Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is a strategic decision made by the three governments to promote regional connectivity, prosperity, and stability. Xi made the remarks in his congratulatory letter to the commencement ceremony of the railway project.

Noting that the construction of the railway reflects the shared aspiration of the three countries to open up this strategic corridor, Xi said that the commencement ceremony marks the transition of the project from conception to implementation, taking a critical step toward the goal of completion and operation.

The commencement ceremony of the CKU railway project was held in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan on Friday.  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov was present at the event and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also sent a congratulatory message to the ceremony.

President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zheng Shanjie, attended the launch ceremony of the CKU railway project in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.

The launch ceremony marks a significant progress in its preliminary phase and lays a solid foundation for the project's construction at an early date, China Railway said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Friday.

The commencement of the long-anticipated connectivity project, which has been under planning for more than 20 years, will mark a new milestone in China-Central Asia cooperation and is a vivid display of how high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) leads to mutually beneficial results based on the principle of equality and mutual benefits, according to analysts reached by the Global Times. 

Once completed, the project could open a new Eurasian corridor connecting China, Central Asia, and even Europe. The new link not only carries strategic significance in boosting local trade, economic and industrial development, but also in facilitating the deeper integration of Central Asia as a whole and further elevating the region's influence on the global economy and supply chain, analysts said. 

Based on the current progress, the project is scheduled to officially commence construction in July 2025, with a construction period of six years, the China Railway statement noted. The railway is a flagship BRI project promoted by the leaders of the three countries involved, and a strategic connectivity project between China and Central Asia, a spokesperson for China Railway was quoted as saying in the statement. 

The CKU railway starts from Kashi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, passes through the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, continues westward through the Kyrgyz border city of Jalalabad, and ends in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.

China will be responsible for the construction of the Chinese section, while Uzbekistan will be in charge of the upgrade and renovation of the Uzbek section. The CKU Railway Co, a joint venture established by companies authorized by the three governments, will be responsible for the financing, construction, and operation of the Kyrgyz section, according to China Railway.

According to the approved feasibility study report, the section in Kyrgyzstan will be a single-track railway operating with diesel locomotives with provisions for future electrification, with a designed speed of 120 kilometers an hour. It will have 20 stations, including Torugart station, Markmal transshipment station and Jalalabad station. 

A decades-long dream realized

The project was first proposed in the 1990s, and China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding on constructing the railway in 1997. Step by step, the project has moved from planning, discussion, and preliminary work to the launch ceremony. 

Friday's launch marks the realization of a decades-old dream for Central Asia, which is largely made up of landlocked countries that want to be land-linked and become a strategic bridge between East and West, according to a Central Asia scholar.

Maryam Agharabi, a research coordinator at the China and Central Asia Studies Center in Kazakhstan, hailed the commencement as an "important, long-awaited and highly-anticipated development" from various perspectives. She told the Global Times that the project launch is a positive development not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan - which will see direct and immediate economic benefits - but also for the rest of the Central Asian states and even beyond. 

It is said that the railway is projected to handle 15 million tons of cargo annually, as reported by qalampir.uz, a local media outlet.

Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that the railway represents a significant opportunity for enhancing cooperation between Asia and Europe, as it will probably offer the shortest route for transporting goods from China to Europe and the Middle East via the China-Europe freight train.

In December, the 100,000th China-Europe freight train arrived in Duisburg, Germany, underscoring the booming trade and economic exchanges across the Eurasian continent, which are set to jump further with the stepped-up implementation of BRI cooperation.

Across Central Asia, there is more growth potential to be tapped and unleashed, as geographic constraints such as high mountains and long distances that have long weighed on the Central Asian economy are expected to be gradually lifted, analysts said. 

Li Hongchang, a researcher at the Sustainable Transportation Innovation Center and a professor from Beijing Jiaotong University, told the Global Times that the three countries involved - China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan - each have their own comparative advantages in industries such as energy, minerals, processing, and markets. These advantages can create synergies with the CKU railway, playing a role in driving regional economic development.

According to Agharabi, the CKU railway project contributes to the cooperative approach within the Central Asian region, meaning that it not only helps diversify trade and transit by adding an extra route connecting Central Asian countries, but also demonstrates a commitment to the development of the region as a whole in the spirit of regional economic cooperation.

