China exposes series of malicious foreign websites and IP addresses used by overseas hacker groups

China's National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team (CNERT/CC) has uncovered a series of malicious foreign websites and IP addresses used by overseas hacker groups to carry out ongoing cyberattacks against China and other countries, according to a statement released Monday via its official WeChat account.

These malicious websites and IP addresses are closely linked to specific Trojan programs or their command-and-control servers, said the statement. The cyberattacks include the creation of botnets and exploitation through backdoors, posing a significant threat to Chinese networked institutions and internet users.

CNERT/CC warned that the malicious websites and IP addresses primarily originate from the US, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, South Africa, and Lithuania.

According to Qin An, head of the Beijing-based Institute of China Cyberspace Strategy, the specific tactics used in these attacks—such as the deployment of Trojan programs and command-and-control servers—are tied to malicious websites and IP addresses. The cyberattacks include building botnets and exploiting system backdoors, posing a serious threat to Chinese institutions and internet users, said Qin.

"These are basic, commonly used tricks - they're not sophisticated," Qin said. "But what we need to stay alert to is the intent behind these waves of large-scale, coordinated cyberattacks."

"Beyond issuing warnings and alerts, China should take more forceful action," Qin stressed. "We should arrest and punish those hackers who launch attacks against us to send a clear message of deterrence."

China always opposes unfounded hype about so-called 'Chinese spies,' FM says on US DOJ charges

When asked to comment on the US Department of Justice's claim regarding the arrest of two Chinese nationals allegedly engaging in espionage and attempting to identify Navy members willing to spy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, "I am not aware of the specifics, but we have always opposed unfounded hype about so-called 'Chinese spies.'"

"We will take the necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens," Mao added.

Exhibition featuring ancient Hongshan Culture to open in Shanghai

For archaeology and ancient Chinese culture enthusiasts, there is exciting news. An exhibition showcasing the ancient Hongshan Culture will open in Shanghai on Thursday, offering visitors an immersive journey going back thousands of years to explore the early forms of Chinese civilization.
The exhibition, titled “Legends of Dragon: The Ancient Civilization of Hongshan Culture,” will be held at the Shanghai Museum from June 26 to October 8 and is free to the public.

Bringing together a century’s worth of archaeological achievements and the latest discoveries related to Hongshan Culture, the exhibition showcases over 300 artifacts, obtained through the joint efforts of 20 museums and archaeological institutions across the country.

Hongshan Culture is recognized as one of the vital origins of Chinese civilization, often referred to as the “root system” of Chinese culture, said Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.

“The archaeological findings surrounding the Hongshan Culture demonstrate the enduring, diverse, and inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, marking an important chapter in ancient Chinese history that we must promote and preserve,” Chu said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Dating back approximately 6,500 to 5,000 years, Hongshan Culture represents a significant Neolithic archaeological culture in northern China, covering an area of around 200,000 square kilometers. Archaeological evidence shows that Hongshan Culture developed a jade ritual system exemplified by the jade dragon, making it a representative archaeological culture that was among the earliest to shape China’s ancient civilization.

The jade dragon artifacts, a defining feature of the Hongshan Culture, are a major highlight of this exhibition. One of the most significant pieces, placed on display at the center of the exhibition hall, is the "C-shaped Jade Dragon." This intricately carved jade dragon forms a full-bodied C shape, and its surface is smooth and translucent, making it one of the most renowned artifacts from the Hongshan Culture.

Another key exhibit is the "Jade Dragon in the Shape of a Jue (slit ring)." According to Feng Yucheng, a curator of the exhibition, this Jue-shaped jade dragon was the first of its kind to be unearthed during archaeological excavations of the Hongshan Culture, marking the start of many similar discoveries by later archaeologists at various Hongshan sites.

"We can say that, the excavation of this artifact established a connection between the Jue-shape jade dragon and the Hongshan Culture," Feng told the Global Times during a media preview of the exhibition on Wednesday.

The jade dragon is the most notable type of Hongshan jade artifact, and it serves as a prototype for the Chinese dragon. "It is one of the key markers of the very beginning of Chinese civilization, which occurred more than 5,000 years ago," read a display board at the exhibition.

To enhance the visitor experience, the organizers have also drawn inspiration from representative elements of the Hongshan Culture to design 153 cultural and creative products, including toys, stationery, decorations, and food items, the Global Times learned from the Shanghai Museum.

US claims to hold talks with Iran next week amid dispute over nuclear sites damage

US President Donald Trump asserted that American and Iranian officials will talk next week, when he will likely seek a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear ambitions, according to media reports, while Iran has not acknowledged any talks taking place next week.  

