China supports Thailand in trying the case in accordance with the law and severely punishing the perpetrators, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday when asked to comment on reports that a Thai court has issued death sentences to two men who were involved in the 2015 Bangkok bombing case.

"We have noticed that the Thai side has delivered a verdict on the relevant case. The terrorist bombing that year killed 20 people, including seven Chinese citizens, and injured more than 100 others. The attackers were utterly inhuman and their crimes were heinous," Lin said.

A cross-party group of pro-Taiwan Japanese lawmakers decided on Thursday to adopt a new name that explicitly includes the word "Taiwan," Japanese media outlets reported on Friday. A Chinese expert said that this move indicates certain right-wing Japanese lawmakers, emboldened by the Takaichi administration's hostile attitude toward China, are meddling in Taiwan-related issues more blatantly, which constitutes a malicious provocation against China and reveals their attempt to collude more closely with Taiwan separatists.

According to the Japan Today, the group approved the name change at a plenary meeting in Tokyo. In English, the group has been called the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council. Discussions on the name change were held behind closed doors. The new name is not available in English at this point, according to the group. 

The Japanese media outlet claimed that the renaming is "apparently intended to showcase the lawmakers' resolve to strengthening exchanges" with Taiwan. In announcing the new name, Keiji Furuya of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as the head of the council, said the group now has more than 300 members, claiming it proof of the "unshakable bond" between Japan and the Taiwan island.

According to a report republished on Yahoo Japan from the Japanese edition of the South Korean media outlet JoongAng Ilbo, Furuya is a representative right-wing politician in Japan. In March, China announced countermeasures against Furuya for his egregious moves including collusion with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces for provocative moves. 

Lü Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that there is a bloc of right-wing Japanese lawmakers who lean toward "Taiwan separatists," attempting to keep tight political and economic collusions with them. The act of renaming the group is an open political provocation over China regarding the Taiwan-related issues, sending wrong and dangerous signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, the expert noted. 

The expert noted that since the Takaichi's administration took office, anti-China sentiment has grown stronger in Japan, emboldening these pro-Taiwan groups to act without any restraint.

Regarding the name change, Furuya claimed that "under the tenure of the Sanae Takaichi administration, we decided the time was ripe to push through this renaming," according to the Asahi Shimbun.

"These remarks lay bare that the right-wing Japanese lawmakers are emboldened by the Takaichi administration's hostile stance against China to advance their agenda. They dare to stage such blatant provocations since the Japanese government turns a blind eye and indulges them," Lü said.

This makes it clear that these anti-China lawmakers see eye-to-eye with the cabinet's hardline China policy, working hand in glove while attempting to deepen ties with "Taiwan independence" separatists, Lü said. "Their moves amount to deliberate provocations against China. Japan should be well aware that challenging China over the Taiwan question crosses a red line and will definitely draw a firm response from China," he said.

In response to Furuya's visit to China's Taiwan region in August 2022, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at the time that to seek selfish political gains, certain Japanese politician has colluded with the "Taiwan independence" forces to make a political stunt just like some others have done. The Japanese government connived at such political manipulation to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such behavior of reneging on one's commitment with sinister intention is doomed to fail and will not stop the historic process of China's complete reunification. 

"We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on the events of history, abide by the principles of the four China-Japan political documents and the commitments it has made, stop making provocation and stop stirring up trouble on the Taiwan question. Japan must not wade in muddy water and seek selfish gains in the Taiwan Straits. It must stop going further down the wrong path," the Chinese spokesperson said.

Top leaders of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest in Pyongyang next week, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked about the upcoming state visit to the DPRK by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, scheduled from June 8 to 9.

Xi's trip is at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK.

This visit will be Xi's first state visit to the DPRK in seven years. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

China and the DPRK will take this visit as an opportunity to promote the bilateral relations to keep pace with the times and achieve greater development, enhance the well-being of the people of the two countries, and make greater contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world at large, Mao said.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Saturday called for deeper trade and investment cooperation between China and Belarus for the benefit of the two peoples.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a China-Belarus industrial and investment cooperation forum in Minsk, Han said relations between the two countries have maintained high-level development in recent years, with economic, trade and investment cooperation yielding fruitful results.

Bilateral trade in 2025 was nearly 150 times the figure recorded shortly after they forged diplomatic relations more than three decades ago, he said, adding that the flagship China-Belarus Industrial Park has attracted 178 enterprises and effectively driven local economic and social development.

