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As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to unfold, robots are emerging as a transformative force in the elderly care industry across China. With innovations ranging from feeding robots to those designed for rehabilitation and hygiene assistance, an increasing array of age-friendly tech products is being introduced to support seniors.

These cutting-edge solutions are complementing traditional family-based care models, heralding a new era in the way we approach elder care.

Recently, cities such as Shanghai and Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, have launched innovative smart elderly care initiatives aimed at fostering the coordinated development of elderly care services and related industries. This move came in response to the rising interest in smart elderly care.

Many nursing homes in Chinese cities are now integrating intelligent care robots into their operations. For example, at a home care center in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, a group of seniors averaging 86 years old are enjoying a more convenient and vibrant lifestyle thanks to the introduction of "smart nannies." Among the cutting-edge technologies being deployed to assist seniors with disabilities are robotic "caregivers," multifunctional transfer bed-chairs, and fall-detection alarms. These advancements are designed to ease the burden on human caregivers.

In 2024, a resident from Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, surnamed Xia, invested nearly 30,000 yuan ($4,145) in a toileting care robot for his 80-year-old bedridden grandfather. The care robot primarily serves bedridden elderly individuals with disabilities. It can automatically sense needs and perform fully automated processes such as suction, washing, drying, and sterilization. Since its introduction, this toileting care robot has greatly alleviated the caregiving burden on family members. "It's much less exhausting now. When the drain water tank is full, we just empty the wastewater and refill it with clean water," Xia told CCTV.

He expressed hope for more walking-assist robots, noting that the high cost of current models remains a barrier for many families.

In February, a Shenzhen-based tech company partnered with the Mount Tai Scenic Area in Shandong Province to unveil an exoskeleton robot designed to assist with hiking, garnering significant attention. This exoskeleton robot can also be utilized for fitness, daily walking, and climbing stairs, according to CCTV.

Chen Zhengxiang, an AI model trainer based in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, has conducted research in many nursing homes across the country. He told the Global Times that current robots on the market still have shortcomings in human-robot interaction. For instance, they struggle to recognize commands spoken in local dialects, and their emotional interactions remain at a superficial, programmed response level.

Chen envisions that with the advancement of AI large models, future elderly care robots will possess the ability to perceive, understand, and respond to human emotions, thereby better meeting the psychological needs of seniors and providing personalized care and companionship.

"It should be like having an 'AI child' by your side; that's the true warmth of technology," he said.

In recent years, China has introduced a series of policies to encourage the development of intelligent elderly care devices, including robots. For example, China's State Council released guidelines in 2024 encouraging companies and industry participants in sectors such as accommodation, healthcare, tourism and financial consultancy to optimize services and products for the elderly.

Currently, there are two main types of elderly care robots on the market: rehabilitation robots, such as those that assist bedridden individuals in standing and walking, and daily care robots, which include devices for toileting and bathing assistance.

To further address the safety and emotional needs of seniors living alone, more robots are being developed. For instance, a smart elderly care robot created by a tech company in Wuxi, Jiangsu, can remind seniors to take their medication, eat, and rest, while also providing services like news updates and online shopping.

The US State Department announced sanctions on an unspecified number of current and former Thai officials on Friday for their role in the repatriation of Chinese citizens in a joint crackdown on illegal immigration. Chinese observers condemned such move as a hypocritical meddling in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights, which aims to undermine legitimate law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that he was "immediately moving to impose visa restrictions on officials involved in the deportations." No Thai official has been named. The visa restrictions were not explained but can entail a denial of entry to the US, AP reported. 

Rubio claimed that the US is committed to opposing China's efforts to repatriate Uygurs and other groups, alleging they face "torture and enforced disappearances." 

China firmly opposes the use of Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in its internal affairs and disrupt lawful cooperation between China and other nations under the guise of human rights, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a routine press conference on February 28.

"Let me stress that the repatriation is carried out in accordance with the laws of China and Thailand as well as international law and common practices. China upholds the rule of law and has well developed laws and regulations and working mechanisms in human rights protection in the judicial area. The achievements are there for all to see. People of all ethnic groups in China, including the Uygurs in Xinjiang, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights," Lin said. 

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand clarified the truth behind Thailand's repatriation of Chinese nationals. It released a statement on March 2 responding to recent hypes about the repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals to China from Thailand, saying that the individuals repatriated this time were illegal border crossers who had entered Thailand unlawfully (not refugees), and that the repatriation was normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand to combat illegal immigration and human smuggling.

