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.

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.

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.

Editor's Note:

The recent escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel is unusually intense in terms of casualties. Despite being the most important third party in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for "humanitarian pauses" to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. Allowing the conflict to escalate in this manner will lead to more innocent civilian deaths and injuries. During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side." US President Joe Biden also promised unprecedented military assistance to Israel. In recent years, the US has faced international criticism for sidelining Palestinians' right to statehood and showing biased support for Israel. When will the US become a true peace mediator?

Pure lip service

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is currently the most complex and urgent international political issue facing the international community. The essence of the conflict lies in how Jews and Palestinians can achieve a just and lasting peace based on the "two-state solution." After World War II, Zionist organizations gradually sought support from the US to replace British presence in the region. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine, deciding to establish an Arab state and a Jewish state in the region. On May 14, 1948, Israel was officially established based on this resolution, and the US, under President Harry Truman, quickly became the first country to recognize Israeli sovereignty. Since the early 1950s, the US, along with the UK and France, has issued declarations assuming security obligations toward Israel, and the military and economic assistance provided by the US to Israel has been continuous.

During the third Arab-Israeli war in 1967, Israel not only occupied all the Arab territories as stipulated in Resolution 181, but also captured the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, the Golan Heights of Syria, and other Arab territories. Faced with the new battlefield situation and Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 242 on November 22, 1967, urging Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories in exchange for peace and recognition of borders. The principle of "land for peace" embodied in Resolution 242 has become an internationally recognized approach to addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. During the same period, as the rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union intensified, Israel, which held an increasingly strategic position in the Middle East, became a trump card for the US to contain Soviet expansion in the region.

After the fourth Arab-Israeli war in 1973, Egypt, burdened by its long-term involvement in the war, hoped to achieve peace with Israel. Israel also realized that simply occupying Egyptian territory and implementing defensive measures would not effectively solve its own security issues, so it began to explore the possibility of peace with Egypt. Subsequently, the US intervened in the peace process between Egypt and Israel, with then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger shuttling between Arab countries and Israel, conveying messages and successfully easing hostilities between the warring parties.

In March 1977, then US president Jimmy Carter said, "There has to be a homeland provided for the Palestinian refugees who have suffered for many, many years." However, such remarks were quickly met with strong opposition from Jewish groups in the US. In 1978, Carter hosted the Camp David peace negotiations between Egypt and Israel, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel and the first Arab country. The Camp David Accords included a call for relevant parties to engage in discussions on Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

For a long time, the international community has advocated for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. However, the US has repeatedly disregarded the rights of the Palestinians. In November 1988, during the 19th extraordinary session of the Palestinian National Council, the establishment of the State of Palestine was declared, but its borders were not determined. On November 26 that same year, then US Secretary of State George Shultz issued a statement stating that the Reagan administration refused to grant a visa to Yasser Arafat, the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who was expected to attend a United Nations conference. This move by the US drew condemnation from many countries.

After the end of the Cold War, the US organized several peace negotiations on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but has since been unable to effectively resolve the differences between Palestine and Israel. The Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East launched in 2003 openly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The plan was proposed by former US president George W. Bush and was determined through joint consultations by the US, Russia, the United Nations, and the EU, with the aim of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in three stages. The biggest difference between the Roadmap plan and previous plans was that it explicitly proposes the concept of two states "living side by side."

However, an article published in the Foreign Policy on October 19 argues that the "United States has long maintained that it supports a two-state solution to the conflict. But the reality is that little more than lip service has been paid to this goal, and with each passing crisis, Washington grows more and more aligned with Israel."

At the United Nations level, the US has continuously obstructed the efforts of Palestine to seek statehood. On November 29, 2012, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution upgrading Palestine's status at the UN to "non-member observer state" status. However, at the Security Council level, the United States has consistently vetoed Palestine's bid for full UN membership.

Ignoring Palestinians' right to life and of return

Since the end of the Cold War, especially after the Oslo Accords in 1993, the US has continued to dominate Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and still considers Israel as its main ally in the Middle East. The cooperation between the two countries includes enhancing Israel's military early warning capabilities, joint counter-terrorism efforts, intelligence sharing, and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. However, due to the US neglecting the concerns of the Palestinians and failing to address their demands on issues such as the status of Jerusalem, the delineation of the West Bank border, and the right of return for refugees, the negotiations have repeatedly failed.

