China's first large-scale intelligent forest fire rescue and emergency response training facility, constructed by a research institute under the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), has passed its final acceptance and was officially put into use at the National Southwest Emergency Rescue Center, according to an announcement made by CALT on its WeChat account on Thursday.
The completion of this significant project not only fills a gap in the field of intelligent forest fire emergency rescue training equipment in China but also marks a new level of technological advancement in the country's forest fire response capabilities.
China's southwestern region is rich in forestry resources and has a high forest coverage rate, making forest fires one of the major challenges in the area. The establishment of this facility will effectively enhance the comprehensive response capabilities of rescue teams and provide a demonstration model for the market promotion of intelligent forest fire simulation training equipment, CALT said.
The training facility integrates multiple advanced technologies developed by CALT, enabling highly realistic simulations of forest fire scenarios and offering rescue personnel a comprehensive, multi-angle, and practical training environment.
Since 2000, the academy has been developing emergency rescue simulation training equipment. Its previous products have been deployed in training bases of over 100 emergency rescue departments across 15 provinces and cities nationwide.
CALT said the academy will continue to deepen technological innovation in the field of simulation training equipment, actively participating in national research initiatives and product development in related areas, and contributing further to the modernization of China's emergency management system.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message to the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, extending warm congratulations to African countries and people.
In the face of the current complex and intertwined international situation, the Global South, represented by China and Africa, has grown significantly, Xi noted.
Over the past year, the AU has united and led African countries in vigorously advancing integration, actively responding to regional and global challenges, and speaking in unison as the "voice of Africa," Xi said.
Noting that these efforts have led to a continuous boost in Africa's international status and influence, he sincerely wishes African countries and people even greater success on the path of independence, self-reliance and development.
Xi said that the year 2024 saw vigorous development of China-Africa relations.
With the successful Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China and Africa have embarked on a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era, and stayed at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi noted.
He expressed readiness to work with African leaders to promote the implementation of the six proposals for jointly advancing modernization and 10 partnership actions, so as to bring more tangible results to benefit over 2.8 billion Chinese and African peoples.
Futian district in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province deployed 70 DeepSeek-powered "AI public servants" to assist in administrative governance, ensuring document format corrections with an accuracy rate of over 95 percent. The district also pioneered China's first AI governance framework for government assistance, according to a statement released on its WeChat account on Saturday.
The AI employees were built on the full-size DeepSeek R1 model. They mitigate inefficiencies in conventional administrative workflows. Leveraging a domestically-produced computational power platform for localized sector-specific training, and tailored to the actual business processes of various departments, these personalized intelligent agents are initially deployed across 240 administrative scenarios.
The 70 digital employees were deployed in 11 functional areas, enhancing efficiency across the government service ecosystem, including document processing, public service, emergency management, and business development and investment promotion, among others.
The AI system has reduced the time needed for personalized content generation from five days to just a few minutes. The accuracy rate of document format corrections exceeds 95 percent, cutting audit times by 90 percent, and the error rate remains below 5 percent.
According to the article, with the assistance of these digital employees, the accuracy in processing public service requests has increased from 70 percent to 95 percent. The safety compliance AI assistant has enhanced rehearsal script generation efficiency by 100 times. The AI investment attraction assistant has streamlined corporate analysis and screening, increasing efficiency by 30 percent. The AI task supervision assistant has boosted cross-departmental task delegation efficiency by 80 percent, and the on-time completion rate has increased by 25 percent.
"Compared to humans, AI outperforms humans in both efficiency and accuracy, making it a significant asset in handling government affairs," Xiang Ligang, a telecom expert, told the Global Times on Monday. "In public service, AI's objectivity helps mitigate the high time costs when dealing with the public. When engaging with some emotional citizens, digital employees can accurately extract key information, understand and respond to public needs, and respond swiftly while adhering to legal and regulatory frameworks."
"However, this does not imply that AI services will be devoid of human warmth. One of the standout features of domestically developed models, including DeepSeek, is their focus on training language styles. When faced with the same facts, these models generate responses that are both engaging and contextually appropriate, enhancing user experience. This is a valuable aspect," Xiang said.
