Carrying essential life supplies and experimental samples including those for future lunar base missions, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan Province at 11:13 pm on Friday aboard the Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket.

About 10 minutes later, the Tianzhou-8 successfully separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. Subsequently, the spacecraft's solar panels were successfully deployed, marking a complete success for the launch mission, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.

The Tianzhou-8 is loaded with supplies for taikonauts' in-orbit stay, propellant, experimental devices, and other materials. It also delivered New Year gifts for the Shenzhou-19 crew in celebration of the Year of the Snake.

The mission marked the last one in 2024 heading for China's space station, drawing an end to this year's manned space program launch schedule.

Tianzhou-8 is the largest operational cargo spacecraft in the world, with the most comprehensive in-orbit support capabilities. The previously launched Tianzhou-6 and -7 already increased the loading capacity compared to earlier spacecraft of the series.

Tianzhou-8 further increases the cargo capacity by over 200 liters and more than 100 kilograms, the Global Times learned from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a company affiliated with the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

However, the increase in capacity is not the biggest highlight of Tianzhou-8, said Dang Rong, deputy chief designer of the Tianzhou cargo series. "The enhancement for loading temporary cargo is even more noteworthy," she said.

"Our research teams have created a sliding rail that allows us to first place items that were originally stored in the refrigerator inside, and once everything is packed, we can push the rail to utilize the new space for some temporary cargo. This has increased the craft's temporary loading capacity from a few dozen kilograms to over 100 kilograms," Dang noted.

This will enable taikonauts to have access to more fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as further expanding the capacity for loading low-temperature experimental samples, thereby enriching the scientific experiment projects available in orbit, CAST said in a statement sent to the Global Times.

The space application system led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has sent 36 space science experiments and over 80 products, weighing approximately 458 kilograms, to the space station aboard Tianzhou-8, the CAS revealed.

These experiments cover various fields, including space life sciences and biotechnology, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion, as well as new technology experiments for space application.

Notably, this mission will carry "lunar soil bricks" for the first time, which are made from special materials that simulate lunar soil. These bricks will undergo space exposure experiments at the space station to verify whether they can be used for building structures on the moon. After completing the experiments, the first brick is expected to return to Earth by the end of next year, CCTV reported.

After entering orbit, Tianzhou-8 will use a three-hour rapid autonomous rendezvous and docking approach and connect with China's Tiangong space station at the aft port of the core module, forming an integrated structure, according to CAST.

Since the first autonomous rendezvous in 2011, when Shenzhou-8 docked with Tiangong-1 after 44 hours, China's docking technology has seen continuous advancements. In 2017, Tianzhou-1 docked with Tiangong-2 using a 6.5-hour fast docking model. In 2022, Tianzhou-5 set a world record with a 2-hour ultra-fast rendezvous, and in 2024, Tianzhou-7 validated the 3-hour model.

Tianzhou-8's docking will mark the establishment of a standard operational mode for future missions. While not the fastest, the choice of 3-hour docking has taken into consideration all factors more comprehensively, Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times.

The mode integrates the "speed" factor from the 2-hour plan and the "reliability" factor from the 6.5-hour plan, successfully elevating China's space supply delivery to "express delivery," according to Kang. This demonstrates strong adaptability to meet the needs of different missions, making it an "optimal solution." The 3-hour mode also eases demands on rocket orbit conditions, measurement and control precision, and guidance accuracy, thereby boosting both flexibility and dependability for mission execution.

The Tianzhou-8's launch had previously been delayed due to Super Typhoon Yagi. It was the strongest typhoon that hit the Chinese mainland in autumn on record, making two landfalls in Hainan Province in September.

Based on previous practices, normally it is the cargo resupply that first arrives at the space station and then the new crew. However, due to the typhoon, the Tianzhou-8 mission, which was intended to arrive before the Shenzhou-19 taikonauts, is the first to reverse such common practice.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the delay of the launch mission has little impact on the taikonauts' lives, as there is always a buffer of supplies left in Tiangong before the next cargo arrives, ensuring there will be no shortage of materials due to delays. However, the delay may have some short-term impacts on certain experiments, particularly those that rely on specific experimental equipment.

Australia, Japan and the US on Sunday committed to closer military cooperation in training their forces, agreeing to the regular deployment of Japanese troops in northern Australia's Darwin. 

Chinese observers said the "cooperation" signals a dangerous shift in Japan toward further militarization, and the irony was especially profound given that Darwin was a major base for Allied forces in World War II and was heavily bombed by Japanese forces to a point that it was sometimes described as "Australia's Pearl Harbor."

Under the new agreement, Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade will be deployed to Darwin to regularly work and train alongside Australian and US forces, the VOA reported. 

Around 2,000 US Marines are already hosted in Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, for six months of the year. The military deployment is attributed to growing concern among Washington and its allies about China's growing military power in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Reuters. 

