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.
A 14-year-old middle school student from Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province, built a Newtonian telescope from discarded plastic pipes, parts of a drum set, and other materials, all for just 70 yuan ($9.6), enabling clear observation of the moon's surface, domestic news site china.com reported.
The student, named Ma Junhe, dreamed of exploring the moon from a young age. After learning about telescope construction during a physics practical class, he decided to construct his own astronomical telescope.
With limited pocket money at his disposal, he could only afford to buy the lenses online, while the other components had to be crafted using waste materials and repurposed items. For example, the telescope tube was made from a discarded plastic pipe, and the mount came from parts of his personal drum set.
Following over a dozen failed attempts, he succeeded in constructing a Newtonian telescope capable of clearly viewing the moon's surface, all at a cost of just 70 yuan ($9.6).
Ma said that the moment he saw the craters on the moon's surface, it felt like his dream had come true, and he now aspires to visit the moon someday.
“That's incredible! The teacher only wanted him to see the FU Tower, an attraction in Zhengzhou, but Ma ended up seeing the moon's craters," Ma’s classmates said admirably, according to the report.
Although Ma failed more than a dozen times before succeeding, he remained persistent and never found the process dull, "because I'm exploring what I love," Ma said.
A police dog recently attracted people's attention on China's social media for being criticized for wrongdoing in weekly reports by the training base for four consecutive weeks.
Its misconducts included incidents such as instigating fights and urinating on fellow dogs' beds, according to the WeChat account of the Yunnan Provincial Public Security Bureau in Southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday.
"I feel so embarrassed at the base because of 110's bad behavior," joked 110's handler, referring to the consecutive reports.
The dog is named "110," because it was born on the eve of January 10, 2024, China's Police Day, and 110 is the emergency number in Chinese mainland.
The report urged 110 and its handlers to pay close attention, correct their attitudes and quickly make improvements, so that they could enter the new year's work with a refreshed state of mind.
Despite its mischievous tendencies, 110 takes its work seriously. Thanks to its sharp hearing and sense of smell, it is consistently the first to respond when the police siren blares, which has become its special skill.
In response to a media inquiry on whether China is considering providing specific assistance to the people suffering from the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that severe wildfires occurred recently in Los Angeles area of the US, we express our condolences to the victims and extend our sympathies to the injured and the families of those affected.
In recent years, China and Pakistan have been enjoying high level, pragmatic naval cooperation. In addition to joint exercises and training operations such as the Sea Guardian series bilateral exercises and AMAN series multinational exercises, the two countries have also carried out cooperation in military equipment such projects involving Type 054A/P guided missile frigates and Hangor-class submarines.
The Pakistan Navy is planning to host the AMAN-25 multinational exercise in early February in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi. Ahead of the exercise, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has participated in all previous editions of AMAN exercises, and he expects that PLA Navy will participate in AMAN-25 and is looking forward to hosting PLA Navy leadership during the AMAN dialogue. AMAN exercises deepen collaboration
Ashraf told the Global Times that the main objective of AMAN is to foster regional cooperation for the maintenance of good order at sea, improving interoperability, share experiences, understand each other, and exhibit united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the maritime domain.
He said that the Pakistan Navy is fully prepared and geared up to conduct AMAN-25 with enhanced participation of friendly countries in a professional and befitting manner.
It is worth noting that the previous edition of the exercise held in February 2023, which witnessed the participation from 50 countries across the globe. "Keeping the same spirit, we are hopeful that this edition will also mark a distinctive chapter in history of AMAN exercises with enhanced participation of friendly countries," Ashraf said.
Ashraf revealed that the maiden AMAN Dialogue will be held in tandem with AMAN-25. "The AMAN Dialogue aims to promote understanding in maritime security issues, finding ways to enhance cooperation at sea, and discussing security linked to the blue economy."
"We have been honored by the regular participation of PLA Navy in all previous editions of AMAN exercises," Ashraf said, noting that this has added highlights to the exercise and is a reflection of the two countries' common resolve to come together for peace and security in the region. "Similarly, we expect that the PLA Navy will actively participate in AMAN-25 also with suitable representation. As I have mentioned earlier as well, the maiden AMAN Dialogue will also be conducted concurrently with Exercise AMAN. So, we are also looking forward to hosting PLA Navy leadership during the dialogue," he said.
Official Chinese media releases previously reported that the PLA Navy flotilla's participation in the AMAN exercises further promoted the PLA Navy's maritime exchanges and cooperation with other participating navies, showing the determination to jointly safeguard maritime security, and boosted the capability in jointly dealing with maritime security threats.
