China and India are reportedly expected to resume an annual pilgrimage to Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, which an expert said on Friday that it could be seen as "a phased achievement" since the two countries reached a six-point consensus last year.

The notification for resumption is expected "fairly soon," said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday. Once it is official, pilgrims will be allowed to travel to Mount Kangrinboqe and the Lake Mansarovar in Xizang region for the first time since 2020, according to a report by The Print.

The pilgrimage, organized by the MEA, usually starts in June and runs till September.

Regarding the reports on the resumption of the pilgrimage, the Chinese government has not yet confirmed them.

China and India's special representatives on the boundary question held the 23rd meeting in Beijing on December 18, 2024, reaching a six-point consensus. It was the first meeting of its kind in five years, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They agreed to further refine the rules for border area management and strengthen the construction of trust-building measures, and continue enhancing cross-border exchanges and cooperation to promote the resumption of Indian pilgrims' visits to China's Xizang, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The reported resumption of the annual pilgrimage reflects both sides' positive attitude toward implementing the consensus. Communication and cooperation at various levels are gradually being restored, and the current progress of this resumption can be seen as "a phased achievement," which is also of great significance to India, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Friday.

Through the efforts of leaders from both China and India, the two countries' relations are developing in a positive direction, Qian said.

The resumption is expected to boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges between India and China, according to a report by NDTV. 

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri held a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India in January in Beijing, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides agreed to promote the resumption of the pilgrimage by Indian pilgrims to the sacred mountain and lake of Xizang in China in 2025, and will negotiate the relevant arrangements as soon as possible, according to the statement.

The two sides also agreed to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, support the coordination and promotion of the competent departments of the two countries, and take measures to facilitate personnel exchanges and the mutual dispatch of journalists between the two countries, said the statement.

Both the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Panama pushed back against recent remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the Panama Canal, urging the US to stop spreading disinformation, stirring up trouble, and falsely linking China to the canal as a pretext for advancing its own ambitions to control it.

During a visit to the Central American nation, Hegseth said on Tuesday that "the US will take back the Panama Canal from Chinese influence," Reuters reported. 

China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area, Hegseth said. "That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the US less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign."

Hegseth, following talks with Panama's government, vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panama's forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponize" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage, according to Reuters. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian firmly rejected those remarks on Wednesday, stating that the US senior official maliciously attacked China, and vilified and sabotaged China-Panama cooperation, which once again lays bare America's bullying and hegemonic nature.

Lin stressed that it is so clear for all to see who wants to control the Panama Canal. The US should take a hard look in the mirror to find out who is threatening other countries' sovereignty, security and development. 

The spokesperson also urged the US to stop spreading rumors and making trouble, and stop linking China to the Panama Canal issue with ill intention to find an excuse for America's attempt to control the canal. "Meanwhile, let me stress that compromise and concession does not protect sovereignty or win respect, but will only embolden the bully," Lin added.

In his inaugural speech in January, US President Donald Trump claimed without providing evidence that China controlled the 50-mile canal and vowed that the US will take back the waterway, which he said was "vital" to national security, NBC News reported on Wednesday. 

The Chinese Embassy in Panama also made a solemn statement on Wednesday in response to the latest remarks made by Hegseth over the Panama Canal, urging the US to seriously reflect on its history of bullying and exploitation toward Latin America and the Caribbean, including Panama, and to stop distorting and smearing China.

China has never participated in the management or operation of the Panama Canal, nor has it ever interfered in canal-related affairs, said the statement. 

China has always respected Panama's sovereignty over the canal and acknowledges that the canal is a permanently neutral international waterway. This position is clearly stated in official documents exchanged during the mutual visits of the two countries' heads of state, the embassy said. 

While the US repeatedly accuses China of interfering with the canal, history tells a different story: The only time the canal was ever interrupted was due to a US invasion, the Chinese Embassy said. 

It is clear who is truly upholding the canal's neutrality and prosperity, and who has been clamoring to "take back" the canal - justice lies in the hearts of the people, the embassy noted. 

In November 2017, China and Panama signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Belt and Road cooperation. Thanks to this agreement, the two countries have enjoyed stronger policy support, increased investment, and broader public support, accelerating cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, finance and development aid. These efforts have yielded tangible benefits for Panama and its people, the embassy said. 

The US has ignored facts and hyped up the so-called China threat, attempting to undermine China-Panama cooperation purely for its own geopolitical purposes - an act that fully exposes its hegemonic mindset. The world can clearly see who is engaging in coercion and exploitation, according to the embassy. 

The embassy pointed out that the US-Panama relations should not be exclusive. Panama's decision to develop relations with China is a sovereign choice, and one that reflects the will of the Panamanian people. The US has no right to interfere, it said. 