The article stated that the Futian district converted raw data into structured, actionable intelligence. It has aggregated 120 million pieces of government data in the past decade, constructing a dedicated knowledge pool covering policies, regulations, service guides, historical cases, and more. By applying text processing techniques compatible with the DeepSeek model, the platform connects the knowledge base to the model through advanced embedding techniques.
Moreover, in terms of institutional innovation, Futian district has introduced China's first regulatory framework for government assistance AI. This framework outlines the full process management for the procurement and use of government assistance robots, establishing ethical guidelines and defining technical standards, application scope, safety management, and regulatory requirements, thus providing institutional support for the legal and compliant operation of intelligent robots in government affairs.
"Although there have not been significant ethical issues arising from the government's integration of AI for smart governance, it's wise to consider regulatory frameworks proactively. This approach will help ensure that any issues emerging during implementation can be addressed in a timely and standardized manner," said Xiang.
China and Australia held the 23rd China-Australia Defense Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Monday, with the two sides exchanging in-depth views on relations between the two countries, their militaries, regional security and other issues of common concern, according to a statement released by China's Ministry of National Defense.
The dialogue was co-hosted by General Xu Qiling, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department under China's Central Military Commission (CMC), Air Marshal Robert Chipman AO CSC, Vice Chief of the Australian Defense Force, and Hugh Jeffrey, Australian Deputy Secretary of Defense Strategy, Policy and Industry Group.
The two sides agreed to continue strengthening strategic communication in the defense field, properly handle disputes and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation, the statement said.
Australia's defense news platform Defence Connect hyped that this dialogue was held against the backdrop of Australia claiming that an Australian air force patrol aircraft experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional" interaction with a Chinese Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea recently.
Australia has been hyping up the PLA's expulsion of an Australian warplane. Against such a backdrop, it shows that it is important for timely military communication to avoid misjudgments, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
"This kind of dialogue provides an opportunity for Australia to understand where the boundaries and limits lie, and where China will undoubtedly make a firm response," Chen said.
In response to the Australian defense ministry's claim that an Australian air force patrol aircraft experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional" interaction with a Chinese Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea on February 11, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on February 13 that the Australian military aircraft deliberately intruded into China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao without China's permission, infringing on China's sovereignty and endangering China's national security.
The Australian statement claimed that on February 11, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional interaction" with a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force J-16 fighter aircraft.
"The facts are very clear: the Australian military aircraft intruded into China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao, violating China's sovereignty and security. It will definitely be met with expulsion by the PLA, which is a justified action of defense and a legitimate right. No country would tolerate foreign military aircraft intruding into its airspace, and every nation would take corresponding measures in response, applying different levels of interception and countermeasures based on the nature of the provocation," Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times in an earlier interview on February 13.
"The latest China-Australia defense dialogue is aimed at avoiding miscalculations. However, Australia is continuously coordinating with the US to meddle in Asia-Pacific affairs," Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Australia should deeply recognize its own position: it is an Oceanian country, not an Asian country, and it should clearly define its own stance and not follow the US in creating trouble in the Asia-Pacific region, Song said.
"If Australia wishes to cooperate with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, it is welcome. But if it intends to assist the US in confronting certain countries within the region, this is unacceptable," Song added.
The China-Australia Defense Strategic Dialogue is a high-level forum between the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Australian Department of Defence, established in 1997. It was last held in 2019.
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Tainan City of China's Taiwan, at 12:17 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The epicenter, with a depth of 14 km, was monitored at 23.24 degrees north latitude and 120.51 degrees east longitude, the CENC said.
The earthquake caused strong tremors across the entire island of Taiwan, with noticeable shaking reported in Quanzhou, Xiamen and Fuzhou in East China's Fujian Province, and Ningbo, Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, as well as Shanghai also felt the tremors, according to CCTV News on Tuesday.
