The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has intensified its crackdown on internet trolls. Since 2024, authorities have removed over 400 websites and platforms, prompting major platforms to delete 4.82 million illegal messages, and disposed 52,000 groups and 2.39 million accounts and online stores, CCTV News reported on Friday.
The reason for the authorities to punish the "internet water army" stems from the fact that for some time, these paid posters have significantly disrupted the online ecosystem through various means, according to the report.
Some criminals have set up self-service ordering platforms, providing services to artificially inflate reviews, likes, and popularity on social media platforms and attempted to evade crackdowns by using multiple redirects and shell websites. Among these, some lure users into placing orders and making payments without providing the promised services. Others try to masquerade their apps as legitimate to pass app store reviews, while in reality, they provide services for traffic manipulation.
In response, concerned authorities have coordinated with several platforms specifically used by internet trolls to close, guiding app stores to take measures such as blocking or removing certain applications. As a result, over 400 illegal websites and platforms have been shut down.
Some website platforms struggle with widespread homogenized content, where multiple accounts publish highly similar posts, short videos, and other content, exploiting trending topics to drive traffic and stir divisive sentiments. Some Multi-Channel Network (MCN) organizations have even organized accounts to engage in hype for profit, severely damaging the online ecosystem.
The CAC has imposed administrative penalties on websites and platforms with severe issues and insufficient rectification efforts, requiring them to thoroughly investigate problems and strictly deal with illegal accounts and MCN organizations. Currently, the relevant website platforms have improved their risk models for homogenized content as required, enhancing their ability to identify such cases, said the report.
In addition, some criminals have been using modified formats to post recruitment ads, attracting netizens to join groups to engage in illegal activities related to internet marketers. Among them, some criminals used buzzwords like "easy money" to add friends, then demanded membership fees, effectively committing fraud.
Under the guidance of the CAC, related website platforms have proactively conducted inspections and cleanups, lawfully shutting down illegal accounts and dissolving groups, and forwarding evidence of criminal activity to law enforcement authorities.
For increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by internet trolls, such as using short videos to post QR codes for traffic generation and peddling illegal internet water army services to users through chat and Q&A channels, CAC has urged relevant website platforms to close their shops and accounts, guiding some popular platforms to enhance cross-platform clue sharing and collaborate in combating the issue of internet marketers.
CCTV News also said that some lawbreakers routinely deploy bot accounts to flood comment sections with posts, taking the opportunity to boost rankings and create trending topics. Certain software tools have developed AI writing, group control of accounts, and bulk posting, enabling internet trolls to manipulate accounts and fabricate trending topics.
In response, the CAC has urged website platforms to address non-compliant accounts in line with legal and regulatory requirements, cooperating with relevant authorities to investigate AI tool-related internet water army groups. The authorities have also guided platforms to enhance their technical measures to detect and neutralize group control software and bot accounts promptly to effectively mitigate risks.
The CAC has implemented a long-term governance framework targeting internet trolls in collaboration with multiple departments, strengthening the coordination between administrative penalties and criminal prosecutions, and establishing a collaborative framework to jointly tackle the issue, further improving the online environment.
China consistently respects Panama's sovereignty over the Panama Canal while acknowledging its role as a permanently neutral international passageway, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday, in response a question about US president-elect Donald Trump's claim that there are Chinese soldiers stationed at the Panama Canal.
Mao also emphasized Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino's latest statement that the Panama Canal is not under direct or indirect control of any major power.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has denied claims of Donald Trump that there are Chinese soldiers stationed at the Panama Canal, dismissing the claim as "nonsense" and asserting that there is "absolutely no Chinese interference," according to the BBC.
"There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal," he told reporters in Panama City.
Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing tolls for US ships or ceding control of the canal, the BBC report said. "The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. There's no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality," he said.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region section of the Hepu-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway began construction on Sunday. Upon its completion, it will become a convenient and fast channel to the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, Pearl River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to China Central Television (CCTV) on Sunday.
