The Chinese national football team scored a disappointing 1-1 draw to Malaysia during a home match on Saturday, as fans continued to express their dissatisfaction at the lackluster performance well into Sunday.
Malaysia stunned the hosts with a goal in the 11th minute, an anxious start to the first half of the match for the more than 26,000 home fans at the Phoenix Hill Sports Park Stadium in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. It was not until Lin Liangming scored an equalizer in the 36th minute that the fans were able to breathe a momentary sigh of relief.
China, currently ranked 80th on the FIFA world rankings, made 16 shots compared with nine tries from Malaysia, who are world No.136, with the home team having ball possession for an overwhelming 67 percent of the match.
When the stadium MC announced the draw, the fans inside the stadium angrily booed and yelled, while demanding their money back and chanting "refund!"
A video making the rounds on social media showed a fan so overcome with wrath during the game that he had to be escorted out by other fans and medical staff due after suffering from respiratory issues.
"We didn't deserve to win tonight," China's head coach Aleksandar Jankovic told reporters after the match. "The fans supported us throughout the game, and I felt sorry that we disappointed them."
What further incensed Chinese football fans was the news that China's neighbor Japan bested former World Cup champions Germany with an impressive 4-1 victory during an away friendly match on Sunday.
"Once we were on the same level with Japan but now, I think we are like 30 years behind Japan," a fan usernamed Xinli wrote on Weibo. "Though on the under-15 level we've made some breakthroughs, the gap remains huge."
The Chinese under-15 national team defeated its Japanese counterpart in the Under-15 East Asian Championship final in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province earlier on Friday.
In more good news for Chinese football, over the weekend the national under-23 team defeated India thanks to a 96th-minute goal from Naibijiang Mohemati, avoiding a second draw for yet another national team in one night.
The senior national team will take on Syria on Tuesday, which Jankovic sees as an opportunity to prove the team's capabilities.
"The good thing is that three days from now we have a game to prove ourselves. We need to correct the problems [we have] and win for our fans," he said.
Zou Jingyuan, the Tokyo Olympic champion five-time world champion, defended his titles in the men's team and men's parallel bars events at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 25-year-old Chinese gymnastics ace talked about his physical condition and mindset, as well as his goals for next year's Olympics in Paris in an exclusive interview with the Global Times. He said he has felt less pressure for Paris after claiming the gold medals.
Zou competed in two individual events at the Asian Games, the men's parallel bars and rings, and he was also a member of the Chinese men's team. He said he was "quite satisfied" with his performance throughout the event.
"For me, the main thing is that in the team event I displayed my level of training," Zou, nicknamed "king of the parallel bars," told the Global Times.
Zou competed in the men's team competition in two individual apparatuses, the double bar and the rings. In both of the apparatuses, the Chinese team came in first place overall. Zou also praised the performance of his teammates, especially Zhang Boheng, who competed in all the events, saying he played an important and crucial role.
China narrowly defeated Japan in the men's team competition to clinch the title, just three points ahead. Zou said he was impressed by the Japanese team's performance. "The city brings us a lot of luck," he said after the match.
Snatching gold with an incomparable lead, Zou shrugged off the overwhelming compliment, saying that his performance was not perfect.
"I did not choose to increase the difficulty. The difficulty of this set is still a bit low compared to next year's Paris Olympics," he said. "These games are the cornerstone of the Paris Olympics."
In the other individual event he participated in, Zou only ranked sixth in the rings, seemingly affected by his injury. However, answering the Global Times, Zou dismissed the influence from injury.
"My injury is within a controllable range," he said. "In fact, it is the same for the opponents. They also face a lot of injuries and are also challenging themselves."
As the defending Olympic champion, Zou said he faces Paris with less tension and pressure than he did two years ago.
"Of course, the freshness during the competition is different," he told the Global Times. "But during training, I think there will be less pressure than before. I won't be fighting myself as much as before."
Speaking about his expectations for Paris, he said he expects to do well in Paris in what he didn't do well in Tokyo.