When asked whether she could confirm the reports that a Chinese worker at a local mining company was killed in northern Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday that "I'm not clear about what you mentioned, but I believe our embassy in Afghanistan will do its best to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and should be following up on the situation."
China's new-generation CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft on Monday completed a full-load taxiing test under full working conditions in Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, Central China's Hubei Province. This cargo drone has been described as a "pickup truck in the air," and will hopefully provide a new logistics solution to "remote regions that lack free shipping."
The Global Times noted that the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft adopts a typical transport aircraft design with two engines and a high wing. In order to ensure that the cargo can be conveniently and efficiently delivered to the cabin, it is equipped with an upward-flipping nose door. It is also equipped with a belly hatch, which can be used for special needs such as emergency airdrops, pesticide spraying or firefighting.
Huang Wei from Aerospace CH UAV Co Ltd told the Global Times that the taxiing test is a landmark mission node following the advent of the unmanned transport aircraft. Generally speaking, important mission nodes in aircraft development, including unmanned aerial vehicles, include low-speed and high-speed taxiing, first flight, flights with different mission loads, verification test and demonstration flight.
Huang said that unlike the taxiing and flight tests of manned aircraft, which rely on test pilots, comparable tests of the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft rely on autonomous program control. The operator only needs to upload relevant instructions to the drone, which can interpret the route information and taxiing runway information by itself and make corresponding actions according to the actual situation.
As a result, the taxiing test for the drone has very high requirements for the reliability of related control programs and equipment. At present, the control system of the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft mainly comes from the mature technology of the CH-3D armed reconnaissance drone, which includes a variety of protection measures, so the overall performance is very reliable, according to Huang.
The CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft project was launched in March 2024. Based on the rich experience of the Chinese Academy of Aerospace and Aerodynamics' Aerospace CH UAV Co Ltd with unmanned aircraft, the drone applied many mature technologies and products on the shelf. A prototype of the drone was publicly displayed during the Zhuhai Airshow in November last year, and it has now smoothly completed its taxiing test in a sign of rapid progress.
After the taxiing test, the project team will further optimize and test the unmanned transport aircraft to ensure that its performance is more stable and reliable before conducting the first test flight.
Huang said that the precautions for drone test flights are slightly different from those for manned aircraft, and more attention is paid to the reliability of the equipment. During the first flight, the drone will place greater emphasis on environmental safety and try to eliminate unfavorable and interfering factors. When other conditions are ripe, the takeoff and landing tests in harsh field environments will be carried out.
Huang explained that the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft has corresponding defense measures against hacker attacks, including the use of a dedicated radio communication network.
In recent years, there have been frequent cases of drones being interfered with, an eventuality that Huang said the CH-YH1000 unmanned transport aircraft is also prepared for. One of the protection measures that has been adopted allows the drone to return to the departure airport along the originally set response route if it encounters interference and loses contact with the ground command center.
"The unmanned transport aircraft we developed is like a 'pickup truck in the air.' We hope to achieve efficient air transportation at only a slightly higher cost than land transportation, meet the logistics needs of remote areas, and solve the problem of high delivery fees and slow delivery time in regions such as Xizang and Xinjiang," Huang said.
He said that in the future, towns and villages with inconvenient land transportation can rely on unmanned transport aircraft to fill the shortfall, improve their express delivery distribution systems, and promote the convenience of online shopping.
In addition, the CH-YH1000 drone relies on sensors to fly autonomously, which means it makes little difference whether it flies during the day or at night. Therefore, this unmanned transport aircraft, with its large transport capacity of 1,000 kilograms, can operate in the second half of the night when there is no civil aviation activity to achieve high-density air transport. It will bring new solutions to fields such as logistics, emergency rescue and military supply, and will strongly promote the development of China's unmanned transport aircraft industry and inject new vitality into the development of the country's low-altitude economy.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most significant traditional holiday in China, symbolizing family reunions and marking a farewell to the old while welcoming the new. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, every Spring Festival, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has taken time out of his busy schedule to reach out to the grassroots level, engaging in conversations with ordinary people and frontline workers from various sectors.
