The Chinese national soccer team suffered a bitter second consecutive defeat in the World Cup Asian qualifiers as they were defeated by 10-man Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Tuesday in Dalian, Liaoning Province. 

The defeat means China now stay at the bottom of the six-team group after they conceded seven goals in the first match against Japan. Chinese players have yet to score a single goal in the series.

An own goal from the Saudi defender Ali Lajami in the 14th minute got the home Chinese fans cheering, followed by a red card to Saudi player Mohammed Kanno in the 19th minute, giving Chinese players a one-man advantage.

But it was Saudi player Hassan Kadish who pulled an equalizer in the 39th minute before adding another goal shortly before the final whistle, denying China's hopes for a point in the qualifiers. 

"It's really a pity that our team conceded two goals in set pieces. Our players did their best," said Branko Ivankovic, head coach of the Chinese team, through an interpreter at the post-match press conference. 

The Croatian rejected the idea of resigning. He said it is not up to him and the Chinese team still has chance to finish in fourth place in the group.

Disappointed Chinese fans were bemoaning the performance of the team after the match, but some were also voicing their support for the Chinese team as they chanted "Fight till the end."

Due to the Chinese national team's previous 7:0 defeat to Japan last week, many were concerned about the turnout for the home match against Saudi Arabia. But the venue attendance surpassed 48,000 in the 63,000-capacity Suoyuwan Stadium.

Fans in the southern stands even displayed a massive red tifo that stretched from the top of the stands to the front row closest to the field with the words "Fight for the Country" before the game. 

SOURCE / PRESS RELEASE
State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company's 'Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer' System Put into Use to Enhance Work Efficiency
Published: Sep 16, 2024 07:28 PM

On September 9, staff from the Smart Operation and Inspection Center of State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company utilized the "Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer" system mode mounted on drones to conduct inspection work on distribution network lines.
Previously, from July 4 to 7, this project was exhibited at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. This conference, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, and others, had the theme of "Promoting Sharing through Joint Consultation, Promoting Good Intelligence through Good Governance," and attracted over 1,500 exhibits from more than 500 enterprises in fields such as large models, computing power, robotics, and autonomous driving.
In recent years, addressing the complex nature of distribution network inspection environments, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company has researched a drone-mounted autonomous obstacle avoidance solution based on millimeter-wave radar and visual autonomous obstacle avoidance. This solution enables the identification of obstacles in distribution line corridors and the autonomous planning of obstacle avoidance routes, thereby avoiding situations where drones might collide with obstacles while flying outside the lines. Through deep learning and lightweight model technology, drones can detect trees and obstacles ahead in real-time during flight, and achieve optimal obstacle avoidance path planning through dynamic trajectory adjustment.

The "Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer" system is equipped with purely domestically produced chips and ultra-strong computing power of up to 6T. Based on frontend recognition and autonomous obstacle avoidance technology, it can provide data support for the autonomous flight of drones conducting distribution network inspections. The system integrates three-phase orthogonal radar, enabling precise identification of details such as the main body of electrical equipment and transmission channels, and continuous identification of wires with a diameter of 1 centimeter within a 15-meter range, as well as potential hazards in the surrounding environment of the distribution network. By accumulating a database of defects and potential hazards, the system achieves iterative updates in algorithm types and depth, further enhancing the intelligence level and work efficiency of distribution line inspections.

Currently, this system mode has been used to conduct inspection work on 17 distribution network lines in the Taizhou region of Jiangsu province. After implementation, it has achieved good results, significantly improving the autonomy and intelligence level of distribution network inspection operations. This makes drone inspection operations safer and more efficient, reduces the labor intensity of operation and inspection personnel, and greatly lowers operation and maintenance costs.

A power supply company in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has revolutionized the approach to power grid security with the integration of remote intelligent patrol technology. This advancement marks a significant leap in the surveillance and maintenance of substations, ensuring the reliability and safety of the power grid.
 
On August 12, Yang Mei, a maintenance worker at the Yuequan 110kV substation under the State Grid Ningdong Electric Power Supply Company, reported the successful operation of the intelligent inspection system, highlighting its seamless functionality. "The system is a testament to our commitment to innovation and safety," Yang Mei said.
 
At the core of this smart transformation is the intelligent inspection system, which employs high-definition cameras to monitor critical substation equipment. These cameras, positioned around circuit breakers, disconnectors, and other vital components, are programmed with preset points for equipment monitoring. This setup enables real-time surveillance, allowing operation and maintenance staff to issue inspection commands remotely, transforming the traditional inspection process.
 
The remote intelligent inspection technology has transitioned substation monitoring from reliance on human observation to an automated "electric eye" system. This shift has significantly increased the efficiency of risk identification and assessment, ensuring the equipment operates safely and stably, particularly during peak demand periods like summer.
 
Moreover, the system conducts frequent daily inspections of the substation's surroundings and internal environment, including the detection of floating debris, thereby enhancing the overall perception and security of the substation.
 
Looking ahead, the State Grid Ningdong Electric Power Supply Company is committed to expanding the use of remote intelligent patrols. This strategic move aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of power grid maintenance, solidifying the defense of power grid equipment and contributing to the continuous and stable delivery of electricity.
 
The integration of such technology not only fortifies the power grid against potential threats but also underscores the company's dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety and operational excellence in the energy sector.

In recent years, some Western politicians have intensified their rhetoric regarding "China's overcapacity." Meanwhile, some Western nations have embraced trade protectionism, imposing high tariffs on China's burgeoning green industries, such as new-energy vehicles (NEVs), photovoltaics and lithium batteries.

However, the strength of China's green industries stems from technological advancements, the clustering of industrial chains as well as robust domestic competition. As a matter of fact, the unfounded claim of "overcapacity" serves as a means to politicize and weaponize economic matters.

The development of China's green industries plays a crucial role in the global effort to combat climate change. China's industrial policies for green sectors adhere to the principle of competitive neutrality. In recent years, the policies have significantly driven the growth of the new-energy sector in China, while facilitating the development of new-energy industries in other countries too.

China was the key driver of the global decline in production cost for photovoltaics and wind turbines in 2022, with other markets experiencing a much more heterogeneous set of outcomes that saw costs increase, according to the report on Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2022, issued by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

From the perspective of sustainable development goals, global renewables production capacity still falls far short of market demand. In this context, China deserves recognition rather than criticism. The advancement of China's new-energy sectors has accelerated the global response to climate change, making it more efficient and less costly.

The issue of production capacity is a problem that arises amid the operation of the market. "Decoupling" and protectionist policies are not beneficial for resolving the issue. The US directly subsidizes domestic manufacturers through legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), while discriminating against foreign manufacturers.

The green industry evolution in China is characterized by free and fair competition, and the Chinese market is steadily transitioning toward a more mature development phase now.

According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to July 2024, China produced 5.9 million NEVs, a year-on-year increase of 28.8 percent. During the same period, sales reached 5.9 million units, up 31.1 percent year-on-year.

The academic community has long pointed out that in promoting the use of clean energy, subsidies are needed to reduce the costs of new technologies and decrease market reliance on old technologies.

Researches by some countries have found that developed countries tend to use industrial policies more intensively. Goldman Sachs estimates that fiscal spending related to the US IRA will amount to $1.2 trillion, a figure three times more than what supporters initially claimed, according to media reports.

China emphasizes the importance of addressing the capacity issue and actively takes measures to promote global coordination on this matter. China adheres to a cooperative approach, continuously optimizing macroeconomic policies and achieving global policy coordination to enhance global macroeconomic governance. This approach aims to achieve better interaction between China's economic development and global economic growth.

The dependencies formed by trade relations are mutual, as the world relies on the Chinese market, and China equally relies on the world market. A healthy international division of labor and economic cooperation provide the foundation for the global economy to achieve faster recovery.

Protectionist policies will only increase economic costs and decrease economic efficiency for all economies, which cannot promote the balance of supply and demand on the market.

The development of China's manufacturing sector provides opportunities for cooperative development for more developing countries. Countries should strengthen cooperation and enhance mutual trust to jointly tackle global challenges, rather than exaggerating "threats" and adding instability.

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao is scheduled to visit Europe and hold talks with Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice president of the European Commission (EC), on September 19 regarding the anti-subsidy probe of the European Union (EU) into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the Chinese  Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. 

The planned visit comes after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's just-concluded visit to China, where both sides pledged to explore broader cooperation in emerging sectors such as new energy and the digital economy, despite ongoing China-EU trade frictions.

Experts said that the upcoming negotiations will focus on the key interests of both sides after several previous rounds of talks, and this approach is likely to reduce the risk of trade conflicts and prevent an escalation of tension. 

