Train services between West Kowloon Station in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the mainland have been further expanded starting from Sunday, with the number of direct access stations increasing from 80 to 94.
Hong Kong West Kowloon Station on Sunday launched direct train services to Wuhan City of central China's Hubei Province, Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jieyang City and Shanwei City of south China's Guangdong Province for the first time, aiming to open up new opportunities for business, cultural exchanges, and tourism development between Hong Kong and the mainland.
"Our home is near Xi'an North Railway Station, and my daughter's home is near West Kowloon Station. With the opening of this train service, it's now much more convenient for us to meet. I'm very happy," said a passenger from Xi'an.
"I'm excited. We're taking this train from Hong Kong to Xi'an. It's the first train, and we arrived at the station very early," said a passenger from Hong Kong.
The trains bound for Hong Kong has been further increased, with the number of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains operating on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway rising to 242, bringing the total number of trains to 254 under full capacity.
"With the continuous launch of cross-border trains to Hong Kong from various cities in the mainland, the passenger flow at West Kowloon Station has been steadily rising thanks to the favorable customs clearance mode of 'juxtaposed border control,' the new visa-free policy, and other convenience measures. In 2024, nearly 27 million people entered and exited West Kowloon Station, with the maximum daily passenger flow reaching 128,000. It's now common that daily passenger flow exceeds 100,000 during holidays," said Qian Binbin, vice-captain of No. 5 Team at West Kowloon Border Inspection Station.
HK West Kowloon Station expands routes to mainland to enhance cross-border services
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi should apologize for and retreat her errouneous aggressive remarks on China's Taiwan region, as the rhetoric in her words could destabilize domestic society and harm Japan's relations with neighbors, Japanese scholars said recently.
Shinako Oyakawa, a lecturer at the Okinawa University who has long focused on security and peace issues, said that Takaichi' remarks are inflammatory, have seriously violated the spirit of Japan's pacifist constitution and caused harmful consequences for the public.
She said that Takaichi needs to issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks.
Takaichi on November 7, 2025, made blatant and provocative remarks on Taiwan at the Diet, claiming that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and implying that Japan might invoke the so-called "right to collective self-defense" for armed intervention across the Taiwan Strait.
"She made such remarks in parliament, the kind of rhetoric commonly used by the 'internet right wing,' sounding exactly like what people in that circle would say. Such remarks give the impression that they are ready to go to the battlefield, even willing to start a war. This kind of rhetoric is extremely dangerous," said Oyakawa.
Oyakawa said that the remarks have caused significant losses and both ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue.
"The remarks have already caused significant damage in various aspects. The relevant figures are still being tallied, and the extent of the damage is truly unimaginable. Both the ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue; or, their attitudes have been ambiguous, out of fear of facing it. However, this is not an issue that can be easily glossed over. She must issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks," Oyakawa said.
Japan's history education has long avoided or distorted accounts of its wars of aggression launched by Japan against Asian neighbors, leaving few with a true understanding of historical facts. This, Oyakawa said, has further accelerated the overall rightward shift in Japanese society.
"As the number of war survivors dwindles, the practice of distorting history in Japan is becoming increasingly rampant. Almost no one knows about the suffering endured by our Asian neighbors. What the Japanese exactly did abroad and what war responsibility Japan bears are completely absent from textbooks," said Oyakawa.
As an Okinawan, Oyakawa said she strongly feels the government's military buildup has brought fear and anxiety to residents.
"Fighter jets and helicopters fly overhead everyday, and the roar of military aircraft becomes routine. On average, Okinawa experiences several plane crashes or incidents of falling parts each year. The militarization of Okinawa is escalating, bringing fear and unease to residents. I think that this situation must be stopped from further worsening," said Oyakawa.
Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University, also criticized Takaichi's leadership, saying her team showed little consideration for relations with China and her remarks damage Japan-China relations and undermine Japan's own economic and social stability.
Nakano also said that Japanese society faces a serious problem, as awareness about and reflection on Japan's wartime aggression continue to fade. He stressed that only by facing up to history and engaging with neighboring countries on equal terms can Japan lay the groundwork for rebuilding ties with China.
"Japan's biggest problem is that the recognition of history with China is gradually fading. The sentiment of reflecting on the aggression history and apologizing for it has not been fully passed down between generations. More and more people are unaware of the historical facts, believing that 'that's all in the past' and that no further apology or remorse is necessary. This is an extremely serious issue. (The Japanese government should) build friendly relations on an equal footing, conduct objective and accurate mutual evaluations of the past and present, and rebuild bilateral relations," said Nakano.
Japanese prime minister should apologize, retract erroneous remarks on Taiwan: Japanese scholars