Illegal migration and smuggling are internationally recognized crimes, and repatriating illegal immigrants and human smugglers in accordance with the law is a legitimate sovereign law enforcement action, the embassy said. 

While releasing several photos showing their reunion with their families, the embassy emphasized in a statement on February 28 that both China and Thailand prioritize the rule of law and human rights protection. As previously communicated by the Chinese side to the Thai authorities, the crime committed by the individuals involved was limited to illegal immigration, with no other serious offenses found. After completing the necessary legal procedures, they were released and allowed to return home, which is the best protection of their legal rights. China will also provide further assistance to help these individuals reintegrate into society and resume normal lives.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told at a press conference on February 28 that Thailand acted in accordance with the law, Khaosod English reported. 

The US kept sensationalizing lawful cooperation between China and Thailand on handling illegal immigration. It's true intention is never a concern for Uygurs, but rather a smear campaign against China under the guise of human rights issue, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday. 

While the US deports illegal immigrants within its own borders, it simultaneously criticizes other countries' actions that align with international and domestic laws, exposing its double standards and political manipulation, Lü criticized. 

Imagine if a group of Mexicans, misled by drug cartels, entered the US, forcing American immigration authorities to bear the burden of looking after them for over a decade - how would Washington respond? Without a doubt, the US' political manipulation will create more complex difficulties for the country in addressing its own illegal immigration challenges, he said.

In a classroom, a large screen displays a conversation in Chinese: in it, two people are adding each other on WeChat. Encouraged by the teacher, Pakistani Muhammad Ajmal, a postdoctoral researcher in mathematics at Shanghai University, stands up, unlocks his phone, and says in Putonghua to another participant seated behind him, “Hello, nice to meet you. May I add you on WeChat?”

This happened on Sunday, during a government-supported non-profit Chinese language class held in Shanghai’s Hongkou district. Targeting foreign talents working in Shanghai, this course is scheduled to continue with classes every Sunday until April 20.

Including Ajmal, over a dozen foreign professionals from universities, research institutions, and foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai attended the first class on Sunday. There they learned to introduce themselves in a more authentic manner, and to get to know one another in Putonghua.

Ajmal has been in China since 2016 and already had a foundation in Putonghua. When he heard about this course, he signed up right away. “I know a lot of Chinese words, but I’m working on adding more natural, authentic vocabulary to improve my fluency,” he told the Global Times after class.

He explained that, previously he only knew the number “one” as “yi” in Putonghua, but thanks to this course, he learned the number’s informal pronunciation “yao” which is more commonly used in daily life.

Unlike some other language courses, this course focuses more on teaching participants practical and everyday language, as well as elements of Chinese culture and customs, according to the class teacher Zhang Yicheng, a Chinese language instructor at the Shanghai International Studies University.

“For example, about numbers, in this class I taught them the pronunciation, and in the next class, I will explain which numbers are generally favored or disliked by Chinese people,” Zhang told the Global Times.

For foreign participants, this class can serve as a small but vivid window to better understand China and Shanghai, and to connect more effectively with local people. Vietnamese participant HaiSam Mai, who has been working at an international school in Shanghai, believes she can still learn something new from this class, even though she has lived in Shanghai for 13 years.

“Today, for the first time, I learned a more polite way to add someone on WeChat, and the phrases were quite new to me. The topics we discussed in class were all very interesting,” Mai told the Global Times.

The one-month course consists of six classes in total, four of which focus on different topics including food, shopping, transportation, travel, hobbies, and sports. The remaining two are workshops, one dedicated to making herbal sachets and another to making Chinese-style jewelry, allowing participants to experience China’s intangible cultural heritage firsthand, said Zhang.

This Chinese language course is one of the latest initiatives by the Shanghai local government aimed at welcoming foreign talent and helping international professionals living in Shanghai better adapt to daily life, integrate into local culture, and stimulate interest in learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture, the Global Times learned from the Hongkou District Talent Work Bureau, organizer of the course.

The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) is set to commence on Friday, with security measures intensifying across the city. On Thursday local time, Global Times journalists arriving at Munich Airport were met with light rain and a visible police presence. Along the route from the airport to the city center, patrol cars were stationed at key points.