Immediately after the Asian Games, the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship began in Antwerp, Belgium. Since the Chinese men's team has already qualified for Paris, the male athletes involved in the Asian Games will no longer be involved in the World Championships, as more opportunities will be offered to other teammates.
For his teammates who will soon start the World Championships, Zou said he hopes they will not have too much pressure.
"Of course I would want them to take the title, but more than that, I hope they can display themselves without pressure," he said. "In terms of results, it also depends on their opponents' performance."
As for Zou and his teammates who are participating in the Asian Games, they will get a rare vacation after that. "But it makes no difference to me whether I take a vacation or not," Zou said. "I will still train every day. As the days go by, it is closer to the Olympics."
"Tourism exchanges between China and Pakistan hold immense significance for strengthening the [two countries'] bilateral relationship," Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi underscored on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Pavilion at the 2023 China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) Expo in China National Agriculture Center.
The inauguration of the pavilion was part of a series of activities aimed at celebrating 2023 as the "Year of Tourism and Exchange" between Pakistan and China.
While commending the efforts of the exhibitors and tourism companies for the promotion of Pakistan's tourism potential, the ambassador noted that Pakistan was bestowed with rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and unique culinary delights. He encouraged Chinese tourists, academics, and entrepreneurs to visit Pakistan. There are different options for Chinese friends to explore Pakistan, Ambassador Hashmi told the Global Times on Wednesday.
People who are more interested in adventure tourism like mountain climbing or forest treks, for instance, will find that "Pakistan has some of the highest mountains in the world, So that's the very beautiful and very excellent regions for adventure tourism," he said.
Meanwhile, one of the many great attractions to Chinese tourists might be its civilization and heritage sites, Ambassador Hashmi added. One of the most visited sites in Pakistan, Taxila, is generally considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in Asia. Taxila was a university and educational center for Buddhists, and it attracted pilgrims from all across Asia.
Another attraction recommended by the ambassador to Chinese tourists was Pakistani gastronomy. "Chinese tourists would find Pakistani cuisine to be different and very diverse like in China. From the Northeast to the South, we also have places known for their spicy cuisine, a different type of spice than China, but we have less spicy food in the North. Food is a big industry in Pakistan and is something I'm sure our Chinese friends would also like," he told the Global Times.
The 2023 COTTM Expo focused on Belt and Road partner countries, saw the participation of more than 20 countries and regions such as Egypt, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Philippines, Poland, Tunisia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, and others at the exhibition held from Wednesday to Friday, with invitations being extended to Chinese tourists to visit these countries to appreciate and experience their nature, history, humanities, and life.
At least 12 tourism exhibitors and companies from Pakistan participated in the Expo. Ambassador Hashmi expressed hope that COTTM would serve as an excellent platform for networking between the tourism companies in China and Pakistan, which would contribute toward the further enhancing of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The "Out of Africa - Celebrating the Beijing Swifts" seminar was successfully held on Monday evening in the Belgian Residence in Beijing, coinciding with the World Migratory Bird Day to promote the conservation of migratory birds such as the Beijing Swifts and their habitats.
Ambassador of Belgium to China H.E. Bruno Angelet, deputy director-general of the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau Wang Xiaoping, deputy director of the Wildlife and Wetland Protection Division Ji Jianwei, Beijing Normal University professor Zhao Xinru, professor of Ornithology at the Sun Yat-sen University, Liu Yang and Beijing-based wildlife conservationist Terry Townshend, and several ambassadors attended the event.
Ambassador Angelet, the host of the event delivered a speech. He declared a love for birds, especially the Swifts as they are intelligent, social, gentle and free, adding that he was also a birdwatcher in Belgium and after arriving in Beijing in August, he was pleasantly surprised at the great variety of birds in the city, including sparrows, which have almost disappeared in Belgium, but can be found everywhere in Beijing.
"I was so excited to discover that European and Chinese scientists have studied specific aspects of their journey. Through this study, we have discovered that the Swifts which nest in Beijing also come every spring from Africa, mostly from Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa," he told the Global Times.
Ambassador Angelet also expressed his hope that embassies and their Chinese counterparts will join forces to improve bilateral international scientific cooperation.
