At least 16 people were killed and around 50 to 60 more injured in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, U.S., CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources.

ABC News has put the death toll at more than 10, also citing unnamed law enforcement sources.

The Maine State Police and a county sheriff had previously reported that there had been an active shooter on Wednesday night but did not provide details.

"I am delighted to see the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," Zhang Ming, Secretary-General of the SCO, said in an interview with the Global Times on Tuesday.

He noted that after 18 years, Iran has finally become the ninth member of the SCO. "But this is not the end; it is a new beginning," he said.

Zhang told the media on Tuesday that the expansion process of the SCO will not stop in the next few years, and it is expected that Belarus will complete all the relevant procedures to join the SCO before next year's SCO summit.

On the afternoon of July 4, the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member countries was held via video conference. During the meeting, Iran was officially confirmed as a full member of the SCO.

In the afternoon of the same day, Zhang and the new Iranian Ambassador to China Mohsen Bakhtiar, jointly raised the Iranian national flag at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing.

Starting from July 4, Iran will officially enjoy all the rights and benefits of a member of the SCO.

Zhang expressed a warm welcome for Iran to join the SCO. "We look forward to Iran playing a more important role within the SCO framework, becoming a member that promotes cooperation for peace and development," he said.

Bakhtiar said on Tuesday that Iran, located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, is a strategically important location. "It stands to benefit greatly from the development of transportation infrastructure, streamlining of customs procedures, and promotion of regional connectivity through the efforts of the SCO. By actively participating in initiatives led by the SCO, Iran can leverage its geographical advantage to become a significant transit hub, facilitating trade between the East and the West," he said.

Iran became an observer country of the SCO in 2005, the second year after the establishment of the SCO observer mechanism. In 2008, Iran formally submitted its application to join the SCO. However, due to various factors such as US sanctions, Iran's path to joining the SCO has not been smooth and has faced many challenges. It was not until the SCO summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in September 2021 that the heads of state of all SCO member countries finally signed the document initiating the process of accepting Iran as a full member of the SCO.

In September 2022, during the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member countries held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Iran signed a memorandum of obligations to join the SCO. In November of the same year, the Iranian parliament passed a law approving Iran's membership of the SCO. On January 25, 2023, the Iranian parliament passed a memorandum of obligations bill regarding membership in the SCO. On February 7, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi signed an order for implementing the law related to Iran's accession to the SCO.

At Tuesday's event, Ambassador Bakhtiar said that "Economic cooperation is at the core of the SCO and provides Iran with abundant trade and investment opportunities."

He also mentioned that energy cooperation is another important area within the SCO. "Iran is a major energy-producing and exporting country with abundant reserves of oil and natural gas. Through cooperation with other SCO member states, Iran can develop energy infrastructure, promote energy trade, and enhance energy security in the region," he said.

Analysts believe that Iran's formal accession to the SCO will further enhance the international status and influence of the organization, and for Iran, it is an important step in breaking the US diplomatic blockade.

Bakhtiar also noted that the SCO plays a crucial role in combating terrorism and extremism.

"Iran has been actively involved in counterterrorism efforts, and joining the SCO strengthens regional security cooperation. SCO member states, including Iran, can collaborate through intelligence sharing and joint military exercises to collectively address the growing threat of terrorism," he said.

"By actively participating in SCO initiatives, Iran will be able to leverage its role within the organization to enhance its regional standing, develop its economy, and contribute to the collective development and security of SCO member states," he added.

Zhang told the Global Times that despite the ever-changing international situation and many challenges, the influence and international status of the SCO continue to rise. Many countries and regions have shown increasing interest in the SCO, with more countries knocking on the door of the SCO, expressing their hopes of joining this family or upgrading from dialogue partners to full members.

"This undoubtedly reflects the fact that the principles and norms that the SCO has adhered to for a long time have been widely recognized and accepted in the international community," he said, stressing that this is an important manifestation of the continuous enhancement of the international influence of the SCO.

