Global Pulse

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  • Feeling the pulse of a nation

    Feeling the pulse of a nation

    The year 2025 witnessed profound emotional connections forming between Hong Kong residents and mainland China through a series of historic naval visits that transcended mere military demonstrations. These events evolved into powerful symbols of national unity and collective achievement, creating lasting impressions on both visitors and journalists covering these momentous occasions.

    The centerpiece of this patriotic narrative was the July visit of China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier CNS Shandong to Hong Kong. Aboard the colossal vessel, retired police officer Kong Kin-chung, 70, articulated the sentiment of many Hong Kong compatriots when he described the carrier as “a powerful symbol” representing a definitive statement of national sovereignty. His emotional reflection drew stark contrasts between the current era and the city’s colonial past, particularly noting the courtesy and discipline of People’s Liberation Army soldiers.

    Entrepreneur Lam Tse-shong, who maintains deep connections with the mainland, characterized the experience as an “eye-opener” that crystallized the visit’s central theme: “Secure Country, Sweet Home.” For numerous visitors admiring Victoria Harbour from the carrier’s deck, the Shandong represented not merely military power but a tangible guarantee of Hong Kong’s continued peace and prosperity.

    The patriotic momentum continued in October with the arrivals of training ship Qi Jiguang and landing ship Yimengshan, their timing coinciding with the 80th anniversary commemorations of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Student Wang Mengli highlighted how these vessels—named after historical heroes and significant sites—served as powerful instruments of remembrance, connecting past sacrifices with present-day national strength.

    Young visitors like Lau Tszkiu, adorned with national flag stickers, expressed awe at the disciplined crew members and shared aspirations to contribute to China’s technological advancement. These interactions demonstrated how the naval visits provided not just spectacle but tangible pathways for Hong Kong’s youth to envision their future roles in national development.

    Throughout these exchanges emerged a consistent thread of hopeful optimism—a genuine appreciation for the motherland’s progress coupled with a sincere desire for Hong Kong to actively participate in the nation’s ongoing rejuvenation. Residents perceived these steel hulls as embodiments of collective achievement in which they eagerly sought to share, recognizing that Hong Kong’s stability and unique advantages remain inextricably linked to national prosperity.

  • Prosecutors put heat on telecom fraud

    Prosecutors put heat on telecom fraud

    Chinese judicial authorities have launched an unprecedented offensive against transnational telecommunications fraud syndicates, achieving significant breakthroughs in dismantling criminal networks operating from northern Myanmar. According to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), prosecutors charged over 62,000 individuals for telecom fraud-related offenses during the first eleven months of 2025, marking a substantial escalation in China’s battle against organized cybercrime.

    The crackdown yielded particularly stark results in cases involving suspects repatriated from northern Myanmar, where authorities approved arrests of more than 4,300 individuals and prosecuted over 11,000 repatriated persons. Judicial outcomes have been severe, with courts delivering death sentences with immediate execution to 16 defendants across two major criminal syndicates. An additional seven received death sentences with two-year reprieves, while sixteen others were sentenced to life imprisonment, creating what officials characterize as a powerful deterrent against cross-border criminal activities.

    Du Xueyi, head of the SPP’s economic crime prosecution department, emphasized that these cases demonstrate China’s lawful exercise of judicial jurisdiction over serious cross-border crimes, including those orchestrated by foreign nationals. “The cases have effectively upheld China’s rule-of-law authority and delivered positive political, legal, social and international outcomes,” Du stated, highlighting the government’s determination to safeguard citizens’ lives and property.

    Beyond targeting primary fraud operators, prosecutors have systematically dismantled supporting infrastructure, charging more than 29,000 individuals with assisting information network criminal activities between January and November 2025. Asset recovery has emerged as a critical component of the strategy, with authorities intensifying efforts to trace, seize, and recover illicit assets including funds, real estate, vehicles, and precious metals. International law enforcement cooperation has been strengthened to pursue overseas illicit proceeds.

