China approved more than 90 per cent of overseas data transfers in 2024: top regulator
By Holly Chik
China approved more than 90 per cent of data exports in 2024, the country’s top internet regulator said.
The less than 10 per cent blocked were either deemed as unnecessary or did not meet security standards, according to the update from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
“Most projects failed the assessment primarily because the data processors did not obtain the necessary consent from individuals as required by law, except for a few that did not pass due to insufficient necessity for important data exports or security risks,” Wang Qi, deputy director of the CAC’s network data management bureau, said on Tuesday.
This is the first CAC report since it eased rules on cross-border data flows in March, introducing security review exemptions for some information exports.
Businesses also no longer have to submit information on cross-border e-commerce, shipping, payments or visa processing for official security checks, a step reported to have eased operational concerns among foreign companies in China.
The eased rules also apply to data related to activities including opening bank accounts and booking flights or hotels.
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By Holly Chik
China approved more than 90 per cent of data exports in 2024, the country’s top internet regulator said.
The less than 10 per cent blocked were either deemed as unnecessary or did not meet security standards, according to the update from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
“Most projects failed the assessment primarily because the data processors did not obtain the necessary consent from individuals as required by law, except for a few that did not pass due to insufficient necessity for important data exports or security risks,” Wang Qi, deputy director of the CAC’s network data management bureau, said on Tuesday.
This is the first CAC report since it eased rules on cross-border data flows in March, introducing security review exemptions for some information exports.
Businesses also no longer have to submit information on cross-border e-commerce, shipping, payments or visa processing for official security checks, a step reported to have eased operational concerns among foreign companies in China.
The eased rules also apply to data related to activities including opening bank accounts and booking flights or hotels.
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Speculation surrounds China actress Zhao Wei’s divorce from debt-ridden husband
By Alice Yan
The recent announcement that famous Chinese actress Vicki Zhao Wei had divorced her husband Huang Youlong years ago has sparked a heated discussion on why she revealed the news at the time she did.
The 48-year-old star who was a household name in China and was dubbed a “national Goddess”, due to the popularity of TV drama series My Fair Princess in which she starred.
Zhao was effectively blacklisted for “having misdeeds” by the Chinese authorities in 2021, with all the TV series and films she took part in being removed from the internet.
On December 28, Zhao shared a post about her divorce from the China-born Singaporean businessman Huang on a social media platform where she has 84 million followers.
“I officially divorced Mr Huang many years ago. Our marriage ended legally a long time ago. Any issues, speculation and news reports related to him have nothing to do with me,” said Zhao.
She continued by saying: “I urge the concerned parties to recognise this reality and to avoid dragging me into unfounded allegations or reports.”
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By Alice Yan
The recent announcement that famous Chinese actress Vicki Zhao Wei had divorced her husband Huang Youlong years ago has sparked a heated discussion on why she revealed the news at the time she did.
The 48-year-old star who was a household name in China and was dubbed a “national Goddess”, due to the popularity of TV drama series My Fair Princess in which she starred.
Zhao was effectively blacklisted for “having misdeeds” by the Chinese authorities in 2021, with all the TV series and films she took part in being removed from the internet.
On December 28, Zhao shared a post about her divorce from the China-born Singaporean businessman Huang on a social media platform where she has 84 million followers.
“I officially divorced Mr Huang many years ago. Our marriage ended legally a long time ago. Any issues, speculation and news reports related to him have nothing to do with me,” said Zhao.
She continued by saying: “I urge the concerned parties to recognise this reality and to avoid dragging me into unfounded allegations or reports.”
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South Korea’s Jeju Air crash: experts examine possible role of soil-covered concrete
By Park Chan-kyong
The placement of soil over the concrete foundation of an antenna at South Korea’s Muan Airport is under scrutiny for potentially contributing to Sunday’s fatal Jeju Air crash, prompting experts to call for a comprehensive review of airport layouts nationwide.
MBC-TV reported on Thursday that 19 solid concrete pillars, used as structural supports, were found embedded within the raised embankment, or bern, that served as the foundation for an aircraft guidance antenna at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, travelling from Bangkok, had attempted a wheelless or so-called belly landing amid undercarriage issues suspected to be caused by a bird strike, causing it to skid and crash into the bern, located some 250 metres beyond the runway.
