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China is emphasizing biosecurity as a crucial component of its national security system during the celebration of National Security Education Day that fell on Monday. Customs in numerous cities have launched a series of events to raise public awareness about preventing the spread of invasive species.

Customs in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province, has carried out an event on Monday to guide the public to enhance their awareness of preventing invasive alien species through interactive sessions, according to local media reports. Customs is also popularizing knowledge of prohibited animals, plants, and their products through videos, brochures and posters.

According to reports, Beijing Customs has intercepted a total of 933 batches of prohibited imported animals, plants and their products in the first quarter of 2024, of which 198 were considered exotic species, and all of which have been strictly disposed of in a safe manner in accordance with the law. Customs offices in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, have seized 106 kinds of foreign pests from trade channels, 74 kinds of foreign species from travel and postal inspection and other channels in the first quarter of 2024.

Changsha Customs also found three batches of unapproved special items, 10 batches of imported vectorial organisms, and 11 kinds of live ants, totaling 151 pieces, seized from incoming mail on four consecutive occasions.

Those activities are in line with a one-year campaign to "punish the crime of illegally introducing invasive alien species" launched by the General Administration of Customs, together with the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, starting from September 2023.

Notably, China's General Administration of Customs on Saturday released the first public prosecution case regarding illegal introduction of an invasive alien species. It noted that the procuratorate in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province has filed an indictment against a man on suspicion of illegally bringing 2,015 Brazilian red-eared turtles into China.

Biological invasion is one of the major ecological problems facing the world. More than 660 invasive alien species have been recorded to have entered China, one of the severest levels globally, according to China Central Television.

The lack of awareness among the general public, academics and the government concerning invasive species has undermined evaluation of the national security risks they bring, Wei Sheng, a professor at the School of Public Health and Emergency Management from Southern University of Science and Technology, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In recent years, some pet lovers in pursuit of the so-called novelty and curiosity have imported "exotic pets" from abroad through illegal means and channels. Invasive alien species that have been seized by Customs authorities include but not limited to lizards, spiders, snakes, and ants.

Customs in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, reminded the public that the popular exotic pets in the market may be highly toxic or carry potential virus, causing unpredictable damage to our ecological environment.

From the whole legislative system, China lacks the legislative idea of preventing biological invasion in the field of ecological law, and should strengthen the scientific thinking of preventing the invasion of wild life in a comprehensive way, Cao Mingde, a professor of Environmental Law at the China University of Political Science and Law, told Legal Daily.

On Tuesday, a 14-minute video released by the National Health Commission introducing biosecurity highlighted the close link between a potential pandemic, biosecurity and the prevention of alien species. It said that when biosecurity risks caused by alien species prevail, it will have an impact on one country's public health, economic operation as well as social order and national security.

Xu Jianchu from the Kunming Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences told the Global Times that we should highlight that safeguarding biosecurity is a comprehensive system, which involves academic studies, systematic surveillance and public awareness.

In light of COVID-19 pandemic, World Health Organization also established the "X" pathogen to draw the attention of countries around the world to the unknown, great harm and high probability of the potential outbreak of infectious diseases, Wei told the Global Times.

Agreeing with Xu in response to a future pandemic, Wei said that the prevention and control of invasive alien species is by no means a department or a local matter, and it is necessary to promote departmental cooperation and inter-provincial linkage from the height of national security so as to ensure the long-term prevention and control work.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the visiting President of the Republic of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi in Beijing on Friday and expressed willingness to work with Suriname to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation and promote the building of a closer strategic partnership between the two countries for the greater benefit of both peoples.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Suriname. Santokhi's visit to China at this significant time is poised to enhance bilateral comprehensive cooperation and will inject fresh impetus into relations between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, analysts said.

President Xi welcomed President Santokhi and said he is the first Latin American and Caribbean head of state to visit China this year, and this visit holds significant importance for deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

China highly appreciates Suriname's friendship and its firm support for China on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. China is willing to continue to understand and support each other with Suriname, maintain high-level exchanges, increase friendly exchanges between various departments, legislative bodies and political parties, and enhance the exchange of experience in governance, according to Xi.