He called on the two countries to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, advance the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, explore new drivers of trade growth and expand industrial and investment cooperation.

China will remain committed to high-quality development and high-level opening up, creating broader development opportunities for countries around the world including Belarus, he noted.

The forum was jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the China-Belarus Industrial Park and the National Agency of Investment and Privatization of Belarus, with more than 400 people present.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said China hopes the British side will provide Chinese enterprises with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, and foster a sound atmosphere for the development of bilateral ties and the deepening of cooperation between the two countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding the 11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Beijing.

Noting that the leaders of both sides agreed to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited China at the beginning of this year, Wang said that at present, exchanges and cooperation in all fields between the two countries have been fully restored and are gradually getting back on track.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the UK should take the lead in following the right and impartial path, safeguard the fruits of victory in World War II, abide by the UN Charter, adhere to true multilateralism, and jointly promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, Wang noted.

Cooper said that the long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership is of great significance and in line with the interests of both sides. At a time when the international situation is turbulent and complex, it is more important than ever for the UK and China to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to jointly address global challenges, she added, according to Xinhua.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, the policy pursued by the UK on the Taiwan question has remained unchanged and will not change, Cooper said, adding that the British side is willing to continue to engage in candid dialogue with the Chinese side, handle differences constructively and properly, and promote the healthy and stable development of UK-China relations. 

Cooper's visit is widely seen as a follow-up to the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries during Starmer's visit to China in January, with the aim of translating political understandings into concrete outcomes, Li Guanjie, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies under the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"Economic and trade cooperation remains the cornerstone of China-UK relations. Bilateral trade has remained steady in recent years, but maintaining that scale has become increasingly challenging amid global economic uncertainties. Against this backdrop, both sides are expected to focus on consolidating existing cooperation while exploring new growth areas, like science and technology cooperation, as the UK seeks to gain a better understanding of China's technological development and identify potential areas for future collaboration, Li said.

British media have also closely followed Cooper's visit. In a report published on Monday, the Independent said that Cooper had arrived in Beijing for in-depth talks on global security as the UK seeks to strengthen diplomatic relations with China.

Cooper's trip, which runs from Monday to Wednesday, includes visits to Beijing and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province for a program focused on science and technology, according to Reuters. Cooper's visit is a "trip to focus on tackling global challenges," Reuters said.

Cooper's trip is understood to be aimed at building on previous Government visits with the most extensive senior foreign policy discussions since Labour came to power, said the Independent.

In another article published on Tuesday, the Independent noted that the UK government "sees engagement with major economies like China as key to protecting Britain's security at a time of heightened global instability, insisting the UK will cooperate where it can and challenge where it must."

At a time when geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts and protectionist tendencies continue to create uncertainties worldwide, maintaining dialogue and expanding areas of consensus between major countries could contribute to international stability, which is important for countries like China and the UK, Li said, adding that issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence and multilateral governance are likely to become important areas where the two sides can further deepen cooperation in the future.

Fabricating excuses and spreading disinformation cannot serve as a justification for the US' brutal blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday. 

Mao made the remarks when asked to comment on media reports that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senator said that US intelligence agencies during the Biden administration had found no evidence of Cuba supporting terrorism. Rubio reportedly responded that Cuba had "sponsored" almost every left-wing, radical, violent terrorist group in the Western Hemisphere and that no evidence was needed. He also reportedly claimed Cuba needs new leadership to achieve serious reforms so that it will no longer pose a threat to Washington. On the same day, media reports said that due to the US oil embargo on Cuba, transportation difficulties in Cuba have prevented the smooth distribution of 20,000 tons of food that the UN planned to provide to Cuba. 

The US has long imposed unilateral sanctions and a blockade on Cuba, severely affecting Cuba's economy and people's livelihoods and causing great suffering to the Cuban people, which has been widely opposed by the international community, said Mao.

China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and opposes external interference. The US should listen to the call of the international community and immediately and fully end its blockade, sanctions, coercion and pressure against Cuba, Mao said.

After a historic 210-day orbital stay that set a new record for the longest in-orbit duration by a Chinese taikonaut crew, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts concluded their extraordinary space journey on Friday by returning to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft.

