Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrived in Beijing on Thursday to start his state visit to China from November 7 to 12. The Summer Palace was the first destination Mattarella visited upon his arrival, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. 

The visit is expected to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in various sectors in cultural and technological communications as well as people-to-people exchanges to facilitate the development of bilateral relations, Chinese experts said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, as well as the 700th anniversary of the death of Italian explorer Marco Polo, CCTV reported on Thursday.

This is Mattarella's second trip to China since February 2017, the report said.

In response to a question about Mattarella's state visit to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a routine press conference on Tuesday that China stands ready to work with Italy to further deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide more stability for a changing and turbulent world.

According to Italian media outlet Agenzia Nova, the Italian side "will visit the monumental complex China Millennium Monument that houses the World Art Museum" on Friday. Mattarella's schedule in Beijing also includes "laying a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes and meeting with the Italian community." 

The Italian President will also visit Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province with itinerary there including watching a performance of the opera "Marco Polo" by the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Venice, and Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong Province, will be the last stop of the visit, Agenzia Nova reported.

The Italian President's China visit is expected to promote pragmatic bilateral cooperation in several areas, such as high technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges, as well as educational communications, Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhao noted that although there have been some twists and turns, overall, the China-Italy relationship remains stable. "Many high-tech companies in Italy have made great achievements through cooperation with China, and the cultural, tourism, and educational exchanges between Italy and China have consistently maintained substantial collaboration," Zhao said.

"There are people in the current Italian government who are relatively pragmatic and friendly toward China, represented by the Italian President, who is actively advocating for the advancement of China-Italy relations," Zhao said, noting that this visit may also be viewed as a reflection of the mainstream trend in Italian politics, which is favorable towards China.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a visit to China in July, during which the two sides issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

"It is hoped that the visit by the Italian President will yield more practical results," Zhao said.

"3, 2, 1, start the oil well!" With the command issued, the underwater robot slowly activated the subsea tree deep in the South China Sea. After preliminary processing by "Haiji No. 2," the crude oil was transported to "Haikui No. 1," located 2.5 kilometers away, where a high torch gradually ignited the natural gas.

On September 19, "Haikui No. 1," China's first independently developed floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, began production. This also marks the first use of a cylindrical FPSO in Asia.

In just over a month, "Haikui No. 1" successfully completed its first crude oil export operation, signifying another major breakthrough for China in deep-water oil and gas development, according to a China News Service report.

"Haikui No. 1" is located 240 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, and serves as an offshore oil and gas processing facility that integrates crude oil production, storage, and export functions. It stands nearly as tall as a 30-story building, with a maximum oil storage capacity of 60,000 tons, read the report.

An FPSO is an offshore crude oil processing facility that combines production, storage, and export capabilities. "Haikui No. 1" can process approximately 5,600 tons of crude oil, enough to fuel 900,000 small cars simultaneously, according to Science and Technology Daily.

Construction of "Haikui No. 1" began in March 2022 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. It consists of nearly 600,000 components and features an extremely compact structure. From a design perspective, it is already sophisticated, efficient, and intelligent. However, the design team had a strong commitment to develop a manufacturing solution suitable for Chinese waters and shipyards, addressing the challenge of long construction periods.

Among the six cylindrical FPSOs currently in operation worldwide, the longest construction period is 5.5 years. Previously, China built a cylindrical FPSO called "Penguin" under the commission of a foreign company, which took over four years. Through the efforts of the research team, the manufacturing of "Haikui No. 1" was completed in just 25 months, according to the Science and Technology Daily report.

"Haiji No. 2" was officially drilled on August 9, which was the first time that China exploited oil and gas through a fixed platform in waters more than 300 meters below. Haiji No. 2 is equipped with advanced automation systems, which include a robotic arm that enables "one-click operations" across various tasks, significantly enhancing the efficiency and stability of deep-water drilling.

"Haikui No. 1," in collaboration with the deep-water jacket platform "Haiji No. 2," has achieved China's first secondary development project for a deep-water oil field, extending the production life of the Liuhua oilfield by nearly 30 years. It also signifies that China has fully mastered integrated development technology for oil and gas engineering in waters deeper than 300 meters, creating a new model for the economical and efficient development of deep-water oil fields.

