Placing 8 Taiwan entities on export control list is mainland’s necessary move to defend national sovereignty: spokesperson

In response to media inquiry on that the so-called "mainland affairs council" in the Taiwan island claimed that the mainland's move to include eight Taiwan entities in the export control list is to "weaponize" trade, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday the facts that the eight Taiwan entities deliberately cooperated with the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to "seek independence by force" are clear and the evidence is conclusive. Putting them on the export control list is a necessary measure to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, said Chen. 

Who is the one seeking "independence" and provoking, undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits? Who is violating the mainstream public opinion of Taiwan society and obstructing and restricting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation? Who is obeying the US blindly and selling Taiwan and engaging in decoupling to damage cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation? The compatriots on both sides of the Straits see it very clearly, and the DPP authorities cannot deny it, said Chen. 

Putting the eight Taiwan entities on the export control list is a necessary measure to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, said Chen.

It is a just action to maintain the normal order of cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges and cooperation and the interests and well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Straits. It is reasonable, legal, legitimate and necessary, said Chen.

Australian PM visits panda Fu Ni in Chengdu, calling her part of ‘long-standing friendship’ between two countries

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited giant panda Fu Ni in Chengdu on Thursday, who returned to China from Australia last year. Albanese wrote on social media that the "cute" panda is part of a "long-standing friendship between Australia and China."

"Fu Ni has settled back into life in Chengdu after 15 years in Adelaide. She's not just cute - she's part of a long-standing friendship between Australia and China. That friendship continues, with pandas Yi Lan and Xing Qiu now calling South Australia home," Albanese posted on X on Thursday.

Last year, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, Australia's only giant pandas left the country for China after 15 years.

They were replaced at the Adelaide Zoo by female giant panda Yi Lan and male Xing Qiu, both from Chengdu, China, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Seeing these cute ambassadors up close is a reminder of the bonds that bring our countries closer," Albanese posted.

Albanese is paying an official visit to China from July 12 to 18, traveling to Shanghai and Beijing, with Chengdu marking the final leg of his trip. 

On Wednesday, Albanese visited Sichuan International Tennis Center in Chengdu, where the Australian side announced that the city will once again host the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoffs for the 2026 Australian Open.

"Sport brings people from our two countries closer, and that's a good thing," Albanese said on X on Wednesday.

Conflict grows in Philippines as retired general accuses govt of being US pawn in SCS provocation

Tensions in the Philippines have recently been raised over the country's South China Sea policy, after a retired officer criticized Manila's current approach as making the country a US pawn and even "another Ukraine" in its geopolitical power struggle with China, while the military slammed the comments as a "defeatist" narrative.

According to the Manila Times, Romeo Poquiz, a retired Philippine Air Force General, on July 14 posted on Facebook about his position on the strength of the country's "arbitral victory" nine years after the award, asking the question "What did we really win?"

Poquiz's post came two days after July 12, which marks the ninth anniversary of the "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea." A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on the day that the "award" is nothing but a piece of waste paper that is illegal, null and void, and non-binding. The spokesperson added that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the "award" in any way, according to Xinhua News Agency.  

Poquiz claimed that almost a decade on, the Philippines has found itself at the center of a power play between the US and China, that the win was only "on paper" and that the country was slowly turning into another Ukraine.

He said fighting China head-on to "defend sovereignty" without a real plan is a trap. 

"It's a tactical move that serves US interests more than our own…It's not strategy. It's provocation," he wrote in Facebook. 

"Are we being turned into a launchpad for someone else's missiles? An 'unsinkable aircraft carrier' in the Indo-Pacific?"

"We need leaders who think long-term, who can defend sovereignty without turning Filipinos into cannon fodder…History already taught us what naïveté, arrogance, or incompetence can cost," Poquiz said. 

Poquiz's remarks, despite gaining support from most netizens who left comments, were rejected by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesperson of the AFP, slammed Poquiz's statement, describing it as "misleading, defeatist and alarmist," according to the Manila Times. 

He said the AFP expected more from its former members to boost the nation's morale and not weaken it with such statements.

According to the Manila Bulletin, Poquiz served as the commander of the Philippine Air Force's 2nd Air Division before retiring in 2014.

