Foreign
U.S. attempts to sow discord in South China Sea destined to be futile

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
At the recent East Asia Summit (EAS), the United States once again stirred up trouble over the South China Sea issue, attempting to sow discord between relevant countries and China.
The United States has repeatedly disregarded the will of regional countries and tried to incite conflicts in the South China Sea, which further exposes the true intention of its so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy” to create divisions and confrontations in the region.
At the EAS, the United States once again pulled its old tricks, emphasizing the need to uphold “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the South China Sea and bringing up the so-called South China Sea arbitration.
The notion of “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the South China Sea is fundamentally a false proposition. The U.S. side has never provided any evidence to demonstrate which ship or aircraft from which country has encountered problems while navigating or flying over the South China Sea. It is the United States that, under the pretext of safeguarding “freedom of navigation and overflight,” flexes its military muscles and militarizes the South China Sea, posing a real threat to peace and stability in the region.
The so-called South China Sea arbitration seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or recognize this ruling and rejects any claims or actions based on it, which is a legitimate measure to uphold the authority and integrity of UNCLOS.
The fact that the United States repeatedly brings up UNCLOS while refusing to join it itself reveals the country’s hypocrisy. The United States is the instigator and behind-the-scenes manipulator of the so-called South China Sea arbitration, and its repeated speculation and exploitation of this illegal ruling fully demonstrate its intention to politicize, instrumentalize, and weaponize international law.
Over the years, with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has achieved overall stability, providing a favorable environment for respective development of regional countries.
China adheres to the path of peaceful development and, as a signatory to the UNCLOS, has always worked together with ASEAN countries to handle the South China Sea issue properly based on mutual respect, in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS, and in light of the actual situations in the region.
Currently, China and ASEAN countries are actively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and promoting consultations on the DOC.
The United States, as a non-regional country, has been deliberately stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, seeking to sow discord between regional countries and China, and disrupting China’s and ASEAN countries’ efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, in order to serve its strategic attempt to contain and suppress China.
The U.S. actions violate the basic norms of international relations, go against the will of the people in the region, and run counter to the trend of cooperation. They are doomed to fail.
At the EAS, the United States deliberately deviated from the theme of the meeting, disrupted the atmosphere of cooperation, and of course received no support. Earlier, the United States claimed in a high-profile manner that the U.S. and Indonesian defense ministers issued a joint statement criticizing China’s claims in the South China Sea, but Indonesia soon exposed the U.S. lies, stating that the U.S. announcement was inconsistent with the facts. Similar situations have occurred before. It fully demonstrated that the diplomatic lies and instigation of the United States will only bring disgrace upon the country itself.
The United States has repeatedly hyped the South China Sea issue, attempting to create divisions and coerce regional countries into taking sides. However, regional countries are well aware of its intentions and generally do not want to become pawns on the U.S. hegemonic chessboard.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo stated that ASEAN cannot be a proxy for any country and should not be involved in great power competition. ASEAN is committed to strengthening unity and cohesion, he said.
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat also pointed out that ASEAN member states do not want to take sides between China and the United States. There will be limited support for any efforts to restrict the growth of a certain country or to reduce the presence of another in the region, because nobody wants to see a new Cold War, he remarked.
The United States should seriously listen to the voices of regional countries and fully understand that any attempt to maintain hegemonic interests through creating divisions and confrontations has no market in the Asia-Pacific region.
During the EAS, the majority of countries advocated for strengthening cooperation through constructive dialogue and friendly negotiations, aiming to create a center of regional growth.
The United States, on the other hand, aggressively intervened in the South China Sea issue, sowing discord among regional countries and disrupting the regional order.
Regional countries remain highly vigilant against the dangerous intentions of the United States and generally hope to maintain the dominant role in safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea, and jointly uphold regional peace, development and cooperation.
The United States’ attempts to sow discord through diplomatic means are destined to be futile.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)
Foreign
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.
On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.
The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.
While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.
VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.
The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.
As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.
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.
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