Upon impact, the plane exploded in a massive fireball, killing 179 of the 181 people on board
The concrete pillars, installed in 2007 when the airport opened, were covered with soil to meet local standards requiring such foundations for aircraft guidance antennae to be buried in soft ground, Paek Seung-joo, professor of disaster and fire protection at the Open Cyber University of Korea, explained on Thursday.
The bern was originally designed to raise the height of the guidance facilities to align with the sloped runway’s end.
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By Park Chan-kyong
The placement of soil over the concrete foundation of an antenna at South Korea’s Muan Airport is under scrutiny for potentially contributing to Sunday’s fatal Jeju Air crash, prompting experts to call for a comprehensive review of airport layouts nationwide.
MBC-TV reported on Thursday that 19 solid concrete pillars, used as structural supports, were found embedded within the raised embankment, or bern, that served as the foundation for an aircraft guidance antenna at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, travelling from Bangkok, had attempted a wheelless or so-called belly landing amid undercarriage issues suspected to be caused by a bird strike, causing it to skid and crash into the bern, located some 250 metres beyond the runway.
Upon impact, the plane exploded in a massive fireball, killing 179 of the 181 people on board
The concrete pillars, installed in 2007 when the airport opened, were covered with soil to meet local standards requiring such foundations for aircraft guidance antennae to be buried in soft ground, Paek Seung-joo, professor of disaster and fire protection at the Open Cyber University of Korea, explained on Thursday.
The bern was originally designed to raise the height of the guidance facilities to align with the sloped runway’s end.
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Philippines recovers suspected Chinese submarine drone from sea
By Agence France-Presse
A submarine drone suspected to be from China was recovered in waters off the central Philippines, police said on Thursday, warning of “potential national security implications”.
Three fishermen found the drone on Monday around nine kilometres (six miles) off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province, a police report said.
The Philippines and China have for years clashed over maritime rights in the South China Sea as well as possession of reefs and islets.
China claims almost the entire sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
The yellow drone marked “HY-119” was found floating at sea before being turned over to authorities, regional police director Andre Dizon said.
It was about two metres (six feet) long, and torpedo-shaped with fins.
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By Agence France-Presse
A submarine drone suspected to be from China was recovered in waters off the central Philippines, police said on Thursday, warning of “potential national security implications”.
Three fishermen found the drone on Monday around nine kilometres (six miles) off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province, a police report said.
The Philippines and China have for years clashed over maritime rights in the South China Sea as well as possession of reefs and islets.
China claims almost the entire sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
The yellow drone marked “HY-119” was found floating at sea before being turned over to authorities, regional police director Andre Dizon said.
It was about two metres (six feet) long, and torpedo-shaped with fins.
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By SCMP
We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
A woman in China was seen wrapped in a large plastic bag after being discharged from the hospital following childbirth, a sight that quickly gained traction on mainland social media. Her story has reignited a debate about traditional health practices for post-partum women.
A Sichuan hotpot restaurant has been punished by the local government for creating “saliva oil” by recycling the leftover chilli oil soups of diners and mixing the brew with new oil to serve the next customers.A restaurant in China is being investigated for using a mixture of old and new cooking oil in its hotpot dishes. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
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China beats Starlink to hi-res space-ground laser transmission at 6G standard
By Zhang Tong
China has achieved a breakthrough in satellite-to-ground laser communications that could pave the way for 6G and other applications including remote sensing with ultra-high resolution and next generation satellite positioning technology.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, which owns Jilin-1, the world’s largest sub-metre commercial remote sensing satellite constellation, said it achieved a 100 gigabit per second ultra-high-speed image data transmission rate in testing last weekend.
The feat – 10 times the speed of its previous record – was accomplished between a truck-mounted ground station and one of the 117 satellites that currently make up the Jilin-1 constellation, the company said.
According to Wang Hanghang, the company’s head of laser communication ground station technology, the development puts Chang Guang Satellite ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink.
“Musk’s Starlink has revealed its laser inter-satellite communication system but hasn’t deployed laser satellite-to-ground communication yet. We think they might have the technology, but we’ve already started large-scale deployment,” he said.
“We plan to deploy these laser communication units across all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation to improve their efficiency, with a goal of networking 300 satellites by 2027.”