The stagnation of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process has had a negative impact on the internal Palestinian sentiment, leading to new factional disputes. In the new century, the US has championed Western political values such as "democracy" and "free elections" and exerted pressure on the Palestinian Authority to hold open elections. After the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections, Hamas was widely supported and formed the government. However, the US and Israel, claiming that "terrorist organizations cannot join the government," jointly intervened in Palestinian internal affairs, leading to political instability in Palestine.

Furthermore, the US has tacitly allowed or even condoned Israel's unilateral blockade of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the continuous deterioration of the local economy and living conditions, ultimately leading to the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Washington traditionally shields its ally Israel from any Security Council action." After the US recently vetoed a humanitarian aid resolution at the UN Security Council, Reuters made this comment. For nearly half a century, the US has used its position as a permanent member of the Security Council to block numerous resolutions condemning Israel.

On December 6, 2017, then US president Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stated that the American Embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His "new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians" has further intensified tensions in the region. The fundamental cause of the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the US abandoning its mediation efforts, thwarting hopes for peace between the two sides. Throughout previous Middle East peace negotiations, the US' bias and indulgence toward Israel have undermined the Palestinians' confidence in Palestinian-Israeli peace. After the failure of then Secretary of State John Kerry's mediation attempt in 2014, the US gave up on restructuring Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Since then, neither the Trump nor Biden administration has initiated new peace dialogues.

Eroding basis for dialogue

In 2020, the "Deal of the Century" and the Arab-Israeli Abraham Accords promoted by Trump fundamentally eroded the basis for dialogue between Palestine and Israel. In the "Deal of the Century," mainly drafted by Trump's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, the US shifted its view of the Palestine-Israel issue to an economic development problem and proposed the construction of various "industrial zones" to relocate Palestinians to the Negev Desert in exchange for economic development opportunities, compromising their demands for an independent state, territorial boundaries, clarification on the status of Jerusalem, and the right of return for refugees. The US no longer regarded the Palestinian issue as the core of the Middle Eastern problem, no longer adhered to the principle of "land for peace," and no longer considered East Jerusalem to be the future capital of the Palestinian state, which was met with Palestinian displeasure.

On issues such as Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the US also condones and tolerates Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, undermining the foundation of peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The so-called Abraham Accords limits the scope of the Palestinian capital to small towns in the suburbs of East Jerusalem and does not grant the right of return to Palestinian refugees to their previous land.

For a long time, the majority of Arab countries have adhered to the principle of "solving the Palestinian-Israeli issue first before discussing Arab-Israeli relations" in their development of relations with Israel, in order to promote lasting peace in the entire Middle Eastern region. However, the US hopes to reconstruct its Middle East alliance strategy by adjusting Israel's relations with Arab countries, especially with Gulf Arab countries, in order to strategically contain hostile countries in the region such as Iran and Syria. Therefore, against the backdrop of the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli issue, the US is eager to promote the normalization process of Arab-Israeli relations, gradually "economizing" and marginalizing the Palestinian issue.

In September 2020, the US brokered the signing of the Abraham Accords among Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. Although this move has led to the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and Israel, it has also sparked strong anger among the Palestinian people due to further marginalization of the Palestinian issue. In recent years, as rumors of the normalization of relations between countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel driven by the US increased, feelings of being "abandoned" and "forgotten" among the Palestinian people only grew stronger, and it was only a matter of time before intense resistance against Israel erupted.

Amid the escalating crisis in the current conflict, the US has not only failed to reflect on its own Middle East policy but also continues to smear the resistance of the Palestinian people, turning a blind eye to Israel's illegal expansion into occupied territories. Following the outbreak of the current round of conflicts between Israel and Palestine, the US President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense have visited Israel, dispatched aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East, provided various military supplies to Israel, and vetoed relevant resolutions by the UNSC, allowing the conflict to escalate. In resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue, the US should shoulder its due responsibility instead of treating the conflict like a tool in domestic political power struggles, let alone using it as an opportunity to attack other countries in the region. The US should cooperate with the international community to expedite a peaceful resolution to the conflict, rather than exploiting it for personal gain.

