On Sunday, the Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Straits and attempted to generate public attention around the transit. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army deployed naval and air assets to monitor and track the Canadian vessel's movements, ensuring a controlled and effective response, Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA, said in a statement on Monday. 

Sources from PLA disclosed that all actions taken by the Canadian vessel during its transit were closely monitored and controlled by the Chinese side. A Chinese expert told the Global Times that Canada should acknowledge that blindly following the US' "Indo-Pacific strategy" will ultimately be detrimental to its own interests. 

The theater command deployed naval and air forces to monitor and remain on alert throughout the transit of the vessel, said Li, according to the statement released by the theater command on Monday.

Li denounced the Canadian warship's transit as an act that deliberately stirred up trouble and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

He stressed that the theater command will remain on high alert and resolutely take countermeasures against any threats or provocations.

AFP reported that the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, citing a statement from Taiwan's so-called "external affairs" department.

Citing the island's defense authority, AFP further claimed that 24 PLA aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, were detected carrying "joint combat readiness patrols" with military vessels around the island.

During the Canadian warship's passage, the PLA radioed the ship and warned it to change course, AFP reported, citing media on the island of Taiwan.

According to Reuters report on Monday, regarding The PLA's statement, the Canadian military declined immediate comment. While the "external affairs" department on the island of Taiwan has "welcomed the sailing."

Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Monday that the Taiwan authorities are very concerned about being used as a bargaining chip by the US, therefore, any perceived external support is likely to be exaggerated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for political gain. 

Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert, believed that the Canadian warship's Taiwan Straits transit has conveyed misleading signals to Taiwan authorities, fostering the false belief that external forces will support their separatist ambitions.

The HMCS Ottawa has been operating in waters near China since the beginning of the year. Canadian news outlet CTV National News reported that PLA warships tracked the Canadian frigate in the East China Sea and the South China Sea in January.

On the other hand, some observers have noticed that compared with the previous times, Canada has adopted a more restrained approach in its latest vessel's Straits passage, in contrast to Australia's recent hype of "unsafe and unprofessional" behavior by a Chinese fighter jet in the South China Sea. 

In this regard, Zheng said that Canadian vessels have sailed through the Taiwan Straits many times under the banner of maintaining "freedom of navigation," and the latest operation of Canadian vessel was still in the implementation of the plan that had been drawn up before. "As a follower of the US 'Indo-Pacific strategy,' Canada has increased its presence in the Asia-Pacific region." 

From February 10 to February 12, the US destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch transited the Taiwan Straits. According to Senior Captain Li Xi, the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed naval and air forces to monitor the entire passage of the US vessels, effectively responding to and managing the situation.

However, as the US-Canada relationship is undergoing a phase of a delicate recalibration, Canada must acknowledge that its development and prosperity are intrinsically linked to cooperation with the global community, including China, Zheng said, "only when the two sides [Beijing and Ottawa] maintain a strategic understanding can they engage in in-depth cooperation."

Blindly aligning with US strategy will ultimately prove counterproductive and detrimental to Canada's interests, the expert noted. 

The US' unilateral tariff measures undermine normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Hopefully the two sides can address mutual concerns through equal dialogue and consultation, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in a letter sent to the newly appointed US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Wednesday.

Wang congratulated Lutnick on assuming the position as the 41st US Secretary of Commerce. In the letter, Wang also raised concerns over the US decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

Economic and trade relations are an important component of China-US relations. As the two largest economies in the world, strengthening the bilateral economic and trade cooperation is of significant importance to the development of both countries and to global economic growth, Wang said. 

As the latest in a series of measures threatening to upend international trade, US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday he intends to impose auto tariffs "in the neighborhood of 25 percent" and similar duties on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports, Reuters reported.

While Washington threatened to impose additional tariffs, over 30 WTO members expressed serious concern over the US' approach at the first 2025 meeting of the WTO's General Council on Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The EU Mission to the WTO said one of its key issues at the meeting was "defending the rules-based trading system, under strain - and increasingly under attack," according to the mission's post on X.

Canada, New Zealand, and Singapore urged the international community to avoid a return to an era of power politics and to a "law of the jungle," according to Xinhua.