Professor Zhao and Professor Liu, two of the best-known Chinese scientists who have been studying the bird species shared the results of the citizen science surveys to count the Swifts in Beijing to help understand the bird's population trends.
The Beijing Swift, as a migratory bird named after "Beijing," is a landmark species and one of the ecological symbols of Beijing. It spends three months a year in Beijing to breed before undertaking an incredible migration to southern Africa in mid-July for the northern hemisphere winter, professor Zhao said at the event.
On July 4, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a report announcing that Japan's dumping plan meets the IAEA's safety standards.
Several days after the report was released, doubts are mounting. It also sparked a strong backlash in countries that will be impacted by the scheduled dumping.
Several sources and industry experts involved in the project revealed to the Global Times Japan's intent to create "reasonableness" for the plan to be well received. In their view, despite Japan's calculated efforts to create a narrative of harmlessness around its intended plan, the risks associated with the dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from Fukushima are real. From the perspective of the interests of all humankind, there should have been better options considered, but Japan has disregarded them and chosen the most favorable approach for itself.
Unproven safety
As an independent intergovernmental organization within the United Nations system, the conclusions reached by the IAEA are often seen as inherently authoritative. The Japanese government also intends to use the IAEA's report to legitimize Japan's dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean.
However, as stated by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, the agency's report cannot serve as a "shield" or "green light" for Japan's dumping plan. Several industry insiders and experts expressed the same view in recent interviews with the Global Times, saying that the conclusions of the IAEA assessment report cannot provide a stamp of approval for the safety of the plan.
Regarding the released report by the IAEA, the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment have recently raised questions about its content. They believe that there are many issues concerning the legitimacy of Japan's ocean discharge, the reliability of the purification system, and the completeness of the monitoring plan.
Deng Ge, secretary general of the CAEA, noted that according to the IAEA report, the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) method used by Japan cannot remove all radioactive nuclides from the nuclear-contaminated wastewater. Based on previous operation results, it has been proven that ALPS method is ineffective in removing radioactive nuclides such as tritium and carbon-14. The effectiveness of ALPS in removing other radioactive nuclides also requires further testing and verification through experiments and engineering.
According to data released by Japan itself, over 70 percent of the wastewater treated by ALPS does not meet discharge standards and requires further purification. During long-term operation, the performance and reliability of ALPS will further deteriorate due to equipment corrosion and aging. But Japan has not demonstrated the long-term effectiveness and reliability of the water purification system.
An insider familiar with Japan's dumping plan revealed to the Global Times that the current plan and assessment in Japan are based on the assumption that the treated wastewater will meet the standards. Unfortunately, according to data previously released by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima plant, even after treatment through ALPS, about 70 percent of the treated contaminated wastewater does not meet the set standards, with 18 percent exceeding the standards by 10 to 20,000 times. Additionally, the frequent malfunctions and component damage of ALPS raise doubts about its capability to treat the nuclear-contaminated wastewater.
The insider further stated that it is uncertain whether the situation would improve if the water undergoes a second round of ALPS treatment. The plan provided by TEPCO does not explain how to ensure that the treated wastewater will meet the discharge requirements, nor does it include an analysis of the impacts of the discharge.
Publicly available data showed that TEPCO only retreated 0.25 percent of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater, without disclosing the time required for the second treatment or explaining the plan for the second treatment.
The accuracy and reliability of the data released by Japan on the contaminated wastewater have also been questioned by numerous parties. Deng stated that TEPCO has repeatedly concealed and tampered with data on the nuclear-contaminated wastewater. Japan unilaterally approved the dumping plan and accelerated its implementation, putting pressure on the IAEA's review and assessment through various means.
The IAEA conducted its review and assessment based solely on the data and information provided by Japan, with only a limited number of samples of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater collected unilaterally by Japan for laboratory comparison and analysis. The authenticity and accuracy of the data are yet to be verified, and the sampling independence and representativeness are severely lacking. Therefore, even if the IAEA's review and assessment conclude that the discharge complies with international safety standards, it lacks sufficient persuasiveness, according to Deng.
