China's men's basketball team looks to secure a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the basketball World Cup. Tipping off on Friday in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, this is the first time the global showpiece will be hosted by multiple nations.

A total of 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four, will fight for the coveted Naismith Trophy. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the second round, while the bottom two teams will play in the classification round for 17-32 places.

Teams also set their sights on securing a spot at the Paris Olympic Games, with seven tickets at stake in this World Cup and distributed to the best teams per continent.

China eyes to finish the tournament with the best result among Asian teams, so as to book the only ticket allocated to Asia for the Paris Games. 

China will open their campaign against hot favorites Serbia on Saturday before squaring up against debutants South Sudan on Monday. In the last group game on Wednesday, China will meet world No.20 Puerto Rico.

It's exciting to see how naturalized forward Li Kai'er makes a difference in the rebuilt Chinese team. 

Zhou He, a Beijing-based basketball commentator, told the Global Times that it will be difficult for China to secure a spot for the Paris Games via this World Cup.

"There is a big gap in strength between China and the European teams. This is a good opportunity for the young players to gain experience and grow, such as the promising forwards Cui Yongxi and Zhang Zhenlin," Zhou said.

Despite the absence of ace center Nikola Jokic, Serbia has been one of the most formidable forces in Europe and is clear favorites to win the group. The real intrigue lies over which team can progress along with them.

Regular presence Puerto Rico is a tall order for China to handle, while South Sudan has been enjoying a purple patch after earning their maiden World Cup appearance by winning 11 of 12 qualifying games.

Zhou said China cannot pin all its hopes on a single player - the 29-year-old Li, who averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while with the NBA franchise Minnesota Timberwolves. 

"We can see from the role he plays in the NBA that he does a bit of everything like three pointers, rebounds and playmaking. But we can't expect him to take over playmaking duties the whole game and he's not a big-time scorer," Zhou noted. 

"In difficult moments, other players are required to step up and help the team."

In the warm-up games prior to the world cup, Li has been trying to integrate into the team. China's head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic from Serbia said Li is still working hard to get to his maximum.

Among the top 30 stars to watch in this tournament, as listed by the world's basketball governing body FIBA, Li is ranked No.27. 

"It will be intriguing to see how the wiry forward steps into a bigger role for China. Li's strengths as a somewhat position-less forward who plays at his own pace and brings the best out of his teammates will make up an interesting duo with Zhou Qi at center," said FIBA.

In Shanghai, Halloween this year has fewer pumpkins and Jack-o'-Lanterns, but a little bit more cosplay competitions featuring characters from hit TV dramas and ancient novels and Chinese celebrities. In the eyes of Chinese youths, celebrating this “imported festival” via a unique Chinese demonstrates to the world the Chinese public’s cultural confidence and openness. 

The topic of Halloween in Shanghai has dominated Chinese social media recently. In pictures trickling out on the internet, Shanghai’s youngsters can be seen donning Beijing opera costumes, while others go as topless Batman… others put pictures of top China beauty influencer Li Jiaqi on their faces while wearing T-shirts that say, “Why do you think this is expensive?” to mock Li’s previous controversy in which he said during a livestream that viewers only have themselves to blame for not earning enough, after the chat complained about the price of an eyebrow pencil he was promoting. 

Characters from Empresses in the Palace, a popular TV drama about the intrigue between the emperor's concubines in the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), were top cosplay targets for young people in Shanghai. 

“Halloween has already become a Chinese-style carnival. Dressing as people we like is a good way of venting pressure and relaxing,” a Shanghai resident who dressed as one character in the show told the Global Times.

Some people did not go for complicated outfits – just putting dark circles under their eyes, squinting and carrying a sign that said “Party B” was enough to create a vivid imitation of an exhausted employee. 

The celebrations were organized by the participants themselves, but the scale was so big that Shanghai police added additional manpower on Tuesday night on Jululu Road, where the celebrations were held, and asked citizens to spread the news that the bars along the road were no longer serving customers, and people could only exit the venue instead of entering, media reported.

Shanghai police redirected traffic around Jululu Road on Tuesday, to cope with the large crowds expected to come that night. 

Ai Ai (pseudonym), a 28-year-old Shanghai resident who joined the city’s celebration, told the Global Times on Wednesday that she joined for “pure fun.” “There are few occasions you can see cosplayers wearing all styles. It is so interesting to see young people dress in such creative ways.”

Ku (pseudonym), another Shanghai resident who works as a “costume maker” brought her self-made wheelchair to the celebration. 
“It is an opportunity to bring to everyone the cool things I have made… I feel so happy to be a ‘cyberpunk worker.’”

“I have to say, New York pales in comparison with Shanghai in terms of Halloween celebration this year,” a Shanghai resident who is currently studying in New York said on his WeChat account.

However, there are people who went too far. Some people dressed as medical workers doing COVID-19 tests for residents, which sparked outrage online with many calling the cosplay “low quality and disrespectful of medical workers.” 

As usual, the celebration of Halloween has drawn a torrent of discussion online, as many question whether it is appropriate, some also called the celebration of imported festivals “worship of everything that’s foreign.”

“The festival represents a certain kind of culture. However, there’s no right or wrong in a certain culture, it just depends on whether one likes it or not. Some Chinese people have injected Halloween with Chinese style and use this festival to have fun, what’s wrong about that?” said Ai. 

Ku also believe such a statement is “absolute.” 
“As a Gene-Z youngster, I grew up in the era of China’s rapid development, and I believe we are the generation with the biggest national pride. It is such pride that gives us an inclusive attitude toward other cultures.”

Jiefang Daily, a newspaper affiliated with the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, defends young people’s celebration of Halloween. It published an article on Tuesday that said the Shanghai streets on Halloween turned young people’s crazy fantasies into reality. 

The article said that it is a celebration of Chinese youths, and there’s no need to be nervous about the little pumpkins and Jack-o'-Lanterns. “The Halloween party, rather than being an opportunity for Chinese to celebrate a Western festival, is a big global party that involves young people from both China and other countries. People from different countries toast each other, forming a lively symbol of Shanghai’s openness and cosmopolitan nature.” 

Ku was amazed by how creative Chinese have “remolded” the Western festival. “I think it is so cool that we can use our own culture, our own jokes to turn this festival into one that has Chinese style. I hope Shanghai can witness more outstanding celebrations of other festivals, so we can have more time to relax, entertain ourselves, as well as let our creative juices fly.”

Aiming at sharing China's experiences in cultural heritage conservation with the world, the 2023 World Expo on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Rehabilitation, a gala that highlights numerous A-list Chinese museums, will be held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, starting from November 23. 

The three-day expo includes five exhibiting areas with specified themes like "digital cultural relics," "intangible cultural heritage (ICH)" and "museums." 

The star of the event is the "museum" section. It hosts top-notch cultural institutions like the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan Province and also the Dunhuang Academy, a research-and-exhibition in one institution that has nearly 80 years of history in Northwest China's Gansu Province. 

Xiang Xinshuang, a cultural heritage researcher in Shanghai, told the Global Times that these museums, with their vast collections, can reflect the "diversity and wide spectrum of Chinese cultural heritages."

"A cultural institution, the Dunhuang Academy, for example, doesn't just show relics, but also embodies the path and mindset that Chinese culturalists use to safeguard the country's cultural treasures," Li Liyang, a museum expert, told the Global Times. 

More than 80 exhibitors worldwide will join the upcoming Chengdu cultural fair, Yu Houli, a staff member of one of the expo's organizers, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Sichuan Research Institute (SJTUSRI), told the Global Times. 

The fair will see the participation of cultural experts from countries such as France, Poland and Nepal. Yu revealed that Germany and Italy will be the two biggest overseas delegations at the expo, with participants such as the University of Florence and the German-Chinese Association of Artificial Intelligence (GCAAI). 

