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South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Ancestor cell of animals and plants lived on hydrogen, not oxygen: Chinese study
A team of Chinese scientists has traced the ancestor of animals and plants to a hydrogen-metabolising cell that existed before the Great Oxidation Event, a pivotal period that occurred at least 2.1 billion years ago and led to the formation of the Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere. The study suggests that the last common ancestor of eukaryotes lived around 2.72 billion years ago under oxygen-deficient conditions. Eukaryotes are cells or organisms characterised by a membrane-bound nucleus. They are the foundation of complex, multicellular life including all animals, plants and fungi, as well as many unicellular organisms. 'The origin of eukaryotic cells has long remained a mystery,' the team of researchers from East China Normal University and Shenzhen University said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature earlier this month. The findings of the team support the hydrogen hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotes, challenging earlier findings about the lineage of this common ancestor. As eukaryogenesis has allowed for the development of complex life on Earth, understanding its origins can uncover more insights into the evolution of life. It could also have implications for the exploration of life in outer space – by shedding light on the conditions and processes that might allow complex life to arise elsewhere in the universe.
The Print
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
For China, the India-Pakistan conflict was an advertisement for its military systems
While Pakistan may have been the one to fight, according to these accounts, China supplied the weapons, trained the forces, and dictated the playbook. This was not just about Chinese-made equipment—it was about Chinese strategy, its systems, and its growing ability to shape outcomes from behind the curtain. 'The 'all-Chinese class' defeated the Indian Air Force in a big way,' read one Baidu post. Another boasted : 'Chinese-made fighters defeat India's ace with zero damage.' In this version of events, the conflict wasn't a regional skirmish—it was a showcase of China's military supremacy. To much of the world, the latest clash was India versus Pakistan. But on Chinese social media, the real battle was between India and China—Pakistan was merely a proxy. While global headlines focused on the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Chinese digital spaces told a different story. As Yao Yuanmei, an associate professor at East China Normal University, asked: 'Why couldn't India's 'world-made' advanced weapons defeat Pakistan's single 'Chinese-made' weapon?' A number of posts have declared that the ceasefire took place because China is behind Pakistan. The foundation of Pakistan's strength Across Chinese platforms, there is near-unanimous agreement: Pakistan's military edge stems from Chinese systems. From the J-10CE and JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to the ZDK-03 early warning aircraft and Hongqi air defences, Chinese technology is cast as the reason Pakistan held its own—especially in the air. According to Chinese accounts, Pakistan's J-10C fighters—supported by Chinese AWACS—downed six Indian aircraft without losing a single jet. Analysts highlighted the 'superior' J-10C's gallium nitride radar and Thunderbolt-15 missiles as key advantages, arguing that they outclassed India's Rafales in both detection and strike capabilities. Ground warfare was not left out. A Baidu post claimed that Pakistan's 500 Chinese-made VT-4 tanks outperformed much of India's armour. Chinese-designed artillery systems like the SH-15 howitzer and AR3 rocket launchers, meanwhile, are credited with boosting Pakistan's firepower and range. This was not just about hardware. Chinese observers framed the outcome as validation of their systems-based model of warfare. Pakistan's coordinated operations, enabled by seamless integration, stood in stark contrast to India's patchwork of multinational platforms and doctrines. Zhang Zhonglin, a civil aviation analyst, noted that while Pakistan has rapidly modernised its air force, it is China's systems and training that made the difference. He pointed to Pakistan's adoption of 'system-defined operations'—China's signature model that connects fighters, radar, missiles, and command networks into a single, cohesive framework. From a Chinese viewpoint, India's perceived failure to target Pakistan's air defences early on proved decisive. Instead of hitting airfields and early warning systems, India relied on ineffective missile strikes, leaving Pakistan's capabilities intact. India's reluctance to escalate and lack of readiness for a full-scale war exposed its vulnerabilities. Despite a numerical advantage, the battle became one of tactics, not might. With China's PL-15 missiles, Pakistan's air force had the upper hand. Also read: How China is seeing Operation Sindoor China's arms dominance and strategic influence For Chinese commentators, this was not a show of solidarity with Pakistan. It was a real-time advertisement for Chinese military systems. 'This isn't just about one weapon's success,' read one Weibo post, 'it is about China's entire air combat system—from radar and AWACS to fighters and missiles. India has unwittingly become a global promoter of Chinese defence tech.' Another read: 'The Indo-Pak conflict was a duel between Chinese and Western arms. The J-10 just stunned the world.' As traditional suppliers like Russia lose ground, China is positioning itself as a cheaper, combat-tested alternative. Its platforms now anchor Pakistan's arsenal. These exports often come tied to larger Belt and Road Initiatives, extending China's strategic reach across Southeast Asia and Africa. Aerospace commentator Bai Yujing described the Chinese J-10C as more than a match for the American F-16. While comparable in avionics, J-10C's edge lies in integration—its role within a broader combat ecosystem. The India-Pakistan conflict, he argued, proved that this systems-based approach could challenge Western dominance in aerial warfare. Chinese analysis also saw the conflict as evidence of shifting geopolitical alignments. US Vice President JD Vance's dismissal of the clash as 'none of our business' was interpreted as weakening Western support for India. In contrast, China's hands-on backing for Pakistan signalled a more committed, dependable alliance. The downing of a French Rafale, as claimed by Pakistan, was even framed as a warning to other countries considering Western arms deals. One Weibo user offered a pointed warning to the US: 'Pakistan, with old Chinese gear, defeated India's advanced Western-supported fleet. The issue isn't just about Pakistan—it is about China's rising air power, from the J-20 to next-gen fighters. Global air warfare is changing.' Some voices connected the conflict directly to Taiwan. 