When asked about China's response to Ukraine saying it is ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia proposed by the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China has noted the relevant reports. Mao added that from the first day of the outbreak of the crisis, China has been advocating dialogue and negotiation to seek a political solution. 

Mao stated, "We have always been striving for peace and promoting peace talks. We look forward to all parties involved finding, through dialogue and negotiation, a sustainable and lasting peace plan that address each other's concerns."

Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, called for operational asteroid defense services and deeper international cooperation to protect the Earth, advocating for a global planetary defense community, when addressing the 776th session of the Xiangshan Science Conference, themed "Key Scientific and Engineering Challenges in Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) Defense," which convened on Thursday and will continue through Friday at the Xiangshan Hotel in Beijing.

Organized by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), the conference gathered over 50 leading Chinese space scientists and researchers. Discussions focused on four core topics: asteroid defense science, detection, tracking, and impact technology.

Wu, who is also the director general of the DSEL, co-chaired the event alongside Wang Chi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the National Space Science Center, and Yu Dengyun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of the state-owned space giant China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Global Times learned from the event organizer the DSEL on Thursday.

Wu warned that a major asteroid impact could devastate human civilization, even leading to extinction, calling it a critical threat to Earth's future. He emphasized that China's pursuit of near-Earth asteroid (NEA) defense missions carries profound scientific significance, engineering value, and humanistic importance.

Currently, several major spacefaring countries around the world are developing programs related to near-Earth asteroid defense. For example, the US' Near-Earth Asteroid Defense Demonstration and Validation Mission, known as the "Double Asteroid Redirection Test" (DART) mission, successfully conducted a kinetic impact on Dimorphos, the moon of the asteroid Didymos, in September 2022, effectively altering its orbital period around Didymos.

The European Space Agency's Hera mission will further conduct detailed investigations of the target impacted by the DART mission. As a responsible spacefaring country, China also places great importance on the threat posed by near-Earth asteroids to Earth and human safety. Previously, China has publicly disclosed plans related to near-Earth asteroid defense missions and is accelerating their planning and implementation.

At the opening ceremony and main forum of the first International Conference on Deep Space Exploration (Tiandu), held in April 2023, experts from China's deep space exploration field provided the public with a detailed introduction to China's near-Earth asteroid defense plan.

They also openly solicited global proposals for the overall plan and related strategies for the first mission, with the goal of achieving a kinetic impact on an asteroid for the first time by 2030. At the second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration (Tiandu) held in 2024, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) released the plan and vision for international cooperation regarding China's first near-Earth asteroid defense mission. According to this vision, China's initial near-Earth asteroid defense mission will adopt a "fly-along + impact + fly-along" approach. While the impactor performs a kinetic strike on the target asteroid, a probe will observe the entire impact process and post-impact, continue to assess the impact's effects and conduct scientific exploration. This single mission aims to achieve both "kinetic impact plus space-based assessment."

China's first NEA defense mission is expected to observe an asteroid closely before impacting it to alter its orbit around 2030, Xinhua News Agency reported on September 5, 2024, citing Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of Chang'e-7 Mission as saying.

"The blueprint for the country's asteroid defense involves two spacecraft - an impactor and an observer - launched into space with one rocket," Tang said, according to Xinhua.

The observer will first orbit the asteroid to gather data, then remotely guide the impactor to strike. After the kinetic impact, the observer will further have an accompanying flight with the very asteroid that changes its orbit, according to Tang.
Tackle challenges

At the conference, Wu highlighted the major challenges in precision impact, effective deflection, accurate measurement, and reliable communication. Key scientific challenges include understanding the dynamics and evolutionary characteristics of asteroid orbits, the mechanisms and effects of impact hazards, and the response mechanisms for in-orbit mitigation. Technologically, advancements are needed in detection, tracking, and impact capabilities under conditions involving multiple spatial variables, significant ground-space time delays, and complex data transmission environments.

Wu proposed building a coordinated space-ground monitoring network for asteroid tracking, early warnings, and risk assessment, alongside developing tailored spacecraft technologies for impact mitigation.

He called for a defense system integrating prevention and response, backed by in-orbit tests to refine mitigation strategies.