 Xiang told the Global Times that compared with the "liberal art" nature of many cultural exhibitors at the event, the natural science-oriented participants like the Polytechnic University of Turin may bring "a new multi-discipline twist to China's cultural heritage conservation." 

"It also reflects the trending approach to integrate technology, engineering and digital means into the cultural heritage conservation field. Such an international expo provides abundant opportunities for cross-subject collaboration between China and overseas," Xiang remarked. 

The "diversity" of participants does not only reflect their mixed cultural backgrounds, but also participants' professions. Other than scholars, the event also embraces intangible cultural inheritors, architectural studios, and cultural tourism professionals and veterans in the cultural creative industry. 

Besides the exhibition section, the Chengdu expo will host over 16 events, including forum discussions stressing subjects like the "Central Axis of Beijing" and "new technologies and materials for conserving ancient buildings," as well as a forum that invites ICH inheritors to share their experiences with each other. 

Instead of choosing Chinese mega cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the event has landed in Chengdu, one of Southwest China's most cultural enriched cities. Yu described Chengdu as a "rising star" that contributes to the Chinese cultural economy, especially cultural tourism. 

"Because of Chengdu's potential, the event will also be held in 2024 and 2025 in the city," the SJTUSRI staff member told the Global Times. 

Including SJTUSRI, the 2023 World Expo on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Rehabilitation is hosted by several organizers like the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, China Association for Conservation Technology of Cultural Heritage and the China Foundation For Cultural Heritage Conservation. 

The event will be held at Chengdu's Western China International Expo City and is scheduled to end on November 25. 

As the casualties keep climbing in the Gaza Strip, Chinese observers warned a humanitarian crisis in the region is unavoidable if the fighting between Hamas and Israel doesn't stop. The observers also said such a crisis, if caused by atrocities, could trigger a public opinion explosion and reverse the political situation at certain tipping point. At this juncture, the US, which can exert real influence on Israel, is urged to pressure Israel to cool down its offensive in Gaza, instead of further stoking tension in the Middle East.

Western media has been piling pressure on China to condemn Hamas. Chinese observers said that it is illogical to ask China to pick sides in a conflict that's partly caused by Western colonization and exacerbated by US biased Middle East policies. China's impartiality in responding to this crisis remains consistent, said the experts, noting China is also willing to provide convenience for the negotiation between Palestine and Israel if necessary.

The Israeli military said on Thursday it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that the political leadership has not yet decided on one. Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said on Thursday that forces "are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Wednesday that Israel would "crush and destroy" the Hamas militant group.

According to the AP, the conflict has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides, following an increase in Israeli bombardments on the sixth day since Hamas' surprise attack. More than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza, the UN said, as food, fuel and medical supplies dwindle.

Three Chinese nationals were killed and two are missing in the conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday, noting that several others are injured. The relevant Chinese diplomatic missions abroad are fully coordinating the treatment of the injured and handling the aftermath for the deceased, said the ministry.

The risk of a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip is mounting and will become even more likely if the Israeli army launches a ground operation, as Gaza is densely populated and Hamas can easily mingle with civilians, which makes army forces difficult to identify, Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times.

Soaring death toll and exacerbated dilemma in Gaza will probably lead to overwhelming sympathy toward people in Palestine, whose military power pales in comparison with Israel's. That scenario (public opinion sympathetic to Palestinians) is also what Hamas wants, said Zhu Weilie, the director of the Middle East Studies Institute of the Shanghai International Studies University.

Netanyahu and centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and military chief of staff, have agreed to form an emergency unity government, Gantz's National Unity party said on Wednesday. Chinese observers see this union as a signal that Israel is going to take tougher actions against Hamas.

Palestinian medical sources said recently that Israel on Wednesday targeted the western port area of Gaza with several white phosphorus bombs, resulting in hundreds of cases of suffocation. In response, a spokesperson from the UN said on Wednesday that the UN hasn't seen any report of this regard.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza. "I appeal to all parties - and those who have an influence over those parties - to avoid any further escalation and spillover," he told reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Tian noted that the US can exert influence on Israel to cool down its continuous offense in the Gaza Strip. However, what Washington is doing is to fuel the already tensed situation by sending warships and unilaterally condemning Hamas, rather than ask Israel to stop bombardment in the Gaza Strip, according to Tian.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel on Thursday in a show of support for Israel after Hamas surprise attack. The US could soon have two aircraft carriers in the eastern Mediterranean, US media Politico cited Defense Department officials as saying.