Chinese observers pointed out Thursday that although the involved parties have the desire to talk, low political trust and wide divergence limit the chances of this desire translating into an agreement. 

Trump told reporters at a NATO summit in the Hague, Netherlands on Wednesday that he was not particularly interested in restarting negotiations with Iran, insisting that US strikes had destroyed its nuclear program. Earlier in the day, an Iranian official questioned whether the US could be trusted after its weekend attack, AP reported. 

Trump added that his administration would be asking for the same type of commitments it sought in negotiations with Iran prior to recent heightened tensions in the Middle East, per CNN.

Iran's Constitutional Council on Thursday approved a plan, already ratified by the parliament, to suspend the country's cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Xinhua News Agency reported.

The plan, which calls on the Iranian government to halt cooperation with the IAEA, was reviewed by the council and found to be in line with Iran's religious regulations, laws, and constitution, council spokesperson Hadi Tahan Nazif said in an interview with state-run IRIB TV on Thursday.

The US struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, which US President claimed "completely and fully obliterated" the country's nuclear program. When asked about a US intelligence report that found Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months, Trump scoffed and said it would at least take years to rebuild, AP reported.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed in a video message published on Thursday that the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities had no major effect, Axios reported Thursday.

Trump said he was confident Tehran would pursue a diplomatic path toward reconciliation. The president gave no details on the discussions next week, such as the venue and participants, Reuters reported.

Zou Zhiqiang, a research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times the US believes Iran is now weaker as its nuclear facilities suffered severe damage, meaning the US will certainly adopt a much tougher position in possible talks and make few concessions. 

Iran, meanwhile, has stated it will not abandon its nuclear program and its domestic political atmosphere would prevent it from making concessions, Zou added, noting that the gap between the two sides is still wide and it will be difficult for the desire for talks to translate into an agreement. 

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times that the focal point of their talks, if held, will be the nuclear issue. The US appears to have raised its demands after the weekend strikes, and Iran shows no sign of compromise. If Iran is determined to continue its nuclear program, that could be a new flashpoint.

Also, the two sides' political trust has been further eroded, Zhu said. 

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said Washington had "torpedoed diplomacy" with its attacks on nuclear sites, and that while Iran in principle was always open to talks, national security was the priority.

The latest escalation of hostility started when Israel launched a surprise attack on June 13, killing Iran's military leadership and leading nuclear scientists. Iran responded with missiles that pierced Israel's defenses in large numbers for the first time. 

A US-Iran negotiation scheduled for June 15 in Oman was canceled after Israel's strikes. 

US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that Trump is now looking to land "a comprehensive peace agreement that goes beyond even the ceasefire."

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, told the Global Times that previous rounds of US-Iran talks focused on Iran's nuclear issue, and if the US wants "a comprehensive" agreement, that would involve a slate of issues including missiles, agent warfare, and sanctions. It will be way more complex and the possibility of consensus is hard to determine, Niu said.  

PLA Navy’s carrier Shandong formation to visit Hong Kong, marking first public opening

After an eight-year interval, Hong Kong is about to welcome China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong. This marks the first visit of the Shandong carrier formation to Hong Kong, making the city the only one to host visits of two of China's aircraft carriers and also to hold public open-house events during their stays.

Under the approval of the Central Military Commission, from July 3 to 7, a naval formation consisting of the aircraft carrier Shandong, the guided missile destroyers Yan'an and Zhanjiang, and the guided missile frigate Yuncheng will visit Hong Kong, according to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense on Saturday.

During this period, a series of open-day visits and cultural exchange activities will be organized to give Hong Kong compatriots a more direct and in-depth understanding of the development of national defense and military modernization in the new era, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

In July 2017, China's aircraft carrier formation comprising the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, and three escort ships, namely the YantaiYinchuan, and Jinan, conducted a five-day visit to Hong Kong. The event sparked a "Liaoning fever" in Hong Kong.

Eight years later, the visit of the Shandong, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, is expected to also spark a "Shandong fever" in Hong Kong, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Saturday.

According to information released by the Chinese Defense Ministry, the Shandong carrier formation will also conduct a five-day visit to Hong Kong with four vessels. However, compared to the Liaoning's formation, this visit will see new changes. 

Zhang said that The Shandong's escort ships, the Type 055 10,000 ton-class destroyer Yan'an, the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Zhanjiang and Type 054A guided missile frigate Yuncheng, all fully domestically developed by China, are a composition that demonstrates the core warships of a modern Chinese carrier formation, and are expected to meet Hong Kong's high public expectations.

