," Australia's actions actually serve multiple purposes. First, it aims to challenge China's straight baselines around the Xisha Qundao. Second, it seeks to use reconnaissance aircraft to collect and spy on China's military intelligence in the South China Sea, particularly near the Xisha Qundao. Third, Australia coordinates with the Philippines, Japan, the US, and its own forces in joint patrols or as part of efforts to demonstrate military deterrence against China. Fourth, it engages in provocative maneuvers to test China's naval and air force responses and combat readiness, effectively acting as an auxiliary force for the US.

"Judging from China's response and countermeasures, anyone attempting to provoke trouble, seek attention, or maintain a presence in the South China Sea will face targeted countermeasures, and their schemes will not succeed," Ding said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed hope that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would adopt a rational and pragmatic approach, develop an objective and accurate perception of China, and pursue a positive and responsible policy toward China.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte here on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang said that China is a force for maintaining peace and stability. It's the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. On issues of peace and security, China has the best track record among major countries, he added.

Amid ongoing escalating geopolitical conflicts, Wang urged NATO to remain committed to its role as a regional defensive organization and contribute constructively to global and regional peace.

Rutte acknowledged China as a great nation with remarkable development achievements. He said that NATO, as a regional defensive organization, has no intention of expanding into Asia and will not do so. Rutte added that NATO is willing to enhance dialogue and communication with China to deepen mutual understanding and trust.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Rutte said that NATO highly values China's influence and role, and hopes that China will play a significant role in pushing forward a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as soon as possible.

Wang elaborated on China's principles and stance, reaffirming China's commitment to continue working with all parties to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the crisis and building a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework in Europe.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday urged Japan to be cautious in its words and actions regarding the Taiwan question and avoid taking petty actions, following reports that Japan's Ministry of Justice will allow "Taiwan" to be listed as a place of origin on its family registry whereas residents from Taiwan island are currently registered as Chinese residents. 

Bloomberg reported that under current rules, residents can only list nations as their place of origin, but the new change will allow for people to register regions such as Taiwan and Palestine as well, according to a public copy of the revision available on the Justice Ministry's website. Japan does not recognize Taiwan as a nation.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese people, and Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China that brooks no interference by any external forces, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, in response to a media inquiry on the matter. 

Japan, which had committed aggression and conducted colonial rule over Taiwan island, bears a serious historical guilt toward the Chinese people. It should be all the more prudent in its words and actions. We urge the Japanese side to abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of the four China-Japan political documents, and to refrain from taking petty actions on the Taiwan question or sending contradictory and wrong signals, Guo said. 

Bloomberg reported that Japan's Ministry of Justice described the revision as a mere technical adjustment.

Guo pointed out that Japan's adherence to the one-China principle and the spirit of the four China-Japan political documents constitutes a solemn political commitment from Japan.

"I would like to emphasize once again that the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no interference from any external forces."

Chinese scientists have achieved high-temperature superconductivity in nickel oxide materials under ambient pressure conditions. The discovery establishes nickel-based materials as the third high-temperature superconducting material system, following copper-based and iron-based materials, the Global Times learnt from the researching team. 

Superconductivity is a physical phenomenon where certain materials exhibit zero electrical resistance and perfect diamagnetism when cooled below a critical temperature. It holds great promise for applications in advanced fields, including energy transmission and storage, medical imaging, transportation, precision scientific instruments, and power systems. 

The research team co-led by Xue Qikun, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and Chen Zhuoyu, associate professor from the Department of Physics of SUSTech, has enabled nickel oxides, one of the promising candidates for high-temperature superconductors, to achieve superconductivity under ambient pressure and at temperatures above -233 C, a milestone that scientists have pursued since superconductivity was first discovered in 1911. 

Many materials achieve superconductivity only at temperatures below -250 C, while materials capable of maintaining a superconducting state above -233 C qualify as high-temperature superconductors, according to a report from China Central Television on Tuesday.

Previously, high-temperature superconductivity in nickel oxide materials could only be achieved under extremely high pressures - reaching several hundred thousand barometric pressure, comparable to conditions inside the Earth, Chen told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

It took about three years for the research team to overcome challenges and successfully created a nickel oxide thin film that achieves superconductivity under ambient pressure, establishing nickel oxide as only the third known material system capable of superconductivity under ambient pressure, following copper-based and iron-based high-temperature superconductors. 

By conducting comparative studies of these three types of high-temperature superconductors, researchers can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental mechanisms behind high-temperature superconductivity, providing a key to solving the scientific problem of superconducting mechanisms, Chen said.

The breakthrough in superconducting mechanisms is expected to pave the way for transformative advancements in energy, information technology, and medicine, ultimately fostering productivity growth and accelerating technological innovation, according to Chen. 

According to Xue, the research, conducted entirely using domestically developed equipment, achieved an atomic-scale thin film growth technology with ultra-strong oxidation capabilities, marking a major breakthrough in China's independent experimental capabilities. 

The scientists aim to leverage their specialized experimental techniques to explore new materials capable of superconductivity above liquid nitrogen temperatures under ambient pressure. 

The joint research carried out by SUSTech, the Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Tsinghua University was published in the academic journal Nature on Tuesday. 

Chinese research institutions have completed testing and analysis of samples independently collected by Chinese experts near the release outlet of Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated water, detecting no abnormalities in the radioactive concentration of radionuclides such as tritium, cesium-137, and strontium-90. 

According to information from the China's National Nuclear Safety Administration, October 2024 marked China's first independent sampling of the Fukushima nuclear wastewater release.