Japan's new Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade will join the annual US-Australian exercises held by the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, starting with Talisman Sabre 2025 and building toward the countries' first air- and missile-defense live-fire training event in the exercise's 2027 edition, according to Defense One.

The increased coordination between Japan, Australia and the US will take place under a new structure called the Trilateral Defense Consultations, Defense One reported, citing Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. 

The trilateral defense meeting reveals a clear agenda: to enhance military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in line with the US Indo-Pacific strategy. The so-called security issues in this region are largely fabricated, serving as a pretext for these nations to strengthen their military ties while portraying China as a threat, a hypothetical enemy, Lü Chao, a research fellow on Northeast Asia studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In the context of ongoing conflicts in various regions around the world, the Asia-Pacific region is leading global economic development. Most countries in this region are making efforts to maintain prosperity and stability. The "cooperation" promoted by Japan and Australia under the instigation of the US undoubtedly threatens regional peace and stability, raising concerns among regional countries and their people, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times.

Apart from the fact that Japan and Australia are acting as US pillars for its Indo-Pacific Strategy, the move came against the background of the reciprocal access agreement between Japan and Australia, which is viewed as a quasi-military alliance that allows both countries to send military personnel and deploy military equipment to each other, Chen said. 

Reuters said that the deployment has special significance given Darwin was a major base for Allied forces in World War II and was heavily bombed by Japanese forces. The wartime air raids on the port city are sometimes described as Australia's Pearl Harbor.

For Japan, it signals a dangerous shift toward further militarization. Its WWII bombing of Darwin should be viewed as a historical warning against Japanese militarism. In recent years, Japan has also continuously breached the constraints of its peace constitution in an attempt to expand its military capabilities, Chen said. 

In addition, by expanding its overseas military presence, Japan, as a post-World War II defeated nation, is openly violating the defensive limitations set forth in the Potsdam Declaration, which forms a cornerstone of the post-war international order, according to Lü. 

This escalation of military actions by Japan is inherently dangerous, particularly for many countries in the Asia-Pacific that have historically suffered from Japanese militarism and colonialism, Lü warned.

Also, domestically there are growing concerns over Australia becoming a tool of the US. Some individuals are calling on Australia to prioritize its own interests, exercise political wisdom and handle its relationships with Japan and the US with caution, Chen said.

Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu will attend the 19th round of the annual China-Russia strategic security consultation and the ninth meeting of the China-Russia law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism in China from November 11 to 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Monday.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Chen Wenqing will hold talks with Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu respectively, Lin said.

China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era and maintain close communication on issues of mutual interest that have strategic and overarching significance. On November 12, Wang Yi will hold the annual strategic security consultation with Shoigu. The aim is to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting this year, have in-depth communication and coordinate positions on bilateral relations and major issues concerning strategic security and interests of the two countries, and enhance mutual trust, Lin said during a routine press conference on Monday.

According to TASS, citing the Russian Security Council's press service, Wang and Shoigu will discuss "current problems of international and regional security, as well as a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation."

In addition, topics to be discussed between Chen and Shoigu will include "issues of combating extremism, terrorism, and transnational crime," read the TASS report.

"The strategic security consultation between China and Russia covers a wide range of areas," Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. He noted that during this round of consultation, China and Russia may discuss the US' potential new security policies and their impact on the world, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In addition, topics related to the Middle East, NATO, the Taiwan Straits, and nuclear deterrence may also be included in the agenda. Non-traditional security areas, such as cybersecurity, climate security, and transportation line security, could also be topics of interest for both sides, Wang Xiaoquan said.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world powers, should enhance their collaboration to uphold world peace, stability, and security, as well as work together to shape a future international order, so as to foster a broad consensus that benefits the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

According to TASS, Shoigu will also visit Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, where Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet will be exhibited for the first time. 

Wang Xiaoquan noted that Shoigu's visit to the airshow allows him to directly experience China's advanced weaponry, which is significant for further strengthening cooperation between China and Russia. "This also sends a signal to the outside world that regardless of how the international situation changes, China and Russia will maintain a high level of strategic mutual trust," Wang Xiaoquan said.

In September, Wang Yi met with Shoigu in St. Petersburg, during which the Chinese Foreign Minister noted that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia and continuously enrich the strategic connotations of bilateral ties.

In addition to aircraft and aviation products, ground force weapon systems have also garnered significant attention at the Airshow China 2024, with the launch of a new combat system combining cluster loitering ammunition with a long-range multiple rocket launcher by the China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) at the event.

