“New Monroe Doctrine” never needed in today’s world

By Huan Yuping, People’s Daily

A series of recent actions taken by the United States against Venezuela—from military strikes and forcible capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, to open declarations of intent to “run” Venezuela and gain control over its oil resources—have laid bare the underlying logic of domination and power politics that define the so-called “new Monroe Doctrine.” 

These measures not only constitute a blatant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, but also challenge and undermine the international law and basic norms governing international relations enshrined in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

I.

The “new Monroe Doctrine” is by no means a novel concept. Rather, it represents the continuation and a dangerous escalation of the United States’ traditional hegemonic policy in the contemporary era. 

An article published on the website of Spain’s El País observed, “By intervening in Venezuela, Washington is reviving the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine,” noting that the U.S. approach amounts to a “gunboat diplomacy 2.0.”

At the end of 2025, the White House released the 2025 National Security Strategy, explicitly stating: “After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, and to protect our homeland and our access to key geographies throughout the region.”

Recent actions, including military action against Venezuela, threats directed towards Latin American countries like Cuba, and overt territorial ambitions expressed toward Greenland, a Danish territory, have given the international community a clearer picture of the trajectory of U.S. policy and heightened concerns over the regional and global consequences that this “new Monroe Doctrine” may bring.

What exactly does the “new Monroe Doctrine” entail? The United States’ own words and deeds provide a stark answer.

Its objective is to be ensuring that the Western Hemisphere becomes what U.S. politicians have termed “our hemisphere,” subordinating territories, resources, and sea lanes of regional countries to U.S. interests, and aligning their domestic and foreign policies with the United States’ will. 

The United States is discarding all pretenses and openly relying on brute-force methods, including military strikes, intimidation and coercion, economic pressure, and efforts to instigate regime change. Guided by doctrines prioritizing “might makes right” and “America First,” the United States demonstrates a willingness to pursue its self-serving interests with minimal restraint.

What will the “new Monroe Doctrine” bring to the region? History offers a clear warning.

“All the way back to 1823, James Monroe established the Monroe Doctrine. You are a part of it now, you are a part of that legacy.” A U.S. politician recently declared. This amounts to an open admission that today’s United States is inheriting and perpetuating a historical tradition of intervention and exploition that once caused immense suffering to the peoples of Latin America. 

From seizing more than half of Mexico’s territory in 1848, to occupying Haiti with troops in 1915, to invading the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Panama during the Cold War, the record is long and grim. As The Guardian has pointed out, “Almost every country in the region has experienced some form of U.S. intervention, overt or covert.” 

Historically, Monroe Doctrine implementation reduced Latin America to a long-term “strategic backyard,” a “supplier of raw materials,” a “dumping ground for goods,” and a “cultural colony” of the United States. The development trajectories of Latin American countries were repeatedly disrupted, and their peoples endured extensive suffering. 

As Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano revealed in his book Open Veins of Latin America, this pattern of “externalized development” remains a recurring script: the underground wealth of other nations must fuel the U.S. hegemony.

II.

When assessing the current situation, a U.S. scholar has asserted that Venezuela has become a springboard for the 21st-century Monroe Doctrine.

As the United States reasserts the Western Hemisphere as a foreign policy priority, Latin America and the Caribbean are likely to face potential disruptions to peace, stability, and development, with regional autonomy significantly constrained. 

The United States has justified its increased military presence in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific as part of its efforts to combat “narco-terrorism,” yet its recent escalation to direct military action against Venezuela highlights a troubling pattern of manufacturing security crises in the region. Such interventions pose a significant threat to the Latin American people’s pursuit of peaceful lives. Through overt interference in the internal affairs of Latin American nations, the United States has intensified political divisions, creating serious risks to the region’s political stability.

By imposing asset seizures and tariffs, the United States is siphoning development resources from the entire region northward, depriving regional countries of their right to independent development and severely impacting local economies and livelihoods. 

By stoking confrontation between so-called “pro-U.S.” and “autonomous” camps in the region, the United States undermines regional unity and self-reliance, obstructing regional integration eventually.

The harm caused by the “new Monroe Doctrine” extends far beyond Latin America. Following the U.S. military action against Venezuela, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that such actions had set a “dangerous precedent.” 

At its core, the doctrine represents a fundamental clash between hegemony and justice, “spheres of influence” and sovereign equality, and unilateral dominance and mutual respect. It directly contradicts the international law and basic norms governing international relations, violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the foundation of international relations, and threatens to undermine fairness and justice on a global scale.

When the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the U.S. military action against Venezuela, U.S. politicians responded that “they didn’t care what the UN says,” bluntly exposing the United States’ contempt for the UN, for multilateralism, and for the international order.

