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France’s New Restitution Law: When Will China’s Lost Treasures Come Home?

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France’s New Restitution Law: When Will China’s Lost Treasures Come Home?

In November 1861, the French Romantic writer Victor Hugo expressed his hope that one day a liberated and cleansed France would return to China the treasures that had been looted from it in his famous Letter to Captain Butler Concerning the Anglo-French Expedition to China. In the letter, Hugo bitterly denounced the Anglo-French forces as bandits who had looted the Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, and expressed his profound sorrow over the destruction.

More than 160 years later, Hugo’s wish has finally received an echo. On April 13, 2026, the French National Assembly unanimously passed, with 170 votes in favor, the Bill on the Restitution of Cultural Property Dispossessed through Illicit Appropriation.

For Chinese national treasures that have remained in France for generations, the prospect of returning home has finally begun to emerge, sparking widespread discussion both in China and abroad.

People hope that the bill will help deliver a long-delayed measure of justice and, at last, ease some of the pain left by one of the darkest episodes in the history of human civilization. Among the greatest concerns is the possible return of cultural treasures looted from the Yuanmingyuan.

Once praised highly by intellectuals such as Voltaire and Victor Hugo, the Yuanmingyuan was reduced to ruins during the looting and burning that accompanied the Second Opium War. Its destruction remains a painful memory for all humanity and, above all, a profound wound in the history of the Chinese nation.

In 1743, during the eighth year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign in the Qing dynasty, the French Jesuit missionary Jean-Denis Attiret, whose Chinese name was Wang Zhicheng (王致诚), mentioned in a letter to a French friend the extraordinary beauty of the Yuanmingyuan. The garden subsequently became famous in Europe as a “Garden of Gardens,” or Yuanmingyuan, and its fame also helped make it an object of fascination and a tempting target for European colonial powers.

During the Second Opium War, at around 7 p.m. on October 6, 1860, French troops appeared at the Yuanmingyuan’s western gardens. General Charles Cousin-Montauban, commander of the French expeditionary force, established his headquarters there. The looting began almost immediately and soon became uncontrollable.

British troops arrived the following day. When they discovered that the French had already begun taking the treasures, they rushed to catch up with their French allies in the plunder.

For two days, more than 20,000 invading troops rampaged through the Yuanmingyuan, taking bronze vessels, enamelware, imperial jade objects, and countless other treasures. Among the objects looted were a gilt-bronze Buddhist stupa, the unique copy of the Forty Views of the Yuanmingyuan, a cloisonné-enamel qilin, a golden mandala set, and the armor worn by the Qianlong Emperor for the Grand Review of the Troops.

By conservative estimates, the Yuanmingyuan contained more than one million cultural objects, not to mention the countless works of art embodied in its furnishings and everyday imperial possessions.

After the looting, on October 18, 1860, the invading forces set fire to the Yuanmingyuan. In a matter of days, a magnificent complex once regarded as a wonder of the world was reduced to ruins. The troops selected the most precious objects as gifts for Queen Victoria of Britain and Emperor Napoleon III of France, while the rest were left for soldiers of the allied forces to divide among themselves.

Three years later, Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, ordered the construction of a Chinese Museum at the Palace of Fontainebleau in France specifically to house objects brought back from China, including treasures looted from the Yuanmingyuan.

Among them was a cloisonné-enamel qilin, originally housed at the Yuanmingyuan. It was later taken to France and placed at the Palace of Fontainebleau, where it has since disappeared.

Another important object is the Forty Views of the Yuanmingyuan. Commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor and painted by court artists including Shen Yuan and Tang Dai, the work consists of forty paintings depicting the principal scenic and architectural complexes of the Yuanmingyuan at the height of its glory. The unique surviving album is of extraordinary importance to the study of Chinese garden and architectural history. Its disappearance overseas represents a profound loss to China’s cultural heritage.

For many years afterward, Chinese people did not even have adequate visual materials with which to reconstruct what the Yuanmingyuan had actually looked like. In 1928, the Commercial Press published Forty Leaves of the Yuanmingyuan, allowing Chinese readers to see photographic reproductions of the original Forty Views of the Yuanmingyuan.

In more recent years, the National Library of France made high-resolution digital files of Poems on the Forty Views of the Yuanmingyuan available to the public. In 2025, the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China completed a digital reconstruction of the forty scenic views, giving people an opportunity to glimpse the splendor of the “Garden of Gardens” as it once existed.

The destruction of the Yuanmingyuan remains heartbreaking. Yet it was only the beginning of a much broader history of the large-scale and sustained loss of Chinese cultural heritage to France and other countries overseas.

In 1900, during the Boxer Uprising and the Eight-Nation Alliance intervention in China, French troops once again looted sites including the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, taking imperial seals, ancient bronze vessels, imperial porcelain, paintings and calligraphic works, and other treasures. Large numbers of Chinese cultural objects consequently entered French collections.

Unlike the violent plunder carried out during wartime, however, the actions of the French sinologist Paul Pelliot in 1908 were conducted under the guise of scholarly exploration. He acquired thousands of manuscripts and artworks from the Dunhuang Library Cave, often through purchases at prices that were grossly disproportionate to their historical value.

Beginning in 1906, Pelliot’s expedition spent years conducting what was presented as archaeological and scholarly exploration in Central Asia, visiting places including Kashgar, Tumshuq, Kucha, and Ürümqi, and collecting large numbers of artifacts and manuscripts dating from the Tang dynasty and earlier periods.

In February 1908, Pelliot arrived at Dunhuang and met Wang Yuanlu, the Daoist monk who had accidentally discovered the hidden library cave several years earlier. After paying Wang 500 silver taels, Pelliot gained access to the cave, a secluded chamber that had remained unknown for centuries and contained tens of thousands of precious manuscripts.

Over the following days, Pelliot carefully selected and packed large numbers of manuscripts, paintings, and documents. The materials were of extraordinary historical and linguistic value. They included texts in Khotanese, Sogdian, Old Turkic, Old Uyghur, Brahmi, Tocharian, and Tibetan, among other languages and scripts.

Pelliot ultimately took thousands of manuscripts and paintings back to France. His expedition collected more than 6,000 manuscripts and paintings from the Dunhuang caves. The surviving records of the BnF show that the Pelliot collection includes documents in numerous languages and scripts, and that the manuscripts were brought to the National Library of France in the early twentieth century.

Today, many of these treasures are held by the National Library of France (BnF) and the Guimet Museum in Paris. The BnF describes its Dunhuang collection as containing manuscripts dating from before the beginning of the eleventh century, discovered in Cave 17 of the Mogao Caves and brought to France by Pelliot’s expedition. For China, the dispersal of the Dunhuang manuscripts became a deep and lasting cultural wound.

These manuscripts and artifacts provide some of the most direct surviving evidence of the plural and interconnected character of Chinese civilization. Once dispersed across different countries and collections, however, they can no longer be understood as part of a complete historical whole. A coherent record of civilization risks being fragmented into isolated objects presented merely as “exotic treasures” or “fragments of an Eastern civilization.”

The manuscripts from the Dunhuang Library Cave are particularly important. Had they remained together, they could have helped fill numerous gaps in our understanding of Chinese and Central Asian history. Once separated, however, the loss of individual documents can leave significant gaps in historical and academic research.

Since the 1980s, Chinese scholars have devoted themselves to the systematic study of Dunhuang Studies and Turpan Studies, driven by a strong sense of academic and cultural responsibility. One of their goals has been to change the long-standing situation summed up by the phrase: “Dunhuang is in China, but Dunhuang studies are abroad.”

