CMG broadcast vehicles reach China's "ice city" ahead of Asian Winter Games

A convoy of broadcast trucks of China Media Group (CMG) arrived in northeast China's Harbin on Monday to cover the upcoming 2025 Asian Winter Games, with measures taken to ensure these high-tech vehicles can operate in the notoriously low temperatures of China's "ice city."

The CMG broadcasting team embarked on a three-day, 1,300-kilometer journey from their headquarters in Beijing to reach Harbin, the provincial capital of the northeastern Heilongjiang Province, as they gear up to provide coverage of the upcoming regional winter sports event.

The Games, scheduled to open on Feb 7, marks China's first major international ice and snow event since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, while this ninth edition of the Games is also set to see record participation, with over 1,500 athletes from 34 countries and regions taking part.

The CMG convoy comprises 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcast vehicles, supported by auxiliary, recording, and equipment vehicles.

The first fleet of eight trucks, emblazoned with their distinctive red livery, caught the attention of some residents and tourists in Harbin as the fleet of vehicles passed by some of the city's most famous landmarks on Monday.

"We are very lucky to be in Harbin and catch sight of the CMG broadcast vehicles during our trip. They look great," said Li Dandan, a tourist.

"I usually take pictures of tourists and the giant snowman here. Just now when I was taking pictures, I spotted the red convoy, which I found majestic and beautiful," said Zhao Yang, a resident.

Among the first batch of vehicles, which are specifically tasked with broadcasting the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, was CMG's A5 broadcast truck, considered one of the most powerful and flexible outdoor broadcast vehicles in the world.

With a length of over 17 meters, the A5 is fully electric-driven, allowing it to operate steadily in extreme cold conditions, making it ideal for its mission in Harbin, where average winter temperatures can fall to around minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The convoy also comprises 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcast vehicles, supported by auxiliary, recording and equipment vehicles.

Meanwhile, CMG's well-equipped C3 vehicle will be stationed at the Harbin Ice-Snow World -- the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park -- and produce programs for key events, such as the opening ceremony at the sub-venue and the main torch lighting ceremony.

Crew members say they are looking to deliver high-quality programming which builds on the success and experience CMG had during its previous coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and last year's Summer Games in Paris.

"The highlights of the ice sports events are figure skating and short track speed skating, which we will produce to Olympic standards," said Lu Zhenxun, deputy director of the broadcast department under CMG's technology division.

In order to withstand the city's bitterly cold weather, necessary preparations have been made to ensure the operation of the broadcast vehicles in low temperatures, including the construction of specially heated warehouses to shelter the fleet when they are not being used on-site.

"Currently, the daily temperature in Harbin is below zero, and drops to below minus 20 degrees Celsius at night. The temperature in these 'greenhouses' can be maintained above zero, ensuring the normal operation of all equipment and air conditioners," said Kang Wenjie, a senior engineer for CMG.

In total, CMG will deploy 30 broadcast vehicles to cover the Asian Winter Games, providing comprehensive coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies and all the sporting action, including the figure skating, short track speed skating, halfpipe events, cross-country skiing and biathlon.

CMG broadcast vehicles reach China's "ice city" ahead of Asian Winter Games

CMG broadcast vehicles reach China's "ice city" ahead of Asian Winter Games

CMG broadcast vehicles reach China's "ice city" ahead of Asian Winter Games

CMG broadcast vehicles reach China's "ice city" ahead of Asian Winter Games

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves