Even more unacceptable is that the US and Israel openly killed the leader of a sovereign nation, incited regime change, and then gloated over it as some kind of "achievement." These actions represent a brazen contempt for and trampling of the fundamental norms of international relations.

History's irony: Suppression fueled resilience. The Huawei blockade failed to maintain Western dominance. Instead, it accelerated global tech multipolarity, a pivotal 21st-century shift with profound political, economic and security implications.

Currently, the world is closely watching how US-Israel attacks on Iran and the latter's retaliatory strikes will develop and their impacts on the regional situation in the Middle East. Where will the conflict head? How should we understand Beijing's concern over the US-Israel military strikes and calls for an immediate stop of the military actions? The Global Times invited three Chinese international relations experts to comment on these issues.

On February 28, after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran, the official Weibo account of Jun Zhengping Studio run by the People's Liberation Army Daily released the following commentary: Peace has never appeared out of thin air, nor will the flames of war recede through prayer alone. Throughout human history, the law of the jungle has always held sway; the strong preying on the weak has never truly vanished. The international landscape today is complex and volatile, with risks and challenges lurking beneath the surface. Once the string of vigilance is loosened, the consequences for a nation and its people could be irreparable.

Recent attempts by right-wing forces in Japan to revise the Japanese government's long-standing Three Non-Nuclear Principles have triggered alarm and warrant close scrutiny. A joint report by China Arms Control and Disarmament Association and China Institute of Nuclear Industry Strategy, titled "Nuclear Ambitions of Japan's Right-Wing Forces: A Serious Threat to World Peace," argues that Japan's nuclear capability is already well beyond the starting line. The country has already sat atop substantial stocks of sensitive nuclear materials and a relatively complete technological system. This raises a sobering question: How close is Japan to reaching a nuclear breakout capacity?

It is hoped that Chancellor Merz's pragmatic approach will help foster a more balanced EU consensus on China, bring greater benefits to the peoples of China, Germany, and Europe, and contribute to global peace and prosperity.

The stormier the times, the more China and Europe should uphold the banner of multilateralism, maintain their strategic partnership, adhere to openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, advance China-EU relations to greater heights, and make greater contributions to world peace and development.

The coordinated efforts of US officials and the media to hype up the "China nuclear threat" are just a carefully orchestrated show by Washington.

714.88 million tons is more than a statistic – it is a statement of confidence. 500 kilograms of grain per capita is more than a milestone – it is a measure of responsibility.

The visit holds considerable significance in light of the global challenges.

China's measures directly target the Achilles' heel of Japan's “remilitarization” ambitions.

The concocted term “post-Dalai era” is neither a mathematical demarcation of a person's lifespan or influence, nor a simple judgment regarding religious succession. Rather, it is an attempt by certain forces to exploit semantic divisions and conceptual ambiguities in China's Xizang-related legal terminology for political maneuvers.

As a photographer, I aim to connect people. I like to think of myself as a bridge, bringing photographers to China and sharing my work with the world.

True culture needs no grand preaching – it reshapes the world quietly, one sip at a time.

At a time when both China and Germany face the challenges, how to work together – seeking common ground while respecting differences – to keep the course of history on the right track has become a fundamental question that the two countries, as well as China and Europe, must answer.

As part of the “group-style” medical aid effort, we have always reflected on three questions: Why we aid Xizang, what we do while in Xizang and what we leave behind when we depart – devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to advancing the development of Xizang's healthcare system, writes a medical aid doctor in Xizang.

Nuclear risk reduction must begin with the two largest nuclear powers — not with political theater that ignores strategic reality.

Chancellor Merz's visit to China is not only an important sign of the resetting of China-Germany relationship but also a key step in recalibrating China-Europe relations amid changing circumstances.

Ultimately, the malicious smears against China's nuclear policy from Uncle Sam, the “Don Qui-nuke,” attempt to seek legitimacy for its own nuclear ambitions.

The Global Times invites three foreign scholars to share their perspectives on understanding and interpreting the view on political achievements of the CPC.

China's ice and snow tourism is no longer a hidden story. It is developing quickly.

In today's world, uncertainty still looms, and the shadows of conflict have not yet dissipated. This makes the peace and liveliness of the Chinese New Year especially precious.

Four years into the Ukraine crisis serve as a stark reminder for the world: hegemonism, bloc politics, and confrontational alliances only lead to war, and conflicts produce no winners.

The Spring Festival reflects the deep connection between faith, culture and mobility.

NATO is not an association of equal partners for collective defense, but an instrument for enforcing US interests. From this perspective, the only consistent and rational conclusion for Germany and the other European NATO members must be: withdrawal from NATO.

The year 2026 was my first Spring Festival in China. I knew, more or less, what to expect. Across most parts of China, fireworks and firecrackers, red lanterns and fortune characters on every door and window in sight, red envelopes and well-wishes of good fortune from family and friends alike.

One year ago, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech of unprecedented hostility toward Europe at the Munich Security Conference, marking a decisive moment in the rift between the US and Europe. Exactly a year after, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the same conference to the same audience, the question -- where the transatlantic relationship will head -- still lingers.