Regarding the benefits to China, Chinese analysts also noted that the construction of the CKU railway will undoubtedly inject vitality into the development of western China and the economy of Xinjiang, which borders a number of Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and further facilitates the region's opening-up.

High level of mutual trust

In the congratulatory letter on Friday, Xi emphasized the need for close collaboration among the relevant departments and enterprises of the three countries to ensure high standards and high-quality progress in the construction of the railway. 

Xi said that efforts should be made to build the railway into a new demonstration project for Belt and Road cooperation, so as to better contribute to the economic and social development and the improvement of people's well-being in the region along the route and to inject new momentum into building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

In July, during Xi's state visit to Kazakhstan, Xi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly attended an opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian international transportation route via video link in Astana, Kazakhstan. 

The route is another landmark BRI connectivity project in Central Asia that connects Asia and Europe.

Li said that Friday's launch is built on the high level of political trust and solid cooperation results between China and Central Asia, and riding on the momentum, the railway will further consolidate the mutual political trust, while also promoting more pragmatic cooperation between China and Central Asia on agendas such as regional security and political stability. 

Those BRI projects that span a long timeline provide a vivid display of China's sincerity in collaborating with Central Asian nations, and the process itself exemplified how BRI spearheads cooperation based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, Zhang stressed. 

"The railway is not a geopolitical tool [as hyped by some Western media outlets], but a project for regional collaborative development. Both being developing countries, China understands Central Asian nations' development needs and challenges. China provides help to partner countries within its capacity in terms of financing, technology and construction, and sincerely works with Central Asian partners for mutual development," Zhang added.

Agibot, a Chinese robotics start-up launched in February 2023, has stirred significant excitement in the industry with its announcement of having already begun mass production of general-purpose robots, while Tesla, the US electric car giant, envisions launching mass production of humanoid robots by 2026.

"As 2024 closes, Silicon Valley startup Figure AI is delivering its first AI robots, and a Chinese startup coming directly for the Tesla Optimus is already mass producing advanced AI robots," wrote a tech blog mikekalil.com.

Titled "Commercial mass production ahead of Tesla? Agibot robot delivered nearly 1,000 general purpose robots by the end of the year," Chinese media 21st Century Business Herald wrote, highlighting the excitement in the industry for Agibot's announcement.

Agibot, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, shared footage of its manufacturing facility on its official website, which reportedly has produced at least 962 humanoid robots so far.

In its 4:02-minute video, Agibot showcases various stages of the robotic production line at its Lingang Fengxian factory in Shanghai, including inventory shelving, component assembly, component testing, aging tests and performance testing. The production line features self-manufactured humanoid robots working in collaboration with human workers for tasks such as inventory shelving and component testing.

Moreover, the company has established what it calls a "data collection factory" for real-world data gathering. This includes training scenarios such as folding clothes, organizing, cleaning and doing the laundry.

Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, said in an X post in July that "Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026." 

Agibot's mass production of robots has instilled confidence in its investors regarding high revenue projections for next year and signals an exciting development for the market, industry observer Hong Shaodun told the Global Times on Thursday. 

He noted that humanoid robots have evolved from laboratory prototypes to tangible products, with this year's robots entering a phase of increased intelligence and versatility.

Robots' hardware has reached a notable level of standardization, according to Hong, who explained that whether from Tesla or other brands, multiple products have been showcased since the second half of the year. There are no significant differences in hardware among them. The only standout feature may be the dexterous hand. 

Although Chinese robotics companies have announced mass production ahead of firms like Tesla, essentially, both nations, making the most significant progress in humanoid robotics, are advancing simultaneously, Wei Jiaxing from Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, told the Global Times.

US tech companies, such as Tesla and NVIDIA, have certain advantages in areas like precise upper limb manipulation and operational capabilities, as well as in high-end chip manufacturing and cloud computing services. Meanwhile, Chinese companies excel particularly in motion control and the exploration of advanced AI models, as well as a variety of application scenarios, Wei noted. 

At the end of 2023, China's Fourier Intelligence became the first leading humanoid robot player to officially announce "mass production." This year, the company revealed that its first bipedal humanoid robot, the GR-1, has been delivered in over 100 units across dozens of scenarios, the 21st Century Business Herald reported.

Jiao Jichao, a vice president and executive dean of the Research Institute at UBTech Robotics, a Shenzhen-based maker of humanoid robots, disclosed that during the OEM training process for Walker S, preparations are underway for small-scale mass production by the end of the year.

