Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Linfen aims to be a natl transformation model

    Linfen aims to be a natl transformation model

    Linfen, a resource-dependent city in China’s Shanxi province, is undergoing a remarkable economic transformation by strategically cultivating new quality productive forces. During the ongoing Two Sessions, Li Yunfeng, Party Secretary of Linfen and NPC deputy, revealed the city’s comprehensive development strategy focusing on three emerging economic sectors: digital economy, low-altitude economy, and micro-short drama economy.

    The digital economy has demonstrated explosive growth, reaching 18.25 billion yuan ($2.65 billion) in revenue during 2025—a staggering 62.8% year-on-year increase that ranks first provincially. The low-altitude economy has established substantial infrastructure including Class A service stations and eight major flight bases, with 23 supporting enterprises conducting over 3,000 service scenarios. Meanwhile, the micro-short drama industry has attracted 87 film production companies that produced 273 short dramas, with ambitious targets to attract 50 leading enterprises and produce over 500 micro-short dramas in 2026.

    This transformation represents a fundamental shift for a city that historically faced dual challenges of resource dependency and ecological pressure. Over the past decade, Linfen has consistently prioritized environmental protection, shutting down 9.15 million metric tons of coking capacity and 220,000 tons of crude steel capacity since the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The city has completed ultra-low emission transformations across its industrial base and achieved remarkable air quality improvements, with PM2.5 density dropping to 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2025.

    Linfen’s cultural heritage has gained renewed attention following the global success of the video game ‘Black Myth: Wukong,’ which features scenes inspired by the region’s ancient Buddhist and Taoist culture. The city has launched innovative tourism initiatives including free shuttle buses and parking under its ‘Homecoming’ service brand, while planning deeper cultural-tourism integration through sports events, performances, and food directories.

    Looking toward the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Linfen aims to establish itself as a national model for urban transformation and comprehensive reform. The city is committed to energy transition, industrial upgrading, and developing a new energy system while promoting low-carbon development in traditional industries. By 2030, Linfen targets the fundamental achievement of resource-based economic transformation and positioning as an ecological protection demonstration city in the Yellow River Basin.

  • SARs urged to make most of five-year plan

    SARs urged to make most of five-year plan

    Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang has called upon Hong Kong and Macao to actively leverage the substantial opportunities emerging from China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), emphasizing the need for robust efforts toward high-quality economic development. The senior leader, who serves on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered these remarks during a joint engagement with national political advisers from both special administrative regions at the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

    Ding affirmed that both cities have demonstrated comprehensive advancement across multiple sectors throughout the past year and are currently experiencing their most promising developmental phase. His address followed Premier Li Qiang’s Government Work Report, which reinforced the central government’s commitment to supporting Hong Kong and Macao in their deeper integration into national development strategies while contributing to the country’s overarching progress. The report further emphasized ambitions to transform the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an internationally recognized hub for scientific and technological innovation.

    Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, a Standing Committee member of the CPPCC National Committee, disclosed that Vice-Premier Ding articulated five key expectations for the SARs. These included mobilizing various sectors within Hong Kong, particularly the business community, to provide substantive input for the formulation and execution of the territory’s inaugural five-year plan. Ding additionally encouraged both regions to accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces and enhance collaborative ventures with mainland China in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and biomedicine.

    Ding emphasized Hong Kong’s distinctive advantage of having strong national backing while maintaining global connectivity, urging the city to assume a more prominent role within the Belt and Road Initiative. He also reiterated the importance of upholding the executive-led governance structure of the Hong Kong SAR and supporting the administration’s law-based governance, which he identified as fundamental to sustained stability and prosperity.

    CPPCC National Committee member Melissa Kaye Pang, former president of the Hong Kong Law Society, noted that Ding highlighted the necessity of advancing high-quality economic growth with particular focus on major innovation centers including the Northern Metropolis and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. Another committee member from Hong Kong, Samuel Yung Wing-ki, expressed confidence that the Hong Kong SAR government would proactively address future challenges and developmental requirements, citing Ding’s recognition of China’s impressive trade performance in 2025 despite external pressures.

