Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • AP Exclusive: China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs

    AP Exclusive: China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs

    TAIPEI, Taiwan — Chinese authorities in Xinjiang have escalated their cultural suppression campaign by prohibiting dozens of Uyghur-language songs, including traditional folk ballads historically performed at weddings and social gatherings. According to an exclusive recording obtained by The Associated Press from the Norway-based nonprofit Uyghur Hjelp, officials during an October meeting in Kashgar warned residents that downloading, playing, or sharing these songs could result in imprisonment.

    The banned music includes the soulful folk ballad ‘Besh pede,’ a generations-old love song where a young man expresses his dreams to God. Authorities have categorized this and other songs as ‘problematic’ due to perceived religious content. The crackdown extends beyond music to linguistic expressions: officials instructed attendees to replace traditional Muslim greetings like ‘As-salamu alaykum’ with ‘May the Communist Party protect you.’

    This policy forms part of Beijing’s broader assimilation campaign in Xinjiang, where between 2017 and 2019, rights activists and foreign governments estimate at least 1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities were extrajudicially detained. Despite China’s claims of normalcy and tourism promotion in the region, repression continues through more subtle means including music censorship, random phone checks, and boarding schools that separate children from families.

    Seven categories of songs have been prohibited, ranging from traditional folk music to diaspora-created tunes. Even songs previously featured on state television, such as ‘As-salamu alaykum’ which aired on Xinjiang Television’s ‘The Voice of the Silk Road’ in 2016, are now banned for ‘forcing people to believe in religion.’

    Enforcement appears arbitrary but severe. AP obtained court documents showing a 27-year-old Uyghur music producer, Yashar Xiaohelaiti, received a three-year prison sentence and fine for uploading 42 ‘problematic’ songs to NetEase Cloud Music. Former residents describe acquaintances detained for playing traditional instruments or merely sharing songs through messaging apps.

    China’s Foreign Ministry defended the policies as necessary to ‘eradicate the breeding ground for religious extremism,’ claiming ‘anti-China forces’ have maliciously hyped Xinjiang issues. However, Xinjiang government officials declined to comment on specific inquiries.

    Experts note the banned songs frequently share connections to imprisoned Uyghur cultural figures, suggesting deliberate targeting of cultural identity. ‘Music became part of my upbringing, and removing that is like removing the soul,’ said London-based Uyghur singer Rahima Mahmut, who performs songs with religious connotations abroad.

  • Chilly Gaza braces for winter rain

    Chilly Gaza braces for winter rain

    DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Thousands of displaced Palestinians across Gaza are confronting increasingly dire conditions as winter rains intensify their humanitarian crisis. In the central town of Deir al-Balah, families who have inhabited makeshift tents for approximately two years now brace for another season of harsh weather with severely limited resources.

    The visual landscape reveals profound hardship: barefoot children play on chilled sand while fathers reinforce fraying tent structures with scavenged wood fragments. Inside these dim shelters, daylight filters through countless holes in tarpaulins, creating star-like patterns. Mothers wage constant battles against dampness, hanging sodden clothing on poles and cords during brief respites from rainfall that transforms pathways into muddy ponds.

    Shaima Wadi, a mother of four displaced from Jabalia in northern Gaza, articulated the relentless struggle: “Each rainfall collapses our tent overhead, forcing us to constantly seek new wooden supports. With soaring prices and no income source, we cannot afford proper clothing for our children or adequate sleeping mattresses.”

    Gaza’s Health Ministry reports dozens of fatalities, including a two-week-old infant, attributed to hypothermia and weather-related structural failures of war-damaged buildings. Aid organizations urgently appeal for increased humanitarian assistance and improved shelter solutions amid warnings from emergency responders about the dangers of remaining in compromised structures.

    Innovative yet desperate survival methods emerge throughout the camps. Ahmad Wadi described collecting nylon, cardboard, and plastic from streets to either burn for warmth or use as improvised blankets. “Proper covers are nonexistent,” he explained. “The freezing temperatures combined with high humidity and pervasive water infiltration create unbearable conditions.”