The Chinese government and the Chinese auto industry have been actively working to find a proper resolution through dialogue and consultation since the EU initiated an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs.

On Monday, China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei visited Brussels to meet with senior EU officials. Li said China wishes to continue discussion of a potential resolution to the trade issue, following the EC's release of the pre-final disclosure of tariffs on August 20, according to the ministry. 

"The diverse positions of EU countries and the bloc's tendency to generalize political and security concerns will introduce uncertainties into the talks and final decisions," Zhang Monan, deputy director of the Institute of American and European Studies at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Ahead of the upcoming talks, Spain, which had previously backed the EC's tariff plans and voted in favor during a non-binding but still influential consultation in mid-July, showed a significant reversal of its position regarding the extra tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Sánchez called on "not only member states but also the [European] Commission" to reconsider plans for the impending tariff hikes against China on Wednesday, the last day of his highly watched visit to China, according to media reports.

"We don't need another war, in this case, a trade war," Sánchez said during a visit to Kunshan, East China's Jiangsu Province, expressing his hope to act as a "bridge" between the EU and China.

 China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday welcomed Sánchez's call, highlighting shared interests in the development of the EV sector and calling on the bloc to engage in dialogue to address trade disputes and foster stable China-EU economic and trade ties.

Rifts between political and economic interests within the EU are widening. "The shifting stances of major European countries such as Spain and Italy indicated their recognition that confronting China with unilateral tariffs could lead to an untenable lose-lose situation," Zhang said.

In July, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during her China visit, which was seen as seeking to recalibrate China-Italian relations, pledged to deepen cooperation with China across various sectors including EVs, and voiced opposition to "decoupling" and protectionism.

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Defense released its draft request for the defense budget for the fiscal year 2025. In the request, it mentioned that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will undergo the largest organizational restructuring in over 60 years. This has drawn significant attention from international observers.

The most notable adjustment is the removal of unit names containing the word "escort." For example, the Fleet Escort Force, which has overseen surface battle vessels and replenishment vessels for the past 63 years, will be abolished and replaced by the newly established Fleet Surface Force. 

Under the reorganization plan, the new Fleet Surface Force will consist of three Surface Battle Groups, one Amphibious Mine Warfare Group and one Patrol Defense Group. This round of reorganization is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025.

Although this move is ostensibly aimed at more effectively integrating the existing main naval vessels, it raises concerns among neighboring countries in light of Japan's continued increases in defense spending and its ongoing efforts to bypass its "pacifist constitution." 

According to officials from Japan's Ministry of Defense, the purpose of establishing the three Surface Battle Groups is to respond emergencies simultaneously. To a certain extent, the "exclusively defense-oriented" nature of Japan's main maritime units is being further weakened.

This significant adjustment trend within the JMSDF inevitably evokes a term that has been buried in history - Combined Fleet. The Combined Fleet was the strategic battle corps of the Imperial Japanese Navy that carried out aggressive operations in the far seas during the first half of the 20th century. It also served as the "vanguard" of Japan's invasion of East Asian countries. 

It is evident that Japan is now seeking to build an offensive maritime strike force, enhance its military presence in neighboring countries and maritime areas, strengthen its involvement in regional security affairs, and develop the capability to launch wars against potential opponents in three directions during wartime.

Additionally, Japan aims to be capable of executing "pre-emptive" attacks and conducting amphibious landing operations to invade other countries' territories once again. What is the difference between such a Fleet Surface Force and the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy? 

As the source of war in Asia during World War II and a defeated nation, Japan adopted a "peace constitution" and an "exclusively defense-oriented" policy after the war, which stipulates that Japan is not allowed to have offensive military forces. Its military forces can only be used for self-defense, and are referred to as the Self-Defense Forces. However, within Japan, militaristic thinking has not been completely eradicated. 

In recent years, the Japanese government has made deliberate efforts and used various tricks to break free from the "pacifist constitution" and the "exclusively defense-oriented" policy. It has vigorously developed its offensive military capabilities, and introduced advanced fighter jets and cruise missiles from the US. Japan is also actively cooperating with US geostrategy, increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world and seeking various excuses to continuously send troops overseas.

Through some seemingly small changes, Japan is attempting to covertly accumulate its military strengths, gradually shedding the restrictions of the "pacifist constitution," seeking recognition as a world political and military power and striving to be "a normal country."

