Editor's Note:

From November 6 to November 18, the Global Times Institute (GTI) conducted a public opinion survey using a commercial online sample database. The survey was administered in 16 languages, including Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian, across 20 countries: China, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, the US, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Brazil, and Argentina. The survey targeted residents aged 18 to 70 and collected approximately 17,000 valid responses. This marks the 12th global public opinion survey conducted by the Global Times and covered topics such as global hotspots, development and security, China-US relations, and respondents' perceptions of China.
In 2024, the international situation remains turbulent. Data from the survey indicates that the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts rank as the top global concerns, with over 90 percent of respondents expressing their interest in these issues. Outside the US, more than 80 percent of respondents expressed interest in the US presidential elections.

Major concerns for the global affairs

When asked whether global security and peace are currently under threat, 31 percent of respondents overall chose "significant threat," while another 30 percent chose "some threat," with the combined total exceeding 60 percent. Compared to the previous year, the proportion of respondents perceiving a "significant threat" dropped by approximately 9 percentage points, indicating a decline in public feelings of insecurity.

In four countries - Italy, France, Brazil, and Kenya - over 40 percent of respondents felt "significant threat." In Turkey, the proportion was close to 40 percent.

When asked about specific risks or crises facing the world today, respondents identified the top three concerns as an economic crisis, international wars, and terrorism. The economic crisis, which ranked first, was selected by 57 percent of respondents, the same proportion as in 2023, while nearly half of respondents identified international wars as a concern.

Respondents also shared their concerns in brief written responses on the survey. In Australia, an individual born in the 1980s expressed worries about the cost of living. In Germany, a respondent born in the late 1980s identified the latest developments in generative artificial intelligence as a risk. A South Korean student born after 2000 voiced concern about the nuclear-contaminated wastewater dumped by Japan. In the US, respondents from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s cited "inflation" as a pressing issue. Meanwhile, a respondent in the UK, born in the 1980s, expressed concern over the "decline of the west into madness."

Sun Degang, director of the Middle East Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times that "currently, many of the world's conflicts are closely related to the hegemonic policies of the US, particularly those in the Middle East. The masses have sharp eyes and recognize that the US' biased policies in favor of its allies have exacerbated conflicts in the region. In 2023, numerous protests concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict erupted on US campuses. From a humanitarian standpoint, people called for a ceasefire in Gaza, supported Palestinian statehood, and urged the US to provide humanitarian aid."

When asked about the development trends in the Middle East in 2025, public opinion was highly divided. A total 36 percent of respondents believed the situation would worsen while 30 percent thought it would ease, and 25 percent expected it to remain unchanged.

According to Sun, differences in predictions about the Middle East's future largely stem from geographical factors. "Countries located closer to conflict hotspots tend to have more pessimistic populations. For example, Turkey, situated at the intersection of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts, has a stronger public perception of risk. In contrast, countries farther from these hotspots, such as India and China, tend to have relatively more optimistic predictions."
China the preferred partner for economic and trade cooperation in the US

Regarding expectations for great powers' leadership, the survey asked, survey data shows that China rose from fifth place in 2018 to second place in 2024, with its selection rate increasing by 6 percentage points. Among the eight countries, Germany experienced the most significant decline in selection rate, while the UK and France also saw decreases.

Sun analyzed "In 2023, China facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In 2024, it helped 14 Palestinian political factions reach the 'Beijing Declaration' and proposed a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These significant diplomatic mediation efforts have demonstrated to the international community that China is not a threat to global security but rather a defender of security and a provider of international public goods. This has enhanced China's international image and increased overseas recognition of its leadership in global governance."

When asked which country's economic and trade cooperation has the greatest impact on their own country's economic growth, overall data shows that the US and China significantly lead over other countries, with both receiving nearly 30 percent of the selections, a proportion close to each other. The selection rates for other countries are all below 10 percent. In both the US and China, nearly 30 percent of respondents chose the other country. In the US, China is clearly the preferred partner for economic and trade cooperation, ahead of other countries. In China, Russia is the top choice for economic and trade cooperation, 3 percentage points higher than the second-ranked US.