The Liuhua oilfield, where the two major national heavyweights are located, was put into production in March 1996. It is China's first deep-water oil field, with an average water depth of approximately 324 meters and proven geological reserves exceeding 160 million tons. After 28 years of extraction, the oil field has contributed over 23 million tons of deep-water oil and gas. To improve the overall recovery rate of the oil field and carry out secondary development, there are plans to build 32 new wells, with the peak daily oil production expected to reach 2,700 tons, as reported by CCTV.

In a cozy bar, soft jazz music plays as colorful cocktails glimmer. A speaker passionately presents philosophical ideas, while the audience, relaxed yet engaged, tosses questions. Dim lights create an intimate vibe, contrasting with the weighty topics, blending academia with casual camaraderie. This scene is a familiar sight on weekends at a bar in Wudaokou in Beijing's Haidian district, an area densely populated with universities.

How can the pleasure of a casual drink be intertwined with serious academic pursuits? Academic bars have successfully bridged this gap.

Since the start of this year, academic events held at bars have become a new trend in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The speakers at these "academic bars" are often doctorate holders or emerging scholars from the humanities and social sciences, who present their research findings or field trip experience to an audience primarily made up of university students and young professionals. The lectures cover multiple disciplines including history, philosophy, art, and modern technology, with the audience primarily recruited from social media.

Audience at these "academic bars" is open to all, regardless of identity or profession; typically, purchasing a drink serves as an entry ticket. These venues not only facilitate knowledge sharing but also foster a novel form of social interaction, representing a fresh exploration of the urban lifestyle.

Zhu Wei, the vice director of the Communication Law Research Center at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times that the rise of "academic bars" signifies a broader enhancement in the education and critical thinking skills of the Chinese public. This trend has made traditionally exclusive academic content more accessible to a wider audience. Besides, academic bars offer ordinary individuals a valuable opportunity to engage with scientific and systematic academic subjects.

"Holding lectures in bars represents a proactive effort by contemporary youth to balance learning and leisure, creating new venues for professional discussions and fostering communication. This trend reflects their evolving social concepts," Professor Lang Jinsong from the Communication University of China was quoted as saying by China News Service. "However, we must discern whether the content of these 'bar lectures' is merely personal opinion or a structured academic discourse. Additionally, we should be cautious of academic discussions devolving into mere marketing gimmicks."
Gaining popularity among young people

The concept of an academic bar is not a recent development. According to New Weekly magazine, the concept originated in the UK's SciBar (short for "Science in a Bar"), a non-profit initiative launched by the British Science Association to make scientific knowledge more accessible to a larger audience. The primary aim of academic bars is to create informal spaces where researchers and enthusiasts can engage in discussions about their areas of expertise.

On October 27, Global Times reporters visited an academic bar in Wudaokou, where the venue was already bustling with activity just 10 minutes before the lecture was set to begin. The hallway was filled with guests holding cocktails in one hand while snapping photos of PowerPoint slides of the lecture with the other. Attendees listened attentively to the speaker on stage, who shared insights into the historical connections between Central Asia and China, along with his personal thrilling experiences in the region. The speaker, a seasoned scholar with slightly graying hair and a deep knowledge of Central Asian studies, appeared completely at ease in this setting, especially with a cocktail beside his laptop and a group of young people surrounding him.

His presentation was occasionally interrupted by a small, dark gray kitten that wandered over to investigate his drink, eliciting gentle laughter from the audience as he playfully shooed it away. This interaction contributed to a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, starkly contrasting the seriousness often found in traditional university lecture halls. Conversations flowed freely, seamlessly blending leisure with deep inquiry, as the evening unfolded with both merriment and contemplation.

"I love this relaxed and enjoyable sharing atmosphere. It feels more like listening to a friend tell a story than being lectured by an elder. If it's interesting, you can stay and have a few more drinks; if not, you can leave anytime without any pressure," remarked Lin, a sophomore student at the China Forestry University who lives nearby. As a science major, she said that she rarely has the opportunity to engage in discussions related to the humanities and social sciences. She discovered this event through a social media advertisement and found it intriguing, expressing her desire to attend more similar events in the future.