The reason the Spring Festival can open doors across different cultures is that it touches the softest, most universal human longing for a better life deep in our hearts.

From homegrown flavors to a cosmopolitan spread, this 20-year transformation in the Chinese festival dinner table bears witness to China's embrace of the world.

For the US, the path forward is adaptation and humility. The sooner it accepts its place as one great power among several, the sooner it can play that role effectively - and sustainably - in the multipolar or multi-nodal world that is already underway.

One of America's founders, John Adams, famously said he wanted a nation "ruled by laws, not men."

The Spring Festival stands as a profound manifestation of the intrinsic cohesion and enduring vitality of Chinese civilization, offering the world a deep cultural code to understand Chinese society.

The reflections on order, governance, and people's well-being in Swords into Plowshares transcend the scope of a historical drama and illuminate contemporary questions about the international order.

Certain forces in the US have made no secret of its desire in Latin America. Besides Panama Canal and Venezuela's oil, they also openly smeared Peru's Chancay Port.

China and France should uphold the original aspirations that guided them when establishing diplomatic relations, create a new wave of China-France people-to-people exchanges, and set an example for civilizational exchanges between China, Europe, and the world at large.

The nations of Asia have never forgotten history and remain ever vigilant, determined to draw lessons from the past and prevent a repetition of history.

Put it all together and one conclusion becomes obvious: It is easy for the exorbitantly rich and powerful to be accountable to no one. And they want it that way.

Only when struck by Washington's “wrecking ball” has Europe realized that it lacks both an independent security pillar and a unified, decisive diplomatic posture.

Only when Western commentators break free from the confines of established theory and fixated ideological prejudices, can they approach China as a civilization with its own distinctive logic of governance, begin to truly understand China's development, and confront their own problems.

What the Western narrative got wrong about Jimmy Lai's verdict

Japan must take the feelings and concerns of other countries into account.

The Western narrative surrounding the arrest, trial and sentencing of Jimmy Lai is totally at odds with the facts.

Documents are unsealed, hearings are held, and the public is outraged. But then what?

China stands ready to work with all parties to continuously deepen and solidify APEC cooperation, injecting greater stability and positive expectations into the development of Asia and the world.

The partnership between Somalia and China stands as an inspiring example of how international friendship, built on respect and common interests, can foster a brighter, more cooperative future for all.

For too long, Western politicians have stood on the moral high ground. Now, their moral high ground is crumbling and falling into the abyss. Any Western attack on Jimmy Lai's trial in Hong Kong is utterly ridiculous and pathetic.

In this context of increasing US pressure, Canada's efforts to strengthen engagement with China, diversify its economic and trade relationships, and secure greater autonomy in a multipolar world represent a rational strategy to protect its long-term interests and reduce dependence on a single ally.

Behind this progress lie China's unique institutional strengths, vast market foundations, corporate dynamism, and long-term strategic resolve – all of which reflect the country's innovation ecosystem fostered under its strategy of achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison. The sentence was announced along with penalties for other defendants in the national security case. This brought a complete first-instance judgment to the Jimmy Lai case - one that had been protracted, highly complex, involved numerous defendants, featured prominent external interference and posed exceptional challenges to judicial adjudication.

Epstein's wealth has never been a clean business miracle. When money can buy everything—including the bodies of minors and the souls of justice—capital has thoroughly torn off the moral fig leaf. In the eyes of capital, there are no “moral bottom lines,” only “exchanges of interests.”

Across the Atlantic, transatlantic unity has begun to show significant cracks, as disagreements between the US and the EU have resurfaced over issues of trade, industrial policy, and strategic autonomy following a substantial shift in US foreign policy under the current administration. In this context, the Global Times (GT) has launched a commentary series, "The widening transatlantic rift," inviting scholars and experts at home and abroad to share their views. In an interview with GT reporter Wang Wenwen, Raffaele Marchetti (Marchetti), director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies at Luiss University, Italy, said that Europe needs to be self-sustaining, or at the very least, embark on a path that will lead to self-sufficiency over the next 10 to 20 years.

In Japan's 51st House of Representatives election held on Sunday, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party won a majority of seats, meaning that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will continue to govern. In this election, Japanese online communities exerted a special influence on Takaichi and the LDP.

In the 21st article of the "Translators' Voices" column, GT interviewed Rafael Lima (Lima), translation editor of the Portuguese edition of the book series Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.

The growing “China fever” shows that Gen Z abroad are, in their own way, reaching for a real, vibrant, warm image of China, freely selecting fragments of life and cultural symbols they like within a multicultural context.

Lai's sentence is a solemn declaration of sovereignty, security and the spirit of the rule of law. It announces that the dignity of the law is not to be trampled upon and that the bottom line of national security is not to be crossed. More profoundly, as a landmark case since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, the Jimmy Lai case provides crucial legal guidance and certainty for future practice.

Jimmy Lai's 20-year prison sentence sends a clear signal: No matter how cleverly an "agent" hides or how powerful their backers, they will ultimately face the full force of the law.