Undermining international norms endangers all nations. Hegemony, by its nature, does not restrains itself. By openly placing brute force above justice, it breeds insecurity and instability across the world. 

Indeed, the expansionist ambitions and predatory mindset now on display in the United States reflect a striking sense of being “out of sync with the times,” alarming and unsettling the global community. 

Some analysts pointed out that the “new Monroe Doctrine” is not a revivial but a “dangerous escalation.” The Washington Post has warned that if such barbaric behavior becomes normalized, the consequences would be disastrous, with “might makes right” becoming the sole rule.

III.

The world does not need a “new Monroe Doctrine,” and history will inevitably consign it to the dustbin.

The UN Charter clearly states that “The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members,” and that “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the UN.” 

In today’s international relations, sovereign equality is the prerequisite for peaceful coexistence, while the rule of international law is the fundamental safeguard and the backbone of fairness and justice. These most basic principles underpin the long-term peace and stability of the world and must be jointly upheld by the international community.

In response to the U.S. action against Venezuela and the rising “new Monroe Doctrine,” the strongest and broadest consensus within the international community is to defend the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. 

Voices from around the world have noted that “the United States is willing to disregard long-established international legal principles to achieve its own goals,” that it “poses a serious threat to the international order established after World War II,” and that it has “effectively erased the very existence of international law.”

The “new Monroe Doctrine” and the global condemnation it has received act as a mirror, reflecting both the limits of hegemonic powers’ global expansion and their reckless use of localized force. It also underscores the ongoing shift toward a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations—along with the inevitable twists and turns along this path.

Temporary advantage lies in power, but lasting victory lies in justice. History moves forward, and justice will ultimately prevail over brute force. In the face of hegemony, the international community must firmly stand on the right side of history, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and ensure that righteousness prevails and the world remains upright and bright.

Dingri county in Xizang shows renewed landscape one year after earthquake

By Yuan Quan, Xu Yuyao, Chungda Drolkar, People’s Daily

In Chajiang village, Chamco township, Dingri county Shigatse, southwest China’s Xizang autonomous region, 14-year-old Sonam Dorje now lives in a newly constructed traditional two-toned dwelling. a newly built red-and-white Tibetan-style house is home to Sonam Dorje. Despite sub-zero temperatures outside dipping to minus 20 degrees Celsius, warmth fills the home, accompanied by the comforting aroma of freshly brewed butter tea.

Sonam Dorje, who suffered leg fractures when trapped beneath rubble during the devastating Dingri earthquake a year ago, now moves freely around his new house. The memory of being rescued remains vivid. “I want to become a firefighter to help others when I grow up,” he declared.

Following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Dingri on Jan. 7, 2025, Xizang has undertaken a massive reconstruction effort. Over the past year, more than 22,000 homes have been rebuilt, covering an area of 3.1 million square meters, while another 10,500 homes have undergone repair and structural reinforcement.

Newly paved roads connect clusters of rebuilt homes, children play on football fields, and villages like Zingkar in Chamco now boast complete supporting facilities.

“It was friends from Shanghai who helped us build our new homes,” said villager Norbu. During the reconstruction, he forged deep friendships with construction workers, lending a hand on site and even volunteering as an interpreter between the construction teams and local residents.

Zingkar was among the hardest hit in the Dingri earthquake, and its reconstruction was assisted by Shanghai. “Our focus extended beyond seismic safety,” said Zhuang Yinong, engineering director of the general contracting department of Shanghai Construction Group. “We aimed to create a green, livable, modern village.”

The rebuilding effort exemplified nationwide solidarity. Central government departments like the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development provided guidance and support. Over 1,000 professionals from institutions including Tongji University contributed to design. Nationally, 134 enterprises, more than 2,600 management staff, and over 61,000 workers labored around the clock, completing tasks across  1,032 sites in 47 townships. 

Reconstruction proceeded hand-in-hand with restoring livelihoods and revitalizing industry. 

In Tongra village, Dinggye county, Shigatse, a cooperative feed plant hums with activity during winter, processing and baling forage. Confident invested as shareholders. By the end of 2025, the cooperative achieved sales exceeding 650,000 yuan ($93,073), boosting incomes for dozens of households.  

Shigatse has prioritized upgrading animal feed production in affected counties, strengthening local capacity for self-sustained development as industries thrive and livelihoods stabilize.

At the same time, Shigatse has vigorously promoted work-relief programs, employment assistance, and skills training. Residents in disaster-hit areas were widely mobilized to take part in debris removal, repairs, and reinforcement work. This has benefited 110,500 people and generated a total income of 1.16 billion yuan, significantly enhancing the sense of fulfillment among affected communities.