From preparations for the Chinese New Year to local customs celebrated during this festival, Xi's heartfelt conversations with people across the country reflect his genuine blessings and deep care for the populace. These moments also serve as a microcosm of the continuous development of China's economy and society, as well as the ongoing improvement of living standards for the Chinese people.
The Spring Festival has been successfully inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) list of intangible cultural heritage. As this year's Spring Festival approaches, the Global Times is presenting a two-part series that follows in Xi's footsteps to explore the various festival traditions and the joyful lives of people across the country.
This is the first installment of the series. It focuses on Spring Festival foods and purchases highlighted during Xi's pre-festival inspection tours, which embody the romance of this traditional Chinese festival and reflect Xi's genuine care for the people.
The Spring Festival holds a special place in the hearts of the Chinese people, embodying warmth and family joy. During this festive season, the celebrations of ordinary families resonate deeply with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who genuinely cares about whether the Chinese people can enjoy a prosperous New Year filled with abundance.
"My biggest wish is that all of us will have a happy Lunar New Year. Party committees and governments at all levels should earnestly ensure the supply of electricity, gas, and heating during the festival, ensure that necessities such as 'vegetable baskets,' 'rice bags,' and 'fruit plates' are in ample supply, and strengthen supervision over food safety," Xi said ahead of the 2023 Chinese Lunar New Year, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
"Letting the people of all ethnic groups have a good life," is Xi's aspiration, which is evident in his thoughtful consideration of New Year goods each year. Reflecting on Xi's annual "Spring Festival footsteps," it is evident that no matter where he goes, he always cares about how the people are living and whether they have prepared their festive goods. This "Spring Festival shopping list" reflects a profound commitment to the well-being of the Chinese people and embodies a beautiful vision for the high-quality development of their lives.
'We were greatly inspired'
The Spring Festival is a wonderful moment to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, always bringing new hope to the people. In China, it is not merely a celebration of the changing seasons and the passage of time; it is also a moment brimming with hope for the future.
In February 2015, shortly before the Spring Festival, a group of villagers gathered at the entrance of Liangjiahe village in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province to welcome Xi. The cave dwellings of Liangjiahe were nestled among the mountains and scattered across the valleys of the Loess Plateau.
As Xi walked with the villagers from the entrance into the heart of the village, memories came rushing back. In 1969, Xi, just shy of turning 16, was sent to live in Liangjiahe as an "educated youth." He would spend the next seven of his most formative years living in that rural hamlet. That area was where the Communist revolutionaries, including his father, rose to found New China, according to Xinhua.
During this visit, Xi brought gifts such as dumpling flour, rice, cooking oil, and meat products, as well as couplets and New Year paintings, ensuring that every household received a share. As they reminisced and exchanged pleasantries, his primary concern remained the villagers' well-being, including their food, clothing, and living conditions.
"President Xi asked how we resolved our water issues and how we were living. His questions were so thoughtful; they warmed my heart," recalled villager Liu Jinlian, as reported by Xinhua. Although the cave dwelling still bore the marks of the past, Liu's life had undergone a remarkable transformation. "At that time, we had no worries about food or clothing; life was much better than before," Liu said. "After his visit, the people in the village were greatly inspired to improve our lives."
In pursuit of poverty alleviation, Liangjiahe established a rural cultural tourism company in 2015, merging tourism development with poverty alleviation efforts. Villagers sprang into action - some opened farm stays, while others became shuttle drivers, finding work right at their doorsteps and benefiting from the burgeoning tourism industry.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Liangjiahe has successfully lifted itself out of poverty by focusing on rural tourism, apple cultivation, and village-enterprise processing. The villagers have transitioned from poverty to prosperity. Per capita net yearly income for villagers soared from 7,917 yuan ($1,093) in 2012 to 18,120 yuan in 2021, Xinhua reported.
Villagers now reside in new homes, operate farm stays, and enjoy paved roads and cultural activity squares. With apple demonstration gardens and modern breeding bases, the people of Liangjiahe are steadily realizing their dreams of a better life through hard work.
