China's General Administration of Sport held a meeting on Wednesday to address the growing issue of toxic fandom culture, or "fan circle" behavior, within the sports industry, reported the China Sports Daily.

Director of the administration Gao Zhidan stressed that the crackdown on toxic fandom should be integrated into the broader ideological work of the sports system. He called for a strong stance against the escalating "fan circle" behaviors and urged the removal of the conditions that allow such a culture to thrive in the sports domain.

Gao said the increasing influence of fandom culture has disrupted the sports sector and posed significant risks to its healthy development. He also urged to be highly vigilant against the tendency toward the excessive commercialization of sports.

The meeting follows recent statements from the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the Chinese Gymnastics Association on August 17, both of which expressed support for law enforcement actions against illegal activities related to toxic fandom.

On August 15, the Ministry of Public Security disclosed details about four cases in sports.

Olympic women's 3m springboard champion Chen Yiwen revealed on Instagram on Wednesday that she had been the target of malicious rumors spread by two sports journalists. According to the chat screenshots she released, the other party even threatened to add stimulants to Chen's food to get her banned for life.

During an interview aired on August 18, table tennis star Fan Zhendong expressed concerns about the pressure caused by fandom culture, saying it has negatively impacted both his performance and the team's unity.

Pan Zhanle, a 20-year-old swimming prodigy who broke a world record at the Paris Olympics, disbanded his fan group. Pan previously mentioned in a CCTV interview that some fans waited for autographs outside his hotel and he said he just "hoped to be low-key and quiet."

During the women's singles final at the Paris Olympics on August 3, which featured Chinese players Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng, some fans displayed favoritism toward Sun while booing Chen when Chen defeated Sun to become the women's singles champion.

During an interview on August 7, Chen urged fans to appreciate the athletes' determination and approach competition outcomes with a balanced perspective, rather than focusing solely on the results.

"Most of these so-called fans do not understand or appreciate the professional skills or talents of famous athletes. Instead, they tend to focus solely on the athlete's image and appearance," Wang Dazhao, a Beijing based sports commentator, told the Global Times. "To support their idols, fans in this toxic culture see no teammates, only enemies and anyone who hinders their idol's pursuit of victory becomes a target for attack."

"Those who invade others' privacy should be punished, while those who do not violate the Criminal Law should be educated and warned," Wang said.

Last month, several social media platforms, including Sina Weibo and Douyin, announced measures to combat toxic fandom, such as removing harmful content and suspending or banning related accounts.

China's housing authority said on Friday that it will accelerate the construction of the new model for real estate development as a major reform task for the sector's upcoming work. The focus of the acceleration work will be on six aspects, including the urban real estate financing coordination mechanism, and a white list of developers for financing. 

Observers noted that the implementation of the real estate financing coordination mechanism has been progressing, while the foundation for developing the new model has been further consolidated as some issues in the real estate sector are cleared up.  

Financial support will be granted for qualified projects, aiming to promote a change in financing for developers from relying on company credit to being based on the project's situation itself, Dong Jianguo, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, told the press conference on Friday. 

Dong also stressed the importance of giving full play to the urban real estate financing coordination mechanism, to include as many eligible projects in the white list as possible, as an important means to ensure the delivery of commercial housing projects. 

Currently, domestic commercial banks have approved more than 5,300 projects under the white list mechanism with approved loans amounting to nearly 1.4 trillion yuan ($196.15 billion), which are being disbursed in accordance with the projects' progress, and have strongly supported the delivery of project construction, Dong said. 

The urban real estate financing coordination mechanism has been promoted effectively, and is also a systematic effort to promote housing delivery and mitigate risks, Yan Yuejin, deputy director of the E-house China R&D Institute in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Friday. 

The mechanism will ensure more home buyers actually move into their properties next year, and will be conducive to boosting consumer demand for home property services, Yan said. 

In addition, China is also advancing reforms in its real estate sector by promoting the sale of properties upon their completion, signaling a shift from the traditional pre-sale model, which is another of the above-mentioned six points of focus. 

Commenting on developing the new model for the real estate sector, Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, said that the government should be the mainstay in meeting fixed housing needs, while the market should be the mainstay in meeting diversified and improved housing needs from a systematic perspective. 

Ni also vowed to reform and improve the mechanism for the development, trade, and use of the real estate sector.

Yan noted that the reform and improvement in the mechanism is an important institutional safeguard, and expected major pragmatic changes to take place. 