Regarding sampling and monitoring, TEPCO initially only sampled and monitored nine nuclides other than tritium in the contaminated wastewater, which was later adjusted to 29 nuclides in 2023. However, considering the complex composition of the contaminated wastewater from Fukushima with its high salt content and various impurities, this is still far from sufficient, according to the insider.
"TEPCO's actions have introduced significant uncertainties in the source information of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater, thereby greatly increasing the difficulty of formulating subsequent monitoring plans and assessing the impact on the marine ecosystem," said the insider.
Even if the assessment report by the IAEA concludes that Japan's plan to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater meets international safety standards, risks still remain.
Wei Fangxin, a researcher at the Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, told the Global Times that the radiation safety standards established by the IAEA set the public dose limit at 1 milliSievert per year. However, even if the dose is below 1 milliSievert, there are still risks of radiation exposure.
"It's like a highway speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour. It doesn't mean that driving below 100 kilometers per hour is absolutely safe," the expert said.
Wei also pointed out that there are many nuclides in the contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, making its treatment challenging. Each treatment technology has limitations and can only handle specific types of nuclides, while other nuclides or impurities can affect the performance of the treatment equipment.
Over time, the performance of the treatment system deteriorates, and the treated water may have excessive levels of radioactivity, he said.
"In the long run, the people in neighboring countries and regions to Japan will undoubtedly be adversely affected by the dumping of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater. Regardless of how small the radioactivity of the contaminated wastewater may be, it still poses certain risks." Wei noted.
Mounting doubts
As early as on July 4, Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said that the report would "not prove the discharge is legitimate and justified and exempt the Japanese side from its due responsibilities and obligations under international law."
Liu Senlin, an expert with the China Institute of Atomic Energy, who participated in the IAEA's technical working group for the assessment, told the Global Times that the report, released in the name of the IAEA director general, was released without sufficient consultation with the experts in the technical working group.
He believes that the report released by the IAEA does not represent the IAEA's recognition of the legitimacy of Japan's decision to dump the treated wastewater into the ocean, nor does it represent the IAEA's approval or authorization of Japan's dump of nuclear-contaminated wastewater.
Liu mentioned that the report was released in the name of the IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi. Although the IAEA Secretariat had sought opinions from the technical working group's experts on the draft report before its release, the time given to the experts was very limited, and their opinions were only for reference, with the decision on whether to adopt them being made by the IAEA Secretariat.
After receiving feedback, the IAEA Secretariat did not initiate a discussion or reach a consensus with the experts on the modification of the report or the adoption of the opinions before its hasty release, according to Liu.
Liu revealed that during the last two years of evaluation tasks, experts from various parties in the technical working group extensively and deeply discussed technical issues related to the Japanese government's responsibilities and functions in the discharge of treated contaminated wastewater, key principles and safety objectives, authorization procedures, source characterization, safety issues of the discharge system and process, evaluation of radiation environmental impact, source monitoring and environmental monitoring plans, occupational radiation protection, public consultation, and the involvement of relevant parties. "There were both consensuses and differences of opinion, and a unanimous agreement was not reached."
On the one hand, the IAEA's review and evaluation effectively raised the technical threshold and regulatory requirements for Japan's dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater; on the other hand, there were significant limitations, such as not addressing the international community's concerns over the legitimacy of Japan's decision to discharge, and not having sufficient discussions and arrangements for subsequent review and assessment tasks, and long-term monitoring plans.
"The IAEA plays the role of an assessor, rather than a decision-maker, in the issue of the disposal of nuclear-contaminated wastewater in Fukushima, Japan," Wei said.
"From the perspective of the IAEA, its release of the comprehensive assessment report stating that Japan's plan for discharging nuclear-contaminated wastewater 'meets international safety standards' can only be understood as the plan being feasible. However, feasibility does not imply that the plan is the optimal solution, and there are still many questions that Japan has not answered," he noted.
When Japan requested for an IAEA assessment of its disposal plans, it did not submit all feasible options for evaluation. Instead, it submitted the discharge plan that was most favorable to its interests. This assessment itself has limitations and biases, the expert said.