Fruitful naval cooperation Aside from the AMAN series exercises hosted by the Pakistan Navy, China and Pakistan also regularly hold the Sea Guardian bilateral naval drills. The China-Pakistan Sea Guardian-3 maritime joint exercise was held in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea from November 11 to 17, 2023. In 2020 and 2022, the two countries held the Sea Guardian 2020 and Sea Guardian-2 joint exercises in northern Arabian Sea waters and waters and airspace near Shanghai respectively. The Sea Guardian joint exercises aim to enhance security cooperation between the two sides, consolidate all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and boost the level of combat-oriented training of the two militaries.
Speaking about the achievements the two sides have made from the Sea Guardian series drills, Ashraf said that Pakistan Navy-PLA Navy relations are a reflection of Pakistan-China strategic ties, which includes participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises. In this regard, the Sea Guardian series of exercises amply fulfil the objectives of fostering interoperability and sharing professional experiences to deal with contemporary traditional and non-traditional threats in the Indian Ocean region.
Ashraf introduced the Sea Guardian-3 exercise in detail. He said that the Pakistan Navy units along with PLA Navy frigates, submarine, and aviation units participated in the exercise. The evolution at sea included joint maneuvers, anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine drills. They "provided a useful opportunity to strengthen bilateral naval cooperation and enhance interoperability between two navies. Moreover, we expect that scope of the exercise will gradually increase in coming editions."
In addition, as an important part of the China-Pakistan naval cooperation, all four Type 054A/P frigates built by China have been delivered to the Pakistan Navy. In May 2023, two Type 054A/P frigates built by China for the Pakistan Navy were delivered, marking that all four Type 054A/Ps ordered by the Pakistan Navy have been commissioned. The Type 054A/P is one of the latest multi-role frigates of Chinese origin, equipped with the state-of-the-art weapons and sensors that include CM-302 surface-to-surface missiles and LY-80 surface-to-air missiles, as well as an Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare suite and Combat Management System, enabling ships of this class to operate under multi-threat scenarios.
Ashraf spoke highly of these four ships. He said that the acquisition of Type 054 A/P is a symbol of enduring friendship and historical affinity between Pakistan and China. Type 054 A/P ships are equipped to operate under multi-threat scenarios and have been fully integrated into Pakistan Navy operations. "The induction of Type 054 A/P frigates in the Pakistan Navy Fleet has bolstered our war fighting capabilities, enhanced operational flexibility, and these ships will remain the mainstay of Pakistan Navy Fleet in coming years."
Moreover, according to a photo provided by the Pakistan Navy, the PNS Zulfiquar, an F-22P guided missile frigate China built for the Pakistan Navy, conducted Operation Himalayan Spirit in the North Arabian Sea in October 2024. The Pakistan Navy seized 1.3 tons of narcotics during the operation.
Other than cooperation in terms of surface vessels, another key project in the China-Pakistan naval cooperation is the joint construction of eight Hangor-class submarines. This type of submarine is equipped with the latest weapons and sensors. With air independent propulsion (AIP) system onboard, the submarine has significantly enhanced submerged endurance capabilities.
According to open reports, Pakistan signed a contract with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015, with the first four to be constructed by China and the other four to be assembled by Pakistan, so as to improve Pakistan's technical capabilities. The plan is that Pakistan will obtain the eight advanced submarines between 2022 and 2028. In December 2021, the fifth Hangor-class conventional submarine, also the first one built in Pakistan, officially received a steel cutting ceremony. It marked Pakistan's gaining of the building technology of the world's top-class modern submarine.
Open reports also showed that the first Hangor-class conventional submarine was launched in China in April 2024. In response to the questions "When is the first boat scheduled to enter service, and how is the progress for the four boats being built in Pakistan," Ashraf said that the Hangor-class submarines will significantly enhance Pakistan's naval capabilities. These submarines will provide improved stealth, maneuverability and firepower, allowing our Navy to execute a wide range of operations effectively. "The project is proceeding as per the timeline. We expect that these submarines will join the Pakistan Navy fleet very soon," Ashraf said.
New fields to be explored Talking about the future of Pakistan-China naval cooperation, Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy and the PLA Navy enjoys a historically strong deep-rooted bilateral relationship. Close collaboration between the two navies exists across multiple domains including acquisition of platforms, equipment, bilateral exercises, technical cooperation, Navy-to-Navy (N2N) Expert Level Staff Talks, training collaboration, exchange visits, and port calls.
According to the admiral, the prospects for future cooperation between the Pakistani and Chinese navies are very broad. "I believe that there is no shortage of avenues for the broadening of our mutual engagements and we are looking forward to establishing long term collaboration in the domains of artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber, and space."
According to a photo provided by the Pakistan Navy, Ashraf visited a shipyard in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province in April 2024 and met with the shipyard's representatives during the launching ceremony of the first Hangor-class submarine of the Pakistan Navy.
When asked about his visit to China in April 2024, Ashraf said that he interacted with the PLA Navy leadership, and has found PLA Navy leadership to be highly professional and cordial. "I have no doubt that the PLA Navy is on the way to becoming one of the finest and leading navies in days to come. Moreover, I also believe that with the focused approach of the leadership on both sides, our relations will continue to expand further in times to come."