“We have always treated post-disaster reconstruction as a major political task and a critical project to improve people’s livelihoods,” said Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee. “We achieved the goal of rebuilding and moving residents into new homes within the same year.”

Three questions for Japan: Unmasking its so-called ‘pacifist nation’ image

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Recently, as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sought momentum for revising the country’s three security documents, she claimed that the move was intended to strengthen Japan’s “independence and peace” and to “protect the lives and livelihoods of the people.” 

Preaching “peace” while pressing ahead with military expansion, however, reveals a glaring contradiction between words and deeds. This stark disparity not only tears away the mask of Japan’s self-styled image as a “pacifist nation,” but also fully exposes the dangerous direction of the country’s current strategic trajectory.

For a long time, Japan has carefully cultivated a “pacifist nation” persona on the international stage, attempting to whitewash the crimes of militarist aggression through a web of rhetoric and cosmetic gestures, and to deceive the international community into granting it trust. Yet many of Japan’s actions in reality leave little choice but to question its true intentions.

Why would a so-called “pacifist nation” regard its “pacifist constitution” as a thorn in the eye and be eager to discard it?

Japan’s “pacifist constitution” clearly stipulates that the country forever renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes, and that it will never maintain land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, nor recognize the right of belligerency of the state. This laid the domestic legal cornerstone for Japan’s postwar path of peaceful development. 

Since coming into force in 1947, the “pacifist constitution” has restrained Japan’s impulses toward military expansion and sent a clear signal of non-war to Asian neighbors that once suffered from Japanese aggression, playing an important role in improving Japan’s relations with countries in the region.

However, Japan’s right wing has long portrayed the “pacifist constitution” as an obstacle to so-called “national normalization,” and in recent years has accelerated efforts to hollow it out: lifting the ban on the exercise of collective self-defense, enacting the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, formulating new security laws, rapidly increasing military spending, developing so-called “counterstrike capabilities,” and loosening restrictions on arms exports. 

These moves run counter to the original intent of the pacifist constitution, render the principle of “exclusively defense-oriented policy” hollow in name only, tacitly recognize “the right of belligerency,” and in effect push Japan toward “neo-militarism.”

Why would a so-called “pacifist nation” attempt to revise the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles?” 

This just lays bare its ambition to possess nuclear weapons. As the only country in the world to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan should have stood firmly in defense of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Yet senior Japanese officials have put forward fallacious arguments advocating “nuclear armament,” and have shown growing eagerness to revise the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles.” 

Such behavior is not only a betrayal of Japan’s own pledges to peace, but also an open challenge to the postwar international order and the authority of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Japan is a typical “nuclear-threshold state,” having long produced and stockpiled plutonium far in excess of what is actually required for civilian nuclear energy. For this very reason, any loosening of Japan’s nuclear policy would deliver a severe shock to the regional security landscape and global strategic stability. 

In response to the Japanese government’s current pro-nuclear tendencies, some Japanese media have raised pointed questions: if even the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” are cast aside, it would be the worst possible outcome — just how far does this hawkish administration intend to go in exposing its true nature?

Why does a so-called “pacifist nation” repeatedly stir up trouble and undermine regional peace and stability?

The Takaichi administration has repeatedly made mischief over the Taiwan question, openly interfering in China’s internal affairs and even issuing military threats against China, plunging China-Japan relations into serious difficulty. 

This is by no means an isolated case. In recent years, Japan’s right wing has constantly hyped the so-called “China threat,” deliberately fanning the flames and creating troubles on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue. Japan has also been beset by frequent frictions and conflicts in its relations with other regional countries, including the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

More dangerously, Japan is working hard to serve as a “vanguard” for countries outside the region, pushing for the creation of a so-called “Asia-Pacific version of NATO” and attempting to import bloc confrontation into Asia. This seriously undermines mutual trust among regional countries and creates major risks to regional peace and stability.

Japan’s own history of belligerence and war fever offers a stark and recent warning, making any return to militarism and reckless adventurism something the international community must be on guard against. 

Looking back at World War II, Japan once cloaked its aggression with the false slogan of “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,” relied on diplomatic smokescreens to deceive others, and launched a war through a brazen surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor. 

Today, Japan once again wraps itself in the cloak of “peace,” while in practice pursuing military expansion and policies that undermine regional peace and stability. 

Such words and deeds mirror the sinister tactics employed by Japanese militarism before and during the outbreak of World War II. The purpose is to mislead the international community and create conditions and conveniences for strategic speculation and adventurism.

In 1954, Japan presented a “Peace Bell” to the United Nations, which bears the inscription “Long live absolute world peace.” The irony could hardly be greater. Today, Japan’s right wing is striding ever further down the perilous path of “neo-militarism.” 