President Santokhi said that the history of friendly exchanges between Suriname and China is long-standing. Cooperation between the two countries in agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and other fields has yielded fruitful results, reflecting the high level of political mutual trust and deep brotherly friendship between the two nations.

This cooperation has greatly facilitated Suriname's economic development and improved people's livelihoods, serving as a model for South-South cooperation, said President Santokhi, noting that Suriname is committed to actively contributing to the development of relations between Caribbean countries and China.

Santokhi is making a state visit to China from Thursday to April 17. His visit coincides with a bustling period in China's diplomacy, as leaders and senior officials from Russia, the EU, the US, and neighboring countries make visits to China. As a country in South America, Suriname is also actively engaged in interactions with China, Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday.

Like many countries in South America, Suriname faces numerous challenges in economic development. President Santokhi has come to China seeking solutions through expanded cooperation, Wang noted.

Countries of the Global South, including Suriname, have confidence in China's development and also attach importance to cooperation with Beijing. The array of agreements signed during President Santokhi's visit is expected to bolster Suriname's exports to China and stimulate its economy and promote people-to-people exchanges, said Wang.

During the meeting with President Santokhi, President Xi also noted that China welcomes more high-quality and distinctive Surinamese products to enter the Chinese market, and stands ready to deepen cooperation with Suriname on joint Belt and Road construction.

After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation agreements in various areas including economy and trade, green development, digital economy, and education.

In May 2018, Suriname signed a memorandum of understanding with China to jointly build the BRI. In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency on April 4, President Santokhi said the connectivity brought by the BRI has created bridges for regional economic development and cooperation, benefiting all participating countries.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the China- CELAC Forum. President Santokhi's visit will mark the beginning of a series of exchanges between China and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, said Wang, noting that these interactions will peak in the second half of the year during the China-CELAC summit.

Wang said that future cooperation under the BRI between China and Suriname and between China and other regional countries may include more "small and beautiful" projects, such as urban redevelopment, road upgrades, and market construction, aimed at improving the livelihoods of local residents.

While China and regional countries deepen their cooperation, the US, which has historically seen the region as its "backyard," remains watchful of China's presence and consistently amplifies the "debt trap" and other narratives, analysts said.

However, there is a growing sentiment in Latin American and Caribbean countries of no longer being considered the "front" or "backyard" of the US. As US hegemony declines, Washington's influence is waning, and these countries are increasingly seeking autonomy and development based on their own interests and tend to promote cooperation with China and other countries in the Global South, said analysts.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada slammed the latest remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who accused China of trying to "meddle in Canadian elections," urging Canada to respect and face the facts, abandon ideological biases, stop hyping up the lie of "Chinese interference." 

In a statement issued by the embassy on Wednesday local time, it expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to those remarks. 

China has repeatedly emphasized its consistent principle of non-interference in internal affairs and has never had any interest in interfering in Canadian internal affairs. China has solemnly and clearly stated its position to Canada on numerous occasions during bilateral and multilateral engagements, the embassy said. 

Trudeau told an official inquiry testimony on Wednesday that "China tried to meddle in the past two Canadian elections but the results were not affected," claiming that it was "improbable" Beijing preferred any one party over another, Reuters reported. 

Trudeau set up the commission last year under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role in the elections.

Some politicians in Canada, driven by their own interests, are attempting to target China in the public inquiry, trying to label and cast aspersions on China. The testimonies have been characterized with terms like "highly likely," "probable," and "suspicious," but they fail to provide any substantial evidence, the Chinese embassy said. 

This once again fully illustrates that the so-called "foreign interference" public inquiry is nothing but a politically orchestrated farce, and some individuals in Canada have stooped to an inexplicable level of slander and attack against China, it noted. 

According to a Canadian Security Intelligence Service report, for example, Canada has accused the Chinese government officials of having "likely manipulated" a Liberal Party nomination race in a Toronto-area electoral district, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. 

Former democratic institutions minister Karina Gould was also quoted as saying in Canadian media reports that after the federal election in 2019, Canada's spy agency had observed "low-level foreign interference activities by China" but that the vote was not compromised. 

She also mentioned on Wednesday that "probably in every election that Canada has ever had, there have been attempts at foreign interference…" Radio Canada reported. 