Compared to 2017, this carrier formation is even more impressive, said Zhang. "In addition to China's domestically built aircraft carrier Shandong, the accompanying Yan'an is a Type 055 large destroyer - often hailed as the 'sword-bearing guard' of carrier groups. This visit also marks the first public opening of a Type 055 destroyer in Hong Kong," he said.

In 2020, the Nanchang (Hull 101), the first Type 055 destroyer, was commissioned into service. Since then, the family of 10,000 ton-class destroyers has continued to grow. Official reports indicate that the Type 055 destroyer represents the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's largest-tonnage, most technologically advanced, and most comprehensively capable destroyer in history. Upon its debut, it immediately ranked among the world's top-tier warships."

To date, Hong Kong has witnessed multiple first and exclusive records in hosting Chinese naval vessels. The PLA Navy has consistently chosen Hong Kong as the first public showcase for its newest warship classes, including not only the aircraft carrier Liaoning's first and only public opening, but also the first public opening of the domestically developed Type 075 amphibious assault ship Hainan during its Hong Kong visit from November 21 to 25, 2024.

Opening naval vessels to nationals is a common practice among navies worldwide. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, PLA Navy vessels have made multiple port calls to the city, each time welcoming Hong Kong compatriots aboard for tours, Zhang said.

The state-of-the-art surface vessels offer Hong Kong compatriots a tangible showcase of China's national defense and military modernization achievements in the new era. These visits allow them to witness firsthand the strength of the motherland's defense capabilities, thereby enhancing national pride and strengthening patriotic sentiment, Zhang said, noting that during last year's port call by the amphibious assault ship Hainan, many Hong Kong residents expressed enthusiasm for more naval visits - with hopes to see advanced vessels like the Type 055 large destroyers in the future. The upcoming visit by the aircraft carrier Shandong and Type 055 destroyer has indeed warmly fulfilled these expectations.

At the same time, the visit of these cutting-edge warships to Hong Kong, a bridge and window of China's openness to the world, fully demonstrates to the international community both the developmental achievements of China's military and the exemplary professionalism of its naval personnel. In addition, the display of powerful, strategic assets like the aircraft carrier Shandong and the Type 055 10,000 ton-class destroyer also serves as a deterrent to any forces with ill intentions, Zhang said.

"We hope to share with our Hong Kong compatriots the nation's development achievements and progress in national defense and military modernization, while also demonstrating the PLA's capacity to safeguard national sovereignty and security," Zhang said.

Song Zhongping, another Chinese military affairs expert who boarded the Liaoning during the carrier's 2017 Hong Kong visit, told the Global Times on Saturday that there were many Hong Kong residents who applied to tour China's first aircraft carrier. Many of them waved Chinese national flags in their hands.

Speaking with Song about their impressions of the Liaoning, Hong Kong visitors said that they could feel the growing strength of the motherland, and that a mighty PLA means a safe Hong Kong, according to Song.

Chinese meteorological authorities warn of heat waves in north and floods in south

China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued yellow heat alerts on Monday for most of northern China, warning of temperatures exceeding 35 C — with certain regions and cities surpassing 40 C. Meanwhile, eight southern provinces are expected to experience torrential downpours and flood risks in certain area.

The NMC renewed a yellow alert at 6 am on Monday, warning of high temperatures in multiple regions of the country.

The center forecast scorching conditions exceeding 35 C on Monday across vast areas including most of Beijing, Tianjin, North China's Hebei Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, East China's Shandong Province, Central China's Henan Province, Fenwei Plain, Northeast China's Liaoning and Jilin provinces, as well as the Junggar Basin of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the southern Xinjiang Basin.

Particularly intense heat of 37 - 39 C is expected in some of the aforementioned regions - while some areas may exceed 40 C, the NMC said.

The center advised people to take protective measures to prevent prolonged outdoor exposure during peak heat hours.

Education authorities in Beijing issued heat advisories on Monday, urging kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and vocational institutes to suspend outdoor activities during peak heat hours. 

China experienced eight large-scale heatwaves in 2024, with the number of high-temperature days during the summer reaching the second-highest number since 1961, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). Nearly half of the provinces in China recorded their highest average temperatures since national meteorological records began, the CMA said.

Regarding 2025's scorching heat, Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Monday that the potential onset of a La Nina event is expected to slightly temper the sweltering weather. However, Ma noted that the fundamental trend of global warming remains unchanged, urging continued vigilance against extreme weather events. 