Customs data released on December 10 showed that in the first 11 months of this year, China's total goods trade import and export value reached 39.79 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.9 percent, with overall foreign trade running smoothly. Among these, China's import and export trade with regions and countries such as the ASEAN, the EU, Latin America, the US, Russia, India, South Korea, and Canada all saw an increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that when US citizens judge their preferred economic and trade cooperation partners, they often base their decisions on personal life experiences. Everyday items such as household goods and clothing in the US rely on exchanges with China and other developing countries. When China-US trade relations are close, the prices of daily necessities are usually lower.

"However, when the US initiated a trade war, and imposed tariff barriers against China, the prices of many goods rise, causing inconvenience to people's personal lives. Therefore, the public hopes for better economic and trade relations between the US and China. This also reflects the positive potential of China-US relations at the grassroots level," he said.

Survey data shows that more than three-quarters of the public express concerns that domestic political, economic, and social issues in the US will influence its government's foreign policy, thereby negatively impacting the world.

Over half of the respondents expressed a high level of concern. The survey further probed American respondents on the potential harm of anti-China and anti-Asian sentiments within the US. The survey reveals that nearly half (49 percent) of American respondents believe these sentiments are likely or definitely harmful to the US, while only 16 percent believe they are not.

Li analyzed that the US attempts to shift its domestic troubles onto other countries, solving its own problems by making other nations share the burden of its crises. "Furthermore, the US imposes tariffs to exploit other countries' earnings during the process of economic globalization, aiming to resolve its economic, employment, and manufacturing issues. In the long run, this treatment of internal problems by external means approach not only fails to solve America's internal issues but may also negatively affect the global economy," he said.

What kind of China-US relationship does the world expect? In 2024, 42 percent of respondents expect the relationship between the two countries to "ease," an increase of 10 percentage points from 2023. In all countries surveyed, more than half of respondents expect China-US relations to either remain stable or ease in the coming year.

At the same time, over half (56 percent) of respondents believe that China-US cooperation is more beneficial for world peace and development, with this proportion exceeding half in all 16 countries surveyed.

When asked about the independence of their own country's foreign policy and actions toward China, about a third of respondents believe their countries are either leaning toward independent policymaking or are significantly aligning with the US.

In eight countries including the UK, France, Italy, Australia, and Argentina, a relative majority of respondents believe their country's policy and actions toward China are either strongly or excessively aligned with the US. Japan and South Korea have the highest agreement rates, with over 60 percent agreeing.
Hope for better relations with China

Overall, nearly 60 percent of respondents hope their country's relationship with China will become closer and friendlier. In 15 countries, a majority of respondents expressed hope for improved relations with China in the future. Among them, more than 70 percent of respondents in South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia shared this sentiment, while over 60 percent in Saudi Arabia and Russia felt the same. In Germany and Australia, nearly half of the respondents also hoped for better future relations with China.

More than half of the respondents expressed willingness to visit China personally to learn more about the country. Among them, the willingness to visit was highest in three African nations: 90 percent in Kenya, 80 percent in South Africa, and over 70 percent in Egypt. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of respondents in India and Russia were also open to visiting.

In 2024, China successfully launched the Chang'e-6 lunar probe. Across the 19 countries surveyed (excluding China), nearly 70 percent of respondents indicated they had followed the event.

Regarding China's development, the survey reveals that 40 percent of respondents expressed "admiration." In six countries - South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Brazil, Argentina, and Indonesia - over half of the respondents shared this sentiment. Kenya ranked the highest, with more than 70 percent expressing admiration, followed by Indonesia at over 60 percent.

When asked whether China's continuous development and progress pose more opportunities or threats to their own country, 36 percent of respondents overall chose "more opportunities." In 10 countries, including Indonesia, India, and Turkey, a relative majority of respondents viewed China's development as "more opportunities."

In six countries - Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, and Brazil - over half of respondents shared this view. Similarly, nearly half of respondents in Argentina agreed. Kenya had the highest proportion, with nearly 70 percent seeing China's development as an opportunity, while South Africa and Egypt followed at approximately 60 percent.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK on Tuesday urged the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between the two countries after a Chinese businessman is reportedly being banned from entering the UK.