The return capsule of China's Shenzhou-22 spaceship carrying the Shenzhou-21 astronauts touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 20:11 on Friday, with on-site medical and health support personnel confirming the taikonauts are in good physical condition, making the Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission a complete success, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

At 20:59, taikonauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang of the Shenzhou-21 crew left the return capsule, all in sound health. This marks the successful conclusion of their space mission, with Zhang Lu now holding the record for conducting the most extravehicular activities among China's taikonauts. Meanwhile, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang have accomplished their maiden space flights, the CMSA said.
Zhang Lu, who is also the commander of the three-member Shenzhou-21 crew, shared his thoughts after out of the capsule. According to China Central Television (CCTV) News, Zhang Lu said "Tomorrow is the National Science and Technology Workers Day. We brought back an apple from the space station to give it to all tech professionals. Thank you for your dedication and hard work! May China's aerospace endeavor thrive endlessly, and may all our future missions stay safe and successful!" CCTV footage showed the apple bears the Chinese characters Pingan (safety).

Having docked with the China Space Station on November 1, 2025, the three taikonauts of the Shenzhou-21 crew stayed in orbit for 210 days, setting a new record for the longest single mission duration by a Chinese astronaut crew, per the CCTV News.

"The entire return went off perfect. Guided by the spacecraft's GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control) system, the return capsule maintained steady flight throughout and landed with pinpoint accuracy," a developer from the Fifth Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation told the Global Times.

According to a statement by the 502 Research Institute of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) shared with the Global Times, the Shenzhou-22 mission marks China's second three-orbit fast return for a crewed spacecraft. The three-orbit fast return was first successfully accomplished during the Shenzhou-21 mission, wrapping up in just 5.5 hours.

The mature application of the three-orbit fast return technology fully demonstrates the leaps and flexibility of China's manned spaceflight capabilities. It also greatly boosts the safety and reliability of manned space missions.

According to developers, this technology enables the Shenzhou manned spacecraft to better tackle major malfunctions during autonomous flight and complex assembly flight phases. It ensures taikonauts can return to safety in the shortest possible time. Additionally, it cuts down the emergency response time for unexpected anomalies aboard the space station, provides an efficient evacuation route for on-orbit crews, and strongly underpins the long-term stable operation of China's space station.

China launched the Shenzhou-21 spaceship on October 31, 2025 to send the Shenzhou-21 crew to its space station for rotation with the Shenzhou-20 crew. However, the Shenzhou-20 crew later found that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return capsule viewport window suffered a suspected impact from space debris during its mission and was unfit for the crew return mission.

On November 14, 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew returned safely aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft. On November 25, China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the Shenzhou-21 crew.

The crew reaped remarkable achievements throughout their stay. According to previous announcement from the CMSA, the Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed a total of three extravehicular activities (EVAs) during their mission. The first was carried out on December 9, 2025, with the crew working for approximately eight hours, while the second on March 16, for roughly seven hours.

On April 17, the crew completed their mission's third series of EVAs, working for roughly 5.5 hours and completing the installation of space debris protection equipment and the inspection of extravehicular equipment.

The CMSA disclosed that since the second EVAs, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts have been steadily advancing their experimental missions in space life science, human body research, and microgravity physics. They have continued to conduct station environmental monitoring, equipment inspection and maintenance, and supply organization. The crew has also completed full-system pressure emergency drills, in-orbit emergency rescue training, and EVAs preparations.

Furthermore, the crew witnessed several historic firsts in China's manned space program during the orbital mission: the first delay of a spacecraft's return due to space debris impact, the first crew return aboard a different spacecraft, and the first emergency launch of a crewed spaceship. They experienced the inspiring moment when all teams across the manned space sector stood united to respond to the emergency, CCTV News reported.

The US is moving to implement the preliminary outcomes of the China-US economic and trade consultations, including the establishment of a China-US Trade Council and tariff reductions on $30 billion worth of goods, according to media reports.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that US trade Representative Jamieson Greer said his agency would issue a notice in the Federal Register "shortly" to seek public comments on a Board of Trade with China.

The report described the move as "a formal step to establish a new mechanism to manage economic relations between the two nations." 

Greer also said on Tuesday the government will seek public comment on which Chinese goods should be eligible for lower tariffs, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on May 16 that China and the US achieved positive outcomes during their recent consultations. They will establish trade and investment councils. Through the trade council, the two sides will discuss issues such as tariff reductions on specific products, and they have agreed in principle to lower tariffs on products of respective concern on an equivalent scale.

On May 20, an official from MOFCOM, while further elaborating on the preliminary outcomes of the China-US economic and trade consultations, said the economic and trade teams of the two sides will maintain close communication and work out specific arrangements on the structure, functions and operational model of the councils as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile, the two sides agreed in principle to discuss, under the Trade Council, a framework arrangement for reciprocal tariff reductions on products of equivalent scale, amounting to $30 billion or more on each side, the official said.