    The multifaceted approach includes encouraging voluntary restitution, applying leniency policies where appropriate, and exploring confiscation procedures for illegal gains to maximize recovery of victims’ losses. Recognizing the evolving nature of telecom fraud, authorities have refined judicial standards, with the SPP issuing updated guidance on conviction and sentencing standards for network crime facilitation.

    Notably, telecom fraud increasingly intersects with money laundering operations. Prosecutors charged 2,684 defendants with money laundering and over 93,000 individuals for concealing criminal proceeds during the same period, with many cases linked to telecom fraud and online gambling. Approximately 94% of money laundering cases connect to upstream offenses in finance, drugs, or corruption, while over 60% of criminal proceeds concealment cases relate directly to telecom fraud schemes.

    Looking ahead to 2026, prosecutorial authorities will prioritize combating sophisticated money laundering schemes, underground banking, virtual currency laundering, and cross-border financial crimes, alongside enhanced international cooperation on asset recovery. China has actively promoted global collaboration through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, including participation in negotiations for the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which it signed in October 2025.

  • Field work gives meaning to China’s rural growth

    Field work gives meaning to China’s rural growth

    For urban-born journalists covering China’s agricultural sector, policy terms like “grain output” and “rural vitalization” initially existed as abstract concepts confined to government documents. This perspective fundamentally shifted when reporters began immersive field work across the nation’s countryside, discovering that these policies manifest through tangible human experiences rather than bureaucratic terminology.

    Through extensive travel to previously impoverished regions, journalists have documented remarkable innovations shaping rural China. In Hebei province, international students from Africa collaborate with China Agricultural University to develop practical plant protection solutions applicable in their home countries. Yunnan’s Yiliang county has transformed its economy through gastrodia elata cultivation, a valuable orchid species used in traditional Chinese medicine. Hubei province demonstrates ecological harmony through integrated rice-crayfish farming systems that simultaneously ensure harvest stability and increase farmer incomes.

    The human dimension of this transformation appears most vividly through individual stories: women harvesting roses in Yunnan’s rainfall sustain the province’s flower cake industry; young entrepreneurs returning to Xinjiang operate homestays to promote local tourism; Fujian’s coastal abalone farmers utilize smartphone-monitored aquaculture systems. These narratives collectively form the living tapestry of rural revitalization.

    Yet field reporting also reveals persistent challenges. Northern households struggle with winter heating costs, rural-to-urban migration drains local talent pools, and unequal distribution of education and healthcare resources remains problematic. Some communities face financial pressures from outdated traditional rituals.

    While organized reporting trips provide valuable glimpses, veteran researchers emphasize that understanding rural complexities requires decades of dedicated study—whether investigating land reform or improving specific crop traits. Journalists recognize their work merely scratches the surface of China’s agricultural transformation, but through continued ground-level reporting, they aim to illuminate the authentic stories unfolding across the nation’s vast rural landscape.

  • Shanghai lights up Times Square with Chinese New Year greeting

    Shanghai lights up Times Square with Chinese New Year greeting

    The iconic Nasdaq screen in New York’s Times Square transformed into a vibrant portal to Shanghai this week, broadcasting a special Chinese New Year greeting that captivated pedestrians at the world’s busiest intersection. Produced by Shanghai International Services, the dynamic video presentation showcased the Chinese metropolis through stunning visuals of its bustling streets, cultural landmarks, and daily urban life.

    The digital showcase strategically highlighted Shanghai’s appeal as a premier destination for education, business opportunities, and tourism. As international travel to China gains momentum, Shanghai has emerged as a particularly attractive location for American visitors, further enhanced by its 240-hour visa-free transit policy that facilitates extended stays for foreign tourists.

    New York residents and visitors alike paused to engage with the display, expressing newfound interest in the Chinese city. Tori Cignarella, a local resident, remarked, ‘I’ve never been to Shanghai, but it looks amazing to see all the information here.’ The presentation ignited her curiosity about Chinese culture, specifically mentioning desires to experience traditional paper-cutting and tea ceremonies.

    Derek, a visitor from Kansas City, Missouri, also stopped to watch the display, noting that traveling to China has been on his consideration list. The Times Square installation represents a innovative approach to cultural diplomacy and destination marketing, leveraging one of the world’s most visible advertising spaces to foster international connections during the significant cultural period of Chinese New Year celebrations.