South Korean media revealed on June 21 that the Japanese government made a political donation of more than 1 million euros ($1.10 million) to the IAEA in order to resolve differences of opinion between the IAEA and third country experts. But it was later denied by Grossi and the Japanese government.
"From the perspective of the IAEA's assessment results, its position clearly leans more toward the Japanese government," said an anonymous expert close to the event.
Firstly, the IAEA itself is also eager to resolve the issue of Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated wastewater as soon as possible because one of its mandates is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy globally, he said.
The other reason is that Japan has significant influence within the IAEA. From the information available to us, there are many Japanese nationals serving in the IAEA, and this trend has continued in the last decade, according to the expert.
"The Japanese government is active in this issue and financially supports sending experts or advisors to serve in or provide services to the IAEA. From the perspective of the IAEA, enjoying free professional services is certainly welcomed. From Japan's perspective, it expands its influence and discourse power within the IAEA through this approach," he said.
Simplest way
In the implementation of the dumping plan, Japan has been unable to prove the legitimacy and legality of its decision throughout the process. This is one of the reasons why they requested an evaluation and assessment from the IAEA.
In this regard, Japan's actions have revealed a lack of long-term responsibility in addressing the issue and have instead revealed a need for a temporary rather than a long-term solution.
According to the CAEA, Japan deliberately restricted the authorization of the IAEA's technical working group, limiting review and assessment to only one disposal option, while excluding other possible alternatives. Even if the IAEA considers the discharge to be in line with international safety standards, it does not prove that it is the only or best solution for the disposal of the contaminated wastewater.
"Now, by releasing the contaminated wastewater into the open sea, it is the simplest and least burdensome approach for Japan, reducing economic costs and minimizing harm to its own territory. However, it potentially poses risks to neighboring countries, effectively transferring their own risks to others," Wei said.
The Sino-Dutch sports exchanges and reception for the Dutch delegation to the Chengdu World University Games was successfully held on July 29 to celebrate the Sino-Dutch sports relations.
The event, hosted by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Chongqing, greeted all the student athletes from the Student Sport Netherlands attending the Games.
The guests of honor included Rob Cuppen, head of the Dutch delegation to the Chengdu World University Games, Wim Koch, deputy head of the Dutch delegation and more than 60 participants in 11 sports.
Huub Buise, Consul General of the Netherlands in Chongqing, delivered a speech at the event. Buise said that, "After working together for the last three years, we are finally witnessing the opening of the Chengdu Universiade and the competitions being held as scheduled. Everyone has put in a lot of effort in this process, including our head of delegation, official representatives, and all of you here, all working together. I am very happy to be here with all of you and wish you all the best in the competition."
Silke Jonkman, the student athlete representative from the Dutch delegation touched on the feelings and experiences of participating in the Games and expressed the delegation's expectations for Sino-Dutch sports exchanges and friendship. She said that, "I am very grateful for the welcome reception prepared for us. At the same time, we are very happy to be here in China, in Chengdu, where we ate a lot of food, saw pandas, attended the grand opening ceremony, and were deeply impressed by the friendliness, warmth, and helpfulness of the Chinese people."
Buise also stressed that Chengdu is the engine of the entire western economy in China and the world has seen its internationalization. He expressed special thanks to liaisons at the Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office for building a bridge of friendship between China and the Netherlands.
Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque inaugurated the Pakistan National Pavilion and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Sichuan Agricultural Expo in Chengdu on October 28. Hu Yun, vice governor of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.
The exhibition hall introduced famous tourist attractions in Pakistan and more than 10 Pakistani companies showcased some agricultural products. The exhibition hall attracted great interest from participants.
Pakistan is the guest of honor of this expo. The ambassador emphasized in his speech that Pakistan and China have established a solid bilateral relationship based on political mutual trust, strategic communication and practical cooperation. He also stressed the close cooperation between Pakistan and Sichuan, including through their sister cities.
Pakistan's participation in the 2023 CIIE will inject new impetus into the ongoing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Recently, the two sides reached five important agricultural agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, granting Pakistan access to the $30 billion market for cooked beef, dairy products, chili peppers, cherries and other livestock products, which will help Pakistan expand its exports to China.