In the face of the Takaichi administration’s profoundly wrong and extremely dangerous strategic direction, the international community must stay vigilant, see clearly through the false mask of this so-called “pacifist nation,” and take resolute action to jointly safeguard regional and international peace and stability.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

Saihanba secures “green pass” to international market

By Zhang Tengyang, People’s Daily

After a snowfall, the vast man-made forests in Saihanba were blanketed in pristine white. Beneath the snow-covered canopy, the footsteps of forest rangers—together with satellites overhead, watchtowers perched on mountain peaks, high-definition cameras, and ground-based Internet of Things monitoring equipment—interweaved into an integrated sky–air–ground monitoring and protection network, safeguarding this hard-won expanse of green.

Located at the northernmost edge of Hebei province in north China and along the southern fringe of the Hunshandak Sandland on the Inner Mongolian Plateau, Saihanba was, more than half a century ago, a remote, desolate, and bitterly cold land. Across three generations, workers at the Saihanba Forest Farm persevered in afforestation under extremely harsh natural conditions, ultimately building the world’s largest man-made forest.

Recently, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm successfully passed the CFCC (China Forest Certification Council) / PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) forest management certification. The certification is valid from December 2025 to December 2030 and covers an area of 93,337.62 hectares—equivalent to the forest farm’s entire managed area of 1.4 million mu. This achievement further broadens the pathways for transforming ecological value and opens the door for Saihanba’s forest products to reach global markets.

What is the value of this “green certification?”

According to Guo Zhifeng, deputy director of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, obtaining this certification means that the forest farm’s management philosophy, management system, and technical standards have gained international recognition. It will help increase market acceptance, products’ added value and international competitiveness. “Put simply,” Guo explained, “this certification is a ‘green pass’ to the international market.”

Yet earning this certification was no easy task.

Entrusted with the assessment, Zhonglin Tianhe Forest Certification Center (ZTFC), a Chinese  forest certification body, conducted the CFCC/PEFC forest management certification. The CFCC and PEFC achieved mutual recognition in 2014. Tan Tuanyuan, an executive with ZTFC, explained that the certification standards mainly cover social, economic, and environmental performance.

“The certification involves 10 principles, 46 standard clauses, and 143 indicators,” Guo noted. Statistics show that among more than 4,200 state-owned forest farms nationwide, only a small number of them have successfully passed CFCC/PEFC forest management certification.

In the first half of 2025, an expert team from ZTFC entered the vast forests of Saihanba to conduct a comprehensive “physical examination” of the forest farm’s management practices.

Visiting all six sub-farms of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, their inspections covered the entire lifecycle of forest management—from seedling cultivation and afforestation to tending, harvesting, and protection. Even routine management meeting records and warehouse inventory checks were carefully reviewed.

After the first round of inspections, the forest farm received a lengthy list of required rectifications. “Quite a few issues were raised,” Guo recalled. In response, the forest farm mobilized concentrated efforts to make improvements, bringing everything—from management approaches and scientific seedling cultivation to every detail of resource protection—into line with the required satandards.

Following two rounds of rigorous review, the forest farm finally obtained the CFCC/PEFC certification certificate at the end of 2025.

“This certification affirms our long-term commitment to science-based forestry and sustainable management,” said Chang Weiqiang, head of the forest management department of the forest farm. It requires that the entire forest management process be orderly, sustainable, and eco-friendly, he added.

Going forward, Saihanba’s forest products will be able to enter markets in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere more smoothly, while also providing support for downstream enterprises along the industrial chain as they expand overseas.

In recent years, the forest farm has taken targeted measures to improve forest quality. In response to issues such as structural monotony and ecological degradation in large-scale plantations, the  forest farm has pioneered the implementation of techniques including high-density initial planting and multiple rounds of tending and utilization. It has actively promoted the development of mixed-species forests, steadily enhancing the diversity, stability, and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Over the past five years, the forest farm has completed forest tending over a cumulative area of 542,000 mu. The proportion of mixed forests has risen from 21.4 percent to 26.9 percent. Saihanba has been recognized as a national pilot for sustainable forest management and as a demonstration unit under the UN Forest Instrument. By 2040, the area of mixed forests will increase by another 244,000 mu, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total forest area.

In exploring mechanisms for maximizing the economic value of ecological products, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm has kept breaking new ground. After becoming the first state-owned forest farm in North China to develop a national-level certified forestry carbon sink project in 2016, it went on in 2022 to develop 330,000 mu of forest carbon sequestration products in Hebei province. The verified carbon sink amounted to 2.25 million tons, generating revenue of 10.68 million yuan ($1.53 million). Through scientific tending, the forest farm now achieves an annual carbon sequestration of 860,300 tons—equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions of approximately 860,000 family cars.