The ancient Tibetan manuscripts from Dunhuang are a particularly important example. They are among the oldest surviving Tibetan manuscripts known today. Their contents include Buddhist scriptures, historical works, contracts, administrative documents, and legal texts. They constitute invaluable sources for the study of the history and culture of the Tibetan Empire and provide vivid historical evidence of the interactions, exchanges, and integration among different peoples.

Since 2005, over the course of two decades, Northwest Minzu University and Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, in cooperation with the British Library and the National Library of France, have completed the cataloguing and publication of the Tibetan manuscripts from Dunhuang and the Western Regions held in British and French collections.

The resulting publications have brought these scattered treasures back to China in another sense: not physically, but through high-resolution reproductions and systematic scholarly editions, allowing Chinese researchers and the public to study manuscripts that have been separated from their homeland for more than a century.

The BnF itself now actively cooperates with Chinese institutions on Dunhuang collections and digital preservation. Its International Dunhuang Programme and France-China digital heritage projects have made many of these manuscripts and artworks accessible to researchers around the world.

The French Cultural Restitution Bill, by abolishing the rigid principle that objects belonging to France’s public collections are ordinarily inalienable, and by requiring the government to publish annually a list of cultural objects suspected of having been acquired illegally, could provide a new institutional basis for the restitution of cultural property.

If implemented effectively, such a mechanism could help advance the principle that cultural objects unlawfully removed from their countries of origin should ultimately be returned. It could also provide a model for the recovery of the millions of Chinese cultural objects that have been dispersed around the world.

The return of these treasures would not merely fill gaps in museum collections. It would help restore the continuity of historical narratives and reconnect broken lines of cultural transmission.

Source: neac gov cn, cgtn, xinhua, sohu

Printing Rice Seeds: How a Simple Sheet of Paper Is Changing Rice Farming in China

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Printing Rice Seeds: How a Simple Sheet of Paper Is Changing Rice Farming in China

A thin sheet of paper moves slowly through a machine. Moments later, rows of rice seeds appear on its surface, each one fixed at a carefully measured position. It looks like a printing process, but this is happening in a rice nursery.

Known in China as “printing sowing,” the technology is being tested and adopted in several rice-growing regions, from the vast black-soil fields of Heilongjiang in the northeast to the double-cropping rice areas of Jiangxi and the modern agricultural cooperatives of Shanghai. By precisely positioning seeds on biodegradable nursery paper, the technology is helping farmers reduce seed use, save labor and produce stronger seedlings.

It is a small change at the beginning of the production chain, but one that reflects a much larger transformation in Chinese agriculture, from farming based largely on experience to farming increasingly driven by precision equipment, data and intelligent management.

The principle behind printing sowing is relatively simple. Inside a precision machine, small dots of plant-based adhesive are placed on biodegradable nursery paper at predetermined intervals. Rice seeds are then released onto the paper. One or two seeds adhere to each glue point, while excess seeds are removed through vibration and screening. The seeds are thus arranged in neat rows and at controlled distances before the paper is rolled up for storage or transportation.

When the paper is later laid onto seedling trays or nursery beds and watered, it softens and allows the seeds to germinate. As the seedlings grow, the paper gradually decomposes.

The technology addresses a long-standing problem in conventional rice nurseries: uneven sowing. In traditional mechanized planting, some holes in a seedling tray may contain several seeds, while others contain none. Crowded seedlings compete for nutrients, light and space, often resulting in weak stems and poorly developed roots. Too few seeds, meanwhile, can reduce the number of effective seedlings.

Precision positioning changes that equation. By controlling both the number and location of seeds, farmers can create more uniform growing conditions from the very beginning.

The economic benefits are also attracting attention.

At the Qixing branch of Beidahuang Agricultural Holdings in Heilongjiang, printing sowing has become part of an increasingly automated rice nursery system. Local agricultural officials say the method can reduce seed consumption by about 20 percent compared with conventional tray-based nurseries. A single printing-sowing machine can produce enough nursery paper for roughly 55 to 60 mu of rice fields in about an hour. One mu is approximately 0.067 hectares.

In Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, a farmers’ cooperative in Shuyuan Town has also introduced the technology. According to the cooperative, precision printing sowing can save more than 30 percent of rice seed in some applications, while reducing labor requirements. The printed paper can also be mechanically laid onto seedling trays, with soil covering carried out in the same process.

For large-scale farming, such savings can quickly add up. In Jiangxi Province, this technology offers another advantage: time. Rice farmers in southern China often face a particularly demanding agricultural calendar. During the summer “double-rush” season, early rice must be harvested and late rice planted within a narrow window. If seedlings remain in trays for too long, they can become overgrown and weak, reducing their ability to recover after transplanting.

In July 2025, at a rice nursery center in Wanzai County, Jiangxi, farmers were preparing seedlings for late-season rice using printing sowing. Company manager Chang Chuiming said printed nursery paper could be rolled into cylinders and stored until needed, giving farmers greater flexibility in scheduling their work.

Field trials were encouraging. Farmers who participated in a 100-mu trial reported that the seedlings were stronger and recovered after transplanting about five days earlier than conventional seedlings. 

The nursery paper itself is another part of the innovation. In different applications, bamboo fiber and other plant-based biodegradable materials are used to make the paper, while starch-based and other plant-derived adhesives hold the seeds in place. Once exposed to water and the growing environment, the paper gradually breaks down. This combination of precision sowing and biodegradable materials gives the technology an environmental dimension as well as an economic one.

At Qixing in Heilongjiang, however, printing sowing is only one element of a much broader agricultural transformation. The local intelligent nursery facilities connect soil filling, precision sowing, covering, watering and tray transportation through automated systems. Robotic arms move trays, automated forklifts transport them, and environmental control systems regulate temperature and humidity. In 2025, one intelligent nursery factory produced 260,000 trays of seedlings in 14 days, enough to serve about 8,000 mu of rice fields.

Other technologies are also entering the fields. Intelligent inspection robots equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence can monitor seedlings and identify potential diseases. Sensors collect environmental data, while automated systems help adjust growing conditions. Unmanned agricultural machinery guided by China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system is increasingly being used for field operations.

Together, these technologies are changing what farming looks like. The farmer is no longer relying solely on visual judgment to decide how much seed to use, when to irrigate or where to operate machinery. Increasingly, those decisions can be supported by sensors, algorithms and automated equipment.

Yet printing sowing is not a universal solution that can simply be copied from one region to another. China’s rice-growing areas differ widely in climate, varieties, cultivation systems and production scales. Heilongjiang’s vast mechanized farms have different priorities from Jiangxi’s double-cropping rice fields, while Shanghai’s agricultural cooperatives face different labor and cost pressures.

The technology therefore remains a work in progress, requiring further adaptation to local varieties, nursery systems, transplanting machinery and cultivation practices. Still, its significance lies in what it represents.

Source: nyncw sh gov cn, hlj gov cn, paper, china jsj, xinhua, cyol

China’s Shipbuilding Industry Leads the World with Strong Growth in Scale, Technology, and Green Transformation

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China’s Shipbuilding Industry Leads the World with Strong Growth in Scale, Technology, and Green Transformation

According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China’s shipbuilding industry maintained its global leadership in the first quarter of 2026, ranking first worldwide in three key indicators: completed shipbuilding output, new orders, and order backlog. 

During the first quarter of 2026, China completed 15.68 million deadweight tons (DWT) of shipbuilding, representing a year-on-year increase of 46.0%, with export vessels accounting for 96.1% of total output. 