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By Zhang Tong
China has achieved a breakthrough in satellite-to-ground laser communications that could pave the way for 6G and other applications including remote sensing with ultra-high resolution and next generation satellite positioning technology.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, which owns Jilin-1, the world’s largest sub-metre commercial remote sensing satellite constellation, said it achieved a 100 gigabit per second ultra-high-speed image data transmission rate in testing last weekend.
The feat – 10 times the speed of its previous record – was accomplished between a truck-mounted ground station and one of the 117 satellites that currently make up the Jilin-1 constellation, the company said.
According to Wang Hanghang, the company’s head of laser communication ground station technology, the development puts Chang Guang Satellite ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink.
“Musk’s Starlink has revealed its laser inter-satellite communication system but hasn’t deployed laser satellite-to-ground communication yet. We think they might have the technology, but we’ve already started large-scale deployment,” he said.
“We plan to deploy these laser communication units across all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation to improve their efficiency, with a goal of networking 300 satellites by 2027.”
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Terror on wheels: deadly vehicle attacks become increasingly common
By Reuters
A new chapter in mass attacks began in Nice, France, in 2016, when a man drove a heavy truck into crowds of Bastille Day celebrants. Since then vehicle attacks have become increasingly common, though only some have been declared acts of terrorism. The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, as revellers ushered in 2025, was the latest attack.
A driver crashed his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Day in New Orleans’ French Quarter and opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring more than 35, in an early morning attack the FBI said was a potential act of terrorism.
Vehicle attacks have become increasingly common around the world. The US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency calls vehicle attacks “a significant threat in the United States” and provides a “Vehicle Incident Prevention and Mitigation Security Guide”.
Below is a list of some high-profile incidents in which a vehicle was used to ram into crowds, harming and killing bystanders.
Last month in Germany, a 50-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder after police said he ploughed a car through crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring scores.
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By Reuters
A new chapter in mass attacks began in Nice, France, in 2016, when a man drove a heavy truck into crowds of Bastille Day celebrants. Since then vehicle attacks have become increasingly common, though only some have been declared acts of terrorism. The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, as revellers ushered in 2025, was the latest attack.
A driver crashed his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Day in New Orleans’ French Quarter and opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring more than 35, in an early morning attack the FBI said was a potential act of terrorism.
Vehicle attacks have become increasingly common around the world. The US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency calls vehicle attacks “a significant threat in the United States” and provides a “Vehicle Incident Prevention and Mitigation Security Guide”.
Below is a list of some high-profile incidents in which a vehicle was used to ram into crowds, harming and killing bystanders.
Last month in Germany, a 50-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder after police said he ploughed a car through crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring scores.
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South Korea’s Yoon vows to ‘fight till the end’ as arrest over martial law looms
By Reuters
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has sent a letter rallying his supporters saying he would “fight till the end” as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived December 3 martial law, a lawyer said on Thursday.
“I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” Yoon wrote in the letter late on Wednesday to the estimated hundreds of supporters who have gathered near his official residence protesting his investigation.
“I will fight till the end to protect this country together with you,” he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to Reuters by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.
The opposition Democratic Party, which has majority control of parliament and led the impeachment of Yoon on December 14, said the letter proved Yoon was delusional and remains committed to complete his “insurrection”.
“As if trying to stage insurrection wasn’t enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash,” party spokesman Jo Seoung-lae said in a statement.
A court on Tuesday approved a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, which potentially would make him the first sitting president to be detained as part of investigations over allegations he masterminded insurrection by trying to impose martial law.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
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By Reuters
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has sent a letter rallying his supporters saying he would “fight till the end” as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived December 3 martial law, a lawyer said on Thursday.
“I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” Yoon wrote in the letter late on Wednesday to the estimated hundreds of supporters who have gathered near his official residence protesting his investigation.
“I will fight till the end to protect this country together with you,” he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to Reuters by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.
The opposition Democratic Party, which has majority control of parliament and led the impeachment of Yoon on December 14, said the letter proved Yoon was delusional and remains committed to complete his “insurrection”.
“As if trying to stage insurrection wasn’t enough, he is now inciting his supporters to an extreme clash,” party spokesman Jo Seoung-lae said in a statement.