Some industry insiders believed that the "mass production of humanoid robots" does not have a clear boundary. The key issue is whether customers truly have the willingness to purchase such robots, or whether there are scenarios that provide for the large-scale use of humanoid robots. 

"We hope that the technology and products will achieve a level of maturity and excellence. Only on this foundation does it make sense to enhance real mass production capacity," Wei said.

Compared with other global competitors like the US, China is better positioned to achieve higher output of humanoid robots at lower costs, following the gradual maturation of technology and products in this field, as well as the advantages of its manufacturing supply chain, Wei said. 

When asked about the impact of the technological blockade on China's industrial development amid the competition between China and the US, Wei stated that China is dedicating significant efforts to independent research and development in robotics. 

He also mentioned that specialized chips designed for robotics are also one of targeted areas for his National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center.

The focus for next year in this industry will be on expanding practical applications in specific scenarios, which could further enhance the generalization capabilities of humanoid robots, Hong told the Global Times. However, the industry insider noted that achieving rapid breakthroughs in a short time remains quite challenging due to technical hurdles, such as efficiency and stability issues that need to be addressed.

An incident recently occurred in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park where a tourist and a wild macaque attacked each other. The Park authorities responded by stating that neither party was injured.

According to the staff workers at the scenic spot, on December 12, a wild macaque approached a tourist, believing there was food in the tourist’s bag and tried to grab it. Unexpectedly, the tourist retaliated by throwing punches at the macaque.

Some netizens found the incident intriguing, while others expressed concerns, saying that the macaques in the tourist attraction could pose threats to people’s safety. 

After the incident, the park issued a response, noting that the park is home to wild macaques. While they may seem cute in appearance, they can pose dangers to visitors. 

The attraction department advised sightseers not to feed the macaques and maintain a safe distance.

The statement also noted that during the winter months, when food is scarce in the mountains, the park supplements the macaques’ diet with corn or dried fruits at designated locations.

Editor's Note:

Chinese President Xi Jinping often quotes an ancient saying on many diplomatic occasions: "No mountain or ocean can separate those who share the same aspirations." This powerful message underscores the undeniable force of friendship and cooperation in bridging hearts across nations, cultures, and civilizations. Inspired by President Xi's vision, people-to-people exchanges between China and the world have been flourishing.

People from diverse backgrounds and fields - united by common goals and dreams - traverse mountains and oceans to connect with each other. Through letters, face-to-face dialogues, and vibrant cultural events, they are collectively weaving a magnificent tapestry of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Global Times presents "Intertwined Destinies, Shared Paths," a series spotlighting the touching stories written by these "friendship ambassadors." They are scholars pushing the boundaries of research, diplomats advocating for deeper cooperation on the global stage, artists igniting imaginations with their creations, and ordinary people extending heartfelt love beyond national borders driven by genuine sincerity.

Their tales illuminate the spark of cultural exchange, the driving force of technological innovation, the bountiful harvest of economic cooperation and the enduring warmth of human connection - all contributing to a more peaceful, prosperous and open world. This is the third installment of the series.
"Kuliang, Kuliang!" American resident Milton Gardner repeatedly whispered the word on his deathbed. As a place where Gardner spent the most joyful 10 years in his life, Kuliang was Gardner's childhood home in China that he failed to return to until his final hours.

At that time, Gardner's families still did not know what the word Kuliang meant, neither to mention the deep bond between Gardner and Kuliang. It was not until 1992 that a Chinese student in the US unveiled the story between Gardner with Kuliang, uncovering a century-long friendship between the people in China and the US to the world.

Since then, 32 years have passed. The small village of Kuliang in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, has become a representative of the friendship between Chinese and American people.

Nowadays, the bond with Kuliang has inspired generations after generations of youngsters from both countries to carry forward the traditional friendship and bring the hearts of the two peoples closer.

To serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas between the China-US youth, the 2024 Kuliang Forum was officially held on Friday by the People's Daily Digital Communication and Global Times.

The forum, with theme of "Bridging Cultural Differences, Inheriting Friendship and Trust," brought together more than 150 political, academic, media, business, and youth representatives from both China and the US, as well as members of "Kuliang Friends" to engage in candid and in-depth discussions on how the peoples of China and the US can transcend differences in systems, cultures and languages to forge deep friendships, and find the correct path for these two great powers to coexist peacefully.