"We urge the US to seriously reflect on its history of bullying and exploitation toward Latin America and the Caribbean, including Panama, and to stop distorting and smearing China. Instead of spreading falsehoods and sowing discord, it would be better for the US to focus on how to truly contribute to the well-being of the region," the embassy said. 

Panama President José Raúl Mulino has denied that China has any influence in the operations of the canal, the AP said on Wednesday. 

Mulino was also quoted as saying in the Reuters' report that the canal has been handled responsibly for world trade, including that of the US, and that "it is, and will continue to be, Panamanian."

Hegseth's remarks make it clear that the US does not regard Panama as a sovereign country worthy of respect, but rather as a pawn in its geopolitical game, and its policy toward Panama reflects a blatant disregard for Panama's sovereignty and a brazen interference in its internal affairs, with the aim of drawing Panama into Washington's pre-set strategy of strategic competition with China, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

"By attempting to drag Panama, and potentially other countries, into a great-power rivalry, the US risks creating further instability in the international order and deepening frictions and divisions between itself and other nations," Li said, noting that this tactic of coercion and manipulation, using its own choices and strength to impose its will on others, is bound to backfire. 

In response to a media inquiry regarding a secret internal guidance memo signed by the US defense secretary — which identifies China as the "only pacing threat," allegedly focuses on "deterring China's seizure of Taiwan," and shoring up US homeland defense — Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said on Wednesday that China has taken note of relevant reports.

He stated that it appears the US is suffering from increasingly severe "paranoia over China." Viewing China as a threat is a grave strategic misjudgment that will only lead to disastrous consequences. 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the US military to prioritize "deterring China's seizure of Taiwan" and shoring up homeland defense by "assuming risk" in Europe and other parts of the world, according to a secret internal guidance memo that bears the fingerprints of the conservative Heritage Foundation, including some passages that are nearly word-for-word duplications of text published by the think tank last year, according to the Washington Post in late March.

It must be stressed that China will ultimately be reunified, and this is an unstoppable historical trend that no individual or force can prevent, Zhang emphasized.

Advanced weapons and equipment such as the Type 054A frigate, the DF-15 ballistic missile, the H-6K bomber and the Y-20 transport aircraft have joined the PLA Eastern Theater Command's joint exercise around the island of Taiwan on Tuesday, a video released by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command showed. During the exercises, the H-6K bomber carried YJ-21 air-launched ballistic missile, which was unveiled previously at Airshow China.

The YJ-21 missile's appearance in the drills by the PLA Eastern Theater Command indicates a high level of combat realism. The missile has key significance in seizing comprehensive control, and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces have no way to deal with this type of missile, a military affairs expert told the Global Times on Tuesday.

A PLA Eastern Theater Command video on Tuesday showed an H-6K bomber lifting off with two YJ-21 missiles.

The YJ-21 missile was unveiled at the Airshow China 2022. 

In a video released by the PLA Air Force in 2024 celebrating the service's 75th founding anniversary, the launch scene of the YJ-21 was for the first time shown to the public. Military affairs expert Wang Mingzhi told media that the YJ-21 is an advanced air-launched ballistic missile, giving the PLA Air Force an advanced means to strike with long range, fast speed, high precision, strong defense penetration capability and high destructive power.

The participation of the YJ-21 in the joint exercises around Taiwan Island has a profound significance. Military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Tuesday that the missile's participation showed that the drills by the PLA Eastern Theater Command is very close to actual combat, and the participating troops are ready to fight any time.

The YJ-21, as a missile with hypersonic defense penetration capability, has key significance in the seizure of comprehensive control, anti-sea and land attack, as well as blockading key areas and routes, Zhang said, noting that comprehensive control in modern warfare covers a wide range, including not only the traditional control of the sea, air and land, but also control over electromagnetic domain and cyberspace. Achieving this requires land strikes, electromagnetic warfare, and destruction of high-value targets like command centers and network hubs. "

Because hypersonic missiles can reach speeds higher than Mach 6, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' current air defense systems have no way to deal with the YJ-21 - in fact there are hardly any force in the world that can effectively intercept it, Zhang said.

China's State Council announced on Wednesday that it has decided to appoint Chow Yat-ming as the commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, replacing Siu Chak-yee, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

The decision was made in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law, and was based on the nomination and suggestion put forward by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Xinhua said, citing the official announcement. 

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Chow said his future work will focus on three key areas. First, safeguarding national security and enhancing public awareness of national security. Second, promoting smart policing by leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency, work effectiveness, and service quality. Third, strengthening team culture, shared values and a sense of belonging while providing better support and development opportunities, according to local media RTHK. 