Li Xiaokai, a second-year PhD student and one of the event organizers, is eager to explore ideas beyond his scientific background - applying familiar quantitative methods to the study of intellectual history. He has also been a speaker at the bar, presenting his work on "Quantitative Research on Intellectual History." The academic sharing events he organized cover themes ranging from detective fiction to dog psychology and urban exploration, drawing between 30 to 80 participants for each session. During events, the organizers, speakers, and the bar typically negotiate a revenue-sharing arrangement to divide the drink bill.

At this venue, known as the Universe Lounge, an academic atmosphere prevails, filled with serious philosophical discussions and profound topics. Academic posters adorn the walls, covering subjects from "Practices and Explorations in Archaeology in Northwest China" to "Understanding Moral Dilemmas in Life with a Case Study of a Movie." Books are scattered throughout the space; one can easily pull a memoir of a world-renowned figure from the sofa. Even in the restroom, a dedicated bookshelf features works by the philosopher of science, Alexander Koyré.

Chen Chen, manager of Universe Lounge, told the Global Times that they have been organizing academic sharing events since June, having conducted 13 sessions to date, with the largest attendance surpassing 80 participants. He noted that a lecture held on a weekend night can lead to a doubling of alcoholic beverage sales and a substantial boost in overall revenue.

A search on social media platforms found that in recent times, bars have begun hosting academic events that increasingly address pressing issues relevant to young people. Topics range from leveraging social media for personal branding to understanding legal rights under the new marriage law. Some lectures delve into the common anxieties faced by contemporary youth.

At an "academic bar" event on October 26 in Beijing, a senior lawyer discussed frequently encountered marriage law consultation issues, elucidating on rights protection within marriage and strategies for preventing and responding to domestic violence. The audience, primarily comprised of young and middle-aged women, engaged in discussions about these serious topics in a relaxed atmosphere, comfortably seated on sofas.

According to data from China's e-commerce platform Meituan, the search volume for "academic bar" has surged by 142 percent since October compared to September. On social media platforms, where young people dominate, the term's popularity is rapidly increasing, as reported by the Beijing Youth Daily.

Li believes that the sharing sessions at academic bars dismantle the elitism often associated with scientific research, fostering a more relaxed and enjoyable environment for young people to acquire knowledge.

Professor Lang told the China News Service that the popularization of knowledge hinges not only on high-quality content but also on the exploration of diverse communication platforms. He emphasizes that the exchange of ideas transcends participants, scenarios, and spaces.
Questions and challenges remain

The novel intersection of bars and lectures has garnered attention on Chinese social media, yet it has also sparked skepticism about potential "money-making," "pseudo-academics" and "affectation."

A netizen humorously remarked in a social media post, "After spending a night in the lab, shall I have to attend a seminar after drinking to unwind?" Some netizens contend that this trendy online concept merely relocates traditional salon activities to bars, repackaging old ideas with new branding. Some have also questioned how robust the screening process for speakers is, and in some cases, unclear or unsustainable objectives have led to suspicions of potential profit-driven motives.

Li acknowledges that while some individuals may exploit the "academic bar" label for hype and traffic, many others are genuinely seeking to create a new platform for knowledge sharing, fostering a fresh social space for young people. As this is a relatively new concept, many initiatives are still in the experimental phase, and they hope to see the establishment of more standardized principles for guidance and reference.

As for the sustainability of academic bars, Li admits he is still gauging their viability and cannot guarantee their continued popularity. He emphasizes that as an emerging cultural phenomenon, "academic bars" face several challenges, including the need for a sustainable operational model that ensures stable income, rather than relying solely on passion.

Mei Zhigang, an associate professor at the Central China Normal University, told Wuhan-based Jiupai News that "academic bars" are not a novel concept, but are much like cafes and teahouses that foster a relaxed atmosphere conducive to communication, helping individuals unwind while providing young people with an escape from feelings of loneliness.

The growing popularity of "academic bars" can also be linked to an overall improvement in the population's educational background, enabling more people to participate in academic discussions, Mei said. He expressed to the media his hope for more such activities and emphasized the importance of effective organization and topic management in related events.