    Six CPPCC National Committee members from Hong Kong and Macao addressed the assembly, presenting insights on topics ranging from the establishment of Hong Kong as an international education hub and the enhancement of its technological innovation capabilities to positioning Macao as a critical conduit for international cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

  • Taiwan beats Vietnam 1-0 in Women’s Asian Cup match

    Taiwan beats Vietnam 1-0 in Women’s Asian Cup match

    PERTH, Australia — In a crucial Group C matchup at the Women’s Asian Cup, Taiwan secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Vietnam on Saturday, positioning themselves favorably for quarterfinal qualification with one group stage match remaining. The decisive moment arrived in the 26th minute when striker Su Yu-hsuan capitalized on a defensive opportunity. After Saki Matsunaga’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar, Su expertly headed the rebound into an unguarded net, securing what would become the match-winning goal.

    The victory marked a significant rebound for Taiwan, which suffered a 2-0 defeat against tournament favorites Japan earlier in the week. Throughout the match, Taiwan demonstrated offensive superiority, creating multiple scoring opportunities that could have extended their margin of victory. Vietnam, despite entering the contest with momentum from their opening victory against India, struggled offensively and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the ninety minutes. Their closest opportunity came from Thi Duyen Tran, whose first-half attempt sailed wide from inside the penalty area.

    The result leaves both teams level on three points from two matches, though Taiwan claims second place in the group standings on superior goal difference. Japan currently leads Group C and was scheduled to face India later Saturday. The tournament continues to break attendance records, with organizers announcing 250,000 tickets sold. The opening matches attracted 92,795 spectators—shattering the previous record of 59,910 set during the 2010 edition in China.

    In other tournament developments, Australia and South Korea have already advanced from Group A following the Matildas’ 4-0 victory over Iran. The two teams will meet Sunday to determine group supremacy. Defending champions China and three-time winners North Korea have both secured quarterfinal berths from Group B with consecutive victories, setting up a Monday showdown to decide the group winner.

  • Visitors become entrepreneurs, discover opportunities in Yunnan

    Visitors become entrepreneurs, discover opportunities in Yunnan

    Yunnan Province in Southwest China is experiencing a remarkable socioeconomic transformation as growing numbers of visitors evolve into long-term entrepreneurs, drawn by the region’s unique business opportunities and exceptional quality of life. According to Wang Ning, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee, this trend represents a significant shift in the province’s development narrative.

    The statistics underscore this phenomenon: during the recent Spring Festival holiday, Yunnan welcomed 53 million tourist visits. More notably, approximately 5.5 million tourists categorized as ‘sojourners’ have chosen extended stays exceeding two weeks throughout the past year. What distinguishes this trend is the conscious decision by many to establish permanent roots and launch business ventures within the province.

    Wang attributes this migration pattern to Yunnan’s distinctive charm characterized by ‘purity, beauty, novelty and uniqueness.’ The province’s pristine natural environment—from Ailao Mountain’s sea of clouds to Fuxian Lake’s blue waters—combines with rich cultural traditions to create an inspirational backdrop for entrepreneurial endeavors. This environment fosters reconnection with personal aspirations and fundamental life purposes, according to Wang.

    The economic impact is substantial. Yunnan’s coffee industry exemplifies this growth, expanding from under 10 billion yuan to nearly 100 billion yuan in just three to four years. This expansion has created opportunities for sojourners in coffee shop operations, plantation management, and livestreamed coffee sales.

    Traditional craftsmanship has experienced similar revitalization. Yi embroidery from Chuxiong, Jianshui purple pottery, and Heqing silverware have found renewed commercial viability through innovative approaches by young entrepreneurs. The province’s geographical advantage as China’s gateway to South and Southeast Asia, bolstered by the high-utilization China-Laos Railway, further enhances its business appeal.

    Personal narratives illustrate this trend. Zhang Yu and his wife transitioned from Shanghai’s fast-paced environment to Dali in 2019, initially renting a single courtyard that expanded to eight properties with approximately 100 rental units. Chen Yuxin relocated her Wonder Wander Coffee headquarters to Dali, experiencing annual fivefold growth while benefiting from local government support through resource-sharing tea parties. French chef Vincent Aguesse established a culinary presence in Kunming since 2015, creating fusion cuisine that combines Yunnan’s wild mushrooms with French techniques.

    Yunnan’s moderate climate, neither severely cold in winter nor unbearably hot in summer, provides additional appeal for health and wellness tourism alongside outdoor sports development. The provincial government recognizes this combination of natural assets, cultural richness, and strategic positioning as creating unique conditions where ‘everyone with a dream and the courage to explore can find their own place.’

