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Overshadowed by the recent rift over US President Joe Biden's blocking of Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel, top US diplomat Antony Blinken kicked off a visit to Japan on Tuesday, while claiming that the alliance between the two countries is stronger than ever.

Some Chinese observers interpreted Blinken's visit to Japan as having limited practical significance, viewing it more as a symbolic gesture seeking to assure Tokyo that their alliance remains robust even after the next administration assumes office. However, this reassurance is surrounded by uncertainties, they said.   

"I think one of the things that he [Biden] and we are proudest of is the strength of this relationship, of this partnership, of this allyship. And I believe it's actually stronger than it's ever been," Blinken said, ahead of his talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, according to a press release by the US department of state on Tuesday.

On January 3, US President Joe Biden blocked the $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, according to Reuters. The AFP cited business groups as saying that "the decision could have a chilling effect on Japan's standing as the biggest foreign investor in the US." 

Nippon Steel Corp and US Steel Corp, according to Japan's Kyodo News, on Monday filed two lawsuits seeking to protect their merger plan from "illegal and improper political and anticompetitive interference" after it was blocked by US President Joe Biden last week.

The announcement came as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned of potential repercussions from Biden's decision for the close business ties between the two countries, and urged a detailed explanation of the Biden's reasoning for barring the $14.1 billion deal, which he said creates a national security risk, the report said. 

"I will strongly urge the US government to respond toward dispelling [the concerns]," the Japanese Prime Minister said during his first press conference of the year on Monday.

Iwaya and Blinken held a working lunch for about 90 minutes on Tuesday, and "the two ministers concurred on continuing working closely together to further uphold and bolster the Japan-US relationship, which has become stronger than ever," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a press release. 

Biden's blocking of the merger has cast a shadow over US-Japan relations, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "Although the decision primarily focused on economic issues, such as mutual investment and trade cooperation between the US and Japan, it also reflects some doubts about the US' open policies and free trade system. 

These doubts could indeed affect Japanese companies' enthusiasm for investing in the US and might even spread concerns about US investments to other countries."

Commenting on Blinken's emphases on the diplomatic and political legacy of the outgoing Biden administration during the Japan visit, Da said Tuesday that "there is an evident element of political stunt for publicity purposes." 

While the US-Japan alliance and US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation in the domain of security have grown stronger in the Biden presidency, the real question is how these cooperation mechanisms will evolve in the next US administration. Blinken's outlook might be somewhat idealistic, as both countries will need to contend with the uncertainties in the next US administration, he said. 

"Blinken's visit is mainly aimed at reassuring and consolidating alliances. Both Japan and South Korea have concerns about the US, particularly fearing significant changes in the US' alliance policy, affecting the stability of the strategic cooperation," said Lu Hao, Director of the Strategic Studies Department at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Tokyo "is concerned that the next administration could put a break on momentum for improving the alliance by slapping high tariffs on Japanese imports or again pressuring Japan to cough up more cash for hosting US troops," the Japan Times reported on Tuesday. 

In addition, friction between Japan and the US over steel acquisition case has impacted Japan's strategic perception of the US, affecting strategic trust between the two countries and amplifying Japan's unease, Lu said.

Panama said on Tuesday that the sovereignty of its interoceanic canal was non-negotiable, while Denmark said Greenland is not for sale, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic coercion to gain control over relevant regions. 

US President-elect said on the same day that he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a name he said has a "beautiful ring to it," according to the AP, noting it's his latest suggestion to redraw the map of the Western Hemisphere.

Trump's suggestion on Tuesday that the United States might reclaim the Panama Canal — potentially by force — unsettled Panamanians, who used to live with the presence of the US military in the canal zone and were invaded by American forces once before, the New York Times reported.

'Unsettling' intent

Panama's foreign minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, made his country's position clear at a news conference hours after the American president-elect mused aloud about retaking the canal, which the United States built but turned over to Panama in the late 1990s.

"The sovereignty of our canal is nonnegotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest," Martínez-Acha said. "Let it be clear: The canal belongs to the Panamanians and it will continue to be that way," according to the New York Times.

Asked at a press conference at his Florida resort whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security," according to Reuters.

Trump also suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to purchase Greenland, which he said is vital to US national security. Shortly before Trump's comments, his son arrived in Greenland for a visit, according to Reuters.

