In August, the Daping Moutai Organic Sorghum Base brims with the possibility of a bountiful harvest, as fields of sorghum turn golden. The heavy heads of the sorghum bow down, transforming the landscape into a golden carpet meticulously woven by nature, quietly unfurling while heralding another year of abundant harvest.
On August 16, an event was hosted by the Moutai Group and the Renhuai Municipal Government, and undertaken by the Moutai Liquor Co Ltd, and the Moutai Hongyingzi Company. The event was themed "Honoring the Grain Farmers with a Harvest: Committing to Quality for Generations," and took place at the Daping Organic Sorghum Base in Maopo village, Changgang township, Renhuai.

Over 2,000 participants including grain farmers, inheritors, distributors, and workshop representatives from Moutai were present. The Hongyingzi sorghum symbolizes the harvest of this land and the essence of Moutai's traditional brewing craftsmanship. As a special variety used in the production of Moutai liquor, Hongyingzi sorghum is closely linked to the Chishui River. The soil, water quality, and climatic conditions of the Chishui River basin provide an exceptional cultivation environment for Hongyingzi sorghum, playing a crucial role in shaping the unique flavor of Moutai liquor.

This variety of sorghum, originating from the local traditional Hongyingzi, is small grains, thick skin, and has a firm, plump structure. These characteristics enable it to perform exceptionally well in Moutai's multiple rounds of cooking and fermentation processes.

Agricultural experts participating in the Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season event shared with the Global Times that Hongyingzi sorghum features "eight highs, one low, and one moderate" - high in starch, phenolic compounds, fats, branched-starch ratio, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature, calorific value, long-branch chain ratio, along with a low retrogradation of starch and moderate content of tannins. These unique structural characteristics make it the ideal choice for brewing Moutai liquor, crucial in achieving its signature aroma, full-bodied richness, and lingering finish.

"The harvest of Hongyingzi sorghum marks the hard work of farmers bearing fruitful results, and a solid foundation for Moutai's raw brewing materials," Zhang Deqin, the Party Secretary and Chairman of the Moutai Group, said.

The Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season conveys Moutai's respect for natural and humanistic stories. Moutai liquor closely integrates its production and brewing with agricultural timing and activities, embodying the traditional brewing concept of "following nature and seasonal harmony, and co-brewing with the cosmos."

Crafting legendary quality

The Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season both celebrates agricultural bounty and epitomizes Moutai's belief that "quality is the soul of life."

Moutai regards this land as the "primary workshop," enforcing strict quality control throughout the entire process to ensure the high-quality and stable production of brewing materials. In collaboration with the Renhuai People's Government, Moutai has embarked on a five-year project, investing heavily in the establishment of a high-quality sorghum cultivation base to guarantee a long-term and stable supply of raw materials.

The base's construction includes land consolidation, water conservancy projects, electrical infrastructure, and pest control, enhancing the quality of farmland and achieving full mechanization of sorghum production, thus significantly increasing the per-acre yield.

With steadfast dedication to artisanal management, Moutai has made history once again: It became the first Chinese company to receive the highest level of seven diamonds at the EFQM Global Award under the new evaluation standards and is also the first in the liquor industry to achieve this honor.

China's traditional brewing culture

Hongyingzi sorghum serves both as a material basis for the long-term sustainable development of Moutai liquor and as an important vessel for cultural heritage and innovative growth, contributing uniquely and profoundly to Chinese brewing culture.

The brewing of Moutai liquor is an ancient ceremony that breathes and shares its fate with the natural seasons. The cultivation of Hongyingzi sorghum follows the natural rhythm of sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn, closely intertwined with the changing of the seasons. In spring, farmers sow seeds of hope amid gentle rains; in summer, the sorghum robustly grows under the nurturing sun and dew; and by autumn, with the refreshing breeze, the sorghum ripens to a deep red, signaling optimal harvest time.

As Moutai liquor gains global prominence, an increasing number of people are beginning to understand and appreciate China's traditional brewing culture. The ancient brewing techniques of Hongyingzi sorghum and Moutai liquor not only showcase the allure of Chinese brewing to the world but also reveal the depth and breadth of Chinese culture.

With the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, the focus in Chinese sports has begun shifting toward winter sports, especially with the 2025 Asian Winter Games to be hosted in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, just six months away and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, looming on the horizon. 