  • Children’s books a tale of new cultural confidence

    Children’s books a tale of new cultural confidence

    A new generation of Chinese authors and illustrators is revolutionizing children’s literature with culturally authentic narratives that are capturing international attention. Among these emerging talents is 28-year-old Hu Yifan, whose minimalist picture book series ‘Breathe In, Breathe Out’ has achieved remarkable success both domestically and abroad.

    The three-volume work features sparse text paired with evocative illustrations that guide readers through breathing exercises—showing activities like blowing out candles or watching fireworks that naturally encourage inhalation and exhalation. Originally published in June 2023 as children’s literature, the series has unexpectedly resonated with adult audiences, demonstrating the universal appeal of its thoughtful design.

    Hu’s work has garnered prestigious accolades including the Best Picture Book honor at the 35th Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award and recognition in The Beauty of Books in China design competition. International recognition followed with selection for the dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books 2023 & 2024 list. The global expansion continues with a Portuguese edition already released in Brazil and English and French versions forthcoming.

    Industry veteran Solene (Fengbei) Xie, with over 18 years in children’s publishing, observes that Chinese creators are producing exceptional original content that deserves broader global exposure. Having left a national publishing house to establish her own agency in Shanghai, Xie launched the Pictures and Words from the East project in 2021 to promote Chinese children’s literature internationally.

    ‘We have so many excellent original works in China, but they don’t get many opportunities to reach a wider audience globally,’ Xie noted. She now manages rights for numerous local titles, including Hu’s acclaimed series, leveraging her industry expertise and connections to bridge cultural divides through literature.

    This movement represents a significant shift in children’s publishing, where Chinese creators are developing distinctive visual and narrative styles that both reflect cultural heritage and appeal to universal human experiences. The success of these works signals growing international appreciation for Chinese creative voices in children’s literature.

  • Women’s development set for high-quality growth in 15th FYP

    Women’s development set for high-quality growth in 15th FYP

    China’s forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) has positioned women’s advancement as a central policy priority, signaling a transformative approach to gender equality during the nation’s next development phase. According to exclusive insights from Professor Wang Xiangmei of China Women’s University, this strategic focus will catalyze a new era of women’s development characterized by enhanced quality, broader inclusivity, and improved social balance.

    The blueprint represents a significant evolution in China’s gender policy framework, moving beyond basic equality measures toward comprehensive empowerment strategies. Professor Wang emphasized that the plan will address structural barriers while creating unprecedented opportunities for women across economic, educational, and social domains.

    This policy alignment comes as China navigates complex demographic shifts and economic transformation. The integrated approach recognizes women’s critical role in national development and aims to leverage their potential through targeted interventions. The plan is expected to introduce innovative mechanisms for women’s participation in leadership, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation.

    Implementation will focus on creating enabling environments across urban and rural settings, with particular attention to closing regional development gaps. The initiative reflects China’s commitment to both domestic gender equality objectives and international development goals, potentially establishing new benchmarks for women’s advancement in developing economies.

  • Supply chains and China’s Hormuz imperative

    Supply chains and China’s Hormuz imperative

    While maritime tensions in East Asia frequently dominate energy security discussions, a deeper structural examination reveals that Asia’s economic stability hinges thousands of miles westward in the Persian Gulf. As geopolitical alliances continue evolving through 2026, China’s industrial expansion remains fundamentally tethered to the stability and accessibility of this critical region.

    The emerging ‘Hormuz Imperative’—distinct from the more commonly referenced ‘Malacca Dilemma’—illustrates how the East Asian consumer-West Asian producer relationship has matured into an intricate security complex. Within this framework, external pressures on energy flows don’t merely target suppliers but expose strategic vulnerabilities of the world’s largest energy importer. Market data and energy flow analysis confirm that Strait of Hormuz stability represents not just a regional concern but a macroeconomic necessity for Beijing.