Norway and Nicaragua warned that the trade war and its resulting uncertainty will severely impact small and medium-sized nations that depend on international trade. Brazil, Pakistan, and others called for the protection of the post-World War II international economic system and the principle of most-favored-nation treatment. Australia, Nigeria, Egypt, and others also urged restraint in implementing unilateral measures that undermine the multilateral trading system. 

China's Ambassador to the WTO Li Chenggang also voiced strong concern at the meeting over the US' unilateral imposition of tariffs and their harmful effects.

At the meeting, Li called on the US to remove these measures and urged all parties to take meaningful action to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, which resonated deeply with the audience. 

He said US' unilateral and arbitrary tariffs, affecting China and other trading partners, have caused global "tariff shocks."

Li highlighted that such actions blatantly violate WTO rules, heighten economic uncertainty, and disrupt global trade. 

Defending multilateralism

The US' approach not only impacts global trade but also has ripple effects on the world economy. If such actions are allowed, it poses a serious challenge to the multilateral trading system, He Weiwen, a senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the US tariffs will not only negatively impact its trading partners, but also increase costs for US consumers.

New tariffs will mean higher prices for American families. And it can lead to increased challenges for US retailers because of added warehousing and related costs, according to a press release that the US National Retail Federation (NRF) shared with the Global Times on Wednesday, citing NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold.

The planned auto tariffs are clearly a pure manifestation of trade protectionism. Its goal is to safeguard the US automotive industry, and the policy caters to blue-collar white voters in the Midwest, a key part of Trump's electoral base, Diao said.

However, the US automotive industry doesn't seem to share the same enthusiasm. According to a Guardian report, Ford CEO Jim Farley told an investor conference in New York last week that a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada "will blow a hole in the US industry that we have never seen."

Excessive protection will instead undermine the competitiveness of US industries, He Weiwen said.

Other global automakers are also being forced to ramp up response efforts.

Germany-based Volkswagen Group told the Global Times in an email on Wednesday that they're "monitoring developments in North America very closely."

"We continue to promote open markets and stable trade relations. These are essential for a competitive economy and for the automotive industry in particular," the auto giant said.

Not only governments, global markets and businesses are increasingly worried. The frequent introduction of tariff policies by the Trump administration is further eroding predictability in international trade, which is highly detrimental to the global economy, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Japanese, South Korean, and German manufacturers will bear the brunt of the potential US auto tariffs, while semiconductor tariffs will impact both the island of Taiwan and Chinese mainland, Zhou said.

Japan and South Korea are also the potential victims of the semiconductor tariffs, Reuters said in a separate report.

In fact, related US domestic industries, which depends heavily on imports, will experience direct and significant supply chain disruptions. This will drive up costs and put additional inflationary pressure on the US economy, Zhou said.

Also, commenting on the "reciprocal" tariffs policy Trump recently announced, Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, told the Global Times that "Trump's definition of reciprocity would mean the end of bilateral trade imbalances and a crazy patchwork of trade barriers. As a consequence, global trade would shrink, and the world would experience a global depression."

"My expectation is that countries other than the US will follow customary rules, reached in the WTO and free trade agreements, for trade between themselves, while retaliating against new US tariffs imposed by Trump," Hufbauer said.

China has filed a complaint with the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism against the US decision to impose an additional 10-percent tariff on goods from China, the Ministry of Commerce said on February 4.

China always believes that protectionism will lead nowhere, and there is no winner in a trade war or a tariff war It is a universal consensus of the international community, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

China's CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft on Monday completed a full-load taxiing test under full working conditions in Zhanghe Airport in the city of Jingmen, Central China's Hubei Province. The next step will involve its maiden flight following optimizations, the drone's maker said on Tuesday.

During the taxiing test, all systems of the unmanned transport aircraft operated smoothly, demonstrating good operability and adaptability, according to a press release the Aerospace CH UAV Co Ltd, the developer of the aircraft, sent to the Global Times.

The whole test process was smooth and orderly, as the unmanned transport aircraft accelerated steadily on the runway and safely stopped within the predetermined taxiing distance, marking the successful completion of the test, the company said.

The project team will carry out further optimizations and tests on the unmanned transport aircraft, and the maiden flight will be carried out after confirming its stable and reliable performance more, according to the press release.