    Meanwhile, diplomatic developments continue as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for upcoming Washington discussions regarding the second phase of the October 10 ceasefire. While the truce has generally held, implementation progress has slowed considerably. Critical outstanding issues include potential deployment of an international stabilization force, establishment of a technocratic governing body for Gaza, Hamas disarmament negotiations, and further Israeli troop withdrawals.

    Both conflicting parties have exchanged accusations of ceasefire violations. The Palestinian death toll has now reached at least 71,266 according to official ministry reports.

    Concurrently in the West Bank, Israeli forces imposed movement restrictions on multiple villages near Ramallah following reported shooting incidents near military checkpoints. Initial military statements described a Palestinian opening fire before fleeing, though officials later attributed the incident to “hunting activity.” Operations continue to locate individuals and confiscate weapons, disrupting mobility for residents across thirteen villages.

  • Amendment adds green focus for fishing industry

    Amendment adds green focus for fishing industry

    China’s legislative body has enacted a comprehensive revision of the nation’s Fisheries Law, marking a significant shift toward ecologically sustainable fishing practices and green development within the aquaculture sector. The updated legislation, ratified during the December 28th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, will become operational on May 1, 2026.

    The revised legal framework establishes a dual emphasis on both production output and ecological quality, mandating equilibrium between developmental objectives and environmental security. It introduces strengthened provisions governing aquaculture operations, enhanced fishery resource protection protocols, and more rigorous oversight mechanisms.

    This legislative modernization addresses critical challenges that have emerged since the law’s initial 1986 implementation, including resource depletion concerns and industry modernization requirements. An official from the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission noted that previous amendments, including the 2013 revision, had become insufficient for contemporary ecological and industrial demands.

    Key innovations within the revised law include:

    – Enhanced support for fisheries-related scientific research and technological commercialization
    – Authorization for localized recreational fisheries management policies
    – Promotion of resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable farming methodologies
    – Mandatory scientific stocking density calculations and regulated use of feeds/pharmaceuticals
    – Requirement for wastewater treatment meeting discharge standards before release
    – Implementation of fishing quotas based on resource regeneration capacity principles
    – Graded licensing systems for fishing vessels and equipment
    – Establishment of protected fisheries-critical water zones
    – Improved fishing ban specifications regarding geographical scope and duration
    – Creation of national aquatic germplasm resource bank for genetic conservation
    – Tightened import/export controls for aquatic genetic resources
    – Clarified enforcement jurisdictions between fishery authorities and coast guard agencies
    – Strict prohibitions on unregistered vessels with port service restrictions

    These comprehensive measures provide legal instruments to eliminate illegal fishing operations while advancing China’s ecological civilization objectives within marine resource management.

  • Winter crayfish harvest secures year-round supply

    Winter crayfish harvest secures year-round supply

    QIANJIANG, Hubei Province – In a transformative development for China’s culinary landscape, aquaculture innovators have successfully engineered year-round crayfish production through advanced agricultural techniques. The winter harvest initiative, officially launched December 29th in Qianjiang – recognized as China’s crayfish capital – marks a significant departure from traditional seasonal limitations that previously constrained availability to summer months.

    Agricultural specialists have overcome longstanding technical barriers in winter rice paddy co-cultivation systems, implementing sophisticated environmental controls that maintain optimal growing conditions despite temperature challenges. The breakthrough methodology involves planting cold-resistant aquatic vegetation and deploying microbial agents to regulate water quality, while innovative isolation nets prevent natural hibernation behaviors that previously halted winter growth.

    According to Wang Shujuan, Director of Qianjiang Aquatic Technology Promotion Center, the dual challenges of sustaining viable habitats and ensuring nutritional adequacy have been systematically addressed. ‘Through specialized nutrient formulations that stimulate appetite in cooler temperatures, we maintain continuous activity and flesh development throughout winter months,’ Wang explained.

    The technological advancement has yielded substantial economic impacts. Winter output projections exceed 26,000 metric tons for the current season, representing a 30% year-on-year increase. Beijing’s daily supply has stabilized at 11 tons since November, ensuring consistent availability for the capital’s culinary establishments.