A court on Tuesday approved a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, which potentially would make him the first sitting president to be detained as part of investigations over allegations he masterminded insurrection by trying to impose martial law.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
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China’s factory-activity growth slows as recovery remains bumpy, Caixin PMI shows
By Reuters
China’s factory activity grew in December, but at a slower-than-expected pace, as overall sales were dampened by falling export orders amid concerns over the trade outlook, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.
The data echoed an official survey on Tuesday showing that manufacturing activity expanded modestly last month, reinforcing calls for more stimulus to spur growth this year as Donald Trump will soon take office and likely intensify US-China trade tensions.
The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI nudged down to 50.5 in December from 51.5 the previous month, undershooting analysts’ forecasts in a Reuters poll of 51.7.
The rate of output expansion eased to a three-month low as growth in new orders slowed.
New export orders, in particular, returned to contractionary terrain, marking the fourth month of decline in the past five months. Subdued external economic conditions and threats of new US tariffs pose major risks for the world’s top exporter of goods.
While some Chinese exporters and their US buyers may have ramped up shipments recently in expectation of the Trump tariffs, a report published by China Beige Book suggested that the last-minute push may be waning.
“The pulling forward of trade before anticipated 2025 tariffs has ended. The only rescue in on-year terms is if Trump’s China-tariff talk is hot air,” China Beige Book said.
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By Reuters
China’s factory activity grew in December, but at a slower-than-expected pace, as overall sales were dampened by falling export orders amid concerns over the trade outlook, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.
The data echoed an official survey on Tuesday showing that manufacturing activity expanded modestly last month, reinforcing calls for more stimulus to spur growth this year as Donald Trump will soon take office and likely intensify US-China trade tensions.
The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI nudged down to 50.5 in December from 51.5 the previous month, undershooting analysts’ forecasts in a Reuters poll of 51.7.
The rate of output expansion eased to a three-month low as growth in new orders slowed.
New export orders, in particular, returned to contractionary terrain, marking the fourth month of decline in the past five months. Subdued external economic conditions and threats of new US tariffs pose major risks for the world’s top exporter of goods.
While some Chinese exporters and their US buyers may have ramped up shipments recently in expectation of the Trump tariffs, a report published by China Beige Book suggested that the last-minute push may be waning.
“The pulling forward of trade before anticipated 2025 tariffs has ended. The only rescue in on-year terms is if Trump’s China-tariff talk is hot air,” China Beige Book said.
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South Korea police raid Muan airport over Jeju Air crash
By Reuters
South Korean police said they had raided Muan airport and the Jeju Air office on Thursday over the crash involving one of the company’s Boeing 737-800s that killed 179 people.
“In relation to the plane accident that occurred on December 29, a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9am on January 2 at three locations,” including Muan, the Jeju Air office in Seoul, plus a regional aviation office, police said in a statement.
The operation came as South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang-mok said on Thursday immediate action must be taken if a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated in the country finds any issues as authorities ramp up a probe into the crash.
The conversion of data from the Jeju Air 7C2216 cockpit voice recorder to audio file should be completed by Friday, Choi told a disaster management meeting, which could provide critical information on the final minutes of the doomed flight.
All 175 passengers and four of six crew members were killed on Sunday when the Jeju Air jet belly-landed at Muan airport in the country’s southwest and slammed into an earth-and-concrete embankment, bursting into flames.
Two crew members, located near the tail of the Boeing 737-800, survived.
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By Reuters
South Korean police said they had raided Muan airport and the Jeju Air office on Thursday over the crash involving one of the company’s Boeing 737-800s that killed 179 people.
“In relation to the plane accident that occurred on December 29, a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9am on January 2 at three locations,” including Muan, the Jeju Air office in Seoul, plus a regional aviation office, police said in a statement.
The operation came as South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang-mok said on Thursday immediate action must be taken if a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated in the country finds any issues as authorities ramp up a probe into the crash.
The conversion of data from the Jeju Air 7C2216 cockpit voice recorder to audio file should be completed by Friday, Choi told a disaster management meeting, which could provide critical information on the final minutes of the doomed flight.