According to media reports, Belarus is also applying to join the SCO. On June 30, the bill "On the accession of the Republic of Belarus to international treaties within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization" was approved at the meeting of the ninth session of the House of Representatives of the seventh convocation in Belarus. The bill was prepared as part of the work on the country's accession to the SCO.

Analysts said that after Iran and Belarus join, the SCO will cover an area "from Europe and the Middle East to South Asia and East Asia."

Regarding this, Zhang said that the process of expanding the SCO will not stop, and the specific speed will depend on the results of the member countries' discussions.

He said that the process of Belarus joining the SCO was launched at the Samarkand summit last year, and this year, an important step was taken by signing the memorandum of obligations for Belarus to join the SCO. According to the normal schedule, it can be expected that all processes will be completed before next year's SCO summit.

Zhu Yongbiao, professor at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that with Iran's formal accession, the SCO is entering its second round of official expansion. From Central Asia to South Asia, and now to the regions of West Asia or the Middle East, the SCO's coverage of territories and countries is increasing, indicating a further rise in its influence and international status.

He said that in the face of a complex international situation, the SCO's expansion process is likely to accelerate in the coming years, leading to an increase in its international influence and diversity, as well as a rise of inclusiveness within the organization.

Editor's Note:

Since 2012, China has witnessed an extraordinary economic transition, with historic achievements in all aspects of the economy from its size to quality. Such an unparalleled feat does not just happen, especially during a tumultuous period in the global geo-economic landscape and a tough phase in China's economic transformation and upgrading process. It was Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era that guided the country in overcoming various risks and challenges, and in keeping the China economic miracle alive.

As China embarked on the quest to become a great modern socialist country amid global changes unseen in a century, Xi's economic thought has been and will continue to be the guiding principle for development in China for years to come, and have great significance for the world. What is Xi's economic thought? What does it mean for China and the world? To answer these questions, the Global Times has launched this special coverage on Xi's major economic speeches and policies, and how they are put into practice to boost development in China and around the world.

Inside a bright white building at the Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, the tidy, futuristic environment exudes a palpable sense of exquisite technology. On the walls of the lobby, the atrium as well as the research and development (R&D) workshop, inspirational slogans offer more clues about the significance of the place: "Innovation-driven, Self-reliance, and self-fortification" and "Climbing the peak of technology."

The building is home to the Suzhou HYC Technology Co, founded in 2005. The company prides itself as the world's leading manufacturer of flat panel display touch detection equipment and one of the most competitive semiconductor testing equipment providers in China, according to the China Media Group.

Success in R&D over the years has propelled the private company to be the first firm listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's new Science and Technology Innovation Board, or the STAR market, a NASDAQ-style board for tech firms. That has also positioned the company at the forefront of China's drive for tech self-reliance and self-fortification.

On July 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the company during an inspection tour of Jiangsu, where he visited Suzhou and Nanjing, the provincial capital, and toured other facilities including an industrial park, business enterprises, a historic and cultural block, and a science lab, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged Jiangsu to take the lead in advancing Chinese modernization, pointing out that the key to Chinese modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology.

The president's inspection tour not only reflected the high hopes for Jiangsu's bigger role in the pursuit of Chinese modernization but also further highlighted Chinese path to modernization, in which technological innovation and high-quality development are of paramount importance, business insiders and analysts said.

Such a personal focus is crucial in leading the country toward tackling major technological and development bottlenecks, amid an increasingly complex and severe international geopolitical environment, they noted.

Encouragement for breakthroughs

Xi's focus on breakthroughs in core technologies such as semiconductor testing was on vivid display during his visit to the Suzhou HYC.

"The president stopped at the semiconductor testing area for a relatively longer period, asking me about the performance of the equipment, the progress of research and development, including making detailed inquiries, and the yield rate of the chips was tested," Chen Wenyuan, chairman of the Suzhou HYC Technology Co, told the Global Times.

Chen said that he briefed him about some domestic high-end requirements. "Both the hardware and software systems are developed by us independently. At present, this can solve some domestic high-end requirements for digital chip testing," Chen said. "The president gave me the impression that he is very amiable and approachable. During the visit, he encouraged us to climb to peak of technology on numerous occasions."