India is continuously expanding and modernizing its naval fleet and also commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier in 2022. In response to the questions, "How has the naval build up might affect regional maritime balance of power, and does the Pakistan Navy plan to eventually operate an aircraft carrier as well," Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy is a balanced force, which is capable of responding to a full spectrum of conflicts and is optimized to the evolving character of warfare, rehearsed to perform in time-sensitive situations and remains combat ready. Manned by competent human resources, integrated through network-centric warfare, and with a right balance between manned and unmanned assets, our fleet is capable of dealing with diverse maritime challenges.
"While India continues to build its navy, we are not in an arms race. However, we maintain an adequate capacity to accomplish assigned tasks effectively," Ashraf stressed.
A number of foreign hacker organizations have been utilizing malicious websites and overseas IP addresses to execute cyberattacks targeting China and other nations, according to China's national cybersecurity and information security notification center on Monday.
These malicious websites and IPs are linked to specific Trojan programs or their control endpoints. The types of cyberattacks include establishing botnets, phishing, stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, and infringing on citizens' personal information, presenting a serious risk to domestic networks and internet users in China, according to the center in a statement. Some of these activities are suspected to constitute criminal offenses, the center noted.
The revelation of this batch of cyberattacks is just the tip of the iceberg, as such incidents have become increasingly common in our digital world. These attacks often target critical information infrastructure, Qin An, deputy director of the expert committee on counter-terrorism and cyber security governance at the China Society of Police Law, told the Global Times on Monday.
The locations of the relevant malicious websites and IPs mainly involve the US, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, Mexico, Vietnam, and others, according to the center.
Of the 10 listed malicious websites and IP addresses, two were traced to the US.
The malicious address gael2024.kozow.com, associated with the IP address 149.28.98.229 located in Miami, Florida, is linked to a family of backdoor viruses known as AsyncRAT, according to the statement by the center.
The backdoor programs are able to carry out screen monitoring, keystroke logging, password retrieval, file theft, process management, camera control and interactive shell access. They can also visit specific URLs.
These viruses can spread through various means, such as removable storage devices and phishing emails. Several related variants have been identified, some of which specifically target critical interconnected systems in the public welfare sector within China, the center said.
Another malicious address located in Los Angeles is linked to multiple samples of the RemCos virus family. RemCos, a remote management tool that has been in existence since 2016, allows attackers to exploit backdoor access on infected systems to gather sensitive information and exert remote control, according to the statement.
The latest version of RemCos is capable of executing a range of malicious activities, including keylogging, taking screenshots and stealing passwords, it added.
These tactics such as Trojan horses, hacking, ransomware and phishing techniques are some of the conventional methods of the US to target a wide range of countries. China is among the victims of these cyberattacks, Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Monday.
In 2022, the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province - well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies - was found to have been attacked by the US' National Security Agency (NSA), the Global Times learned from a source.
Of the 10 malicious addresses, three were traced back to the Netherlands. The center said it detected a type of Linux botnet virus that spreads through methods such as network downloads, exploiting vulnerabilities and brute-force attacks via Telnet and SSH. Once it successfully infiltrates a target network system, it can launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Two malicious addresses were identified from Singapore. Multiple samples of the Farfli virus family were detected. Farfli is a remote-control Trojan that can spread through various methods, including network downloads, software bundling and phishing.
Ensuring cybersecurity is a global challenge. China is a major victim of cyberattacks and has always opposed and fought various types of cyberattacks in accordance with the law, experts said.
Relentless smears
Recently, the US has ramped up smear against China on cybersecurity issues.
The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company on Friday, claiming it helped Chinese hackers infiltrate US telecommunication system and conduct surveillance.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that on the so-called issue of cyberattacks, China has made clear our position more than once. China has all along firmly opposed hacking and fights it in accordance with law.
China urged the US to stop using the issue of cybersecurity to vilify and smear China. For quite some time, the US has been trumpeting so-called "Chinese hacking" and even using it to impose illegal and unilateral sanctions on China, Guo said.
China firmly rejects this and will do what is necessary to safeguard our lawful rights and interests, Guo noted.
Titled "How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons," the Wall Street Journal in a Saturday report sensationally accused Chinese hackers of being able to "shut down dozens of US ports, power grids and other infrastructure targets at will."
The US has long propagated a series of unfounded accusations against China and cybersecurity has recently become a focus. The US sees cyberspace as a crucial dimension in the overall competition between with China, therefore it seeks to preserve its hegemony in this regard and cannot accept China's development, Li noted.
Hyping so-called cybersecurity threat from China would also benefit certain US governmental agencies which want to secure more funding, Li said.
Some think thanks and firms in sectors of artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing also favor such a narrative to get projects from the US government, he further explained.