'China's military-industrial capability is at its peak,' wrote one commentator. 'We now have a layered defence model against separatist forces like 'Taiwan independence.'' For China, Pakistan is not a so-called 'all-weather friend' but a proxy that enables a two-front containment of India. This conflict is presented as clear proof of China's willingness to intervene militarily—not just rhetorically—on Pakistan's behalf. Mao Ke, a PhD candidate at Tsinghua University, and Chen Zhuo of the South Asia Research Group, wrote that Chinese troops stationed near Kashmir since 2020 act as a stabilising force. 'Their presence is the last guarantee of peace in South Asia,' they argued, 'as China's position must be considered before escalating.' For Beijing, the outcome of the recent India-Pakistan standoff is both validation of its military model and a stepping stone toward dominance in the global arms market and security architecture. In sum, the Chinese narrative frames this conflict as a clash of defence ecosystems—Pakistan the vehicle, India the proving ground, and the West the ultimate target. In this conflict, Pakistan may have fired the shots—but China wrote the script. Sana Hashmi, PhD, is a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. She tweets @sanahashmi1. Views are personal. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
RTHK
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
'President Xi's Moscow trip intended to signal unity'
A mainland-based academic on Monday said President Xi Jinping's trip to Russia to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and observe last week's Victory Day celebrations was intended to cement already close ties between Moscow and on RTHK's Hong Kong Today programme , Josef Gregory Mahoney, a professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University in Shanghai, said President Xi wanted to show solidarity with Russia."I think linking their cooperation in the past, particularly the cooperation in resisting fascism, in the case of the former Soviet Union resisting the fascism of Nazi Germany, and in the case of China, resisting the fascism associated with Japan, which the USSR also supported, that this is something that they want to present."Professor Mahoney also said China's firm stance in the face of US tariffs had paid off for Beijing."I think what we've seen is that China has been able to ensure that its relationships are firm and it stands strong against this aggression from the United States, and it's put the US in a position where it has to actually de-escalate if it wants to move forward."
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Breakthrough: China unveils AI eyes for the blind to move independently and safely
Imagine a world where people who cannot see can still move around confidently without any self-doubt or fear. That world isn't far away with the arrival of AI. According to a study published in Nature Machine Intelligence, researchers from China unveiled a new wearable AI system that empowers blind and visually impaired individuals to navigate easily and independently. The system provides real-time guidance to users with a combination of video, vibrations, and audio prompts. The AI system includes a camera, an AI processor, and bone conduction headphones. The system is mounted between the user's eyebrows. The camera captures the live footage instantly for the AI system to analyze. Then, short audio cues are delivered directly through the headphones, without blocking ambient sounds. A team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University developed the system. Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, East China Normal University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology at Fudan University. 'This research paves the way for user-friendly visual assistance systems, offering alternative avenues to enhance the quality of life for people with visual impairment,' the team wrote. Lead researcher Gu Leilei, an associate professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, emphasised the team's commitment to making the system as practical and easy to use as possible. "This system can partially replace the eyes,' he said. 'Lengthy audio descriptions of the environment can overwhelm and tire users, making them reluctant to use such systems,' Gu told The South China Morning Post. 'Unlike a car navigation system with detailed directions, our work aims to minimise AI system output, communicating information key for navigation in a way that the brain can easily absorb,' Gu said. The equipment is lightweight and compact in design, meaning it can be worn all day without any discomfort, allowing users to move naturally without feeling burdened. The system has been tested indoors with 20 visually impaired volunteers. After just 20 minutes of practice, most of the users could operate it with ease, according to the study. The process to set a destination is also quite simple. Users issue a voice command, and the AI finds a safe route, offering only essential prompts along the way. It's currently trained to identify 21 objects, including beds, chairs, tables, sinks, televisions, and food items. Researchers are planning to expand these capabilities further. Gu said the team's next focus is to refine the system for outdoor environments, where navigational challenges are far more complex. Enhancements could include improved object detection, dynamic route adaptation, and integration with real-world GPS systems. This AI-powered wearable system may offer a new level of autonomy with further developments, and with that, confidence to millions of visually impaired people to be independent worldwide.
South China Morning Post
18-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
The US must work with China on ‘deliverables' if it wants Xi-Trump summit: analysts
The US must match its words with actions and work with China to achieve 'deliverables' on touchy topics such as tariffs and fentanyl if it hopes to host a leaders' summit amid frayed Sino-American ties , according to analysts. Advertisement US President Donald Trump said on Monday that President Xi Jinping would visit the US in the 'not too distant future' . The comments followed recent reports that a meeting between Xi and Trump was being arranged and could take place in the coming months. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had 'no information to provide' in response to Trump's remarks. Trump has appeared eager to engage China since returning to the White House in January, often boasting about his personal ties to Xi. The two leaders have spoken at least twice since Trump's re-election despite Washington's renewed trade war against China. However, Josef Gregory Mahoney, an international relations professor at East China Normal University, said China would be 'very careful moving forward' with a leaders' meeting. Advertisement Mahoney said the meeting would 'only happen if the two sides can reach an agreement on some positive outcomes that go beyond the optics of merely meeting'.