Encouraging companies and researchers to develop technologies was a general theme of Xi's inspection tour in Jiangsu. At the Suzhou Industrial Park, Xi emphasized the crucial role of hi-tech parks in achieving self-reliance and self-strength in science and technology.

As the US and some of its allies continue to step up technological crackdowns on China, including restrictions on chip exports among other high-tech components to China, in an attempt to contain the world's second-largest economy, achieving self-reliance and self-fortification has become a top priority for China. This has also become a major focus in Xi's major speeches and inspection tours.

On Tuesday, a meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform stressed the need to be prepared to deal with worst-case and extreme-case scenarios to promptly improve national security systems and mechanisms. While presiding over the meeting, Xi stressed that it is important to advance the reform of the remuneration system for university teachers and research personnel as a pivotal boost toward the development of education, science and technology, and talent.

At the meeting, various documents, including those establishing new systems for a higher-level open economy to build a new development paradigm and reform of the remuneration system in higher education institutions and research institutes, were examined and approved.

In Nanjing, Xi visited the Purple Mountain Laboratories, where he inspected a 6G comprehensive lab, among others, to learn about efforts being made toward major sci-tech breakthroughs. While inspecting the NARI Group Corporation, Xi learned about the enterprise's efforts in developing core technologies, ensuring grid security and power supply, and promoting energy transition.

"The goal of Xi's inspection tour in Jiangsu was to clearly emphasize innovation-driven development," Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times, noting that the report to the 20th CPC National Congress underscored the importance of high-quality development.

"An important connotation of high-quality development is innovation. In the face of increasingly fierce international competition, it is very important for us to achieve innovation-driven development," Cong said, adding that Jiangsu offers a great example in pursuing innovation-driven, high-quality development.
High hopes for economic powerhouse

The president's trip to the economic and technological powerhouse came just four months after he participated in a deliberation with deputies from a Jiangsu Province delegation at the first session of the 14th National People's Congress during the two sessions in March, where he stressed that high-quality development is of top priority in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects.

This reflected the great importance attached to and high hopes for Jiangsu's bigger leading role in advancing Chinese modernization, thanks to its strength in various aspects, including innovation and manufacturing.

During the inspection tour, Xi lauded the strengths of Jiangsu's solid industrial foundation, rich scientific and educational resources, sound business environment, and huge market share. He urged the province to continue to play an exemplary role in promoting reform, innovation, and high-quality development, as well as in contributing to China's efforts in fostering a new pattern of development.

In 2022, Jiangsu's total R&D investment reached 370 billion yuan, up 60 percent from 2017, contributing more than 12 percent of China's total, according to local official data. Jiangsu's R&D spending accounted for more than 3 percent of its GDP for the first time, on par with that of innovative countries and regions. There are more than 37,000 high-tech firms in the province.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta region, Jiangsu is one of the most developed provinces in China in terms of manufacturing, and also a leader in the country's sci-tech innovation and industrial upgrading, and has seen fruitful outcomes in a variety of aspects, Tian Yun, a Beijing-based economist, told the Global Times.

The Suzhou Industrial Park is an embodiment of the province's strengths in the high-tech and manufacturing sectors. Established in 1994, the park, which covers an area of 278 square kilometers, is home to 2,489 nationally grown high-tech enterprises, according to official data.

The output value of high-tech industries at the park accounts for 74.8 percent of the total output value of industries above a designated size, and in comprehensives when evaluated among other national economic development zones, the park has ranked first for seven consecutive years.

"Our success so far would be impossible without the support of the complete supply chains of the Suzhou Industrial Park, the city of Suzhou, and the Yangtze River Delta," Chen said.
Local entrepreneurship, global cooperation

Such complete supply chains and overall economic and technological strength inspire great entrepreneurship among the locals, including those in completely different sectors apart from the high-tech industry. And such, entrepreneurship is vibrant in every corner of Suzhou.