Trudeau's personal approval ratings have plummeted in the last six months and he needs to use such accusations to offset the public's dissatisfaction with his handling issues such as the economy, housing, and climate change, Yao Peng, deputy secretary-general of the Canadian Studies Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"It is also another move of his leading the Canadian public, who are unaware of the truth, and the 'deep state' being hostile toward China, to engage in double-standards politics. This is his personal political agenda," the Chinese expert said. 

Imitating the US' Cold War approach, the Canadian prime minister uses such aggressive accusations to counteract the rising popularity of the Conservative Party in Canada over the last six months, aiming to attract attention and divert public criticism from his party, Yao noted. 

The Chinese embassy emphasized that China is actually the target of "foreign interference" activities, including by Canada. 

For a long time, Canada has provoked China on major issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, such as Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Xizang, and has condoned and supported various anti-China separatist activities. Not only does Canada show no remorse, but it also turns around and falsely accuses China of interfering in Canadian internal affairs, the embassy noted. 

Canadian media openly reported that Canadian security intelligence agencies conducted surveillance targeting Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel in Canada. Relevant Canadian agencies openly admitted to interfering with the normal functions of Chinese diplomatic missions in Canada during the inquiry. 

The Canadian government keeps referring to two Canadian citizens' cases, yet it paid a hefty sum to settle with the individuals involved in the cases. "Isn't it obvious who is interfering in other countries' internal affairs? Who is engaging in espionage activities? The facts are clear for all to see," the embassy said. 

Canada's federal government has reached a million-dollar compensation settlement in March with Michael Spavor, one of "two Michaels," who were jailed by China for nearly three years on charges of espionage and illegal provision of China's state secrets to foreign entities. 

Some Chinese experts said the Canadian government's initial accusations against China for arbitrarily detaining "two Michaels" as "hostage diplomacy" now appear hypocritical, as reaching a settlement with Michael amounts to a self-inflicted blow to its own credibility.

China strongly urges Canada to respect and face the facts, abandon ideological biases, stop hyping up the lie of "Chinese interference," and stop poisoning the atmosphere of China-Canada relations, or else it will suffer the consequences of its actions.

Chinese experts also believed that Trudeau's long-standing accusations as prime minister have undoubtedly hindered the improvement of China-Canada relations. 

Firstly, regarding the so-called Chinese interference in the Canadian elections, which is baseless and has been proven to be "speculative," and Trudeau's use of "intentional" to blur the accusations is utterly irresponsible, Yao noted. 

For six years, the Trudeau government has continuously and deliberately held back China-Canada relations, harming economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, which has led to a mindset that has always failed to view China-Canada relations from an opportunity to improve the status quo, he said. 

The Canadian government is deliberately leading a misinformed public to negatively view China and Chinese companies, which will only reveal more of its backlash effect on Trudeau personally and his party over time, the expert added. 

"It is believed that more and more Canadian people will come to realize the truth, that there is no so-called Chinese intention to interfere in Canadian elections," Yao said. 

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Monday for an official visit, many observers said the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership will be further strengthened despite US pressure.

At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Russian top diplomat will pay an official visit to China from Monday to Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Sunday.

Mao said at a routine press conference on Monday that the two sides will exchange views and coordinate stances on the development of bilateral ties, cooperation in different fields and the international issues of shared common concern on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic relations. 

As Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced earlier, in Beijing Lavrov will hold talks with Wang. In particular, the ministers will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, Zakharova said, TASS reported on Monday.

Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday that "Lavrov could be paving the way for the first foreign visit of President Putin since his reelection, but the final confirmation would be a formal announcement released by the two sides."

Reuters reported in March that Putin will travel to China in May, in what could be the Kremlin chief's first overseas trip of his new presidential term, citing five sources familiar with the matter. The Kremlin, when asked about the Reuters report, said information on Putin's visits would be released closer to the date.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the Russian top diplomat could discuss with China about some urgent and hotspot issues like the Ukraine crisis and counterterrorism cooperation.

Russia just experienced a horrific terrorist attack in Moscow, and the attackers are from Central Asia. Chinese engineers in Pakistan have also been attacked by terrorists in the region, so both China and Russia share common concerns about terrorism, said analysts. 