It is reported that the businessman banned from entering the UK has asked his legal team to disclose his identity. This businessman has also made it clear in a statement that he has done nothing wrong or unlawful. In the meantime, the UK Parliament (on Monday afternoon) heard an urgent question on this issue, during which a few Members of Parliament continued to accuse the businessman of being a "Chinese spy," according to the Chinese Embassy.

The businessman has been banned from Britain on "national security" grounds, according to media reports.

"I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded," the businessman said in a statement issued by his lawyers on Monday, Reuters reported.

Chinese Embassy in the UK said in the statement on Tuesday that: "As for the anti-China clamours made by a handful of UK MPs, they have done nothing but fully revealed their twisted mentality toward China, as well as their arrogance and shamelessness. What they are really up to is to smear China, target against the Chinese community in the UK and undermine normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK."

It must be pointed out that the CPC and the Chinese government uphold that countries should pursue friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. "This is what we have been saying and what we have been doing. This is also why China has so many friends around the world," the statement said.

Chinese Embassy's statement also urged the UK to have a right perception of China, see the historical trend clearly, and handle its relations with China on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

"We urge the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK," it noted.

Citing four sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported on Monday that "Britain's Labour government has pared back an audit of relations with China, preparing the way for a less critical report that could help Prime Minister Keir Starmer focus on improving economic ties."

On Monday, when he was questioned about the case, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was pleased with what he called progress on ties with China. The PM was cited by the Guardian as saying "Of course, we have to challenge where we must, but it's better to engage to challenge than to stay aside, as it were, important to cooperate where we can on issues like climate change, which need that cooperation. So I'm very pleased with the engagement and the progress that we've made."

In response to Paraguay's announcement on Thursday to expel a Chinese diplomat under the excuse of "interference in internal affairs," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that the accusations and demands made by relevant Paraguayan departments against members of the Chinese delegation to the UNESCO session in Paraguay are baseless and unjustified, seriously violating international practices. China firmly opposes such actions.

Lin said that recently, at the invitation of the Paraguayan government, the Chinese government delegation attended the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. As a member of the United Nations and UNESCO, and as the host of this session, Paraguay's accusations and demands against members of the Chinese delegation are baseless and unjustified, seriously violating international practices.

Lin emphasized that there is only one China in the world, and the island of Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The one-China principle has been affirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and is widely recognized as a fundamental norm in international relations, as well as a consensus within the international community. Reaffirming and upholding the one-China principle is legitimate and transparent anywhere in the world, and there is no issue of "interference in internal affairs."

A Chinese diplomat's visa was canceled by Paraguay, and he was ordered to leave, the South American country's foreign ministry said on Thursday, according to the Reuters.

China on Tuesday urged the US not to take China's goodwill for granted and work to ensure that the hard-won positive dynamics will stay in the China-US counternarcotics cooperation, noting that China remains ready to continue counternarcotics cooperation with the US on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.

The remarks by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry were made in response to that US President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that he "had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States—But to no avail… and drugs are pouring into our country." The US will be charging China an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports.

The spokesperson noted that China is one of the world's toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the US. In the spirit of humanity, China has given support to the US's response to this issue. As early as in 2019, China officially scheduled all fentanyl-related substances and is the first country in the world ever to do so.

China has carried out extensive and in-depth counternarcotics cooperation with the US, which has been highly productive. This is a clear fact for all to see, the spokesperson stressed.

President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Monday to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25 percent tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders, the Associated Press reported.

"Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America," he wrote on his Truth Social site.

In response to the remarks, a Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington told the Global Times in an emailed reply that "About the issue of US tariffs on China, China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war."

The counternarcotics authorities of China and the US have resumed regular communication since the San Francisco Summit. The Chinese side has notified the US side of the progress made in US-related law enforcement operations against narcotics. China has responded to US request for verifying clues on certain cases and taken action, the spokesperson told the Global Times.

All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the US runs completely counter to facts and reality, the spokesperson noted.

Chinese ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong reiterated in a recent interview that there will be negative consequences for the bilateral relationship if Wellington were to join AUKUS. 