If Washington really wants to mediate the crisis, it should sit both sides down for negotiations, instead of sending warships to the Middle East to boost Israel's morale, Zhu told the Global Times. He said the way the US is stoking tension will prolong the conflict, thus lead to the death of more civilians, as well as bigger humanitarian crisis.

In an interview with Phoenix published on Thursday, Palestinian Ambassador to China Fariz Mehdawi said China has been asking for a collective effort to solve the conflicts in the Middle East, "but has never been accepted by the US unfortunately, because they kept it within the Quartet as if China doesn't exist. They [the Americans] think the Middle East is their own garden, they have to keep control of everything for them … And we are paying the price of this monopoly. In short, it's a selfish foreign policy which is irresponsible in my opinion."

West shifts blame

China remains deeply concerned over the escalating situation which has resulted in numerous innocent civilian casualties and over the serious deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Palestine, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a Thursday briefing, noting that China will maintain communication with relevant parties to promote ceasefire and help alleviate an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, on Thursday had a phone conversation with Rafi Harpaz, the Deputy Director General in charge of Asia-Pacific affairs of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhai noted that China is deeply concerned over the escalating tension and violence and is saddened by the civilian casualties. China condemns the acts that harm innocent civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence.

China has no self-interest in the Palestinian question and has always stood on the side of peace and justice. China sincerely hopes for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine and is willing to work with the international community to promote peace and create conditions for its realization, said Zhai.

Zhai also had phone calls with Amal Jadou, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Palestine, and Osama Khedr, assistant minister of the Palestine department in the Egyptian Foreign Ministry separately in recent days.

However, some Western media outlets started to hype China's response to the conflict, and said China stopped short of condemning Hamas. An article published in The Diplomat on Wednesday said that "China's Response to the Israel-Hamas Conflict Reflects Its Longstanding Support for Palestine." US media Politico ran another article calling China's response to Hamas' attack "soft message."

Tian said the Western media is shifting groundless blame to China. "The root of the conflicts is partly the result of the British colonization, and US' long-term disregard of Palestine requests. Now that the bomb Western countries planted a long time ago has exploded, they are blaming China for not condemning Hamas. Where is the logic?" said Tian.

As a matter of fact, the burst of the current Palestine-Israel conflicts is a proof that China's proposal of a two-state solution is the right way, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

China's impartiality in Palestine-Israel conflicts remain consistent, said Zhu. China has offered many times to provide convenience for the negotiation between Palestine and Israel, and China will continue to do this if necessary.

A tourism promotion event was held at the Italian Cultural Center in Beijing, to help boost mutual exchanges between China and Italy. Italian Ambassador to China Massimo Ambrosetti addressed the event.

The ambassador emphasized that, Italy is famous for its food and wine, its cities of art, and its fashion brands, but these are not the only advantage points of Italian tourism. "We have many lesser-known but equally authentic and important places and therefore need to promote in-depth travel experiences in these areas as well," said he. 

In the first half of 2023, the Italian Embassy and Consulates in China processed more than 50,000 visas, and more than 3 million traveled to Italy in 2019, and "we are now aiming to reach and exceed the 2019 figure in 2024."

The event was co-hosted by the Italian National Tourist Board and Italian Embassy in China. Promotional events were also held in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing.

Italian scholar Eusebio Filopatro (pseudonym) never expected his pseudonym would make him the center of a news incident. When the Global Times (GT) was maliciously attacked and slandered by certain Italian and Western media outlets for publishing his signed article under the pseudonym Eusebio Filopatro, while being accused of fabricating "a fictional character" to create "fake news," this Italian scholar was confused: Anonymity should not be an issue - you can use Google searching the key words "anonymous" or "anonymous source" and "New York Times" or "Reuters," and you will see that almost all Western media outlets rely on anonymous sources routinely. So why does the use of pseudonyms become a problem when it comes to Chinese media?