The essence of the five-year planning system is to maintain the country's long-term vision while regularly adapting its methods to address new challenges. Thus, this system balances continuity with flexibility and adaptation.

So, the question is not whether we engage, but how.

On the evening of February 6, local time, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off, blending a century of Olympic memories with the charm of modern technology and attracting global attention to the snow and ice spectacle at the foot of the Alps. The Chinese delegation comprises 286 members, including 126 athletes, and will compete across seven major sports, 15 sub-disciplines and 91 events, representing China's widest event participation and largest-ever team in an overseas Winter Olympics. This confidence stems from the rich legacy of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the continuous development of ice and snow sports in China.

A quiet but profound shift is reshaping the geopolitical map of South America, as revealed by an exclusive Reuters report, "Brazil signals new openness to Mercosur-China talks as Beijing seeks deeper ties": For the first time, senior Brazilian officials are considering a push for a "partial" trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China.

In the details of everyday life lies the true reflection of a country. The "Everyday China" series invites foreign experts and scholars who have lived in China for several years to share their personal experiences and reflections on seemingly ordinary moments. Through their unique perspectives, the series reveals a more authentic, multidimensional and relatable portrait of China. This is the sixth installment of the series.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrapped up his four-day China visit at the end of January, yet its impact is still brewing. Some believe that the visit represented a marked shift in the UK's relations with China, and at the international level, it demonstrated the realities of a new global order. How should we analyze the implications of Starmer's China visit? What does a mature and more sophisticated relationship mean for the two countries? Global Times (GT) reporters Wang Wenwen and Xing Xiaojing interviewed Ollie Shiell (Shiell), chief executive of the UK National Committee on China, over these matters.

During the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, China's presence in Milan is not only through athletes but also through ubiquitous Chinese technology.

Just over one month into 2026, Washington's increasingly overt hegemonic and unilateral actions are introducing new uncertainties into the world order. At this moment, middle powers - whether US long-time allies or non-allies, close neighbors or once politically aligned partners - are reassessing their perceptions about the US and realizing the growing reality of multipolarity. How has US unilateralism reshaped these middle powers' strategic calculations? What kind of multipolar world do they seek to build? The Global Times invites three scholars to discuss how these middle powers navigate the changing order.

Looking ahead, as more Chinese EVs travel roads across the globe, China will continue to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity and work hand in hand with other countries, ensuring that the achievements of Chinese modernization benefit more nations and peoples. This will further affirm that "China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better."

As China continues its development trajectory, the collision between common sense and irrationality will remain. Yet China has never and will not require any country to "take sides" or "be closer," China simply makes friends with countries which are open to win-win cooperation.

Lithuania needs to take more sincere actions, genuinely correct its mistakes, and eliminate its negative impact in order to create conditions for the normalization of bilateral relations.

Reunification is a matter of time, not a question of whether it will happen. Taiwan island, it is time to wake up.

In late January, the "Global Dialogue - China-EU Resonance" media and think tank forum, hosted by the Global Times, was held in Brussels, Belgium. Scholars, entrepreneurs and think tank representatives from China and European countries gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as "China-EU Mutual Perceptions: Practical Experiences and Public Opinion Foundations" and "Moving Forward through Understanding: Diverse Cooperation and Future Pathways." In the fourth article of the "China-Europe Resonance" column, we invite scholars from both China and Europe to further dig into relevant topics.

In recent years, scholarly interest in Ryukyu has continued to rise. The Ryukyu Islands are scattered across the waters from the northeast of China's Taiwan island to the southwest of Japan's Kyushu Island. Historically, Ryukyu was a tributary state of China. Japan annexed the Ryukyu Islands in 1879 and established the Okinawa Prefecture on the islands. Today, Okinawa hosts about 70 percent of US military bases in the country, despite making up just 0.6 percent of Japan's land area. How do people from Okinawa identify themselves – as Ryukyuan, Okinawan or Japanese? In light of geopolitical tensions and the Japanese government's recent rhetoric of linking a "Taiwan emergency" with the country's collective self-defense, what worries people on the Ryukyu Islands? In her I-Talk show, Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen talked to Jinshiro Motoyama (Motoyama), a prominent Okinawan native activist, over these issues.

As a major country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has consistently taken safeguarding world peace as its responsibility.

It seems Western media outlets have been loading the Chinese economy and society with more dramatic weight than a "crying horse" could ever carry.

At the beginning of 2026, a clear "looking East" trend has emerged on the international diplomatic stage. Several Western countries, including Ireland, Canada, Finland, and the UK, have successively visited China. This is not merely a political spectacle, but a move driven by deeper international and strategic considerations. At the same time, Washington's shift in its European policy has placed transatlantic relations under the most severe test since the end of World War II. Against this backdrop, the Global Times has launched a commentary series, “The Widening Transatlantic Rift,” inviting scholars and experts at home and abroad to share their views.