Since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong five years ago and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance last year, these measures have acted as a stabilizing force, bringing social stability to Hong Kong, Chow noted. However, he said this does not mean all hidden risks have been eliminated, as "undercurrents still exist everywhere," local media Wen Wei Po reported. 

Therefore, he stressed that the police force has an even greater responsibility to safeguard national security. Chow pointed out that these hidden threats include various forms of "soft resistance," where individuals attempt to incite others through media or cultural and artistic projects. In response, the police will further strengthen public awareness and understanding of national security, according to Wen Wei Po. 

A day ahead of the appointment, the US slapped new sanctions on six individuals from the central government's office in Hong Kong and the HKSAR government, including security and police officials Sonny Au, Dick Wong, Margaret Chiu and police commissioner Raymond Siu, Reuters reported on Tuesday. 

During the press briefing, Chow described the sanctions as a "barbaric act" aimed at intimidating and suppressing Hong Kong public officials, particularly police officers. However, he asserted that these sanctions also serve as proof that the police force's current operations are effective and successful, according to Wen Wei Po.

Chow also emphasized that he is not concerned about the sanctions; instead, he is focused on improving and expanding the police force's efforts, vowing to lead the force with courage and determination in the face of challenges, Wen Wei Po said. 

He also noted that the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will continue to collaborate with overseas law enforcement agencies through well-established channels and believes that the sanctions will not affect HKPF's international cooperation, according to the media report. 

Chow joined the HKPF in 1995 as an Inspector of Police and devoted most of his career as a crime detective at divisional, district, regional and headquarters levels, through which he accumulated extensive experiences in criminal investigation and intelligence gathering related work, and developed policy-making skills in various crime duties, according to the website of the HKPF.  

During the 2019 social turmoil, Chow commanded the standoff between protestors and police at the Polytechnic University, according to local media HK01. The operation lasted 14 days and resulted in the arrest of 1,377 individuals, media reported. 

"Thanks to 'Hui Si Kai Wu,' this has given my movement abilities a significant boost!" humanoid robot Tien Kung said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, during which the "general embodied intelligence platform" was officially released.

Developed by the Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, "Hui Si Kai Wu" is designed to elevate robots from merely executing singular tasks to achieving autonomous decision-making and execution capabilities in complex environments.

Tang Jian, the chief technology officer of the center, told the Global Times that traditional robots may only be developed for a single scenario or a single task, but with the application of the universal software system "Hui Si Kai Wu," robots can adapt to multiple tasks in a wide range of applications.

According to the center, the software system enables full-process intelligence from task comprehension to execution and possesses the generalization capability to handle complex tasks across multiple scenarios.

Either humanoid robots, wheeled robots, or even robotic arms can be adapted for the use to deal with tasks in a wide range of applications, including industrial, commercial and home scenarios. This adaptability allows robots to cater to diverse application scenarios and tasks, providing robots with robust perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities, the center noted at the event.

In a live demonstration at the event, with just a tap on the "Hui Si Kai Wu" app, Tien Kung successfully completed a block-building task step by step. According to the center, this robot has capabilities in multi-dimensional spatial analyses, cognitive task planning for the block structure, and dynamic planning of assembly steps.

In a desktop cleaning scene, the robot fluidly sorted tableware, collected garbage into tinfoil trays and placed them in a trash can. Throughout the demonstration, the robot moved smoothly. The center noted that if it encounters an issue, it can self-correct and re-plan in order to complete the task.

At the press conference, the robot also showed its empowered capabilities in industrial sorting and logistics packaging. Through voice interaction, app direct connection and other methods, users can easily interact with the robot, which can finish tasks with high precision.

"You can imagine the platform as a central nervous system for robots that integrates advanced cognitive functions such as perception, decision-making, language, learning, and motion control," Tang said.

Other than boosting the intelligence and execution efficiency of robots when carrying out complex tasks, the platform also lowers the barrier for robot development through a low-code approach, simplifying the development process, Tang noted.

Industry observers said that humanoid robots have evolved from laboratory prototypes to tangible products, with this year's robots entering a phase of increased intelligence and versatility. The rapid growth of the country's robotics industry has led to the deployment of robots across various sectors, such as warehouse logistics, education and entertainment, cleaning services, security inspection and medical rehabilitation.

But embodied intelligence is still in its early stages in terms of "intelligence," and the industry needs a universal platform with multi-body compatibility, multi-scenario adaptability and robust generalization capabilities, according to Xiong Youjun, the general manager of the center.