When GT sharply countered the smear campaign spearheaded by Western media outlets, this Italian scholar was greatly excited.

He stated that he would be honored to provide more analyses that meet the standards of GT and have them published in the future. However, he also noted that he would continue to contribute such content under his Eusebio Filopatro pseudonym especially when discussing more controversial matters.

A request for anonymity

In early August, the Italian scholar submitted an article to GT regarding Italy's intention to withdraw from the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the article, he expressed different views from those expressed by Italy's ruling elites. He pointed out that China's size, its trading figures, and its other partners will not be determined by Western policies and actions, and that the West's "de-risking" campaign will only make the West strangle itself in "splendid isolation." He called on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to visit China to experience a power that does not project ideological and domestic policy preferences on partners, believing Italy's China policy should not be predetermined before hearing from the Chinese side.

Considering domestic public opinion sentiments in Italy, the scholar insisted on having the article published anonymously. He was well aware that speaking the truth about Italy's potential withdrawal from the BRI in the current domestic Italian public opinion atmosphere was risky.

Out of respect for the author and in the interest of his safety, GT agreed to publish this article under his pseudonym, Eusebio Filopatro.

However, the article was maliciously attacked by a number of Italian and Western media outlets after its publication. Italian media outlet Le Formiche claimed that it couldn't find any personal information about the author online, dismissing him as a "fictional character" created to "spread fake news." The Chinese version of RFI also published an article entitled "Italian media outlet questions Chinese state media use of fake people and fake news to criticize Rome's withdrawal from the BRI," amplifying the malicious attacks and rumors from the Italian media outlets against GT.

The slanderous reactions from Le Formiche and a few other Western media outlets have proven the validity of the concerns raised by the Italian scholar and the current deterioration of Western public opinion. Italian and Western media outlets have demonstrated a dogged determination to uncover the identity of the dissenting author.

In response to their malicious efforts, GT published an article on August 14 entitled "Why did a pseudonym cause some Western media outlets to react so strongly?," pointing out that the author requested the use of a pseudonym precisely because of his deep understanding of the nature of Italian and Western media outlets, with the resultant backlash having validated the author's concerns.

"In light of the intimidations and smearing recently suffered by Professor Alessandro Orsini and former ambassador Elena Basile for having expressed views that understood and defended Italy's national interests differently from Italy's ruling elite, I prefer to remain anonymous, and I will try to establish my authenticity with the Italian press in due time," Filopatro told GT.

"This 'pseudonym incident' involving the Italian author allows us to see more clearly that when it comes to attacking and smearing China, some Western media outlets have gone hysterical and fanatical, becoming accomplices in suppressing the truth and rational voices," reads GT's response article.

Nie Shujiang, an associate professor at the Guangming School of Journalism and Communication at the China University of Political Science and Law, endorsed the Global Times' approach. He expressed his belief that scholars using pseudonyms or publishing articles anonymously in the media is commonplace internationally and the Global Times simply and impeccably followed the internationally accepted practice.

"Everyone knows Mark Twain, but how many people know his real name was Samuel Clemens? George Kennan published an essay under the pseudonym X in the Foreign Affairs magazine. Elena Ferrante is currently the most popular and mysterious writer in Italy, whose true identity remains a mystery. Why do the Italian media outlets never question this?" Nie asked.

He emphasized that it is a hypocritical and unfair double standard that Western media outlets themselves use pseudonyms or anonymous sources but accuse Chinese media outlets of "creating fake news" when the latter do the same. Nie also lauded the response by the Global Times as "timely, positive, and proactive," as it set the record straight and positively contributed to international public opinion.

