Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • Efficiency and reform drive SARs’ progress

    Efficiency and reform drive SARs’ progress

    China’s senior official responsible for Hong Kong and Macao affairs has called for strengthened commitment to the executive-led governance model in both special administrative regions. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the system’s critical role in ensuring administrative efficiency and alignment with national development objectives during a Beijing seminar on January 26, 2026.

    The seminar, organized by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, focused on enhancing governance frameworks in both regions. Xia described the executive-led principle as fundamental to the political architecture of the SARs and essential for the comprehensive implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle. He asserted that this governance model has demonstrated both vitality and superiority, particularly evident in Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity.

    Xia stressed that effective governance requires coordinated synergy between executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with all components operating on “the same stage” rather than working at cross-purposes. His comments come following recent legislative elections in both Hong Kong and Macao, with Xia urging newly elected lawmakers to deepen their patriotic commitment and actively participate in regional development initiatives.

    The senior official called on SAR governments to function as “primary stewards” of local governance, rallying legislative, judicial, and community stakeholders behind national development priorities. He specifically emphasized the need to align regional governance with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), encouraging innovation in administrative methods and leveraging legal authorities to drive reform.

    Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu responded to Xia’s remarks through social media, characterizing executive-led governance as both a “fundamental requirement” under “one country, two systems” and a “staunch pillar” of Hong Kong’s continued success. Lee committed to enhancing governance efficiency and building a results-oriented administration, requesting support and oversight from the new Legislative Council.

    Legislators from both regions expressed alignment with the governance direction. Hong Kong lawmaker Michael Ngai Ming-tak acknowledged his responsibility to support government efficiency through pragmatic policies, while Macao legislator Jose Chui Sai-peng pledged to fulfill a “bridging role” between government and community needs.

    The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong endorsed the approach, with chairman Jonathan Choi Koon-shum emphasizing that implementing the executive-led system and cultivating constructive executive-legislative relations would enable deeper reforms and stronger economic growth.

  • Sharp rise in domestic tourism spurs spending

    Sharp rise in domestic tourism spurs spending

    China’s domestic tourism sector demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025, achieving substantial growth with residents making 6.522 billion trips—a significant 16.2% increase from the previous year. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s latest sampling survey, this surge generated approximately 6.3 trillion yuan ($906 billion) in tourism expenditure, marking a 9.5% year-on-year increase.

    The most striking development emerged in rural tourism dynamics. While urban residents recorded 4.996 billion trips (14.3% growth), rural residents demonstrated exceptional momentum with 1.526 billion trips—a dramatic 22.6% increase. Spending patterns mirrored this trend: urban tourism expenditure reached 5.3 trillion yuan (7.5% growth), while rural tourism spending skyrocketed by 21.4% to 1 trillion yuan.

    Industry experts attribute this growth to multiple factors. Professor Lyu Ning, Dean of the School of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University, identified three primary drivers: a flourishing holiday economy, deeper integration of tourism with cultural and sports activities creating novel experiences, and effective pro-consumption policies. She emphasized tourism’s evolution from mere leisure activity to a essential source of emotional value and happiness in modern Chinese society.

    The disproportionate growth in rural tourism reflects the sector’s crucial role in rural revitalization. Years of tourism-focused poverty alleviation have substantially improved rural infrastructure, while urban demand for authentic cultural experiences and micro-vacations has created new economic opportunities. This transformation has repositioned rural areas from tourist sources to premium consumption destinations, establishing a mutually beneficial urban-rural dynamic.

    Both Professor Lyu and Professor Yin Ping from Beijing Jiaotong University dismissed concerns about ‘consumption downgrading’ despite the slower spending growth relative to trip volume. They characterized this phenomenon as market maturation rather than weakening consumption, noting travelers’ increasing preference for value-conscious experiences, short-distance travel, and county-level destinations. Improved transportation infrastructure, particularly high-speed rail, has reduced travel times and altered traditional spending patterns while enhancing overall accessibility.

    The professors emphasized that tourism’s economic impact extends beyond direct revenue, stimulating broader industrial chains, expanding domestic demand, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating information and capital flow throughout the economy.

  • LA port chief highlights US-China supply chain and green shipping ties

    LA port chief highlights US-China supply chain and green shipping ties

    The Port of Los Angeles, maintaining its position as America’s busiest container port for 26 consecutive years, is intensifying efforts to enhance sustainable shipping practices and deepen its crucial trade partnership with China. Executive Director Gene Seroka revealed these strategic priorities during his annual address, emphasizing that China accounts for approximately 40% of the port’s business—more than double that of any other trading partner.