New orders reached 59.53 million DWT, soaring by 195.2% compared with the same period last year, while the order backlog stood at 322.30 million DWT as of the end of March, up 43.6% year on year. 

China accounted for 57.3% of global completed shipbuilding output, 84.9% of new orders, and 69.8% of the global order backlog. Among the world’s 18 major ship types, China ranked first in new orders for 15 categories. 

In particular, Chinese shipbuilders secured more than 90% of the global market share for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), large car carriers, bulk carriers, and container ships with capacities exceeding 10,000 TEUs. Some major shipyards have already secured production schedules extending three years into the future, demonstrating strong long-term market confidence.

China’s sustained global competitiveness is underpinned by its comprehensive and highly integrated industrial supply chain. At a shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, a new Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility has entered the module installation phase, where intelligent welding robots perform high-precision steel welding on automated production lines. 

Through digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing, the company not only broke the long-standing international monopoly in FLNG construction but also achieved a record-breaking completion time of just 33 months, setting a new industry benchmark. 

From steel plates and pipes to cryogenic valves, marine engines, and advanced equipment, China has established a complete industrial ecosystem that covers research and development, raw materials, component manufacturing, ship assembly, and final delivery. This integrated supply chain enables shipbuilders to respond quickly and efficiently to global market demand while maintaining cost competitiveness.

Wan Zhe, Professor of Economics at Beijing Normal University, noted that China possesses the world’s most comprehensive shipbuilding industrial system. Major industrial clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Rim have created highly efficient regional supply chains, allowing manufacturers to shorten production cycles and improve delivery efficiency. Meanwhile, continuous progress in domestic production of high-end marine equipment, including marine engines, boilers, gas supply systems, specialized steel, and LNG fueling systems, has significantly enhanced the resilience and security of China’s shipbuilding supply chain while reducing dependence on imported technologies.

Digitalization and intelligent manufacturing have become another major driving force behind the industry’s competitiveness. Leading Chinese shipbuilders have widely adopted Model-Based Definition (MBD), digital twin technology, and intelligent production lines throughout the entire shipbuilding process, from design and manufacturing to operation and maintenance. 

At Jiangnan Shipyard, digital shipbuilding technologies have reduced the construction period for a 20,000-TEU container ship from approximately 28 months to just 16 months. At Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) can now be completed in around 180 days, while labor productivity has increased by about 20% compared with five years ago. 

In addition, intelligent vessels such as the Dongfang Zhihui optimize sailing speed automatically, reducing energy consumption by more than 10%. Digital twin technologies also enable lifecycle management of ships, transforming Chinese shipbuilders from traditional manufacturers into providers of integrated digital and low-carbon maritime solutions.

Green and low-carbon development has emerged as a new growth engine for China’s shipbuilding industry. In the first quarter of 2026, China captured 80.2% of the global market for new green ship orders, including LNG-, LPG-, methanol-, and ethane-powered dual-fuel vessels, as well as fully electric ships. 

A series of domestically developed green vessels have recently been delivered, including the “Kun” series 15,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, the “Tianshan” 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier, and the “Innovation 19,” China’s first river-sea bulk carrier powered entirely by methanol. The “Kun” series is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 120,000 tons annually, while the “Innovation 19” cuts carbon emissions by 90% and nearly eliminates sulfur oxide emissions. These achievements demonstrate China’s rapid transition from technological innovation to the large-scale commercial deployment of environmentally friendly vessels.

According to Professor Wan, China’s early investment in alternative-fuel technologies, including methanol, LNG, battery-electric, and ammonia-powered ships, has enabled its shipbuilders to capitalize on the accelerating global transition toward decarbonized shipping. 

As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) pursues its target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping around 2050, and as the European Union continues to strengthen maritime carbon regulations, global demand for low-carbon vessels is expected to grow rapidly. Leveraging its technological capabilities and comprehensive industrial ecosystem, China is well positioned to become a leading supplier of next-generation green ships. 

Moreover, China is actively contributing to international maritime standards by promoting green methanol within the IMO framework and exporting integrated solutions that combine technology, infrastructure, and technical standards, further strengthening its influence in global maritime governance.

China has also continued to expand its presence in the high-end vessel market. In recent years, Chinese shipbuilders have successfully delivered some of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced vessels, including 24,000-TEU ultra-large container ships, 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers, the world’s largest shallow-draft LNG carrier, advanced offshore wind installation vessels, floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs), and deep-sea aquaculture equipment. The successful delivery and commercial operation of Adora Magic City, China’s first domestically built large cruise ship, marked another milestone, demonstrating that China has established full-spectrum shipbuilding capabilities covering virtually every major category of commercial and offshore vessels.

Particularly noteworthy is China’s rapid progress in LNG carrier construction, a sector that was once dominated by South Korean shipbuilders. The number of domestic supporting enterprises involved in LNG shipbuilding has increased from just over 20 to more than 130, significantly improving localization rates, strengthening supply chain security, and enhancing China’s competitiveness in one of the world’s most technologically demanding ship segments.

China’s customer base has also become increasingly diversified. Orders from leading European shipowners, including companies from Greece and Switzerland, have continued to rise, reflecting growing international confidence in the quality, reliability, and delivery capability of Chinese shipyards. With continuous advances in innovation, intelligent manufacturing, and green technologies, Chinese shipbuilders are evolving from followers into global leaders in the maritime industry.

As the global shipbuilding market enters a new cycle of recovery and expansion, China’s advantages in industrial integration, manufacturing efficiency, technological innovation, and sustainable development are becoming increasingly evident. By fostering high-quality development through digitalization, green transformation, and advanced manufacturing, China is expected to maintain its leading position across all three major shipbuilding indicators while making an even greater contribution to the future of global shipping and the broader world economy.

Source: news cn, hk01, guancha, xinhua, china daily

Vietnam’s Expanding Diplomatic Chessboard: Balancing China, India, and the Indo-Pacific

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Vietnam’s Expanding Diplomatic Chessboard: Balancing China, India, and the Indo-Pacific

Since the conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Hanoi’s diplomatic tempo has accelerated noticeably. Shortly after wrapping up his visit to China, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Tô Lâm embarked on a trip to India, with Sri Lanka as a second stop. 

Newly appointed Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng chose the Philippines for his diplomatic debut, attending the ASEAN Summit, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi selected Vietnam as the second destination of her first overseas tour after forming her new cabinet, underscoring the continued expansion of Japan–Vietnam cooperation in both economic and security affairs.

Viewed individually, these are routine diplomatic engagements. Taken together, however, they reveal a broader strategic pattern: Vietnam is steadily constructing a diplomatic framework that spans the wider Indo-Pacific.

Tô Lâm’s visit to India coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Vietnam–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, giving the trip particular symbolic and strategic significance. For years, Vietnam–India ties were often interpreted either as a continuation of traditional friendship or through India’s own “Act East” strategy, in which Vietnam occupied an important position. Today, however, the relationship has evolved far beyond those earlier perceptions.

Cooperation now extends across virtually every major sector, including political dialogue, defense and security, trade and investment, connectivity, high technology, and people-to-people exchanges. From Hanoi’s perspective, India has become the centerpiece of its westward diplomatic strategy and its gateway to the Indian Ocean. 

India’s strategic location, growing defense capabilities, expanding consumer market, and technological potential complement Vietnam’s own priorities of strengthening maritime security, diversifying export markets, upgrading industrial capacity, and reducing dependence on any single external partner amid the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains.

