Nigeria Times

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Recently, the Philippines has repeatedly stirred up trouble in the South China Sea, continuously infringing on China’s sovereignty, making provocative moves in the waters of Ren’ai Jiao in China’s Nansha Qundao, and spreading disinformation to smear China.

As a country from outside the region, the United States not only encouraged and supported the Philippines’ provocative moves, but also distorted facts and made irresponsible accusations against China, irresponsibly escalating tensions in the region.

The Philippines, bolstered by the support of extraterritorial forces, has brushed aside China’s goodwill and restraint, and has repeatedly challenged China’s principles and red line. This is extremely dangerous and poses a serious threat to regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao, and their adjacent waters. This was established in the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter.

The Philippines promised to tow away a warship illegally “grounded” at Ren’ai Jiao 24 years ago. But 24 years on, the warship is still there.

Over the course of this year, the Philippines has gone back on its words and kept sending government and military vessels into the waters of Ren’ai Jiao to supply construction materials for the large-scale repair and reinforcement of the “grounded” warship and permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao.

These moves gravely violated China’s sovereignty and went against international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

It has been the Philippines who is breaching the common understandings with China and heightening tensions in the South China Sea. It is the Philippines who has attempted to change the current status of Ren’ai Jiao and make it a fait accompli, and it is the Philippines who has on every occasion courted external forces to put pressure on China. This is an undeniable fact that cannot be changed no matter how the Philippine side tries to manipulate it.

In response to the Philippines’ provocations, the China Coast Guard (CCG) responded in accordance with laws to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty. The CCG’s operations were reasonable, legitimate, and professional.

China firmly opposes the Philippines’ attempt to occupy Ren’ai Jiao and has made clear its solemn position to the Philippine side at various levels and through multiple channels, putting forward proposals for properly managing the situation.

It is against the principles of international law and legally untenable for the Philippines to cite the “award” of the South China Sea arbitration, which is illegal, null and void, to claim that Ren’ai Jiao falls within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and deny China’s sovereignty over it.

China will continue to do what is necessary in accordance with domestic and international laws to resolutely respond to provocative moves that infringe on China’s sovereignty and defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

At the same time, China has been committed to enhancing communication with the Philippines with sincerity and goodwill to properly handle the tension. China hopes that the Philippines will make the right choice, and seriously honor its commitment to properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Philippines relies on the United States as an extraterritorial force to cause trouble and provocation in the South China Sea.

The United States has been inciting and supporting the Philippines attempts to repair and reinforce its warship that was deliberately “grounded” on Ren’ai Jiao. The United States even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Instead of honoring its commitment to not taking a position on the South China Sea, the United States blatantly emboldened the Philippines’ violation of China’s sovereignty, confounding right with wrong and deflecting blame. It has been acting as a scaremonger on security issues that stokes confrontation and antagonism. This seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and gravely jeopardizes regional peace and stability, which is extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

Rigoberto Tiglao, former spokesperson for former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said in a recent article that the irrationality of the Philippines is a testament to the power of U.S. propaganda. He noted that the United States demonizes China as a threat to countries in the region such as the Philippines, saying “It was so easy for the U.S. to brainwash us.”

The United States has repeatedly attempted to stir up trouble in the South China Sea through the Philippines, to undermine China’s relationships with regional countries and enlist their support in its geopolitical strategy to contain China.

The United States once pulled strings behind the scenes when the political drama of the so-called South China Sea arbitration was staged, and now it is actively drawing in the Philippine government, intensifying military deployments around the waters in the South China Sea, and conducting so-called joint patrols, exercises, and training with its allies in the region. Through these actions, the United States has again and again sent erroneous signals to the Philippines under the guise of so-called “security commitments.”

Thoughtful people in the Philippines can see through the U.S. ploy of binding and instigating the Philippines to serve as cannon fodder in order to maintain the U.S. hegemony.

Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, noted that the U.S. efforts to draw in the Philippines are escalating tensions, divisions, and conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, which not only threatens regional peace and stability, but also exacerbates militarization in the Philippines and the entire region at large.

The collusion between the Philippines and the United States has led to the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, which goes against the trend of the times and does not serve the overall interests of regional countries.

China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines. However, China will never accept any threats, coercion, or groundless accusations and attacks.

China unswervingly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. If the Philippines misjudges the situation, continues to act recklessly, and even collaborates with ill-intentioned external forces to continue causing troubles, China will respond firmly and resolutely defend its rights in accordance with the law.

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

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Dec. 20 held a phone conversation with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The two heads of state announced the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Nicaragua.

The two sides believe this move is in the common interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is conducive to the common development and prosperity of the two countries.