    Seroka highlighted the indispensable nature of trans-Pacific supply chains, noting that there is no faster route for Chinese goods to reach US markets than through Los Angeles. His multiple visits to China throughout the previous year reinforced relationships with government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and private companies, underscoring the mutual economic dependency between the nations.

    The port’s environmental initiatives have achieved significant milestones, particularly through the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Shanghai Green Shipping Corridor. This pioneering partnership has successfully completed all Phase 1 objectives, including expanded use of shoreside electricity for docked vessels, advancement of cleaner vessel technologies, and foundational work for future bunkering of low-carbon marine fuels.

    Infrastructure development remains central to the port’s ‘Building Bigger and Building Smarter’ strategy. Ambitious projects include the proposed Pier 500 Marine Terminal, designed for next-generation, zero-emission operations. Los Angeles currently boasts the lowest emissions per TEU of any major global port, demonstrating its environmental leadership.

    Local officials, including LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker and Mayor Karen Bass, echoed the importance of stable US-China economic relations for regional logistics and manufacturing sectors. The San Pedro Bay port complex handles approximately 40% of all US containerized imports, with substantial volumes originating from Chinese export hubs like Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Yantian.

    As global supply chains evolve, analysts emphasize that US-China cooperation in decarbonization, digital logistics, and green shipping corridors will become increasingly critical for maintaining trans-Pacific trade efficiency and resilience.

  • Nipah virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings

    Nipah virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings

    Health authorities across Asia are implementing enhanced screening protocols following the emergence of a Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal state. The highly lethal pathogen, which boasts a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%, has prompted immediate public health responses due to the absence of approved vaccines or treatments.

    Thailand has activated screening measures at three major airports receiving flights from West Bengal, while Nepal has instituted similar precautions at Kathmandu’s international airport and land border crossings with India. These preventive actions come as health officials confirm five healthcare workers infected in West Bengal, with one individual in critical condition. Approximately 110 contacts have been quarantined as containment efforts intensify.

    The World Health Organization classifies Nipah among its top ten priority diseases alongside COVID-19 and Zika, recognizing its significant epidemic potential. The virus demonstrates zoonotic transmission capabilities, primarily spreading from fruit bats and pigs to humans, with additional person-to-person transmission occurring through contaminated food sources.

    Clinical presentation varies considerably among infected individuals, with some remaining asymptomatic while others develop severe neurological complications. Initial symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat, potentially progressing to encephalitis—a dangerous brain inflammation—in severe cases. The incubation period ranges from 4 to 14 days.

    First identified in 1998 during an outbreak among Malaysian pig farmers, the virus derives its name from the village where it was initially discovered. Historical outbreaks have demonstrated substantial societal impact, including the culling of over one million pigs in Malaysia and significant economic losses across agricultural sectors.

    Bangladesh has experienced the heaviest burden in recent years, recording over 100 fatalities since 2001. India’s Kerala state emerged as another hotspot, with outbreaks in 2018 (17 fatalities among 19 cases) and 2023 (2 deaths among 6 confirmed cases). The current cluster in West Bengal appears connected to a private hospital in Barasat, where two nurses remain hospitalized in intensive care.

    While no cases have been reported beyond India’s borders, Taiwan’s health authorities have proposed designating Nipah as a ‘Category 5 disease’—a classification reserved for emerging infections with substantial public health risks that mandate immediate reporting and specialized control measures.

  • Firefighters battle ’emergency level’ blazes in Australia heatwave

    Firefighters battle ’emergency level’ blazes in Australia heatwave

    Australian emergency crews are confronting an escalating crisis as multiple bushfires rage across Victoria during an unprecedented heatwave. With temperatures soaring to historic highs—reaching 48.9°C in some regions—firefighters are battling at least six major blazes, including two classified at emergency level in Camperdown and the Otways region.

    Authorities have issued urgent evacuation directives and shelter-in-place orders for several communities as conditions deteriorate rapidly. The Country Fire Authority warns that the Otways fire poses particular danger due to potential ember showers that could ignite new fires ahead of the main front line.

    Forest Fire Management Victoria’s chief fire officer Chris Hardman described the extreme heat conditions as creating ‘incredibly difficult’ firefighting circumstances. While full damage assessments remain ongoing, Deputy Incident Controller Alistair Drayton reported preliminary indications of property losses, though praising firefighters’ ‘spectacular’ efforts.

    The crisis extends beyond Victoria, with South Australia also under extreme fire alert and total fire bans implemented across multiple jurisdictions. Health officials simultaneously warn of severe public health risks from the prolonged heat exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations including elderly residents and children.

    Victoria’s chief health officer Dr. Caroline McElnay emphasized the potentially fatal consequences of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, noting that extreme temperatures can trigger cardiac events and other medical emergencies.

