Indholdsfortegnelse for Vol.68/No.8 i Beijing Review

The Ninth Asian Winter Games (AWG) took place in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, from February 7 to 14. As the largest multi-sport winter event of its kind in Asia, the Ninth AWG featured six sports encompassing 11 disciplines across 64 medal events. This year, over 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions joined, making it the largest edition to date in terms of participation. The Chinese delegation sent 170 athletes to compete in all 64 events. The AWG serves as a grand platform for athletes to showcase their prowess in ice and snow sports, promoting the development of these disciplines across Asia. This year’s games offered young athletes the opportunity to gain experience in international competition, which is essential in their preparation for the 2026 Olympic…

As the U.S. and China navigate their ambitions on the global stage, their contrasting approaches reveal deep divides shaped by their respective historical narratives. With President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in late January, U.S. domestic and foreign policy is undergoing rapid adjustments and transformations. Trump’s approach leans heavily toward nativism. This philosophy prioritizes America’s own interests and often justifies increased tariffs—even against traditional allies—as a necessary step in the nation’s quest to “make itself great again.” China, meanwhile, remains committed to economic globalization and free trade. In 2024, the country achieved a milestone, with total imports and exports reaching a record 43.85 trillion yuan ($6.1 trillion). Since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, the country has slashed its average tariff rate from 15.3 percent in 2001…

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year, a shift is emerging in this protracted war. In a recent interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, which aired on February 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated, for the first time, his willingness to end the “hot stage of the war.” This statement, however, came amid unprecedented pressure from both the United States and Russia, as both Washington and Moscow insist that Ukraine must hold elections. As a result, Zelensky’s administration is facing an existential crisis, grappling with pressing questions of legitimacy and survival. In a surprising development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—two leaders with sharply divergent approaches and political ideologies—have found common ground in their calls for Ukraine to conduct elections that could potentially lead to the…

Dear Player, welcome to the world of otome games. Here, you’ll step into the life of a young woman and enter a realm filled with romance and fantasy. Take Mr. Love: Queen’s Choice, one of the most popular Chinese otome games, released in 2017 by mobile game developer Paper Games as the country’s first title in this genre, for example. In this game, you’ll meet four men, each with unique backgrounds and captivating personalities. There’s a playful pop star who surprises you with his depth of care; a cool and calm genius scientist who hides a quiet strength; a wealthy yet distant executive who gradually reveals his vulnerabilities; and a reliable older brother figure who also serves as your no-nonsense business partner. As you navigate challenges and make important decisions,…

‘FATHER OF CHINA’S NUCLEAR SUBMARINES’ DIES AT 99 Huang Xuhua, chief designer of China’s first-generation nuclear submarines, died in Wuhan, Hubei Province, on February 6. He was 99 years old. Huang dedicated his life to the development and advancement of China’s nuclear submarine program. He led the research and development of the nation’s first nuclear submarines from the 1950s to the 1980s. With the completion of the building of the first Type 09I nuclear-powered attack submarine in 1970, China became the fifth nation in the world to possess such hardware. Huang was a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In 2019, he received the Medal of the Republic, the highest state honor. He was also a recipient of the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, the country’s top science…

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on February 1 he would levy additional tariffs of between 10 and 25 percent on imports from China, Mexico and Canada. Chief on his list of rationale for the new tariffs were claims that the three are to blame for the fentanyl crisis that has been exacerbating the ongoing opioid crisis in the U.S. since 2012. The threat of tariffs sent both Canada and Mexico scrambling, with both countries pledging thousands of additional staff to police their borders with the U.S., and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promising to appoint a “fentanyl czar” and establish a “strike force.” In contrast, the tariffs coerced no new measures from China, which already implements stricter controls on fentanyl than those implemented by the U.S. itself. China began placing…

The red-crowned crane is a magnificent bird found primarily in China, Japan, Mongolia and Russia. Revered throughout Chinese history, this elegant creature is known as the “xianhe,” which translates to “fairy crane.” It has long captured Chinese hearts, appearing on clothing and in paintings, architecture and literature as a symbol of happiness, auspiciousness, longevity and fidelity. Unfortunately, since the early 21st century, the red-crowned crane has faced many a challenge, primarily due to habitat loss. As a result, its population has declined dramatically, leading to its designation as a first-class national-level protected animal in China. A number of national wetland parks, such as the Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, have contributed to the recovery and proliferation of the red-crowned crane and other endangered species. “The Zhalong…

In 2022, American pawnshop owner Evan Kail acquired a photo album that documented Japanese troops’ war crimes in China and later donated it to the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. This has made him a familiar name in China. On January 28, Kail had the opportunity to participate in China Central Television’s (CCTV) Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan in Chinese), the annual television event that takes place on the eve of the Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival)—which fell on January 29 this year. Dressed in a traditional Chinese suit and holding a piece of Chinese porcelain that symbolizes friendship, he addressed the hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in for the celebration. “The warmth of the Chinese people has really touched me and everywhere I go, people have shown me…

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China has many areas of karst landforms. Towering above Guangxi’s tropical forests, fields and rice paddies, these karst formations are created by the erosion of water-soluble rocks such as limestone and dolomite. The karst landforms in Guangxi are part of the South China Karst, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Natural Heritage site that also spans neighboring Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, as well as Chongqing Municipality. Peaks of all shapes, as well as natural bridges, sinkholes, canyons and large cave systems can be found everywhere across Guangxi, and attract swarms of visitors in all seasons. During this year’s Spring Festival period (January 29-February 12), adventurous tourists from around the world explored Guangxi’s geology while hiking, cycling, boating, drifting, river tracing and…

In yet another controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again announced his intention to acquire foreign territory—this time, the Gaza Strip. After previously announcing plans to take over Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal, Trump said during a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. on February 4 that the United States will “take control of the Gaza Strip,” relocate its Palestinian residents to neighboring countries, and redevelop the coastal enclave, much of which has been reduced to rubble after 15 months of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Israeli airstrikes have damaged or destroyed around 60 percent of buildings, including schools and hospitals, and around 92 percent of homes, according to the United Nations. On February 9,…

The Spring Festival is the largest and most important festival in China and among Chinese communities worldwide. Having experienced the festival for six years in China, I have developed a deep appreciation for its cultural, social and economic significance. The celebration embodies essential themes such as family reunion, wishing for good fortune and wellbeing, social harmony, and preserving cultural heritage. In recognition of its importance, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Spring Festival to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024. Traditionally, Spring Festival activities begin with the Laba Festival on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, which marks the beginning of Chinese New Year celebrations. They conclude with the Yuanxiao or Lantern Festival on the 15th…