China and Nicaragua will take it as a new starting point to make new progress of China-Nicaragua ties and set an example of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Since the resumption of relations two years ago, the two sides, with a sense of urgency, have promoted a leap-forward development of China-Nicaragua relations. Facts have fully proved that the decision made by the Nicaraguan government to resume diplomatic relations with China, based on its national interests and the will of its people, is indeed correct.

The establishment of the strategic partnership on the occasion of the second anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries will surely become an important milestone in the history of China-Nicaragua relations.

The two heads of state agreed that the two sides will further give play to the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and dialogue, continuously strengthen strategic cooperation, deepen political mutual trust and stick to the right direction of China-Nicaragua relations.

Over the past two years, China and Nicaragua have achieved positive progress in political mutual trust, practical cooperation and multilateral coordination. The two sides have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

China is ready to be a reliable friend of Nicaragua, and will continue to firmly support Nicaragua in safeguarding its national independence and national dignity, and also backs Nicaragua in rejecting external interference.

China stands ready to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Nicaragua in international affairs, and work with Nicaragua to oppose hegemonism and power politics, promote the development of a more just and rational international order, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

The Nicaraguan side said it highly values its friendly relations with its great brother China, firmly abides by the one-China principle, supports China’s grand cause of reunification and supports global cooperation initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi.

Nicaragua is ready to work with China to continuously deepen bilateral friendly relations, strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose external interference and power politics, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Pragmatic cooperation between China and Nicaragua has been rapidly advancing in various fields, bringing benefits to the people of both countries.

In 2022, the bilateral trade volume reached $760 million. China is Nicaragua’s second-largest trading partner and second-largest source of imports. Nicaragua is China’s important economic and trade partner in Central America and an important participant in the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Nicaragua signed a free trade agreement in August this year, which will come into effect on Jan. 1 next year. It is a landmark achievement of cooperation between the two countries.

By implementing the free trade agreement, both countries will achieve a high level of mutual openness in areas such as goods trade, service trade, and investment market access. Practical cooperation between them will also continue to expand and deepen.

According to Nicaraguan Minister of Development, Industry and Trade Jesus Bermudez, the Nicaragua-China free trade agreement will bring tangible benefits and set an example for cooperation between Central American and even Latin American countries with China.

As developing countries, China and Nicaragua share a common commitment to people-centered development and should work together to promote their respective modernization.

China is willing to share the opportunities brought about by Chinese modernization with countries including Nicaragua, and work with them to create a brighter future for global modernization.

The Nicaraguan side highly appreciates China’s efforts to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and believes that Chinese modernization provides a new choice for humanity to realize modernization and offers Chinese solutions and strength to address common challenges faced by humanity.

Both countries will continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation between departments at all levels, strengthen policy coordination, and learn from each other’s governance experiences.

In recent years, Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and other Central American and Caribbean countries have established or resumed diplomatic relations with China, carrying out pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

This fully demonstrates that establishing diplomatic ties with China conforms to the trend of the times and the will of the people. The establishment of strategic partnership between China and Nicaragua after two years of their resumption of diplomatic relations will enable more members of the international community to clearly recognize the general trend and make correct decisions in line with the trend of the times.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee at the premise of the CPV Central Committee on Dec. 12, local time.

The two sides announced a new characterization of the relationship for the two parties and two countries, working together for a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The announcement sent out a positive signal of solidarity and friendship between the two parties and two countries, as well as their firm commitment to jointly step on the path of socialism and modernization.

It is believed that with the joint efforts of the two sides, China-Vietnam relations will enter a new stage of greater political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer multilateral coordination and collaboration, and more proper management of differences.

China and Vietnam will achieve more progress in their socialist causes, and make new contributions to stability, development and prosperity of the region and the entire world.

China and Vietnam have supported each other in their struggle for national independence and liberation, and learned from each other’s causes of reform and opening up and Doi Moi. The characterization “camaraderie plus brotherhood” well captures the profound friendship between the two countries.

No matter how the global environment has changed, the two parties and countries have worked together to uphold peace and tranquility, pursue development and cooperation, and promote prosperity and progress. They have found a promising path of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi proposed several suggestions, charting the course on building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

To build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, it is important to keep to the right political direction, deepen mutual trust on security, upgrade practical cooperation, increase input to enhance popular foundation, coordinate closely on international and regional issues, and manage differences on maritime issues.

Trong noted that Vietnam stands ready to work with China to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, follow the vision of making progress on six fronts, bolster cooperation across the political, economy and trade, security and people-to-people fields, and develop a paradigm of mutually beneficial cooperation. This serves the common interests of the two parties, two governments and two peoples.

The Vietnamese side said Vietnam is firmly committed to the one-China principle, opposes interference in China’s internal affairs by any forces, and supports the important global initiatives proposed by Xi including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative

The two sides agreed to issue a joint statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Both China and Vietnam both see each other’s development as opportunities for their own development. China is now striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization.