In his heart, Xi carries the hopes of countless "Liangjiahes." "The essence of governance is livelihood, and the right way to ensure people's livelihoods is to understand the hardships in their lives." - Xi once cited this ancient proverb to underscore the people-centered philosophy in governance, Xinhua reported. Stable, fresh supply guaranteed
People's ability to joyfully celebrate the Chinese New Year largely depends on their access to goods in the market. This has been a concern for Xi, who has often reflected on it during pre-festival inspections at various consumer venues over the years, including community supermarkets, rural shops, and stores at highway service areas.
On February 4, 2021, he visited a supermarket called Heli Huimin Fresh in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou Province. At the supermarket, he checked the supply of goods for the Spring Festival holidays and their prices, Xinhua reported.
"When President Xi visited, I was filled with excitement. His warm smile lit up our dining area as he inquired about each dish and its price. Learning that customers could enjoy a hearty meal for around 20 yuan, he praised our affordable pricing, clearly valuing the people's needs," Liu Bing, the technical guidance at the processing department of the supermarket, told the Global Times.
According to Li Dexiang, who works at the supermarket, the store offers 40 essential goods at government-guided prices, typically 10 to 30 percent lower than nearby markets. Items like radishes and cabbages have been staples in the "one-yuan sales area."
"The affordability of produce stems from a decade of government rent subsidies, the establishment of supply bases, and direct sourcing, allowing us to pass savings on to consumers," Li told the Global Times.
This is not the first time Xi has shown concern for the public's festive shopping needs. In February 2024, he visited Tianjin, emphasizing the need for local governments to enhance the supply of essential goods during the holiday season, ensuring abundance, variety, and quality for a worry-free celebration, Xinhua reported.
With the holiday approaching this year, government departments at all levels across China are intensifying their efforts to stabilize prices and secure supplies. Measures include enhancing emergency response and timely monitoring of goods' supply and price changes. A snack brings smiles
In the vibrant village of Desheng in North China's Hebei Province, villagers believe that a simple snack can bring smiles and prosperity. This festive cake, known as "kai kou xiao," literally translates to "mouth-opening smile" - an apt name for its appearance as golden, fried dough balls with a cracked surface resembling a grinning mouth.
As the Spring Festival approaches, households like that of Liu Guirong, a 65-year-old villager in Desheng, are bustling with frying up these festive treats. For Liu, "kai kou xiao" has transformed from a traditional festive food into a symbol of her village's remarkable journey toward rural revitalization and prosperity.
This transformation began in January 2017 when Xi inspected Desheng village, visiting and chatting with poor families, discussing how they could shake off poverty, Xinhua reported.
During this inspection, Xi sampled the "kai kou xiao" and praised its deliciousness. Liu was among those who prepared the snack that day, and also participated in the discussions in which where Xi helped a villager meticulously calculate household income and expenses. Xi called for more efforts to help the poor develop industries that could grow in a sustainable manner, set up sustainable mechanisms for poverty alleviation, and create ways for them to achieve prosperity, according to Xinhua.
The villagers later embarked on a transformation path. Following the path of "simultaneously focusing on industrial development and infrastructure improvement," they gradually established a thriving rural tourism industry based on homestays, which contributed to the rural revitalization.
The village's economic fortunes have blossomed since 2020. Ye Runbing, the Party secretary of Desheng village, told the Global Times that that the per capita net income of the villagers increased from 5,800 yuan in 2016 to 24,000 yuan in 2024.
The "kai kou xiao," once a simple local delicacy, has blossomed into a village signature dish thanks to the remarkable economic transformation of Desheng village and the recognition it received from Xi. Liu also seized this opportunity and launched her own "kai kou xiao" business in her spare time.
As the Spring Festival approaches, Desheng village gears up for a series of cultural events, which has led to a booming "kai kou xiao" business for local villagers.
"Many tourists come to our village specifically to buy this snack as a New Year's gift to take back home and share with their loved ones," Liu said. With each 0.5-kilogram package selling for 25 yuan, she sells at least 10 kilograms daily.