At the end of the interview, Chen expressed his aspiration to sustainably promote the academic bar brand, with the goal of "establishing a cultural lounge for everyone, offering more individuals a platform to express themselves and share their perspectives in a relaxed and straightforward manner."

A woman with a total of 74 mobile phones tied to her body entered the country via the Gongbei Port in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province, and was seized on the spot by customs officers recently, according to the General Administration of Customs of China on Tuesday.

The person, surnamed Yang, who was wearing a white blouse and loose trousers, entered China through the green channel of the passenger inspection hall, according to the customs.

Officers at the scene noticed that the woman was walking with a heavy pace and stiff posture, so they intercepted her for inspection.

After the inspection, the officer seized a large number of old mobile phones tied with plastic film around her thighs and calves. A  total of 74 cell phones were seized.

If individuals attempt to hide, disguise, conceal, falsely declare, or use other methods to evade customs supervision, and transport, carry, or mail goods or items prohibited or restricted from entering or leaving the ports, it constitutes smuggling, customs officers said.

If the circumstances are serious enough to constitute an offence, the person may face criminal charges as per the law.

Severe storms have recently hit several regions in Spain, including Valencia and Castile-La Mancha, resulting in significant casualties and property damage, while reports have indicated that among the affected individuals are Chinese nationals, according to the Chinese Embassy in Spain on Thursday.

The Spanish government declared three days of official mourning starting from Thursday, according to the embassy. Meanwhile, the embassy also reminded Chinese nationals in Spain about severe weather conditions and offered advice to ensure personal safety.

Heavy rainfall has caused traffic disruptions in some areas. It may be difficult to conduct business, go shopping, attend work or school or seek medical care in some areas in the coming days, according to the embassy.

The Global Times learned from several individuals who live in Spain that local authorities have responded promptly, and rescue efforts are underway in an orderly manner. However, some railway and highway services have been suspended.

Helen Huang, a Chinese national who is now living in Valencia, one of the heavily affected regions, told the Global Times on Thursday that their house in the downtown area has been relatively affected. However, in the suburbs, the roof of their parking garage has been torn off.

Fortunately, the area they are living in is still accessible by car, but for some heavily affected areas, vehicles can't get in until the floodwaters completely recede, said Huang.

At least 95 people have been killed due to the flooding as the torrential rain battered Spain's eastern region of Valencia and neighboring provinces of Albacete and Cuenca, according to Xinhua News Agency on Thursday, citing an official.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged full government support on Wednesday after the devastating floods, Xinhua reported.

More than 60 roads have been closed due to flooding, including major highways along the eastern coast and between Madrid and Valencia. Local train services have been halted, and the high-speed rail connection between Valencia and the capital is also suspended, according to Xinhua.

"The mutual support and unity among the Chinese community is truly heartwarming. Many suppliers are offering free replacements for the damaged goods in the affected stores, which is also commendable," a Chinese national surnamed Qiu, who is now in Spain, told the Global Times, on Thursday.

Some residents are buying daily necessities such as flour, milk, beer and snacks. 

The local Chinese community is supporting each other. For example, residents who need help can call a local number for information and assistance. The community is also helping find missing relatives, Qiu said.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council recently announced penalties against separatists Puma Shen Pao-yang, Robert Tsao Hsing-cheng, and their "Kuma Academy" after receiving numerous tip-offs about the academy from residents across the Taiwan Straits.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the office, said in a statement that the Kuma Academy has openly fostered violent "Taiwan independence" secessionists under the guise of training and outdoor activities, with backing from DPP authorities and external forces.

The academy has actively engaged in separatist activities, making it a clear stronghold for "Taiwan independence" elements, Chen noted.

The sanctions have been applauded by people across the Straits, and many netizens on the island of Taiwan commented on social media that they have felt disgusted for the academy for a long time.

The academy is an illegal money-making entity, which touts separatist slogans, one X user commented. "They are all bad people, nothing but trash," criticized another.

What is the "Kuma Academy?" What roles do Shen and Tsao play in it? In this story, the Global Times delves into their wrongdoings and attempts to discredit the Chinese mainland and split China, their connections with the secessionist DPP authorities, as well as possible collusion with anti-China forces in the US.
A camp of separatist forces

Founded in late 2021, the Kuma Academy, or Black Bear Academy, has been a source of controversy on the island of Taiwan.