Trinidad stressed that the Philippines was a sovereign state with its own national interests. "All the actions of the Armed Forces are in furtherance of this national interest. We will not fight for the interest of another country nor will we be dictated by to them," Trinidad said, according to the Manila Times report. 

In response to Trinidad's remarks, Poquiz said in a Facebook post on Friday that Trinidad implied he was betraying the Philippines. 

"I love the Philippines a hundred times more than Admiral Trinidad and those who are quick to hurl insults simply for raising hard truths," Poquiz said, "I will never apologize for putting the lives and future of Filipinos above geopolitical theatrics."

"We are living in dangerous times. There is a real and present risk that the Philippines may be drawn into a larger power struggle between China and the United States. That's not defeatism. That's called strategic foresight — something our tactically-minded generals and admirals seem to severely lack. It is also the kind of critical thinking we should demand from our leaders, both in and out of uniform," he added. 

"Are we truly defending our sovereignty — or are we unknowingly offering ourselves as cannon fodder for someone else's war?... Are we making our own decisions — or are we being herded down a path in the name of 'mutual defense partnerships' that come with hidden costs?" Poquiz said. 

"Let us not be pawns. Let us be wise. Let us be Filipino first," he added. 

China willing to sharing defense devt achievements with friendly countries, contributing to peace, stability, says MND spokesperson on reports of J-10 procurement talks

In response to media inquiry regarding reports that some countries are in talks with China about arms procurement plans, including the J-10 fighter jet, Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday at a media briefing that China has always taken a prudent and responsible attitude regarding arms exports. We are willing to share the achievements of China's equipment development with friendly countries and contribute constructively to regional and global peace and stability.

District govt in Xinjiang offers marriage registration service at music festival

A civil affairs bureau in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is set to offer marriage registration services at a local music festival this weekend for couples hoping to tie the knot, providing convenience for obtaining their marriage certificates while crafting unforgettable memories for the newlyweds.

This Saturday and Sunday, Shuimogou district of Urumqi in Xinjiang will host a music festival. At the venue, staff from the local civil affairs bureau's marriage registration office will set up a temporary site from 3 pm to 6 pm on Saturday, offering on-site marriage registration services for couples, the China News Service reported.

A staff member surnamed Shen from the civil affairs bureau told the Global Times on Wednesday that couples can complete their registration amid the romantic musical ambiance by presenting ID cards and other requisite documentation, as long as the couple meets the marriage registration requirements.

This marks the first time the city has opened a marriage registration site at a music festival, a romantic endeavor, Shen said, adding that since Tuesday, they have received inquiry calls from several interested couples.

"We hope to provide convenience for couples that want to get married through this approach, leaving them with unforgettable memories," Shen noted.

Despite the registration site being at the music festival, the registration procedures remain unchanged. "Marriage registration must still be completed in accordance with legal provisions," he said.

Similar initiatives have been previously seen in some Chinese cities where marriage registration was facilitated during music festivals.

Earlier this year, at a music festival in Xiangshan county in East China's Zhejiang Province, the local civil affairs bureau issued marriage certificates to 10 couples and held a group wedding, China National Radio (CNR) reported. This is also the first themed certificate-issuing ceremony in Zhejiang Province that integrates marriage registration into music festivals.

An official in charge of the county's marriage registration office told the Global Times that documentation verification remains at the bureau's premises, while the certificate-presentation ceremony at the music festival enhances the sense of ceremony for couples.

China's revised marriage registration regulations came into effect on May 10, simplifying the procedure for marriage registration and allowing couples to register anywhere in the country regardless of their hukou household registration locations.

Green sea turtle nesting ground discovered on Yongshu Jiao, signaling ecological vitality in Nansha Islands

Researchers from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have, for the first time, discovered a green sea turtle nesting site on Yongshu Jiao, part of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, according to a statement sent to the Global Times from the CAS Nansha Station on Friday.

The discovery was made during routine ecological monitoring supported by the CAS Integrated Research Center for Islands and Reefs Sciences. CAS' Nansha station has conducted the study in coordination with local environmental protection authorities stationed on the reef.