During the visit, the two countries elevated their relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides pledged to deepen political trust through more frequent high-level exchanges and to make fuller use of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms. 

Defense and security remain one of the pillars of the relationship, with commitments to expand cooperation in defense industry, maritime security, cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism. 

They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force. Economically, the two governments reaffirmed their ambition of reaching US$25 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, reducing trade barriers, encouraging higher-quality two-way investment, and making science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation key drivers of future cooperation.

Taken together, these outcomes demonstrate that Vietnam’s India policy is no longer primarily diplomatic symbolism. Instead, Hanoi increasingly views its partnership with New Delhi as a practical means of enhancing national security, improving supply-chain resilience, and expanding strategic autonomy.

Sri Lanka, the less publicized stop on Tô Lâm’s itinerary, is equally significant. This marked the highest-level Vietnamese visit to the island nation in more than half a century of diplomatic relations. Although relatively small in size, Sri Lanka occupies a strategic position along one of the world’s busiest maritime routes in the Indian Ocean. 

For Vietnam, whose economy depends heavily on maritime trade, stronger ties with Colombo contribute to securing sea lines of communication, protecting energy transport routes, and expanding access to markets beyond Southeast Asia. During the visit, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in politics, defense, trade, connectivity, agriculture, and tourism, further strengthening Vietnam’s strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean.

Seen in a broader context, Tô Lâm’s diplomacy reflects an increasingly coherent strategic vision. As great-power competition intensifies and global supply chains continue to evolve, Vietnam’s overriding objective is neither to choose sides nor simply to cultivate as many partners as possible. Rather, Hanoi seeks to maximize its strategic room for maneuver by maintaining diversified relationships with all major powers while avoiding excessive dependence on any single country. Preserving strategic autonomy remains the central organizing principle of Vietnam’s foreign policy.

This logic is evident in the sequencing of Vietnam’s recent diplomatic initiatives. Tô Lâm chose China for his first overseas visit after assuming office and has repeatedly described relations with Beijing as Vietnam’s foremost foreign policy priority, signaling Hanoi’s intention to preserve stable ties with its largest neighbor. 

At the same time, Vietnam has continued to strengthen industrial and security cooperation with Japan, expand strategic engagement with India, and reinforce ASEAN-centered multilateral diplomacy. Together, these moves suggest an evolution of Vietnam’s well-known “bamboo diplomacy.” 

Whereas the concept once emphasized flexibility and balance amid great-power rivalry, it has increasingly become a more proactive strategy. Hanoi now seeks to stabilize relations with China, deepen cooperation with Japan and other partners, strengthen ASEAN centrality, and expand its engagement westward toward India, all while avoiding formal alignment with any competing bloc and maximizing its own national interests.

From China’s perspective, Vietnam’s expanding diplomatic network should not be interpreted as a weakening of bilateral relations. Rather, it reflects Hanoi’s long-standing commitment to an independent and diversified foreign policy. Beijing therefore has every reason to respond with strategic confidence rather than zero-sum thinking.

China should continue to respect Vietnam’s independent foreign policy while maintaining long-term strategic patience. High-level political guidance should remain the foundation of bilateral ties, with sustained implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and continued progress in building the China–Vietnam community with a shared future. Existing mechanisms, including the “3+3” strategic dialogue, should be further utilized to consolidate political trust, maintain border stability, and deepen practical cooperation.

Economic integration should remain another priority. As China’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and China’s biggest trading partner in Southeast Asia, Vietnam occupies a unique position in bilateral economic relations. Expanding cooperation in cross-border infrastructure, manufacturing supply chains, the digital economy, and green development would further strengthen mutual interests and enhance the resilience of the bilateral relationship.

Meanwhile, maritime differences in the South China Sea should continue to be managed prudently through dialogue and existing bilateral mechanisms, preventing disputes from undermining the broader relationship. Practical cooperation in fisheries management, maritime law enforcement, and confidence-building measures can help preserve regional stability while reducing the risk of miscalculation.

Finally, China should continue to make full use of ASEAN-led regional platforms, accelerate negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and promote deeper China–ASEAN economic integration. By strengthening regional institutions and expanding shared economic interests, both China and Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, can reinforce a stable regional order that is less vulnerable to external geopolitical rivalry and better positioned to support long-term peace, development, and prosperity.

Source: nyyjtx, guancha, politicaltheory hcma vn, reuters

From “Great Unity” to “Pluralistic Unity”: Why Has Chinese Civilization Endured and Flourished?

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From “Great Unity” to “Pluralistic Unity”: Why Has Chinese Civilization Endured and Flourished?

Amid profound changes in the international landscape, a nation’s enduring vitality and capacity for renewal are ultimately rooted in the depth of its civilization. Throughout human history, Chinese civilization stands as the only major civilization that has continued uninterrupted for more than five thousand years. 

Across centuries of transformation, social change, and external challenges, it has maintained remarkable resilience and vitality. This ability to endure through time provides an important key to understanding China’s historical development and its contemporary trajectory.

In recent years, discussions surrounding civilization, views of civilization, civilizational states, and comparisons between Chinese and Western civilizations have attracted increasing attention in both academic circles and public discourse. 

From the perspective of the theory of the “civilizational state,” contemporary China is characterized by several distinctive features, including an exceptionally long historical tradition, a vast population, a broad territorial scale, and profound cultural accumulation. 

Among these characteristics, the continuity of Chinese civilization over thousands of years is particularly significant. Why has Chinese civilization been able to survive and thrive throughout history? What underlying forces have sustained its continuity? The answers can be found in the unique structure and internal logic of Chinese civilization itself.

The first foundation of Chinese civilization’s longevity lies in its broad and inclusive character. From its earliest formation, Chinese civilization developed across a vast geographical space and within a diverse human environment. The concept of “extensive territory and a large population” not only describes the scale of ancient Chinese society but also reflects the expansive nature of Chinese civilization.

The greatness of Chinese civilization does not come from a single religious foundation, a singular mode of production, or a uniform way of life. Rather, it is built upon diversity, inclusiveness, and richness. 

Ancient Chinese civilization was primarily based on agricultural civilization while also incorporating grassland nomadic traditions, mountain and forest cultures, commercial traditions, and maritime cultures. Through interaction and integration among these different elements, it developed into a complex civilization that combined unity with diversity.

In the modern era, Chinese civilization has continued to absorb new forms of human development, including industrial civilization, information civilization, ecological civilization, and technological civilization. These interactions have expanded the scale and vitality of Chinese civilization, allowing it to continuously adapt to new historical conditions.

The breadth of Chinese civilization is also reflected in the evolution of its intellectual and cultural traditions. The “Hundred Schools of Thought” during the Warring States period established a foundation of intellectual diversity and openness. The exchange, competition, and integration among different schools of thought contributed to the formation of a profound Chinese intellectual tradition. 

Even after Confucianism became the dominant ideological framework of traditional Chinese society, it was not a closed or isolated system. Instead, it incorporated elements from Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, Buddhism, and other traditions, developing into a flexible and resilient cultural system.

In the history of human civilization, some smaller and more homogeneous civilizations declined or disappeared when faced with dramatic environmental changes or external pressures. 

Chinese civilization, however, has benefited from its internal diversity and vast capacity for adjustment. When confronted with crises, it has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to transform challenges into opportunities through adaptation, integration, and innovation. This resilience has allowed the continuity of its civilizational heritage.

Chinese civilization has endured not only because of its breadth, but also because of its ability to change and renew itself. The ancient Chinese wisdom that “when circumstances reach an extreme, change becomes necessary; through change, progress becomes possible; through progress, continuity can be achieved” reflects a deep understanding of transformation. The concept of “change” emphasized in the ancient classic The Book of Changes has long been central to Chinese thought.