NORINCO, China's leading tank and armored vehicle manufacturer, has drawn numerous foreign military delegates to come to their exhibition hall, and at a press conference on Wednesday, NORINCO unveiled details about a series of new weapons and a combat system designed to form a brigade combat team with enhanced intelligence and information capabilities, including armored vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, and drones, and one of which is the innovative SR5-FL60A integrated combat system, which combined SR-5 multiple rocket launcher with FL60A cluster loitering ammunition. 

Cheng Ziheng, an expert at NORINCO, said at the event that combining the tactical capabilities of the cluster loitering ammunition—such as loitering, interdiction, area lockdown, and initial assault, with the firepower attack capability of the rocket launcher, the closed-loop capabilities of the system, including reconnaissance and targeting, area lockdown, identifying and engaging key targets, pursuing and neutralizing fleeing targets, and evaluating combat effectiveness, have been greatly improved.

The FL60A has a control radius exceeding 100 kilometers. Utilizing a networked combat mode that integrates command unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and attack UAVs, it features extensive reconnaissance and lockdown capabilities, efficient destructive power, and high accuracy, said Cheng.

SR5-FL60A integrated combat system, combining the attributes of missiles, rockets, and loitering ammunition, can autonomously achieve the "OODA" (Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act) closed-loop process without additional support, Cheng noted.

Military experts said that cluster loitering ammunition has seen widespread use in ongoing conflicts worldwide, as they essentially function as explosive-laden drones, while China has a clear advantage in both drone and multiple rocket launcher development and production, so if the two weapons can be effectively combined into one system, they could offer a strategic advantage in accurately targeting and eliminating hostile forces in both current and future warfare. 

Kindergarten teachers and relevant staff must be registered with educational authorities and undergo background checks and health exams, according to the new preschool education law interpreted by China's Ministry of Education on Monday. The law bans from hiring individuals with backgrounds that could harm children's well-being, including those with criminal records for abuse, sexual assault, drug use, gambling or other crimes, as well as those with a history of alcoholism or serious ethical violations.

China's Ministry of Education held a press conference on Monday to interpret the newly released preschool education law, which focuses on improving the quality of the teaching workforce and specifies the qualification requirements for kindergarten teachers and relevant staff.

The new law requires strengthening staffing and establishing standards for teacher and staff allocation, mandating that kindergartens and their founders adhere to these standards when hiring personnel.

It stipulates that the hiring of kindergarten teachers and staff must be filed with the educational administrative department, along with background checks and health examinations. Individuals whose backgrounds pose a potential risk to children's physical and mental well-being or are unsuitable for preschool education are prohibited from being hired.

Two categories of people are prohibited from employment in preschool education: individuals with criminal records for abuse, sex assault, sex harassment, trafficking, drug use, gambling and other offenses; and those with a history of alcoholism or serious violations of professional ethics, or other behaviors that may harm children's safety.

The law also emphasizes the importance of equitable compensation, requiring kindergartens and their founders to ensure appropriate wages and benefits for staff. It mandates that public kindergarten teachers' salaries be included in fiscal support, and that kindergarten teachers receive comparable treatment to primary and secondary school teachers in terms of job titles, promotions, and other benefits.

Furthermore, the law calls for improved training for preschool education professionals. It stipulates that the government and relevant departments should create comprehensive teacher training plans and offer various forms of professional training.

The law stipulates accountability for actions such as physical punishment, disguised physical  punishment, discrimination, and the humiliation of children by kindergarten staff. The law demands that kindergartens or relevant authorities enforce suitable legal actions according to severity of the situation.

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto began a state visit to China on Friday, making China his first overseas destination after taking office. Analysts said that the visit underscores Prabowo's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and the high level of cooperation between China and Indonesia, and will further push the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future. 

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prabowo will pay a state visit to China from Friday to Sunday. President Xi will hold a welcoming ceremony for him, and the two heads of state will hold talks. Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet with him respectively, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Prabowo's decision to make China the first country to visit after his election in March, and again as his first destination after taking office, underscores the high priority he places on China-Indonesia relations. This move highlights the strength of bilateral ties and signals Indonesia's continued commitment to cooperation with China under his administration, Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at the Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Prabowo shows a strong commitment to building on former president Joko Widodo's policies. With the solid foundation laid by Joko's tenure, China-Indonesia cooperation is expected to remain a focus in Prabowo's foreign policy, said Ge. 

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release on Tuesday that Prabowo's first state visit to China "holds significant importance for the commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Indonesia and China in various fields."

Ge said that how to further promote projects under the Belt and Road Initiative and the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future would be central topics during Prabowo's visit. 

In addition to ongoing infrastructure projects, including Indonesia's new capital, China-Indonesia cooperation is expected to deepen across economic sectors. With regional supply chains undergoing realignment, both China and Indonesia have a shared interest in strengthening resilience and stability within the regional industry. Moreover, there is vast potential for collaboration in emerging fields, particularly in new energy, said the expert. 