"Seeing the village come alive, with smiles brightening everyone's faces, fills me with joy," Liu shared. "Today, life in Desheng village is as cheerful as its namesake treat, flourishing more with each passing day," she said.
The bustling scene surrounding the procurement of "kai kou xiao" epitomizes the vibrant atmosphere found in markets across China at this moment. Each small bundle of New Year goods carries with it the hopes and memories of the people, as well as a reflection of the nation's prosperity. This year, as China celebrates the Spring Festival, the country stands confident and resilient, forging ahead on the path toward modernization and a brighter future.
The rampant telecom fraud in northern and eastern Myanmar has recently made headlines again following the rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing who claimed to have fallen into a scam park after being brought to Myawaddy, a city in east Myanmar across the Thai-Myanmar border, where Thai police reported that Wang was a victim of human trafficking.
Media reports have revealed that fraudsters view Chinese individuals lured to border regions of Myanmar by high salaries and organized smuggling as essential profit tools, often trading them between different scam operations. They refer to these victims as piglets, or "Zhu Zai (in Chinese)," evoking the image of livestock crammed into cages, awaiting sale.
These villainous activities targeting Chinese individuals have faced several rounds of vigorous crackdowns by China, after having partnered with local authorities in Myanmar and Thailand over the past two years.
At a press conference on January 10, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) spokesperson Zhang Ming announced that by the end of 2024, over 53,000 Chinese suspects linked to fraud had been captured, effectively dismantling the notorious "four families" crime syndicate in northern Myanmar. Large-scale scam operations near China's border have been eradicated, resulting in a significant decline in telecom fraud cases and financial losses nationwide. However, the situation remains dire, and efforts to combat these crimes have increased.
To delve into the harrowing experiences of Chinese individuals trapped to Myawaddy and to unravel the intricate web of human trafficking and fraud behind it, the Global Times spoke with a survivor, the families of those still missing in Myanmar, and researchers, uncovering the evolving tactics and alarming trends. A survivor's harrowing experiences in Myawaddy
"Never again do I want to go through that," Dr Zhang, a survivor of a harrowing ordeal in Myawaddy, Myanmar, told the Global Times, recalling fragments of his nightmare trapped in the forced scam center. In 2022, Zhang, a PhD holder from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found himself ensnared in a web of deceit that led him to a fraudulent operation in the eastern Myanmar city of Myawaddy. The catalyst for his descent into this hellish experience was the dire need for funds to cover medical expenses for his ailing family members and girlfriend.
After resigning from his stable position at a botanical researcher, where he earned a modest salary of 5,000 yuan ($681.8) a month, Zhang turned to an online "agency" that promised a lucrative job as a translator in Singapore. What followed was a betrayal that would change his life forever.
Instead of the bright lights of Singapore, he was thrust into a dark world where he was forced to impersonate Asian women online, luring men in North America, working 18 hours a day.
The deception began long before Zhang set foot in Myanmar. The agency assured him that the job was in Singapore, with a temporary location in Thailand.
"They asked for my diploma, English proficiency certificates, a health report, and a clean criminal record," he recounted. "They even provided a job invitation letter and bought my flight ticket. It all seemed very credible."
Zhang was then taken to the border between Thailand and Myanmar, crossing the river into Myawaddy, Myanmar. "At the time, I had no idea that river was the border. They never mentioned Myanmar, always referring to it as Thailand. By the time I realized I had been deceived, I was already in a scam center in Myanmar," he recalled.
Once in Myawaddy, the reality was far from what he had imagined. Zhang quickly realized that escape was nearly impossible. Those who attempted to flee faced brutal consequences. "Two men held me down and beat me with a thick wooden stick," he recalled. "They left my lower body black and swollen, and I was so disoriented I could barely stand." He was confined in a cage-like structure made of steel pipes, alongside others who had either tried to escape, leaked information, or simply slacked off. Their hands were shackled to the pipes, and they were forced to stand for hours on end as punishment.