Not far from the Suzhou Industrial Park sits the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block, known for its rich history spanning over 2,500 years. Different from the futuristic features at the industrial park, Pingjiang possesses an artistic and harmonious atmosphere paired with the ubiquitous sights of street art and residents tending to their plants and pets.

During his trip to Suzhou, Xi also visited the area, noting that the fine embodiment of traditional Chinese culture in qualities such as resilience, patience, and perseverance, have become an integral part of the Chinese national spirit.

Zhang Yingying, head of the Niujiaqiang Community in the Pingjiang sub-district, vividly recalls the scene of the president's visit. "He told us that this place is filled with historical sites, scenic spots, and culture, and living here is truly fortunate. The words resonated deeply with the crowd… and I, too, was among the crowd, and my eyes welled up with tears as I pondered the profound meaning behind the residents' overwhelming happiness," Zhang told the Global Times.

Having moved to this particular community in 2008, Zhang has since witnessed the implementation of various livelihood projects aimed at improving the quality of life for the residents, from the installation of modern toilets to solving the problem of clothes drying, and organizing once chaotic electrical wires.

Zhang said that in recent years, the community has experienced a surge in entrepreneurial spirit, with more and more individuals willing to start businesses, open guesthouses, and establish trendy cafes, breathing new life into its historic streets.

During the visit, Xi also said that Suzhou has excelled in blending tradition with modernity, simultaneously promoting historical and cultural inheritance and boosting high-tech innovation and high-quality development.

This also resonates deeply with Lu Jianying, an inheritor of the Suzhou embroidery tradition, a form of intangible cultural heritage. A third-generation inheritor from a family of embroiderers, Lu began practicing embroidery at a very young age and has been involved in the craft for decades. She owns an embroidery shop in the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block.

Xi visited the shop and showed interest in the traditional art, which dates back over 2,000 years, according to Xinhua.

Lu recalled that the president keenly examined the showcased works and listened intently to the introduction. "Upon hearing his words, I felt a warm feeling in my heart, a feeling of artistic recognition," Lu told the Global Times, noting that she plans to collaborate with her daughter to better promote Suzhou embroidery with the help of the internet and cultural and creative products.

Suzhou has another calling card - a major hub for international cooperation. The Suzhou Industrial Park, specifically, which is a major cooperation project between China and Singapore, is known as "a major window for China's reform and opening up" and "a successful example of international cooperation."

As of June 2023, the park had attracted 104 Fortune 500 companies carrying out 174 projects, with the total investment in foreign capital reaching $40 billion, according to official data. At the end of 2022, the park hosted more than 200 R&D facilities from multinational companies, according to official data.

During his visit to the park, Xi emphasized expanding international cooperation to build world-class hi-tech parks that are open and driven by innovation.

For many companies like the Suzhou HYC, even as they continue to pursue independent technological innovation, global cooperation is still an integral part.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the fifth in a series of events titled "Diplomatic Envoys' Visits to State-owned Enterprises - a visit to China Railway Group," on July 25. 
Nearly 100 people from embassies and international organization agencies in China were present at the event, including 12 ambassadors from such countries as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Somalia, Moldova, Switzerland, Samoa and Suriname, 12 chargé d'affaires ad interim, and one representative of an international organization in China.

The event was supported by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Railway Group Chen Yun and president of the group Chen Wenjian introduced the commitment of the group to promoting high-quality development and relevant projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

The diplomatic envoys said that China has made remarkable achievements in the fields of infrastructure construction such as railway, highway and rail transit, and expressed their hopes to deepen cooperation with China in relevant fields in the future, and jointly build the BRI.

"I've traveled on the high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai and the speed is incredible. It's very comfortable and convenient. You don't need to go through boarding procedures, you don't need to go through any other procedures, "said a diplomat from the Embassy of Honduras in China. 

"When I arrived in Shanghai it was right in the center of the city and I was able to take the subway, which was very convenient," he added.