At the beginning of 2026, a clear "looking East" trend has emerged on the international diplomatic stage. Several Western countries, including Ireland, Canada, Finland, and the UK, have successively visited China. This is not merely a political spectacle, but a move driven by deeper international and strategic considerations. At the same time, Washington's shift in its European policy has placed transatlantic relations under the most severe test since the end of World War II. Against this backdrop, the Global Times has launched a commentary series, "The Widening Transatlantic Rift," inviting scholars and experts at home and abroad to share their views.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday held talks with visiting President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi. President Orsi is the sixth foreign leader - and the first head of state from a Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) country - to visit China this year. Amid the current turbulent international landscape, China and Uruguay's close, multi-tiered and comprehensive friendly exchanges help deepen and solidify the China-LAC community with a shared future, contributing greater strength to maintaining world peace and stability and improving global governance.

Looking ahead, the development of a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK will require sustained efforts grounded in mutual respect and willingness to move beyond differences.

The friendship between China and Latin American countries, spanning oceans and continents, continues to deepen.

There is an old Chinese saying: when the winds of change blow, some people build walls while others build windmills. Starmer's trip to China was, in essence, a pragmatic attempt to adapt to these "winds" and adjust accordingly

Thailand's general election is set to be held on Sunday. Compared with the highly mobilized, emotionally charged political atmosphere seen ahead of the 2019 and 2023 elections, Thai society appears unusually calm regarding the upcoming 2026 general election.

The recent executive order by the Trump administration, which designates Cuba as "a threat to US national security," introduces tariffs on any country that supplies oil to the Caribbean nation. This represents a new tightening of the economic, commercial and financial embargo that Washington has enforced for more than 65 years and that has brought it international discredit and isolation. One of the greatest strategic mistakes of the North American country has been to once again underestimate the determination of the Cuban people and to assume that economic pressure can generate instability and a change in the political system.

In late January, the "Global Dialogue – China-EU Resonance" media and think tank forum, hosted by the Global Times (GT), was held in Brussels, Belgium. Ondrej Dostal (Dostal), a Czech member of the European Parliament, attended the forum and advocated for deeper China-EU cooperation. In an interview with GT reporter Wang Cong on the sidelines of the forum, Dostal shared his views on the current state of China-EU ties amid a volatile transatlantic relationship.

If US households purchase the same goods and services in 2025 as they did in 2024, the average household will need to spend an additional $2,120.

Whether it is the ports along the Panama Canal, Australia's Darwin Port mired in controversy, or the case of Nexperia in the Netherlands, the same "invisible hand" looms in the background.

Amid a growing trend among some Western countries to reflect on their over-dependence on the US and seek to diversify partnerships, certain Australian forces remain entrenched in the mind-set of binding Australia closely to the US.

For a decade, the China-skeptic forces have held sway in Britain. Any move in the direction of closer relations with China has been fiercely contested. As a result, no British prime minister visited Beijing for eight years. And China's proposal for a new much larger embassy in London met powerful resistance. That the new mega embassy has been approved and Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing deemed a success represents a very positive development in China-UK relations.

Although China doesn't seek to export China model, academic institutions and research centers in the Global South are witnessing a growing focus on studying and analyzing the Chinese development model, to explore its economic and political aspects as a potential alternative to the traditional Western model.

Some countries embrace a logic of "might makes right" and believe in their unilateral supremacy, displaying their bullying behavior over neighbors or even allies openly and without restraint. History and reality both show that once a world loses the constraints of international rules, the foundations of peace and development are inevitably shaken and conflicts and tensions will increasingly surface. The international community must therefore reaffirm unity, uphold international order and the rule of law, and jointly resist the risks and challenges brought by hegemonism and power politics.

More Western leaders are sending out stern warnings about past approach of overly depending on the US.

A boom in "celebrating the Spring Festival in China" is taking shape, adding a distinctive touch to the opening of the 2026 Bingwu (Year of the Horse) and offering the world a vivid new window through which to understand China.

For a country like Uruguay, the risk is securing greater policy autonomy without provoking Washington. That balancing act is becoming an increasingly visible feature of Latin America's engagement with China.

The crisis surrounding the US threat of a takeover of Greenland continues to exacerbate. US, Danish and Greenlandic officials met on January 28 to discuss a new framework deal regarding Greenland. Thousands of people in Greenland and Denmark have protested against the US takeover plan recently. How do Greenlanders view this escalating takeover rhetoric and what has changed in their daily lives since this self-governing island, with around 57,000 inhabitants, became the center of global attention? Global Times (GT) reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi interviewed Greenlandic politician and co-founder of the territory's liberal Cooperation Party, Tillie Martinussen (Martinussen), to understand how local residents perceive this rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

Recently, the viral hashtag #IWantToBeChinese on TikTok has revealed a fascinating global perception of China. Rather than being captivated by iconic landmarks, a growing number of foreign creators are drawn to the rhythms of daily life in China. Not coincidentally, a US media outlet reported that “Everyone Is suddenly in a 'very Chinese time' in their lives,” a trend that blows up so much in recent weeks. In this context, the Global Times spoke with three overseas creators who have been living in China for several years to unpack their most striking experiences and their growing resonance of “Chinese time.”