Wu's appeal aligns with growing global concerns over asteroid threats and planetary defense readiness. This focus intensified following NASA's recent update on asteroid "2024 YR4," first detected on December 27, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile. NASA's latest calculations lowered the impact probability of the 40-90 meter-wide asteroid striking Earth on December 22, 2032, to 0.004 percent, dismissing any immediate danger.

The Xiangshan Science Conference was initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology (formerly the State Science and Technology Commission). Under the joint support of the ministry and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), it was officially established in April 1993.

Health authorities in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, refuted viral rumors on Friday about an alleged 'XK5 virus' infection in the city. The rumors, which spread widely on social media platforms including Douyin, claimed that the virus caused four fatalities in "Liaoning Third Hospital," infected thousands of people, and forced a group of doctors into isolation.

In a WeChat statement, officials from the Dalian health commission clarified that no such virus has been detected domestically or internationally. They described the disinformation as "old rumors repackaged," noting that similar misleading information has circulated online in the past.

A Global Times reporter found no record of a "Liaoning Third Hospital." While a similarly named "Liaoning No.3 People's Hospital" does exist, it is actually a mental health center focusing on psychiatric treatment.

The commission urged the public not to be misled by false information or spread unverified claims. Officials emphasized that official statements are the most reliable source for infectious disease updates and urged the public to stay vigilant against misinformation.

Two central government's bodies in Hong Kong reposted two opinion pieces ran by a Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao criticizing CK Hutchison Holdings, a conglomerate based in the city, for its decision to sell ports in Panama and elsewhere to an investment group led by an American asset manager. The latest piece asked if such a "shrewd" deal took into account the interests of the country. 

The two opinion pieces were published by Ta Kung Pao on Saturday and Thursday respectively. The opinion piece published on Saturday, which is titled "great entrepreneurs are all steadfast patriots," questioned CK Hutchison's selling of 43 ports, including assets it holds along the strategically important Panama Canal, to a group led by US firm BlackRock. 

It asked "why are so many important ports so easily transferred to the US forces that harbor malicious intentions? What kind of political calculations are hidden behind the so-called commercial behavior on the surface? Has the so-called 'shrewd' deal taken into account the interests of the country and the nation? Is such a choice actually helping the evildoers and bringing harm to China and the world?"

The article also warned if one fails to see clearly the true nature of those US politicians who "not only want money but also want you to die," and chooses to dance with them, one might perhaps manage to make a fortune for a while. However, in the end, there will be no future, and what's more, one will incur the condemnation of history.  

Ta Kung Pao also published an opinion piece on Thursday saying that this deal is a hegemonic act in which the US uses its national power to usurp the legitimate rights and interests of other countries through coercion, pressure and inducement. It is a form of power politics dressed up as a "commercial act."

The article urged relevant companies to think twice about the nature and crux of the issue, and also ponder about what stance to take and which side to stand on.

Both Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region reposted on their websites the two opinion pieces published by Ta Kung Pao. 

Shares in CK Hutchison, which is controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, fell 6.7 percent in Friday afternoon trading, on track for their biggest one-day percentage drop in about five years, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

CK Hutchison said earlier this month that it agreed to sell most of the global $22.8 billion ports business, including assets it holds along the strategically important Panama Canal, to a group led by BlackRock. In total, the consortium will control 43 ports in 23 countries. US President Donald Trump, who has called for the waterway to be removed from what he says is Chinese ownership, has hailed the deal, according to Reuters.

On March 5, Reuters asked the deal between CK Hutchison and BlackRock, said this would give a US firm control of key docks in that area amid pressure from the White House and asked the Chinese Foreign Ministry's comment on it. 

In response, Lin Jian, spokesperson from the ministry said: "we have no comment on the relevant commercial deal."

Lin noted that the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region made a response to the operation of the ports by the relevant Hong Kong company. "Let me say more broadly that China supports Chinese companies, including those from Hong Kong SAR, in investing and doing business overseas. Hope they can have access to a fair and just business environment everywhere they go. We oppose any abuse of coercion and pressuring in international trade and economic relations," said Lin.