US President Joe Biden's recent foreign policy agenda has sparked widespread discussion. Against the backdrop of his absence from the ASEAN Summit and related meetings, Biden is scheduled  to visit Vietnam, one of the ASEAN member countries, on Sunday, with plans to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "strategic partnership," according to information released by the US. This move, putting Vietnam beyond ASEAN, reflects the essence of the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Despite the US government's repeated emphasis on supporting ASEAN's centrality in the regional architecture in its strategic documents, the reality shows that it's merely a token gesture to ASEAN. Since taking office, the Biden administration has spared no effort in reviving the Quad, establishing the AUKUS clique, and mediating between Japan and South Korea, relying on so-called like-minded allies. In practice, the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy marginalizes ASEAN, essentially bypassing it and building a "minilateral cooperation" mechanism centered on the US to directly serve US hegemony.

While snubbing ASEAN, the US is also dividing ASEAN. For instance, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity launched by the Biden administration invited only seven ASEAN member countries, excluding the other three. Such differential treatment inevitably creates rifts within ASEAN. Biden's decision to prioritize Vietnam over ASEAN once again demonstrates the US' intention to divide ASEAN.

The upgrading of the US-Vietnam relationship is closely linked to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. By enhancing its military presence in the Philippines, the US is increasingly intervening behind the scenes in the South China Sea issue, and disputes between China and the Philippines are showing signs of intensification. Indonesia, the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, has repeatedly expressed a desire to accelerate negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which is something the US does not want to see. A calm South China Sea means the US has one less interface to meddle in regional affairs. Therefore, as one of the claimants in the South China Sea, Vietnam has become a target for US courtship. Washington aims to build a united front against China regarding the South China Sea issue by enhancing cooperation with the Philippines and Vietnam.

Ironically, the US practice of marginalizing and dividing ASEAN reveals a decline in its own influence. The strategic competition initiated by the US against China has squeezed the policy space of ASEAN countries and increased strategic pressure on regional nations. ASEAN leaders repeatedly emphasize that they refuse to "take sides" between China and the US. The US is well aware that ASEAN, as a whole, will not follow its lead on the issue of containing China. This has caused strategic anxiety in Washington.

The US itself is to blame for the current situation. On the one hand, influenced by domestic trade protectionism, the US is reluctant to open its market to ASEAN countries and opposes multilateral trade systems like RCEP or CPTPP.

On the other hand, the US tends to judge and differentiate its partners based on US own values, while most ASEAN countries do not necessarily align with the standards of US-style democracy. The US is neither able nor willing to make changes in these two aspects. 

From this perspective, the US' courtship of Vietnam is merely a temporary measure. Earlier this year, Washington meddled in Hanoi's domestic affairs through its "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" and faced criticism from Vietnamese officials.

A common consensus among ASEAN countries is that the US' Asia-Pacific policy lacks consistency. From the "Pivot to Asia" during the Barack Obama administration to Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy, and now to the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific Strategy, ASEAN countries have become increasingly skeptical of US commitments.

In sharp contrast, China has consistently adhered to four "unswerving" principles in its relations with ASEAN: China will unswervingly take ASEAN as a high priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, unswervingly support ASEAN unity and ASEAN Community building. Furthermore, China will unswervingly support ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture, and unswervingly support ASEAN in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.

It is evident that China's emphasis on ASEAN is fundamentally different from the US'. The attention paid by the US to ASEAN is in fact driven by the competition with China. China and ASEAN are geographically connected and have deep economic, social and cultural ties that cannot be severed. They should be strategic pillars for each other and work together to prevent a new cold war from occurring in Asia.

Warships from the US, South Korea and Canada drilled on September 14 in the Yellow Sea, one day before the three countries steamed for Incheon to help reenact an amphibious landing during the 1950-53 Korean War, Stars and Stripes reported on September 15. This is the first large-scale exercises that the US navy participated in the Yellow Sea off the coast of northern China in 10 years.