During an ecological survey, researchers from the Nansha Station identified an approximately 30 cm-deep, irregularly shaped depression on the beach of Yongshu Jiao, with displaced sand scattered around it. The formation closely resembled the nesting patterns of green sea turtles, suggesting the presence of a turtle nesting cavity.

To confirm the finding, Nansha Station researchers launched a targeted investigation in collaboration with stationed environmental officials. By deploying monitoring equipment and conducting nighttime patrols, researchers successfully captured footage showing a sea turtle coming ashore and later returning to the ocean. They also collected eggs from the site for identification.

The eggs, roughly 4 centimeters in diameter, with tough, white shells, were identified as those of the green sea turtle. Based on these findings, the site was officially confirmed as a nesting ground for the species.

Additional evidence gathered from the scene included clear flipper tracks in the sand stretching from the shoreline to the nesting site and back, outlining a complete nesting route.

The retrieved turtle eggs were found closely clustered, encased in a moist sand layer, providing valuable material for studying the reproductive behavior of green sea turtles.

Green sea turtles are classified as a first-class protected species in China. The discovery of a new nesting site significantly bolsters conservation efforts for this endangered species.

Notably, the newly discovered nesting site lies about 800 kilometers south of previously known nesting sites on Beidao Island, part of the Xisha Islands, the Yongshu Jiao site further confirms that the healthy marine ecology of the Nansha waters offers favorable habitat conditions for the endangered marine life.

The Nansha Station and local environmental authorities plan to implement protective measures in the area and monitor environmental factors to support future research on hatching conditions. The discovery is expected to contribute to the advancement of China's marine ecological protection framework in the South China Sea and offer new data to global sea turtle conservation networks, the statement said.

Strength will not bring true peace: Chinese FM

War is not a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and preemptive strikes apparently lack legitimacy, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, stressing that strength will not bring true peace.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris.

When asked about the situation in the Middle East, Wang said the recent military conflict between Israel and Iran should not be repeated. He stressed that the abuse of military force will only lead to further conflict and accumulate more hatred. The United States has set a bad precedent by openly bombing the nuclear facilities of a sovereign nation.

He warned that if such actions trigger a nuclear disaster, the whole world will bear the consequences.

East China province raises emergency response level for Typhoon Danas

East China's Zhejiang Province has elevated its typhoon emergency response to Level III at 10 a.m. Monday, as Typhoon Danas, the fourth typhoon of this year, moves closer.

According to the province's meteorological observatory, the center of Typhoon Danas made landfall along the coast of Taiwan's Chiayi City in the wee hours on Monday. After making landfall, Danas continued to move northward.

At 7:00 a.m., its center was located over the sea, approximately 258 km southeast of Wenzhou, Zhejiang. It is expected to make landfall again along the coast between Taizhou in Zhejiang and Fuzhou in neighboring Fujian Province, sometime between the afternoon and night of July 8.

From July 7 to 9, central and southern Zhejiang, as well as nearby coastal regions, are expected to receive total rainfall of 60 to 90 mm due to Danas, with precipitation in some areas potentially exceeding 350 mm.

Zhejiang has urged all coastal regions and departments to closely monitor the typhoon's path, strengthen joint consultations, and implement prevention measures in line with the contingency plan. These include sheltering ships, suspending sea routes and halting construction projects.

China's national observatory also renewed a yellow alert for Typhoon Danas on Sunday as it is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system for typhoons, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Reincarnation of Living Buddhas never decided by reincarnated individuals: signed article

The following is a signed article by Li Decheng, deputy director-general of and a research fellow with China Tibetology Research Center.

Reincarnation of Living Buddhas never decided by reincarnated individuals: signed article

Recently, the Dalai clique and international anti-China forces have colluded to clamor about the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist Living Buddhas, claiming that it is an internal religious affair to be decided by the reincarnated individuals themselves. Historical facts demonstrate that the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist Living Buddhas, including the search for and confirmation of successive Dalai Lamas, has never followed such a precedent. The reincarnation of Living Buddhas is by no means merely an internal religious matter, nor is it solely the "unique predestined bond" claimed by the 14th Dalai Lama. Instead, it reflects national sovereignty, governmental authority, religious principles, and the sentiments of lay followers.