With multiple factors intertwined, uncertainty surrounding the election outcome has intensified. Regardless of the final seat distribution, the election process itself reflects the ongoing fluidity and restructuring of Japan's party system — developments whose impact will extend beyond a single contest to shape future policy directions and the broader political landscape.

You wish! The Chinese military's response rings loud and clear. This confidence comes from the steady strengthening of China's defense capabilities, and from the resolve of a force for peace to safeguard tranquility around the world.

The Yasukuni Shrine is a symbol of Japanese militarism and it honors Class-A war criminals who bear grave responsibility for war crimes committed against the peoples of Asian countries. Any entertainment or leisure activities held at such a site constitute an open affront to historical truth, and staging events aimed at children there is even more egregious

After Europe stoops to US' will for too long, straightening up now may bring sharp backache and unsteady footing. This is only natural. Yet if Europe does not stand tall today, the longer it delays, the more difficult the effort will become.

For much of the developing world, de-dollarization is far less ideological and far more practical. As financial pressures grow and global uncertainty deepens, countries will continue to seek mechanisms that reduce vulnerability.

The significance of educational support for #Xizang lies in ensuring that every child in the region has access to high-quality education, and that knowledge becomes a force for building their homeland, writes a teacher who went to Xizang to support education.

Stephen M. Walt, a scholar of international relations, recently wrote an op-ed titled "What Spheres of Influence Are - and Aren't" on Foreign Policy. In my view, Walt's essay is, in essence, a critique of the "thug with a club" strategy by Elbridge Colby, the principal architect of the newly released US National Defense Strategy.

In January 2026, the death of Renée Good, a mother of three in Minneapolis, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, and the subsequent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by federal agents, sparked outrage and protests within the US.

History has never shown mercy to arrogant gamblers; those who play with fire will inevitably be burned. Japan must understand that while its security relies on the US-Japan alliance, it likewise cannot do without stable China-Japan relations.

Despite flaws, international law remains indispensable. It is a choice of practical rationality, a yardstick for civilizational progress and a necessity for collective action, says a Chinese law professor during a forum recenty held in Beijing.

I see Starmer's visit as a historic opportunity for both the UK and China. China is an unavoidable reality. It is a weakness to believe one can simply ignore China. The visit shows that the UK is willing and able to step up, practice diplomacy and have difficult but necessary conversations, says former member of the House of Commons of the UK.

The story of Chinese games going global is both a narrative of industrial progress and a chapter in cross-cultural dialogue. Every steady step forward adds a new footnote to the evolving story of “Created in China.”

Improvement in China-UK relations benefits not only both sides, but also creates more opportunities for advancing a multipolar world. China-UK relations should be viewed from a global perspective beyond a bilateral lens.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte once again poured cold water on Europe's debate over “strategic autonomy” by bluntly claiming on Monday that Europe is “dreaming” if it thinks it can defend itself without the US. Rutte might consider taking California Governor Gavin Newsom's “advice”: If maintaining the transatlantic relationship requires such a subservient posture, he might as well put on knee pads.

Many American netizens who initially joined Xiaohongshu, a year ago following a looming TikTok ban, have become what they now call “Xiaohongshu locals.” They started to encounter the fragments of everyday Chinese life for the first time, and these fragmented posts, carried across digital networks, have fostered closer people-to-people interactions between the two countries. Let's hear the stories and views from three American “Xiaohongshu locals.”

The aspirations of over 1.4 billion Chinese people for a better life create vast potential for consumer demand, and the key to unlocking this potential increasingly lies in personalized and high-quality products and services.

What do the divergent foreign media narratives about Starmer's China visit reveal? The ideological narrative on China in Europe still possesses inertia, yet pragmatic engagement is increasingly becoming the practical choice. In a turbulent international environment, pursuing dialogue and cooperation is, in itself, a positive and realistic choice.

The Monroe Doctrine's journey from a defensive declaration to an imperialist dogma illustrates how ideas can be reshaped by power geopolitics. For LAC, confronting this history is not merely an academic exercise but a necessary step toward building a more sovereign and equitable future.

The future of China-Europe relations should not be confined to debating Europe's continued dependence on the US or a simplistic alignment with China. Instead, it should be viewed as a rational choice based on shared interests. It hinges on whether Europe can discern its true direction and genuinely achieve strategic autonomy.

A powerful winter storm spread a paralyzing mix of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Ohio Valley and mid-South to New England on Sunday, compounded by bitter, Arctic cold gripping much of the US east of the Rockies.

Should Japan pursue nuclear possession, its decades of efforts toward nuclear abolition would be undone, and the shock to the global non-proliferation regime would be immense, says Japanese nuclear expert

Against the backdrop of unilateralism and hegemonism stirring up the world, strengthening cooperation with China is increasingly seen within Western countries as a developing momentum.

The world will not reorganize into neat “West VS East” camps. Instead, we will see fluid, overlapping, partial alliances and transactional networks. Canada's deal with China is not an isolated incident. It is a signal that the American-led order based on geographic and ideological division is disintegrating from within.