At the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the main venue of the 61st MSC, the official conference logo is prominently displayed. Global Times reporters observed a prominent security presence around the venue, with police teams patrolling the streets, and TV broadcast vans set up for live coverage. As dignitaries, conference delegates, and media representatives from around the world continue to arrive, Munich has entered "MSC time."

The media center of the MSC is about a five-minute walk from the main venue and will open at 7 am local time on Friday. Reporters from the Global Times have learned that the media center is equipped with approximately 650 workspaces, and information desks to facilitate the use of global media. 

The 61st MSC will be held from Friday to Sunday. Known as the "Davos of Defense," the MSC is one of the most important annual forums in the fields of international strategy and security. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and China's minister of foreign affairs, will attend the conference and speak at an event on China to share China's position on major international issues.  

On Friday, the conference's main program will start with a focus on global security challenges, including global governance, democratic resilience, climate security, and many more topics. On Saturday, debates will take place on the state of the international order as well as regional conflicts and crises. The future of the transatlantic partnership will also be a focus of the second day of the conference. On Sunday, the conference will wrap up with discussions on Europe's role in the world, according to the MSC website.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday reaffirmed China's commitment to promoting peace while meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Munich, Germany.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held the meeting with Sybiha at the latter's request on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang said that China and Ukraine enjoy a traditional friendship and established a strategic partnership in 2011, with bilateral relations maintaining normal development.

China has been Ukraine's largest trading partner in recent years, Wang noted, adding that this is hard-won under the current circumstances and demonstrates the potential and space for cooperation between the two sides.

China views Ukraine as a friend and partner, and always approaches and advances China-Ukraine relations from a long-term perspective, Wang said, adding that China is ready to work with Ukraine to overcome unfavorable factors, advance bilateral relations, and carry out practical cooperation.

He expressed his hope that the Ukrainian side will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Ukraine.

On the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that China has always been committed to promoting peace and talks.

Facts and the development of the situation have once again proven that the principles and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping, including his proposals of four points about what must be done and three observations, are objective, impartial, rational, and pragmatic, he added.

China will continue to follow these principles and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis and the realization of peace, Wang said.

China supports all efforts dedicated to peace and expects a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement accepted by all parties concerned, Wang said.

The "Friends of Peace" platform, initiated by China and countries of the Global South, will continue to build consensus for promoting peace and talks, he added.

Sybiha said that Ukraine and China have maintained dialogues, and the people of the two countries enjoy friendly relations.

Mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and China has brought benefits to the people of both countries, he said.

Ukraine strictly abides by the one-China principle, he stressed, adding that the country is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China and further deepen the strategic partnership.

Sybiha pledged that Ukraine will continue to make every effort to protect the safety of Chinese institutions and citizens.

Ukraine attaches great importance to China's influence as a major country, appreciates China's objective and balanced position, and expects China to play an important role in achieving comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, he added.

Senior officials from Myanmar, China, and Thailand have arrived in Myawaddy in Myanmar to crack down on telecom fraud and illegal online gambling operations, China Media Group reported on Monday, citing Myanmar's State Administration Council's Information Team. 

Since the Myanmar authorities launched a crackdown on Myawaddy's scam centers, they have discovered a large number of foreigners illegally entering the country from neighboring nations. Between January 30 and February 16, they have reviewed and detained 1,030 illegal entrants. The joint task force, composed of senior officials from the three countries, is currently verifying identities and conducting detailed investigations to expedite the repatriation process.

Myanmar has already repatriated some of those detained, while efforts are underway to process the remaining individuals in accordance with legal procedures to ensure their swift repatriation to their home countries.

On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and the visiting Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi met with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, and Minister of Home Affairs, Tun Tun Naung, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

Both sides had in-depth exchange of views on enhancing China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation, and on jointly tackling cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and human trafficking, according to the statement.

When asked to comment on the meeting between Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi and Myanmar's officials, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that recent cases of online gambling and telecom fraud along the Thailand-Myanmar border have posed serious threats to the lives and property of people in affected countries, including China and Thailand, and have disrupted normal regional cooperation and exchanges.  

China is actively engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries, implementing comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of online gambling and telecom fraud, Guo said. Efforts are being made to jointly prevent criminals from operating across borders, eradicate the scourge of online gambling and telecom fraud, and protect public safety while ensuring stable regional cooperation, the spokesperson noted. 