Investigation absolves Aondoakaa in Utan Bran compensation case

An independent investigation by Nigerian Concord Newspaper has found no evidence linking a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, to the Utan Bran compensation case or other alleged scandals at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The investigation, conducted at the Federal Ministry of Justice, followed reports in sections of the media alleging misconduct by the former chief law officer of the federation.

Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act indicate that Chief Aondoakaa was not involved in the legal firms that handled the Utan Bran compensation matter. Findings further show that the judgement debt related to the case was reportedly paid in 2006 under the tenure of a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Multiple officials at the Federal Ministry of Justice, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Chief Aondoakaa’s tenure as one marked by adherence to the rule of law. The sources said court orders were generally complied with during his time in office.

They also questioned claims portraying the former Attorney General as emblematic of alleged institutional failings within the legal system, stating that no specific instance had been cited in which he abused public office or undermined court judgements.

Regarding reports suggesting that Chief Aondoakaa interfered with court processes during the post-election period of the 2007 National Assembly elections, sources within the ministry said available records do not support claims that he acted to obstruct court orders or delay the swearing-in of elected officials.

On questions surrounding eligibility to hold public office, legal practitioners pointed to established Supreme Court jurisprudence, which holds that concurrent judgements carry equal legal weight with lead judgements. A concurring opinion by Justice Mary Odili, JSC, was cited as stating that the issue of disqualification from public office did not arise in the matter concerning Aondoakaa.

The case is reportedly the subject of further judicial proceedings, following claims that earlier judgements were obtained through misrepresentation. The matter remains pending before the courts.

Sources also said documents generated during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and signed by senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, support the position that Chief Aondoakaa was not implicated in the Utan Bran case. Nigerian Concord Newspaper said it would publish the documents after concluding its investigation.

Further findings indicate that the former Attorney General was not linked to major cases such as the Halliburton scandal, the OPL 245 (Malabu) oil deal, or the recovery of Abacha-era assets.

Supporters of Aondoakaa also note that he was cleared by his party to participate in the 2023 governorship primary election, arguing that this further demonstrates that no court order barred him from holding public office.

Legal experts reaffirm that qualifications and disqualifications for elective office are constitutionally defined, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation, which established that constitutional provisions on eligibility cannot be expanded or restricted by implication.

Saihanba secures “green pass” to international market

By Zhang Tengyang, People’s Daily

After a snowfall, the vast man-made forests in Saihanba were blanketed in pristine white. Beneath the snow-covered canopy, the footsteps of forest rangers—together with satellites overhead, watchtowers perched on mountain peaks, high-definition cameras, and ground-based Internet of Things monitoring equipment—interweaved into an integrated sky–air–ground monitoring and protection network, safeguarding this hard-won expanse of green.

Located at the northernmost edge of Hebei province in north China and along the southern fringe of the Hunshandak Sandland on the Inner Mongolian Plateau, Saihanba was, more than half a century ago, a remote, desolate, and bitterly cold land. Across three generations, workers at the Saihanba Forest Farm persevered in afforestation under extremely harsh natural conditions, ultimately building the world’s largest man-made forest.

Recently, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm successfully passed the CFCC (China Forest Certification Council) / PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) forest management certification. The certification is valid from December 2025 to December 2030 and covers an area of 93,337.62 hectares—equivalent to the forest farm’s entire managed area of 1.4 million mu. This achievement further broadens the pathways for transforming ecological value and opens the door for Saihanba’s forest products to reach global markets.

What is the value of this “green certification?”

According to Guo Zhifeng, deputy director of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, obtaining this certification means that the forest farm’s management philosophy, management system, and technical standards have gained international recognition. It will help increase market acceptance, products’ added value and international competitiveness. “Put simply,” Guo explained, “this certification is a ‘green pass’ to the international market.”

Yet earning this certification was no easy task.

Entrusted with the assessment, Zhonglin Tianhe Forest Certification Center (ZTFC), a Chinese  forest certification body, conducted the CFCC/PEFC forest management certification. The CFCC and PEFC achieved mutual recognition in 2014. Tan Tuanyuan, an executive with ZTFC, explained that the certification standards mainly cover social, economic, and environmental performance.

“The certification involves 10 principles, 46 standard clauses, and 143 indicators,” Guo noted. Statistics show that among more than 4,200 state-owned forest farms nationwide, only a small number of them have successfully passed CFCC/PEFC forest management certification.

In the first half of 2025, an expert team from ZTFC entered the vast forests of Saihanba to conduct a comprehensive “physical examination” of the forest farm’s management practices.

Visiting all six sub-farms of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, their inspections covered the entire lifecycle of forest management—from seedling cultivation and afforestation to tending, harvesting, and protection. Even routine management meeting records and warehouse inventory checks were carefully reviewed.

After the first round of inspections, the forest farm received a lengthy list of required rectifications. “Quite a few issues were raised,” Guo recalled. In response, the forest farm mobilized concentrated efforts to make improvements, bringing everything—from management approaches and scientific seedling cultivation to every detail of resource protection—into line with the required satandards.

Following two rounds of rigorous review, the forest farm finally obtained the CFCC/PEFC certification certificate at the end of 2025.

“This certification affirms our long-term commitment to science-based forestry and sustainable management,” said Chang Weiqiang, head of the forest management department of the forest farm. It requires that the entire forest management process be orderly, sustainable, and eco-friendly, he added.

Going forward, Saihanba’s forest products will be able to enter markets in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere more smoothly, while also providing support for downstream enterprises along the industrial chain as they expand overseas.

In recent years, the forest farm has taken targeted measures to improve forest quality. In response to issues such as structural monotony and ecological degradation in large-scale plantations, the  forest farm has pioneered the implementation of techniques including high-density initial planting and multiple rounds of tending and utilization. It has actively promoted the development of mixed-species forests, steadily enhancing the diversity, stability, and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Over the past five years, the forest farm has completed forest tending over a cumulative area of 542,000 mu. The proportion of mixed forests has risen from 21.4 percent to 26.9 percent. Saihanba has been recognized as a national pilot for sustainable forest management and as a demonstration unit under the UN Forest Instrument. By 2040, the area of mixed forests will increase by another 244,000 mu, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total forest area.

In exploring mechanisms for maximizing the economic value of ecological products, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm has kept breaking new ground. After becoming the first state-owned forest farm in North China to develop a national-level certified forestry carbon sink project in 2016, it went on in 2022 to develop 330,000 mu of forest carbon sequestration products in Hebei province. The verified carbon sink amounted to 2.25 million tons, generating revenue of 10.68 million yuan ($1.53 million). Through scientific tending, the forest farm now achieves an annual carbon sequestration of 860,300 tons—equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions of approximately 860,000 family cars.

Deepening China-ASEAN food trade brings benefits to both sides

By Wang Donghui, People’s Daily

In the early hours of the morning, a shipment of pomelos imported from Thailand arrived at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality. 

Through a dedicated “green channel” for fresh produce, airport customs authorities provided 24/7 clearance services, ensuring swift inspection and release. The fruit was delivered to the Shuangfu International Agricultural Product Trade Market in Chongqing for distribution later the same day.

The Shuangfu International Agricultural Product Trade Market, as a key project to enrich non-staple food supply and improve local people’s livelihood in Chongqing, has grown into a major regional hub for agricultural product circulation. 

Official data show that in the first 10 months of 2025, fruit from ASEAN countries accounted for about 80 percent of the market’s total imported fruit volume, with transaction value reaching 2.5 billion yuan ($357.46 million), up more than 25 percent year on year.

Chongqing Shanghao Agricultural Products Co., Ltd., one of the market’s leading wholesalers of imported fruit, has established its own processing facilities and supporting logistics operations in Thailand, enabling direct sourcing at origin and standardized processing. 

“Durian, mangosteen, young coconuts and other fruit imported from ASEAN countries are very popular in the Chinese market,” said Zou Teng, the company’s general manager. “Take Thai durian as an example: in the first 10 months of 2025, our processing volume reached 2,000 containers, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, fully meeting domestic consumer demand.”

The accelerated and improved access of high-quality ASEAN agricultural and food products to Chinese households owes much to the institutional safeguards provided by the China-ASEAN cooperation mechanism on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). 

By advancing coordinated efforts in food safety, animal and plant quarantine, and capacity building, the mechanism has fostered a more convenient and secure trade environment, facilitating increased imports of ASEAN agricultural and food products.

As ASEAN flavors make their way into China, “Chinese taste” is also reaching overseas markets. At the production facility of Chongqing Dejia Meat Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Dejia), boxes of canned pork move steadily along conveyor belts. After passing X-ray inspection, they are automatically packaged and stored, ready for export to Singapore.

To support enterprises in opening up new markets, Chongqing customs has held multiple rounds of consultations with its Singaporean counterpart. In March 2025, Chongqing’s regulatory system for animal-derived products passed Singapore’s regional market access certification for the first time. Dejia was subsequently approved to export five categories of canned animal products to Singapore, including pork, poultry, beef, mutton and eggs.

“ASEAN has always been one of our key target markets,” said Wang Danyu, general manager of Dejia. “Next, we plan to participate in food exhibitions across ASEAN countries to secure more international orders.”

