The island of Taiwan's external affairs authority said that a Canadian frigate sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Sunday while its defense authority claimed it detected 24 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft conducting joint training with PLA vessels on the same day. A Chinese mainland expert said on Sunday that the Canadian warship sent  wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, but posed little military threat.

Taiwan's external affairs authority said in a statement that the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, AFP reported.

Citing the island's defense authority, AFP further claimed that 24 PLA aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, were detected carrying "joint combat readiness patrols" with military vessels around the island.

During the Canadian warship's passage, the PLA radioed the ship and warned it to change course, AFP reported, citing media on the island of Taiwan.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Canadian warship's Taiwan Straits transit has sent wrong signals to Taiwan authorities, creating the illusion that they can rely on external countries in seeking "independence."

The Taiwan question concerns China's core interests, Song said, noting that China is fully capable of resolving the Taiwan question, and no one can prevent its resolution.

The HMCS Ottawa has been operating in waters near China since the beginning of the year. Canadian news outlet CTV National News reported that PLA warships tracked the Canadian frigate in the East China Sea and the South China Sea in January.

Song noted that a single Canadian warship poses little threat to China in military terms, and it is normal and legitimate that the PLA monitors its movements on China's doorsteps.

Less than a week earlier, the PLA announced that it monitored the transit of two US warships through the Taiwan Straits.

From February 10 to Wednesday, the US destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch transited the Taiwan Straits. The PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed naval and air forces to monitor the entire passage of the US vessels, effectively responding to and managing the situation, said Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, on Wednesday.

The US' actions sent wrong signals and increased security risks. The Eastern Theater Command remains on high alert, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability, Li stressed.

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) will hold its 14th session in Beijing on Feb. 24 and 25.

This decision was made Monday during a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, which was presided over by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

According to a proposed agenda discussed at the meeting, an important task at the upcoming NPC Standing Committee session will be to prepare for the third session of the 14th NPC, to be held in March.

Lawmakers at the late-February session will deliberate a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee, a draft agenda for the third session of the 14th NPC, a draft name list of people being considered for the presidium and the role of secretary-general, and a draft name list of non-voting delegates.

Lawmakers at the upcoming session will also review the draft private economy promotion law, a proposal submitted by the State Council on reviewing a revised draft of the civil aviation law, a report on the qualifications of some NPC deputies, as well as personnel-related bills.

Also reviewed at Monday's meeting were draft measures for the recording and review of fiscal budget matters, and a report on the handling public complaints by the administrative bodies of the NPC in 2024.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday extended festive greetings to people from non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), personages without party affiliation, and other members of the united front ahead of the Spring Festival.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings when he took part in an annual gathering with non-CPC personages at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 29 this year.

Reviewing the achievements of 2024, Xi said that China had overcome difficulties to forge ahead, accomplishing the year's major objectives and tasks for economic and social development.

"We have guided all sectors at all levels to correctly grasp favorable conditions and handle unfavorable factors, maintained strategic resolve, and strengthened our confidence in victory," he said.

Xi noted that China had effectively implemented various policies, introduced a package of incremental measures, and steadily promoted high-quality development.

The economy has shown signs of recovery, achieving a 5-percent GDP growth, he added.

A series of new breakthroughs have been made at the forefront of science and technology, significantly driving the development of new quality productive forces, Xi observed.

He highlighted efforts in further comprehensively deepening reform, maintaining world peace and stability, promoting human development and progress, and improving Party and government conduct.

Xi also emphasized the robust development of the cause of multiparty cooperation.

Xi said China will implement more proactive and impactful macro policies, focus on high-quality development and promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology to maintain sound momentum for social and economic development in 2025.

Xi called on non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation to focus on the central tasks, serve the overall interests of the country, and leverage their respective strengths to more broadly rally support, build consensus, and pool wisdom and strength.

He stressed that efforts should be made in 2025 to successfully accomplish the targets set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and lay a solid foundation for the next five years.

Xi expressed the expectation that non-CPC personages will pool all positive elements to advance development, and actively contribute to further deepening reform comprehensively, promoting high-quality development and formulating the proposal on the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

He also emphasized focusing on critical and difficult problems when engaging in the supervision of the protection of the Yangtze River ecosystem.