Expressing significant concerns about the trilateral security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, Wang said in an interview with Radio New Zealand released on Wednesday that AUKUS entails the transfer of weapons-grade nuclear materials from a nuclear weapon state to a non-nuclear weapon state for the first time in history. "If that is allowed to happen, it will raise serious questions about the integrity of the [nuclear] Non-Proliferation Treaty regime," Wang said. 

"Inevitably, that [joining AUKUS] will have a negative impact on the [China-New Zealand] relationship," the Chinese envoy said, noting that "trust is one of the most precious but also one of the most fragile commodities. It may take years to build up; it just might take seconds to be destroyed."

"We would advise against anything that threatens to erode that very important trust between us," Wang said.

The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand has confirmed the interview content to the Global Times on Wednesday.

Since diplomatic ties were established in 1972, China and New Zealand have achieved remarkable progress in various fields of cooperation. This mutually beneficial relationship has not only brought tangible benefits to both sides but also made positive contributions to the stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region. 

"That's why China cautions against any factors that could undermine this foundation of friendly cooperation," Chen Hong, director of the New Zealand Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

New Zealand has always been able to maintain an independent foreign policy in international affairs, showing strong strategic resilience in balancing ties with major powers. However, the current New Zealand government appears to be gradually straying from this position on certain issues, Chen said. 

In the interview, the Chinese envoy called AUKUS the product of a "zero-sum Cold War mentality," while expressing the hope that New Zealand will take into account its own long-term best interests, the potential implications for regional security, and the impact on the relationship between China and New Zealand, according to the interview.

On another occasion while speaking at the Wellington-based think tank Diplosphere, the Chinese ambassador said "We don't believe in exclusive blocs or alliances targeted at other countries. As has been shown by history, rather than bringing peace and security, such blocs or alliances almost always lead to greater divisiveness, confrontation and even conflict or war," per the release from the embassy's WeChat account on Wednesday.

"AUKUS is a military bloc aimed at containing China's development. Its explicit purpose is to weaken China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region through military deterrence and technological blockades. The two core pillars of AUKUS involve the provision of nuclear-powered submarines and the sharing of advanced military technologies, both of which pose direct threats to China," Chen noted. 

"Therefore, any country that joins AUKUS will inevitably be perceived as positioning itself against China. For New Zealand, this would mean a severe impact on its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, even altering the very nature of this relationship," Chen continued. 

New Zealand has previously said it is "information-gathering" on future cooperation with the AUKUS grouping but has made no commitments, per a Reuters report on Wednesday.

The three AUKUS partners said in September that they were "in discussions with Canada, Japan and New Zealand about potential collaboration on defense technology projects," another Reuters report said. 

Chen believes that the voices calling for joining AUKUS in New Zealand stem primarily from a growing domestic push from far-right anti-China forces to "take sides", as well as external pressures from countries such as the US. 

What's more, while the New Zealand government may seek to gain access to advanced US military technologies by joining the grouping, Chen said this expectation is "quite unrealistic" - as the US maintains strict controls on technology exports and sharing, so even if New Zealand joins AUKUS, the technology it could access is likely to be highly limited.  

If Wellington were to join AUKUS, the losses would outweigh the gains - first, as a "safe haven" of the South Pacific traditionally far from international conflicts, the strategic risks will dramatically increase, second, it will inflict significant damage on trade and investment relations with China, furthermore, it will have a long-term negative impact on the stability of the Asia-Pacific region, Chen said. 

The spat between the US and the World Anti-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues after the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a recent media report saying the Biden administration is holding up the annual US payment to WADA to press the organization as it "chose not to discipline elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug."

According to a New York Times report, the White House has told WADA that it needed to have "more accountability and transparency" and that it must submit to a wide-ranging outside audit of its operations.

A WADA spokesperson told the Global Times in an email on Thursday that WADA has not received any notification from the US Government that it has decided to voluntarily withhold its annual contribution for 2024. 

The agency also said "WADA is unaware of any conditions that the US Government wishes to attach to its payment… no provision exists within WADA's governance model whereby a government may unilaterally withhold its contribution based on its own set of conditions." 

The Biden administration made its 2023 payment for $3.4 million in August of last year. The payment for this year was expected to be paid around the same time, but so far relevant US official has yet to sign off on having the money sent.