“The China-ASEAN SPS cooperation mechanism is not only a vital platform for promoting trade in agricultural and food products, but also an important bridge linking markets and improving people’s livelihoods,” said an official with China’s General Administration of Customs at the recent 9th China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on SPS Cooperation. 

ASEAN has remained China’s largest trading partner in agricultural and food products for eight consecutive years. In the first 10 months of 2025, trade in agricultural and food products between China and ASEAN reached $51.3 billion, up 8.9 percent year on year.

Smart parking brings greater convenience, efficiency to Jinan, Shandong

By Wang Zhe, People’s Daily

For years, office workers at Jinan’s Shuntai Plaza in Shandong province, eastern China, endured the daily frustration of searching for parking during rush hour. Today, drivers can secure a spot in  minutes, thanks to an AI-powered smart parking system transforming the area’s commute.

On a recent visit, Jinan resident Wei Shouyan drove into the underground parking facility at Shuntai Plaza, a digital display at the entrance instantly identified her license plate and directed her to section A5.

“Parking in Section A5 is the ultimate time-saver,” Wei explained as digital guidance led her directly to the designated spot.. As the vehicle approached, a rolling shutter rose automatically, allowing the car to enter.

After turning off the engine, engaging the handbrake and folding the side mirrors, Wei stepped outside the garage. She then tapped on an electronic screen, confirmed safety checks such as “no one inside the garage” and “doors locked,” and clicked to confirm parking. The shutter slowly descended. From entry to completion, the entire process took less than three minutes.

“It only takes 15 minutes to drive from home to the office,” Wei said. “But I used to spend another half hour just looking for a parking space.”

Since opening in 2005, Shuntai Plaza has attracted nearly 700 companies, with a regular working population of more than 40,000. As the business cluster expanded, parking scarcity intensified significantly.

The turning point came in 2021. By making better use of underground space, Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone launched a smart parking project, constructing a three-level underground automated parking facility beneath the building.

To maximize capacity, the project introduced mechanical parking equipment that reduces the footprint of each parking space to about 60 percent of that in a conventional garage. The three underground levels were also designed to fit local conditions, with a total height equivalent to that of a standard two-story office building — meeting Jinan’s strict requirements for spring water protection.

The smart parking facility features 20 parking sections, including eight designed for larger vehicles. Equipped with digital systems such as automatic navigation and video monitoring, the facility identifies vehicle information upon entry and recommends the most suitable parking section based on real-time traffic flow and vehicle size.

With parking becoming more convenient, safety is a common concern. Beyond the on-screen safety reminders, the garage is fitted with laser monitoring systems. If an oversized vehicle, such as an SUV, mistakenly enters a section designed for sedans, the system triggers an alert and halts the parking process.

“The garage is also equipped with wheel-centering devices,” said Wang Wei, manager of the parking facility. “After the shutter closes, the system adjusts the vehicle to the center of the space, preventing scratches or collisions caused by misalignment.”

Based on changes in traffic flow following the facility’s completion, Jinan traffic police department has introduced three one-way streets in the surrounding area and installed 17 additional traffic signs. These measures have significantly eased congestion and parking pressure nearby.

“The smart parking project at Shuntai Plaza not only meets parking needs, but also injects fresh momentum into urban renewal,” said an official with Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.

Dynamic Chongqing drone light show: a fusion of tradition and technology

By Wang Xinyue, People’s Daily

“Five, four, three, two, one—Happy New Year!” 

As 2026 arrived, the night sky over southwest China’s Chongqing municipality lit up in a blaze of “fireworks.”

Thousands of points of light rose from the river and gradually “drew” the outline of a gigantic hand in the sky. The hand slowly lifted a magic wand and gave it a gentle wave. In an instant, lights flickered on one by one, and gasps rippled through the crowd. 

The opener of the “Dynamic Chongqing” drone light show delivered a distinctly high-tech New Year’s gift to the city.

As the drones continuously shifted formation, they assembled a series of images drawn from traditional Chinese symbolism, including the Die Lian Hua motif (butterflies and flowers), a soaring eagle, and an auspicious gourd.

Large screens at the site displayed cultural symbols such as stilted houses, camellias and red plum blossoms, interwoven with modern technological icons including AI and aerospace satellites. Set against a fusion of traditional Chinese melodies and electronic music, the cyber-style spectacle showcased the city’s temperament rooted in heritage yet refreshed through innovation. 

In 2025 alone, the “Dynamic Chongqing” drone light show staged 63 regular performances along Nanbin Road in Nan’an district of the city, drawing a total of 6 million on-site spectators.

Surrounded by the Yangtze River and its tributary Jialing River, and defined by rolling hills, bridges and tunnels, Chongqing is often dubbed an “8D city.” This highly vertical urban environment creates an unparalleled aerial theater.. 