During the visit, the general secretaries of the two parties jointly witnessed the documents signed on bilateral cooperation in 30 plus areas, including Belt and Road cooperation, quarantine and inspection, development cooperation, digital economy, green development, transportation, subnational cooperation, defense, law enforcement and security cooperation and maritime cooperation. Such pragmatic cooperation, which is comprehensive, stable and sustainable, will enable both sides to jointly embark on a new chapter of modernization.

China and Vietnam have unique advantages of following the trend of the times, geographic proximity and shared cultural affinity in building a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The two sides should carry forward the traditional friendship forged by older-generation leaders, build a community with a shared future together, and make steady progress in their modernization drives, so as to achieve win-win outcomes and common success, benefit the two peoples, and contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

By Zheng Yi, People’s Daily

As a gateway to the sea for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN countries, Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has been actively promoting its advantages in sea-rail intermodal transportation, continuously unleashing its potential in foreign trade.

In the first half of this year, the total import and export value completed by provinces along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor via Qinzhou Port reached nearly 59.5 billion yuan ($8.41 billion), a year-on-year increase of 19.6 percent.

Six hours after a cargo ship carrying 35 containers of Thai durians docked at a deep-water berth of Dalanping South Operation Area of the Qinzhou Port, all relevant customs clearance procedures were completed. Soon, these durians were taken to the Qinzhou Port East Railway Station, where they were shipped to supermarkets and wet markets across the country through cold-chain trains.

“In recent years, fruits such as durians, mangosteens, longans, and dragon fruits imported from ASEAN countries have been very popular in the Chinese market,” said Lin Mao, a sales representative of a fruit supply chain management company in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality.

According to Lin, before the launching of intermodal trains along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, ordinary goods were usually imported via ports in the Yangtze River Delta region and then transported to the southwestern region through the Yangtze River, which took about 20 days.

“After the opening of the intermodal trains, it only takes two days for fruits like mangosteens and dragon fruits from Vietnam to reach Chongqing after completing customs procedures. Moreover, compared to road transportation, the sea-rail intermodal trains have a larger capacity and are safer,” Lin told People’s Daily.

As a crucial hub for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the Qinzhou Port East Railway Station operates around the clock, dispatching up to 21 trains per day.

“To address the challenge of storing perishable items such as fresh fruits and meat, we have introduced refrigerated train services. The temperature variation is controlled within a range of 3 degrees Celsius, effectively reducing losses,” said Zhao Jian, deputy head of Qinzhou Port East Railway Station, Guangxi Yanhai Railway Company Limited.

In addition to shortened shipping time, the cost of sea-rail intermodal transportation is also continuously decreasing. “According to calculations, the transportation cost per ton of talcum powder has dropped from over 500 yuan to 300 yuan, which saves us more than 4 million yuan a year,” said Li Guangqiang, general manager of a talcum powder company in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

As an international land-sea intermodal hub, Qinzhou Port has attracted an increasing number of foreign trade enterprises thanks to its convenient and cost-effective access to the sea. Exports from Chongqing, Sichuan, Gansu, and other regions in China can easily transfer from land to sea transportation at Qinzhou Port. Similarly, imported goods from abroad can also transfer from sea to land transportation there. The seamless connection between maritime and rail transport is made possible by the high level of customs facilitation.

At an automated container terminal of Qinzhou Port, a container vessel was being loaded. Containers carrying automotive parts were hoisted into the ship’s hold. After the loading was completed, the vessel set sail for Indonesia.

“After these containers were cleared, it only took them 80 minutes from entering the checkpoint to being loaded onto the ship, reducing the intermediate logistics process by 12 hours compared to before,” said Chang Peng, chief of the comprehensive business department at Qinzhou Port Customs.

In recent years, Qinzhou Port Customs has adopted a mode of “direct loading upon arrival” for export goods, in an attempt to reduce fees, improve efficiency, and facilitate customs clearance.

Under this mode, exporters only need to submit relevant information in advance, and once their information is verified, they can transport the goods directly from factories to Qinzhou Port for shipment, according to Chang.

Thanks to a series of optimized customs clearance measures, the efficiency of customs clearance at Qinzhou Port has significantly improved. In the first half of this year, customs clearance for imports and exports at Qinzhou Port took 41.85 hours and 1.37 hours on average, respectively, 84.35 percent and 96.46 percent lower compared to 2017.

So far, Qinzhou Port has opened a total of 69 shipping routes, connecting 393 ports in 119 countries and regions. At the same time, the sea-rail intermodal trains of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that take Qinzhou as a transfer hub now reach 120 stations in 61 cities across 18 provinces in China. This has greatly enhanced the capacity of sea-rail intermodal transportation.