The US withdrawal from WHO is a bad move that makes both the US and the world less safe.

The Global Governance Initiative demonstrates that, in the face of unprecedented global shifts, China is willing to collaborate with other countries to jointly advance and improve global governance, said experts at a forum.

The US-Europe relationship is comprehensively ruined. The US is desperately trying to hold on to its empire, on which it is losing its grip daily. Europe should make peace and amity with China and with Russia, make new arrangements with the rising powers in the world, instead of clinging to the fading, failing powers in the world.

Attempts to establish an organization parallel to international law and the UN system clearly run counter to the mainstream aspirations of the international community.

If the Trump-proposed “Board of Peace” attempts to compete with UN special agencies and even with the Security Council, it will only bring more instability and chaos in the highly volatile and worrisome international environment of today.

Both China and Europe should act in accordance with their fundamental interests and the future of the world, stand on the right side of history, defend international rules and order, and jointly be pioneers of dialogue and cooperation, advocates of open development, practitioners of multilateralism, and promoters of mutual learning among civilizations, truly empowering one another and illuminating the world.

From China's perspective, the future of the Arctic should not be a battleground for geopolitical rivalry, but a low-tension region for international cooperation on climate change and sustainable development. Claims that "China threatens Greenland" are simply too absurd to be worth refuting.

We need not obsess over whether the WSJ leak on US' Cuba regime change timetable is accurate. The true danger lies not in a specific timeline, but in Washington's rooted mindset of treating intervention as a right and hegemony as order. As long as the machinery of the new Monroe Doctrine exists, peace in Latin America will remain fragile.

China will continue to move toward a path of Chinese modernization. We believe that, as China continues to cooperate with the world, we will further contribute to strengthening global multilateralism and consolidating the multilateral framework based on the UN Charter.

Countries can't just do whatever they want. It's unacceptable. If big powers can just use all their might to take over everyone, it is going to be a big mess.

As 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the government is prioritizing domestic-demand-led growth. The Central Economic Work Conference in December last year listed building a robust domestic market as the top task among eight key policy objectives for the year.

Every year, many Chinese students cross oceans to pursue their studies, with venerable Western institutions such as Harvard and Oxford remaining their "dream schools." We also hope that in the future, more international students will come to regard Chinese universities as their own "dream schools" and choose to study in China. That would be a far more persuasive kind of "ranking."

The statements at Davos have sent a clear political signal of Europe's awakening. Moving forward, Europe must consolidate its strength through unity, steer its own course with greater autonomy, and expand its strategic space through diversification.

The uproar over Greenland has cast a shadow over the Davos forum, underscoring that US-Europe relations are at a critical turning point.

During my recent journey home from Wuhan to Beijing, and then from Beijing to Brazil to celebrate Christmas and New Year, I witnessed a “miracle” that was not supernatural, but an unexpected resolution born of human kindness. In fact, this was not a miracle in the traditional sense – something impossible that happens out of thin air. Not born of chance or magic, but of collective organization, technological mastery and a social fabric capable of turning urgency into resolution.

When a nation retains the talent it cultivates, and that talent builds world-class companies domestically, it signals genuine economic vitality.

In an era of global division, Western nations can no longer afford the "binary trap" of choosing between total alignment or total isolation. China-Canada cooperation demonstrates that it is possible to maintain certain firm "red lines" while simultaneously securing high-value, reciprocal deals in sectors like agriculture and green technology.

The greater the storm and snow, the more we need someone to guide the way forward. In this era full of uncertainty, China remains a stable "ballast." We do not engage in exclusive "cliques"; what we offer is a commitment to opening up a market of over 1.4 billion people, shared technological and innovation dividends with the world, and a steadfast adherence to international fairness and justice.

The US-proposed “Board of Peace” on Gaza not only disregards the will of the Palestinian people but also poses a huge challenge to the existing international governance system and norms of conduct.

China is trying to keep the country's trading and trying to gain. China is more commonsensical about what the costs and benefits are. At this stage, China is wiser and smarter in how its public policy is being informed and crafted.

As it is likely that the world will become more balkanized, this needs to inform how Hong Kong and its institutions think about the future: Don't think Western, think the mainland and the Global South.

Latin America must continue to be for Latin Americans: a land of dignity, freedom and future, not a satellite of the ambitions of a declining superpower.

From the solid foundation of a GDP totaling 140 trillion yuan to the vigorous vitality of new quality productive forces, China's economy is sending a clear signal through its unique resilience and dynamism: using its own certainty to offset global uncertainty, and providing a steady course for the world economy as it navigates through the fog.

"Who are our enemies? Who are our friends? This is a question of the first importance for the revolution." This is a well-known saying most Chinese are familiar with. Europe has long believed the US is its friend, but does the US view Europe the same way?

“New Monroe Doctrine” will not "Make America Great Again,” on the contrary, it is likely to let the world witness the Washington's tyranny, shamelessness, embarrassment and failure once again. If the US cannot achieve the expected strategic benefits in Venezuela, “new Monroe Doctrine” is destined to fail.