The "Chengdu Panda International Food and Culture Carnival Canada: Part of Your Healthy Lifestyle" was held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on August 2. The event allowed participants to gain an in-depth knowledge of Canada through different aspects such as cuisine, beverages, games and entertainment through brand promotion, food tasting, fitness dance and business exchanges. 

The event was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu government and the Consulate General of Canada in Chongqing. 

At the event, Samantha Tam, the deputy consul general and commercial consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Chongqing, delivered a speech to welcome attendees, saying that food and culture are symbiotic. She expressed her hopes that through such culinary experiences and exchange activities, Chinese friends of Canada would learn more about the unique charms of the North American country, which includes high-quality agriculture, diversified cuisines, outdoor recreation and creative design, all of which are worthy of exploring and experiencing. 

Ou Yusong, a deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu government, recalled the high moments of friendship between Chengdu and Canada, and pointed out that Chengdu is the first city in Asia to be recognized as one of the Food Capitals of the World by UNESCO, and hoped to use gastronomic and cultural exchanges as an entry point to set up more platforms for such exchanges and cooperation in the fields of bilateral culture, economy, trade and tourism.

It has been front-page news in the Solomon Islands these days that a Chinese naval hospital ship docked at the port of Honiara for the first time.

The ship, known as the Ark Peace, arrived at the Pacific Island country on August 19 to a huge warm welcome. Its mission is to offer free medical services to local people until August 27.

At the dock's waiting area, the Global Times reporters in Honiara saw people waiting in order to board the ship. After they boarded the ship, they would first register, undergo triage and examination, and then top medical experts from major naval hospitals in China would provide them with treatment plans. The patients would receive medication, medical equipment, and even undergo surgery on board.

On the first day alone, the hospital received nearly 1,000 patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment, which is unfamiliar to the islanders, was also popular. People gave thumbs-up when they experienced acupuncture and cupping treatment.

"It's just overwhelming to come on board, and to see our people receiving that kind of assistance is just moving," Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare told the Global Times during his time aboard the Ark Peace on Sunday.

"From this visit, you can sense love and sympathy," Sogavare remarked, noting that the doctors and the ship have brought hope to many who might not have access to such services locally.

Living in one of the least developed countries in the region, the people suffer from a lack of medical care. The Ark Peace brought advanced medical services to the people of the country, which shows that China, as a great country, is committed to delivering peace and love to the international community, Sogavare said.
Setting sail in early July, the Ark Peace was on its humanitarian medical mission, Mission Harmony 2023, to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and East Timor. This marks the first time a Chinese naval vessel has visited Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

According to the original plan, the hospital ship docks at one port in each country, providing weeklong medical services free of charge to local people, personnel from Chinese institutions stationed in the country and other overseas Chinese.

The hospital ship has 126 medical staffers and boasts 26 clinical departments and seven auxiliary departments. It is capable of carrying out more than 40 kinds of examinations, treatments, and operations in general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, gynecology and other disciplines.

The ship is the first standard ocean-going maritime hospital independently designed and built by China. Since its entry into active service in 2008, the hospital ship has visited 43 countries and regions, providing medical services for more than 250,000 patients and performing more than 1,500 surgeries on voyages covering over 260,000 nautical miles.

Exchanges and professional seminars with relevant countries will also be conducted as part of this mission. On Tuesday, a small squad from the Ark Peace visited Honiara's Chung Wah School.

"Chung Wah" means "China" in Cantonese, one of the many dialects of the Chinese language, as the school was founded by the Chinese community about 80 years ago and is still under the support of local Chinese community.

The students, waving small national flags of China and the Solomon Islands, joyfully experienced traditional Chinese culture, such as martial arts, Chinese songs and cupping therapy from traditional Chinese medicine. "The girls from the Ark Peace are so pretty and the guys are handsome. The performance was so beautiful," Unity Arumae, a 6th-grade student, told the Global Times with excitement after the event, saying that she has learned about China more.

The Solomon Islands is located in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean, with a land area of 28,400 square kilometers and a population of about 720,000. It was one of the main battlefields in the Pacific region of World War II. The famous Battle of Guadalcanal took place here.