Words such as "embodied intelligence" were included in the Government Work Report for the first time during the just-concluded two sessions. "Artificial intelligence +" was frequently mentioned and became one of the hottest words.

The center said they are planning to open the Hui Si Kai Wu platform to a broad range of organizations, such as enterprises, universities and scientific research institutions, to jointly promote the vigorous development of the humanoid robot industry in China.

Over the next 10 years, smart products, including physical robots and virtual assistants, are expected to enter ordinary families from the factory and every corner of society, becoming everyone's butler and friend, Zhang Yaqin, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said. The trend will not only change individuals' lifestyles, but also bring about changes in social structure, employment and the economy.

The Chinese capital city will host the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon on April 13 as part of the Beijing Yizhuang Half-Marathon. For the first time, humanoid robots will officially compete alongside human runners in a 21.09-kilometer race.

The center said it plans to deploy Tien Kung to complete the race, with battery replacements scheduled along the way. The event will challenge the robot's joint modules, which must demonstrate strong, long-lasting durability and effective heat management, as overheating can impair its various functions, the Global Times learnt.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) fleet on Friday patrolled the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao.
The patrol was aimed at protecting China's rights and interests in accordance with the law, the CCG said in a statement.

A passenger poses for photos on a tourist train for seniors in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2025. A tourist train for seniors departed from north China's Tianjin on Saturday. Carrying a total of 452 silver-haired passengers from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the train is on a 12-day journey and will visit a series of tourist areas in Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangdong provinces. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

In response to a question that it is learned Chinese military conducted military exercises around the Taiwan Straits on Monday, which some believed are related to the recent changes in the US State Department's wording on its Taiwan policy and the provocative actions of "Taiwan independence" forces, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the related military activities taken by China are necessary, lawful, and justified measures to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. They serve as a firm response to the deliberate indulgence and support of "Taiwan independence" activities by external forces, and a stern warning to the separatist actions of the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Mao said that the US has recently taken a series of erroneous actions regarding the Taiwan question, particularly by changing the content on the US State Department's website related to its relations with Taiwan island and removing the previous statement that the US "does not support 'Taiwan independence'." This represents a serious regression in the US position on Taiwan-related issues. It is yet another example of the US deliberately promoting the strategy of "using Taiwan question to contain China" and condoning support for "Taiwan independence," sending a seriously erroneous signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Mao emphasized that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. If the foundation is not solid, the ground will shake and the mountains will tremble. "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Straits and engaging in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities is a dead end. Using Taiwan question to contain China will only get burned, Mao said.

We urge the US to strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, honor the solemn commitments made by successive US administrations on the Taiwan question, cease provocative actions that cross the line, handle the Taiwan question with utmost caution, and avoid causing further serious damage to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and China-US relations, Mao added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Friday responded to reports that US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he wants to meet with Chinese, Russian leaders to discuss reducing nuclear weapons and cutting defense spending.

According to AP, Trump said Thursday that he wants to restart nuclear arms control talks with Russia and China and that eventually he hopes all three countries could agree to cut their massive defense budgets in half.

Guo said that it is widely recognized around the world that the US and Russia possess over 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, and the nuclear disarmament must adhere to fundamental principles such as maintaining global strategic stability and ensuring that the security of all countries is not compromised.

As the countries with the largest nuclear arsenals, the US and Russia should earnestly fulfill their special priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, further significantly and substantively reduce their nuclear stockpiles, and create the necessary conditions for other nuclear-armed states to join the nuclear disarmament process. The international community has long reached a consensus on this, the spokesperson said.

Guo stressed that China strictly follows a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and consistently keeps its nuclear capabilities at the lowest level necessary for national security, without engaging in an arms race with any country.

China is willing to work with all parties to firmly support a multilateral arms control mechanism centered around the UN and contribute to maintaining international peace and security, Guo said.

Regarding the defense spending, Guo emphasized that in 2024, US military spending accounts for 40 percent of global military expenditure, making it the world's largest military spender, exceeding the total military expenditure of the next eight countries combined. The US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 further increases military spending to approximately $895 billion. 

"The US advocates for 'America First,' then it should set an example by prioritizing reductions in military spending," Guo said.

The spokesperson noted that China's defense expenditure is open, transparent, reasonable, and moderate. Compared to military powers like the US, China's defense spending is relatively low in terms of its proportion of GDP, its share of national fiscal expenditure, per capita defense spending, and per capita military personnel defense spending. 

China adheres to the path of peaceful development and firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China has always been a stabilizer in a turbulent world, a positive energy for international security, and an activist in maintaining peace, Guo said.

The facts have proven and will continue to prove that China's limited defense spending is entirely necessary for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as for maintaining world peace, Guo noted.