A century-long friendship

The heartwarming tale and its connections begin with a few special stamps that unveil a nostalgia spanning an entire century.

In April 1992, the People's Daily, a prominent Chinese newspaper, featured an article titled "Ah! Kuliang," which tells the poignant story of Milton Gardner, an American who spent his childhood in the southern Chinese town of Kuliang before returning to the US in 1911.

For decades, Gardner yearned to revisit his beloved hometown, but sadly, he never had the chance. In his last moments, he repeatedly whispered "Kuliang." His wife, Elizabeth Gardner, made several attempts to honor his wish by traveling to China, but she struggled to find Kuliang.

Eventually, while sorting through her husband's belongings, she found old stamps with postmarks indicating "Foochow, Kuliang." With assistance from a Chinese student, she learned that Kuliang is located in Fuzhou.

The touching narrative resonated with many people, including Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, who immediately had officials contact Gardner and invite her to Kuliang.

On August 21, 1992, she arrived in Fuzhou, and the next day, she finally visited the cherished place her husband had longed for.

On September 26, 1992, the People's Daily published Bond with Kuliang, documenting Mrs. Gardner's trip to China. In the story, she said: "Thanks to [the] People's Daily for its attention and support, thanks to the people of Fuzhou for their warm hospitality, and many thanks to everyone who made this dream come true."

In September 2012, two of Gardner's grand-nephews visited Kuliang, and the People's Daily once again recorded this enduring bond with Kuliang.

In a congratulatory letter to the "Bond with Kuliang: China-US People-to-people Friendship Forum" held in Fuzhou in 2023, Xi said amity between peoples holds the key to the relationship between countries, and the people are the cornerstone of its growth. "I hope that you will continue to write the Kuliang story and carry forward the special bonds, so that the friendship between our two peoples can stay forever strong and robust like the thousand-year-old cedar trees in Kuliang," Xi said.

In the letter, Xi said that in the following 30 years and more after 1992, members of the Kuliang Friends and people from various sectors of both countries have delved deep into the history of this town, actively spread its culture, and worked tirelessly to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

"Their stories have shown once again that the Chinese and American peoples can transcend differences in system, culture and language, and build profound friendship," said Xi.

Amity between the people

At the 2024 Kuliang Forum, many "Kuliang Friends" shared the stories of their search for their ancestors' life in Kuliang via videos, which touched many audiences.

"My family roots are deep in China. I was born in China. My father was born in China. My grandmother and grandfather spent all their working years in China… Thirteen members of our family came back to China," Priscilla Brewster, a member of the "Kuliang Friends" group, said in a video speech to the forum.

"It seemed like a miracle to be back again. When I tell my family and friends about my seven summers in Kuliang, I tell them about the house I lived in on the side of the mountain. I tell them about the slippery rock in back of the house where we would run and jump and play and where we would leap over the stream. I tell them about the whispering pines and the signal that we were back in our beloved place, a place of peace where all people would love to be, Kuliang," Brewster said, recalling the old days emotionally.

"As an American, I long for harmony in my country. Like the great cedar tree of a thousand years on Kuliang, our two people are intertwined wherever there is goodwill and the desire to understand each other's culture. It has become clear to me that distance, hardships, warfare, years, cannot separate me from the bonds of friendship forged by my ancestors and by my own experiences growing up in China, my beloved country," she said.

William N. Brown, professor at the Xiamen University School of Management, Touching China 2019 Person of the Year, and Fujian's first foreign permanent resident, told the Global Times at the forum that there are many touching stories between the people of China and the US, among which his favorite is the Kuliang story.

Brown said that previously he did not understand China until he came to the country, where he truly learned about and fell in love with the Chinese people.

The Kuliang story told us that, over a hundred years ago, foreigners and Chinese people had already joined hands in Xiamen to establish hospitals and schools together. I met some elderly people in the US who are nearly a hundred years old. They lived in Xiamen during the 1930s and 1940s, and they still love China. Even after leaving China for 60 years, they can still speak the Minnan dialect. They fell in love with China because of its people, Brown said.

Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, shared the story of the Flying Tigers at the forum as another example of the enduring friendship among the peoples in China and the US.