In September 2019, China and the Solomon Islands officially established diplomatic relations. In just four years, the relationship between the two countries has brought profound benefits to the people of the Solomon Islands.

In addition to the medical services that the Ark Peace provided to the country, eight members of the Chinese medical team, selected from Guizhou Medical University and its affiliated hospitals by Southwest China's Guizhou Province, have also been stationed in the Solomon Islands for two years.

The WWF and the China International Contractors Association jointly held a conference on Monday in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, to help promote wildlife protection and crack down on illegal wildlife trade. Eighty representatives including officials from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service attended the conference.
It comes after recent reports of Chinese customs seizing illegal wildlife products sourced from endangered species, such as ivory. It also comes at a time of blossoming international tourism in the post-COVID-19 era.

Kenya is an important habitat for famous African species such as elephants and rhinos. However, the animals are threatened by rampant poaching and global illegal trade, with some populations on the brink of extinction.

With the resumption of international travel, it is not uncommon for Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese to purchase endangered wildlife products such as ivory in Africa and illegally transport them back to China. In a recent case, customs authorities in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi Province, discovered and seized 118 items of illegal wildlife products, including 114 ivory products and four red coral products, during inspection of inbound parcels on August 30.

In Beijing, the customs authorities seized 7,800 items of endangered wildlife and their products during entry inspection in the first five months this year, according to media reports.

The illegal trade of these endangered species not only poses a threat to local ecosystems but also has a negative impact on China's image as a responsible major country in biodiversity conservation.

As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), China has always strictly complied with international conventions.

At the end of 2017, China announced a comprehensive ban on the commercial processing and sale of ivory, making an important contribution to the protection of wild elephants and demonstrating its role as a major country. In November 2018, in response to international concerns, the State Council indefinitely extended the trade ban to rhino horns and tiger bone, reaffirming the continued implementation of three strict prohibitions - namely, the prohibition of imports and exports, buying and selling, and transportation of rhinos and their products, as well as the prohibition of using rhino horn and tiger bone in medicine.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the signature of the CITES and it is also the 42nd anniversary of China's signature to join the convention. China has been making active contributions to sustainable development as well as wildlife and biodiversity protection," Zhang Xianfeng, an official from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, told the conference on Monday. Zhang stressed that China always emphasizes close cooperation with Kenya in implementing the CITES obligations.

"We are pleased to see that China has taken a leading role in efforts to protect endangered species and global biodiversity. However, illegal wildlife trade will undermine global conservation efforts. It is like an out-of-control machine, with consumption as its engine, and each of us holds the key to shutting it down. When people stop buying endangered wildlife products such as ivory, the bloody chain of profit will be broken," WWF China's Chief Program Officer Zhou Fei told the conference.

Since the new Counter-Espionage Law was enacted in July, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), whose work is usually classified and covert, is now stepping into the public limelight as the top national security authority announced a slew of detailed espionage cases over the last two months, as part of ratcheted up efforts to crack down on espionage.

Experts noted that the recent exposure of US espionage activities highlights China's dire situation with a covert battle waged against the country, as the aggressive spying activities by the US against China are closely linked to Washington's current strategy of comprehensive suppression and the containment of Beijing. 

The consistent unveiling of espionage cases serves to emphasize China's capabilities and determination in defending itself against foreign infiltration and manipulation, effectively safeguarding national security.

As the 23rd National Defense Education Day was marked on Saturday, comic strip posters warning of overseas spies were displayed in subway stations. The MSS provided information on how to prevent phones, emails, and other devices from being attacked on its newly opened official WeChat account. During the first class of the new semester, schools across the nation offered a special class dedicated to equipping teachers and students to identify and increase vigilance in safeguarding national security. 

China's recently intensified actions taken to combat espionage have raised concerns among certain Western media outlets, who misread it as a witch hunt that "spies are everywhere" and a "call to all members in society to apprehend spies." 

Chinese security experts refute such misinterpretation, stating that China simply aims to gain more public support in counter-espionage efforts, as solely relying on national security agencies is insufficient to combat pervasive overseas espionage forces. 