Wan Zhe, a professor at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the essence of China-US relations is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Following the preliminary outcomes of the bilateral trade consultations, China has already shown goodwill on the issue of US beef exports to China, and the US is now also moving to implement the consultation outcomes, which would help further advance the outcomes and stabilize bilateral economic and trade ties.

Wan said that stable economic and trade ties with China would help support the US macroeconomy and financial markets while also expanding access for US products to the Chinese market, making the implementation of the consultation outcomes in line with US interests and a wise choice.

A red-carpet welcome at the airport, a palace banquet and a prestigious national decoration — Japan has rolled out what media described as "highest-level" honors for visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, as Tokyo and Manila moved to further elevate ties with China clearly in mind, according to media reports.

Chinese observers said that by hyping the so-called "China threat", Japan and the Philippines are each advancing their own calculations with Tokyo seeking to use closer ties with Manila to loosen its postwar military constraints while Manila is relying on external forces to internationalize and inflame South China Sea disputes. Such bloc-style cooperation runs counter to the region's pursuit of stability and development, risks fueling geopolitical rivalry in the Western Pacific, and could undermine regional security, they said.

Hidden calculations

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who is visiting Japan as a state guest, for about one hour on Thursday in Tokyo, according to Japanese media outlet NHK.

At the start of the meeting, Takaichi claimed that as the international situation becomes increasingly severe, the importance of close coordination between Japan and the Philippines has never been greater in realizing an evolved "Free and Open Indo-Pacific." Calling the Philippines one of Japan's closest like-minded countries, Takaichi said she was very pleased that the two sides were able to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during the visit, per NHK.

After the meeting, the two leaders issued a joint statement pledging broader cooperation, including launching formal negotiations on a General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, to enable the immediate sharing of highly sensitive military information and promoting defense equipment transfers after Japan eased rules on lethal weapons exports, according to the NHK report.

Meanwhile, a Jiji Press report noted that "the two sides discussed responses to China, which they claimed is intensifying military coercion in the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as to the US, which is leaning toward an America-first approach. They confirmed strengthened cooperation in the security field and in the energy sector in response to the situation in the Middle East."

Japan and the Philippines deliberately hyping maritime issues in the East China Sea and South China Sea reflects a dangerous form of geopolitical coordination. Differences over relevant waters should be handled through dialogue and consultation by the parties directly concerned, but Tokyo and Manila have chosen to amplify so-called "concerns", effectively manufacturing confrontation and fueling regional tensions, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday.

A Reuters Japanese-language report noted that Marcos visited Japan as a state guest, marking the first state visit to Japan by a Philippine president since President Benigno Aquino's visit in 2015.

In an April 2025 Japan-Philippines summit between Marcos and then Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral security cooperation and "oppose attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East and South China Seas."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China has always maintained that exchanges and cooperation between countries should not target any third party or harm their interests. "We oppose any moves that forge groupings and escalate tensions in the region," Guo said.

Japan's efforts to court the Philippines reveal a clear strategic calculation. Through high-level diplomatic honors and an upgrade of bilateral ties, Tokyo is seeking to tighten political and emotional bonds with Manila while accelerating cooperation in defense, maritime security, and defense equipment transfers, said Xiang.

During a meeting with the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League on Wednesday, Marcos Jr claimed that he considers Japan one of the Philippines' "most reliable partners" amid growing global uncertainty, which has resulted in "disruptions in supply chains, and mounting pressures on the rules-based international order," according to Philippine media outlet Business Mirror.

Marcos also claimed both the Philippines and Japan share a common goal of strengthening defense and security cooperation to maintain freedom of navigation in crucial international waterways such as the South China Sea. Currently, the defense-related partnership between Manila and Tokyo includes the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). per Business Mirror.

Both countries are hyping the so-called "China threat", but each has its own calculations. For the Philippines, the main goal is to use external forces in the South China Sea to increase its bargaining power and confrontation leverage. Manila is well aware that bringing in outside powers carries risks, even the danger of "inviting the wolf into the house", but it has still chosen to rely on them and continue hyping maritime disputes to defend its own interests, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.

Japan is, in effect, treating the Philippines as a pawn in its regional strategy. By providing Manila with various types of defense equipment and strengthening defense and maritime security cooperation, Tokyo seeks to widen the rift between the Philippines and China, fuel more confrontations and tensions in the South China Sea, create a pretext for deeper Japanese involvement in regional affairs, and build its own security clique, said Song.