Ge said Prabowo has high expectations for deepening cooperation with China and other developing countries, especially those in the Global South, and that Indonesia is pursuing a balanced foreign policy. 

China is Prabowo's first stop on a two-week overseas tour that includes the APEC summit in Peru, the G20 meeting in Brazil, and an official visit to the UK. "We will maintain good relations with all parties," Prabowo said on Friday before his departure from Jakarta, Bloomberg reported.

Xi calls for the right way for China, US to get along in new era.

The newest edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, opened on Tuesday in Shanghai.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. It also sets a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders attending the event.

More than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are set to be unveiled during the expo, which experts believe is a strong indication of global companies' confidence in the Chinese market and their commitment to further development in China despite a sluggish global economic recovery.

In response to The Wall Street Journal's recent report stating that some Western countries believe that China is conducting espionage activities on an "unprecedented scale" to undermine rival states and bolster the country's economy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he doesn't know what factual basis this report has, yet noted that the CIA recently posted on social media in Chinese on how to contact it online, in an attempt to lure Chinese personnel to be their informant, and this seriously infringes on China's national interest. 

China strongly protests this, Lin said. China will resolutely crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by anti-China forces outside China and defend national sovereignty, security and development interest.

The US has never stopped its espionage activities against China, and it has also long been conducting massive surveillance and secret theft against its allies, Lin said, noting that the US on the one hand blatantly carries out spy activities worldwide, yet on the other makes unwarranted accusations of spy threats against other countries, which is a clear misrepresentation of the facts. 

As China's Foreign Ministry condemned US espionage activities around the world, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday also unveiled well-designed espionage activities by foreign powers disguised as coincidences, calling on the public to raise their awareness and strictly keep their behavior in line with standards and regulations, and promptly report any activities that may threaten state security.

National security agencies have learned from their work findings that foreign espionage agencies typically recruit personnel with access to national secrets by initiating conversations and consultations, with the aim of persuading them to serve foreign spy agencies, according to the MSS on its official WeChat account.

Overseas intelligence agencies commonly target personnel on core security-related duties under various pretexts, such as asking for directions or advice, the MSS said.

Once responses are received, the foreign intelligence agency staff will ask for the basic personal information and contacts of the individuals related to the confidential materials, biding their time to seize the state secrets.

Foreign spies will also deliberately and purposely pose as attendees in exhibitions, talks, seminars, and other events in order to become acquainted with participants with potential links to national secrets. After getting familiar with them, overseas spies will progressively solicit them to commit stealing of national secrets.

A short video released by the MSS in June narrated the story of a researcher involved in national scientific research who, being struck up by a foreign spy at an exhibition, gradually dropped into the other side's secret-stealing trap, and eventually recognized the truth and voluntarily turned himself in to the national security authorities.

Internet-based stealing of nationally critical data is another frequent approach adopted by foreign intelligence agencies, according to the MSS.

Foreign spies will use fake identities and establish relationships with individuals working in vital sectors of the country via online forums, chat rooms or online games. After successfully getting acquainted on the internet, overseas espionage will continue to communicate with them until the right moment arrives for theft of state secrets, which may even be extended to face-to-face persuasion.

The MSS reminds the public to be vigilant if they are unexpectedly greeted by someone without a clear reason. In particular, when it comes to sensitive topics, individuals are advised to avoid sharing personal information and work details, and to avoid in-depth discussions if overseas strangers ask for contact information or invite them alone in private.

The public is encouraged to safeguard their personal information to avoid revealing their work affiliations, positions, contact details, and other sensitive information online. Personnel in key areas should strictly abide by the discipline of confidentiality and work discipline, resolutely refuse any request that involves national secrets or may jeopardize national security, the MSS reminded.

The MSS also urges the public to promptly report any illegal acts or suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.

The development of the China-Russia relations does not target any third party or is subject to interference by any third party, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko on Wednesday in Beijing.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is grounded in a natural logic of history and driven by strong internal dynamics, no matter how the international situation changes. 

Wang said under the leadership of the two heads of state, the China-Russia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, which serves common interests of the people of both nations and allows them to make their respective contributions to safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

He noted that not long ago, the BRICS Summit was successfully held in Russia's Kazan, making positive progress on the BRICS mechanism, promoting unity and self-strengthening of the Global South, and playing an important and constructive role in world peace and stability.

He urged the two sides to make joint efforts to coordinate cooperation in various fields and exchanges at all levels, and implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state.

China has taken over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and stands ready to work closely with Russia to promote new development of the SCO, Wang added.

For his part, Rudenko said that the head-of-state diplomacy has laid a good foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

Russia is ready to work with China to earnestly implement the arrangements made by the two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, continue to maintain coordination on international and regional affairs, and push for new development of the Russia-China relations, Rudenko said.

They exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.