While CK Hutchison agreed to negotiate with the BlackRock consortium on an exclusive basis for 145 days according to a statement, the deal has not been finalized yet, reported the UK news agency.

CK Hutchison could not be reached for comments as of press time. 

Topics related to this potential deal have been trending on China's social media over the weekend. "Five questions on whether Li Ka-shing has considered national interest," which refers to the latest Ta Kung Pao opinion piece has been viewed 71.91 million times as of press time.

"Li Ka-shing is a successful businessman, but he is not an entrepreneur worthy of admiration … An entrepreneur worthy of respect must always prioritize national strategies over corporate interests," a Sina Weibo user under the name of Yunhebianliang Liuxia posted on Saturday. 

Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the Global Times that the proposed transaction could undermine China's Belt and Road Initiative and harm the country's maritime and shipbuilding industries. If the US gains control of multiple overseas ports, it may impose significantly higher taxes on Chinese vessels.

Trump is also planning an executive order to charge fees for China-linked vessels at US ports, in a bid to resuscitate American shipbuilding and disrupt China's supply chains, per Reuters.

Willy Fu, a law professor and the director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times that the transaction has also raised concerns about national security. As critical infrastructure, ports handle operational data and logistics information that are closely linked to national security. The sale of such vital assets to a foreign company raises questions about potential data leaks and security risks, which warrant serious consideration.

This transaction also serves as a wake-up call. In today's globalized world, corporate business activities are no longer purely commercial but also involve national interests and geopolitical considerations. We need to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and strategic resources to guard against potential risks, said Fu. 

Chinese private space star-up GalaxySpace has recently demonstrated mobile-to-satellite communication technology based on China's first low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication experimental constellation, successfully connecting Beijing and Bangkok, capital of Thailand in a high-quality video link. 

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Thursday, the Chinese firm revealed its ambitious goal to develop space technology to contribute to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative space information corridor.

The demonstration of mobile-to-satellite communication technology took place on Wednesday at 10:28 am at a commercial space conference held in Beijing, as one satellite of the network codenamed "Mini Spider" passed over the conference venue. On-site staff used their mobile phones to connect to the satellite via a terminal device installed on the rooftop. Through a gateway station in Beijing, they established a connection with personnel in Beijing and Bangkok, the company told the Global Times on Thursday.

Wang Peng, head of communication networks of GalaxySpace, told the Global Times on Thursday that the satellite internet communication technology demonstrated this time can achieve a maximum speed of over 100 mbps, comparable to 5G speeds. It supports high-definition video calls and operates similarly to the satellite internet services currently being widely provided by SpaceX's Starlink, using dedicated terminal devices to connect with LEO satellites and offering support for high-bandwidth applications.

"At the same time, to meet the future demand for direct connectivity, GalaxySpace is developing a new generation of direct satellite-to-mobile communication technology," Wang disclosed.

According to the GalaxySpace technology head, the Mini Spider is China's first LEO broadband communication experimental constellation, currently consisting of eight satellites independently developed and successfully launched by GalaxySpace. 

So far, the network has completed multiple satellite internet application validations, including the in-vehicle "moving communication" test for the constellation and the first-ever deep-sea multi-satellite continuous communication test, marking an important step forward in the construction of the space-ground integrated network, Wang said. 

GalaxySpace and Thai telecom operator True Corporation on Monday inked a deal to carry out in-depth cooperation in low-orbit satellite communication technology, space-to-ground integrated network solutions, and mobile phone direct satellite communication technology to jointly promote the research and development and verification of related technologies.

The two companies will expand satellite application use scenarios and work together to build future-oriented digital infrastructure.

In May 2024, GalaxySpace, in collaboration with its partner, Mahanakorn University of Technology in Thailand, conducted a LEO satellite internet broadband communication network test and verification in Thailand, based on the "Mini Spider." The successful test marks the first overseas application exploration of China's LEO broadband satellite internet.

Huang Heping, general manager of International Business Development Department of the GalaxySpace, told the Global Times on Thursday that currently, GalaxySpace has reached cooperation agreements with industry partners in over 10 countries. Moving forward, GalaxySpace will use Thailand as a regional hub to promote further international collaboration, leveraging space technology to contribute to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative space information corridor.