Deepening mutual understanding between Chinese and Grenadian people will be realized through a multifaceted approach, which entails expanding cultural exchanges, promoting educational endeavors, and facilitating direct connections between individuals from both nations, Chad Vincent John, a 34-year-old Grenadian who is currently a kindergarten teacher and has been living in China for more than a decade, told the Global Times in a recent interview.
By organizing diverse cultural programs, offering language courses, and creating opportunities for personal interactions, we can cultivate stronger bonds, John said. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms and social media will enable the seamless sharing of personal stories, experiences, and cultural insights, ultimately fostering a more profound and lasting connection between our two communities, he noted.
Learnroom International Kindergarten in Beijing, known for its commitment to fostering cultural understanding, recently hosted a successful Culture Day that had a profound effect on attendees. John, a respected member of the school's management team, spearheaded the event with the generous support of the Grenadian Embassy.
Among the showcases by various countries, the Grenada exhibit stood out, captivating both children and parents with its displays.
"The Chinese audience's response to this event was remarkable. As they entered the exhibition room, they were captivated by the vibrant displays," John said.
The delightful aroma of Grenadian spices and cocoa intrigued them, sparking their curiosity about our culture. Attendees received goodie bags with Grenadian spices, T-shirts, bandanas, and brochures, enhancing their experience. They also enjoyed seeing their children dressed in carnival costumes, adding to the event's charm, he noted. "Overall, the positive reactions underscored the power of cultural exchange."
The 34-year-old Grenadian who has been working in China for over 10 years, called the country "a second home" to him. "I have found the experience of living and working here to be truly enriching."
However, it's worth noting that many Chinese people are not familiar with Grenada, he said. "Whenever I'm asked about my origin, I often find myself explaining that Grenada is a beautiful island located in the Caribbean Sea, situated to the south of Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti, and to the north of South America and Trinidad and Tobago, among others," John said.
I refer to these nearby countries to provide context and help people understand where Grenada is situated geographically. This interaction provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and helps bridge the gap in understanding between our two nations, he said.
Young Chinese people in the new era are confident, aspirational and responsible. With a global vision, they stand at the forefront of the times, ready to fully commit to a more global outlook. Chinese people accept and quickly respond to the world's trending schools of thought. Some members of China's Generation Z have started to practice the tenets of their "global citizen" identity and use their thought processes and actions to influence the society. The Global Times has therefore launched a series of introductory stories to China's Gen Zers who are interested in different global topics such as environmental protection, equality, and employment issues, and invites them to share their stories, sentiments, and ideas on social media platforms. As the match point arrived, the stadium with nearly 6000 seats sat in silence. When the last ball landed, accompanied by a tsunami of cheers from the crowd, celebrating with fist pumps, shouts, and embraces, raising the Five-Star Red Flags to show their sincere gratitude to the audience and the country they beloved.
Similar scenes unfolded six times during the table tennis competition at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. Generation Zers Sun Yingsha, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, the absolute mainstays of the Chinese table tennis team, presented a lot of world-class pinnacle competitions with players from different countries and regions in a firm and confident manner.
Compared with the older generation, this group of world champions, who are blowing up a storm of youth, are more confident in expressing their love for table tennis, their desire to enjoy the game regardless of winners and losers, as well as their courage in communicating with the outside world to build up a more positive and united force, adding a more contemporary and vibrant expression to this sport, which is considered the national game by the Chinese people.
Enjoy the game
"When the last ball landed, the first thing I recognized about my performance was that it was very good," Sun, who was born in 2000, the current world No. 1 in women's singles, said while answering a question from the Global Times during a post-match interview on October 1, 2023.
And in a subsequent interview with the Global Times, Sun said she has gained a lot from the Hangzhou Asian Games. "Compared with the Asian Games in Jakarta five years ago, I have taken on more responsibility, but compared with the pressure, I am also more motivated, and am satisfied with my play."