The Hepu-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway is 139.33 kilometers long, designed for a speed of 350 kilometer per hour, with the Beihai section in Guangxi spanning 62.68 kilometers, CCTV reported.
Once completed, the railway will boost ties between the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta strengthen east-west cooperation in Guangxi, support integration into new development patterns, and enhance its role as a strategic hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA and "dual-circulation" development pattern, according to the report.
Also, the Longmen Bridge in Guangxi, the longest sea-crossing bridge in the region, opened to traffic that same day, the Xinhua News Agency reported. After opening, the travel time between Fangchenggang Port and Qinzhou Port has been reduced from 1.5 hours to approximately 25 minutes.
Spanning a total length of 7.637 kilometers, the Longmen Bridge boasts a first-class, six-lane highway and a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
Besides the bridge, the opening of the Nanning-Yulin section of the Nanning-Zhuhai High-Speed Railway on Monday also marks Yulin's entry into the high-speed rail era. The fastest rail travel time between Nanning and Yulin has been reduced from one hour and 44 minutes to just 48 minutes, injecting new momentum into regional economic and social development, according to the People's Daily.
The Nanning-Zhuhai High-Speed Railway stretches from Nanning, Guangxi in the west to Zhuhai, Guangdong in the east, covering a total length of approximately 648 kilometers with a design speed of 350 kilometers an hour. The newly opened Nanning-Yulin section begins from Nanning East Station and ends at Yulin North Station, spanning a total of 193 kilometers.
Holding significant importance in the regional railway network, this section is a vital part of the rapid passenger transportation corridor connecting the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA.
Upon operation, the project will further improve the regional rail network layout, greatly enhance travel convenience for residents along the route, and play a crucial role in promoting regional economic and social development, strengthening connectivity, and driving high-quality development in the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone.
As the only region in western China directly bordering the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA and connected to it through land, sea, and river channels, Guangxi is leveraging its role as a "strategic hinterland" to accelerate integration with the GBA, according to Xinhua.
The US has long illegally occupied part of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, engaging in arbitrary detention and torture at Guantanamo prison, violating international law and harming Cuba's sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Friday regarding recent US detainee transfers out of Guantanamo prison.
The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly expressed concern over this issue, calling for the US to close Guantanamo prison and provide justice to the detainees. The US has repeatedly gone back on its word regarding the closure of this American-style concentration camp, further eroding the US' proclaimed standards of human rights, the spokesperson said.
The US has moved detainees from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay to Kenya and Malaysia, the Pentagon announced this week, CNN reported.
There are 29 prisoners still detained at Guantánamo Bay, according to US Department of Defense.
Lin further stated that Guantanamo prison is a long-standing wound for Cuba and concrete evidence of over a century of illegal US interference in Cuba. While arbitrarily detaining individuals at Guantanamo, it also places Cuba on its so-called "state sponsors of terrorism" list. The international community clearly sees the hypocrisy of this double standard.
China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity, and opposes US interference in Cuba's internal affairs, Lin added, urging the US to end its illegal occupation, lift its blockade, close Guantanamo prison, withdraw from the base, return the land to Cuba, and remove Cuba from its "state sponsors of terrorism" list.
China's top legislature on Saturday started a regular session to review a raft of bills including law drafts and reports.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the first plenary meeting of the committee's 13th session.
Lawmakers reviewed a draft value-added tax law, a draft national park law, a draft law on the publicity and education regarding the rule of law, a draft private sector promotion law, and a draft hazardous chemicals safety law.
They deliberated a draft amendment to the law on people's congress deputies, a draft amendment to the supervision law, a draft revision to science and technology popularization law, a draft revision to the anti-unfair competition law, and a draft revision to the fisheries law.
Lawmakers also reviewed a draft decision on convening the third session of the 14th NPC, reports on the handling of the suggestions, criticisms and comments submitted by lawmakers at the second session of the 14th NPC, a deputy qualification report, and personnel-related bills, among others.