Claiming to be a grassroots organization aiming to "promote civil defense education to 3 million people within three years," the academy turns out to be a camp of separatist forces that brainwashes Taiwan residents, especially the youth, with anti-China ideology, so as to cultivate violent secessionists, experts on Taiwan studies reached by the Global Times pointed out.

The academy website shows that it mainly focus on basic first aid and evacuation skills of civilians. But online posts from participants and media coverage of some offline events revealed that the organization focuses more on military, political, and ideological agitation, disseminating misinformation against the Chinese mainland.

The Kuma Academy organized events at universities, which had sparked huge controversy, with critics arguing that it violated the spirit of political neutrality on campus, wrote a university student from New Taipei City, in an opinion piece published by Taiwan-based newspaper the United Daily News in May.

Having personally participated in the academy's workshop in university, the student surnamed Lin said the workshop follows an obvious script. It claims Beijing's reunification actions as malevolent, while perceiving the intervention from the US or other countries as a means to "rescue" the island of Taiwan.

"The Kuma Academy's courses package ideological confrontation as knowledge, misleading the public with a mixture of lies and half-truths," Lin wrote, calling the academy an "anti-China narrative camp."

Lin also mentioned a controversial course offered by the academy that teaches participants to "collect internal negative comments" on the current separatist authority on the island, widely seen by many Taiwan netizens as a means for the DPP forces to suppress differing political views.

The course Lin mentioned is most likely an "OSNIT (open-source intelligence)" lecture that frequently appears on the academy's calendar on its website.

At one "OSNIT" lecture in August, Shen, co-founder of the academy, bluntly said that what the island of Taiwan needs to do now, is to "enable more people to learn open-source intelligence gathering skills," and "contact similar communities abroad, especially in cooperation with the US, Japan, and Eastern European countries," without any concealment of his conspiracy to strengthen collusion with foreign forces.

Obviously, the "OSNIT" lecture has little to do with teaching first aid or rescue skills as claimed by the academy, but rather an attempt to have participators to learn intelligence gathering skills, turning them into informants for the DPP and overseas anti-China forces, said Wang Jianmin, a research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

A DPP-backed political tool

The Kuma Academy claims, on its website, that its goals "extend[s] beyond any partisanship" on the island of Taiwan, but experts said it is no more than a feeble lie.

"While the academy claims to be a civilian organization, it's actually permeated from beginning to end by the DPP's political agenda under their support," Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, told the Global Times.

Zhang noted that the DPP supports the Kuma Academy with the aim of using this platform to spread anti-Beijing propaganda on the island, suppress opposition parties advocating for peaceful cooperation and exchanges across Taiwan Straits, and mobilize grassroots citizens into their voter base.

"The DPP and its manipulated organization, the Kuma Academy, deceive and divide Taiwan people, mislead international public opinion, collude with anti-China forces, and directly harm cross-Straits relations," Zhang emphasized.

Shen and Tsao, respectively head and main sponsor of the academy, are typical examples of the deep ties with the DPP.

Available information shows that Shen once studied in the US and, after returning to the island of Taiwan, served as an associate professor at the Graduate School of Criminology at the National Taipei University. Before 2018, Shen's titles primarily included university teaching staff in criminology and columnist, having little to do with the political field.

However, starting in 2018, Shen suddenly transformed himself into a "cognitive warfare expert," frequently expressing his views on the so-called information campaign and cognitive warfare that he claimed were launched by the Chinese mainland against the island of Taiwan in various settings, aiming to incite antagonistic sentiments across the Straits and aligning his rhetoric with that of the DPP.

Shen quickly acquired many new titles related to organizations affiliated with or influential to the DPP, such as membership on the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee, and directorship of the Central News Agency. Moreover, Shen participated in the initiation of the "Doublethink Lab" in September 2019, which regularly publishes an "influence index" to stigmatize the Chinese mainland. He also collaborated with the DPP legislators in the same year to promote a so-called "Anti-Infiltration Act" targeting Beijing. Through these actions, Shen transformed into a political hitman for the DPP authorities to suppress dissent and demonize the Chinese mainland.