Having a strong transport capacity of a full load of 1,000 kilograms, this type of unmanned transport aircraft offers new solutions for logistics, emergency rescue, and military supply missions. It will promote the development of China's transport drone industry and bolster the growth of China's low-altitude economy, the maker of the drone said.

The CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft made its first public appearance with a static ground display at the Airshow China 2024 held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province in November 2024.

The Global Times learned from Aerospace CH UAV Co Ltd at the airshow that the CH-YH1000 is a multipurpose medium-altitude transport drone system with military and civilian transportation purposes and weapon delivery capabilities. It is characterized by its capabilities in terms of taking off and landing at very short distances under rough conditions.

The aircraft has a cargo capacity of at least 1,000 kilograms, a maximum takeoff weight of 2,300 kilograms, a mission endurance exceeding 10 hours and a ceiling of 8,000 meters, according to the information released at the airshow.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert who closely observed the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft at the Airshow China 2024, told the Global Times on Tuesday that transport drones are usually characterized by their low empty weight and high load capacity. These characteristics make them more efficient and cost-effective than manned transport aircraft.

The CH-YH1000 is uniquely designed to load and unload cargos quickly, enabling it to conduct multiple sorties efficiently, Fu said. 

In addition to transport missions, Fu noted that the CH-YH1000 also has the potential to adapt to carrying specialized payloads. 

Beijing has recently launched an English map to enhance travel services for foreign nationals in the city. The map is now available for a one-month trial run on the Beijing Platform for Common Geospatial Information Services.

The Beijing English Map includes both digital and printed versions. The digital map covers categories such as administrative divisions, natural features, transportation, government institutions, international organizations, education and culture, healthcare, sports and leisure, residential areas, and commercial facilities, with over 30,000 annotations in total.

The digital map also includes six additional thematic sections with over 4,000 annotations, such as bank card services and SIM card services, offering convenient information for foreigners visiting, working and living in Beijing.

The printed map notably marks historical landmarks like the Beijing Central Axis. The digital version of the printed map is available for free download on the Map World website.

During the trial run, feedbacks will be collected to improve and enrich the map's content.  

China has no intention to overtake or replace any country, but must safeguard its legitimate rights to development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday during his phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

China will never allow Taiwan to be separated from the motherland, stressed Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Major countries should act like major countries, Wang said, expressing his hope that Rubio would act responsibly to play a constructive role for the future of the Chinese and the American people, as well as for global peace and stability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Wang Dongming attended here the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the invitation of the Venezuelan government on Friday.

Maduro met with Wang, also vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, at the presidential palace after the inauguration.

Wang conveyed cordial greetings and good wishes from Xi to Maduro and congratulated him on his re-election as president of Venezuela.

Wang said that in September 2023, Xi and Maduro jointly announced the elevation of China-Venezuela relations to an all-weather strategic partnership, leading bilateral relations into a new era.

Last year, the two sides solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and the friendship between the two countries has been more deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, Wang said.

China is willing to work with Venezuela to continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate and develop the traditional friendship, and push forward bilateral relations for the benefit of the two peoples, Wang said.

Maduro asked Wang to convey his highest respect and sincere greetings to Xi, and extended his gratitude to Xi for sending a special envoy to attend the inauguration ceremony of his new term.

Venezuela attaches great importance to developing China-Venezuela all-weather strategic partnership, and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, Maduro said, adding that Venezuela stands ready to join hands with China to advance practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen the exchange of governance experience, and lift bilateral ties to a new level.

Editor's Note:

A powerful earthquake jolted Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on the morning of January 7. The rapid response was impressive. Within 10 minutes of the quake, rescue planes were in the sky; in less than half an hour, rescue operations were carried out in the epicenter area. On the first night after the earthquake, affected people were moved to tents and provided with hot meals.

Global Times reporters ventured into the heart of the earthquake-stricken area, engaging with people who experienced the devastating quake firsthand. They recounted moments of resilience, the swift arrival of rescue teams, and the community's determination to rebuild both their lives and their surroundings.