Ultimately, the Venezuelan crisis serves as a revealing moment for the current limits of Europe as a strategic actor.

Broadly speaking, the US-Europe alliance has formed an interactive relationship of "ebb and flow."

The goal of Canada's recalibration is not to simply exchange one dependency for another, but to reclaim the autonomous capacity to define its own national interests, thereby marking the beginning of Canada's road away from dependency. The future of the China-Canada partnership is a vital opportunity for diversification.

Justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.

Faced with hegemonic blackmail in the icy winds of Greenland and self-imposed restrictions in Brussels' conference rooms, Europe really needs to wake up: Continuing to be mired in the quagmire of double standards will only exhaust its own vitality; only by returning to rationality and pragmatism can it take its destiny truly into its own hands.

The Chinese worldview is not individualistic – it understands people as relational beings embedded in families and communities. The concept of national rejuvenation focuses on improving the livelihoods of families.

The Global Times, in collaboration with renowned experts and scholars from both China and abroad, has selected 10 key terms for 2026.

When the US no longer considers how to combine competition and cooperation, but instead adopts protectionism to swim against the current, it may only be prolonging the pain. What is the US losing? We're afraid it's not just automobiles.

We sincerely hope the Canadian side will cherish this hard-won positive development, keep external interference at bay, deepen practical cooperation, and advance the building of a "strong and enduring" new Strategic Partnership between China and Canada.

Moving forward, AIIB is expected to play an even greater role in advancing multilateral cooperation in global governance.

Today, Japan once again wraps itself in the mantle of “peace.” However, in practice, it pursues military expansion and policies that undermine regional peace and stability.

Will Europe become an appendage of hegemony, or will it hold the line of rules? The Greenland issue is a mirror that reflects Europe's diplomatic predicament and tests its moral responsibility.

The US sets its sights on Greenland.

A US-controlled Greenland would further shift the regional balance. One must wonder how Nordic leaders now view their decisions to be friendly hosts to the US military, made under the delusional assumption that the US would act as a “benevolent protector.”

The US' pressure over Greenland not only infringes upon Denmark's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also shatters Europe's nostalgic attachment to alliance with the US back in the “good old days.”

Carney and his government must understand that the options are not the US or China, but that Canada can have good relations with the US and China simultaneously.

Whether the outside world chooses to “restrict” or “allow,” it cannot alter the historical course of China's technological self-reliance and contribution to the world.

In Washington's worldview, a country's value is often measured by its resources and strategic position – value invites exploitation, while weakness is equated with safety.

A recent series of events over the South China Sea disputes reflects that the maritime issues between China and the Philippines are being deliberately pushed by certain forces in the Philippines toward a more complex, confrontational and dangerous direction.

Over these past 27 years, Europe lost not just military capability, but the capacity for independent thought, and this is why Europe cannot say "no" to US threat over Greenland.

The shared pursuit of the dream of modernization between China and Africa is not only the inevitable outcome of deepening mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, but also one of its core objectives.

The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first attack on a boat that the Trump administration said was smuggling drugs, killing 11 people last September.

Harbin's rising fame is not the triumph of a single scenic feature but the combined effect of convenient policies and unique experiences. It reflects a tangible form of China's appeal.

The progress achieved in this round of consultations is, at its core, determined by the mutually beneficial, win-win nature of China-EU economic and trade relations, and it constitutes the most powerful rebuttal to so-called “de-risking.”

The Chinese mainland's series of actions in 2025 has demonstrated an unprecedented determination and a clear strategic roadmap to crush “Taiwan independence” separatists. They outlined a clear strategic trajectory in 2025 for the mainland's Taiwan-related strategy that is focused on opposing “Taiwan independence” and external interference, marking the beginning of a new phase in which the Chinese mainland actively combats external interference and takes firm action against “Taiwan independence” forces.

The recent illegal intervention in Venezuela has once again "cut open the veins of Latin America," proving that the Monroe Doctrine, openly upheld by the US, is in essence a form of neocolonialism.

Global governance is something that every country ultimately needs, regardless of its political ideology or system of governance. In this sense, China has done well in bringing these principles to the international stage.

PM Carney's upcoming trip to China may not bring drastic changes, but the meeting itself will be valuable and steer the two countries in the right direction: Canadian scholar Radhika Desai

The Arctic is not anyone's private garden. Its future concerns the well-being of Arctic and non-Arctic countries alike, and of all humanity, and should be safeguarded jointly by all stakeholders.

Africa belongs to Africans, and efforts to pressure African countries into making a so-called "choice" between China and the US amount to yet another blatant attempt to subordinate African development to Washington's geopolitical self-interest, at the expense of the well-being of African people.

As the world's youngest continent, Africa can draw valuable lessons from China in youth development: Chinese, African scholars

In the face of a complex and interwoven international situation, Chinese diplomacy is playing a pivotal role amid changes unseen in a century with greater strategic determination, a more proactive stance, and more diverse approaches.