This approach has been a long-standing tactic employed by Japan's right-wing forces. History tells us that Asian countries and the international community should remain vigilant regarding Japan's military and security trajectories.

A report released by the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the EU, on the future of European competitiveness, has overly focused on the competition with China and overstated the so-called threat posed by the rise of Chinese industries, while overlooking the vast potential for China-EU cooperation, according to Chinese experts on Tuesday.

While the report also mentioned competition posed by the US, it singled out China as posing competition and even a threat to the EU in areas such as clean energy technology. Coming as the EC plans to impose tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the report further exacerbated concerns that if suggestions in the report are adopted, they could lead to further protectionist actions that undermine China-EU cooperation, experts noted.

Both Chinese and EU experts have highlighted the vast potential for China-EU cooperation in a wide range of areas, including in green development, and urged the EU to treat Chinese firms objectively and fairly in order to realize such a potential. Meanwhile, some EU member countries, such as Spain, are seeking to expand cooperation with China, underscoring the strong desire for cooperation, instead of protectionism. 

The report, which was written by Mario Draghi, the former head of European Central Bank and former Italian prime minister, stated that to reignite growth, Europe must profoundly refocus its collective efforts on closing the innovation gap with the US and China, especially in advanced technologies.

Notably, the report portrayed China as a main competitor. "Increasing reliance on China may offer the cheapest and most efficient route to meeting our decarbonization targets. But China's state-sponsored competition also represents a threat to our productive clean tech and automotive industries," it stated. 

The report also asserted that Europe relies on a handful of suppliers for critical raw materials, especially China, while China relies on the EU to "absorb its industrial overcapacity." Such an assertion has been cited by the EC to investigate and subsequently decide to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs. Regarding the tariffs, the report said they could "help level the playing field."  

The report also claimed that EU companies face rising competitive pressure from Chinese companies. 

"The report showed that competitiveness has become a crucial focus of the newly-elected EC. And the parts that involve China reflect a certain degree of anxiety and limitation," Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. "As China continues to develop in recent years and the global economy faces a downturn, competition with China has been put in a more prominent position." 

Coming as the EC has already taken protectionist measures against Chinese products and businesses, including the planned tariffs on Chinese EVs, the report further raised concerns of tension between China and the EU. The Economist said that Ursula von der Leyen, the recently re-elected head of the EC, is keen to act on the advice in the report.  

"If the EC adopts the stance of the report and agrees with the advice, the EU's policy toward China will mainly focus on competition, especially in the new-energy fields, and the EC will likely selectively take more protectionist actions," Jian Junbo, deputy director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Vast potential 

However, as the EU overly focuses on competition with China, it grossly overlooks the strong economic complementarity and vast potential for cooperation between China and the EU, Chinese and EU experts said. 

"I think there is greater economic complementarity between China and the EU than competition," Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that even in the area of new energy, there is room for cooperation. "For the EU to achieve its decarbonization goal, it needs to cooperate with China in related technologies." 

Underscoring the need for cooperation, during Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's visit to China, China and Spain signed a number of cooperation agreements in fields such as green development, demonstrating the huge potential and bright prospects of bilateral cooperation, Sanchez said, according to Xinhua. 

In an interview with the Global Times, Miguel Otero-Iglesias, a senior analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute and professor at IE School of Global and Public Affairs, a Spanish think tank, said China has become highly competitive in green industries, and despite concerns over China's growing competitiveness within the EU, there remains vast potential for bilateral cooperation. 

"It's crucial to recognize that Europe's green transition will need Chinese products, technology, and investment to progress effectively. Chinese green investments could support the EU's sustainable development, create local jobs, and benefit EU consumers," Otero said.

Also highlighting strong potential for China-EU cooperation, bilateral trade registered a growth rate of 1.1 percent in the first eight months of 2024, slightly up from a 0.4 percent growth in the January-July period, according to Chinese customs data. The EU remained China's second-largest trading partner during the period.

Cui said that as the China-EU trade relationship faces challenges, both sides should refrain from taking unilateral measures, but instead focus on finding solutions through dialogue. 

Both sides should also be better at turning competition into cooperation and turning disputes into motivation to address challenges, he said.

In the first eight months this year, trade of goods between China and the US totaled 3.15 trillion yuan ($432 billion), up by 4.4 percent year-on-year, making the US China's third-largest trading partner, according to the latest data released by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Tuesday.