Li Haidong, a professor with the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told GT that Western media outlets often cite "anonymous sources" or "certain experts" in their reporting while discrediting Chinese media outlets for doing the same. This demonstrates some Western media's lack of basic respect for Chinese media. "They consistently employ a superior and arbitrary logic to judge the practices of Chinese media, which is unhealthy," Li said.
Rational voices being suppressed

The response article from the Global Times quickly sparked fiery rejoinders in Italy. Alessandro Orsini, an Italian political analyst who has been a target of public opinion attacks due to his alleged pro-Russia views, with over 130,000 followers on Facebook, caught wind of GT's response article and commented on his Facebook account that what GT has reported about political intimidation in Italy is true, that GT is a serious and important outlet, and that he is pleased to have been mentioned as someone who cares for Italy's national interests.

The viewpoints expressed in GT's response article, which highlighted the suppression of truth and rationality in Italian public opinion, was also supported by Italian netizens. "Everybody talks about it, even foreign newspapers talk about it, [but] only by us the truth is hushed… And even if we wanted, we could not say it, because they keep us under close watch! Is this democracy or what?" one Italian netizen demanded.

Shen Yi, a professor in international relations at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the criticism of the Italian government's potential withdrawal from the BRI by an Italian scholar writing under a pseudonym reminded him of the famous story, "The Emperor's New Clothes."

"The Italian scholar was playing the role of a faceless mass on the road and hoping to shout out in an anonymous way that the emperor is actually naked," Shen said.

The so-called de-risking practice of Italy's withdrawal from the BRI is completely against its own interests. The benefits that Italy can gain from cooperating with China are obvious. By leaning toward the US, Italy might actually gain nothing, Shen said, noting that Italy is not only brainwashed but also delusional by not allowing others to speak the truth.

Li said that it's a pervasive phenomenon in some Western countries that the deteriorating domestic public opinion has led to scholars and other knowledgeable individuals to fear openly calling for rational relations with China. Western public opinion currently exhibits a "witch hunt mentality," and there is a very strong "political correctness" present in some Western media that is always against China. This puts individuals who want to express objective and rational opinions in an extremely disadvantageous position, making it difficult or even impossible for them to openly express their views. By contrast, information that demonizes China spreads everywhere.

'White flag' raised by Italian media

Six days after Le Formiche accused the Global Times of fabricating the character "Eusebio Filopatro," the Italian media outlet Faro di Roma published a commentary article by Eusebio Filopatro, discussing the Wagner incident in Russia. The Eusebio Filopatro writing for Faro di Roma is the very Eusebio Filopatro who contributed to the GT in the first place. On August 17, L'Antidiplomatico published Filopatro's explanation about his anonymous article on GT and the subsequent smears GT suffered at the hands of Italian and Western media outlets. In the article, he stated that when faced with an article that differs from the mainstream position, attention shouldn't be focused too much on the author's identity but rather on the viewpoints expressed. Linking the author to "propaganda" is itself a form of intimidation and potential violence, violating the principles of freedom of speech and debate, Filopatro wrote.

In view of GT's response article and Filopatro's explanation, Le Formiche was compelled to publish a response. It had to acknowledge the existence of the anonymous author. However, it still attempted to discredit GT by referring to it as a "Party newspaper" and claimed that GT had failed to explicitly state that the author of the article was using a pseudonym.

Filopatro told GT that many columnists and Italian journalists he is in contact with publish under pseudonyms themselves, with the fact sometimes made explicit, and sometimes not.

"The claim by Formiche that there is a rule about revealing and explaining pseudonyms in Western press, and that GT should 'learn' from it, is completely false and made up, only to discredit GT and, in particular, my BRI article on GT," he said.

He also added that "Formiche basically raised a white flag, as they admitted that Eusebio Filopatro exists and is a foreign policy analyst for Italy and the EU."

After reviewing the whole incident, Filopatro said, "For me, this has been a very positive experience. Many more Italian readers have reflected on the termination of the [BRI-relating] Memorandum of Understanding. The right of GT to use pseudonyms and anonymity, just like every other newspaper, has been vindicated."