China and Russia will boost all-round cooperation with exploration in emerging fields and bilateral ties will not be weakened by the sanctions and containment imposed by the US and its allies, Chinese analysts said on Thursday after the two countries signed a joint communique of the 29th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government and a new version of the outline of the China-Russia investment cooperation plan.

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday voiced China's readiness to work with Russia to strengthen all-round cooperation to lift the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new level, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Li made the remarks when co-chairing the 29th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. In the joint communique issued Wednesday, the two sides agreed that joint efforts will be made to optimize trade structure, create new growth points for the two countries' economies and trade, and promote the development of e-commerce, Xinhua reported.

With 2024 and 2025 designated as the China-Russia Years of Culture, the two sides also agreed to take it as an opportunity to deepen people-to-people exchanges, consolidate popular support for friendship, constantly strengthen the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation, and improve the quality of cooperation.

According to the text of the joint communique released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two countries will boost all-round cooperation in many fields, and in addition to traditional areas like trade, investment, finance and energy, it also includes pragmatic cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, cybersecurity, and aerospace cooperation.

Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the joint statement shows that China and Russia will keep deepening and expanding their pragmatic cooperation regardless of the impact and pressure from the US and its allies, and it's a certainty that China-Russia relations will keep developing to reach new heights in the future. 

Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, said that apart from planning for pragmatic cooperation, the two countries are also looking forward to solving the problem caused by the blockade, isolation, long-arm jurisdiction and sanctions imposed by the US and some of its allies, which are attempting to contain the rightful development of China and Russia.

"China and Russia will explore new trade routes and improve the interconnectivity on trade ports; the two sides also agree to jointly develop AI and boost cooperation among BRICS members to strengthen connections between industries among the emerging economies," Cui noted.

The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) unveiled the official medal ceremony uniform for the Chinese delegation at the Paris Olympic Games on Tuesday in Beijing, with elements of the Chinese zodiac dragon used in the decoration.

The new podium ceremony outfit, officially named the "Champions Dragon Outfit," draws deeply from traditional Chinese aesthetics, featuring classic Chinese tailoring and a primary color palette of white. The design integrates elements such as dragon scales using embossing, patchwork, and embroidery techniques. This combination not only conveys China's rich cultural heritage but also embodies the energetic and determined spirit of modern Chinese athletes.

Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medalist in women's middleweight boxing, emphasized the outfit's cultural resonance. "The Year of the Dragon is very auspicious for Chinese people. The dragon-themed outfit is unique, and I hope to wear it on the Paris Olympic podium," Li told reporters. Now 34, she won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics following a bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Many fans anticipate her ascent to the boxing podium.

"We are following a systematic training plan and maximizing our preparations in the final weeks before heading to Paris," Li said of the boxing team's Olympic preparation. "This will mark my third Olympic appearance, and my goal is to stand atop the podium."

"The medal ceremony outfit symbolizes honor and achievement unlike regular training wear. Wearing it signifies earning a medal, perhaps even gold. This outfit holds special significance for every athlete, and I am thrilled at the prospect of wearing it at the Paris Olympics."

Luo Zongshi, a taekwondo athlete who clinched a world championships title in the women's 57 kg category, shared her thoughts on the new outfit. "The design is striking. The dragon scales on the arms provide a sense of armor, and the embroidery is particularly appealing. Overall, it feels well-suited and comfortable. It's breathable and soft, making it ideal for us."

When asked about the emotional significance of the dragon elements, Luo expressed a deep sense of pride. "The name 'Dragon Outfit' and its elements instantly identify us as Chinese athletes to the world. I am eagerly preparing for the Paris Olympics and hope to stand on the highest podium in this outfit, showcasing China's culture."

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is holding intensive foreign military interactions with several countries across three continents, reflecting China's efforts in boosting friendly military cooperation and enhancing global peace and stability, experts said on Sunday.

In Europe, the PLA Navy's Type 052D guided missile destroyer Jiaozuo and Type 903A replenishment ship Honghu is visiting St. Petersburg and attending the celebrations of the 328th anniversary of the Russian Navy before visiting Egypt, with the Jiaozuo joining a Russian naval parade on Sunday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

Another PLA Navy flotilla consisting of the Type 071 comprehensive landing ship Longhushan and the far seas training ship Zheng He is visiting Vladivostok, another Russian port city, for the celebrations.