One of the recent notable developments is the upcoming second season of the Women's Chinese Ice Hockey League (WCIHL), which is set to commence on September 1, according to the Chinese Ice Hockey Association (CIHA). 

The WCIHL, initiated in November 2023, was a milestone for Chinese women's ice hockey, as historically China's women's ice hockey has faced challenges due to limited exposure and opportunities for domestic players. 

"The teams participating in the inaugural season gained valuable experience through 71 matches, significantly improving their overall competitive level," Wang Xuan, head of the CIHA, told a news conference on Wednesday. "This has made an outstanding contribution to the cultivation of talent, and the professional development of teams and clubs." 

Previously, a women's ice hockey club that featured mainly the Chinese national team's players relied on competing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to hone the players' skills.
Now the domestic league is poised to play a significant role in enhancing the level of competition within China and ensuring a steady pipeline of talent for the national team. 

Li Yutian, a senior official with the CIHA, told reporters that although the Chinese women's ice hockey team was unable to maintain its position in the top tier during the year 2024's Women's Ice Hockey World Championship, they still demonstrated strong competitiveness. 

The women's national team has a tight schedule in the lead-up to 2026, with the Asian Championship to be held in Beijing in late October, the Milan Winter Olympics qualifiers in Japan in February 2025, followed by the back-to-back Asian Winter Games at home in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The Chinese women's ice hockey team recently completed a two-month training session. The players are expected to immediately begin preparations for the league, according to Li. With the league's regular season running till December, the national team will also participate in important events such as the Asian Championships in Beijing from late October to early November. 

Ripple effect

The success of the WCIHL could also have a ripple effect on the development of ice hockey more broadly in China. Plans are already underway to launch a men's professional league later this year, further cementing the sport's growing presence in the country. 

"The establishment of domestic ice hockey leagues addresses the need for a platform that could sustain and grow the sport in China," Mao Jiale, a Chengdu-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

"The league's consistent schedule will help players refine their skills, build team chemistry, and gain valuable experience under pressure, which also provides the national team with a broader pool of talent to draw from when selecting players, ensuring that the team is well-prepared to face the world's best." 

As the league grows, it is expected to not only elevate the standard of play, but also  increase the visibility and popularity of ice hockey across the country. 

In addition to the professional leagues, a series of grassroots initiatives are being rolled out to increase public participation in ice hockey. 

These include programs such as "hockey in schools" and "hockey in communities," which aim to introduce the sport to a wider audience and inspire the next generation of players.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which was a pivotal moment for winter sports in China. 

Beijing 2022 legacy

The Beijing Games sparked a nationwide surge in interest in winter sports, with the government committing to the ambitious goal of "engaging 300 million people in winter sports." 

Since then, the country has made significant strides in expanding access to winter sports facilities, increasing participation rates, and raising the profile of winter sports among the general public.

One of the most visible manifestations of this effort is the National Winter Sports Week, which was launched on August 19 in Harbin. 

This event showcases a variety of winter sports activities, including off-season training methods such as roller skiing, dry-land ice hockey, and curling. 

These activities not only offer fun and engaging ways for people to stay active during the warmer months, but also help maintain the momentum generated by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and keep winter sports in the public eye year-round.

In addition to domestic initiatives, China's national teams are also intensifying their preparation for the upcoming international competitions. 

The short-track speed skating team, for example, embarked on a 41-day summer training camp in Italy in June. 

This rigorous training program is designed to fine-tune the athletes' physical conditioning, technique, and mental endurance, all of which will be crucial in the high-stakes environment of the Asian Winter Games and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Similarly, the national freestyle skiing and snowboard cross teams have traveled to the southern hemisphere where it is currently winter to participate in international competitions to gain experience. 

 "These overseas training programs highlight China's commitment to leaving no stone unturned in its quest for excellence in winter sports," Mao said. 

"By seeking out the best training environments and competing against top-tier international opponents, Chinese athletes are gaining the experience and confidence they need to succeed on the world stage."

On August 21, Fortune China officially released the 2024 Fortune Tech 50 list, and the world-leading solar technology company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter as "LONGi"), was selected for its outstanding performance in technological innovation, product development, and intelligent manufacturing.
The Fortune Tech 50 list aims to identify technology companies from China that are influencing the world. These companies are driven by innovation, continuously invest in research and development, actively expand application scenarios, have achieved remarkable results in the domestic market, and are even leading global trends, making important contributions to the development of future technologies.