When asked about Trump Jr's visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish TV that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" and that only the local population could determine their future. She agreed that "Greenland is not for sale", but stressed Denmark needed close cooperation with the US, a NATO ally, according to BBC.

The Danish king has shocked some historians by changing the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands - in what has also been seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump, Guardian reported Monday. In his first new year speech, the king said: "We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig - which is even situated outside the kingdom - and all the way to Greenland. We belong together."

Trump Jr arrived in snowy Greenland on Tuesday on his father's Trump Force One private plane, the latest sign of the president-elect's desire to take ownership of the vast Arctic island. But if the Danish king's latest move is anything to go by, the United States has a fight on its hands, said a report by NBC News.

In addition to Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump has set his eyes on Canada multiple of times. Trump reacted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation in a Truth Social post on Tuesday stating "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned." 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday dismissed a suggestion by Trump that he might use "economic force" to make Canada the 51st US state. "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States," he said in a post on X.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford countered President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the Union - by making an offer to purchase two American states at a press conference, New York Post reported. "To the president, I'll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? And we'll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?" Ford said. "You know, it's not realistic," according to the report. 

Global order 'deeply interrupted' 

Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "Trump aspires to leave a legacy as a president who made a unique contribution to the US, and now it's hard for him to make big changes in terms of both internal reform or foreign affairs, but seizing more territories for the US could be an option, aligning with his 'America First' ideology and appealing to his penchant for bold, attention-grabbing actions."

Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada possess significant strategic value, but the problem is the US has no sovereign disputes with relevant countries or regions, and if the new US administration tries to annex these lands with military or economic approaches, this would set a dangerous precedent for the world's sole superpower to disregard international laws and norms, Diao noted. "This would be extremely unfair for the countries like Denmark, Panama and Canada, and the global order and the international system would be deeply interrupted and fall into greater chaos."

Earlier, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory's capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.

"Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland," Trump wrote. "The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"

Responding to reports which said a staff member in the First People's Hospital of Datong in North China's Shanxi Province is suspected of participating in the sale of an infant, the Datong city government has established a joint investigation group and will deal with the violations of law and discipline seriously in accordance with the law, according to CCTV News on Thursday.

Surnamed Wang, the chief obstetrician at the First People's Hospital of Datong, is suspected of facilitating infant trafficking, reported The Beijing News on Thursday morning.

In 2022, Wang allegedly acted as an intermediary in the trafficking of an infant. In May 2022, a 15-year-old girl's baby was sold to a couple. The girl used the buyer's identity for hospital admission process.

Wang also revealed that the infant trafficking case was uncovered during a police investigation into a murder involving the ex-boyfriend of the 15-year-old girl.

According to the prosecutor's non-prosecution decision, the buyer paid 68,000 yuan ($9,000) for the baby, of which 41,000 yuan was given to the seller's mother through an intermediary. Wang's actions were classified as forging official documents, and prosecutors decided not to pursue charges, citing the minor nature of the crime.

The first group of 3,226 doctoral candidates has been selected for a two-year government-backed project to support promising young scientists, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) announced on Saturday.

The candidates will receive specialized training aimed at broadening their academic perspectives, enhancing academic experience and accelerating their academic growth. The support period is set from January 2025 to December 2026.

According to CAST, the project primarily targets the doctoral candidates under the age of 30 in natural sciences, engineering, agricultural sciences and medicine from universities and research institutions.

Academic funding will be allocated for the selected candidates to participate in high-level academic conferences, publish high-quality research papers and engage in overseas study exchanges.

CAST will provide up to 40,000 yuan (5,565 U.S. dollars) in financial support for each candidate.

CAST will also help the selected candidates to become student members of national academies for free and participate in major domestic and international academic conferences, while outstanding candidates will be offered additional opportunities to learn from established professionals to enhance their overall capabilities.

In addition, the selected candidates will be given assistant positions at high-level academic conferences, and domestic and international academic organizations, as well as assistant editorial roles in academic journals.   

This involvement will assist them in staying updated on cutting-edge research developments and engaging deeply in academic exchanges.

From 2025 onward, the initiative plans to gradually expand its support to approximately 10,000 candidates annually, accounting for over 15 percent of doctoral graduates in related disciplines each year in China. 