Throughout Chinese history, processes of renewal and reform have appeared repeatedly. The principles of “discarding the old and creating the new,” “building upon tradition while innovating,” and “reviving the past through new interpretations” have shaped China’s historical development. 

The evolution of the Chinese concept of “great unity” provides a clear example. From the feudal structure of the Western Zhou dynasty, to the centralized administrative system established during the Qin and Han dynasties with shared systems of writing, transportation, and social norms, and later to the integrated multi-ethnic political order of the Tang, Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods, the idea of unity has continuously evolved in response to changing historical conditions. Today’s modern Chinese nation, characterized by “pluralistic unity,” represents a further development and transformation of this historical tradition.

Another important reason for the continuity of Chinese civilization is its identity as a learning-oriented civilization. Learning has never been regarded merely as an individual pursuit; it has also been understood as a driving force behind civilizational development. Chinese traditions have long emphasized the importance of education, lifelong learning, and the pursuit of knowledge. Learning, in this context, extends beyond books to include nature, society, practice, other cultures, and even lessons gained from difficulties and failures.

The history of Chinese civilization is also a history of cultural exchange and mutual learning. China experienced several major waves of learning from other civilizations. After the Eastern Han period, the introduction of Buddhism led to a long process of integration between Buddhist thought and Chinese culture. In the early twentieth century, China studied and absorbed Marxism, later developing forms adapted to Chinese historical conditions. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, China has extensively learned from the achievements of modern global civilization and promoted development through engagement with the wider world.

These historical experiences demonstrate that Chinese civilization’s openness has never meant simple imitation. Rather, it has involved maintaining cultural confidence while absorbing, transforming, and creating new ideas. This capacity for learning and innovation has enabled Chinese civilization to continuously renew itself.

Ultimately, the continuation of civilization depends on people. Chinese civilization has traditionally placed great emphasis on the role of individuals, believing that the strength of a civilization is reflected not only in its material achievements and institutions but also in the moral qualities and responsibilities of its people. Throughout history, scholars, officials, thinkers, and social leaders have played crucial roles in preserving and advancing Chinese civilization.

Whenever China faced major challenges or periods of crisis, generations of dedicated individuals emerged to protect cultural traditions, promote reform, and seek new paths forward. From the traditional scholar-official class to modern groups committed to national development and social progress, these figures have served as important carriers of China’s civilizational heritage.

The endurance of Chinese civilization for more than five thousand years is therefore rooted in a unique set of internal mechanisms: a broad and diverse civilizational structure, a spirit of innovation and adaptation, an openness to learning and exchange, and the continuous contribution of generations of people committed to carrying civilization forward.

Source: chinanow, xuexi, cgtn, xinhua

China’s New Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Are Powering the Future of the Low-Altitude Economy

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China’s New Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Are Powering the Future of the Low-Altitude Economy

For years, limited flight endurance has been one of the biggest obstacles to the widespread adoption of drones. Whether used for power line inspections, wildfire monitoring, emergency response, logistics, or low-altitude transportation, drones have been constrained by short flight times and slow energy replenishment. 

In May, however, two major technological breakthroughs from China offered new hope for overcoming this long-standing challenge. On May 6, the prestigious scientific journal Nature published a research paper by Professor Zhou Guangmin’s team from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School. The team introduced an innovative concept known as a “premediator,” a molecular design strategy that significantly improved the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. Their prototype pouch cell achieved an energy density of 549 Wh/kg, nearly twice that of today’s mainstream commercial lithium-ion batteries.

Just four days later, another milestone was announced. Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by Academician Chen Zhongwei and Associate Professor Zhang Meng, unveiled a high-specific-power air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell stack. The technology passed a national scientific evaluation with a specific power of 1,970 W/kg, placing it among the world’s leading fuel cell systems.

Although these two innovations follow different technological paths, they share the same objective: enabling drones to fly farther, operate longer, and support the rapid growth of the low-altitude economy.

For drones, the greatest limitation has never been the electric motor, it has always been the power source. One of the most important indicators of battery performance is energy density, which measures how much energy can be stored per unit of weight. Higher energy density allows an aircraft to remain airborne longer without increasing its payload.

Today’s commercial lithium-ion batteries typically achieve practical energy densities between 250 and 300 Wh/kg. After decades of development, this technology is approaching its theoretical limits, making further improvements increasingly difficult.

As a result, researchers have turned their attention to lithium-sulfur batteries, which are widely regarded as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage technologies.

Sulfur is abundant, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. In theory, lithium-sulfur batteries can store far more energy than conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, commercial development has been hindered by a major challenge known as the “shuttle effect.”

During battery discharge, sulfur is converted into intermediate compounds called polysulfides. These compounds tend to dissolve into the electrolyte and migrate between the battery’s electrodes, causing the gradual loss of active materials. As a result, battery capacity declines rapidly over repeated charging and discharging cycles.

Scientists around the world have spent more than a decade trying to suppress this phenomenon. Previous approaches focused on physically blocking the migration of polysulfides or chemically trapping them. While these methods achieved partial success, they often compromised energy density, battery weight, or long-term stability.

Professor Zhou’s team adopted a fundamentally different strategy.

Instead of attempting to block the polysulfides, they designed a special molecular structure called a premediator. This molecule remains chemically inactive during normal operation but is activated only when it encounters polysulfides inside the battery. Once activated, it performs two critical functions simultaneously: it confines the polysulfides near the cathode to reduce material loss while accelerating electrochemical reactions to improve energy conversion efficiency.

To identify the optimal molecular design, the researchers combined quantum chemical simulations with machine learning to screen nearly 200 candidate structures. The resulting battery maintained excellent cycling stability while achieving an energy density of 549 Wh/kg under practical testing conditions that closely resemble real-world applications.

The significance of this achievement extends beyond a new laboratory record. It represents an important step toward making lithium-sulfur batteries commercially viable for drones, electric vehicles, and future aerospace applications.

While lithium-sulfur batteries focus on storing more energy, hydrogen fuel cells offer another solution: supplying power continuously for much longer periods. The newly developed air-cooled fuel cell stack from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics delivers a specific power of 1,970 W/kg, meaning that every kilogram of the system can continuously produce nearly two kilowatts of power, approximately 60 percent higher than the performance of mainstream commercial air-cooled fuel cells.

Often described as the “heart” of a hydrogen-powered drone, the fuel cell stack generates electricity through the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike liquid-cooled systems, an air-cooled design dissipates heat using ambient air, eliminating pumps, coolant, and complex piping. This makes the system lighter, simpler, and particularly suitable for weight-sensitive platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles.

Most industrial drones today can remain airborne for only 30 to 40 minutes before returning for battery replacement or recharging. Hydrogen-powered drones, by contrast, can operate for around two hours, while replacing a hydrogen cylinder takes only a few minutes instead of hours of charging. This dramatically improves operational efficiency for applications such as power grid inspection, pipeline monitoring, forest protection, and emergency rescue.

China has also made significant progress in hydrogen-powered aviation. 

The hydrogen-powered composite-wing drone Qing’ou-30B, developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology Chongqing Research Institute, has demonstrated flight endurance of up to 12 hours. Meanwhile, the AEP100 megawatt-class hydrogen turboprop engine has successfully completed flight testing, marking another important step toward large-scale hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Rather than competing with each other, lithium-sulfur batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are expected to serve complementary roles.