  • Spaceport’s milestone a major boost for Hainan space industry

    Spaceport’s milestone a major boost for Hainan space industry

    China’s Wenchang Space Launch Site has achieved a historic milestone by completing 12 successful launch missions throughout 2025, establishing a new benchmark for the nation’s space operations capabilities. The facility, located in Hainan province, concluded its record-breaking year on December 31st with a Long March 7A rocket deployment that successfully placed the Shijian 29A and 29B satellites into predetermined orbit.

    This achievement represents a significant acceleration in China’s space launch tempo, with the November 30th mission having already marked the first time the spaceport reached double-digit annual launches. Since commencing operations in 2016, Wenchang has executed 45 space missions, demonstrating a consistently increasing launch frequency that underscores China’s advancing position in space technology.

    As China’s first independently designed green spaceport featuring modern infrastructure, Wenchang operates two all-weather launch platforms specifically engineered for medium and large cryogenic-liquid rockets. Space officials attribute the enhanced launch capacity to substantially improved operational efficiency, primarily achieved through revolutionary reductions in rocket testing cycles on the launchpads.

    Wang Yuliang, a senior official at the facility, emphasized that ‘minimizing the rocket’s on-pad occupation time has been crucial to our success.’ The evolution has been remarkable: the launch cycle for the 2017 Tianzhou 1 mission required approximately 40 days, which was streamlined to over 30 days for the 2021 Tianzhou 2 launch, and further reduced to about 20 days for Tianzhou 4 in 2022.

    Technical teams have implemented numerous innovations including process optimization, task integration, redundancy elimination, and installation simplification. Between missions, engineers conducted comprehensive equipment upgrades and maintenance to ensure system reliability. According to Commander Fu Yihang, propellant handling efficiency has tripled through the addition of tankers and implementation of parallel transfer operations.

    Space experts indicate that these operational refinements position Wenchang as a critical asset for China’s ambitious future space projects, including crewed lunar missions and deep-space exploration programs that will demand even higher launch frequencies and operational precision.

  • A sisterhood forged in Kuliang endures through decades

    A sisterhood forged in Kuliang endures through decades

    In the mountainous retreat of Kuliang, where foreign residents once sought refuge from Fuzhou’s subtropical heat, an extraordinary cross-cultural friendship has withstood eight decades of separation and geopolitical shifts. The story begins in November 1941 when two families—one Chinese, one American—welcomed daughters on the same day at Fuzhou’s Anglo-Chinese College. The coincidence prompted the families to name both girls after the institution’s Chinese name, Yinghua Middle School, creating an immediate bond between Li Yiying and Gail Harris (Chinese name Bi Lehua).

    Their childhood unfolded against the backdrop of Kuliang’s international community, which flourished from the late 19th century as a summer sanctuary for foreigners from more than 20 nations. The girls spent idyllic summers exploring the hills, fishing in creeks, and sharing sweets—forming what Harris describes as “a twin-like connection” despite their different cultural backgrounds.

    This childhood chapter abruptly closed in 1948 when Harris’s family returned to the United States. “We were devastated when we left China when I was 7,” Harris recalled. “I never imagined I would return.” For decades, their connection survived only through fading photographs and distant memories until a miraculous reunion in 2014 brought the sisters-by-bond back together in Fuzhou.

    The emotional reconnection sparked broader interest in Kuliang’s multicultural heritage. Elyn MacInnis, descendant of an American family with deep Kuliang roots, has spearheaded efforts to revive these cross-cultural connections through the Kuliang Friends group. “The Kuliang story demonstrates that friendship across cultures is both fragile and powerful,” MacInnis noted. “It requires time, listening, and trust-building—qualities that characterized the original community where families lived together with mutual humility and respect.”

    MacInnis emphasizes that preserving Kuliang’s legacy requires both honoring historical roots and cultivating new growth through youth engagement. She points to China’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans over five years as particularly significant, noting that even brief cultural exchanges can create lifelong impacts. “These experiences of shared daily life and trust-building may affect participants for the rest of their lives,” she observed, adding that meaningful relationships “may not take as long as we think to form.”

    Meanwhile, the rekindled bond between Li and Harris continues to flourish across generations. The childhood friends have reunited four times in Fuzhou since 2014, retracing their steps through Kuliang and introducing younger family members to their trans-Pacific heritage. Their enduring connection stands as a testament to people-to-people diplomacy and the enduring power of cross-cultural friendship.

  • EU, India agree ‘mother of all’ trade deals

    EU, India agree ‘mother of all’ trade deals

    In a landmark development for global trade, the European Union and India have finalized a comprehensive trade agreement described as the “mother of all deals” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The pact, concluded after twenty years of complex negotiations, establishes one of the world’s largest free trade zones encompassing approximately two billion people.