An exhibition featuring Chang’e-5 lunar samples has been open to the public at the Beijing Planetarium since Saturday afternoon. In addition to 0.6 grams of lunar soil brought back by Chang’e-5, the display also includes Moon rocks collected by Apollo 17 and meteorites from Northwest Africa, offering valuable insights into the Moon’s formation and evolution, according to CCTV News.

In December 2020, the Chang’e-5 mission successfully returned lunar soil samples from the Moon, leading to the beginning of scientific research on these samples. With the continuous rise of national scientific and technological strength and comprehensive national power, China has become the third country in the world to successfully bring back lunar samples, marking a milestone in both China's and humanity's history of lunar exploration.

The exhibition focuses on the lunar samples retrieved by Chang’e-5. The core exhibits of the exhibition are lunar soil samples of varying particle sizes, presented from multiple perspectives to offer the public an unprecedented interactive experience.
A total of 0.6 grams of lunar soil is displayed. The exhibition also showcases other highly valuable lunar samples, including Moon rock collected by Apollo 17 and lunar meteorites from Northwest Africa. These lunar materials, obtained at different times and through various methods, have provided scientists with diverse perspectives for studying the Moon’s formation and evolution.

The exhibition showcases the lunar soil using robotic arms, large-diameter hemispherical lenses, stereomicroscopes, XCT scanning, and three-dimensional digital reconstruction technology, allowing the public to observe the lunar soil up close through microscopes and explored its true state.

The exhibition also introduces the “Chang’e stone,” a new mineral discovered and named from the Chang’e-5 lunar samples. This is the first new lunar mineral discovered by Chinese scientists and the sixth overall discovered by humanity. China became the third country in the world to identify a new mineral on the Moon.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday morning attended a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is present at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, where the events are being held.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Hanoi on Thursday. Dong and his delegation attended a grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between the military forces of China and Vietnam. An analyst reached by the Global Times said that the positive interactions between the two militaries show a high level of political mutual trust, which has positive significance for jointly maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Lam said that Vietnam and China are socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Vietnam cherishes China's valuable support in the cause of national liberation, national independence and socialist construction in Vietnam, and takes developing friendly relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy. 

Lam expressed the hope that the two militaries will strengthen practical cooperation and inject new vitality into the development of bilateral relations. 

The Chinese side cherishes the traditional friendship between the two parties, the two countries and the two militaries, and stands ready to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by top leaders of both parties and countries, deepen practical cooperation with the Vietnamese side in various areas including maritime security, enhance strategic mutual trust between both militaries, promote the constant development of bilateral relations and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Dong said. 

Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries. From October 24 to 26, Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Vietnam at the invitation of the Vietnamese side, where he held talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang. They conducted in-depth exchanges of views on international and regional situations as well as bilateral military relations, and witnessed the signing of relevant agreements to strengthen defense cooperation.

On August 20, China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun met with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang in Beijing. 

From April 11 to 12, China and Vietnam held the eighth border defense friendship exchange in Hekou county, Yunnan Province in Southwest China, and Lao Cai of Vietnam, as well as relevant port areas. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang led delegations attending the event and held talks. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a hotline between the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command and the Vietnamese navy, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

Lam highly praised Dong Jun's visit with the delegation, emphasizing that strengthening defense and security cooperation is one of the cornerstones of the bilateral relationship and a concrete manifestation of the consensus at the leadership level of both countries.

Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that since the beginning of this year, the positive interactions between the two militaries have demonstrated a high level of political mutual trust, and have shown the regional and international community that China and Vietnam are capable of effectively managing and addressing maritime differences, jointly maintaining regional peace and stability.

"In the current international environment of increasing uncertainty, China-Vietnam cooperation serves as a stabilizer. The military and security cooperation between China and Vietnam is not aimed at any third party," Ding Duo said. 

China's first Institute of Weather Modification has been officially established in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The new institution aims to cultivate high-level professionals to enhance the role of weather modification amid climate change, the director of the institute told the Global Times on Thursday.

The institute, established at Chengdu University of Information Technology, is dedicated to talent cultivation for weather modification, said Yang Dingyu, the director of the institute, adding that this will enhance the role of weather modification in addressing climate change, ensuring national food security, improving the environment, and promoting socioeconomic development. 