    Industry representatives highlight the transformation’s significance. Wang Zhongwei, Culinary R&D Director at COFCO Group, noted: ‘This achieves what we term “crayfish freedom” – ending seasonal scarcity and price volatility that previously characterized winter months.’ The innovation generates additional average income of 30,000 yuan per hectare for local farmers, supplementing traditional summer earnings.

    Ren Yaowu of Hubei Provincial Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department emphasized the strategic importance for China’s food industry, with Qianjiang producing nearly 40% of national output. ‘This shift from seasonal harvesting to consistent year-round production represents a quantum leap in agricultural technology and food security,’ Ren stated.

    The consistent supply of premium-quality ingredients provides restaurants with unprecedented winter menu options, injecting new vitality into China’s culinary sector during traditionally lean months according to industry associations.

  • Death sparks discussion on solo living

    Death sparks discussion on solo living

    A recent tragedy in Shanghai has catalyzed nationwide discourse on end-of-life arrangements for China’s expanding population of solo dwellers. The case involves a 46-year-old unmarried woman, identified only as Jiang, who passed away in December following a cerebral hemorrhage. With no immediate family, spouse, or children, and having lost both parents, her situation presented authorities with significant challenges in locating next-of-kin for critical medical decisions and funeral arrangements.

    The Hongkou District Civil Affairs Bureau was appointed as Jiang’s estate administrator on December 24th by a local court after determining she had no legal heirs and left neither a will nor support agreement. Under China’s Civil Code, such estates become state or collective property designated for public welfare purposes, with civil affairs departments typically serving as administrators.

    This case illuminates profound demographic shifts within Chinese society. National census data reveals single-person households have more than doubled from 58 million in 2010 to 125 million in 2020, now representing over one-quarter of all households. Projections from the Beike Research Institute indicate China’s solo-living population could reach 150-200 million by 2030, with adults aged 20-39 living alone expected to surge from 18 million in 2010 to 40-70 million within the next decade.

    Legal expert Gao Mingyue of the Shanghai Bar Association emphasized to Legal Weekly that “the right to life encompasses dignity in death,” noting that while estate administrators have obligations regarding funeral dignity, specific standards require clarification through national legislation.

    The funeral industry reports increasing cases involving individuals with limited social connections. Shi Hui, general manager of Shanghai-based BDR Funeral Services with 13 years of experience, notes that community committees typically arrange basic ceremonies using affordable 1,000-yuan ($142) funeral packages for those without family. Shi observes that traditional taboos often prevent earlier funeral planning, advocating that “death needs to be rehearsed through advance planning and preparation.”

    Concurrently, estate planning awareness is growing nationally. The China Will Registration Center’s 2024 white paper reports providing consultations to over 570,000 people and registering 357,512 wills. Notably, the average age of will-makers has dropped from 77.43 to 67.71 years. Among unmarried individuals registering wills, over 80% were under 60 and predominantly well-educated, with 8% choosing charitable donations for their assets.

  • China’s beautiful biotech chaos vs West’s elegant paralysis

    China’s beautiful biotech chaos vs West’s elegant paralysis

    China has achieved pharmaceutical parity with the United States through a remarkable transformation in drug discovery output, escalating from approximately 30 new medicines in 2013 to over 400 annually within a decade. This extraordinary growth represents not merely an economic milestone but a compelling natural experiment in contrasting innovation methodologies.

    Western pharmaceutical development has traditionally operated on an engineering-based premise: identify biological targets, design precision molecules, and refine through methodical iteration. While scientifically rigorous, this approach has demonstrated significant limitations—only about 5% of drugs successful in animal trials ultimately achieve regulatory approval, according to pharmacologist Jack Scannell and other researchers.

    China’s biotech sector has embraced a fundamentally different philosophy. Fueled by substantial government subsidies and a cultural emphasis on rapid execution, the country has adopted what might be termed ‘serendipity maximization’—the strategic approach of increasing experimental volume to enhance the probability of unexpected breakthroughs. Chinese state-owned enterprises alone now contribute approximately 200 new experimental medicines annually, comparable to the combined output of all European public and private entities.