China and Russia are two major powers in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and counterterrorism cooperation between them and other SCO members is significant for regional peace and stability, especially when the threat of terrorism has reemerged in some regions, experts said. Apart from the discussion on diplomatic level, the militaries, law-enforcement and intelligence agencies of the two countries will also promote the cooperation to target terrorism, experts said.     

China-Russia-US trilateral relations

US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen is also on her visit to China and she warned that Chinese companies could face "significant consequences" if they provided "material support for Russia's war on Ukraine," according to the release from US Department of Treasury. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response China's stance is very clear and has always paid constructive efforts for mediation to stop the conflict. The Chinese foreign ministry added that other countries should not attack and smear the normal relations between China and Russia, and should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and Chinese companies, noting China will take firm measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. 

Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday China has its own principles in developing ties with major powers like Russia and the US, as "we will never interference in other countries' internal affairs and will not meddle in the ties between other countries, so we hope the US could show the same respect to the China-Russia relations."

China is paying efforts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine since the very beginning of the crisis, and China never adds fuels to the flame, and if the US sanctions Chinese companies who do normal business with Russia in the name of "supporting Russia's war on Ukraine," that would be very unwise, as China will retaliate for sure, experts said. 

Cui said that the timing of Lavrov's visit to China is very interesting, as it's overlapping with the time of Yellen's visit, and takes place before the potential visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "so this just shows the complexity of the interactions between China, Russia and the US, and in the trilateral relations, China is driven by its own national interests."

Li said in the China-Russia-US relations, "we are in a position with the most flexibility, while the US and Russia have very limited space to change the deadlock and hostility in their relations. The key for China to remain flexible is that we don't favor one take over another."

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on the phone Tuesday at the request of the latter. The two presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest.

President Xi noted that his San Francisco meeting with President Biden last November opened a future-oriented San Francisco vision. Over the past months, their officials have acted on the presidential understandings in earnest. The China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize, and this is welcomed by both societies and the international community. On the other hand, the negative factors of the relationship have also been growing, and this requires attention from both sides.

President Xi stressed that the issue of strategic perception is always fundamental to the China-U.S. relationship, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right. Two big countries like China and the United States should not cut off their ties or turn their back on each other, still less slide into conflict or confrontation. The two countries should respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation. The relationship should continue moving forward in a stable, sound and sustainable way, rather than going backward.

President Xi underlined three overarching principles that should guide China-U.S. relations in 2024. First, peace must be valued. The two sides should put a floor of no conflict and no confrontation under the relationship, and keep reinforcing the positive outlook of the relationship. Second, stability must be prioritized. The two sides should refrain from setting the relationship back, provoking incident or crossing the line, so as to maintain the overall stability of the relationship. Third, credibility must be upheld. The two sides should honor their commitments to each other with action, and turn the San Francisco vision into reality. They need to strengthen dialogue in a mutually respectful way, manage differences prudently, advance cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit, and step up coordination on international affairs in a responsible way.

President Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. In the face of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external encouragement and support for them, China is not going to sit on its hands.

He urged the U.S. side to translate President Biden's commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into concrete actions. The U.S. side has adopted a string of measures to suppress China's trade and technology development, and is adding more and more Chinese entities to its sanctions lists. This is not "de-risking," but creating risks. If the U.S. side is willing to seek mutually beneficial cooperation and share in China's development dividends, it will always find China's door open; but if it is adamant on containing China's hi-tech development and depriving China of its legitimate right to development, China is not going to sit back and watch.

President Xi stated China's position on Hong Kong-related issues, human rights, the South China Sea, and other issues.

President Biden noted that the U.S.-China relationship is the most consequential relationship in the world. The progress in the relationship since the San Francisco meeting demonstrates that the two sides can advance cooperation while responsibly managing differences.

President Biden reiterated that the United States does not seek a new Cold War, its objective is not to change China's system, its alliances are not targeted against China, the U.S. does not support "Taiwan independence," and the U.S. does not seek conflict with China. The U.S. follows the one-China policy. It is in the interest of the world for China to succeed. The U.S. does not want to curtail China's development, and does not seek "decoupling" from China. The U.S. will send Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit China shortly to strengthen dialogue and communication, avoid miscalculation and promote cooperation, so as to advance the relationship on a stable path and jointly respond to global challenges.