Until September 2023, a post about a PhD-holder from the Chinese Academy of Sciences being lured into a telecom fraud operation in Myanmar went viral on Chinese social media, raising public concern. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Chinese police, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar and Thailand, and Thai authorities, he was successfully rescued.
After returning to China, Zhang shared his experience on Weibo to warn others avoid similar traps, expressing gratitude for the support he received from the government and society.
Vanishing signals at the border
A joint letter asking for help from the families of 174 individuals trapped in Myanmar has been trending on China's social media platform Sina Weibo recently, following the rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing. The families of the 174 individuals trapped in northern and eastern Myanmar expressed concern that their missing relatives might be victims of human trafficking who have been unaccounted for, for a few months to three years.
In a WeChat group the families established, the Global Times found a document containing information about their missing relatives including the age, origin, time, and routes of disappearance. Thousands of messages flooded the group daily, highlighting the vanishing signals at the border. Mothers, brothers, wives, and sons waited desperately for any sign from their loved ones, sending each other words of encouragement.
After analyzing the information in the document, the Global Times found that the missing relatives' disappearance primarily follows two routes: Some went missing after entering Myanmar near the Thai-Myanmar border, while others disappeared after crossing the border from China's border city of Yunnan into Myanmar.
One family member, surnamed Bai, shared with the Global Times that his son went missing in early August 2024 after entering Myanmar to "discuss an investment opportunity pitched by a friend." The son later managed to send a covert signal to his family 10 days later, indicating that he was in fact trapped in a telecom fraud park and forced to engage in illegal transactions, working 17 hours a day with a monthly performance target of 100,000 yuan. Failure to meet the target resulted in severe beatings, and in some cases, death.
Based on the messages he occasionally sent back covertly, Bai's son revealed that they were coerced into using popular Chinese social media apps to find victims, and were often subjected to physical abuse and psychological manipulation. His son said he has multiple bruises and injuries. Due to underperformance, his fingers were broken, leaving only those that do not affect typing. To prevent their escape, their shoes were burned, and everyone in the compound was made to wear flip-flops, according to the messages.
Based on information from his son, at the end of October 2024, after hearing the news of a "cleanup operation," the scam syndicate quickly relocated its personnel, cramming everyone into a large truck while handcuffed. As the cross-border crackdown on these operations intensified, the scammers adapted, moving their operations to different locations to evade law enforcement.
Bai learned from his son that some stranded individuals had managed to buy their freedom for ransoms of at least 300,000 yuan, but his family lacked the funds to secure their son's release.
In a chilling advertisement circulating online, a scam operation in Myawaddy was seeking new recruits, offering high salaries for those willing to engage in fraudulent activities. The price of one recruitment is clearly marked: "Ordinary people: 100,000 yuan; fast typists: 120,000 yuan; aged between 20 and 30."
When Dai, a family member of another missing, first received a request for an interview from the Global Times, she was cautious. It wasn't until the Global Times sent official identification that she finally let her guard down, responding with three crying emojis. Dai shared that during the search for their missing relatives, many families had encountered "scammers." In their desperation to rescue their loved ones, some had been tricked out of hundreds of thousands of yuan, suffering a second blow.
On September 30, 2024, Dai's younger brother traveled from Hangzhou to Southwest China's border city Xishuangbanna and subsequently vanished. Local police later informed Dai that her brother's phone signal was last detected in Wa State, north Myanmar. After that, there was no trace of him.
Dai recounted that her brother had always dreamed of becoming a vlogger and was passionate about the live-streaming business. Through friends, she learned that he had taken out online loans to support a female streamer he admired, who had repeatedly encouraged her fans to tip her. The streamer's account has since been deactivated. Dai suspected that her brother's disappearance might be linked to this online loan.
New tactics, new challenges
The 2023 Rule of Law Blue Book published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences reveals that telecom fraud has become the most concerning crime for the public, with 80 percent of fraud call parks located overseas.