Innovation is the soul of LONGi and the internal driving force for the continuous development of the photovoltaic industry. As a member of China's photovoltaic industry, LONGi has made systematic breakthroughs in mono-crystalline silicon rods, wafers, cells and modules, contributing to the high-quality development of the industry.

In terms of wafers, the company-led project "Key Technological Innovations and Applications of High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Manufacturing of Solar Mono-crystalline Silicon Wafers" won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. This is the first time that a private enterprise has won the highest honor in the national science and technology field as the first completing unit and the first finisher since the establishment of this award in the field of photovoltaics in China. The newly developed LONGi TaiRay wafer has broken the dilemma of no performance breakthrough in the single-crystal silicon wafer field for nearly 10 years, becoming a weathervane for the development of wafer technology.

In terms of cells, the company has made breakthroughs in multiple technical and process difficulties of PERC and BC cells. The "Super High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Back-Contact Crystalline Silicon Hetero-junction Solar Cells" and "Super High-Efficiency Silicon-Based Tandem Cells" led by LONGi's R&D team were successfully selected as "2023 Major Scientific and Technological Progress in the Field of Photovoltaics." Since this year, LONGi has refreshed its own world records with 27.30% and 34.6%, respectively, and is currently the "Dual Champion" of the world record for single-crystal silicon cells and crystalline-silicon-perovskite tandem cells. Since 2023, the company has focused on upgrading and iterating BC technology, forming a rich BC full-scenario product matrix, creating more value for customers with technological innovation + scenario satisfaction.

While achieving technological innovation, LONGi is also actively promoting intelligent manufacturing innovation. In December 2023, LONGi's Jiaxing Production Base was selected as a "Lighthouse Factory" by the World Economic Forum, which is also the first "Lighthouse Factory" in the global photovoltaic industry. In this "Lighthouse Factory," LONGi has extensively adopted new technologies such as industrial internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and digital twins, successfully implementing more than 30 digital use cases. With the help of digital and intelligent means, the company has achieved the leap from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing."

As a global solar technology company, LONGi adheres to the concept of "seeking development through innovation," focuses on future industrial technologies, and continues to lead efficient technology iterations and industrial transformations. The company has a national enterprise technology center and eight provincial enterprise technology centers, and has established a technical R&D team of more than 5,000 people. It has formed an efficient R&D system and sufficient technical reserves for "producing one generation, developing one generation, and reserving one generation" around clean energy technologies such as photovoltaics and hydrogen energy. In the past five years, LONGi has accumulated more than 23.5 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) in R&D investment. By the end of 2023, the company had accumulated 2,879 various authorized patents.

Over the years, from technological innovation, product innovation to intelligent manufacturing innovation, LONGi has been running at the forefront of technological innovation in the photovoltaic industry. In the future, the company will adhere to independent research and development, continuously enhance core competitiveness, and continues to create value for global customers with more reliable and efficient products and services.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy, and has also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review policies and measures to open up a new vista in the large-scale development of the western region.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

The meeting urged focused efforts to pursue well-coordinated environmental conservation, large-scale opening-up, and high-quality development, and move faster to create a new pattern of development to elevate overall regional strength and sustainable development capacity.

Efforts should be made to deepen reform comprehensively, further unleash and develop the productive forces, boost the vitality of society, and blaze a path of Chinese modernization that suits the realities of the region, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The meeting also called for developing specialty industries that leverage local strengths, enhancing technological innovation capabilities, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

The meeting stressed efforts to promote high-level environmental conservation, build a beautiful western region, thoroughly carry out pollution prevention and control, and advance green and low-carbon development.

It urged the western region to enhance the openness of the economy, strengthen the guarantee capacity of energy and resources, and promote the construction of clean energy bases.

Measures will be taken to advance the new urbanization in accordance with local conditions, consolidate the poverty alleviation achievements, and make sure that there will be no relapsing into poverty on a large scale in rural areas, according to the meeting.

The meeting also noted that a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be forged to safeguard ethnic unity and stability in border areas.

The signing ceremony for a strategic partnership between the China Golf Association (CGA) and Golfzon China was held in Beijing on Thursday. To better promote the future development of digital golf, both parties plan to donate thousands of SwingPlay Golf Devices to primary and secondary schools nationwide.

