Lebanon marks National Day amid ongoing Israeli aggression, rising number of civilian casualties

China

Lebanon marks National Day amid ongoing Israeli aggression, rising number of civilian casualties

2024-11-23 00:11 Last Updated At：15:57

Israel's strikes in Lebanon have persisted through the nation's Independence Day celebrations, with air raids demolishing villages and neighborhoods across the country, including the capital, Beirut.

As casualties mount daily, the toll on both life and infrastructure continues to rise.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, more than 3,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, while over 1.3 million have been displaced.

Hezbollah leaders continue to be targeted, with the latest being Mohamed Afif, the group's media chief.

Meanwhile, U.S.-led mediation efforts have intensified, with the U.S. envoy proposing to bridge the differences between both sides based on UN Resolution 1701, which defined the mutual border.

"The Lebanese government and Hezbollah have reacted positively to the U.S. proposal to adhere to Resolution 1701 and deploy 15,000 Lebanese troops to secure the border. However, Netanyahu (Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) asserts that he wants total freedom to enter Lebanese airspace and address what he claims are threats to Israeli security. This clause would be unacceptable to any country; it constitutes an infringement on sovereignty and was, therefore, rejected," said Mohamed El Ruz, a Lebanese Political analyst.

However, the deadlock is not only between Hezbollah and Israel but also within Lebanon itself. A political and social landscape already fraught with volatility has become even more divided due to Israel's war on Lebanon.

The nation is divided between those who support Hezbollah and those who seek to disarm the group, accusing it of dragging the country into a war it is not equipped to fight.

"This deep-rooted political chaos in Lebanon has weakened the country's resistance to Israeli aggression. But there is also unlimited support from the United States and some Western governments for Israel's aggression. The U.S. is the main supporter of the Zionist enemy and is providing all its military, intelligence, financial, economic, and diplomatic capabilities to cover up Israeli murders and war crimes," said Osama Saad, a Lebanese Member of Parliament.

Many are anticipating potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

"He will seek to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon, but not out of sympathy for Lebanon. It has been circulating that Netanyahu will give Trump the ceasefire as a gift, and in return, Trump's gift will be to allow Israel to invade and annex Palestine's West Bank," said El Ruz.

Since September 23, the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon, escalating the conflict with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel also launched a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon.

NPC deputy emphasizes long-term, systematic impact of institutional opening-up strategies

Institutional opening-up, a key topic at this year's two sessions and in the 15th Five-Year Plan, is fundamentally about establishing long-term effectiveness through systematic, nationwide efforts rather than fragmented, short-term actions, said a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday in Beijing.

The "two sessions", a major event in China's political calendar, refer to the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Peng Shou, also an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, explained that by developing comprehensive pilot frameworks in free trade zones like Shanghai and the Hainan Free Trade Port, China is transforming fragmented policies into cohesive systems, such as addressing processing VAT to boost high-tech industries; and exploring the expansion of models like negative lists and digital infrastructure to create a more transparent and predictable environment for global partners.

"I believe that a system is about long-term effectiveness, it's not a short-term move, and not fragmented. It's not about handling isolated cases, but about involving everyone, the whole society," said Peng.

China has built a series of comprehensive testing grounds for institutional openness.

With 22 free trade zones covering the entire country, a full-scale pilot framework has been established. Especially in free trade zones like Shanghai and the Hainan Free Trade Port, China has launched over 110 innovative, integrated pilot measures.

"Turning previous fragmented small policies into a systematic framework is key. For example, the issue of processing and value-added tax is well addressed. By incorporating processing technologies and adding value, it drives the development of high-tech industries," said Peng.

Such models could also be promoted in other regions.

Peng also said that the Hainan Free Trade Port's special customs operations can be used as a great example.

"We may apply this negative list model to some cities or development zones. Additionally, we can focus on digital infrastructure, using AI and digital technology as a foundation in cities like Beijing and Shanghai," he said.

At its core, institutional opening-up is not just about aligning with global standards; it's about creating a more open, transparent, and predictable environment that attracts global partners, according to Peng.

By embracing this new model, China is not only enhancing its position in the global market but also reshaping its own economic future, he added.