Reports of Red Star News affiliated with the Chengdu Commercial Daily indicate that fraud groups first appeared in Myanmar around 2010, initially in northern Myanmar, with rapid growth after 2015, peaking around 2020. An insider estimates that during its peak, a typical fraud park could generate billions annually.
Jian Kunyi, deputy dean of the School of Law and Political Science at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, cautioned against the resurgence of the "slave trading in modern society," noting that the scope of telecom fraud in Myawaddy is broadening to target celebrities and intellectuals for greater profits.
Bao Zhipeng, an assistant researcher at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, also warned that telecom crime in some Southeast Asian countries remains acute critical, with localized criminal activities evolving in tactics and targets. "Under pressure from cross-border law enforcement, scammers in northern Myanmar are shifting operations to the Thai-Myanmar border, and even to the Middle East. Some scam operations in Myawaddy continue to expand their infrastructure, while certain groups were reportedly returning to Thailand and Cambodia," said Bao.
Both Jian and Bao believe that China's collaborative cross-border law enforcement operations have made significant progress, as evidenced by the frequent relocation of criminal gangs, their changing targets, and the increasing cost and difficulty of baiting.
Although significant progress has been made in combating and addressing the issue, the current criminal situation remains severe and complex, MPS's spokesperson Zhang said on Friday.
The crime exhibits clear transnational and organized characteristics, with fraud syndicates having tight organizational structures. Fraud leaders and key members coordinate with domestic personnel to engage in various illegal activities, according to MPS.
Fraud methods are also rapidly evolving, with fraudsters closely following social trends and tailoring scams to individuals' preferences. They create customized fraud scripts for people of all age groups, professions, and educational backgrounds, leading to a wide range of victims, the spokesperson said.
"Myawaddy's armed forces are more powerful and the scam hubs are larger and more organized than those in northern Myanmar, complicating law enforcement efforts. Local armed groups, often in conflict with the government, collaborate with criminal organizations to sustain their operations. Compared to northern Myanmar, Myawaddy is more isolated both regionally and culturally from China, making it harder to combat crime and rescue victims," Jian analyzed based on his long-term studies on relevant issues.
Bao noted that the geographical advantages of areas like Myawaddy, with developed and complicated transport networks, make them hotspots for transnational crimes, including human trafficking.
He pointed out that recent trends show increasingly covert methods and a broader international target base, with fraud groups expanding their reach to citizens from various countries, leveraging new technologies like generative AI.
In addition to Chinese nationals, there have been cases of citizens from Russia, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, and India being lured to Southeast Asia, particularly Myawaddy, to engage in telecom fraud, according to Bao.
Regarding cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work, the city's Security Bureau (SB) said on Sunday that SB officials will lead members of the dedicated task force to Thailand on Sunday to further follow-up on the request for assistance cases.
Commenting on a recent global public opinion survey conducted by the Global Times, which covered 46 countries and 51,000 participants, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said relevant data shows China's circle of friends keeps expanding.
"I have noticed this survey," he said in response to a media inquiry.
The Global Times survey reveals that China's comprehensive national strength and various other strengths are generally evaluated as "strong/high" by international respondents. The country's economic strength has the highest favorable rating at 77 percent, followed by sci-tech strength (75 percent), and financial strength (72 percent).
Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China remains committed to being a force for peace, working with all nations to uphold global stability, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and collaboratively build a community with a shared future for humanity, Guo said.
Guo emphasized that as the world's second-largest economy, China adheres to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, contributing significantly to global economic growth over the long term. As the largest developing country, China remains deeply rooted in and attentive to the Global South, supporting these nations in achieving social development and improving livelihoods.
Additionally, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China champions true multilateralism, maintains an objective and impartial stance, and plays a constructive role in promoting political resolutions to hotspot issues - a role that has garnered widespread recognition from the international community, Guo added.
The survey finds that a majority of international respondents have a positive outlook regarding the prospects of China's economic growth and development potential. Nearly 80 percent of foreign respondents show confidence in China's development prospect. More than 90 percent of foreign respondents believe that China's economy will continue to grow in the next decade, and nearly 60 percent believe that China is a major driving force of world economic growth.