On this New Year’s Eve, 8,000 drones took to the sky, working in concert with water curtains, lasers and beam lights from three performance vessels on rivers. For the first time, a fully integrated “land–water–air” display was achieved, offering residents and visitors a 50-minute immersive experience.

How did traditional Chinese patterns find new life on a modern stage? 

“By combining water curtains with laser projection and synchronizing drones with the city’s lighting system, we were able to seamlessly embed traditional aesthetics into the light show,” explained Zhang Yangxue, head of the drone team. 

The performance featured new-generation lantern drones and soft-screen drones, carefully programmed to form classic Chinese cultural motifs and illuminate the New Year’s night sky with a distinctly Chinese flair.

As darkness deepened, a “peony” slowly rose into the air. At the moment it bloomed in full splendor, a radiant butterfly fluttered into view, dancing among the petals in a dazzling interplay of light. This scene formed the segment titled “Die Lian Hua.” 

“We didn’t want this motif to remain a static symbol,” Zhang said. Through meticulous programming, the team transformed drones into a giant butterfly with shimmering, wave-like light patterns flowing from its wings, bringing the blessing of prosperity and good fortune to life in a visually striking way.

Color choices were equally deliberate. The traditional symbol of the “auspicious gourd” was rendered in soft pink tones, outlined with cloud-like patterns. “Each drone can display up to 256 colors, and we opted for brighter palettes that resonate more with younger audiences,” Zhang noted. With technology as a catalyst, traditional Chinese aesthetics are finding renewed vitality, allowing young people to engage with cultural heritage in a relaxed and accessible way.

According to Deng Jing, director of the institute of urban and regional economic studies at the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, the recent convergence of traditional aesthetics and technology has moved beyond visual presentation toward more systematic innovation. 

Looking ahead, the field is evolving toward data-driven creation and algorithm-enabled revitalization. Technologies such as 3D scanning and light-capture can create high-precision digital archives of cultural relics and intangible heritage, supporting preservation and public accessibility. Simultaneously, AI can analyze cultural data, reinterpret stylistic elements and generate new expressions that align with both traditional aesthetics and contemporary tastes. 

Such integration not only injects sustained technological momentum into traditional culture, but also allows technology itself to gain richer applications and a warmer human dimension, achieving mutual enrichment and shared progress.

CSOs, APC Leaders Seek NASS Intervention, Say Rivers sliding into constitutional crisis

Civil society organisations, media professionals, and leaders of the APC on Friday called for urgent constitutional intervention in the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, demanding that the National Assembly take over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with Section 11 of the Constitution.

Addressing journalists during a one week non stop rally at the APC Secretariat on 23rd January 2026, the groups declared that the Rivers State House of Assembly had lost credibility, legitimacy, and public trust due to what they described as persistent abuse of legislative powers and a reckless attempt to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

They warned that Rivers State was sliding into a dangerous constitutional crisis, stressing that the ongoing impeachment process was no longer about legislative oversight but a deliberate effort to destabilise democratic governance. According to them, democracy in the state was under serious threat and silence at this point would amount to complicity.

The groups commended the Rivers State Chief Judge for refusing to constitute a probe panel and for respecting existing court orders, describing the decision as a clear affirmation of the rule of law and a rejection of illegality. They insisted that no evidence of gross misconduct, as required by the Constitution, had been presented against Governor Fubara, adding that the allegations were unsubstantiated and politically motivated.

They further accused the Rivers State House of Assembly of procedural lawlessness, vendetta politics, and disregard for judicial authority, arguing that such conduct rendered the Assembly incapable of performing its constitutional duties. On this basis, they urged the National Assembly to invoke Section 11 subsection 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and assume the legislative functions of the state assembly to restore order and democratic stability.

The APC Leaders Forum and civil society groups also alleged that 27 lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, led by Martins Amaewhule, were behind the crisis. They claimed the lawmakers had received constituency project funds estimated at about ₦350 million each, luxury SUV vehicles, and up to one year salary in advance, yet remained unsatisfied and determined to frustrate the current administration. According to the groups, the lawmakers were more interested in diverting state resources for personal benefit than allowing public funds to serve the people of Rivers State.

The coalition vowed to sustain the protests until decisive constitutional action was taken, including the takeover of legislative functions by the National Assembly. They called on Nigerians of goodwill to peacefully mobilise, maintain civic presence around the National Assembly, and resist what they described as legislative anarchy.

They maintained that Governor Fubara had shown prudence and commitment to the welfare of Rivers people, warning that Rivers State must not be sacrificed on the altar of political desperation.

The groups concluded with a call for unity in defence of democracy, declaring their resolve to continue the struggle until constitutional order is fully restored in Rivers State.