During World War II, some young American Air Force soldiers came to China to assist the Chinese people in resisting brutal invaders. In December 1941, they successfully prevented Japanese bombers from bombing Kunming, and subsequently, the names and deeds of these American airmen spread worldwide.

The Chinese people affectionately referred to them as the "Flying Tigers." At the same time, during the Pearl Harbor incident, the Chinese people selflessly risked their lives to rescue American pilots.

The "Flying Tigers" are also a testament to the two peoples fighting side by side and jointly winning victory in World War II, highlighting the legacy of China-US friendship, Greene told the Global Times.

Greene said that, so far, his foundation has helped over 500 Flying Tiger veterans return to China.

Avery Jade Prewitt, an American student in Chinese Politics at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times at the forum that she was touched and encouraged by the bond and the friendship between Chinese and American people embodied in the Kuliang stories.

In November 2023, President Xi announced in San Francisco the plan to invite 50,000 American teenagers to come to China for exchange and study over the next five years.

Avery came to study in China under the initiative. She said that some people view China and the US as competitors and tend to be negative about the relations between the two countries, but she chooses to be optimistic after seeing the warm and frequent exchanges among Chinese and American students.
To cross the bridge together

During her speech at the forum, Roberta Lipson, Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), said, "Today, I stand here as AmCham China Chair, representing over 800 American companies operating in China. Through my work in AmCham China, I have witnessed the remarkable achievements resulting from US-China cooperation, and we recognize the significance of the economic relationship between our two countries."

"Addressing climate change and solving major global issues require the US and China to work together. I sincerely hope that the next administration in Washington will prioritize cooperation and facilitate our joint efforts," Lipson noted.

Jack Pinnick, a 16th Generation San Feng Pai Disciple, discussed the importance of communication in an interview with the Global Times at the forum. He believes that many people may learn about the relationship between countries through news, but some news reports fail to fully capture the true lives and realities of the local people. Thus, enhancing mutual understanding through personal stories is an effective approach.

Pinnick said, "My biggest dream is to spread the Wudang martial arts and traditional culture that I have learned here. I hope to pass this knowledge on to the next generation."

During the forum, a launch ceremony for the Initiative for Friendly Exchanges Among Chinese and American Youth was held to encourage youngsters to carry forward the bond with Kuliang and write new stories of China-US friendly exchanges in their own ways.

"The hope and foundation of the China-US relationship lie in the people, and its future lies in the youths. The bridge [of friendship] is already built. Now it's up to us, and the Chinese people, to cross it together," Avery said.

The story of Kuliang has spanned a century. Attendees at the forum shared a common wish that the friendship between the peoples of China and the US remains forever strong and robust, like the thousand-year-old cedar trees in Kuliang.

An employee used a manager's "like" on a social media post promoting company products during a break as evidence of overtime work to demand compensation after being dismissed, according to Guangming Online on Wednesday.

According to the report, after the employee surnamed Yang was denied annual leave in July 2018, Yang filed a complaint with the local social security department five days later over the company's insufficient social insurance contributions. 

In August, the company terminated Yang's contract, citing a performance evaluation score of just 59 points for July.

The company claimed the termination complied with policy and argued that no compensation was required. However, Yang countered that a single month's evaluation should not reflect ongoing performance and deemed the dismissal illegal. 

Yang also argued that the"like" on a social media post during personal time should count as evidence of overtime. The arbitration hearing finally ruled that the company had illegally terminated the contract and was required to pay both compensation and the overtime work. 

The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," took place in Beijing on Saturday. During a discussion on the topic "Addressing the Global Security Deficit: Hotspots and Solutions," Jiang Feng, research fellow at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, stated that China is a responsible major power. And by properly managing its relations with the US, the EU, and the Global South, China is making significant contribution to global security.

Jiang highlighted that today's global security deficit is multifaceted, encompassing not only political and military security issues but also those related to economics, technology, society, climate change, and artificial intelligence. He noted that modern international relations transcend traditional national interests and borders. Many global challenges, like climate and artificial intelligence, are transboundary in nature and call for perspectives and theoretical support that surpass traditional security paradigms.