Shen was invited on multiple occasions to give special reports to the DPP officials, Taiwan media sources reported. With his various "anti-China" maneuvers, Shen quickly gained the trust and support of DPP authorities in recent years. In November 2023, Shen was listed as the second nominee on the DPP's list for non-divisional legislative candidates, and became a legislator in 2024, rapidly entering the core political circle of the island of Taiwan.

Cao is also a political clown who keeps anti-China slogans on his lips. Cao, founder of a leading semiconductor foundry on the island of Taiwan who used to hold a pro-reunification stance, became a staunch separatist after retirement. Cao reportedly openly opposed the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.

In 2022, Cao announced a donation of NT$600 million ($18.7 million) to the academy, becoming its main financial backer. He also invested in the DPP-backed secessionist TV drama Zero Day. The drama, depicting a hypothetical conflict in the Straits, is a deliberate attempt to shape public opinion by promoting war fantasies.

In September, the Lai Ching-te administration announced that it would collaborate with institutions including the Kuma Academy so as to train 400,000 citizens in the future. This move has since sparked widespread anger on the island, as former legislator Cheng Li-wen criticized to the media while noting that it is clearly Lai carrying out orders from the US, turning the island of Taiwan into cannon fodder for war.

"The Kuma Academy is a flagrant pro-independence organization engaged in war mobilization in disguise," Ni Yongjie, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Taiwan Studies, told the Global Times.

He noted that the DPP utilizes various resources to support the Kuma Academy, particularly mobilizing high-tech enterprises and renewable energy companies. These profitable businesses provide ample financial backing for separatist organizations, posing a serious threat to reunification efforts.

They propagate "anti-China" sentiments with the true aim of tearing apart the local society, and attempting to expand the DPP's support base built around the "resist reunification by force" doctrine, Ni said.

An agent of US?

Worse still, evidence proves that the Kuma Academy is likely linked to external forces from the US in splitting China and betraying the island of Taiwan.

The presence of the US is faintly visible behind Shen's separatist, anti-China moves and slogans. The US military reportedly first proposed the concept of "cognitive warfare" in 2017, and Shen soon shifted his focus to research this field in 2018. In August 2020, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) invited Shen to share thoughts on how to guard against the so-called "propaganda" from the Chinese mainland. In July 2022, Shen attended the 246th anniversary celebration of American Independence Day held by the AIT.

In March 2023, Shen was invited to attend an online hearing by the US Congress, during which he shared the "experience and suggestion" of the island of Taiwan "countering" the Chinese mainland, Taiwan media sources reported. In October 2023, the AIT openly expressed support to and congratulated Shen for becoming a member of the Steering Committee of the so-called World Movement for Democracy, a subordinate organization hosted by the US' infamous National Endowment for Democracy.

Shen's statements on social media are strikingly similar to those of anti-China forces in the West. Apart from the Taiwan question, he slanders Beijing with cliché disinformation filled with buzzwords such as "democracy," "human rights," "Xinjiang," and the "China threat," which closely resemble the narrative strategies used in the West's cognitive warfare against China.

Observing the common tactics used by the US to cultivate "agents" around the world, one notable method includes identifying individuals with a US-related academic history and providing them with support and development opportunities, noted an opinion piece published in December 2023 by Voice of the Strait, a broadcasting company based in East China's Fujian Province.

"A closer examination of Shen's political actions reveals that, each of his step[s] closely [align] with the strategic intentions of the US, which cannot be mere coincidence[s]," it said.

Also, Ni pointed out that US support for the Kuma Academy's activities doesn't necessarily manifest itself in financial aid, but also takes the form of technical guidance, dispatching instructors, and lectures by think tank scholars. "This aims to strengthen the security and military ties between the US government and DPP authorities," he said.

Wang noted that the US is currently referencing its actions in Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, hoping to utilize organizations like the Kuma Academy to enhance their ability to counter the Chinese mainland and potentially continue to further intervene deeply in Taiwan island's affairs.

"And the academy, with support from the US and US-backed DPP, aims to incite innocent Taiwan residents, especially the youth, to take up arms against the mainland's reunification efforts," concluded Ni. "It is inherently malicious."