    The agreement eliminates or substantially reduces tariffs on 97% of European exports to India, projected to save EU businesses up to €4 billion annually in customs duties. Key European sectors including automotive, agriculture, and services are positioned to gain significant market access, while India anticipates substantial benefits in textiles, gems and jewelry, and leather goods.

    Market liberalization measures include the gradual reduction of India’s automotive tariffs from 110% to as low as 10%, while wine duties will decrease from 150% to 20%. The agreement completely eliminates tariffs on processed food products including pasta and chocolate, currently taxed at 50%.

    EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the agreement as historic, noting it provides “the highest level of access ever granted to a trade partner in the traditionally protected Indian market.” The pact represents approximately 25% of global GDP and one-third of worldwide trade.

    The strategic alignment comes as both economic powers seek to diversify their trade relationships amid increasing global economic tensions. Bilateral trade in goods reached €120 billion in 2024, showing 90% growth over the past decade, with an additional €60 billion in services trade.

    The agreement includes provisions for facilitated movement of seasonal workers, students, researchers, and professionals, alongside anticipated security and defense cooperation agreements. The partnership signals a significant reconfiguration of global trade alliances as both economies reduce dependencies on traditional partners.

  • Philippines’ Duterte fit to face ICC proceedings, judges say

    Philippines’ Duterte fit to face ICC proceedings, judges say

    The International Criminal Court has formally declared former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte mentally competent to participate in pre-trial proceedings regarding alleged crimes against humanity. This judicial determination, issued on Monday, directly countermands defense claims that the 80-year-old leader suffers from cognitive impairments that would prevent his meaningful engagement with the court.

    Judicial authorities at The Hague-based court have scheduled a critical hearing for February 23rd to evaluate whether prosecutors have established sufficient evidentiary foundation to advance the case to full trial. The ICC’s medical assessment panel concluded that Duterte retains adequate mental capacity to exercise his procedural rights effectively, noting that participation standards “did not have to be at their notionally highest level.”

    Duterte faces allegations of orchestrating systematic human rights violations during his controversial anti-drug campaign (2016-2022), which resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders. The former president consistently defended the brutal crackdown as necessary for establishing public order and economic stability.

    Congresswoman Leila de Lima, a prominent Duterte critic who was previously imprisoned on fabricated drug charges during his administration, hailed the ruling as a victory for accountability: “This tells victims that in the reckoning of Duterte at the ICC, their voices will not be sidelined by technical evasions.”

    The former leader’s arrest at Manila International Airport in March 2025 coincided with the dissolution of his political alliance with successor President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte’s detention has polarized Philippine society, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations while maintaining support among populist constituencies who feel marginalized by traditional political elites.

    Notably, Duterte secured election as mayor of Davao City while incarcerated in May 2024, demonstrating his enduring political influence. His daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, remains a formidable presidential contender for the 2028 elections, where term limits prevent Marcos from seeking reelection.

  • North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles toward the sea, neighbors say

    North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles toward the sea, neighbors say

    In a significant escalation of regional tensions, North Korea conducted suspected ballistic missile tests on Tuesday, launching projectiles toward the sea off its eastern coast. The provocative military demonstration comes as the isolated nation intensifies hostile rhetoric toward South Korea preceding a major political assembly.

    Japanese and South Korean defense authorities confirmed detecting the launch activity, with Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office and Defense Ministry identifying the projectiles as possible ballistic missiles. South Korea’s Defense Ministry reported tracking at least one unidentified projectile but provided no immediate details regarding the weapons’ flight distance or trajectory.

    This latest provocation follows North Korea’s recent allegations of unauthorized South Korean surveillance drone incursions across the border in January and September—claims that Seoul has categorically denied. The South Korean government has initiated investigations to determine whether civilian-operated drones might have been involved.

    Security analysts interpret these developments as strategically timed to amplify anti-South Korean sentiment before the ruling Workers’ Party congress, scheduled to convene in late January or February. This marks the first such gathering in five years and may feature significant policy declarations, including the potential formalization of leader Kim Jong Un’s concept of a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula in the party constitution.

    The missile tests represent the latest in a series of advanced weapons demonstrations by North Korea. Earlier this month, the nation conducted test flights of hypersonic missiles under Kim’s personal supervision, with state media emphasizing his directive to strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent capabilities.

    In December, North Korea additionally tested what it described as long-range strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles, while releasing imagery suggesting progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine project. Weapons development achievements are expected to feature prominently during the upcoming party congress, analysts note.