Du Zhaocai, former deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China and former Party secretary of the Chinese Football Association, was on Friday sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 4 million yuan ($550,000) for accepting bribes worth over 43 million yuan.
The Wuhan Intermediate People's Court in Central China's Hubei Province publicly sentenced Du, in a first-instance trial for accepting bribes on Friday, according to the CCTV news.
The Wuhan Intermediate People's Court found that the defendant, Du Zhaocai, had committed the crime of accepting bribes, with an amount that was particularly large, and should be punished according to the law.
Du used his position to seek improper benefits for football clubs in matters such as relocating home stadiums and player transfers, severely disrupting the fair competition order and industry environment in the football field. He also sought job promotions and adjustments for others, which warranted a heavier sentence.
Given that he truthfully confessed his crimes after being taken into custody and proactively disclosed parts of his bribery activities that had not been previously known to the supervision authorities, and considering that there were attempted bribery incidents in his case, as well as his remorse and active return of illicit funds, with all bribe money, property, and derived income having been recovered, the court decided to impose a lighter sentence.
During the trial, the prosecution presented relevant evidence, and the defendant Du and his defense lawyer cross-examined it.
Both the prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions under the court's guidance. Du made a final statement, admitting his guilt and expressing remorse.
We are currently in one of the most perilous periods since the Cold War, and China plays a pivotal role in global power dynamics, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rear admiral Yang Yi said on Saturday at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025.
Yang made the remarks in a session on "Exploring the Ways of Interaction Among Major Powers: Differences and Consensus" of the conference under the theme "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World."
Yang said that geopolitical blocs worldwide face instability, with numerous conflicts and the risks of getting out of control. In this context, humanity has indeed reached a crossroads. The three China-proposed initiatives, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, highlight China's actions and vision.
Regarding the interactions between China and the US, Yang believes that China-US relations are very complex, characterized by strategic structure, irreversibility, long term, and interactive effects.
China's development aims to enhance domestic well-being while contributing to the world. However, some people in the US view China as a challenger and seek to contain China. The fundamental strategy of the US does not allow the development of countries with potential. Although China advocates for cooperation based on common interests, the US's containment strategy against China remains unlikely to change, he said.
In this situation, China should focus on its own development, pursuing the best outcomes while preparing for the worst, to foster healthy China-US relations and making more contributions to the world, Yang noted.
An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on promoting patriotism, will be published on Tuesday in the Qiushi Journal.
The article by Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stresses more efforts to build a strong China and advance national rejuvenation.
Tuesday marks the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
In an era marked by unprecedented global transformations, the world stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with deepening deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. As humanity faces unparalleled challenges during this tumultuous period, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has put forth a solemn call to action through the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).
The three pivotal initiatives address the pressing issues of our time, offering viable pathways and robust support for the building of a global community of shared future. Rooted in the rich historical experiences of the CPC's century-long struggle and infused with the wisdom of China's traditional culture, these initiatives are expected to unite the world in the pursuit of common progress and stability.
To offer a deep understanding of the GDI, the GSI, and the GCI, and elaborate on their significance on a global scale, the Global Times is launching series of articles featuring engaging stories and in-depth interviews to provide our readers with a comprehensive insight into the three initiatives. From 'Convention of Peking' to 'Beijing Declaration'
In April 2022, President Xi proposed the GSI to promote universal security while delivering a keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. The initiative is a global public good offered by China, as well as a vivid illustration of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind in the security field.
On July 23, 2024, 14 Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing and signed the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity after participating in reconciliation talks mediated by China, a lively demonstration of the GSI's function in practice, which many international observers hailed China for having "made something impossible possible," and regarded it as a milestone in the Middle East reconciliation process.
"Palestinian unity is key to the realization of Palestinian statehood and China is committed to facilitating it," read an article on news outlet Al Jazeera.
"The Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue. Over the past years, China has put forward proposals and taken action to address the Palestinian question with Chinese wisdom and solutions," stated the article.