    China’s crude oil imports maintained historic peaks in late 2025, averaging over 13.18 million barrels daily. Despite substantial renewable energy investments, China’s industrial base—particularly petrochemical and heavy transport sectors—retains structural dependence on hydrocarbon imports. Approximately 50% of China’s crude originates from the Persian Gulf, making Hormuz a point of origin rather than merely a transit chokepoint like Malacca.

    This interdependence creates mutual vulnerability: Gulf producers require market access for revenue generation while Chinese consumers require supply security to maintain industrial output. The economic relationship’s critical component centers in Shandong province, where independent refineries (colloquially ‘teapots’) account for roughly one-quarter of China’s refining capacity.

    Western market intelligence firms estimate 1.3-1.4 million barrels daily flowed from Iran to China in 2025, trading at an $8-12 per barrel discount due to sanctions. For Shandong’s refiners, this ‘regulatory discount’ functions as a vital subsidy, lowering production costs for diesel and chemical derivatives while maintaining Chinese manufacturing exports’ global competitiveness.

    Industry analysts describe this trade as supported by a ‘resilient decentralized network’ of maritime logistics involving ship-to-ship transfers in international waters and diverse flagging strategies. This sophisticated parallel logistics system demonstrates how market demand frequently circumvents political barriers.

    Three primary strategic scenarios could disrupt this flow:

    1. Supply Chain Constriction: intensified sanctions enforcement targeting logistical nodes could force refiners to replace discounted barrels with market-rate crude, potentially eroding margins and driving domestic fuel prices higher.

    2. Market Normalization: diplomatic resolution lifting sanctions would eliminate China’s monopsony power, inviting European and Indian competitors back to the market and increasing China’s national energy bill.

    3. Kinetic Deterrence: high-intensity conflict disrupting Hormuz could spike oil prices above $150/barrel. Despite China’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve covering approximately 90 days of imports, prolonged disruption would bypass these buffers.

    Energy disruptions would disproportionately affect southern industrial zones (Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang), which rely heavily on imported liquid fuels. Sustained high energy prices could constrain industrial output and complicate China’s transition from property-led growth.

    Beijing’s dual-track mitigation strategy involves aggressive renewable energy expansion and investments in overland pipelines through Pakistan (CPEC) and Russia (ESPO). However, oil remains irreplaceable for heavy industry and maritime transport through the medium term (2025-2030), and pipeline capacity represents only a fraction of Hormuz’s volume.

    The ‘Hormuz Imperative’ reveals not simple dependency but complex interdependence. While external powers retain leverage through financial and maritime architecture control, parallel export networks demonstrate unilateral coercion’s limits. For Beijing, Persian Gulf stability isn’t a foreign policy luxury but a domestic economic necessity—the global supply chain remains secure only while its key nodes stay stable, creating a balance where disruption costs become prohibitively high for any single actor.

  • Jeffrey Epstein was told to keep ‘close eye’ on Saudi Arabia amid Ritz Carlton purge

    Jeffrey Epstein was told to keep ‘close eye’ on Saudi Arabia amid Ritz Carlton purge

    Newly unsealed court documents from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was actively monitoring Saudi Arabia’s 2017 political upheaval, maintaining communications with Gulf elites and allegedly leveraging connections to the highest levels of Saudi leadership.

    The documents contain a November 4, 2017 email exchange where an unidentified correspondent advised Epstein to ‘keep close eye on what is going on in Saudi right now.’ Epstein specifically inquired whether the reference concerned ‘the missile or the anti corruption,’ receiving confirmation it related to the latter. This correspondence occurred immediately preceding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s unprecedented anti-corruption campaign that detained numerous royals and business figures at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel.

    Evidence suggests Epstein cultivated relationships within Saudi leadership circles. In a March 2017 email exchange with former New York Times reporter Thomas Landon Jr., Epstein appeared to reference direct access to the Crown Prince (referred to as ‘bin salman’) while attempting to facilitate connections between Landon and Saudi investment officials. Photographic evidence within the document trove shows Epstein smiling alongside the Saudi leader.

    The documents further reveal Epstein’s brokerage of high-level meetings between Middle Eastern power players, including a previously undisclosed 2018 encounter between former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani.