At the same time, southern China faces a starkly different weather pattern.

The NMC raised a blue alert for heavy rainfall at 6 am Monday, warning of substantial downpours from 8 am Monday to 8 am on Tuesday in several regions. 

Rain-affected areas include East China's Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces, Central China's Hunan Province, Southwest China's Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, western parts of the Sichuan Basin, and Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, the NMC said.

Besides, some southeastern parts of Guizhou may see hourly rainfall of 100 to 120 millimeters, the center said.

Certain regions may experience short-term heavy rain of 20 to 50 millimeters hourly, even exceeding 60 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales, according to the NMC.

The Ministry of Water Resources said that torrential rains have triggered flooding in 27 rivers exceeding warning levels across Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan between 8 am Saturday and 8 am Sunday. Some rivers exceeded thresholds by up to 3.71 meters, CCTV News reported Monday.

The Mengtong River in Yunnan experienced its worst flooding since 1979, according to CCTV News.

Last week, flash floods hit Huaiji county, South China's Guangdong Province. By noon on June 18, all 19 townships in the county had sustained damage, affecting around 300,000 residents, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Local authorities evacuated nearly 70,000 people as floodwaters surged. The disaster left 15 injured, though none serious, the report added.

Ma noted that Typhoon Wutip has brought heavy rainfall to southern regions, with extreme precipitation concentrated in mountainous areas. This has triggered mountain floods and debris flows, posing serious threats to the lives and property of local residents.

The MWR maintains a Level-IV flood emergency response in Zhejiang, Anhui, Central China's Hubei and Hunan provinces, Guangxi and Guizhou, deploying three task forces to assist flood control efforts in Hubei, Hunan and Guangxi.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources activated geological disaster emergency responses in Hunan, Hubei, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Guizhou, and Henan amid persistent rainfall nationwide, dispatching professional teams to oversee disaster prevention.

In Hunan, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration urgently deployed 81,500 relief items — including tents, folding beds, and summer quilts — to support emergency relocation and basic needs, CCTV News reported.

Ma, the expert, added that the summer grain harvest in the hardest-hit townships may be affected, though the overall impact on the national summer grain yield remains limited. Residents in severely affected areas are advised to expedite drainage of flooded farmland to reduce soil waterlogging once normal life is resumed. For fields with total crop failure, farmers should replant or switch to alternative crops based on local conditions.

China to hold military parade to mark 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism

China will hold a military parade in Tian'anmen Square, downtown Beijing, on Sept. 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

President Xi Jinping will review the troops during the parade, which is held as part of a grand gathering to commemorate the anniversary.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver a speech at the gathering.

The military parade will feature marching formations, armored columns, and aerial echelons, and display new types of combat forces, including unmanned, intelligent equipment.

Xi sends congratulatory letter to 2025 SCO forum on poverty reduction, sustainable development

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2025 SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi pointed out that poverty eradication, a global issue, is a common goal of all countries in the world.

Through arduous efforts, China has successfully won the battle against poverty, achieved the poverty reduction target of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule, blazed a poverty reduction path with Chinese characteristics, and written a new chapter in the history of mankind's fight against poverty, Xi said.

Stressing that the root cause of poverty is inadequate development, Xi said the SCO has actively carried out cooperation on poverty reduction and sustainable development in recent years, achieving remarkable results.

As the rotating chair of the SCO, China is willing to continuously enhance policy communication with all parties, share poverty reduction experience, deepen practical cooperation, help more countries explore poverty reduction and sustainable development paths that suit their national conditions, and join hands to build a beautiful world free from poverty and with common prosperity, Xi noted.

The forum opened in Xi'an on Tuesday under the theme of "Sustained Poverty Reduction and Cooperative Development: Advancing Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development among SCO Countries." The forum was co-hosted by the SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and the People's Government of Shaanxi Province.

China gives Thailand high priority in neighborhood diplomacy: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China always gives China-Thailand relations high priority in neighborhood diplomacy.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is ready to work together with Thailand to deepen practical cooperation across various fields and bring more certainty to regional peace and stability.

China welcomes Thailand's participation as a BRICS partner country and supports its full engagement in BRICS cooperation, he added.

For his part, Maris said that Chinese modernization will bring huge opportunities for his country and that Thailand hopes to join the BRICS family, strengthen Global South cooperation and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the construction of the China-Thailand railway, continue international cooperation on giant panda, resolutely crack down on telecom fraud and other cross-border crimes and advance the construction of the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.