On the topic of peace and security, Jiang remarked that peace and security challenges vary across nations. He emphasized the importance of adopting a case-by-case approach when analyzing these issues. In Jiang's view, the US, driven by hegemonic ambitions, seeks a confrontation with China where one cannot coexist with the other, while Europe aims to maximize its benefits in cooperation with China, positioning the relationship as non-zero-sum. He stressed that a systematic and in-depth understanding of the dynamics of cooperation or competition, grounded in precise regional and country-specific insights, is essential for formulating strategies and addressing the security deficit.

Jiang further reiterated that China's efforts to manage China-US relations, China-EU relations, and relations with the Global South are pivotal to enhancing global security. He suggested that China should strive to "minimize losses" in its relations with the US, "tap into potential" in China-EU relations, and "consolidate and expand shared interests" with the Global South. By doing so, China can strengthen global cooperation, counterbalance hegemonic forces and foster stability.

In response to a question regarding the reported upcoming visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister to China and planned talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Chinese FM spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday that China values maintaining dialogue and communication with Japan at all levels and in various fields, and is willing to work together with Japan to promote China-Japan relations. 

As for the visit, Lin mentioned that he currently has no information to provide.

According to Kyodo News on Saturday, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is arranging talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on December 25, a Japanese government source close to the matter said, in what will be his first visit to the neighboring country as Japan's top diplomat.

South Korea’s parliament failed to pass the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday, Xinhua News Agency reported. The motion, submitted by the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller parties, was scrapped when attendance fell short of the quorum of two-thirds, or 200 of the 300-member Assembly, media reports said. 

After the failed motion, the opposition Democratic Party said it would reintroduce the impeachment motion at the emergency National Assembly session scheduled for December 11, and voting is scheduled for December 14, China Central Television reported.

Following the failed impeachment, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, apologized to the public on Saturday night, stating that they would "orderly advance the process of President Yoon’s resignation" and would consult with the main opposition Democratic Party during this process. Han also mentioned that, prior to his resignation, Yoon would "essentially be in a state of non-performance of duties," CCTV reported.

On Saturday, all but three lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote on the impeachment motion against Yoon, allowing him to survive the impeachment over his declaration of martial law earlier this week, which left South Korea in political turmoil, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The impeachment motion was after another voting against the bill to investigate scandals involving Yoon's wife on Saturday. After the first voting, most of the 108 ruling PPP lawmakers left the parliamentary hall to boycott the impeachment. One ruling party lawmaker remained in the hall and two came back after leaving, Xinhua reported.

PPP lawmakers’ walking out of the parliament was to prevent individual defections as the vote was conducted anonymously. By walking out collectively, the party avoids potential embarrassment, a Chinese expert told Phoenix TV during a livestream on Saturday. 

The expert said the move was aimed at avoiding another major blow to the ruling party’s credibility, as the PPP had already suffered a significant setback due to previous president Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. If Yoon is impeached again, it would further erode public trust and endanger the party.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, believes that another reason behind the PPP’s boycott of the motion is that if Yoon is impeached, there would be no guarantee of a viable successor stepping forward from the party, which means the PPP will have to hand power to the opposition, Da told the Global Times on Saturday.

“Although Yoon is currently facing record-low approval ratings, the PPP has chosen to stabilize the situation first through internal adjustments rather than plunging into chaos,” Da said.

Da added that Yoon may choose to resign at a politically advantageous moment to preserve the party’s interests.

Yoon apologized for his martial law declaration during a televised address to the nation on Saturday morning before the impeachment voting, and the ruling party’s leader stated the president's early resignation is “inevitable,” Xinhua reported.

Yoon stated that he would not evade the legal and political responsibilities linked to the declaration of martial law and vowed such measures would not recur. He said he will let the ruling party decide on his term.

The remarks suggest that the president may delegate future policy decisions to the ruling party, Da said, adding that in terms of diplomatic direction, there are unlikely to be significant shifts and the US-South Korea alliance is unlikely to change.

However, slight adjustments could occur in South Korea-Japan relations. “To address domestic criticism of Yoon’s ‘pro-Japan’ stance, the ruling party may adopt a more cautious approach to align with public sentiment,” Da said.

After the motion's scrapping, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, vowed to impeach Yoon at all costs. "We fell short and failed to create the result we wanted," he said at the National Assembly building. "However, we will never give up," according to Yonhap News Agency.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a statement that he will do everything to "quickly settle the current situation" and ensure the country’s security and people's everyday lives "can be maintained without wavering."