The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues.

The two presidents found the phone call to be candid and constructive. The two sides agreed to stay in communication, and tasked their teams to deliver on the San Francisco vision, including advancing the consultation mechanisms on diplomatic, economic, financial, commercial and other issues as well as mil-to-mil communication, carrying out dialogue and cooperation in such areas as counter-narcotics, artificial intelligence and climate response, taking further steps to expand people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing communication on international and regional issues. The Chinese side welcomed visits to China by Treasury Secretary Yellen and Secretary of State Blinken in the near future.

The Ministry of State Security (MSS) released a bilingual report on Tuesday urging the US to stop slandering and cyberattacking China.

Recently, the US government conspired with the UK to slander China by saying that they are facing cyberattacks from groups of cyberintruders "affiliated to the Chinese government" and put in place unilateral and unreasonable sanctions against China.

According to US media outlets, US and British officials on March 26 filed charges, imposed sanctions, and accused China of a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly "hit millions of people including lawmakers, academics and journalists, and companies including defense contractors." Authorities on both sides nicknamed the hacking group Advanced Persistent Threat 31 or "APT31," calling it an arm of China's Ministry of State Security.

In response, the MSS released a report in both Chinese and English on Tuesday, saying that it is the West who has acted dishonestly, driven by a guilty conscience, poses as a judge to distort facts and urging relevant parties to stop immediately or face measures designed to defend China's legitimate rights and interests.

The US is the main power behind the Five Eyes Alliance, the biggest intelligence organization in the world, which is well known for making up and spreading disinformation from "Chinese cyberintruders," the ministry issued a statement on Tuesday. "What they are attempting at is the politicization of cybersecurity and infringement of the legal rights of China. We hereby express our strong protest and firm opposition. We further urge relevant parties to stop immediately and will take necessary measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests."

Experts believe that the West's such accusations reflect the formation of a societal consensus, led by Anglo-Saxon groups, of being anti-China and unfriendly toward China. These accusations are also seen as an inappropriate act of using their media resources in an extremely aggressive manner to spread negative information internationally, tarnishing and defaming China's image. This is a significant component of their information warfare, cognitive warfare, and political warfare against China, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The US has been the biggest source of cyberattacks and biggest threat to the security of global cyberspace over recent history, the MSS revealed. Countless cases of cyberattacks and espionage activities exposed by the global media in recent years have shown that those attacks, mainly conducted by the US and the UK, are characterized by a clear division of labor, advanced technology and rigorous organization.

For example, PRISM and the Upstream Project were designed for collection of network data; Skynet and Shotgiant, for wiretapping; Operation Olympic Games, for the infiltration of infrastructure; Auroragold and CamberDada, for continued access to targets.

The US has been behind attack systems such as Turbulence, attack platforms such as FoxAcid, Hive and Bvp47, and attack weapons such as Validator and United Rake, among other Trojan viruses and backdoor malware.

At the same time, the US and the UK are accelerating their militarization of networks by engaging in frequent cyber military operations and further substantiating their "preemptive" and "cyber deterrence" strategy, posing a severe threat to the global cybersecurity, the ministry said.

American and British governments are carrying out cyberattacks almost as a matter of common practice, and on the other hand, they are playing deaf and dumb to the condemnation of the global community. On occasions, driven by geopolitical considerations, they even pretend to be a neutral arbiter on these issues, while also spreading disinformation regarding the "threat of cyberintruders from China," who, in fact, is the biggest victim of the global cyberattacks.

According to recent reports from the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China, among all the attacks China has received from overseas, those originating from the US top the list.

In April, 2022, Northwestern Polytechnical University suffered a cyberattack from overseas. The NAS Office of Tailored Access Operation (TAO) had deployed over 40 cyber arsenals, carried out over 10, 000 extended and persistent malicious attacks against targets in Chinese territory and stole massive amounts of high value data.

According to the data of the ministry, in the first quarter of 2024, more than 2,000 cyberattacks were launched from the continental US and its military bases overseas against many countries, targeting China, focusing on a large number of Communist Party of China and government organs, critical information infrastructures, as well as important institutions of artificial intelligence, chip R&D, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and software development.