This story is part of the Global Times' series "Witness to history," which features first-hand accounts from witnesses who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historic moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid steps forward taken in the past and the present.
In the wake of the January 7 earthquake that struck Dingri county, Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, four veterans came together, displaying the unity and spirit of the Chinese PLA soldiers.

When the quake occurred, Tsering Gyatso, who runs a restaurant in his hometown county of Gyangze, was cooking and felt a slightly tremor. When he realized it was an earthquake, he quickly contacted his veteran fellows in the county.

Without hesitation, the four veterans, including Tsering Gyatso, Tsering Wangyel, Palbar Tashi, and Puchong Dawa, set out for the disaster-stricken areas in Dingri immediately. Carrying only light backpacks, the four avoided adding strain to relief operations by hitching rides with rescue teams. Upon arrival, they quickly started to work, helping set up tents and transport essential supplies to those in need. Their military training shone through as they adapted to the situation in a short time, embodying the spirit of "ready for the fight, capable of combat."

By January 8, the group moved on to Mangpu township in Lhaze county, where volunteers were sparse. There, they assisted local officials in salvaging important documents from damaged government buildings, erecting tents, and distributing relief materials.

Tsering Gyatso told the Global Times how rapid road and power restoration had significantly supported relief efforts. He said that these advancements were a testament to years of steady development in the region. "The supplies were delivered to the people in the disaster-stricken areas in a timely manner," he said.

Amid the chaos, stories of resilience emerged. A local police officer named Lhundrup, who lost his two children in the earthquake, continued to work tirelessly to help others. Similarly, a village leader in Tsogo township, despite having lost his mother to the disaster, remained steadfast in ensuring his community's needs were met.

These individuals, Tsering Gyatso remarked, exemplified the strength and perseverance that inspired the retired soldiers to push forward.

When asked about their motivations, Tsering Gyatso said, "As veterans and Party members, it's our duty to help. Actions speak louder than words, especially in times of crisis."

After an incident involving Hong Kong residents suspected of being imprisoned in Southeast Asia to participate in illegal work, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the Security Bureau has dispatched a task force to Thailand to discuss with relevant authorities how to jointly investigate and assist Hong Kong residents in need of rescue, according to RTHK, one of Hong Kong's major broadcasters.

Hong Kong law enforcement had received 28 requests for help from residents believed to have been trapped in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave since the second quarter of 2024, the Security Bureau said. Sixteen people had returned to the city so far. The task force aims to help bring back the rest residents lured to Southeast Asian countries and forced into illegal work, according to South China Morning Post.

Lee said that the HKSAR government attaches great importance to the 12 Hong Kong residents who were imprisoned in Southeast Asia and forced to engage in illegal work, and that the government will spare no effort in dealing with the issue. He also noted that Thai authorities value the visit of the task force from the Security Bureau, said the report.

On Tuesday morning, the task force, headed by Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, engaged in discussions with the Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police Tatchai Pitaneelaboot and members from departments involved in crime prevention from the Thai police headquarters for over three hours, according to a Hong Kong-based media outlet. 

They then went to local tourist police bureaus to receive a briefing on their work and met with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to learn about measures to protect tourists, said the report.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung emphasized on Monday that the ultimate goal of the HKSAR government is to assist all relevant residents to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible, as reported by Hong Kong media outlets.

The Royal Thai Police announced on Sunday that the country has established a Tourist Safety Operations Center (TCOC) to comprehensively coordinate police forces and tourism police across the nation and work together to create a systematic tourist safety management system.

A mobile application called Thailand Tourist Police has also been launched by the Royal Thai Police, allowing tourists to directly send messages, images, and their location to police as well as inquire about information, report emergencies, or seek assistance.  Additionally, the application is seamlessly integrated with an emergency hotline thereby providing 24-hour translation services in eight languages and supporting collaboration with the emergency response center to handle urgent incidents.

Thai authorities are taking this matter seriously and handling it comprehensively, said Lee, adding that they will consider all available methods in this regard, according to the report.

Ukrainian media the New Voice of Ukraine, citing a report by French air defense industry site Avions Legendaires, stated on Sunday that Ukraine's Air Force is set to receive its first three Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets from France in January.

The first three jets could arrive by January 20, 2025, with some sources even speculating they are already in Ukraine and are being used for training flights. Around 10 aircraft of this type are expected to be delivered, according to the New Voice of Ukraine.

Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets could enhance Ukraine's ground attack capabilities but will have limited effectiveness in air combat, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. He said the aircraft is equipped with modern avionics and radar systems, and is capable of carrying SCALP-EG stealth cruise missiles and Hammer precision-guided bombs.

However, Western supplies of fighter jets and missiles are still falling short of Ukraine's needs, Zhang noted, adding that diverse weapon systems from multiple countries strain Ukraine's logistics, as different jets require specific parts and maintenance expertise.

Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University, shares the same view. Sun said that while Western aid has strengthened Ukraine's combat capabilities, issues with quantity, logistics and training limit its overall effectiveness, making it difficult to decisively change the course of the conflict.

Western states are tiring in their support for Ukraine and increasingly hoping for some form of conflict resolution, Finland's foreign minister warned previously, according to a Financial Times report in October 2024.

Sun noted that public support for long-term aid in Europe is waning, potentially weighing on future assistance, and a new US government would also bring significant uncertainty.

US President-elect Donald Trump previously said it was "stupid" for Biden to let Ukraine use American long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, according to AP news on December 16, 2024.

Trump also said that Ukraine should "probably" prepare to receive less aid from the US, according to an interview with NBC on December 8, 2024.

Ukraine has launched a fresh offensive in Russia's Kursk region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Officials in Ukraine have also suggested an operation is under way, BBC reported on Sunday.

Russian units have repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks over 24 hours in the borderline Kursk Region, the TASS reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

A total of 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others injured as of 3 pm Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time), Xinhua reported.

The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The local government of Xigaze held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, which began with a moment of silence for the victims. 

The Global Times learned from the Xizang Military Command's Xigaze Military Sub-command that rescue teams have been mobilized to head toward the epicenter. Videos from the scene show significant damage to the roads leading to the epicenter, and buildings along the route showing varying levels of damage. The sub-command is rapidly deploying personnel to the affected area to participate in rescue efforts.

As of 11:25 am Tuesday, a regiment of 160 personnel from the sub-command has reached Jijiao Bridge in Dinggye county, while a company of 40 personnel has been dispatched to areas near Dingri Airport.

The Global Times also learned from the Xizang Military Command that at 1:00 pm, the General Hospital affiliated to the Command dispatched 50 medical personnel to the earthquake-stricken area in Xigaze. 

By 1:15 pm, the second batch of rescue forces from the Xigaze Military Sub-command, totaling over 680 personnel, had been deployed to three directions — Dingri, Lazi, and Sa'gya—to assist in the rescue efforts in nearby towns and villages, working tirelessly to protect people's lives and property. 

Video footage from the scene showed a regiment from the Xigaze Military Sub-command rescuing a child from the rubble and providing emergency medical assistance.

The Global Times learned from the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP) Force Xizang Contingent that following the earthquake, they responded swiftly and urgently. As of 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 389 officers and soldiers had been dispatched, carrying with them various rescue equipment. They rushed to the severely affected areas to participate in rescue operations. Videos from the scene show that they have successfully rescued multiple individuals from the collapsed buildings. Currently, the rescue efforts are still ongoing.

The air force of the PLA Western Theater Command quickly activated its emergency disaster relief plan and dispatched a drone to assess the situation at the epicenter. At the same time, multiple transport aircraft, medical planes, helicopters, and ground forces from the Western Theater Command Air Force have been assembled and are on standby, according to Xinhua.

At around 2 pm on Tuesday, the air force of the PLA Western Theater Command dispatched a Y-20 aircraft sending the forward command post of the Western Theater Command to the disaster-stricken area in Dingri. The aircraft has taken off from a military airfield in Chengdu, and will arrive at airport in Dingri this afternoon, according to the PLA media China Bugle. 

China's National Disaster Reduction Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management have activated the national level-II emergency response for disaster relief. China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief, along with the Ministry of Emergency Management, provided over 130,000 relief supplies to the disaster-stricken area in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, including heaters, electric blankets, and emergency food, to ensure the basic living needs of the affected population are met. Earlier on Tuesday, the two departments had allocated 22,000 pieces of national disaster relief supplies to the area, according to CCTV News.