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular media briefing on July 24, that "China firmly supports the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, and supports the people of Middle East countries in holding their future in their own hands. China will continue to advance the GSI and make more contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East."
On the day that the "Beijing Declaration" was signed, many Chinese people hailed the important step in peace in the Middle East and shared the sentiment "Because we have been caught in the rain, we want to hold an umbrella for others" on social media platforms.
They recalled the history that 164 years ago, the Qing government was forced to sign the humiliating "Convention of Peking" in 1860, which included ceding territories and paying indemnities. That dark era saw China reduced to a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society, when bullying by foreign powers and frequent wars tore the country apart and plunged the Chinese people into an abyss of great suffering. After a strenuous fight, the CPC has closely united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to work hard for a century to put an end to China's national humiliation, guiding the country to progress and prosperity.
The past suffering is not merely a reminder of a dark history; it has also made the Chinese people more sympathetic to the suffering of others and has deepened their understanding of the value of peace.
Turkish Ambassador to China İsmail Hakkı Musa hailed the significance of the GSI in an exclusive interview with the Global Times. "The GSI has its own rations. It focuses on sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and [the] peaceful settlement of the disputes. You may have noticed that too many people - too many analysts - defended the idea that, for example, the role assumed by China between the approach of Saudi Arabia and Iran was a kind of application or practice of this initiative," Musa said.
"We all know that this approach is a good thing. Lesser tension in that region is an important contribution to the world peace," he stressed.
In practice, China is not only playing an unselfish, active role in the brokering of peace in the Middle East while some other countries ignore human lives for selfish interests, but has also become an important force in maintaining world peace.
Since the restoration of its legitimate seat in the United Nations, China has faithfully fulfilled its international legal obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Currently, China is the second-largest contributor to the UN's regular budget, the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and the largest troop-contributing nation among the permanent members of the Security Council. China actively participates in negotiations and the formulation of rules on global security issues in various fields, including international arms control and preventing nuclear proliferation.
It also collaborates with various parties in non-traditional security areas such as counter-terrorism, biosecurity, and food security. In the face of ongoing hotspot issues, China is committed to playing the role of a responsible major power.
Right to development
In the heart of Africa, where the sun shines brightly and the needs of the people are as vast as the savannah, a new story of development is unfolding. It's a tale of "small but beautiful" projects born from China-Africa cooperation, ranging from crop cultivation and maize growth and combating the region's hunger issue, to clean energy projects that provide affordable new energy, and to the Luban Workshop, which offers training to many in Africa.
The implementation of these "small and beautiful" projects echoes the GDI's call for sustainable and people-centric growth.
Three years ago, Xi proposed the GDI at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, calling for the building of a consensus in pursuing development, promoting shared growth, and helping accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China achieved the goal of eradicating absolute poverty 10 years ahead of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, making significant contributions to global poverty alleviation efforts. Internationally, China is fully committed to development, actively sharing its development opportunities and experiences with other countries, especially with those in the Global South.
Since the initiative was proposed, the content has been consistently substantialized, with its implementation mechanisms becoming more refined over time. This has led to the gradual establishment of practical cooperation within its framework, providing China's approach to addressing the development gap in Global South countries.
At the just concluded 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China-Africa Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative was released.
"Since the launch of the GDI, China and Africa have joined forces and mutually supported each other in exploring paths toward modernization, further implementing the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, advancing the nine programs to a high standard, as well as completing 175 'small and beautiful' livelihood cooperation projects," read the statement.
More than 30 African members of the FOCAC have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI and the Global Development Promotion Center Network to put in place an efficient working mechanism and platform for alignment in development policies, coordination of development resources, and facilitation of joint actions.
Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan, told the Global Times that he believes that the GDI, which advocates that development "holds the master key" to solving problems and ensuring sustainable peace, is what the world is desperately seeking now. He noted that apart from Africa, other Global South countries are benefiting from the GDI and China's development dividends.