This bachelor's degree program in meteorological technology and engineering, with a specialization in weather modification, is the first undergraduate program in China to focus on talent development in this field, Yang introduced.

Yang added that the major was established in 2023 with an intake of 80 students. The program offers courses in subjects such as meteorological physics, cloud precipitation physics, and meteorological big data and artificial intelligence.

In recent years, with the increasing impact of meteorology on transportation, agriculture, tourism, energy, and ecosystems, the role of weather modification has become more prominent, Yang added.

Under reasonable conditions, weather modification can fully utilize climate resources to achieve goals such as increasing rainfall and snowfall, preventing hail, dispersing rain, dissipating fog, and preventing frost, Yang said, adding that it is an effective means for disaster prevention and reduction, as well as for the development of aerial cloud water resources.

Currently, the weather modification industry still needs to further improve in terms of operational accuracy, efficiency, and scientific management, and there is a clear lack of technological talent, so it is necessary to strengthen basic scientific research and talent cultivation in areas such as cloud microphysics, new catalysts, and operational equipment technology, Yang said.

The institute has established a faculty team with impressive research and teaching capabilities, including over 10 experts from the China Meteorological Administration and various provincial meteorological bureaus serving as adjunct professors, according to media outlet Sichuan Guancha.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide, leading to significant repercussions for both human society and ecosystems, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

According to a report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on Monday, some 77.6 percent of Earth's land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period.

At 10:00 am on Friday, the people of Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, observed a moment of silence, and sirens were heard across the city as China held a memorial ceremony to mourn the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre. This is the 11th national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

China's national flag was flown at half-mast in front of the crowd, which included survivors of the massacre, local students and international friends. As the sirens began to blare, drivers in the downtown area stopped their vehicles and honked in unison, while pedestrians paused to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims.

Over 80 young people recited a declaration of peace, and citizen representatives struck the Bell of Peace. In a poignant symbol of hope, white doves were released, soaring over the square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

In 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place during Japanese occupation on December 13, 1937. The Japanese invaders brutally killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in over six weeks, marking one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.

Since last year's national memorial day, six survivors of the massacre have passed away, leaving only 32 registered survivors still alive today. 

The Chinese government has preserved the testimonies of these survivors through written documents and video recordings. In 2015, these records were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, ensuring that this harrowing chapter of history is remembered by future generations, as reported by Xinhua. 

The national commemoration for Nanjing Massacre victims serves to remind us to not forget history and to pass on the message of peace to future generations, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday. 

It is essential to convey an accurate historical narrative to ensure that the facts are recognized in the international community, Da said. This is particularly important in light of certain ultra-right wing factions in Japan, who deny the massacre ever happened, Da added.

The purpose of remembering history is not to perpetuate hatred. Rather, our aim is to learn from history, and such an approach contributes to an objective understanding of history, promotes education for peace and ensures that the right narratives are passed on, Da added.

The former site of the headquarters of Unit 731, the notorious Japanese germ-warfare detachment during World War II in Northeast China's Harbin, was reopened to the public on Friday, and a special exhibition of historical artifacts and documents on the bacterial warfare of the Japanese army was also launched. Since the winter of 2023, the exhibition hall of Evidences of Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army has received more than 3.5 million visitor trips, according to Xinhua.

China can play a bridging role between the Global South and the Global North, Yang Xuedong, director of the Department of Political Sciences at Tsinghua University, said at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," held in Beijing on Saturday. 

Speaking during a session on "The Resurgence of the Awakening of the Global South: Mutual Learning and Resonance," Yang noted that the concept of the Global South has evolved from an intellectual and political imagination into a social cognition.

According to the expert, a defining characteristic of the Global South is its high degree of diversity in political, economic, and cultural aspects, but this diversity creates vulnerabilities, posing challenges to collective action. 

Furthermore, the modernization of the Global South is globally interconnected. This interdependence, once being weaponized, risks mutual harm and challenges the future development of Global South countries. 

Yang noted that China should leverage the development achievements and experiences accumulated over the past four decades to find its own suitable role. He believes that China can be an advocate for a new agenda within the global system, to find out which agendas in the development of the Global South countries need to be given more attention by the international community. 

Additionally, Yang pointed out that China's integration into the global system fosters strong connections, making China be able to connect the Global South with the Global North. This is precisely determined by China's position in the global landscape.