The US is changing its 10-year low-key manner in the Yellow Sea, demonstrating that it is integrating all the forces it can use in the Northeast Asia region, the East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea into a unified chain to contain China under its framework of Indo-Pacific Strategy.

The US and its allies have been quite proactive around China's surrounding waters lately. Through multiple joint military exercises, the US is further escalating tensions in China's surrounding areas. They often claimed the events were carried out under the name of responding to continuing tension with North Korea, but the trilateral leaders' summit at Camp David among the US, South Korea and Japan in late August has already made it clear that Northeast Asia is an important part of US Indo-Pacific Strategy to contain China. The US, Japan and South Korea are moving closer to forming a trilateral alliance and further accelerating NATO-ization of the region. The gates of hell have been opened.

Since President Joe Biden took office, the US has been deepening its Indo-Pacific Strategy in Northeast Asia, strengthening the trilateral relationship among the US, Japan and South Korea, and the regional dynamics in Northeast Asia have been undergoing rapid changes. The most important trend against the backdrop is the emergence of camp politics in Northeast Asia. Confrontation and antagonism between North and South Korea has deepened. Ties between North and South Korea become increasingly tense. And it is growingly difficult to restart dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. Mutual hostility is intensifying.

Veteran US diplomat Henry Kissinger famously stated, "To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal." Traditional US political and diplomatic elites repeatedly advocate that the most important foundation of US global hegemony is the alliance system, yet in reality, there have often been scenarios in US diplomatic history where the interests of allies are disregarded in favor of Washington's own interests. This shows that the alliance system only serves to maximize US' own interests. 

Since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, deepening the US-South Korea alliance has become the cornerstone of his foreign policy, indicating that South Korea is fully swinging to the US. Under the joint influence of the Biden and Yoon administrations, the US-South Korea alliance has been deeply integrated into the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. The US has gradually made South Korea accept the perception that "China is a threat" through a series of means, incorporating US global interests into South Korea's national interests. South Korea has thus shifted from striking partial "balance" to becoming a complete follower.

Faced with low approval ratings, the Yoon administration has hyped up a pro-US, anti-China, anti-North Korea atmosphere at home. It has done in the hope of rallying the public through inciting national sentiment or creating external friction to boost public support and lift ratings. This is dangerous and will jeopardize the stability in the Northeast region. 

As can be seen, with the US intensifying the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the strengthening of the trilateral relationship among the US, Japan and South Korea, the camp politics in Northeast Asia is becoming increasingly obvious. It should be said that the current stage is an extremely severe period for the security situation in Northeast Asia since the end of the Cold War. However, despite the continuous fermentation and accumulation of negative factors, the overall situation in Northeast Asia is still controllable, and the possibility of a serious conflict breaking out in the short term is not high. The most important thing is that China has always been an important force in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

China and Middle East countries can build a bridge of communication and actively face global challenges together, said experts attending a forum in Shanghai over the weekend.

From Saturday to Sunday, the 8th International Forum on Asia and Middle East Conference, themed "The Middle East Security and Development in the Global Context," was jointly held by the Middle East Studies Institute of the Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies, and the Doha-based Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The forum consisted of five workshops in which more than 120 scholars from about 20 countries and regions shared their views. 

Professor Jiang Feng, the chair of the SISU, in his opening remarks, said that the conference is an important contribution to promote dialogue between different civilizations.

In September 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. And in April 2022, he put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations after years of tensions, with China playing a key role as the mediator.

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, said at the forum that the world is still facing a deficit of peace and development, and China's GDI and GSI have contributed to promoting peace in the Middle East. Former special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, Wu Sike, analyzed that China's advocacy for a new vision of security is beneficial for peace and development in the Middle East.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposal. Youness Abouyoub, chief of the Governance and State-Building Section at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, highlighted the Middle East's keen interest in the BRI and described the cooperation between China and the region as dynamic and predictable.

Professor Mohamad Homayoon from Imam Sadie University in Iran emphasized the uniqueness of Iranian civilization and expressed hope for not succumbing to hegemony. He also stressed the importance of developing multilateral diplomacy and thinking critically about the development of the country. He believes that with China's help, the future of West Asia is promising.