  • Calls mount for diplomacy in Middle East

    Calls mount for diplomacy in Middle East

    International pressure for diplomatic resolution is mounting as the Middle East plunges into one of its most severe security crises in recent years. The conflict, now entering its second week, has witnessed unprecedented military engagements between the United States, Israel, and Iran, resulting in significant civilian casualties and regional destabilization.

    According to the Iranian Red Crescent, coordinated US-Israeli operations have claimed 1,332 Iranian lives since February 28, with at least 20 additional fatalities and 30 injuries reported in recent strikes. Israel’s air force confirmed conducting 26 targeted strikes in Lebanon’s Dahieh area, allegedly against Hezbollah infrastructure while claiming precautionary measures to minimize civilian impact.

    The humanitarian dimension continues to worsen as displaced populations seek refuge across border regions. In Beirut, families displaced by Israeli airstrikes are sheltering along the coastal corniche, highlighting the growing refugee crisis.

    Global leaders are amplifying calls for de-escalation. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that “no civilian should die in wars” and urged all parties to demonstrate “firm commitment to peace” through social media channels. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized the situation as having reached “alarming levels,” pledging to intensify multilateral diplomatic efforts to prevent irreversible escalation while reserving Turkey’s right to coordinate defensive measures with allies.

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi cautioned that the conflict reflects fundamental miscalculations and warned of potential economic repercussions, including price manipulation during the crisis. He emphasized Egypt’s emergency preparedness while ensuring essential public needs remain uncompromised.

    Contrasting perspectives emerge from Washington, where President Donald Trump asserted Iran’s military capabilities are being “demolished at levels people have never seen before.” Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected ceasefire possibilities following attacks during negotiation periods.

    The human cost continues to mount, with investigations underway regarding a suspected US strike on an Iranian girls’ school in Minab that killed numerous children. Iran has conducted mass funerals for at least 165 victims, including students, as regional powers continue military posturing.

  • Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama’s takeover of 2 key canal ports

    Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama’s takeover of 2 key canal ports

    A major international arbitration battle has erupted between Panama and Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings after the Central American nation’s seizure of two strategic ports at the Panama Canal. The conglomerate’s subsidiary, Panama Ports Company, is seeking approximately $2 billion in compensation for what it describes as an “illegal takeover” of the critical maritime facilities.

    The dispute stems from Panama’s Supreme Court ruling that declared the company’s concession agreement unconstitutional, prompting the government to assume control of both Balboa and Cristobal ports last week. These facilities occupy strategic positions at either end of the vital Panama Canal waterway, which handles approximately 5% of global maritime trade.

    Panama Ports Company had operated the terminals since 1997 and successfully renewed its 25-year concession agreement just two years ago in 2021. The company’s Friday statement emphasized its determination to “assert all of their rights and damages they are due because of the radical breaches and anti-investor conduct of the Panamanian State.”

    The situation has drawn international attention, with both Beijing and Hong Kong governments expressing strong objections to Panama’s actions. The ports previously found themselves at the center of geopolitical tensions when former U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of effectively controlling the Panama Canal. The controversy intensified when CK Hutchison announced plans in March 2022 to sell the majority of its global port assets—including the Panama facilities—to a consortium involving U.S. investment giant BlackRock in a monumental $23 billion transaction. That deal has remained stalled amid political pressures.

    In a separate declaration, CK Hutchison condemned Panama’s seizure methods, alleging the government occupied the ports and appropriated company property and personnel “without transparency.” The corporation vowed to pursue all available legal avenues through both national and international judicial proceedings. The company also corrected previous statements from Panamanian officials, including Economy Minister Felipe Chapman, who had estimated the compensation claim at $1.5 billion.

  • In first week of war on Iran, Gulf states shutter energy production and oil soars

    In first week of war on Iran, Gulf states shutter energy production and oil soars

    The escalating military conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran has triggered an unprecedented energy crisis, with oil prices recording their most dramatic weekly surge in modern history. Brent crude, the international benchmark, skyrocketed 28 percent during the first week of hostilities to reach $92.66 per barrel by Friday, marking the most rapid price acceleration ever witnessed in global oil markets.

    The crisis centers on the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments transit. MarineTraffic data reveals only nine commercial vessels have navigated the strait since Monday, as major insurers ceased providing war-risk coverage for the perilous passage.