All 175 passengers and four of six crew members were killed on Sunday when the Jeju Air jet belly-landed at Muan airport in the country’s southwest and slammed into an earth-and-concrete embankment, bursting into flames.
Two crew members, located near the tail of the Boeing 737-800, survived.
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Why 2024 was the ‘most violent, dangerous’ point in Philippine-China ties, and what’s next
By Raissa Robles
The year 2024 marked the “most violent” and “most dangerous moment” for both Beijing and Manila in their long-running South China Sea dispute, according to several experts interviewed by This Week in Asia.
All of them agreed that China was the hands-down winner in gaining control over more geographical features in the contested waterway, but most added that Beijing had suffered “reputational damage” in the process.
The Philippines lost control of yet another feature – Sabina Shoal – but was able to harness multinational support and military aid to increase its defence posture in the troubled waterway, they added.
The watershed moment in the dispute occurred on June 17, “marking an unprecedented escalation” and “the most dangerous moment”, said Professor Hu Bo, director of Peking University’s Center for Maritime Strategy Studies and the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative.
Hu said the China Coast Guard “took lawful measures” to intercept, inspect by boarding and expel six Philippine vessels that attempted to deliver supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, a crumbling Philippine warship grounded on Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal that China calls Renai Jiao.
“Multiple collisions occurred between vessels from both sides, leading to close confrontations far exceeding the intensity of previous stand-offs, making it the most severe friction in the South China Sea in the past decade.” he posted on July 12 on the SCSPI website weeks after the clash.
“This incident generated significant attention worldwide,” Hu said.
It was “the most violent incident” between both countries in the South China Sea, leading to a Filipino sailor losing his thumb in the “physical scuffle”, said Lucio Blanco Pitlo, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies.
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By Raissa Robles
The year 2024 marked the “most violent” and “most dangerous moment” for both Beijing and Manila in their long-running South China Sea dispute, according to several experts interviewed by This Week in Asia.
All of them agreed that China was the hands-down winner in gaining control over more geographical features in the contested waterway, but most added that Beijing had suffered “reputational damage” in the process.
The Philippines lost control of yet another feature – Sabina Shoal – but was able to harness multinational support and military aid to increase its defence posture in the troubled waterway, they added.
The watershed moment in the dispute occurred on June 17, “marking an unprecedented escalation” and “the most dangerous moment”, said Professor Hu Bo, director of Peking University’s Center for Maritime Strategy Studies and the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative.
Hu said the China Coast Guard “took lawful measures” to intercept, inspect by boarding and expel six Philippine vessels that attempted to deliver supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, a crumbling Philippine warship grounded on Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal that China calls Renai Jiao.
“Multiple collisions occurred between vessels from both sides, leading to close confrontations far exceeding the intensity of previous stand-offs, making it the most severe friction in the South China Sea in the past decade.” he posted on July 12 on the SCSPI website weeks after the clash.
“This incident generated significant attention worldwide,” Hu said.
It was “the most violent incident” between both countries in the South China Sea, leading to a Filipino sailor losing his thumb in the “physical scuffle”, said Lucio Blanco Pitlo, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies.
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Tackling the problem of subdivided flats a top priority for government
By Winnie Ho Wing-yin
Housing is an issue of great public concern. Since the proposed regulatory regime on basic housing units was unveiled, local and international media have shown significant interest in this issue. Since taking office, the current government has introduced various measures to substantially increase public housing supply in Hong Kong by enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.
Coupled with some 30,000 units of light public housing under construction now and to be completed by 2026-27, the total public housing supply in the coming five years will reach 189,000 units, about 80 per cent higher than that of the previous five-year period (2022-23 to 2026-27).
In addition, around 18,000 transitional housing units have already been completed and are in operation, with the remaining 3,000 units expected to be completed in 2025 to plug the short-term supply gap.
The increase in public housing supply does more than enable eligible households to find places in public housing more quickly with improved living conditions. It also helps the government tackle the long-standing issue of subdivided units, especially given that about 40 per cent of the roughly 110,000 households in subdivided units are applying for public rental housing.
Under the proposed regulatory regime on basic housing units that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his latest policy address, only up-to-standard subdivided units, with confirmation by professionals and recognised as basic housing units, will be allowed to be rented out in future. Otherwise, there would be criminal liability on the part of landlords to rent out substandard subdivided units, while the tenants concerned would not be held liable.