The ACFIC should guide the private sector to maintain their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, bolster confidence in development, and establish and improve the modern corporate system with distinctive Chinese features, Xi said.

The event was also attended by Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Both are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

A senior officials' meeting on Lancang-Mekong law enforcement cooperation was held on Tuesday in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province with representatives from the six countries - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China - participating. During the meeting, senior officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand exchanged views on cooperation aimed at eliminating the telecom fraud base in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

They unanimously agreed to deepen practical cooperation under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, which includes strengthening intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building, and emergency coordination and communication in response to public security incidents, working together to combat prominent cross-border crimes.

The meeting highlighted the occurrence of a slew of serious online gambling and telecom fraud cases along the Thai-Myanmar border, which threaten and harm the vital interests of citizens from various countries, drawing significant attention from all parties.

Representatives from the six countries unanimously agreed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation, launch targeted operations, and adopt strong measures to resolutely combat telecom fraud and its derivative crimes. Efforts will be made to fully coordinate the rescue of trapped individuals, apprehend the leaders of criminal groups, and dismantle telecom fraud dens, in a bid to provide a safe environment for the people of the Lancang-Mekong region and to uphold the good order of exchanges and cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries.

During the meeting, senior officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand held a special session to exchange views on cooperation in eliminating the telecom fraud base in Myawaddy in Myanmar, reaching a positive consensus.

Separately, the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LMLECC) announced on Tuesday that a total of 70,000 suspects involved in telecom fraud cases were arrested, and more than 160 victims were rescued during a joint law enforcement operation by six countries including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between August and December 2024.

The LMLECC is the first international intergovernmental organization in the field of political security in the Lancang-Mekong region under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism.

On Tuesday, the center held a debriefing meeting in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on the "Operation SEAGULL," the sub-operation of Joint Operation "Safe Lancang-Mekong" focusing on cracking down on telecom fraud and its related crimes, and firearms smuggling.

This operation, conducted between August and December of 2024, brought together law enforcement agencies from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to jointly combat regional telecom and online fraud, its related crimes, and the smuggling of firearms and ammunition, yielding significant results. According to preliminary statistics, during the operation, over 160 cases, with most involving telecom fraud, were solved. More than 70,000 suspects were arrested, and over 160 victims were rescued.

Delegations from the Ministry of the Interior of Cambodia, the Ministry of Public Security of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense of Laos, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Myanmar, the Royal Thai Police, and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam participated in the meeting. Representatives from international organizations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the ASEAN Chiefs of Police, were invited to join the discussions.

Several Chinese nationals, including actor Wang Xing, were lured to the Thailand-Myanmar border and held captive, sparking public concern. Wang returned to China on January 10 and thanked the Chinese government, the Chinese embassies in Thailand and Myanmar, the Chinese and Thai police, and various other law enforcement agencies.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is prepared to collaborate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to combat cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud effectively when meeting with diplomatic envoys from 10 ASEAN countries in Beijing on Thursday.

Peng Nian, director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday that as a regional cooperation mechanism with broader law enforcement scope, "Operation SEAGULL" has proven more effective in combating crime compared to bilateral mechanisms. This effectiveness, as demonstrated by the data, highlights the operation's greater success over sporadic rescue efforts in the past.

Peng noted that while the first phase of the operation has yielded significant results in rescuing hostages, cracking down on telecom fraud, and deterring related activities, telecom fraud has not been completely eradicated.

For the second phase, Peng emphasized the need to rescue more individuals trapped in telecom scams to address public concerns. He also stressed the importance of establishing an information exchange mechanism among relevant countries to enable precise targeting of telecom fraud gangs. Additionally, Peng called for a normalized mechanism for combating telecom fraud among the Lancang-Mekong countries to ensure a long-term deterrent against criminal activities.

China’s total expenditure on research and experimental development (R&D) exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan ($494.69 billion) in 2024, marking an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Thursday.