The foreign ministry will continue working with relevant authorities to guide Chinese embassies and consulates abroad in properly handling related requests for assistance, ensuring the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals overseas, Guo said.

The annual two sessions will take place next month in Beijing. Johnny Ng Kit-chong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a local lawmaker in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), plans to submit at least four proposals including one aimed at advancing a collaborative governance mechanism to tackle cross-border telecom fraud, the Global Times learned on Monday. 

Ng outlined a series of recommended measures, including the establishment of a multi-party coordination mechanism to encourage enterprises to invest in anti-fraud initiatives. He also advocated for enhanced cross-border judicial cooperation to improve asset recovery rates, the application of blockchain technology to develop encrypted information systems, and the creation of fraud call tracing devices.

He also proposed implementing a mandatory compensation system for corporate data breaches and establishing an anti-fraud social fund to safeguard the rights of victims, according to the proposal Ng sent to the Global Times. 

In a Q&A session at the Legislative Council on February 12, acting Secretary for Security of the HKSAR government Michael Cheuk unveiled that since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence of Hong Kong residents allegedly being lured to Southeast Asian countries and trapped there to engage in illegal work.

From 2023 to January 2025, local law enforcement authorities have received a total of 28 request-for-assistance cases (each case involves one victim) in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave, 19 of whom have already returned to Hong Kong. "As for the remaining nine persons, we believe that eight are in Myanmar while one is in Cambodia," Cheuk said. 

Cross-border telecom fraud involves multiple industries, including the internet, finance, telecommunications, data regulation, storage and network technology. Government departments need to collaborate with these institutions to establish a coordinated governance mechanism, Ng said. 

It should also improve relevant work regulations, the Hong Kong lawmaker said. For example, in response to new situations and characteristics of telecom network fraud crimes, judicial interpretations should be adjusted promptly to resolve legal application disputes.

Also, the extradition treaty should be improved to ensure that Chinese citizens involved in crimes abroad can be brought back to China for legal prosecution, Ng noted. 

"We should also strengthen judicial cooperation by fully leveraging the role of Interpol, working closely in cross-border evidence collection, arrests and asset recovery," he said. 

The AFP reported on Saturday that a Myanmar ethnic militia was preparing to deport 10,000 people linked to cyber scams in the area it controls to Thailand as part of a crackdown on the illicit compounds. 

Cheuk led a dedicated task force comprising members from the Hong Kong Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department to Bangkok in January to follow up on relevant cases. Since then, the dedicated task force has established direct contacts with relevant Thai authorities to enhance future communication and exchange of intelligence, which aims to follow up on the cases more effectively.

Ng also proposed that law enforcement and judicial authorities should strengthen data collaboration with domestic internet service providers, making full use of big data analytics and computing technologies to facilitate data sharing.

Also, to protect people's personal information, blockchain technology can be leveraged for its immutability and security features, reducing the risk of personal data breaches, Ng noted. 

The three-phase ceasefire agreement should be implemented continuously and comprehensively, and we hope that the US, as a guarantor, will provide effective support for this, said Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, during the Security Council’s open debate on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Monday.

China welcomes the achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza. We hope that the situation in the Middle East will take this opportunity to move in the right direction toward de-escalation, said Fu, according to a statement released on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

In the past 15 months, Gaza has endured relentless bombardment, leading to over 46,000 deaths and leaving 2 million people in a dire humanitarian crisis, deepening instability in the region, Fu said.

Regarding the achievement of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, it is crucial that once a ceasefire is established, hostilities must not resume. We have noted that Israel has claimed it may resume military actions against Gaza if the second phase of ceasefire negotiations fails, and this has received assurances from certain countries, which is deeply concerning, said Fu. 

The current ceasefire should serve as the foundation for a permanent ceasefire and must not be merely a pause before a new offensive.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated to catastrophic proportions, necessitating immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. Israel, as an occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law by lifting restrictions on humanitarian aid, ensuring the safe and orderly distribution of humanitarian supplies within Gaza, and ensuring displaced individuals can safely return to their homes, the Chinese envoy noted.

Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestine, and the post-war arrangements for Gaza should be determined through internal negotiations among the Palestinians, Fu said.

The prolonged conflict lasting 15 months has once again demonstrated that only by implementing the two-state solution, ensuring peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel as two neighboring states, can peace in the Middle East be achieved, Fu said.

The international community should urgently work to revive and strongly support the two-state solution. China welcomes the efforts made by Saudi Arabia, the European Union, Norway, and others to revive the two-state solution. China supports holding a larger-scale, more authoritative, and more effective international conference to establish a clear timetable and actionable roadmap for its implementation, Fu said.

Israel’s long-term occupation of Palestinian territories, including settlement activities and settler violence in the West Bank, violates international law and Security Council resolutions while eroding the foundation of the two-state solution, said the Chinese envoy.

The Chinese envoy reiterated that the long-overdue ceasefire must not serve as a prelude to renewed conflict. The international community must urgently intensify its coordination efforts to facilitate the resumption and progress of the political process for achieving the two-state solution. China is ready to continue playing a constructive role and work tirelessly toward a fair, comprehensive, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian question, Fu said.

In a scenic attraction of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, "tiger urine" is available for purchase at 50 yuan ($6.87) per bottle, accompanied by claims of therapeutic benefits for rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions. 

However, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) expert said that tiger urine is not a recognized traditional remedy, and its efficacy remains unsubstantiated, according to The Paper on Wednesday. 

The claimed benefits of this tiger urine allegedly include relief for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, external wind-damp arthritis pain, and injuries from falls. The recommended method of application involves combining it with white liquor and applying it to affected areas with ginger slices, said the report. Customers are advised to discontinue use if they experience any allergic reactions from internal consumption.

The selling location of this tiger urine is a wildlife park within the Bifeng Gorge Scenic Area in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, a nationally designated 5A-level tourist destination, said the report.

Relevant personnel said that the tiger urine being sold is collected directly from the tigers themselves, by collecting it in basins before bottling for sale. The park asserted that the tiger urine meets necessary qualifications, and as long as there is a business license with operating permission, it can be sold.

The staff mentioned that the sales volume is generally average, with sometimes one or two bottles sold in a day, while at other times, none are sold at all.

"I don't know of how long the tiger urine had been sold," the staff said. However, The Paper found that in 2014, the scenic area had introduced the "tiger urine" from the Siberian tiger as a unique offering on its WeChat account and had used it as a prize for winning celebrities in outdoor reality show games.

A TCM expert who asked to remain anonymous said that tiger urine lacks recognition as a traditional medicine, and offers no proven therapeutic benefits. While tiger bone can indeed treat rheumatism, it remains a prohibited substance, said the report. Regarding the claimed efficacy, the expert noted that such assertions lack rationality.

Expert also said that the scenic area is not qualified to sell such products, as all medications require approval from government regulatory authorities before they can be used by patients.

After a decade, the retrial of Zhang Zhengbo, dubbed as China's "Breaking Bad," in Wuhan has resulted in a revised verdict. In December 2024, the Hubei High People's Court issued a retrial judgment, sentencing Zhang to 15 years in prison for the crimes of smuggling, trafficking, transporting, and manufacturing drugs. 

This case has spanned 10 years, undergone five trials, and experienced two revisions of the verdict. The latest retrial judgment reflects a dual change in both the charges and the sentence, underscoring China's consistent stance and position on drug prohibition.

Zhang, a former associate professor and doctoral tutor at a Chinese university, was arrested on June 17, 2015, for developing, producing and selling new psychoactive substances. 

In 2005, Zhang and several others established a company named Wuhan Kaimen Chemical Co, Ltd. According to the judgment, the company's products involved include 3,4-methylenedioxy methcathinone and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, which were sold overseas. In 2014, these products were classified as a controlled substance by China. After 2014, Zhang's accomplices Yang Zhaohui and others continued to produce the aforementioned products and smuggled and sold them overseas.

In June 2015, the Wuhan and Hubei authorities cracked a drug trafficking case involving Zhang and others, which was supervised by the Ministry of Public Security. 

In April 2017, the Wuhan Intermediate People's Court sentenced the four defendants under the crimes of smuggling, trafficking, transporting and manufacturing drugs, with Zhang receiving a life sentence. 

In May 2018, the Hubei High People's Court ordered a retrial. In June 2019, during the retrial, the Wuhan Intermediate People's Court reduced the sentences for all four defendants, with Zhang being sentenced to 15 years in prison.

In May 2023, the Hubei High People's Court made a second ruling, changed the conviction of Zhang for illegal business operations and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, further reducing his sentence. 

This substantial reversal of the trial result attracted widespread media attention. Some media outlets reported with headlines like "Wuhan 'Breaking Bad.' Case Final Ruling 'Detoxified.'

The Hubei High People's Court's judgment stated that the products involved in the case are a type of controlled psychoactive substance, possessing dual attributes. The evidence in the case could not prove that these psychoactive substances had entered the drug market, and all the defendants were not found guilty of drug smuggling, trafficking, transportation or manufacturing.

In December 2024, the Hubei High People's Court issued a retrial judgment, changing Zhang's conviction to the crimes of smuggling, trafficking, transporting, and manufacturing drugs, and modifying his sentence to 15 years in prison, achieving a "double modification" of both the charge and the sentence.

Hu Yaoxian, a senior prosecutor at China's Supreme People's Procuratorate, told the Global Times that the case, after multiple hearings, reflects the principles of rigor and caution in the judiciary. "Judicial proceedings are a process of reconstructing past case facts using evidence. Matters such as the acceptance of evidence, fact determination and legal application need to reach consensus through litigation procedures, reflecting objectivity and fairness, and achieving a unity of political, legal, and social effects in judicial handling."

The second ruling confused the concepts of drugs and pharmaceuticals, conflating the violation of drug management order with the disruption of market order, the Global Times learned.

The chemical products that Zhang and others manufactured and sold are classified as controlled narcotic drugs in China. These types of drugs are known as new psychoactive substances, and substances like fentanyl fall into this category.

In China, the term "drugs" is defined by law as "narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that are regulated by the state and have the potential to lead to addiction." However, "narcotic drugs" and "psychotropic substances" are legal terms used to collectively refer to these regulated substances, rather than classifications of medications, Hu said, noting that many of these substances do not possess the fundamental legal characteristics of medications.

Controlled narcotics must navigate channels regulated by national laws, and their illegal use constitutes drug abuse. Hu noted that, from a broad perspective, one could argue that all psychoactive substances possess a certain "medicinal value" that influences psychological processes such as thinking, emotions, will and behavior. 

However, this understanding lacks legal and regulatory significance, often leading to confusion and serving as a potential excuse for sophistry or evasion of legal responsibility. The evidence cited in the second-instance judgment of Zhang's case, which stated that "the evidence on file cannot prove that the overseas buyer purchased the psychoactive drugs for medical purposes or that they entered the drug market," exemplifies these confounding factors.

In addition, the new psychoactive substances often evade regulation by cleverly altering the chemical structures of controlled drugs. This manipulation allows them to maintain, and in some cases even amplify, their addictive properties. According to Hu, the dangers posed by these "new" psychoactive substances can be staggering - potentially dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times more harmful than traditional drugs.

Hu emphasizes that the absence of legal classification for these substances does not equate to a lack of harm. Instead, it underscores a significant lag in regulatory frameworks that struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of drug chemistry. 

The re-trial of Zhang's case is a case in point. The defendants were found to be producing new psychoactive substances with the intent to sidestep legal repercussions and maximize profits. Even after the authorities moved to regulate these products, the defendants persisted in their manufacture and sale, ultimately facing legal consequences.

This situation raises critical questions about accountability and awareness. The defendant's actions suggest a clear understanding of the addictive and toxic nature of these substances, even before they were officially classified as drugs. A real challenge lies not just in regulation, but in addressing the underlying motivations that drive individuals to exploit these legal gaps for profit.

Zhang's case spanned a decade, encompassing five trials and two retrials. Yu Haibin, a deputy director general of the Narcotics Control Bureau at the Ministry of Public Security, told the Global Times that this case underscores China's determination and actions in combating drug crimes. "China has historically suffered greatly from the harms of drugs, which gives us a profound understanding and resolute attitude toward drug issues, particularly concerning new psychoactive substances and other novel drugs," Yu stated.

He noted that China became the first country in the world to officially classify fentanyl-related substances as a distinct category and is committed to contributing to global drug control efforts. Yu emphasized that China's role as a major player in drug control is evident not only in its stringent domestic prohibition measures but also in its extensive cooperation and collaborative responses with the international community. 

He expressed China's willingness to strengthen drug control partnerships with countries worldwide to jointly combat transnational drug crimes and protect the global community from the dangers of drugs.