As part of their attempts to bolster their national strategy of development, consolidate their hegemony in cyberspace, and contain China's development, the US and British governments have been blatantly engaged in malicious cyberattacks on China which includes stealing data. These actions gravely jeopardize China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

China is committed to the constructive cooperation with the international community in its efforts to protect the peace in cyberspace on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, to its respect for sovereignty and fight against hegemony in cyberspace, and to the construction of a shared future of peace, security, cooperation and order in cyberspace, the ministry said.

The bilingual response from the MSS this time is not only to let the Chinese public understand the truth that the US and UK have fabricated lies, but more importantly, to make the international community, including the people within the US and UK, realize the dark psychology and despicable behavior of the US and UK in doing so, experts pointed out. "This allows people from various countries to better understand the radical, distorted, and slanderous nature of the US and UK's policy toward China regardless of the bottom line," Li said.

China's national security agency released a microfilm on Thursday adapted from a real case, revealing how a foreign intelligence agency used investigation and consulting activities as a cover to steal sensitive information from China's key sectors, thus posing a serious risk to national security and interests.

The microfilm depicted the case of a foreign investigation and consulting company, which, under the pretext of assisting a Chinese enterprise investing overseas, conducted a comprehensive investigation, luring company personnel to answer confidential questions, querying confidential information beyond the scope, and filming confidential files of core products.

Their true aim was to obtain core data and state secrets. If accumulated and analyzed comprehensively, this information can reflect important situations such as sensitive details around China's economy and national defense.

This makes it an important target for foreign espionage agencies. If leaked, this information will seriously harm our national security, Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) said on Thursday.

"Behind the lucrative rewards lie numerous traps, and beneath the sophisticated questions lurk hidden schemes," MSS noted.

"The overseas investigation and consulting company's seemingly normal activities were, in reality, on one hand, illegally acquiring our commercial secrets, acting as a 'black hand' for foreign containment and suppression of our advantageous industries. On the other hand, it was probing and stealing our core secrets, acting as an 'accomplice' for foreign intelligence theft and infiltration in important areas," the agency said.

The illegal investigative activities of the overseas consulting company had long been under China's surveillance.

At a critical moment, China's national security agency was able to decisively strike and promptly cut off the channel being used for leaking core data to the foreign theft, while obtaining strong evidence of the scheme conducted under the instruction of foreign espionage agencies, effectively safeguarding national security.

According to the regulations on the management of foreign-related surveys published by the National Bureau of Statistics, foreign-related market surveys must be reported to and approved by survey institutions before being conducted.

Foreign organizations and individuals are not allowed to conduct market surveys and social surveys directly in China, nor are they allowed to conduct market surveys and social surveys through institutions that have not obtained a foreign-related survey license.

In January, the MSS disclosed a case in which the British Secret Intelligence Service (known as MI6) used a foreign consulting agency personnel from "a third country" to engage in espionage activities against China.

Chinese security analysts have warned of a potential "007-like" scenario in which countries such as the UK, as part of their broader strategy to counter China, have expanded their espionage efforts beyond traditionally targeted areas to include economic, military, scientific, technological, and financial domains.

Outdoor sports activities were stopped at schools in Beijing while classes, production and transportation were suspended in Xilin Gol League in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday as sandstorms brought about by a cold front that started affecting a vast area of northern China since Tuesday are expected to affect 13 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region until Thursday evening. 

On Wednesday morning, China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a yellow alert for sandstorms, warning of sand or dust weather in multiple places across China due to the impact of a cold front and strong winds. 

This is the third dust weather process that has affected China since the beginning of this year, as well as the first dust and sandstorm in this spring that spread into China through cross-border transmission, according to the Weather China website. 

The NMC issued another yellow alert for sandstorms on Wednesday evening, warning of the impact of the sandstorms could last till Thursday evening with some places in the middle part of Inner Mongolia expecting to suffer from strong sandstorms. 

The Beijing Meteorological Service also issued a blue alert for wind and sandstorms on Wednesday. In response to the windy and sandstorm weather, the local education authorities in the Chinese capital have required relevant departments to take actions to cope with extreme weather conditions. 

According to the announcement, outdoor gatherings and outdoor sports activities were suspended in Beijing and the local students and teachers were suggested to minimize outdoor activities as much as possible. The education authorities said that they would release security messages to popularize the knowledge of sandstorms. 