    Gulf energy facilities face multi-faceted disruptions. Kuwait, a leading OPEC producer, has halted production entirely due to exhausted storage capacity, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia approaching similar operational limits according to Kpler analytics. The physical conflict has directly targeted infrastructure, with Bahrain’s Sitra refinery—processing nearly 400,000 barrels daily—struck by Iranian missiles and visibly engulfed in flames via social media documentation.

    Qatar declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas exports, threatening the 20% global supply share it controls and sending European and Asian gas prices soaring. The collateral damage includes environmental hazards, with a tanker anchored off Kuwait leaking oil into Gulf waters after being struck Wednesday.

    The economic ramifications are spreading globally. US gasoline prices jumped 11% to $3.32 per gallon despite previous administration claims of energy independence. Qatari Energy Minister warned Brent could reach $150 per barrel, stating the conflict threatens to ‘bring down the economies of the world’ through supply chain disruptions and factory shutdowns.

    Geopolitical tensions intensified as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard challenged President Trump to escort tankers through the strait, highlighting Gulf states’ frustration with perceived US reluctance to replenish depleted air defense systems despite successfully intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. The conflict has exposed regional vulnerabilities as Gulf nations, having lobbied for diplomatic engagement with Iran, now bear the brunt of retaliatory attacks on their energy infrastructure and modern urban centers.

  • Taiwan ramps up space-defense drive amid Beijing threats

    Taiwan ramps up space-defense drive amid Beijing threats

    Taiwan is actively cultivating a network of international space-technology startups alongside domestic firms to develop advanced surveillance and defense systems for deployment in the Taiwan Strait. This strategic initiative is spearheaded by the Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) program, managed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA). Since launching its International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program in 2023, TAcc+ has onboarded 42 startups specializing in satellite technology, rocket engines, and geospatial equipment, fostering partnerships with Taiwan’s established Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector for manufacturing.

    A notable beneficiary is BaseTech, a local startup founded in 2021 that has received government funding. The company produces high-precision telescope mounts capable of tracking satellites from hundreds to 2,000 kilometers above Earth and monitoring swarms of military drones. Its flagship HawkView Monitoring System, as demonstrated by senior manager Henry Chen, can track over 300 targets simultaneously—from drones and aircraft to birds—at distances exceeding 15 kilometers, utilizing AI for automatic object scanning. The system also supports free-space optical (FSO) communication, a dual-use technology employing lasers for satellite-to-ground data transmission, which has civil and military applications.

    BaseTech’s systems are already deployed with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and the nation’s Air Force and Navy, with the company now seeking European clients. This development aligns with a ‘hellscape’ defense strategy proposed by the Center for a New American Security, which envisions using vast numbers of drones and uncrewed systems to disrupt a potential invasion across the Strait through layered, technology-intensive defenses.

    Amid rising cross-strait tensions and uncertainties over U.S. military support, Taiwan is accelerating efforts to localize foreign space-defense technology. TAcc+ has facilitated international collaborations, resulting in memorandums of understanding and new orders for participants like UK-based HEX20 and U.S.-based Slingshot Aerospace. However, experts caution that ensuring resilient communications in conflict remains a challenge, prompting Taiwan to explore alternatives to U.S.-dependent systems, such as Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-Earth-orbit satellite services, recently approved for operation by Chunghwa Telecom.

  • Muted Iran war stance fits concerned onlooker China’s priorities

    Muted Iran war stance fits concerned onlooker China’s priorities

    As Middle East hostilities escalate, China has adopted a position of deliberate detachment, maintaining strategic distance from the regional conflict while carefully assessing implications for its global interests. Situated over 4,200 miles from the turmoil and without direct involvement, Beijing enjoys relative flexibility in calculating how U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran might affect its economic and security priorities.

    This conflict represents the most significant military campaign by China’s primary strategic rival since the Iraq War, unfolding in a region critical to China’s energy security and commercial expansion. Despite these high stakes, Beijing’s response has been notably measured—a reflection of both limited regional leverage and the fundamentally transactional nature of its relationship with Tehran.

    China’s doctrinal opposition to foreign intervention and regime change shaped its initial diplomatic response. In late February 2026, Beijing joined Moscow in requesting an emergency UN Security Council session, expressing ‘serious concern’ over missile strikes while urging respect for Iran’s territorial integrity. Concurrently, China implemented precautionary measures, advising its citizens in Iran to evacuate and warning nationals in Israel to enhance emergency preparedness.