They stressed that the amended anti-espionage law further clarifies the boundaries of espionage activities to prevent abuse, noting that supervision systems along the anti-espionage process and communication channels through which breeches of the law can be reported are never absent.

Seek support from the public

CIA Director William Burns acknowledged on July 20 that his agency had made progress in rebuilding its spy networks in China, following significant setbacks a decade ago. 

Ten days later, China's MSS opened its official WeChat account on August 1, published a call to action, encouraging members of society to contribute to counter-espionage efforts, which analysts said marked its transition from covert to overt. 

Just 21 days after Burn's provocative claim, China's MSS, on August 11, referred to the CIA's revelation while announcing the apprehension of a suspect surnamed Zeng, who was a Chinese military industrial group staffer and an important confidential employee, as conducting espionage activities after being recruited by the CIA during his study in Italy.

China unveiled the second US-led espionage case against China within half a month on August 21, indicating that the country's national security authority cracked an espionage case involving a Chinese government employee who had been enlisted by the Japan branch of the US intelligence agency while studying in Japan. 

Afterward, the MSS, on September 11, released details about the case of John Shing-wan Leung, a permanent resident of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a US passport holder, who conducted espionage activities including serving as an informant of a US intelligence agency and was spying for the US under the guise of charity. 

In addition, the state media's legal programs have gradually exposed typical early espionage cases in last two months, reminding the public to be more vigilant. 

The MSS also publicly exposed and denounced the "four dangerous mindsets" hidden in the newly released US' 2023 National Intelligence Strategy on its WeChat account on August 28.

"The disclosure of these specific details can allow the general public to be clearer in identifying typical espionage activities. Currently, the actions of foreign espionage forces, led by the US, have become increasingly rampant, reaching new heights. This trend will continue or even intensify for a long time in the future. Relying solely on professional counter-espionage police is no longer sufficient to cope with the current situation. Therefore, we need to seek the support of the public and encourage them to provide more clues," Li Wei, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a leading research institution on national security, told the Global Times.

Where are attacks coming from?

The US, famous for being an empire of hackers, has persistently launched cyberattacks against China.

In recent years, the CIA has established two specific centers to hone the agency's focus on China, the "China Mission Center (CMC)" and the "Transnational and Technology Mission Center." The CMC is the only mission center established by the CIA to specifically target a single country while the "Transnational and Technical Mission Center" is responsible for assisting US spies in enhancing espionage technology, according to Li. 

The CIA attaches great importance to the application of artificial intelligence technology in cyberspace, and the chief technology officer Nand Mulchandani appointed by the CIA later comes from Silicon Valley.

Li noted that the US originally had similar centers targeting Iran and North Korea, but as its tensions with China intensified, the US' redirected targeted activities against these two countries elsewhere, and a new department targeting China was established. This reflects a shift in the focus of US intelligence work.

One of the two centers primarily relies on human intelligence collection, while the other relies on technological means. This is also why the US is globally suppressing Huawei's 5G technology, as once Huawei's network becomes the mainstream internationally, it will pose a significant obstacle to US intelligence gathering, the expert noted.

Moreover, the US often cooperates with other anti-China foreign forces in intelligence, including separatist forces in Hong Kong, the island of Taiwan, and Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region as they are highly consistent with their political objectives to destabilize China. The general public should understand the complex international situation, actively learn relevant laws and regulations, enhance national security awareness, and remain vigilant at all times, warned Li.

What are popular means?

According to the MSS, cyberspace has become an important battlefield for foreign intelligence agencies to conduct cyber espionage. China has become a major victim of advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks (typically a state or state-sponsored group, which gains unauthorized access to a computer network and remains undetected for an extended period). 

In recent years, China's national security agencies have discovered dozens of foreign intelligence agencies from different countries and regions conducting cyberattacks within its borders. They either establish specialized organizations, set up "cover companies," and develop professional means to directly carry out cyberattack infiltration actions, or employ "outsourcing services" or hacker groups to carry out attacks, or purchase data or lure and entice domestic institutions and personnel to sell their data, according to the MSS.