Shang Ximeng, a research fellow at the Center for International Sport Communication and Diplomacy Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that the US has repeatedly threatened WADA with default or refusal to pay the annual dues, but as a signatory to the WADA Code, the US is obligated to pay it.

She noted that the US has not only played these kinds of tricks in international anti-doping cooperation, but has frequently threatened to do the same with respect to other international cooperation.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the US' political manipulation has not only weakened WADA's authority, but also slandered China's anti-doping efforts, and undermined the global efforts in the regard.

US' attempts to hijack international organizations exposed its hegemonic mindset and politicizing sports for political purposes, Li noted. 

In April this year, along with USWADA, The New York Times hyped that some Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, accusing WADA of shielding Chinese athletes and failing to hold them accountable.

WADA has commissioned an independent review into the reported incident after refuting these claims, labeling them as "misleading and potentially defamatory media coverage." The agency said that following the TMZ contamination incident in swimming in 2021, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) promptly initiated a comprehensive and meticulous investigation, and based on its results, it was determined that the TMZ positives among these athletes resulted from inadvertent ingestion of contaminated food without their knowledge, and therefore no further doping charges were brought against those athletes, according to previous reports from the Global Times. 

In September 9, the independent Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier backed WADA's handling of the issue in his final investigation report, saying that WADA had not been complacent nor shown bias toward China, according to a Reuters report. 

WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.

If the US restricts Chinese companies from participating in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), these actions could create further challenges for the US market and consumers, a Chinese expert said, following a report exposed that Chinese tech workers report US visa issues despite CES invitations.

Many employees of Chinese tech companies preparing to attend CES in Las Vegas have reportedly encountered "unprecedented" US visa denials, despite holding official event invitations, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Saturday.

"We are aware of some CES attendees and exhibitors from China whose business travel visa applications are being denied," a CES spokesperson said in an email, according to SCMP. "We encourage the US government to expedite and approve visas for individuals who are travelling to the US for legitimate business reasons," the spokesperson said. 

Chris Pereira, the founder of iMpact, a New York-based consultancy, posted this month on LinkedIn that during a cross-cultural leadership training programme for Chinese companies expanding abroad, he learned that "half of the 40 companies in attendance reported their staff were being denied visas, despite holding official invitation letters from CES." Since his post, Pereira said in an interview, at least three more clients had reported employees had been denied visas to attend CES, according to SCMP. 

Exhibitions like CES were "wonderful opportunities for business exchanges between companies from China, the US and the rest of the world," Pereira told SCMP, noting that "it is frustrating to see even events like this being impacted."

The rejection of the CES visa is another example of the US government's intention to reduce exchanges between China and the US. The US has consistently been the biggest obstacle to normal interactions in various areas, including economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. This situation is akin to "lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet," a Chinese expert said. 

Obstructing Chinese companies' participation in CES would disrupt consumer electronics trade between the two sides, and "if the US curtails routine economic and trade activities in this sector, it will create further challenges for the US market and consumers," He Weiwen, senior fellow of the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Saturday.

In the field of consumer electronics, China and the US complement each other in technologies, products, and markets. China brings many advanced technologies and a large number of electronic products for American consumers, which helps lower inflation, enrich the US market supply, and benefit American consumers, He said.

Approximately 4,000 global exhibitors are set to participate in CES in January 2025, with over 30 percent expected to represent Chinese companies, according to SCMP.

"Chinese companies are the main force of CES exhibitors over the years… We hope that the US will work with China to reduce policy obstacles such as visa and entry, take concrete actions to support and encourage more exchanges between people from business, S&T and other sectors of the two countries," Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US, said on X on Saturday.

"Promoting exchanges and cooperation in the global consumer electronics industry is the common wish of enterprises of all countries. It is conducive to connecting the global consumer electronics industrial chain and supply chain, and injecting fresh momentum into the global economy," the spokesperson said.

Chinese companies have maintained a strong presence at CES since 1991. However, in recent years, their participation has varied due to increasing US restrictions. A record high of 1,551 Chinese firms took part in CES in 2018, but attendance dropped to 210 in 2021, 159 in 2022, and 493 in 2023, according to SCMP.

