Latest news with #HanYang
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
What role is Yunnan playing as China looks to Asean for more food?
As rising global uncertainties prompt China to diversify sources of imported food, its Southeast Asian neighbours are becoming increasingly viable suppliers thanks to overseas investment and cooperative farming initiatives, experts say. Advertisement Yunnan, the southwestern Chinese province bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, plays a key role in regional agricultural cooperation. Its involvement dates back decades to the 'alternative crop cultivation programme', which aimed to reduce opium production in the region by sharing agricultural technology and promoting sustainable economic alternatives. 'These neighbouring countries may be relatively weak as consumption markets but they possess land resources that could be utilised for planting and production,' said Feng Lu, a professor of agricultural economics and management at Yunnan Agricultural University. Given China's large demand for agricultural products and limited amount of farmland, overseas agricultural investment and cooperation could serve as an effective way to support the country's food security by diversifying its food supply sources, she said. Advertisement As living standards have risen, Chinese food consumption patterns have changed significantly, with a decrease in staple foods and an increase in meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, Han Yang, an agricultural researcher at the State Council's Development Research Centre, said in an Economic Daily article published in February.
ABC News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Liberal senator sparks backlash among Chinese Australian voters over 'spies' claim
Chinese Australians have pushed back strongly against the Liberal Party during Saturday's federal election, after a video clip emerged of Liberal senator Jane Hume referring to alleged "Chinese spies" volunteering for Labor candidate Clare O'Neil. The comment, aired on Channel 7's Sunrise program earlier this week, was widely shared on WeChat and RedNote, where Chinese voters responded with sarcasm and humour. Several popular clips subtitled in simplified Chinese and seen by ABC's Chinese service circulated with captions like, "I wore my best spy outfit to vote," and "Mission complete: Chinese spy out to vote the Liberal Party out of parliament." The backlash was especially evident in all electorates with large Chinese Australian communities — including Menzies, Bennelong, Reid and Chisholm — where voters swung significantly from the Liberal Party to Labor. Earlier this week, Labor candidate for Hotham Clare O'Neil publicly The head of the Hubei Association of Victoria, Ji Jianmin, which reportedly provided 10 volunteers for Ms O'Neil's election day stall, also rejected the suggestion that the group was politically influenced by Beijing. Former Liberal MP for Chisholm Gladys Liu told the ABC she felt "very disappointed" by Senator Hume's comment, and that she contacted Peter Dutton and the Coalition's campaign manager to request an apology to Chinese Australians. Gladys Liu was the first person of Chinese heritage to be elected to Australia's House of Representatives in 2019. ( ABC News: Luke Stephenson ) "I was very upset with Jane's claim," Ms Liu said. " It sounded like a joke in a TV interview, but it's very irresponsible and I was very disappointed. " She added the remarks were unhelpful in winning back seats with large Chinese Australian populations, and may have contributed to the larger margins against the Liberals. What Chinese Australians say about this election Han Yang said he was disappointed by Jane Hume's comments. ( Supplied: Han Yang ) Former Chinese diplomat Han Yang told the ABC that the viral "Chinese spies" video triggered large-scale resentment from the community. "The Liberal Party's claim of 'Chinese spies' in the final week triggered discomfort and resentment among some Chinese voters," he said. "Australia-China relations and unfair treatment of Chinese Australians are both key concerns for the community. "The Coalition shouldn't follow Trump's hardline policies — they should aim to win more support from centrist voters." Hao Luo considered the major parties' relations with China when casting his vote. ( Supplied: Hao Luo ) Hao Luo, president of Reid Business Community, said: "We want to be treated as Australians." "If politicians keep bringing up China as a scare tactic, it only makes us feel further away from the parties using those tactics." In Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Chinese Australians voiced frustration at the suggestion that their loyalty to Australia should be questioned during election campaigns. The Albanese government has moved to "stabilise" ties with China. ( Supplied: Prime Minister's Office ) Ms Yang, a Menzies voter, told the ABC it was painful to see Chinese people becoming a target again. "I found it a bit too much targeting Chinese Australians. There are over a million Chinese people in Australia," she said. "We are naturalised Australian citizens and have the same citizen rights and responsibilities. "If you only ask Chinese to show their loyalty, that's targeting." In Melbourne's eastern suburbs including Menzies, Labor is leading votes in the latest results. ( ABC News: David Sciasci ) Another 20-year-old Liberal voter in Menzies, who asked not to be named, said he "felt betrayed by the Liberal party". "I showed up to vote and joked with my friend about whether I'd be called a spy just for being Chinese. That's how ridiculous it's gotten." However, there are also voices supporting the Liberal Party, even though they disagreed with Senator Hume's comment. Ms Xia, a voter living in Kooyong who only gave her first name, told the ABC that the community should "be proud of this country". Despite disagreeing with Ms Hume's comments, voters like Ms Xia said they would still vote for the Liberal party. ( Supplied: Ms Xia ) Though she wasn't sure about the spy allegation, she said her support for the Liberal Party was partly due to her unease with what she described as "overly uniform voices" in the media. "If this country only has one voice, then it's not a democracy." Labor senator Penny Wong also criticised Senator Hume and Mr Dutton, calling the "Chinese spies" allegation part of a recurring pattern in Liberal campaigns. "A leopard cannot change his spots, after all," she said in Mandarin, referencing a well-known Chinese idiom. "We have seen this before from the Liberal Party. Why does the Liberal Party continue to question the loyalty of Chinese Australians?" Senator Wong said. "He doesn't care about the consequences for us, for our communities." Foreign Minister Penny Wong called out the Liberal Party's allegations about "spies" as fearmongering. ( ABC News: Lachlan Bennett ) Why did this election stir such strong sentiment? On Saturday night, Labor strengthened its position in all four key electorates with large Chinese Australian populations, while the number of MPs from Chinese backgrounds doubled to six. In Menzies, a former Liberal stronghold, Labor's Gabriele Ng won the seat, ending the party's decades-long hold. Chisholm, Bennelong and Reid were all retained by Labor with increased margins. Menzies was a closely watched vote in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. ( ABC News ) Dr Alfred Wang, a media and communications expert from the University of Melbourne, said the result reflected growing disengagement from the Liberal Party among Chinese Australian voters. He said the "spy" comment had a triggering effect on voters who remembered similar controversies from previous elections. Former Liberal MP Gladys Liu has asked for an apology. ( AAP: James Ross ) "People felt the Chinese community were singled out in every election and asked to pledge loyalty to Australia. That was never a request for another community," Dr Wang said. He noted that Senator Hume co-authored the Liberal Party's 2022 election review, which recommended more engagement with Chinese communities. "That's why I was shocked she was the person who said it," he said. "It's like the player puts the ball in his own goal at a critical time. "I think it might be more of a strategy, otherwise it's a bit unreasonable." Dr Wang said Chinese Australians were no longer satisfied with being passive participants in politics. "They are watching closely and voting based on how they're spoken to and treated," he said. "More representation means more accountability. Chinese Australians want to be part of the national conversation — not sidelined by suspicion." The ABC has contacted the Liberal Party and Senator Jane Hume for comment.
West Australian
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Quantum Architecture shifts current thinking
Quantum Architecture is a game changer for EVs, it was stated on a private tour of the Dongfeng Motor Global Innovation Centre on March 4, 2025. For, while a 400-volt system has been the platform for traditional EVs to operate on, Quantum Architecture steps that up to 800 volts. This is likened to turning a narrow pipeline into a freeway and enables a rapid five-minute charge to give an 'average' EV 300km of range. This was all revealed as Han Yang, director of the Technical Planning Center at Dongfeng Motor Corporation R&D Institute, led the global tour around Dongfeng Motor Global Innovation Centre. He showed advancements in new energy and intelligent vehicle technology and defined Dongfeng's role in the future of mobility. The tour was part of the China Auto Valley event, which featured auto brands made in Wuhan, China. Dongfeng has its own range of car, and Dongfeng Renault is an equally owned Chinese joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault. It produces and sells Renault-badged cars, including the Renault Kwid / City K-ZE SUV. Renault and Dongfeng have also co-operated with Nissan on new-generation engines. Dongfeng has the same 50-50 joint venture arrangement with Honda, making Dongfeng Honda, which is also based in Wuhan. It makes a number of Honda models. QANTUM ARCHITECTURE During the tour, Mr Yang used a model to explain that conventional EVs house their battery packs externally, like 'a backpack'. But with Quantum Architecture, the battery is integrated into the vehicle's floor. Its thickness has been reduced by 10mm over comparable batteries. Vertical cabin space is increased by a fist's width. The vehicle's body rigidity is increased by 30 per cent. It was stated that Quantum Architecture had been road tested over 500,000km and in extreme conditions, from —30C in Mohe to 50C in Turpan. It was used in 200 diverse terrains, from bitumen to gravel roads. THERMAL EFFICIENCY Dongfeng has also developed a hybrid engine, called the Mach Electric Hybrid DH-i hybrid. The company claims this is 'an industry-first series-parallel plus power split' configuration. In other words, it 'creatively applies power splitting to gear shifting', which gives seamless shifting without using a clutch or complex shifting mechanisms. A spokesperson claims: 'This system can achieve the ultimate balance of fuel consumption, power, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), and other performance aspects across all road conditions and speeds.' Engine thermal efficiency is also important to performance and Han Yang explains: 'Traditional gasoline engines typically have a thermal efficiency of around 35 per cent, but our Mach hybrid engine has achieved a global-leading 47.06 per cent.' The Dongfeng team is clearly focused finding higher thermal efficiency, as in a hybrid this can mean fuel savings and better range. Hybrid models equipped with its i-Control intelligent power management system operate in total electric mode in urban areas with zero fuel consumption, and switch to hybrid mode on non-urban roads. Dongfeng claims this