    This combination of diplomatic protest and risk mitigation suggests Beijing prioritized contingency planning over conflict resolution. Unlike its strong support for Pakistan during the 2025 border conflict with India—where Chinese-supplied fighter jets and missiles were deployed—China maintains a more limited security relationship with Iran. While providing selective military and dual-use support including air defense systems, drone technology, and surveillance assistance over time, Beijing has carefully avoided formal security guarantees.

    The current conflict offers China valuable intelligence-gathering opportunities. With U.S. forces concentrated around Iran, Chinese satellites and intelligence platforms have actively monitored American and allied deployments near the Gulf of Oman—information potentially more valuable for China’s long-term Indo-Pacific strategy than for immediate battlefield impact.

    This pattern reveals China’s consistent approach: supporting partners within strict limits while avoiding entanglements. Despite rhetoric of ‘comprehensive partnership,’ China has never made decisive strategic investments in Tehran. Bilateral trade remains modest within China’s global portfolio, Iranian oil imports are useful but replaceable, and Belt and Road Initiative investments flow more substantially toward Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE—economies now vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.

    The asymmetry is clear: Iran has long needed China more than China needed Iran. A weakened Iran—or even one with Western-aligned leadership—poses limited direct concern to Beijing. However, the broader strategic environment presents challenges as multiple Chinese partners face instability: Russia remains mired in Ukraine, Pakistan and Afghanistan confront escalating instability, and U.S. interventionism has intensified in Venezuela and Cuba.

    China’s response highlights its regional constraints: limited force projection, no defense commitments, and consistent avoidance of security guarantor responsibilities. Nonintervention represents not merely tactical caution but a defining feature of Beijing’s diplomatic identity.

    Looking ahead, Beijing will likely calibrate limited, deniable support to a weakened Iranian regime while avoiding overcommitment. Should the regime fall, China would probably pursue pragmatic engagement with whatever authority emerges, safeguarding economic interests through transactional relationships.

    The anticipated late-March U.S.-China meeting now carries added significance, though the atmosphere remains uncertain. President Xi Jinping would enter discussions amid large-scale U.S. military operations and while multiple Chinese strategic partners face challenges across various theaters.

    Ultimately, China positions itself as neither Iran’s patron nor a passive bystander, but rather a cautious opportunist operating within clear constraints—preserving flexibility while avoiding entanglement in a conflict beyond its control.

  • Ex-rapper’s political party leads early results in Nepal’s first election since 2025 youth revolt

    Ex-rapper’s political party leads early results in Nepal’s first election since 2025 youth revolt

    KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s political landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as partial election results reveal a stunning lead for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (National Independent Party), headed by former rapper Balendra Shah. The preliminary counts released Saturday by Nepal’s Election Commission show the insurgent party has secured 27 of the 165 directly elected parliamentary seats and maintains commanding leads in 90 additional constituencies.

    The election represents Nepal’s first parliamentary contest since last year’s youth-led uprising that unseated former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. Shah, the party’s prime ministerial candidate who previously won Kathmandu’s mayoral race in 2022, has emerged as the symbolic leader of the political revolution. The 35-year-old politician has built his campaign around addressing healthcare and education disparities for impoverished Nepalis, channeling widespread public discontent with established political institutions.

    In a particularly symbolic contest, Shah is directly challenging Oli in a southeastern district, where he currently holds a substantial lead over the former prime minister as vote counting continues.

    The election has evolved into a three-way competition, largely driven by voter frustration over systemic corruption and demands for greater governmental accountability. Despite being founded only in 2022, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has mounted a formidable challenge to Nepal’s two traditionally dominant parties: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which have collectively secured only six declared seats thus far.

    The political upheaval traces back to the 2025 protests, initially triggered by a social media ban before escalating into a widespread revolt against government corruption and poor governance. The demonstrations turned violent when protesters attacked government buildings and police responded with lethal force, resulting in dozens of fatalities and hundreds injured.

    Voters are directly electing 165 members to the House of Representatives, with the remaining 110 seats in the 275-member parliament to be allocated through proportional representation. Election officials are employing helicopters to collect ballot boxes from remote mountain villages in northern regions, with final results anticipated within the coming days.