In Africa, the militaries of China, Tanzania and Mozambique are holding the Peace Unity-2024 joint exercise from late July to mid-August on land and at sea under the subject of joint counter-terrorism military operations, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, announced at a regular press conference on Thursday.

According to reports by CCTV, PLA forces arrived in Tanzania by sea and air over the past days, with the PLA Navy sending two Type 071 comprehensive landing ships, the Wuzhishan and Qilianshan, and a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, the Hefei, and the PLA Air Force sending Y-20 strategic transport aircraft in a multidimensional cross-border delivery operation carrying PLA Army troops and heavy equipment such as armored and assault vehicles.

In Asia, a detachment sent by the PLA Army will participate in the Khaan Quest-2024 multinational peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia in late July, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.

Before these ongoing events, the PLA wrapped up several other foreign military interactions over the past month, including a China-Russia joint aerial strategic patrol over the Bering Sea, a China-Russia joint naval patrols in the West Pacific and the South China Sea, the China-Belarus Eagle Assault-2024 joint army training in Belarus, and the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2024 joint drill in Laos.

China has engaged in intensive military exchanges, joint exercises and joint patrols with foreign countries recently in moves to boost friendships, understandings and pragmatic cooperation, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

Being able to hold simultaneous military interactions across three continents also shows the PLA's capabilities in global reach, as China now has a large number of advanced, ready-for-combat strategic transport aircraft and far seas-capable naval vessels, the expert said.

Many of the military interactions stress counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and regional security issues, while others are friendly visits or celebrations, the experts pointed out, noting that these events are not targeted at any specific third party or regional situation, and are conducive to peace and stability around the world.

Along with Team China, 35,000 high-performance ping pong balls and a wide array of high-tech sports gear descended on the Paris Olympics. Chinese experts and industry players said the situation reflected a profound change in the Chinese industrial sector in the past decade. 

From chip-embedded soccer balls that allow a referee a firmer grasp of match dynamics to a nano-coated judo mattress that resists stains and is easier to clean, the infusion of tech ingredients is the latest case of Chinese companies' growing manufacturing prowess, in addition to cost performance, flexibility and first-rate services, observers said.

"Our company's illuminated table tennis table is a product of constant improvement and innovation for over two decades. The three-dimensional logo utilizes advanced tooling techniques to achieve the desired balance between looks and user friendliness," Lou Shihe, general manager of Shanghai-based DHS, told the Global Times on Monday. DHS is a long-time provider of sports gear to the Olympics.

Yang Xuefeng, brand operations manager at Guangdong-based Double Fish Sports Goods Group Co, told the Global Times on Monday that his company provided 35,000 table tennis balls of "top quality" to the Paris Olympic Games.

"The ping pong balls have an elasticity tolerance under 4 millimeters, a weight tolerance of 0.015 grams, and hardness tolerance of 0.03 millimeters, surpassing International Table Tennis Federation standards. The stringent quality ensures more stable flight, precise landing and better feel," Yang said.

For the first time in the history of the Olympics, the company has innovatively incorporated ball-serving machine technology into the referee table, replacing manual labor with a machine that can precisely send the ball from the table's server to a spot in front of the player, Yang said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a routine press conference on Friday that "made in China" is one of the ways that China participates in the Olympics.

High-quality Chinese products will provide technical and service support for the Paris Olympics and make the event even more stunning visually and technologically, Mao said.

Chinese sports gear was already predominant in many major sports events before the Paris Olympic Games, but it is the Olympics that command the unparallel media spotlight and attention of the masses.

"Just as the 1988 Seoul Olympics demonstrated to the world of the capability of Corporate Japan in factory assembly production, I think the Paris Olympics showed the leading position of Corporate China in the era of smart and intelligent manufacturing," Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The realization of complex processing techniques requires best-in-class machine tools, as well as constant and hefty investment in a plant's production line. Sports gear production has become a miniature model of Chinese manufacturing's transformation from large-scale assembly line production to module-based intelligent production featuring high-level automation and informatization, Cao said.

From 2021-23, China has launched smart manufacturing pilot projects and built 421 national-level demonstration factories along with over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

At an executive meeting in May, the State Council adopted an action plan aimed at advancing manufacturing digitalization, and it vowed to channel more energy into the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector to foster new quality productive forces.