Small circle

Many Japanese and Philippine media outlets, as well as some Western media, have covered Marcos Jr's visit to Japan and mentioned China. An Associated Press report titled "Japan woos visiting Philippine leader during state visit with arms sales and China in mind" noted that Marcos Jr is "receiving an exceptional level of hospitality" during his state visit to Japan. It also said Marcos is "the first potential major customer" for Japanese arms since Takaichi's government scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports.

Commenting on Bloomberg's news report on Takaichi and Marcos Jr's meeting to discuss strengthening security cooperation amid China's "hardline stance in East and South China Sea", Ukeru Magosaki, a former Japanese Foreign Ministry official, wrote on X on Thursday that "Doing such things doesn't strengthen Japan's security by even a millimeter."

A group of Filipino activists and their supporters on Tuesday evening staged a protest in Roppongi District, central Tokyo, to demonstrate their opposition to the state visit of the President of the Philippines to Japan. Participants displayed banners bearing slogans such as "Marcos is not welcome in Japan" and "No to military relations between Japan and the Philippines," according to Arab News Japan.

Xiang noted that Japan and the Philippines are forging an exclusive security clique, and such kind of military-oriented cooperation undermines the ASEAN-led security framework, pushes the South China Sea issue toward bloc confrontation, and raises the risk of maritime friction.

As the ongoing Ebola outbreak continues to spread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and into Uganda, Chinese nationals and companies in affected areas have reinforced safety protocols such as pre-entry temperature screening, mask wearing and curbing non-essential travel.

The government of the DRC has temporarily suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia, capital of the northeastern Ituri Province that is the epicenter of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday, citing the DRC's Ministry of Transport.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday raised the national risk assessment for DRC to "very high," although the global risk remains "low," according to UN News. So far, 82 cases and seven deaths have been confirmed in the DRC, but the WHO says the real scale of the outbreak is likely far larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported, per UN News.

To control the risks, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) announced on Saturday via its official WeChat account that individuals entering or returning to China from epidemic-risk countries and regions such as the DRC and Uganda should undergo 21 days of self-health monitoring, commencing from the date of entry.

The outbreak has also heightened vigilance in Chinese companies in the DRC. Sun Yilong, a Chinese employee working for a Chinese company in Bunia said that due to the severity of the local epidemic, they have already taken preventive measures and are making every possible effort to ensure maximum protection.

Sun told the Global Times on Sunday that employees are required to wash their hands and wear masks before entering, and security personnel will check employees' temperature at the gate, barring entry to anyone with a reading above 37 C.

"We are also required to refrain from non-essential outings," Sun said, adding that employees are required to wear disposable gloves when handling cash or passing objects to minimize physical contact.

Some regions that have yet to report confirmed cases are also concerned about the risk of the outbreak spreading and have stepped up protective efforts. 

A Chinese medical worker surnamed Chen employed at a Chinese firm in Lomami Province told the Global Times that local efforts are currently focused on strengthening protection awareness, with posters on identifying Ebola symptoms and prevention measures being put up in areas where company employees gather.

The outbreak has spread to other African countries, with Ituri-neighboring Uganda logging confirmed infections. According to Xinhua's Sunday report, Uganda's health ministry announced three new Ebola cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to five.

A Chinese national working in Uganda who requested anonymity told the Global Times that "my client reminded me to stay away from the markets, and I will do my best to take protective measures and sanitize as much as possible," he said.

The WHO's representative in DRC, Dr Anne Ancia, told reporters in Geneva that "We have significant uncertainty about the number of infections and how far the virus has spread," UN News reported on May 19.

The Economist warned this outbreak "is shaping up to be the worst Ebola epidemic since at least 2018, when more than 2,000 people died in eastern Congo."

According to the Africa CDC, Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness. It spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or persons who have died from the disease.

Yang Zhanqiu, a professor of pathogen biology at Wuhan University, believes that whether the current outbreak will surpass previous ones in scale remains to be seen. Yang told the Global Times that if the outbreak is confined to one or two African countries, it would be relatively manageable. However, if multiple countries experience simultaneous outbreaks, the scale of the epidemic could make prevention more difficult due to challenges such as cross-border coordination and poor local healthcare infrastructure.

The WHO said it had deployed 22 international staff to the field and released $3.9 million from its contingency fund, while a continental incident management team was being established with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UN News reported on Friday.