has resulted in a range of more than 2000km for a hybrid car with a Mach engine. INTELLIGENT VEHICLES Can an intelligent vehicle 'understand its driver'? Mr Yang says: 'If a car were a human body, the engine and wheels would be its limbs, while Tianyuan Architecture serves as its nervous system and brain.' Tianyuan Architecture is Dongfeng's vehicle communication system, which uses fibre-optic transmission. Tianyuan Architecture is designed as a solid foundation for AI, intelligent-driving systems, and vehicle-road-cloud integration. A key feature is that the platform has 'self-evolution capabilities' — meaning it can 'learn' and improve. And I must mention that in September 2024, Dongfeng Motor's R&D Institute announced that it had established a Joint Innovation Center for Intelligent Vehicle Control in conjunction with Huawei's Qiankun Automotive Control unit. Dongfeng's intelligent cockpit prioritises emotional interaction. On one hand, if a driver seems tired after work, the system will dims the lights, play relaxing music and release a lavender scent. On the other, it can handle complex scenarios, such as the night-time glare from oncoming headlights or pedestrians stepping out. If someone steps from a blind spot, the system can detect, decide and brake within 0.02 seconds. That 'vehicle-road-cloud integration' is focused on interaction between vehicles and infrastructure. For example, it can warn a driver about an accident ahead, and can syncing to traffic signals and pass that information to the driver, to reduce sudden braking. These systems are already being used in some cities in China. with Changjiang Daily
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dongfeng powers a fuel-free journey from Wuhan to Harbin
WUHAN, China, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Changjiang Daily. On March 4, Han Yang, Director of the Technical Planning Center at Dongfeng Motor Corporation R&D Institute, led a global tour of the Dongfeng Motor Global Innovation Center. He showcased advancements in new energy and intelligent vehicle technology, reinforcing Dongfeng's role in shaping the future of mobility. This event, part of the "China Auto Valley • Global Launch of Wuhan-Made Auto Brands," featured the theme "Technological Dongfeng, Leading the Smart Future." It highlighted how Dongfeng translates innovation into user-focused products through its three major brands—Dongfeng Fengshen (AEOLUS), Dongfeng eπ, and Dongfeng Nammi. 300km in just 5 minutes The Quantum Architecture stands out as a cutting-edge intelligent electric vehicle framework. While most traditional EVs operate on a 400V system, Quantum Architecture upgrades to an 800V system, effectively turning a "narrow pipeline" into a "highway," enabling a rapid 5-minute charge to provide 300km of range. During the event, Han Yang pointed to a model and explained that conventional EVs house their battery packs externally, much like an "attached backpack." In contrast, Quantum Architecture has adopted an integrated design that seamlessly fuses the battery with the vehicle's floor, reducing battery thickness by 10mm, increasing vertical cabin space by an additional fist's height, and enhancing body rigidity by 30%—achieving both safety and comfort. The Quantum Architecture has already undergone rigorous road testing over 500,000km, enduring extreme conditions from -30°C in Mohe to 50°C in Turpan. Covering over 200 diverse terrains—including plateaus and gravel roads—it ensures a stable and reliable driving experience. World-Leading 47.06% thermal efficiency Engine thermal efficiency is a key benchmark for performance. "Traditional gasoline engines typically have a thermal efficiency of around 35%, but our Mach hybrid engine has achieved a global-leading 47.06%," Han Yang stated. Higher thermal efficiency translates to greater fuel savings and extended range. For example, hybrid models equipped with the i-Control intelligent power management system operate on pure electric mode in urban areas with zero fuel consumption, seamlessly switching to hybrid mode for highway driving. This results in an impressive range of over 2,000km—enough to drive from Wuhan to Harbin without refueling or recharging. As the powerhouse behind Dongfeng's vehicles, Mach Power has been a defining force since its debut in 2021. Ushering in a smarter mobility era Beyond power, a truly intelligent vehicle must "understand" its driver. "If a car were a human body, the engine and wheels would be its 'limbs,' while Tianyuan Architecture serves as its 'nervous system' and 'brain,'" Han Yang explained. This system boosts communication efficiency fourfold via fiber-optic transmission, enabling real-time hazard response. Moreover, Dongfeng's intelligent cockpit prioritizes emotional interaction. If a driver appears fatigued after work, the system automatically dims the lights, plays soothing music, and releases a lavender scent—transforming the cabin into a "personalized spa space." Dongfeng's intelligent driving system effectively handles complex scenarios such as sudden pedestrian crossings and glare from oncoming headlights at night. For instance, if a pedestrian suddenly emerges from a blind spot, the system can detect, decide, and brake within just 0.02 seconds—10 times faster than human reflexes. An industry-first vehicle-road-cloud integration ensures seamless interaction between vehicles and infrastructure, providing accident alerts and syncing traffic signals to reduce sudden braking. Already deployed in multiple Chinese cities, these innovations reinforce Dongfeng's vision of a safer, smarter driving experience. Dongfeng's cutting-edge technologies are deeply intertwined with vehicle performance and user experience. Through technological empowerment, the company has built cars with a stronger "physique," a more powerful "heart," a smarter "brain," and a more responsive "nervous system." View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Changjiang Daily