    This divergence in approaches presents both opportunities and risks. China’s velocity-focused model carries evident safety concerns, exemplified by past incidents like the melamine scandal in infant formula. Much of China’s current output concentrates on biosimilars and well-established therapeutic classes rather than genuinely novel mechanisms, raising questions about quality versus quantity.

    Conversely, Western pharmaceutical innovation faces structural challenges including protracted regulatory timelines, declining federal research support, and a venture capital ecosystem favoring billion-dollar bets over abundant experimentation.

    The most productive perspective transcends nationalist framing. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that distributed global health innovation—combining American mRNA platforms, Chinese inactivated virus approaches, and Indian manufacturing scale—collectively served humanity more effectively than any single-source solution. Similarly, pharmaceutical innovation may benefit from complementary approaches: China’s serendipity-based model potentially uncovering unexpected therapeutic mechanisms while Western precision-targeting produces refined follow-on therapies.

    The critical question isn’t which nation ‘wins’ but whether the global system can produce medicines faster, cheaper, and for a broader range of diseases—including neglected conditions that neither purely market-driven nor state-directed systems adequately address. The healthiest outcome involves productive competition that forces both systems to improve, coupled with collaboration that neither ideology comfortably permits.

    Drug discovery has always been evolutionary: trial, error, and adaptation. The current moment simply accelerates that evolution with two distinct selection pressures operating simultaneously. History suggests that when medicine becomes primarily a vehicle for national prestige rather than patient benefit, everyone loses.

  • Self-reliance on camellia oil production bolstered

    Self-reliance on camellia oil production bolstered

    China has achieved a remarkable 53% increase in domestic camellia oil production since 2020, reaching an annual output of 1.1 million metric tons through a strategic national initiative. This substantial growth stems from a dedicated three-year program that expanded specialized camellia forests by 787,000 hectares while simultaneously transforming 647,000 hectares of low-yield plantations, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

    The total cultivation area for economically valuable tea-oil camellia plants now spans 5 million hectares—equivalent to the entire land area of Costa Rica—solidifying China’s position as the global leader in camellia oil production, accounting for 90-95% of worldwide supply.

    Despite this dominant production share, China remains heavily dependent on imported edible vegetable oils, purchasing over 10 million tons annually with nearly 70% of its supply coming from foreign sources. This dependency has prompted the government to prioritize camellia oil development as a crucial strategic response to enhance food security and reduce import reliance.

    In early 2023, China implemented a comprehensive action plan spanning through 2025, accompanied by substantial subsidy programs for camellia planting. The ambitious plan targets expansion of camellia plantations to exceed 6 million hectares with production capacity reaching 2 million tons by the current year.

    The administration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, established a subsidy program creating model production zones requiring contiguous camellia forests exceeding 33,000 hectares and total investments surpassing 1 billion yuan ($141 million). To date, 12 billion yuan in subsidies has been distributed to support these initiatives.

    Future measures will focus on addressing industrial chain bottlenecks, cultivating leading processing enterprises, and promoting comprehensive utilization of by-products. The administration also announced exploration of innovative integrated development models combining camellia planting with tourism and medicinal herbs to maximize economic returns.

  • Fire in nursing home kills 16 in Indonesia

    Fire in nursing home kills 16 in Indonesia

    A devastating fire erupted at the Damai retirement home in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Sunday evening, resulting in one of Indonesia’s deadliest recent tragedies. Local authorities confirmed sixteen fatalities and three injuries after flames rapidly consumed the facility housing elderly residents.

    The inferno began approximately at 20:30 local time (12:30 GMT), with emergency services responding immediately to distress calls. According to Jimmy Rotinsulu, chief of Manado’s fire and rescue agency, numerous victims were discovered inside their rooms, likely resting when the fire initiated. The blaze was successfully extinguished by 21:30 (13:30 GMT), though the damage proved catastrophic.

    Eyewitness Steven Mokodompit, residing near the nursing home, described hearing an explosion and desperate cries for help upon arriving around 20:00. ‘Within merely five minutes, the fire had completely engulfed the building,’ he recounted to Detikcom. Mokodompit and other brave responders improvised rescue efforts using stacked tables and ladders to evacuate residents through the building’s rear.