High-energy-density batteries are well suited for consumer drones, light industrial aircraft, and future electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, where minimizing weight is essential. Hydrogen fuel cells, on the other hand, are better suited for long-endurance missions, heavy payload transportation, and continuous industrial operations requiring rapid refueling.

Together, these technologies are expanding the possibilities of the low-altitude economy. Of course, challenges remain before either technology can achieve widespread commercialization. Lithium-sulfur batteries must further improve manufacturing consistency, long-term durability, and safety. Hydrogen-powered systems still require broader hydrogen infrastructure, safer storage technologies, and lower life-cycle costs.

Nevertheless, the direction is becoming increasingly clear. As drone delivery, aerial inspection, urban air mobility, and advanced logistics continue to develop, energy systems will remain the foundation of future aviation. Breakthroughs in both lithium-sulfur batteries and hydrogen fuel cells demonstrate China’s growing capabilities in next-generation aerospace power technologies.

As these innovations move from research laboratories to commercial deployment, the long-standing endurance limitations of drones may finally become a challenge of the past, paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and connected low-altitude future.

Source: xinhua, gepote, sciencenet, tsinghua, sina, sohu

China to Accelerate the Development of the Space Computing Industry Ecosystem

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China to Accelerate the Development of the Space Computing Industry Ecosystem

As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, global demand for computing power is growing exponentially. Traditional ground-based data centers are increasingly constrained by high energy consumption, limited land resources, cooling challenges, and geographical coverage limitations. 

Against this backdrop, deploying computing capabilities into space and building space-based computing networks has emerged as a new frontier in global technological competition. Companies in the United States, including those exploring AI-enabled satellites and space data centers, are accelerating their efforts to establish a foothold in this emerging sector.

China has already begun large-scale exploration in space computing. In May 2025, Chinese aerospace company Guoxing Aerospace, in collaboration with Zhejiang Lab, successfully launched the world’s first space computing satellite constellation from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. 

The mission marked China’s transition from conceptual research to practical engineering implementation in space-based computing. The initial constellation consists of 12 computing satellites, with each satellite achieving a peak computing capability of 744 TOPS and the entire constellation reaching approximately 5 POPS of computing capacity. Equipped with an in-orbit artificial intelligence model, the system demonstrates the integration of “computing power in space, networked satellites, and AI models deployed in orbit.”

Space computing refers to the integration of computing, storage, and communication capabilities within orbital platforms. By combining satellite constellations, high-speed inter-satellite communication, and onboard intelligent processing systems, space computing enables real-time data processing, intelligent analysis, and autonomous decision-making directly in orbit.

One of the key drivers behind space computing is the growing difficulty of transmitting and processing massive volumes of satellite-generated data. As the number of satellites in orbit continues to increase, individual satellites can generate enormous amounts of data, while only a limited portion can be transmitted back to Earth due to communication bandwidth constraints, weather conditions, and transmission costs. 

By bringing computing capabilities into space, satellites can process and analyze data locally before sending critical information to the ground, transforming the traditional model from “collecting data in space and processing it on Earth” to “processing data directly in space.”

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has further intensified the demand for new computing infrastructure. Ground-based data centers require significant amounts of electricity and face increasing challenges in power supply, cooling efficiency, and physical space. In contrast, space offers abundant solar energy resources and vast deployment capacity, creating new opportunities for sustainable and globally distributed computing infrastructure.

China’s space computing industry has now moved beyond initial concept validation and entered a stage of technological demonstration and ecosystem development. Relying on independently developed intelligent satellite platforms, Chinese researchers have completed in-orbit verification of space computing systems and demonstrated the use of laser-based inter-satellite communication and distributed computing technologies to achieve efficient coordination among satellites.

Commercial applications are also beginning to emerge. In 2025, Guoxing Aerospace and industry partners conducted an in-orbit test involving a transportation AI model deployed on satellites. The system processed remote sensing images of the Pazhou area in Guangzhou, completing analysis and returning results within minutes while significantly reducing the need for ground-based data transmission. The project demonstrated the potential of space computing in practical scenarios such as intelligent transportation and remote sensing analysis.

At the policy and industrial level, China is accelerating efforts to cultivate a complete space computing ecosystem. Relevant authorities have initiated discussions on dedicated space intelligent computing constellations and are supporting research into key technologies, including radiation-resistant AI chips, high-speed laser communication, energy systems, thermal management, and computing standards. The development of space computing is expected to integrate multiple industries, including aerospace, telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

However, large-scale deployment of space computing still faces significant challenges. Space environments impose strict requirements on satellite reliability, radiation resistance, energy supply, and heat dissipation. High-performance computing hardware consumes substantial power and generates considerable heat, while satellites have limited space for cooling systems and energy generation. In addition, reducing launch costs remains a critical factor in achieving commercial scalability.

Industry experts believe that space computing must follow a gradual development path from experimental satellites to demonstration constellations and eventually large-scale networks. Instead of rapidly expanding physical infrastructure, the current priority should be breakthroughs in core technologies, industrial coordination, and standard development.

With continued advances in satellite manufacturing, commercial launch services, artificial intelligence hardware, and space communication technologies, space computing is expected to reach broader commercial adoption within the next five to ten years. As a strategic intersection of artificial intelligence, satellite internet, and aerospace technology, space computing could become a crucial component of future digital infrastructure.

China’s efforts to accelerate the development of the space computing ecosystem represent not only an attempt to overcome the limitations of traditional computing infrastructure but also a strategic move toward shaping the next generation of global computing networks.

Source: stdaily, kepuchina, people, sina, xinhua

Chinese Forensic Expert Zhang Mengting Solved a Criminal Case With a Drop of Mosquito Blood

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Chinese Forensic Expert Zhang Mengting Solved a Criminal Case With a Drop of Mosquito Blood

Inside a spotless forensic laboratory in Xiangyang, central China’s Hubei Province, DNA analyst Zhang Mengting works in full protective gear, carefully transferring tiny amounts of liquid into test tubes with unwavering precision. Every movement demands absolute accuracy, because in forensic DNA analysis, even the smallest mistake can have profound consequences.

Since joining the Criminal Investigation Division of the Xiangyang Public Security Bureau in 2019, Zhang has examined more than 16,400 biological samples without a single recorded error. Over the past six years, she has helped identify suspects in more than 320 major and difficult criminal cases, located 35 missing or trafficked individuals, and reunited 42 separated families. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the Hubei May Day Labor Medal in 2025.

According to Zhang, DNA analysis is a profession that leaves no room for error. Any mistake could not only derail a criminal investigation but also permanently damage a forensic scientist’s professional credibility. She believes that meticulous attention to detail, patience, and scientific rigor are essential for uncovering the truth hidden within microscopic biological evidence.

One of her most remarkable investigations began in August 2020, when a serious criminal case occurred in Gucheng County, Xiangyang.

The crime scene yielded few useful clues, and investigators struggled to identify the suspects. Following the suspects’ escape route, police discovered a makeshift shelter in a remote rural area where they were believed to have spent the night. The shelter contained almost nothing of evidentiary value except an old bamboo sleeping mat.

While others saw little hope, Zhang carefully examined the mat centimeter by centimeter. Hidden inside a narrow seam, she discovered an extremely small bloodstain measuring only about two millimeters across. After closer inspection, she concluded that it was most likely the remains of a mosquito that had been crushed after feeding on human blood.

Because mosquitoes retain freshly ingested human blood for a period of time after feeding, the insect itself can preserve valuable human DNA. Zhang brought the mosquito remains back to the laboratory, where she and her colleagues spent more than 50 hours extracting and analyzing the tiny amount of genetic material mixed with the dried blood.