In Jakarta in 2018, the enduring impression left by Sun to the public was a cute little girl with a round face and eyes. There is no Tokyo Olympic gold medal, Houston and Durban mixed doubles champions. At that time, Sun represented the national table tennis team in the women's team and mixed doubles events.
Five years later, Sun took the oath as a representative of the participating athletes at the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Games, and competed in women's singles, doubles, team and mixed doubles, winning gold medals in three of them.
"I feel very proud to be sworn in as an athlete representative at a major international competition hosted by my country. To be able to fight on home soil, there were also many fans who came to cheer me on, I told myself to focus on every game on the field, and I hope I can really enjoy the feeling that the game brings to me. I didn't think too much about the result," Sun said.
But for Sun, the Asian Games in Hangzhou is not without regrets. Earlier, in a shock result, women's doubles world No. 1s Sun and Wang Manyu lost 1-3 to Japanese duo Miwa Harimoto and Miu Hirano.
Sun admitted that after the defeat, both her coach and her partner gave her a lot of encouragement so that she could adjust quickly be ready to face the next match. But she also told the Global Times that such a defeat is precious and needs to be fully faced, and that she will take stock of the loss after the game.
Fan, the world's number one men's singles table tennis player, also tasted defeat at the Asian Games. In the table tennis men's singles final on October 2nd, Fan lost 3-4 to his teammate Wang and won the silver medal. After the match, Fan told the Global Times that he was still very happy with his performance in his third Asian Games he attended.
"Being able to participate in the Asian Games in China and be a torchbearer is a great honor for me. It is a recognition of my past achievements. I also really wanted to win the final singles match and defend my title, but both of us played very well in the final. I feel a little regret for my lost, but not enough to be disappointed," he said.
Fan, who is 26 years old this year, made his debut in the Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. Starting his career at a young age and gaining fame early, Fan admitted that he felt "not very young" anymore. However, he still hopes to focus on the competition and give his all in every match, using his superb skills and competitive state to bring more positive energy to his teammates and fans who love him.
Valuing heritage
23-year-old Wang, who took home four championships in the table tennis men's team, singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, becoming the first person in the history of table tennis at the Asian Games, first to expressed his gratitude to the country for its cultivation in an interview with the Global Times.
Wang noted that China's nationwide system allows athletes to train in a world-class environment. "At the same time, the Chinese table tennis team is a strong team, with a lot of world champions, allowing us - the younger generation - to constantly progress and improve in a fine tradition."
"When you wear the national flag on your uniform, you represent Team China. The honor of this collective is passed down through generations through unremitting efforts, and we will do our best to defend it," Wang said.
However, Wang also noted that in competitive sports, no one can maintain their peak state forever and there can never be eternal victory. "This is also the charm of competitive sports."
In the men's and women's team finals of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Chinese team defeated their opponents 3-0. The coaches of the Chinese table tennis team told media that although they ultimately won the matches, the process was not easy and the women's doubles event failing to reach the top four made the whole team realize that the competition in the world of table tennis is becoming increasingly fierce.
"Winning championships in table tennis may seem easy for the Chinese team, but in fact, every member of our team has put in unimaginable efforts in various aspects throughout this process. For us, it has always been about striving for first place, not just maintaining it," Fan said.
In the current world of table tennis, the level of athletes from various countries and regions is getting closer, Fan pointed out. "Every competition and major event requires us to give our all to achieve good results."
But for Fan and Wang, this kind of competition is positive and necessary. "We are also looking forward to these challenges, which are in fact mutual promotion that can further improve and develop the Chinese table tennis team," Fan said.
More open and international
"Play the fiercest ball on the court, and be the most sincere and lovely teenager in life." This is a popular comment of this group of all-powerful table tennis made by their young Chinese fans.
And it's not just the fans who are attracted to them.
On the first match day for the table tennis at the Hangzhou Asian Games on September 22, when Fan was warming up on the sidelines, a foreign coach took the initiative to shake hands with him. The handshake between them conveyed the friendship and respect built on this sport.
After the women's team first round match, Team Macao player Seak Hui-li specifically took a photo with Sun with her racket, which also received a friendly response from her idol.
After the women's team semi-finals, Korean athlete Jeon Jihee happily revealed in an interview that she exchanged pins with Sun.