"Without sharing the dividends of development, we cannot preach ethics, and the dream of peace will remain a dream. Without cooperation, concrete programs, and the allocation of financial resources, we cannot achieve these goals. China is cognizant of this reality and has launched numerous programs and provided financial support such as $4 billion to the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund," he said.
Musa noted to the Global Times that "China initiated the concept of the 'right to development.' The GDI also offers action-based policies and result-based projects."
According to China's Foreign Ministry, over the last three years, the GDI has made remarkable achievements. Over 100 countries and some international organizations have given support to or taken part in the initiative. More than 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. China has set up a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, which has financed over 150 programs. The Global Development Promotion Center Network is bringing more members on board.
"The GDI was put forward by China, but its opportunities and benefits are shared by the world. On the path toward development and prosperity, no country or individual should be left behind. This is the vision of the GDI, as well as the goal advocated by the UN," Mao Ning said at a regular media briefing on September 20, 2024. Respect for diverse civilizations
In March 2023, Xi proposed the GCI for the first time at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, advocating for the respect of the diversity of world civilizations, the promotion of common values for all humanity, the emphasis on the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and the strengthening of international cultural exchange and cooperation.
The initiative is another major public product offered to the world by China after the GDI and the GSI. It sends a sincere call to the world to deepen the dialogue of civilization exchanges and promote the progress of human civilization through inclusiveness and mutual learning, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to promote a higher level of international cooperation, experts said.
Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office, told the Global Times that the GCI aligns with UNESCO's mission to foster respect for cultures worldwide, particularly those that possess outstanding universal value.
China now boasts 59 World Heritage sites, including the Beijing Central Axis, a "remarkable example" of urban heritage that showcases advancements from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) to the present day, Khan said.
In recent years, China has enhanced communication and coordination with UNESCO, working with all parties to promote the implementation of the United Nations' Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, strengthening dialogue and exchange among civilizations, and increasing the sharing of values, concepts, and experiences behind the policies of various countries, jointly exploring solutions to global challenges and issues.
Ramay noted that the GCI, together with GDI and GSI, "negates the idea of superiority and present the vision of equality and equity built on respect for diversity and cultures. The vision categorically highlighted the need for a fair and just system where everyone (country or human) can pursue the dream of development and peace."
"These initiatives promote the idea of resolving conflicts or disputes through dialogue and development to strengthen peaceful and cooperative co-existence. Thus, the world welcomed the initiative, especially the Global South," he said.
A joint investigation group in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui Province, announced in a statement on Thursday that it will confiscate illegal gains and impose a fine totaling 68.9491 million yuan ($9.83 million) on Three Sheep Group, a company based in the city that was founded by online influencer Zhang Qingyang. The company has recently been hit by criticism of false publicity.
The company apologized for misleading consumers, and vowed to comprehensively conduct internal rectification and protect consumers' legal rights.
Short video platform Douyin said on Thursday that the platform has suspended the livestreaming function of Three Sheep Group's account since September 21, and will further urge the company to commence self-rectification and properly resolve the after-sales compensation issues for consumers.
According to the statement, the Three Sheep Group marketed mooncakes from the Meisun Fine Cake brand as a "Hong Kong-based product" with "over 20 years of history." But in fact, the mooncakes are produced in Guangdong Province and are not sold in Hong Kong.
Three Sheep Group also marketed an "Australian grain-fed beef roll" product as original meat despite not obtaining the original meat inspection report, and the product actually involves a mixture of meat.
The two cases were defined as false commercial publicity by the investigation group, and another case regarding discrepancies between some shipped products and advertised items is under further investigation.
Aside from the penalties, the investigation group required Three Sheep Group to commence rectification within a defined time limit and take legal responsibility. The department of discipline inspection and supervision will initiate investigations into individuals who neglect their duties according to relevant laws and regulations, said the statement.
On September 17, Hefei's market supervision administration launched an investigation into Three Sheep Group for allegedly "misleading consumers" during its livestream sales on social media platform Douyin.
Analysts said the incident serves as a warning for the livestreaming industry, and will help to promote stricter regulations and reforms.