The R&D expenditure recorded a steady growth, ranking as the second-largest globally last year, the Beijing Daily reported on Thursday.

According to the latest data from the NBS, China’s expenditure on R&D has steadily increased, with China’s total expenditure on R&D surpassing 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024, an increase of 8.3 percent compared with the previous year, realizing a stable growth. The total investment remained the second-highest in the world.

The results have been achieved due to China’s continuously improving policy system supporting scientific and technological innovations, the rapid establishment of a diversified investment framework, and the strengthened role of enterprises as key drivers of innovation, which collectively bolstered sustained R&D expenditure growth, according to the report.

Besides, the intensity of R&D investment continues to increase. Preliminary estimates show that in 2024, China’s R&D investment intensity (the ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP) reached 2.68 percent, a 0.10 percentage point rise from the previous year. This growth rate is slightly higher than the average annual increase since China’s 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), continuing its consistent upward trajectory.

Large-scale R&D investment forms a crucial foundation for driving invention, and achieving significant scientific and technological breakthroughs, while the growing intensity of R&D investment reflects China’s enhanced capacity to support technological innovations at its source, Xuan Zhaohui, director of the Institute of Science and Technology Foresight and Statistics at the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, told the Global Times on Thursday.

From the perspective of international comparison, China’s R&D investment intensity ranks 12th among the major countries worldwide, surpassing the average level of 2.11 percent in EU countries, and further approaching the average level of 2.73 percent for OECD countries.

In addition, China’s investment in basic research has grown rapidly last year. In 2024, China’s expenditure on basic research totaled 249.7 billion yuan, growing 10.5 percent year-on-year. This growth exceeded the overall R&D expenditure growth rate by 2.2 percentage points.

In recent years, China has attached great importance to basic research, achieving significant progress in the construction of major scientific facilities and large-scale scientific infrastructure. A number of groundbreaking achievements have been made in fields such as quantum science, life sciences, material sciences and space science.

The rapid growth of funding for basic research lays a strong foundation for generating high-quality, original and groundbreaking scientific and technological breakthroughs, Xuan said.

China’s global innovation index rose to 11th place globally in 2024, cementing its position as one of the fastest-growing innovation-driven economies in the past decade, according to a report by gmw.cn.

In 2024, China issued 1.045 million new invention patents, up 13.5 percent year-on-year, and recorded 4.781 million trademark registrations, representing a 9.1 percent year-on-year growth. By the end of 2024, China had 14 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, with the number of valid domestic invention patents totaling 4.756 million, becoming the first nation in the world to exceed 4 million, said the Xinhua News Agency, citing statistics released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration on January 15.

In 2024, China’s R&D expenditure continued increases in investment intensity and the proportion allocated to basic research. This has laid a solid foundation for the development of a strong science and technology nation, the Beijing Daily reported.

In the next step, the country will foster the integration of technological and industrial innovations, encourage and guide all parties to continue increasing R&D investment, improve the multi-level funding system, enhance the efficiency of R&D fund utilization, and provide strong support for accelerating high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the Chinese Foreign Ministry's 2024 New Year reception at the Beijing Performing Arts Center on Friday.

The event was attended by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, along with diplomatic envoys from various countries, representatives of international organizations in China, and representatives of Chinese government departments. Around 400 people attended the event in total.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that China's foreign service has held high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, strived for peace, and fulfilled its responsibility for development. China's diplomatic efforts have brought more stability and positive energy to a turbulent world, he added.

Wang noted that in the past year, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations have visited different parts of China to build bridges of friendship between the peoples, and devoted and contributed their strength to the friendship and cooperation between China and the countries they represent.

China will work with all countries to bear in mind the well-being of the entire world and rise above estrangement and conflict. "Together, let us promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Martin Mpana, dean of the foreign diplomatic corps in China and Cameroon's ambassador to China, sent best wishes to the Chinese people for a happy New Year on behalf of the diplomatic corps. He said that China's diplomacy demonstrates its responsibility as a major country and makes important contributions to addressing the growing uncertainties and challenges in the world. Countries around the world are willing to deepen friendship, intensify exchanges and strengthen cooperation with China to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.