Stories from Beijing · China

China has taken the initiative to use its first comprehensive ban, responding strongly and drawing red lines on the Taiwan issue, thereby taking the lead in the rhythm of talks and rewriting the rules of US-China competition. The US warned that attacking military forces engaged in removing vessels from the strait will result in retaliation. The United States and China will hold face-to-face meetings during the upcoming summit in Beijing from May 14th to 15th to discuss the conflict in Iran. The US government submitted documents to the legislature suggesting that activities like flying drones or other prize games might involve elements of probability and prizes. The US is also said the importance of maintaining stable relations with China following the trade war initiated in October last year.

The report suggests the key to success lies in the number of chess pieces available, implying the US has fewer. China has initiated the use of a 'first-strike ban' to strongly respond to the United States regarding Taiwan, establishing control over the negotiation pace and reshaping the dynamics of US-China competition. This strategy aims to control the negotiation pace and rewrite the rules of US-China competition, with China's leverage appearing to increase while the US's diminishes. The report suggests the effectiveness of these tools will be, with the US appearing to have fewer options. The United States is working to maintain stable relations with China following last October's trade war, with a face-to-face meeting planned during the upcoming summit in Beijing on the 14th and 15th of this month.

The economic outlook for 2026-27 remains consistent with the February fiscal budget estimates, despite a projected 3.2 billion decrease in tax revenue compared to 2025-26. The report mentions ongoing trade concerns and a summit held in Beijing. Renewed conflict in the Middle East has caused all four major stock indices to close lower on Monday. Taiwan's stock market declined, falling 146 points to 40,558, a drop of 0.36%. Tianqi Lithium and Kweichow Moutai also experienced drops. Ningde Times, however, recorded a substantial increase. Several major Chinese stocks experienced declines, including China Telecom Holdings down 4.2% at 468.8, China Unicom down 3.2% at 25.92, Xiaomi Group down 7.6% at 30.22, BYD Company down 3.2% at 99.8, Alibaba down 7.0% at 131.00, and Kuaishou down 9.4% at 407.6. China's stock market experienced a decline due to ongoing trade concerns.

Wu Zetian ordered the destruction of the original palace hall and the construction of the Mingtang on its site, a grand building intended to showcase her enlightenment. The construction of the Grand Mingtang was overseen by Xu Huiyi.

Psychologist Zeng Richang, who studied psychology at Beijing Normal University in 1962, has developed the 'Yin-Yang Dialectical Therapy'. Inspired by the Taijitu symbol, his therapy said balance and duality. Psychologist Zeng Richang believes it is possible to detect the upper limit of prize values and player income in gambling to reduce potential harm to adults. Psychologist Zheng Richang developed the 'Yin Yang Bian Zheng Therapy,' which deviates from Western psychological models to better suit Chinese culture. He believes people live on hope and that he will not struggle forever. Zeng Richang reportedly faced personal challenges in his own educational journey. Coughing can be caused by external factors like wind affecting the spleen and stomach, or internal factors such as disharmony of the seven emotions. Improper diet is also a contributing factor.

An investigation into national exams in China revealed that subjective grading significantly impacts test scores. Traffic disruptions on Lung Cheung Road towards Chun Wan and near Choi Hung Village have been cleared.

Rural tourism destinations are offering activities such as potato digging and mountain trekking. The airport terminal expansion will create development space, increase passenger traffic and revenue, and drive tourism business growth. Nanchang is developing new digital consumption scenarios, including immersive VR experiences that allow visitors to travel back to the Western Han Dynasty. These experiences include exploring historical cities like Chang'an and witnessing historical events. The technology aims to bridge visual limitations and provide realistic, engaging historical encounters. The city is leveraging digital technology to enhance consumer experiences, moving from single-point interactions to broader applications. AI integration is also being applied to enhance logistics, promising convenience.

Small and medium-sized banks in China are reintroducing large-denomination certificate of deposit products. Current offerings are primarily focused on one-year terms or shorter, while three-year products have decreased and five-year products have largely disappeared.

A poem describes the arrival of summer, noting the departure of spring's coolness and the return of swallows to their nests.

A Chinese cultural broadcast discussed various summer traditions and their historical context. The broadcast explored various summer traditions and customs in China, including the significance of the 'Lixia' (Start of Summer) festival.