However, when asked if he would be willing to appear in Chinese or Italian media in the future under his real identity, he still expressed reservations, stating his preference to continue using his pseudonym: "I do not fancy being called 'a slimy piece of excrement,' nor do I wish to have my face displayed on Italy's main newspaper as a sort of 'public enemy' or 'voice of the propaganda.' Neither do I wish to have my actions questioned in parliament as a sort of national problem. Hence, I consider Italy's public debate unfree, and I prefer to maintain a pseudonym."

Chinese experts who are following this matter said that the incident has damaged the credibility of the Italian media, exposing a bias and double standard toward Chinese media. It also reveals the hidden political persecution mechanisms in the Western society, causing people to be afraid of speaking the truth and face repercussions for speaking the truth, which is a social tragedy, analysts warned.

A cultural exchange event was held at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing during the National Day holidays, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in China. 

At the event, the embassy invited outstanding young teachers and students from the Chinese Oriental Orchestra to showcase their talents in the instruments of guzheng, pipa, harp, cello, and dance, allowing the Thai audience to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese music and appreciate the profound symbolism in traditional Chinese music and dance. 

Staffers from the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing also performed Thai songs and dances, and provided detailed explanations of Thailand's history and culture to the Chinese guests. 

The event aims to deepen the friendship between China and Thailand through cultural exchanges by not only building a good platform for cultural exchanges between the two countries, but also the promotion of understanding and communication between the two peoples.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she was "upset" when China's Huawei Technologies released a new phone with an advanced chip during her visit to the country last month but noted that the US has no evidence China can make these components "at scale," Bloomberg reported. She also said the US is trying to use every single tool at its disposal to deny the Chinese the ability to advance their technology in ways that can hurt the US.

Raimondo's words are nothing new, but saying that China's technological advancement "can hurt the US" is a stupid and ridiculous line of thinking. Many American elites refuse to accept that the Chinese have broken through the technological blockade. Radical lawmakers are calling for efforts to strangle Huawei and SMIC, which is not only hegemonic but also an evil way of thinking.

Whether it is ASML, the Dutch manufacturer of lithography machines, or the American chip giants, they do not believe that decoupling can stop China's progress in semiconductor technology. They believe that China can find alternative methods and its own technological path. However, a large number of American elites are non-technical and refuse to face reality, blindly believing that Huawei's breakthrough is because the US export controls on technology to China are "still too loose."

It should be said that Huawei's breakthrough has to a certain extent undermined the credibility of the US' technological blockade against China and shattered the collective confidence of the West in this regard. Washington's current investigation into the origin of Huawei's chips and attempts to tighten the noose on the blockade against China will only isolate itself.

Because Washington clearly lost the first round, it has to bet even bigger and risk losing the Chinese market for many Western semiconductor companies. Imagine the result of continuing technological restrictions if Huawei makes further breakthroughs - can ASML's lithography machines still enjoy their current glory? Where will the US-controlled chip production factories find their next market? Just look at the panic faced by Japanese and German automotive giants today in the face of the rise of Chinese electric vehicles. If the current semiconductor leaders are cut off from the Chinese market, who can guarantee that their future situation will be better?

Huawei's Kirin 9000s is a breakthrough that it was forced to make by the US sanctions. If the US exerts even greater pressure, it will turn this breakthrough into a systemic breach, promoting a highly integrated and strong production chain in the Chinese semiconductor industry. Chips produced in China will also be much cheaper than those produced in the US.

If the US semiconductor industry loses the Chinese market, it will not be as lucky as Google and Facebook. The latter have software advantages that some Chinese internet companies do not have, including the application ecosystem they established by being the first movers. However, semiconductors are hardware, and when Chinese companies like Huawei can provide a cheaper alternative, the situation will be completely different.

A crucial crossroads has been reached. If the US forces China to achieve complete independence in the semiconductor industry, it will have no further cards to play in blocking China's progress. Moreover, the technological landscape of the world will undergo a rewrite. China now possesses the capital, and we will continue to progress no matter what. It is now the US' turn to make a choice: continue gambling or change course and resume cooperation?