Currently, there are about 220,000 residents living in subdivided units. The condition of these units varies greatly, from very poor conditions without separation of the toilet and bedroom to some quite decent ones with proper toilet, cooking area and opening windows. Some are even fully furnished and renovated to meet the needs of working people and university students for easier access to work or school, as well as various social demands arising from special family needs.
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By Winnie Ho Wing-yin
Housing is an issue of great public concern. Since the proposed regulatory regime on basic housing units was unveiled, local and international media have shown significant interest in this issue. Since taking office, the current government has introduced various measures to substantially increase public housing supply in Hong Kong by enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.
Coupled with some 30,000 units of light public housing under construction now and to be completed by 2026-27, the total public housing supply in the coming five years will reach 189,000 units, about 80 per cent higher than that of the previous five-year period (2022-23 to 2026-27).
In addition, around 18,000 transitional housing units have already been completed and are in operation, with the remaining 3,000 units expected to be completed in 2025 to plug the short-term supply gap.
The increase in public housing supply does more than enable eligible households to find places in public housing more quickly with improved living conditions. It also helps the government tackle the long-standing issue of subdivided units, especially given that about 40 per cent of the roughly 110,000 households in subdivided units are applying for public rental housing.
Under the proposed regulatory regime on basic housing units that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his latest policy address, only up-to-standard subdivided units, with confirmation by professionals and recognised as basic housing units, will be allowed to be rented out in future. Otherwise, there would be criminal liability on the part of landlords to rent out substandard subdivided units, while the tenants concerned would not be held liable.
Currently, there are about 220,000 residents living in subdivided units. The condition of these units varies greatly, from very poor conditions without separation of the toilet and bedroom to some quite decent ones with proper toilet, cooking area and opening windows. Some are even fully furnished and renovated to meet the needs of working people and university students for easier access to work or school, as well as various social demands arising from special family needs.
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China’s military warns that AI cannot replace human decision-making on battlefield
By Enoch Wong
China’s military has warned that artificial intelligence cannot replace human decision-making on the battlefield because it lacks self-awareness.
“AI must work in tandem with human decision-makers to optimise command effectiveness, enhancing rather than replacing human agency,” an article published in People’s Liberation Army Daily on New Year’s Eve said.
The article says AI can be used to augment human capabilities – through data analysis, simulations or planning – but cannot replace them.
“As AI evolves, it must remain a tool guided by human judgment, ensuring accountability, creativity, and strategic adaptability remain at the forefront of military decision-making,” the article said.
The article said human autonomy and creativity are indispensable on the battlefield. It added that while human commanders can respond to situations dynamically, and exploit enemy weaknesses, AI operates within predefined algorithmic boundaries and its responses often lack originality.
The PLA said it preferred a model where “humans plan and AI executes” in which the technology is used to carry out the strategies and tactics developed by commanders and keeps an element of human oversight.
It said it prefers a structure where machines analyse data, provide insights and suggest potential actions. However, “final decisions rest with human commanders, safeguarding against errors stemming from AI’s black-box nature”.
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By Enoch Wong
China’s military has warned that artificial intelligence cannot replace human decision-making on the battlefield because it lacks self-awareness.
“AI must work in tandem with human decision-makers to optimise command effectiveness, enhancing rather than replacing human agency,” an article published in People’s Liberation Army Daily on New Year’s Eve said.
The article says AI can be used to augment human capabilities – through data analysis, simulations or planning – but cannot replace them.
“As AI evolves, it must remain a tool guided by human judgment, ensuring accountability, creativity, and strategic adaptability remain at the forefront of military decision-making,” the article said.
The article said human autonomy and creativity are indispensable on the battlefield. It added that while human commanders can respond to situations dynamically, and exploit enemy weaknesses, AI operates within predefined algorithmic boundaries and its responses often lack originality.
The PLA said it preferred a model where “humans plan and AI executes” in which the technology is used to carry out the strategies and tactics developed by commanders and keeps an element of human oversight.
It said it prefers a structure where machines analyse data, provide insights and suggest potential actions. However, “final decisions rest with human commanders, safeguarding against errors stemming from AI’s black-box nature”.