In Sonid Right Banner in Xilin Gol League, Innor Mongolia, a red alert – the highest level for sandstorms – was issued at 11:51 am by the local meteorological authority, who urged  local residents to take measures in response to the extreme weather. The local government also took emergency measures including suspending classes, production and transportation. 

As of Wednesday noon, the concentration of PM10 in Xilin Gol League had reached 1,099 micrograms per cubic meter and the minimum visibility was 88 meters. 

Due to the impact of the cold front, some places across the country including parts of Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei will suffer from heavy fog from Wednesday evening till Thursday morning, with visibility dropping to below 200 meters in some places such as the southern part of Shandong and the northern parts of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. 

Xi, Honduran president exchange congratulations over anniversary of ties

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met in succession with global business executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung over the last two days. Analysts believe that these visits by prominent CEOs demonstrate the enduring attractiveness of the Chinese market for foreign investment, showcasing China's ongoing commitment to further opening up.

During Wang’s meeting with Apple CEO Cook on Friday, both sides exchanged views on Apple’s development in China and China-US economic and trade relations. Wang said that China’s economy has shown strong resilience, and its long-term positive fundamentals remain unchanged, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday.

Wang noted that China has an enormous market size, a complete industrial system, high-quality human resources, as well as a stable and open business environment. China is accelerating the development of innovation-led new quality productive forces, with promising growth prospects in high tech fields such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, which means huge opportunities for global businesses including Apple.

He also welcomed Apple to continue deepening cooperation in the Chinese market and achieve common development.

Wang also stressed that China-US economic and trade cooperation is a stabilizing force in bilateral relations. The business community is generally opposed to “decoupling” and “breaking chains” with China and to the generalization of the concept of national security. China is willing to work with the US to create a fair, stable, and predictable environment for business cooperation between the two countries.

Cook said that China is an important market and a key supply chain partner for Apple due to its rich talent pool and strong sense of innovation. Apple will remain committed over the long-term development in China and continue to invest in China’s supply chain, research and development, and sales.

Cook is also among a host of business executives that have arrived in China in recent days. They are expected to participate in a series of high-level meetings, such as the CDF, and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2024, which will start in Boao, South China’s Hainan Province, in the coming week.

On Saturday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao also met with SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung. On Friday, Wang met with Visa Inc CEO Ryan McInerney and Broadcom President and CEO Hock E. Tan. A day earlier, Wang met with Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Kallenius, HP Inc President and CEO Enrique Lores and Eli Lilly Chairman and CEO David Ricks, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Cook has been in China since earlier this week, drawing widespread attention in China and around the world. On Thursday evening, Cook attended the grand opening of a new flagship store, which is second only to its Fifth Avenue outlet in New York City, in downtown Shanghai. He is also expected to attend the China Development Forum (CDF), which is expected to kick off on Sunday in Beijing.

Cook’s visit highlights the importance of the Chinese market to Apple, especially at a time when the US tech giant is facing regulatory challenges in Western markets, a technology industry expert surnamed Liu told the Global Times on Saturday.

In early March, the EU hit Apple with an antitrust fine worth 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion). And it is likely to face EU probe into its compliance with the bloc’s Digital Law, according to media reports.

Domestically, the US Justice Department and more than a dozen states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on Thursday, accusing the giant of illegally monopolizing the smartphone market.

“While it is true that Apple is facing fierce competition from domestic brands in the Chinese market, there is still sufficient room for Apple to grow in China, compared with its situation in the US and Europe,” Liu noted. “So whether it is centered around the Chinese market or the Chinese supply chain, it is worthwhile for Apple to make more effort and investment.”

"There's no supply chain in the world that's more critical to us than China," said Cook in a recent interview with media in Shanghai.

Despite Western voices attacking the Chinese economy, recent visits by global CEOs underscores the continued appeal of the Chinese market for foreign investment, Xi Junyang, a professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times.

“China’s ongoing efforts to open its door wider and expand market access for foreign investors while promoting technological innovation have provided huge opportunities for global businesses,” Xi noted. “Plus its strong supply chain support, for any multinationals, China has become an integral part of their global strategy.”