China is taking countermeasures against 13 US military firms and six senior executives for the US' recent announcement of arms sales to China's Taiwan region, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The US recently again announced arms sales to China's Taiwan region, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, severely interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pursuant to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 15 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China hereby decided to take countermeasures against the following US military companies and senior executives:

For the 13 listed companies, namely Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., BRINC Drones, Inc., Rapid Flight LLC, Red Six Solutions, Shield AI, Inc., SYNEXXUS, Inc., Firestorm Labs, Inc., Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inc., HavocAI, Neros Technologies, Cyberlux Corporation, Domo Tactical Communications and Group W, their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, and they shall be prohibited to conduct activities such as trade and cooperation with organizations and individuals in China.

For the six listed senior executives, including Barbara Borgonovi, president of Raytheon's Naval Power strategic business unit, Gerard Hueber, vice president of Raytheon's Naval Power strategic business unit, Charles Woodburn, Group Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Land and Armament, Richard D. Crawford, founder and CEO of Alliant Techsystems Operation, Beth Edler, president of Data Link Solutions, Inc., and Blake Resnick, founder and CEO of BRINC Drones, their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, they shall be prohibited to conduct activities such as trade and cooperation with organizations and individuals in China, and they shall be denied visas or entry into China (including Hong Kong and Macao).

This decision shall come into force as of Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Elaborating on the countermeasures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests. The US recently announced to sell arms to China's Taiwan region multiple times, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, severely interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Based on related provisions in the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China decides to take countermeasures against the US military companies and senior executives.

Lin stressed that "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Straits are incompatible, and the US insistence on "using force to support independence" cannot shake China's firm determination to oppose "Taiwan independence" and achieve national reunification, but will only push Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and conflict. China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the provisions of the August 17 communiqué, to fulfill the commitment made by US leader not to support "Taiwan independence," to immediately stop arming Taiwan, and to cease condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" forces in their pursuit of "independence" through military means.

A team of 11 Chinese champions from the Paris Olympics kicked off their five-day lecture trip to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday to share with the local residents their Olympic experiences and sporting spirit, according to the local government on Tuesday.

On the first day of their lecture tour, representatives of Olympic athletes, including Pan Zhanle, Zhang Yufei and Li Wenwen, were warmly welcomed by teachers and students at an event held at Xinjiang Normal University, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Athletes Li Yuehong, Pan Zhanle and Li Wenwen shared their personal struggles during their speeches, offering unique perspectives on Team China's journey to bring honor to the motherland at the Paris Olympics. They vividly recounted the dedication and glorious moments of Chinese athletes, which resonated deeply with the audience and elicited a warm round of applause, according to the report.

A student from the university told the Global Times on Tuesday that during the event, some students gifted the champions with their own artwork, and the athletes also participated in the traditional Xinjiang dance alongside the students.

During another meeting with the athletes on Monday, Ma Xingrui, secretary of the Xinjiang regional committee of the Communist Party of China, said that the development momentum in Xinjiang is strong and energetic in all fields.

He noted that the confidence of officials and people from all ethnic backgrounds has significantly increased, with high spirits prevailing. He also highlighted the positive development trend in both the northern and southern regions of the Tianshan Mountains.

"We need to learn from the Olympic athletes' belief of prioritizing the country above all and striving to bring honor to the nation, and their character of self-transcendence and self-improvement, so as to better revitalize the spirit of unity and progress," Ma said.

The Olympic champions have arrived in Xinjiang, aiming to better promote the spirit of Chinese sports, tell the good stories of Chinese sports, and promote reform, development and stability of Xinjiang, especially in deepening cultural nourishment, Gao Zhidan, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said on Monday.

Gao added that the Olympic athletes will have in-depth exchanges and interactions with people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, especially the youth, to share their experiences and spread their spirit, and to contribute their sports power to forge the strong sense of community of the Chinese nation in Xinjiang.

The Olympic champions said that they would actively support the development of sports in Xinjiang and contribute to the cultivation of sports talents and improvement of sports level in Xinjiang.

Wang Jiang, an expert at the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that sports development in Xinjiang has flourished, especially with the recent National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in South China's Hainan Province, which have seen participation from many ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

Wang said that the visit of the Olympic champions is beneficial for the long-standing sports culture in Xinjiang, particularly in promoting sports among youngsters.