Observers said the impressive debut of these high-tech sports gear products at the Paris Olympic Games epitomized the nation's steadfast efforts in transforming and upgrading its manufacturing sector, and the increased brand value and orders of numerous producers across the country showed the tangible benefits of embracing the digital trend.

In the first half of 2024, Chinese manufacturing companies' investment into technological upgrades grew 10 percent year-on-year, which was 0.5 percentage points higher than overall manufacturing investment growth, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

In addition to the technology elements that Chinese companies brought to the Olympics, the traditional advantages of Chinese manufacturing companies, such as advantages in scale and cost, continue to give them an edge.

Some 80 percent of the "Phryge" mascot dolls for the 2024 Paris Olympics were produced by Chinese companies, CGTN reported on Thursday, citing the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee.

Shi Lei, a manager with Ningbo-based Ningbo Donggang Sports Co, told the Global Times on Monday that the company's shuttlecock production is at full throttle to meet an uptick in demand brought by the Games, although summer is not the traditional peak season for badminton products.

"Our orders increased by some 20 percent as the Games approached, and our annual production capacity was fully booked as early as March," Shi said, adding that the value of exports to France alone increased by 35 percent year-on-year in the first half.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on a 10-day trip to Asia on Wednesday. This will be Blinken's 18th visit to the so-called Indo-Pacific region since taking the post. Many US media have pointed out that Blinken's attempt to bolster relations with Asian countries this time is aimed at China.

This is a large-scale trip by the US to shore up the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," during which Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will meet with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, and Austin and Blinken will attend the fourth US-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The intention to "encircle" China can't be more obvious. 

When Blinken talked about China-US relations at the Brookings Institution on July 1, he reiterated "competition, contestation and cooperation" and said that China hopes to become a "leading country" in the international system. He said that China's vision for the future is different from that of the US, hence, the US is going to make sure that it is the one who is effectively shaping the future. Blinken staged a typical show of Western politicians using "noble words" to spread strategic malice.

The US is currently grappling with the presidential election, and other countries are now confused about the US policies which have become uncertain. Therefore, the US hastily sent Blinken to appease its allies and give an explanation to these countries. But for Blinken's trip, its symbolic significance far outweighs its practical significance.

"Blinken's Asia trip is not expected to achieve any substantive result. The US has engaged with these Asian countries all these years, but the outcomes have been minimal. Of course, the US will not give up. It will maintain routine contact and hope that some of its needs can be met at some point in the future. At present, I think it is difficult for Washington to leverage anything in these countries." Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

From China's perspective, it should be highly vigilant about whether Biden's administration will use the remaining time to try to provoke more disputes in this region, particularly conflicts between the Philippines and China, and take it as the political legacy of this incumbent administration. 

The US has significantly strengthened its relations with several Asian countries in recent years, especially countries that are involved in territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. Just two days after China and the Philippines announced on Sunday that the two sides reached an understanding on managing the situation at China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), Blinken announced his Asia trip. He will likely further promote camp confrontation during this trip. 

The US certainly doesn't want to see peace between Beijing and Manila, that's why it is now emphasizing the dispute and its determination to defend the Philippines. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan even stated on July 19 that the US will "take all necessary measures" to ensure that the Philippines can send supplies to the illegally grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao. These US politicians don't care about the consequences at all, because the US will not really participate in conflicts, but simply transfer risks to its proxies.

In addition, the US is in chaos domestically, and therefore Blinken's Asia trip further demonstrates that the US not only fails to handle its internal affairs, it also wants to aggravate the chaotic situation across the world.

The US has evil intentions to bolster relations with Asian countries during his trip, that is, to destroy the original development and cooperation atmosphere in this region in an attempt to make geopolitics become the focus. The US wants to build Southeast Asia into a strategic barrier to contain China. It shouts noble slogans of "democracy," "rules-based orders" and "freedom" here, but what it actually does is expand the rifts and suspicions in the region and catalyze the fermentation of every dispute. What it most wants to see is chaos in the region, which will lead to its deep involvement and the reliance of countries in the region on the US.

China always views Southeast Asia from the perspective of development and good neighborliness, while the US views this region from the perspective of major power competition. Countries in the region should keep their eyes open, make clear what the US is seeking here, what consequences it may have, and take precautions against it, so as to prevent US destructive strategies from undermining peace in the region.

American businesses reaffirmed their commitment to the China market, their major trading partner, during their visit to China with a large delegation.