The rapid development couldn’t have been achieved without the construction of intelligent ports and terminals. The first phase of Qinzhou Port’s automated container terminal has been put into operation and is equipped with intelligent and efficient automated handling devices and horizontal transportation devices, said Wen Zuyi, deputy general manager of Beibu Gulf Port.

The project has also established a comprehensive and intelligent security system and an automated container terminal intelligent operation and maintenance platform, achieving a high level of informatization, standardization, and full automation in container terminal operations, Wen noted.

According to him, automated terminals can improve work efficiency by about 30 percent compared to traditional manned terminals, and reduce the number of operators required by 90 percent.

By Li Zong, People’s Daily

The Longji Rice Terraces in Dazhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was decorated with rice paddies, presenting a lively view.

Since ancient times, Longsheng county has been known for its mountainous landscape – most of the region is highland while the rest is halved by water and fields.

The diligent people of the Yao ethnic group leveled slopes into layers of terraces. After the terraces were shaped, they channeled in water and plowed the fields for planting rice. This feat of precision farming birthed the spectacular scenery of terraced rice paddies winding from the foot of the mountains all the way to the peaks.

For generations, the villagers of Dazhai have toiled on the slopes, gradually transforming them into a magnificent terraced landscape resembling a ladder to the sky. With more than 1,200 people in over 290 households, the village is predominantly inhabited by the Yao ethnic group, accounting for 98 percent of the village’s population.

Dazhai was once among the poorest villages in Longsheng county before it started developing tourism.

In recent years, the village has leveraged the scenic terraced landscapes and the unique cultural customs of the Red Yao ethnic group, a branch of the Yao ethnic group, turning the once impoverished village into a renowned tourist destination, said Yu Qiongtong, Party head of Dazhai village.

According to him, Dazhai village was named among the Best Tourism Villages of 2022 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Early in the morning, Red Yao women would open the windows and hang their bright-colored clothes out on drying racks and corridors. Soon, the walls of every house were transformed into a “sea” of vibrant red garments.

The Red Yao costumes feature a passionate red color, as well as harmonious tones like blue, black, cyan, and green that blend with the surroundings. These colors are skillfully combined to express the Red Yao people’s longing for a better life.

In 2014, the traditional clothing of the Yao ethnic group in Longsheng county was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage of China.

The Red Yao people have a special affinity for the color red, and most of them have inherited the traditional craftsmanship of weaving, dyeing, and embroidery, which has been passed down to this day.

The traditional patterns of Yao ethnic clothing include geometric patterns, animal patterns, plant patterns, and landscape patterns. These diverse patterns not only have aesthetic value but also serve as cultural symbols.

“We embroider whatever we see, such as insects and flowers. It is a way to record our lives,” said Pan Jifeng, a national representative inheritor of the costume of the Yao ethnic group.

As the cultural charm of ethnic groups continues to unfold, ancient cultures are rejuvenated in the new era. The craftsmanship and vibrant colors of the traditional Yao costumes have ignited the tourism industry in Dazhai village.

Folk activities hosted there allow visitors to not only admire the breathtaking terraced landscapes but also experience the unique customs of the Yao ethnic group. Adorned in their splendid costumes, Red Yao women would sing joyful toasting songs and offer local sweet wine to tourists. Today, Dazhai village is bustling with tourists, with the laughter and joy full of mountains.

Extensive research, collection, and documentation have been conducted on local folk songs, ballads, and customs. Dazhai village is like a vibrant museum of Yao culture.

In addition to drying red clothes, the village also has traditional activities such as making sticky rice cakes, performing bamboo pole dances, and combing long hair. Dazhai village, far away from the hustle and bustle of cities, fully immerses visitors in the Red Yao ancient culture.

The unique farming culture of Dazhai village also attracts tourists. The 12 farming techniques often used on the Longji Rice Terraces present the beautiful local farming culture and villagers’ protection of the terraces, attracting many tourists to come to enjoy and experience.

“These 12 farming techniques were passed down by our ancestors who built the terraced fields. If any one of them is missing, the terraced fields may be damaged. This is our traditional terraced field culture,” said Yu, adding that developing tourism is an important way to promote the prosperity of the Yao culture in Dazhai village.

After years of development and innovation in local tourism, the villagers of Dazhai have turned into all-around farmers who not only do farm work but also engage in tourism businesses. As more and more tourists flock to the village, B&B and catering industries are thriving.

Currently, there are over 230 households in the village running distinctive B&B hotels. Besides, villagers are also operating farmhouse inns, selling handmade crafts, and performing ethnic dances, completely breaking free from the struggling days when they relied solely on agricultural work to make a living. This development has allowed the local culture to flourish, making it known beyond the mountains.