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Nowhere to go but up: China’s farming drones take root as industry grows
By Mandy Zuo
When Wang Fei started his agricultural drone company five years ago, the distinctive whirr of the autonomous vehicles went practically unheard over the wide swathes of farmland in his home county of Anlu.
A former sales manager for agricultural machines in the western hub of Chengdu, Wang said at the time he saw “great prospects” for the potential applications of drone technology before returning home to see those prospects out.
Now, Chufei Agriculture’s services cover about 40 per cent of the farmland in Anlu. With unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) sowing seeds or spraying pesticides and fertilisers, yields are up for the central Chinese county and its population of about 487,000.
Wang’s success story is one of many unfolding as the pace of technological change in China ramps up. Its near-universal adoption of agriculture drones has sent the country to the top of global charts in terms of total operation area – and raised concerns in the United States over the devices’ ubiquity on American farms.
In the past year, a world-leading fleet of 251,000 spraying drones covered an aggregate 2.67 billion mu (178 million hectares) in China, according to data from the National Agro-tech Extension and Service Centre. Both figures increased nearly 25 per cent compared with 2023.
As China begins to look to what it terms the “low-altitude economy” – airborne economic activity within a range of 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) above ground – as a source of future growth, farm drones have been frequently mentioned as a pioneering innovation.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Mandy Zuo
When Wang Fei started his agricultural drone company five years ago, the distinctive whirr of the autonomous vehicles went practically unheard over the wide swathes of farmland in his home county of Anlu.
A former sales manager for agricultural machines in the western hub of Chengdu, Wang said at the time he saw “great prospects” for the potential applications of drone technology before returning home to see those prospects out.
Now, Chufei Agriculture’s services cover about 40 per cent of the farmland in Anlu. With unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) sowing seeds or spraying pesticides and fertilisers, yields are up for the central Chinese county and its population of about 487,000.
Wang’s success story is one of many unfolding as the pace of technological change in China ramps up. Its near-universal adoption of agriculture drones has sent the country to the top of global charts in terms of total operation area – and raised concerns in the United States over the devices’ ubiquity on American farms.
In the past year, a world-leading fleet of 251,000 spraying drones covered an aggregate 2.67 billion mu (178 million hectares) in China, according to data from the National Agro-tech Extension and Service Centre. Both figures increased nearly 25 per cent compared with 2023.
As China begins to look to what it terms the “low-altitude economy” – airborne economic activity within a range of 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) above ground – as a source of future growth, farm drones have been frequently mentioned as a pioneering innovation.
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Virgin Australia flight crew members allegedly raped, robbed in Fiji
By Reuters
Fiji police said on Thursday they were investigating an incident involving two crew members of Australian airline Virgin Australia who were allegedly victims of rape and theft in Nadi in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The crew members were in the popular tourist destination on a layover before they were supposed to fly off the following day, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew said in a statement.
Virgin, which said it was aware of the incident, has sent people to Fiji to provide support. It did not provide further details of the incident in a statement to Reuters.
Fiji police said the investigation so far had found some Virgin crew members had gone to a nightclub in Nadi.
“Unfortunately, two of the crew members were victims of an alleged theft and rape after exiting the nightclub trying to find their way back to the hotel,” said Chew, adding that the investigation is continuing.
The South Pacific island nation of Fiji is a popular tourist destination and received 76,845 visitors in the month of November, mostly from Australia, New Zealand and North America, according to the country’s tourism website.
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By Reuters
Fiji police said on Thursday they were investigating an incident involving two crew members of Australian airline Virgin Australia who were allegedly victims of rape and theft in Nadi in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The crew members were in the popular tourist destination on a layover before they were supposed to fly off the following day, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew said in a statement.
Virgin, which said it was aware of the incident, has sent people to Fiji to provide support. It did not provide further details of the incident in a statement to Reuters.
Fiji police said the investigation so far had found some Virgin crew members had gone to a nightclub in Nadi.
“Unfortunately, two of the crew members were victims of an alleged theft and rape after exiting the nightclub trying to find their way back to the hotel,” said Chew, adding that the investigation is continuing.
The South Pacific island nation of Fiji is a popular tourist destination and received 76,845 visitors in the month of November, mostly from Australia, New Zealand and North America, according to the country’s tourism website.
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