Wei Qingfeng, secretary general of the China Golf Association, noted that through research conducted this year, the association discovered that the biggest challenges to promoting golf in primary and secondary schools are the lack of venues, facilities, and trained instructors.

“The golf devices we are donating to students are convenient to use, safe, and portable. They effectively address these issues and integrate learning, practice, and competition,” Wei remarked.

The CGA and Golfzon will engage in cooperation across various fields, including youth golf and indoor golf.

The two organizations have jointly launched the 2024 Golfzon China Open. The event boasts a total prize pool of 5 million yuan ($69,000).

Golfzon China announced that one of its practice facilities will be open to young people for free every morning until December 31, aiming to attract more youth to participate in golf.

At the ceremony, student representatives received the donated SwingPlay Golf Devices from the guests and demonstrated their swings.

Hui Chenlong, director of the events department of Golfzon China, stated that the CGA and Golfzon China will closely collaborate to advance golf in China, bringing more and better indoor golf tournaments to enthusiasts.

“Looking ahead, we will jointly explore new development strategies for golf, promote its popularity in China, foster golf culture, and build a solid foundation for the sport by nurturing more talent. This will contribute to public health, the fitness economy, and the development of healthier youth in China,” Hui concluded.

Yang Jiayu claimed the first athletics gold for China at Paris Olympics as she won the women's 20km race walk here on Thursday.

China's Liu Hao and Ji Bowen claimed the men's canoe double 500m gold medal at the Paris Olympics here on Thursday.

The pair clocked one minute and 39.48 seconds, ahead of Italy's Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini who took the silver in 1:41.08. The bronze went to Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez from Spain who finished in 1:41.18. 

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent some of its main combat aircraft to Thailand as the two countries' air forces ready to kick off a joint exercise on Sunday, with experts saying that friendly and confrontational exchanges between pilots from the two sides will boost military mutual trust as well as enhance skills.

Ahead of the Falcon Strike-2024 joint air force training exercise, scheduled to be held from Sunday to August 29 according to the Royal Thai Air Force, all participating Chinese forces have arrived at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base and conducted adaptative flight training sessions on Friday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

According to the CCTV report, the PLA Air Force has sent multiple types of military aircraft including the Y-20 large transport aircraft, the J-10C fighter jet, the J-10S fighter jet and the JH-7A fighter bomber.

Observers said that these warplanes are some of the PLA Air Force's mainstays in air transport, air-to-air combat and air-to-ground combat.

It is expected that the two countries' warplanes will hold confrontational exercises, and pilot exchanges between the two air forces are anticipated to deepen mutual trust and enhance skills, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In the exercise, the Thai side will likely deploy the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet of European origin, according to Fu.

While not shown in the CCTV report footage and thus not knowing the exact type, the report said that the Chinese side also sent helicopters.

When the Chinese Defense Ministry announced the joint exercise last week, it noted that there would be Chinese special operations forces taking part in the drill.

It explains the deployment of helicopters, as the special operations units will likely practice aerial assaults on valuable ground targets such as air fields, air defense positions and command centers during the joint exercise, observers noted.

Falcon Strike-2024 marks the seventh joint training exercise between the Chinese and Thai air forces, CCTV reported.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing the tactical levels and skills of both sides' participating forces, as well as strengthening pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' militaries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak of mpox constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), which carries the potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent. The following day, Chinese medical experts underscored the importance of international collaboration in containing the spread of the disease across borders.

The declaration was made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, given the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa, per a news release from the WHO website.

This marks the second PHEIC determination made by WHO, relating to mpox, in two years. Official data showed the number of cases reported in the DRC so far this year has exceeded last year's total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.

WHO's determination came after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday officially declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.

According to the Africa CDC on Tuesday, at least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, have reported mpox outbreaks. Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023. "This is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider the many weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing and contact tracing," read the Africa CDC press release.

WHO's declaration of a public health emergency of mpox is mainly aimed at strengthening global cooperation between countries and regions to prevent the disease from developing into a larger pandemic, Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based medical expert who closely follows public health issues, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The symptoms of mpox are much clearer, with visible skin rashes and other symptoms, making it theoretically easier to control and discover compared to respiratory infectious diseases, according to Zhuang. It is hoped that with increased international support and resources, including support for vaccine development, the spread of the disease can be contained, Zhuang noted.