    Authorities face significant challenges in identifying victims due to the severe condition of remains, described as largely ‘unrecognizable.’ Police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the fire’s origin, suspected to have started in the kitchen area. Families of potential victims are urgently requested to contact designated hospitals for identification procedures.

    This incident highlights ongoing fire safety concerns in Indonesian residential facilities, coming just weeks after a Jakarta office building fire claimed 22 lives. The frequency of such tragedies underscores critical needs for enhanced emergency protocols and infrastructure safeguards across the nation’s aging care institutions.

  • Top diplomats of China, Cambodia and Thailand meet as Beijing seeks a stronger role in dispute

    Top diplomats of China, Cambodia and Thailand meet as Beijing seeks a stronger role in dispute

    In a significant diplomatic development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his counterparts from Cambodia and Thailand for trilateral talks aimed at consolidating a fragile ceasefire between the Southeast Asian neighbors. The meeting, convened in China’s Yunnan province near the contested border region, represents Beijing’s latest effort to position itself as a regional peace broker.

    The diplomatic gathering followed Saturday’s bilateral ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, which concluded weeks of hostilities that resulted in over 100 casualties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow characterized the discussions as producing ‘progress in the right direction,’ emphasizing the priorities of maintaining the truce and rebuilding mutual trust.

    Strategic significance emerged from the meeting’s location in Yunnan province—approximately 2,500 kilometers southwest of Beijing—demonstrating China’s geographical and diplomatic proximity to Southeast Asian affairs. Minister Wang articulated China’s stance, stating, ‘Allowing the flames of war to be reignited is absolutely not what the people of the two countries want and not what China, as your friend, wants to see.’

    The parties reached consensus on implementing the ceasefire without reversal, restoring diplomatic channels, and gradually normalizing relations. China committed to providing immediate humanitarian assistance to displaced populations while the three nations agreed to enhance cooperation against transnational crimes, including telecommunications fraud and online scams.

    The conflict dynamics reveal complex regional interplay. An initial July ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia under U.S. pressure, collapsed into renewed December hostilities accompanied by propaganda warfare. The current agreement includes provisions for Thailand to repatriate 18 captured Cambodian soldiers after 72 hours of sustained ceasefire and mutual commitments to landmine non-proliferation.

    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reflected on the asymmetric nature of the conflict, acknowledging that while ‘we can still fight, as a small country we still have nothing to gain from prolonging the fighting.’ The diplomatic movement signals China’s growing influence in mediating regional disputes as it expands its global diplomatic footprint.

  • Fire at Indonesian retirement home kills 16 residents

    Fire at Indonesian retirement home kills 16 residents

    A devastating fire engulfed a retirement facility in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on Sunday evening, resulting in one of the deadliest nursing home tragedies in recent memory. The inferno broke out approximately at 8 p.m. local time while elderly residents were asleep, creating a rapidly escalating emergency situation.

    According to official statements from North Sulawesi police spokesperson Alamsyah Hasibuan, the catastrophe claimed sixteen lives with fifteen victims perishing from severe burns and one remaining physically intact. Emergency response teams faced significant challenges in containing the blaze, with firefighting crews deploying six trucks that required over two hours to fully extinguish the flames after nearby residents first alerted authorities.

    The human toll extended beyond the fatalities, with fifteen survivors receiving urgent medical treatment at nearby hospitals in Manado City. Courageous neighbors initially attempted rescue operations before professional responders arrived, managing to save several occupants from the smoke-filled single-story structure.

    Television footage captured the horrifying scene of intense flames illuminating the night sky with an ominous orange glow while thick smoke blanketed the area. The aftermath revealed rows of body bags arranged outside the charred facility as forensic teams began the meticulous identification process at the police hospital with family assistance.

    While preliminary police reports suggested an electrical malfunction as the potential ignition source, investigators have maintained that the official cause remains undetermined and subject to ongoing examination. The tragedy has raised urgent questions about fire safety protocols in Indonesia’s elderly care facilities, prompting calls for enhanced emergency preparedness standards nationwide.