Despite the challenges and complexity in the bilateral relations, the visit of the American industry representatives, immediately in the wake of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, showcased the foreign companies' eagerness to understand more about the important policies released from the meeting, as well as the fact that two countries' economic and trade ties will stay resilient despite certain "decoupling" attempts from the US government, Chinese experts said.

The delegation led by Raj Subramaniam, board chair of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), had opportunities for face-to-face talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, and other senior officials such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and the Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao earlier this week, during which both sides exchanged views on many key subjects of concerns.

Roberta Lipson, founder of United Family Healthcare and Vice-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, who also participated in the meetings as a member of the delegation, told the Global Times on Thursday that the face-to-face discussions during the visit helped to build confidence.

Every year the board of directors of the USCBC sends a high-level delegation of executives to give feedback, exchange ideas and learn from the leadership of China's government. Lipson said that the US-China relationship has had its challenges over the last few years, exacerbated by the lack of contact and dialog during the COVID pandemic.

"Although both government-to-government and people-to-people contacts have been recovering and growing for the past year and a half, the challenges of the post-pandemic economic recovery, as well as competitive, strategic and security issues continue to make for uncertainty," she noted.

Despite these vicissitudes in the relationship, Lipson said that business has continued to work on trade and investment, which creates jobs, improves quality of life and prosperity for both countries. "The face-to-face discussions of this visit helped to build confidence," she noted.

To Lipson, this visit comes at an opportune time, immediately after the third plenum, which outlines the development strategy for China over the next five years.

"Our visit at this time was a unique opportunity to hear directly from China's leadership about the third plenum's plans for strategic development; including a continued commitment to reform and opening-up, evening the playing field for the private market and SOEs, and increasing market access for foreign investment," Lipson said.

The delegation also had the opportunity to give feedback about challenges they were facing in their business. This, Lipson said, "along with the warm reception of our hosts, all have served to increase the confidence of the visiting executives."

In a meeting with the delegation led by Subramaniam on Tuesday, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao noted that China will continue to open up, and welcome enterprises from all over the world, including those from the US, to continue to explore the China market and share development opportunities.

Subramaniam said in the meeting with Wang that China has sent a positive signal to the world to further deepen reform and expand opening-up, which has enhanced market confidence, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Economic and trade cooperation is a stabilizing force for bilateral relations. Subramaniam said that the USCBC and its member companies support the expansion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and will continue to be committed to long-term development in China.

"The visit of such a large delegation of the US businesses to China reflects the fact that many American companies are still hoping to maintain close relations with China, their major trading partner, in order to better secure their business interest," He Weiwen, a senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times in recent interview.

Their visit once again demonstrated that they attached great importance to the China market and that the two countries will not and cannot "decouple" from each other, He said.

China created 6.98 million urban jobs in the first half of this year, achieving 58 percent of its annual target, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Tuesday, highlighting the country's labor market has remained broadly stable.

The urban unemployment rate stayed low during this period, falling to 5 percent in June, a year-on-year decrease of 0.2 percentage points, which indicated a stable and positive trend in the job market, the ministry said.

The ministry predicts the positive trend will persist in the second half of the year, supported by comprehensive favorable policies and the advancement of new quality productive forces. 

Employment among key groups, such as college graduates and migrant workers, also remained stable, with more than 30 million individuals from impoverished backgrounds employed by the end of June, the ministry said.

The stable trend was largely driven by ongoing economic revival, increased service consumption and robust growth in advanced manufacturing sectors, such as high-end equipment and new materials, the ministry noted.

The country's employment outlook is to remain stable, buoyed by the ongoing economic rebound and the progressive impacts of favorable policies, analysts said.

The ministry highlighted the significance of new quality productive forces in generating high-quality jobs.

In recent years, the demand for talent in advanced technology sectors including artificial intelligence has also surged, with job openings for large language development increasing by 605 percent year-on-year, according to Zhilian Zhaopin, a Chinese job-hunting platform.

However, the ministry emphasized that challenges remain, including a complex external environment, insufficient domestic demand and some firms' operational pressures. Job seekers from certain sectors may still encounter difficulties, indicating that unwavering efforts are required to achieve job targets and maintain market stability.

Workers load domestically manufactured pressure vessel tanks for export in Zhangjiagang Port, East China’s Jiangsu Province on July 19, 2024. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s exports for the first half of 2024 amounted to 12.13 trillion yuan ($1.67 trillion),marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year. Photo: VCG