Their efforts succeeded. The recovered DNA profile matched records in the national database and directly identified the suspect.

Only nine days after the crime, police tracked down and arrested two fugitives in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province. The case quickly attracted nationwide attention, with many Chinese internet users describing it as a real-life version of the forensic crime drama Forensic Heroes. The suspects had never imagined that a mosquito they casually swatted would ultimately become the key witness that led investigators directly to them.

For Zhang, however, the case simply illustrated a principle that guides all of her work. She believes that a single strand of hair, a drop of sweat, a tiny piece of skin, or any seemingly insignificant trace may become the key to revealing the truth. Physical evidence never presents itself voluntarily; only careful observation and painstaking examination can uncover the decisive clue hidden among countless insignificant details.

This philosophy has shaped many of her investigations. In 2024, a glass bottle thrown from a high-rise apartment building struck a parked car in Xiangcheng District of Xiangyang. The residential building contained more than 50 households, making a building-wide DNA collection impractical and extremely time-consuming.

Instead of requesting samples from every resident, Zhang extracted a male DNA profile from the shattered bottle and conducted further forensic analysis. By comparing the evidence with an existing local family DNA profile, she successfully narrowed the investigation and accurately identified the individual responsible for the high-altitude littering incident, saving investigators significant time and resources.

Beyond criminal investigations, Zhang has also used forensic genetics to reunite long-separated families. One particularly moving case involved a man surnamed Zhao, who had been abducted in 1974 at the age of three. His parents searched for him for decades without success. In 2017, his mother submitted a DNA sample to the national missing-person database, but because his father’s DNA was unavailable, investigators were unable to establish a complete genetic relationship.

In 2024, Zhang and her team adopted an innovative approach by analyzing DNA from Zhao’s biological brother to reconstruct the missing paternal genetic information. The reconstructed profile eventually led to a successful match, allowing Zhao to reunite with his family after nearly half a century apart.

By combining advanced forensic science with creative analytical methods, Zhang has helped return 35 missing or trafficked individuals to their families and brought closure to dozens of long-separated relatives.

The use of mosquito-derived DNA as forensic evidence was not unprecedented in China. In 2006, forensic expert Shen Gaofang helped solve the murder of a taxi driver in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, after investigators recovered a dead mosquito from a suspect’s residence. DNA extracted from the mosquito’s blood meal provided the crucial breakthrough that solved the case, and the investigation later became a classic teaching example within China’s criminal investigation system.

Similar cases have also appeared overseas. Finnish investigators once extracted human DNA from a blood-filled mosquito discovered inside a stolen vehicle and successfully identified a theft suspect through database comparison, demonstrating the growing capabilities of modern forensic science.

As DNA sequencing technologies become increasingly sensitive, even the smallest biological traces can provide decisive evidence. Hair, skin cells, sweat, blood, and even an ordinary mosquito may preserve the genetic information needed to solve a crime.

Working quietly behind laboratory doors, Zhang Mengting and countless other forensic scientists continue to transform silent traces into powerful evidence. Their meticulous work ensures that even the smallest fragment of biological material can help reveal the truth, bring criminals to justice, and reunite families separated for decades.

Source: sohu, 163, sina, cbgc scol, people

Chasing the Ripples of Space-Time: China Advances Toward the Frontiers of Gravitational Wave Detection

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Chasing the Ripples of Space-Time: China Advances Toward the Frontiers of Gravitational Wave Detection

If electromagnetic waves allow humanity to see the universe, gravitational waves allow us to hear it. More than a century after Albert Einstein predicted their existence in his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves have opened an entirely new window onto the cosmos. 

Today, as nations compete to unlock the secrets of the universe, China is steadily emerging as a major player in the global race for space-based gravitational wave detection.

China recently marked another significant milestone in its ambitious Taiji Program, the country’s space-based gravitational wave detection initiative. Researchers at the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully developed the first fully functional interferometric optical platform designed specifically for the Taiji mission and completed rigorous ground testing. 

The achievement represents an important step from laboratory research toward engineering implementation, laying a solid technological foundation for China’s future gravitational wave observatory in space.

At the heart of the breakthrough lies one of the world’s most demanding measurement challenges. The research team introduced an innovative three-dimensional optical architecture that physically separates heat-generating components from the laser beam path, greatly reducing thermal interference. 

Combined with advanced noise-reduction algorithms developed by the team, the system achieves picometer-level precision, capable of detecting changes on the order of one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair. Such extraordinary sensitivity satisfies the stringent requirements for future space-based laser ranging.

Often described as “ripples in space-time,” gravitational waves are generated whenever massive objects such as black holes or neutron stars accelerate or collide. Unlike light, they travel through the universe almost unaffected by dust, gas, or magnetic fields, carrying pristine information from the most violent events in cosmic history. For scientists, gravitational waves provide a completely new way to study the universe, offering insights into the formation of black holes, the evolution of galaxies, and even the earliest moments after the Big Bang.

In 2016, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves, capturing the signal produced by the merger of two black holes. The discovery confirmed Einstein’s century-old prediction and earned the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. However, ground-based detectors such as LIGO are sensitive mainly to high-frequency gravitational waves. Many of the most scientifically valuable signals, including those emitted by supermassive black holes and other large-scale astrophysical systems, exist at much lower frequencies and can only be observed from space.

Space-based gravitational wave observatories therefore represent the next frontier of gravitational-wave astronomy. Free from the seismic vibrations and environmental disturbances that limit ground observatories, satellites flying millions of kilometers apart can detect tiny changes in distance caused by passing gravitational waves. Such observations promise to reveal previously inaccessible phenomena and deepen humanity’s understanding of gravity, cosmic evolution, and the structure of the universe.

International competition in this field has become increasingly intense. The European Space Agency’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), scheduled for launch in the 2030s, will deploy three spacecraft separated by approximately five million kilometers to detect low-frequency gravitational waves. The United States has rejoined the project, making LISA one of the world’s most prominent international scientific collaborations.

China, meanwhile, has developed its own independent approach through the Taiji Program.

Proposed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Taiji mission envisions three spacecraft orbiting the Sun in an equilateral triangle with arm lengths of approximately three million kilometers. Highly stable laser interferometers will continuously measure minute variations in the distances between the spacecraft, allowing scientists to detect gravitational waves passing through the constellation. 

The mission demands extraordinary technological capabilities, including ultra-stable laser interferometry, drag-free flight control, precision inertial sensors, micro-thrusters, and exceptionally stable spacecraft platforms.

To realize this vision, China has adopted a three-stage development strategy.

The first stage was successfully completed with the launch of Taiji-1 in 2019. As China’s first technology demonstration satellite for space-based gravitational wave detection, Taiji-1 verified several key technologies in orbit, including high-precision laser interferometry, inertial sensing, drag-free control, and micro-Newton propulsion. The mission confirmed the feasibility of China’s technical roadmap and provided valuable experience for subsequent missions.

The second stage will involve the launch of Taiji-2, a two-satellite mission designed to comprehensively validate critical technologies such as inter-satellite laser ranging and drag-free control while carrying out scientific experiments related to stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and relativistic frame-dragging effects.

The ultimate goal is Taiji-3, a three-satellite observatory with a baseline of three million kilometers that will conduct full-scale observations of low- and middle-frequency gravitational waves. If successful, it will enable China to explore some of the universe’s most energetic and distant phenomena while making significant contributions to global gravitational-wave astronomy.