Prevention and control of mpox should focus on early detection, reporting, isolation and treatment to prevent the spread of the disease. Adherence to principles of combined prevention and control, precise measures and rapid response is crucial in effectively managing outbreaks, Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Men who have sexual relations with men in Asia are considered a high-risk group for mpox. It is important to prioritize prevention and control measures for this high-risk group to prevent transmission to the general population, Lu said, noting that the public does not need to panic.

Most cases in China have had mild symptoms, but individuals with compromised immune systems or advanced cancer may experience severe illness or even death, according to Lu.

China issued a mpox prevention and control plan in July 2023 to optimize the country's measures against the infectious disease. The plan calls for multi-channel effective monitoring of medical institutes, key groups and international arrivals.

Additionally, local health and disease control departments, along with relevant social organizations, should fully draw on the experience and service model of comprehensive intervention for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and carry out peer education at key activity venues such as bars, clubs and baths frequented by men who have sexual relations with men, according to the plan.

China and Indonesia held their first Senior Officials' Meeting of the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue on Tuesday.

Experts believe that cooperation between Beijing and Jakarta will set an example for other ASEAN member states while contributing to stabilizing the situation in the South China Sea.

As agreed between China and Indonesia, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong and Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission Zhang Baoqun led a delegation to Jakarta on Monday to attend the first Senior Officials' Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue.

Sun and Zhang and their Indonesian counterparts Abdul Kadir Jailani, Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Brigadier General Oktaheroe Ramsi, Secretary Directorate General for Defense Strategy at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, co-chaired the Dialogue in Jakarta on Tuesday. 

The two sides exchanged in-depth views on China-Indonesia relations, diplomatic and defense strategic cooperation and reached a series of consensuses.

The senior officials' meeting marks the official launch of the "2+2" mechanism between the two countries and a new level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries. The two sides spoke highly of the development of China-Indonesia relations and expressed their willingness to strengthen communication and coordination, continuously enhance bilateral political and security cooperation and friendly mutual trust, and push for new progress in the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

China also expounded stances and propositions on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns such as Taiwan question and the South China Sea. Indonesia congratulated China on the successful convening of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, and advocated properly managing differences through peace negotiations and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that 2+2 ministerial dialogues usually take place only between partners or countries with close relations and high strategic mutual trust.

This senior officials' meeting is expected to pave the way and create better conditions for talks among higher level officials in the future, Qian said.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the meeting will also likely address the relationships between China and ASEAN, and China's support for ASEAN's centrality in the region.

The two sides are also expected to discuss the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with a view to reaching an agreement on the COC as soon as possible. In addition, the two sides will likely continue to focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, Chen said.

Chen believes that given the fact that China and Indonesia share a common understanding in various areas, the two sides will also discuss various issues, ranging from Indonesia's support for the one-China principle and clean energy to conflicts elsewhere in the world.

The 2+2 dialogue came after the Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Beijing this April, with observers saying that the visit was crucial not only for the development of bilateral relations for at least the next five years, but also injects positivity and stability into the whole ASEAN region.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun also met with Prabowo during the visit. Dong said the Chinese military is willing to work with the Indonesian military to consolidate their strategic mutual trust, promote joint exercises and training, and enhance personnel exchanges to take their practical cooperation to a new height.

Chen said that China and Indonesia have established smooth mechanisms for joint exercises and defense exchanges, and the two countries will set an example of cooperation between China and other ASEAN member states.

Meanwhile, military cooperation in general contributes to enhancing mutual trust in security between the two countries. More importantly, the cooperation between the two sides will serve as a positive signal for stabilizing the situation in the South China Sea, Chen said.

The China-Indonesia 2+2 dialogue takes place shortly after the Philippines continued to ignore China's sincere efforts to calm tensions by sending an air force aircraft to illegally enter the airspace over China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea on Thursday, a move that was met with professional and legitimate responses by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command. 

Chen said that Indonesia is also worried about the current tensions in the South China Sea, which will make Jakarta more concerned about the deterioration of the regional security environment as the worsening situation in turn will probably compel Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries to take sides in the competition between major powers. 

Chen said that Indonesia is likely worried that the Philippines' cooperation with the US and other Western countries may impact the unity of ASEAN.

Considering the above-mentioned facts, Indonesia will likely try to play a mediating role between the disputing countries. In addition, Indonesia will likely try to forge a solid consensus within ASEAN members, as it does not want to see ASEAN divided on the South China Sea issue, Chen noted.