The growth rate represents a slight uptick from the first seven months this year when bilateral trade reached 2.72 trillion yuan, up 4.1 percent year-on-year. 

Experts attributed the rise in China-US trade last month to the US consumers' strong appetite for Chinese goods. Recent intensive dialogues between the two nations across various fields also helped bilateral trade. 

The US maintained its position as China's third-largest trade partner in the first eight months, following ASEAN and the EU. China's trade with ASEAN rose 10 percent year-on-year during the Jan-Aug period, while its trade with the EU was up by 1.1 percent.

Specifically, China's exports to the US reached 2.38 trillion yuan, up 5 percent year-on-year, while imports from the US totaled 778.93 billion yuan, marking a 2.3 percent rise. Compared to the January-July period, China's imports from the US ticked up from 1.2 percent to 2.3 percent.

In terms of shares in China's foreign trade, the US maintained an 11 percent share in the first eight months. The EU's share remained at 13 percent during the same period.

"The continued growth momentum in trade indicates the solid foundation in China-US economic and trade relations, amid recent increased bilateral engagement to manage risks and enhance understanding," Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

China and the US held the second vice-ministerial meeting of the China-US commercial and trade working group on Saturday, with both sides agreeing to support trade and investment promotion activities hosted by each country and maintaining dialogues.

China's consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of inflation, grew by 0.6 percent year-on-year in August, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.

In June and July, the CPI rose by 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. 

NBS statistician Dong Lijuan noted that August saw a seasonal rise in consumer prices due to high temperatures and heavy rainfall, causing the year-on-year growth continuing to widen.

The August CPI rose by 0.4 percent month-on-month, down 0.1 percentage points from July. Food prices grew by 3.4 percent, an increase of 2.2 percentage points, contributing 0.60 percentage points to the overall price rise, Dong said.

High temperatures in summer pushed up prices for fresh vegetables by 18.1 percent, mushrooms by 9.8 percent, fruit by 3.8 percent, and eggs by 3.3 percent, together contributing 0.49 percentage points to the month-on-month CPI rise. Pork prices increased by 7.3 percent, adding 0.10 percentage points, driven by reduced market supply.

Non-food prices rose by 0.2 percent, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from July, contributing 0.13 percentage points to the CPI.

In the non-food sector, prices of industrial consumer goods narrowed from a 0.7 percent rise last month to a 0.4-percent decline. 

Gasoline prices reversed from a 5.3 percent increase to a 2.7 percent drop, while fuel-powered cars saw a 6.4 percent price drop, with the decline slightly widening. Household essentials, home decor, and traditional Chinese medicine prices rose between 1.1 percent and 6.9 percent, though at a slower pace. 

Service prices increased by 0.5 percent in August, with medical care, education, and domestic service prices rising 1.9 percent, 1.7 percent, and 1.6 percent, respectively. Air fares and hotel prices saw notable decreases, falling by 11.9 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. 

Chinese analysts expect the CPI to see a "moderate rebound" in the second half of the year, driven by growing consumption demand, higher food prices, coupled with last year's low base effect. A strong increase in service consumption is also anticipated to support price growth.

"Looking ahead, demand for items like vegetables and clothing may increase, and the supply could remain tight. However, categories like housing rental may continue to see a downward trend," Bian Yongzu, executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Overall, I expect the CPI to trend upward in the second half of the year, as consumer shopping will rise around key holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the National Day and the New Year's Day," Bian said.

The NBS data also showed that the producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, dropped by 1.8 percent year-on-year in August, mainly due to insufficient market demand at home and the decline in prices of imported commodities, according to Dong.

A woman was caught by the customs officers at the Gongbei Port in South China’s Guangdong Province, with six bottles of Moutai liquor being strapped to her two legs, the General Administration of Customs of China said on Wednesday.

The woman from Hong Kong entered the port through the green channel on August 31. Customs officers at Gongbei noticed that her pace was stiff and her skirt had many irregular bulges, so they stopped her for inspection. Upon further examination, they found six bottles of the renowned Moutai liquor strapped in transparent film and elastic bandages tied to her thighs and calves. 

If individuals hide, disguise, conceal, falsely declare, or use other methods to evade customs supervision, and transport, carry, or mail goods or items prohibited or restricted from entering or leaving the ports, it constitutes smuggling.