Successful law enforcement cooperation does more than combat crime - it clears obstacles to regional economic integration, provides investors with predictable security assurances and creates environments where people can live in peace of mind and engage in cross-border exchanges.

The US recent seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on high seas exposes its double standards on freedom of navigation – a concentrated manifestation of its long-standing hegemonic approach to maritime affairs, one that is increasingly unacceptable to the international community.

In the aftermath of the forcible seizure of Maduro, a series of “victory bragging” narratives quickly took shape in Washington. This amounted to a political declaration that openly and ritualistically elevates the idea “might makes right.”

It is incontestable that today, Japan, Asia and the world need Japan to be bound by Article 9 - unreformed - more than ever.

For the China-South Korea relationship, seizing the opportunity of the 15th Five-Year Plan to build a new balance of cooperation amid competition may be the true essence of this "year of full-scale restoration."

Welcome Prime Minister Carney to visit China and it is also hoped that the Canadian side will translate a correct understanding of China into concrete actions, including lifting unreasonable tariff restrictions and advancing more pragmatic cooperation. A warming of China-Canada relations will not only bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, but also inject greater certainty into the world.

China's focus on self-reform underscores the vital role of continuous self-correction in effective governance, fostering a sense of purpose in confronting global changes, and providing consistent, predictable support for global development.

The more Europe appeases hegemony, the more the hegemon will take advantage of it.

For its own sake and for global stability, the US must retain a clear understanding of the value of responsibility, rules and cooperation – and shoulder at least the most basic obligations expected of a major power.

After seven years of preparation, a new book titled History and facts of the South China Sea was launched in Beijing on Thursday. The launch ceremony was hosted by the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance (Huayang Center).

Now Latin America and the Caribbean face the turbulent path of overcoming the neocolonizing strategy of the “neighborhood bully” and strengthening diversified ties with other countries of the world that prioritize tangible, pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation, without geopolitical calculations or interference.

While governance models cannot be mechanically transplanted from one context to another, the CPC's eight-point decision offers valuable lessons. The eight-point decision can serve as an eye-opener for countries struggling with weak party governance.

Now Latin America and the Caribbean face the turbulent path of overcoming the neocolonizing strategy of the “neighborhood bully” and strengthening diversified ties with other countries of the world that prioritize tangible, pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation, without geopolitical calculations or interference.

The 36-year new year tradition between China and Africa conveys a crucial sense of certainty in bilateral relations, and now – more than ever – a constant joint call for a more just, inclusive and trustworthy global order.

China's move to impose a “no-go” sign on Japan, which is going further and further down the path of reviving militarism, is a powerful defense of the postwar international order.

The recent trial and subsequent conviction of Jimmy Lai are a watershed moment for Hong Kong's legal landscape.

As a defeated country, Japan's due post-WWII role should have been that of a modest pacifist, a co-builder of regional cooperation and a promoter of historical reconciliation. In recent years, however, a series of Japan's actions have been reshaping this role in the opposite direction.

Make no mistake:, Tthe US has undertaken what could turn out to be the beginning of the 21st century version of colonialism in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Monroe Doctrine, the idea that the US and the US alone will control the region, is, unfortunately, alive and well.

In the ongoing wave of technological change, China has consistently demonstrated its determination to turn development challenges into innovation opportunities and to make technological breakthroughs benefit global progress as a whole.

Only by adhering to true multilateralism and upholding international law, as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, can the international system avoid descending into a jungle logic where the strong prey on the weak, allowing the world to move toward a more stable and just direction.

The US is the country in the world least aligned with the UN Charter. I do not believe the US will dominate the Americas. If it tries, a lot of violence will result. Most of the rest of the world will resist the US attempt at hegemony, US scholar Jeffrey Sachs told the Global Times.

History demonstrates, US actions like the latest attack in Venezuela often become a “rod for America's own back” – a self-inflicted burden of instability, resentment and strategic overreach that undermines US interests far more than it secures them.

The attack on Venezuela on January 3 leaves no room for doubt: The US no longer behaves as the peaceful democracy it proclaims to be. It has evolved into an armed democracy.

South Korea and China must identify structures and sectors for economic cooperation that allow for mutual sustainability, coexistence and prosperity. Lee's visit serves as a vital opportunity to explore these possibilities.

US foreign policy works through wars, covert regime-change operations, economic sanctions and other hostile actions, all of which are in violation of the spirit of the UN Charter and international law, said renowned US scholar Jeffrey Sachs in a written interview with the Global Times over US latest actions against Venezuela on Monday.

Strengthening people-to-people ties, particularly among Gen Z, is vital for the continued enhancement of China-South Korea relations, experts said on Monday at a seminar hosted by the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

It's believed that as long as the two countries continue in the direction of friendly cooperation, respect each other's concerns, and focus on common development issues, China and the ROK will be able to continuously build mutual trust through cooperation and make greater contributions to global prosperity and development.

The most striking hallmark of the four global initiatives is their unwavering commitment to genuine multilateralism. In all, they inject strong confidence and momentum into the Global South's pursuit of multilateral cooperation, together ushering in a new era of peace, development, fairness and justice.