I. The reincarnation of Dalai Lamas has never been decided by reincarnated individuals

The reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist Living Buddhas has never been decided by reincarnated individuals. This principle applies particularly to the Dalai Lama reincarnation lineage. The established Dalai Lama reincarnation lineage system commenced with the third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, while the religious community posthumously recognized the first and second Dalai Lamas.

Records, such as the biography of the third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, document his birth in a location near Lhasa (present-day Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa) in 1543 and the subsequent observation of auspicious signs that led to his identification as a reincarnated candidate. In 1544, disciples of the late Gendun Gyatso of Drepung Monastery visited Sonam Gyatso. They verified the reincarnation through tests such as asking the child to identify a Buddha statue and a rosary belonging to Gendun Gyatso.

Later, after years of investigation by eminent religious monks and with the approval of the leader of the Phagmodrupa local government in Xizang at the time, a formal enthronement ceremony was held in 1547 for Sonam Gyatso at Drepung Monastery, where he was recognized as the "Drepung Living Buddha." The Desi (chief minister) of the Phagmodrupa government presided over the ceremony and issued official proclamations.

These facts clearly demonstrate that the Drepung Living Buddha was identified and established through the collective religious rituals and procedures by eminent monks from monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Lhasa, with the approval of the local government of Xizang.

In 1578, Sonam Gyatso was granted the honorific title "Dalai Lama Vajradhara, All-knowing Holiness" by Altan Khan, leader of the Mongol Tumet tribe, who had been bestowed the title of Prince Shunyi by the Ming Dynasty government. This was the first time the Drepung Living Buddha had been referred to as the Dalai Lama.

The fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso, was a great-grandson of Altan Khan. With the support of the Mongol Tumet tribe, a delegation from the three major monasteries of Lhasa traveled to Inner Mongolia in 1592 to investigate his identity. After obtaining the approval of the Phagmodrupa Desi, King Nampar Jeva of Tsang, his enthronement ceremony was held at Raiqen Monastery in 1603.

The fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, was selected by the Gelug sect monastic group at Raiqen Monastery in 1622 from three reincarnated candidates through a lot-drawing procedure and approved for enthronement by the local government of Xizang. The procedure for recognizing the fifth Dalai Lama has meaningful relevance to the later system of drawing lots from the golden urn, which was implemented by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) government.

In Xizang's history, there was a period when three different individuals were regarded as the sixth Dalai Lama, which reflected the complex and intertwined disputes in Xizang at the time. At the request of the Gelug sect monastic group and the local government of Xizang, the Qing Dynasty central government successively recognized Tsangyang Gyatso, Yeshe Gyatso, and Kelsang Gyatso as the sixth Dalai Lama. Kelsang Gyatso passed away in 1757. In 1762, with the approval of the Qing Dynasty government, his reincarnation, Jampel Gyatso, was enthroned at the Potala Palace.

It was not until 1780, when the sixth Panchen traveled to Chengde to offer birthday greetings to the Qianlong Emperor and reported on the matter, that the emperor accepted the appeals from the Panchen and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders to officially recognize Jampel Gyatso as the eighth Dalai Lama. In 1781, when the Qianlong Emperor formally conferred the title of the eighth Dalai Lama, he simultaneously affirmed Kelsang Gyatso as the seventh Dalai Lama and Tsangyang Gyatso as the sixth. This marked a direct clarification and ordering of the Dalai Lama reincarnation lineage from the perspective of the central government, highlighting the central government's authority in managing the issue of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation.

To prevent individuals from exercising arbitrary power and ensure the sanctity and purity of the reincarnation process, the golden urn lot-drawing system was implemented in 1793. From then on, the identification of reincarnations for both the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni was carried out either through drawing lots from the golden urn or through special exemptions granted by the central government. Historically, the 9th, 13th, and 14th Dalai Lamas were exempted from the golden urn lot-drawing process by special approval of the central government, while the 10th, 11th, and 12th Dalai Lamas were recognized through the golden urn lot-drawing ceremony. All the aforementioned Dalai Lamas were formally approved by the central government.

These historical facts fully demonstrate that the reincarnations of successive Dalai Lamas have always been sought and identified through religious procedures by the Gelug sect monastic community, with the approval of the government. There has never been a case where the decision was made solely by the reincarnated individual.