A frontline police officer engaged in cybersecurity and counter-espionage work in northern China told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that with the rapid development of modern technology, spy techniques have also evolved, making it increasingly difficult to counter. For example, it is now possible to determine the content of conversations in a room from kilometers away by sensing electromagnetic radiation, and conversations in a room can be stolen using pre-placed microwave, laser, and nano listening devices. 

Cyberspace has become a breeding ground for espionage activities, and some software systems and hardware devices such as "zero-day," a vulnerability in a computer system, are increasingly being used. Furthermore, attacks are increasingly targeting research institutions, according to the police. 

The case of the cyberattack on Northwestern Polytechnical University in 2022 is a typical example of cyber espionage. Foreign intelligence agencies used 41 types of specialized cyber weapons to launch thousands of attacks and steal confidential information from Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Li also underlines that foreign intelligence agencies are shifting their work toward more covert operations. 

The MSS previously exposed a case in April, in which a group of suspicious foreign individuals approached a regular fish farmer in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, under the guise of "installing free seawater quality monitoring devices." While claiming to help monitor water quality, these individuals intended to use this pretext to simultaneously monitor important sensitive data such as tides and ocean currents in non-open sea areas. This data would provide navigation assistance for foreign submarines to secretly enter the waters near our country's territorial waters.

No arbitrary application

Many foreign media outlets have exaggerated and sensationalized China's recent legitimate actions against espionage, portraying them as generalized attacks on foreign forces. Some have warned that the anti-espionage campaign could create further legal risks for and doubts among foreign companies, journalists, and academics.

"It has absolutely been distortion and misread as the media has confused counter-espionage work and normal cross-border economic and trade activities. On the contrary, China is committed to creating a healthy business environment that is not disrupted or threatened by espionage activities," Li argued.

China is not the only country that has started issuing more severe warnings regarding foreign spies. Concerns have been raised about Washington fueling a new Red Scare, exemplified by the Justice Department's abandoned China Initiative that focused on academics and some countries' ban on Huawei's 5G network and the social media platform TikTok due to so-called security concerns.

Every country has laws and actions against espionage, so why are they specifically expressing "concern" over China? Chinese netizens questions.

As early as August 4, the MSS had directly responded to concerns and smears from foreign media sources, emphasizing that safeguarding national security is a common practice for countries worldwide. The authority reiterated that the provisions of the amended Counter-Espionage Law are open, transparent, and clear. 

"The task of counter-espionage efforts in China is destined to become increasingly important, and this trend cannot be changed. However, we cannot and will not close our doors for the sake of security. Our commitment to openness to the outside world will only become stronger," Hu Xijin, a Chinese media professional wrote on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo.

When the CIA established the two aforementioned centers in 2021, China put forward the "Global Development Initiative" to the world and followed it up with the "Global Security Initiative" the following year. This means that coordinating development and security is a fundamental principle for China, according to analysts.

Li stressed that the revised law refines the boundary of espionage to further prevent misuse. The new version also properly expands the scope of targets of espionage, with all documents, data, materials, and articles concerning national security and interests included for protection. It particularly warns agents against domestic overseas espionage, calling for more caution in selling data to suspicious agents.

The expert underlined that monitoring measures are available to prevent the abuse of the espionage law, refuting claims by some foreign media outlets that the espionage law is a breach of public privacy.

"For example, requests of counterintelligence officers on collecting data must be strictly applied and approved in the system while the process must be supervised by higher levels. Citizens have the right to report potential abuses and misconduct, and relevant channels are open. They can report them to the People's Court and the Procuratorate if they find that law enforcement personnel have stepped over the line and have infringed on the interests of citizens under the guise of counter-espionage laws," Li explained.

On August 7, the MSS again emphasized the supervision mechanism for counter-espionage work and announced the reporting channels on its WeChat account.

"This is not an era for everyone catching spies everywhere, but an important time for everyone to protect national security, via more scientific and legal means," said Li.