Foreign
China’s first large-scale production line forcivil aviation tiresbegins operation

By Deng Jianyang, People’s Daily
China’s first large-scale production line for civil aviation tireshas recently been completed and put into operation in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Within the production line, large machines run automatically and smart logistics vehicles shuttled back and forth.The Chinese independently produced civil aviation tires gradually took shape after dozens of production processes, including mixing, calendering, extrusion, and cutting.
“This is the first digitalized facility for producing civil aviation tires in China. With an area of nearly 50,000 square meters,it is equipped with over 80 high-end machines and an advanced digital and information system to fully automate the production, scheduling and monitoring of aviation tires,” said Lu Hengyu, an executive with Guilin Lanyu AircraftTire Development, a subsidiary of China’s leading chemical enterprise Sinochem Holdings.
Lu said that the facility has an annual production capacity of 100,000 aviation tires, which can fulfill 40 percent of annual demand for civil aviation tires in China.
As a key component that determines the safety of aircraft operations, aviation tires are crucial during takeoff, landing, taxiing, turning, and braking, making them the main consumables in civil aviation.
There are thousands of tire manufacturers worldwide, but only around 10 of them can produce aviation tires. At present, 98% of tires used by Chinese civil aviation flights are imported from other countries. Why is it so difficult to produce aviation tires?
“Aviation tires have extremely high demands for safety and reliability. That’s why they are considered the technological ‘pinnacle’ in the tire industry. Take payload as an example: a single tire can support over 40 tonnes of load, which is much greater than what a typical ground tire can manage,” said Qin Qifu, a senior engineer with Guilin Lanyu AircraftTire Development.
“They are also subject to stringent requirements regardingtheir weight, ability to withstand fatigue, landing cycles, and operational safety, among others. To achieve large-scale production, we had to addresschallenges related to the stability of product quality and production capacity,” Qin said.
Fortunately, long-term efforts in research and innovation have finally enabled the company to achieve breakthroughsin relevant technologies.
According to Lu, his research team has spent many years developing civil aviation tires, made numerous breakthroughs and gained valuable experience in innovating raw materials, internal structure, production techniques, and airworthiness testing.
“We have been strengthening cooperation with universities and research institutes to jointly tackle key technological challenges,” Lu said.
As a critical material for civil aviation tire production, aramid fibers had long been monopolized by foreign companies, said Lu.”In collaboration with Beijing University of Chemical Technology and Sinochem High Performance Fiber Materials Co., Ltd., we have produced high-strength aramid fibers that outperform imported materials and successfully applied them in aviation tires,” Lu added.
In tandem with the production line, China launchedits first aviation tire takeoff and landing testing platform on November 23,capable of simulating complex operating conditions.
This platform can simulate takeoff and landing tests for civil aviation tires under complex conditions, such as ultra-high acceleration takeoff, ultra-high loading rates, and damage caused by foreign objects, Lu explained. “It fills a gap in the testing capabilities for aviation tires in China and effectively ensures the reliability and safety of aviation tires,” added Lu.
Recently, Guilin Lanyu Aircraft Tire Development unveiled12 specifications of civil aviation tires for sixaircraft models.The tires all possess complete independent intellectual propertyrights and cover 80 percent of the accessory types used by China’s civil aviation fleet.
“Our C909 tire, after more than a year of trial use, has already been put into commercial usein airlines including China Southern Airlines. It has completed over 10,000 takeoffs and landings, with acycle life that surpasses imported alternatives,” Qin said.
Data suggested that by the end of last year, China’s civil aviation industry boasted a fleet of 4,270 aircraft, an increase of 105from 2022.
In recent years, China’s aviation tire industry has made significant strides in technological innovation and industrial upgrading. Several Chinese companies have successfully developed high-performance aviation tires and obtained relevant certifications.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
Foreign
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

By Wei Zhezhe, Liu Botong, People’s Daily
In a modest corner of Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong province, residents of Weidong village are experiencing firsthand a form of democracy that starts at the grassroots level and reverberates all the way to Beijing.
Wu Tengxin, a local villager who relies on a scooter for daily mobility after contracting polio, recalls a time when the village’s public spaces were ill-equipped for people with disabilities. Now, thanks to a simple suggestion made during a meeting, his everyday life has changed.
In November 2022, a team from a local legislative outreach office – a branch of China’sNational People’s Congress (NPC) – visited Weidong village and set up a “bench-style meeting.” Residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, gathered to voice their concerns about inadequate accessibility.
Amid the conversation, Wu offered a straightforward proposal: “I hope rural accessible facilities can be improved to make mobility easier for people with disabilities and the elderly.” His words were relayed verbatim to lawmakers.
The response was swift. On June 28, 2023, at the third session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, legislators passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment. The law stipulates that improvements”shall align with social and economic development levels, coordinate urban and rural progress, and gradually narrow the gap in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”
Today, Wu observes that the village’s main roads and public squares have been upgraded with accessibility features that make getting around considerably easier.
This episode illustrates what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy” – a system where citizen input is woven into every stage of policy development.
Jilie Ziri, head of Abuluoha village in Butuo county, southwest China’s Sichuan province, remarked that for young generations in China, democracy has become a lived experience. “Villagers are the masters of village affairs,” he said, emphasizing how active villager participation has injected new vitality into local governance.
Experts point to consultative democracy as a cornerstone of this process. Tao Kaiyuan, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, underscores the important role of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members hail from every stratum of society and bring a wealth of expertise and connections.
Their regular forums, field research, and public consultations have created robust channels for citizens to contribute ideas and forge consensus.”This approach gathers collective wisdom and transforms public voices into policy,” Tao said.
Another crucial manifestation is the effectiveness of China’s political party system. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese democratic parties actively fulfill their duties, offering recommendations that often translate into concrete policy decisions. This integrated approach demonstrates the unique strengths of China’s political system and the advantages of whole-process people’s democracy.
Tao emphasized that whole-process people’s democracyhas evolved into an efficient and dynamic democratic practice – one that not only reflects the essence of socialist democracy but also presents a pioneering model of political civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and democratic development.
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