II. The reincarnation of Living Buddhas follows rigorous historical conventions and rules -- it is not subject to individual decision

The system of reincarnation for Living Buddhas has evolved over more than 700 years, forming a comprehensive set of religious rituals, historical conventions, and relevant principles that are strictly observed by all sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Among these, the principles and rules concerning reincarnation must be given due importance.

(1) The reincarnation of Living Buddhas must adhere to the principle of government oversight

The formation of the Living Buddha reincarnation system is inextricably linked to the support of the central government. As such, a key aspect of the system is that the final authority for approving a reincarnated successor rests with the government. From the perspectives of national sovereignty and governmental authority, the central government exercises an approval and conferral system for the reincarnations of influential Living Buddhas. This reflects the state's sovereignty over regions such as Xizang and its authoritative role in the recognition of reincarnations. It embodies the principle that the state is above religion, with political authority taking precedence over religious authority, and that religious followers are citizens first and foremost. It also reflects the principle that religions will prevail with the support of the state.

Historically, the system of Living Buddha reincarnation was established and developed precisely through conferral and approval by the central government. The reincarnation of Living Buddhas, especially those of significant influence, has always been incorporated into the scope of government administration.

In 1334, Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) conferred the title "Yuantong Zhufa Xingkong Buddha Karmapa (the Buddha who perfectly comprehends the emptiness of the nature of all phenomena)" upon Rangjung Dorje -- the first Living Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism to be officially recognized -- who was later confirmed as the Third Karmapa. Rangjung Dorje was also granted an imperial edict, the seal of State Preceptor, and other honors. Through this conferment, his legitimate status as a reincarnated Living Buddha was formally recognized by the Yuan Dynasty central government, and the "Karmapa" title was officially sanctioned for use and succession. The imperial recognition also transformed the reincarnation of Living Buddhas from a spontaneous folk practice into a system with legitimacy, laying the foundation for the institutional development of the reincarnation system of Living Buddhas.

The title of the Dalai Lama reincarnation system was also conferred and confirmed by the central government. After Sonam Gyatso was enthroned at the Drepung Monastery in 1547, the Ming Dynasty government dispatched envoys to Qinghai in 1579 to grant him the title "Huguo Hongjiao Chanshi (state-protecting, dharma-promoting Zen master)," along with items including a seal, an edict, and a monastic robe. This confirmed and recognized the legitimacy of his status as a reincarnated Living Buddha and the reincarnation system by the central government.

In 1653, the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, was summoned to Beijing to meet the Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty government conferred upon him the title "the Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth under the Great Benevolent Self-subsisting Buddha of the Western Paradise," and granted him a golden certificate and golden seal. Thus, "Dalai Lama" officially became the exclusive title of this reincarnation system, and his status in Xizang's religious sphere was formally recognized by the central government. From then on, it became customary for each successive Dalai Lama to be officially confirmed by the central government after reincarnation.

Historically, the reincarnation of Living Buddhas, especially those of great influence, was subject to government approval and oversight. The establishment of the Dalai Lama reincarnation system was not the decision of any individual, but rather approved by local authorities. Throughout history, each successive Dalai Lama was recognized, approved, and enthroned with the consent of both local and central governments.

(2) The reincarnation of Living Buddhas must follow the principle of management according to law

Managing religious affairs in accordance with the law is a universal practice that has been observed throughout history and around the world. Managing the reincarnation of Living Buddhas in accordance with the law is an important aspect of China's administration of religious affairs. Managing religious affairs in accordance with the law involves matters related to state interests and public interests; it does not constitute interference in the internal affairs of religion. Once the reincarnation system of Living Buddhas was established, it came under the framework of legal management. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the central government's system of conferring titles upon grand Living Buddhas embodied the spirit and principles of the rule of law. The Qing Dynasty government promulgated the Imperially Approved Ordinance for the Better Governance of Tibet (29-Article Ordinance), based on which the eighth Dalai Lama issued a proclamation for the Year of the Water Buffalo. Both stipulated detailed provisions for implementing the golden urn lot-drawing system. The Nationalist Government, the then central authorities of China, promulgated a set of regulations on the reincarnation of Lamas, under which the reincarnation and recognition of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas were completed. In 2007, the Chinese government issued the Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, which clearly stipulated that reincarnations of Living Buddhas of different levels of influence must be approved by different government departments.