China’s efforts extend beyond the Taiji Program. Another major initiative, the TianQin Project, led by Sun Yat-sen University, is pursuing a complementary space-based observatory in Earth orbit. The successful completion of the TianQin-1 technology demonstration mission has further strengthened China’s position in this rapidly advancing field.

In 2021, Chinese scientists published a comprehensive review in Nature Astronomy, introducing the concepts and progress of both the Taiji and TianQin projects to the international scientific community. Their research suggests that future joint observations involving Taiji, TianQin, and Europe’s LISA mission could dramatically improve the localization of gravitational-wave sources and enhance studies of black hole formation, cosmology, and the fundamental nature of gravity.

From the successful in-orbit verification of key technologies by Taiji-1 to the recent development of a fully functional interferometric optical platform, China’s space-based gravitational wave program has steadily progressed from theoretical concepts to engineering reality. Each technological advance brings the country closer to constructing a giant observatory spanning millions of kilometers in space, a scientific instrument capable of detecting the faintest vibrations of the universe.

The exploration of gravitational waves is ultimately a quest to answer some of humanity’s oldest questions: How did the universe begin? How do black holes evolve? What is the true nature of gravity? As China continues to advance the Taiji Program through sustained scientific innovation, it is not only pursuing national technological excellence but also contributing to one of humankind’s greatest endeavors, the exploration of the universe itself.

Source: taiji.ictp-ap, CNSA, sciencenet, xinhua, clp ac

Chinese Researchers Use AI to Turn Wastewater Pollution into Fertilizer, Opening a New Path for Green Agriculture

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Chinese Researchers Use AI to Turn Wastewater Pollution into Fertilizer, Opening a New Path for Green Agriculture

Every year, hundreds of millions of tons of agricultural, industrial, and municipal wastewater carrying high concentrations of nitrate flow into rivers, lakes, and groundwater. These pollutants threaten drinking water supplies, fuel harmful algal blooms, and create oxygen-depleted “dead zones” that devastate aquatic ecosystems.

At the same time, producing the ammonia that underpins modern agriculture remains one of the world’s most energy-intensive industrial processes. More than 90% of global ammonia production still relies on the century-old Haber-Bosch process, which converts nitrogen from the air into ammonia under extremely high temperatures and pressures using natural gas or coal. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), ammonia production accounts for roughly 2% of global final energy consumption and approximately 1.3% of energy-related carbon emissions.

One problem is environmental pollution. The other is the costly production of an essential industrial chemical. Yet both revolve around the same element nitrogen.

Now, a Chinese research team has demonstrated a promising way to connect these two challenges by directly converting nitrate pollutants in wastewater into ammonia, simultaneously treating contaminated water while producing a valuable chemical feedstock.

The breakthrough was achieved by a research team led by Han Lili at the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their findings were published on March 18 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) and were featured on the journal’s cover. The South China Morning Post later described the work as opening a new avenue for low-energy waste-to-resource technologies.

Unlike conventional single-atom catalysts, dual-atom catalysts consist of two neighboring metal atoms that work cooperatively throughout complex chemical reactions. Each atom can perform complementary functions, facilitating electron transfer, stabilizing reaction intermediates, and precisely controlling the breaking and formation of chemical bonds.

These characteristics make DACs particularly well suited for nitrate reduction, a reaction that involves multiple intermediate steps before ammonia is produced. 

However, designing an effective dual-atom catalyst has long been a major scientific challenge. Hundreds of possible metal combinations exist, and experimentally testing them one by one is both time-consuming and expensive.

To overcome this bottleneck, the Chinese researchers incorporated artificial intelligence into the catalyst design process.

Using a deep learning model, the team rapidly screened numerous metal combinations and predicted which pairs would most likely form stable structures with superior catalytic performance. Only the most promising candidates were then synthesized and experimentally validated, dramatically reducing the development cycle compared with conventional trial-and-error approaches.

Ultimately, the researchers successfully fabricated 14 precisely engineered dual-atom catalysts containing various rare-earth elements, including yttrium, scandium, lanthanum, cerium, samarium, europium, erbium, and ytterbium.

Even more remarkably, these catalysts achieved unprecedented metal loadings ranging from 12.8% to 30.7% by weight more than four times higher than previous benchmarks providing a significantly larger number of active catalytic sites.

The team then evaluated the catalysts in electrochemical nitrate reduction experiments using nitrate-rich wastewater. Credit to the abundance of highly active metal sites on the catalyst surface, ammonia production reached approximately 2.7 times that of conventional catalysts, approaching three times the efficiency of comparable systems while generating fewer unwanted byproducts.

In practical terms, this means that the same volume of wastewater can produce substantially more ammonia while simultaneously removing nitrate pollution more effectively. The reaction also proceeds under ambient conditions through electrochemical reduction, avoiding the extreme temperatures and pressures required by the Haber-Bosch process and potentially reducing overall energy consumption.

For decades, wastewater treatment and fertilizer production have operated as two completely separate industries. Conventional wastewater treatment focuses primarily on removing nitrate before discharging treated water. Although effective, this process consumes significant amounts of energy and operating costs while discarding nitrogen that could otherwise be reused.

Yet nitrate itself is simply another nitrogen-containing compound, and nitrogen is precisely the key ingredient required to produce ammonia, the foundation of virtually all nitrogen fertilizers.

If nitrate pollutants can be directly converted into ammonia, wastewater treatment would no longer be merely a pollution-control process. Instead, it would become a resource recovery system capable of generating economic value while protecting the environment.

This circular approach has the potential to reduce pollution, lower dependence on fossil-fuel-based ammonia production, and improve overall resource efficiency.

The technology could also have broader strategic implications. Global fertilizer markets have become increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in energy prices and geopolitical tensions. Much of the world’s urea exports originate from the Middle East, where natural gas supplies and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz remain susceptible to regional instability.

Disruptions to natural gas supplies often translate directly into higher ammonia and fertilizer prices. Earlier this year, for example, India, the world’s second-largest importer of urea—was reportedly forced to purchase approximately 2.5 million tons of urea at nearly double the price paid just two months earlier.

China has largely maintained stable domestic fertilizer production through coal-based ammonia synthesis. Nevertheless, regardless of whether ammonia is produced from natural gas or coal, conventional synthesis remains highly energy-intensive.

Although recovering ammonia from wastewater is unlikely to replace large-scale fertilizer plants in the foreseeable future, it could become an important complementary source of nitrogen, improving the resilience and security of fertilizer supply during periods of energy market volatility.

Despite its promise, the technology is still at the laboratory stage. The reported experiments were conducted under controlled conditions on a relatively small scale. Real-world wastewater is considerably more complex, containing heavy metals, organic contaminants, suspended solids, and numerous other impurities that may reduce catalyst activity or shorten its operational lifetime.

In addition, several practical challenges remain unresolved, including large-scale catalyst manufacturing, integration with existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, long-term operational stability, and ensuring that the electricity required for electrochemical conversion comes from low-carbon energy sources.

Addressing these engineering and economic issues will be essential before the technology can be deployed commercially. Even so, the study demonstrates an important new direction for sustainable chemistry.

By combining artificial intelligence with advanced catalyst design, Chinese researchers have shown that wastewater pollutants can be transformed into valuable chemical resources rather than simply being removed and discarded.

If successfully scaled up, this waste-to-fertilizer approach could simultaneously reduce water pollution, lower the carbon footprint of fertilizer production, improve nitrogen recycling, and strengthen agricultural sustainability.

Source: Xinhua, guancha, sohu, sina

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