    Among Gulf figures, Dubai Ports World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem appears most frequently in Epstein’s communications. Their exchanges include discussions ranging from religious commentary to disturbing references to ‘a fresh 100% female Russian’ on Sulayem’s yacht.

    Epstein’s communications demonstrate particular interest in Saudi political dynamics. In October 2016, he provided Landon with analysis of Saudi royal family structure, comparing its complexity to U.S. government branches. He controversially asserted that social reforms like women’s driving rights were driven by Western pressure rather than domestic demand, stating ‘It is the americans that are demanding women drive. not the saudis.’

    These revelations emerge amid increased scrutiny of Gulf rivalries, particularly UAE-Saudi competition in the Red Sea region where DP World’s operations have gained strategic importance.

  • Canada eliminates Islamophobia, antisemitism envoys from government

    Canada eliminates Islamophobia, antisemitism envoys from government

    In a significant policy reversal, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration has discontinued the specialized offices combating Islamophobia and antisemitism, despite campaign assurances to maintain these positions. The announcement, delivered by Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller on Wednesday, revealed plans to establish a comprehensive “Rights, Equality and Inclusion” advisory council to address all forms of racism through a unified approach.

    This structural change coincides with the recent commemoration of Canada’s National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack, which occurred on January 29, 2017, when a gunman killed six worshippers and injured nineteen others. Prime Minister Carney himself recently characterized the tragedy as “a solemn reminder of the pervasiveness of Islamophobia and the devastating consequences of hatred.”

    The antisemitism envoy position had remained vacant for six months following the retirement of diplomat Deborah Lyons, while Islamophobia envoy Amira Elghawaby, appointed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was abruptly removed from her position. Her term had been scheduled to conclude next year. The government has not clarified whether Ms. Elghawaby will transition to the new advisory council.

    The decision has generated substantial controversy within affected communities. Former Canadian intelligence officer Huda Mukbil expressed surprise at the Liberal Party’s move, noting that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had previously pledged to eliminate the position. Ms. Elghawaby had earned broad support through her work, including developing anti-racism strategies for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and coordinating Canada’s first anti-Islamophobia summit following the 2021 killing of a Muslim family in London, Ontario.

    Her tenure involved confronting escalating anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly after the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent Gaza conflict. According to the National Council of Canadian Muslims, where Elghawaby previously worked, Canada has experienced more Muslim fatalities from targeted hate attacks than any other G7 nation. The organization now expresses concern about losing a crucial advocacy voice at the federal level.

  • ‘Sorry, papa’: Minor girls leave heartbreaking note before jumping off balcony in Delhi NCR

    ‘Sorry, papa’: Minor girls leave heartbreaking note before jumping off balcony in Delhi NCR

    In a devastating incident that has shocked the community of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, three minor sisters tragically ended their lives by jumping from the ninth-floor balcony of their residential high-rise. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 2:00 AM, in the Bharat City complex within the Tilamod police station jurisdiction.

    According to law enforcement officials, the deceased have been identified as Nishika (16), Prachi (14), and Pakhi (12), daughters of resident Chetan Kumar. Emergency services transported the sisters to a nearby 50-bed hospital in Loni, where medical professionals pronounced all three deceased upon arrival.

    The investigation has taken a disturbing turn with the discovery of a suicide note that contained a heartbreaking apology to their father. The note, written in both English and Hindi, stated: ‘A true life story. Read everything written in this diary, because it is true. Read now! I am really sorry, sorry papa.’

    Preliminary reports from Indian media sources suggest the adolescents had developed an addiction to a Korean task-based online game that allegedly presented suicide as its ultimate challenge. The diary recovered from the scene reportedly detailed the sisters’ deep engagement with Korean entertainment, culture, and media.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Atul Kumar Singh confirmed that police received the emergency call at approximately 2:15 AM through the Police Response Vehicle system. Law enforcement authorities are currently conducting thorough investigations, including interviews with family members and comprehensive analysis of the victims’ digital footprints and online activities.

    This tragic event follows similar concerning incidents across India, highlighting growing apprehensions about the impact of online content and gaming challenges on adolescent mental health and wellbeing.