Managing the reincarnation of Living Buddhas in accordance with the law is a concrete embodiment of the universal spirit of the rule of law. Sakyamuni urged his disciples to strictly abide by the laws of the king, and true Buddhist followers should never disregard national laws or consider themselves beyond the jurisdiction of the law. Therefore, individual wishes must be subject to state law, and the reincarnation of Living Buddhas must not disregard national laws under the pretext of "religious affairs" or "the personal wishes of the reincarnated."

(3) The reincarnation of Living Buddhas must adhere to the principle of confirmation through dharma

Buddhism has always advocated "following the dharma, not individuals," meaning that internal Buddhist affairs must be handled according to Buddhist principles rather than personal wishes -- and the reincarnation of Living Buddhas is no exception. According to Tibetan Buddhist views and the practice of "divine judgement of the true reincarnation," the confirmation of a reincarnation's true identity is not determined by the personal wishes of the reincarnated individual or by others. Still, it follows religious rituals and historical conventions, through applying the principle of doctrinal determination. Tibetan Buddhism holds that a Living Buddha reincarnates into the world to uphold the dharma, fulfill the Bodhisattva vow, and bring salvation. Therefore, when confirming a reincarnation, drawing lots from the golden urn before the Buddha and relying on the Buddha's compassionate blessings and enlightened determination is regarded as the most sacred, solemn, and impartial method. Methods like drawing lots from the golden urn embody the doctrine of "the Buddha's decision through dharma." They cannot be manipulated by individuals, much less decided by the personal will of the reincarnated individual. As the saying goes, "real gold does not fear the test of fire."

(4) The reincarnation of Living Buddhas must follow the principle of respecting the sentiments of lay followers

From the perspective of lay followers, Tibetan Buddhism holds that Buddhas manifest in this world out of compassion, never abandoning sentient beings, and returning by the power of their vows. In the reincarnation of Living Buddhas, the "sentient beings" they do not abandon are not a vague or broad concept, but specifically the devoted followers -- the religious community. The "vows" refer to the aspirations to attain enlightenment, practice the Bodhisattva path, and deliver sentient beings. In the process of reincarnation, the target of these vows is precisely the Tibetan Buddhist faithful. Thus, the reincarnation of a Living Buddha occurs in response to the needs of the believers. The majority of Tibetan Buddhist believers reside in China, specifically within regions where Tibetan Buddhism is practiced. Therefore, in practice, reincarnated Living Buddhas do not abandon their followers or the land that nurtures them, and can only reincarnate within China, rather than in places where Tibetan Buddhism is not traditionally practiced. Thus, decisions about whether to reincarnate and where to reincarnate must respect the sentiments and wishes of the lay followers, and cannot be decided solely by the reincarnated individual. Precisely out of respect for the sentiments of the faithful, the Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist Living Buddhas stipulate that "the request of the majority of local believers and monastery management organizations for reincarnation" is a fundamental condition for reincarnation.

In summary, there has never been a precedent in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, including the reincarnations of successive Dalai Lamas, where the reincarnated individual alone decides the matter. Since the establishment of the reincarnation system of Living Buddhas, it has consistently adhered to and respected principles and traditions of government oversight, management according to law, confirmation through doctrinal determination, and respect for the sentiments of the faithful. There is simply no basis for the reincarnated individual alone to decide the matter, and any attempt to politicize the reincarnation of Living Buddhas will ultimately prove futile.

Rare earth exports have never been, should not be an issue between China and Europe: Chinese Foreign Minister

In response to a reporter’s question about European companies’ concerns regarding China’s export controls on rare earths, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Thursday during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul that rare earth exports have never been, and should not become, an issue between China and Europe. He emphasized that as long as export control regulations are followed and necessary procedures are fulfilled, the legitimate needs of European companies will be guaranteed.

Imposing necessary controls on dual-use items is an exercise of national sovereignty and an international obligation for all countries. China’s policy aligns with international norms and serves to safeguard global peace and stability. Chinese authorities have even established a “fast track” mechanism for European enterprises. Any attempt to stir up this issue between China and Europe is driven by ulterior motives, according to Wang.