As per the workflow of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), specific data will be compiled and released by the IAEA.

Experts stated that independent sampling of Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge by China and other stakeholders helps the international community obtain accurate and reliable data, monitor the impact of the discharge in a timely manner, and cross-verify results with IAEA and Japanese monitoring. This represents a key aspect of implementing international oversight over the discharge. 

Based on various monitoring data available so far, there is no indication that the discharge has affected marine life in the relevant waters.

Experts also emphasized that there is no precedent for the release of Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated water. Japan's unilateral decision to initiate the discharge lacks legitimacy and reasonableness, and a cautious approach should always be maintained from a scientific perspective. 

Single-test results have limited reference value, and international monitoring under the IAEA framework is a long-term effort. Stakeholders such as China will continue to participate and conduct independent sampling and monitoring.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Thursday afternoon inspected a steelmaker in Benxi City, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Xi visited a cold rolling mill of Bensteel Group, inspected its control center and production lines, and learned about its efforts to accelerate transformation and upgrading and promote high-quality development.

Recently, placing marriage announcements in newspapers is gaining popularity among young people in China, with numerous netizens sharing their own announcements. Many describe the new trend as evoking a sense of vintage romance.

According to a report by the People's Daily, newlyweds can customize their announcements by submitting text and photos to the newspaper, with fees ranging from 520 yuan ($71.5) to 9,999 yuan ($1,373) depending on the size of the chosen layout.

Couples have varied reasons for choosing to publish their marriage announcements in newspapers, said the report.

Some people said that publishing their marriage in a newspaper is a meaningful and romantic way to mark the occasion. A woman surnamed Yang from Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, said that she noticed other couples sharing marriage announcements in newspapers and found it intriguing, prompting her to commemorate her own wedding using this method. 

"My husband and I believe that once a publication is issued, it becomes a permanent and unchangeable record, which makes it deeply romantic," Yang said.

Others said that announcing their marriage in the newspaper symbolizes their love. A netizen surnamed Jin said that seeing marriage announcement in the newspaper feels like a declaration of their love to the world. "The printed words not only convey the joyful news of our marriage but also serve as a lasting token of our love," said Jin.

Another woman surnamed Yang opted to publish her marriage announcement on the day she received marriage certificate. "Publishing in the newspaper means inviting history and law to witness this special day," Yang said.

In addition to marriage announcements, sharing celebratory news has been a long-standing tradition for some newspapers. Several newspapers have reintroduced specialized announcement services, including marriage announcements, birthday wishes, and congratulatory for academic achievements. The fees vary depending on the size of the layout occupied by the different types of announcements.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell in Beijing on Monday.

Mitchell extended sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people over the recent earthquake in Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Xi expressed his appreciation for that. Noting that this earthquake occurred in a high-altitude area, Xi said China has completed rescue and temporary resettlement work in the shortest possible time and will carry out reconstruction work as quickly as possible.

"The Chinese government is confident and capable of achieving victory in earthquake relief," Xi said.

Xi noted that in recent years, China-Grenada relations have developed steadily, with the two sides treating each other with mutual respect and equality, consolidating political mutual trust, achieving fruitful results in practical cooperation in various fields, and deepening the friendship between the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Grenada to enhance the synergy of development strategies and push for more outcomes of bilateral cooperation to better benefit the two peoples, Xi added.

Xi speaks with European Council President Costa.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Vietnam to step up connectivity, jointly build frontier platform for new quality productive forces cooperation, and build stable and smooth cross-border industrial and supply chains.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his phone talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam.

Xi said he is glad to hold phone talks with To Lam at the turn of the year and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, recalling that during To Lam's state visit to China last August, the two leaders had in-depth exchanges and reached broad consensus on deepening relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as jointly promoting the development of socialist cause.

The year 2025 marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, and a key year for the preparation of 14th National Congress of the CPV, Xi said, noting it is a year of great significance for both countries that serves as both a point of continuity and a new starting point. The two sides should continue to rejuvenate and strengthen the two parties, deepen exchanges of socialist theory and practical experience, and promote the development of the socialist cause amid great changes unseen in a century, said Xi.

The two sides should carry out warm and down to earth people-to-people and cultural exchanges that connect people's hearts, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as media, culture and tourism, as well as between the youths of the two nations and at the sub-national level, creating more projects that win the hearts of the people, Xi said.

It is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by Comrade To Lam, the party, the state and the people of Vietnam will focus on ensuring the 14th National Congress a success, and firmly advance toward Vietnam's two centennial goals, Xi said

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China and Vietnam "are not only neighbors but also comrades" that share common interests in many fields, and the two economies are also very complementary. It is therefore important for top leaders and senior officials of the two countries to maintain deep and frequent exchanges. 

Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "China and Vietnam both celebrate Lunar New Year, so the phone call between top leaders of the two countries and the two parties ahead of the festival shows that the two countries share not only similar ideologies but also similar cultures. This makes the bilateral relations very unique for the both sides."

"The two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges in 2025, and we can expect more, broader and deeper cooperation and exchanges between the two countries this year. In the field of people-to-people exchanges, the tourism and cultural industries of the two nations will benefit, and this will surely be welcomed by the people of the two countries," Xu noted.  

Relations between the two ruling parties will guide the stable bilateral ties between the two countries that are able to withstand external impacts and overcome challenges, as the CPC and the CPV will continue to exchange experiences on governance and how to develop socialism and safeguard the socialist system in their countries, Li noted.