Amid growing US restrictions on routine trade and business exchanges, many Chinese companies are increasingly apprehensive about rising uncertainties, as even routine and lawful trade interactions are at risk of encountering unexpected hurdles, He said. The US needs to adopt a cooperative approach with China in the electrics consumption sector, aiming for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, while abandoning outdated Cold War mentalities, He added.

China issued a judicial interpretation on Monday specifying the determination of the crime of refusing to execute judgments and rulings to hide or transfer property before the verdict takes effect, in an effort to ensure that the judgments and rulings made by courts are enforced in accordance with the law and the legitimate rights and interests of the individuals concerned are effectively safeguarded.

This judicial interpretation is released jointly by China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), and will come into force on December 1.

The judicial explanation clearly stipulates that hiding or transferring property before judgments and rulings come into effect can constitute the crime of resisting the execution of judgments and rulings. In previous judicial practice, the offense of refusing to execute a judgment or ruling generally targeted those who concealed or transferred property after the judgment or verdict had taken effect.

It lists 10 scenarios of refusal to execute despite having the capacity to do so in serious circumstances, as well as five extremely serious circumstances.

The SPC and SPP said that if the cases involved are serious, the perpetrators will be held criminally liable for refusing to execute judgments and rulings.

This explanation has apparently been issued to target deadbeats and aims to fix loopholes in the legislation field as some people have taken advantage of the relatively ambiguous provisions in the law to dodge their debts, Wang Sixin, a professor of law at the Communication University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

It also guarantees that judgments will be enforced more effectively in the future, Wang noted.

The explanation also clarifies that any person who conspires with deadbeats to assist in hiding and transferring property and other acts of omission or commission that make the judgments and rulings unenforceable, are to be punished as accomplices to the crime.

The explanation specifies that if one refuses to abide by the judgments and rulings to pay, including alimony, maintenance, pension, and medical expenses, the person concerned should be punished severely in accordance with the law.

The Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation, including a Type 075 amphibious assault ship, is set to visit Hong Kong on Thursday.

It will be the first Hong Kong call by a PLA Navy amphibious assault ship, and military expert Song Zhongping said that the visit is an important opportunity of national defense and patriotic education.

With the approval of the Central Military Commission and according to an annual work plan, a formation consisting of the PLA Navy's Hainan and Changsha is scheduled to visit Hong Kong from November 21-25 and host a series of open-door events for Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, according to a statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The goal of the events is to showcase the achievements of national defense and military development in the new era, and display the PLA's firm determination and strong capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

Stressing the significance of national defense and patriotic education highlighted by the visit, Song told the Global Times on Tuesday that Hong Kong is an international city that occasionally hosts port calls by warships from foreign countries, including US aircraft carriers in the past. He said that with the constant development of the Chinese military, the visit by advanced PLA Navy equipment will contribute to Hong Kong residents' national identity.

In July 2017, the PLA Navy's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, among other warships, visited Hong Kong and opened to the public, the PLA's official website 81.cn reported at the time.

Song, who boarded the Liaoning at that occasion, said that many people applied to board the carrier, and the crowd waved Chinese national flags in their hands.

The two warships to visit Hong Kong this time are very representative of the PLA Navy's rapid development in recent years, according to Song.

The Hainan is the PLA Navy's first Type 075 amphibious assault ship, and the Changsha is a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, according to previous reports by China Central Television (CCTV).

This marks the first visit of a PLA Navy amphibious assault ship to Hong Kong since the Hainan was launched in September 2019 and commissioned into the PLA Navy in April 2021.

Capable of carrying a large number of helicopters on its flight deck, amphibious assault ship is a genre of large warship only second to aircraft carrier, while the Type 052D is the latest version in China's Type 052 destroyer series, Song noted.

The PLA Navy displayed Z-20J shipborne utility helicopters and Z-8C shipborne transport helicopters at the Airshow China 2024, which just wrapped up on Sunday in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.

Military expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times that these two types of helicopters can carry marines and conduct airborne amphibious assault missions from Type 075 amphibious assault ships and Type 071 dock landing ships.

The helicopters can fly over obstacles on the beach, and land directly behind the enemy defense lines, Zhang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Xi flew in earlier Tuesday for a state visit to Brazil after attending the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.