Despite the tight schedule of the competition, Sun still lived up to her title as the "pin exchange master" with her actions.
"If I meet someone have pins I like or find cute, I will think about exchanging with them. We are all friends," Sun told the Global Times.
With the promotion of this more open and international Gen Zers, the slogan of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, "Chinese table tennis is shared with the world," has become a reality.
Sun, Fan and Wang told the Global Times that they love table tennis and hope to connect with more like-minded people through the sport. As idol for many despite their young age, they hope that more young people, like them, focus on what they love, can always go forward, ultimately realize the dreams.
On Saturday, the British police confirmed to the media that a parliamentary researcher had been arrested in March this year on "suspicion of spying for China," causing a stir in the UK. It appears to be a farcical situation, highlighting how the declining British Empire is becoming increasingly paranoid and shallow.
Not only did the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically dismiss the UK's accusations as "entirely groundless," but the so-called "Chinese spy" who is out on bail also refused to plead guilty, stating through his lawyer that he is "completely innocent."
If the UK were genuinely facing a serious espionage threat from China, its Cabinet and Prime Minister would undoubtedly be aware of the threat and would take it seriously. However, in recent months, UK officials have repeatedly expressed a willingness to improve relations with China, with James Cleverly becoming the first British Foreign Secretary to visit China since 2018.
After the "spy incident" was exposed over the weekend, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was attending the G20 summit, told British media that he expressed "very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable" to the Chinese Premier during their the meeting. If London truly believed the matter to be of grave concern, why did it take so long to react? Sunak was clearly putting on a show, aiming to placate the furious UK parliamentarians.
The trivial matters in the British Parliament aren't worth China's efforts and risks of "planting spies." Those extremist politicians who gain attention by criticizing China are not highly regarded by today's Chinese people. Moreover, with Sunak, of Indian origin, becoming Prime Minister and India surpassing the UK in GDP, the decline of the former empire is evident. Yet, they persist in clinging to their past glory and treating everything in their house as treasures.
Some British MPs described China as an "epoch-defining challenge" to the UK, and Oliver Dowden, Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, said there is a "strong case" for designating China in the "enhanced tier" of countries under the new National Security Act. If the UK were to do so, it would require anyone working in the UK "at the direction" of China to place themselves on the "foreign influence registration scheme." Sunak's current stance is that the UK's approach to China is in line with the approach taken by other Western countries. I must say, those political extremists in the UK are shameless. If the UK really implements new restrictions under their influence, I believe China will retaliate.
Chinese people can clearly see that the UK is currently acting like a fallen homeowner who is only causing trouble for itself. It must be pointed out that the deterioration of China-US relations has led to tension in China-West relations, coupled with the Ukraine crisis, global considerations of security risks are on the rise, and everything has become a secret, with more and more people being treated as spies worldwide.
China is in this tumultuous and uncertain world, and we are the focus of Western intelligence efforts. When I was young, I worked in intelligence in the military. Later, I worked as a journalist and traveled the world, gaining a better understanding of the relationship and differences between intelligence and public information.
China, which is open to the outside world while facing significant geopolitical pressures, faces a major challenge in balancing openness and counter-espionage. We certainly cannot act as the US which suspects all Chinese international students and Chinese-American researchers, nor can we be like the UK which suspected that Chinese spies have "captured" the British Parliament just because it arrested someone who even denies the accusations and cannot be convicted. At the same time, we cannot let our guard down, as the US and the West are indeed increasing their efforts to penetrate China through espionage.
Our society must keep counter-espionage in mind: Government agencies and key defense enterprises need to strengthen systematic precautions and plug loopholes. Meanwhile, society at large must remain open and friendly toward foreign elements, without excessive layers of secrecy and sensitivity in interactions with foreigners. Today, some university professors involved in international relations are uncomfortable and fearful when interacting with foreigners, which is not the right approach.
Chinese society must be more rational and self-confident than the nervous British Parliament and the geopolitically addicted US Congress. While they continue to scream like apes, we are like a swift boat that has already sailed through thousands of hills.
