Harbin Asian Winter Games draw record-breaking 1,222 athletes: officials

The 9th Asian Winter Games, which concluded on Friday in the renowned "ice city" of Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, drew a record-breaking 1,222 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the event in history, according to a press conference on Friday.

Members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee held the press conference to recap the overall success of the Games, highlighting key accomplishments and milestones.

With over 180 competitions in 64 ice and snow events, this edition of the Games was the most comprehensive to date. The addition of Saudi Arabia and Cambodia to the roster of participating countries marked a major breakthrough, broadening the Asian Winter Games' scope and reinforcing its position as a premier international sporting event, according to officials.

Meanwhile, a total of 110,000 spectators attended the events during the Games, immersing themselves in the excitement and energy of winter sports.

"We focused on creating a professional and fair competition environment. The venues were fully prepared, material and equipment support was sufficient, and the competition organization was orderly and efficient. This has been widely praised by athletes, technical officials, team officials, and media reporters from various countries and regions. During the Games, athletes from various countries and regions worked hard and aimed for excellence. They not only achieved excellent results, but also embodied the spirit of fair competition and aimed for new heights. They gained friendship and cultural resonance, demonstrating the Olympic motto of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together,'" said Zhang Haihua, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee and vice mayor of Harbin.

Officials from the OCA reiterated that the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games have set a high standard in terms of preparation, medical services, and volunteer engagement. "Everybody, not only Asia, everywhere, will see the athletes in participation, but also see a beautiful city of Harbin. I'm sure that Harbin has already set the standard, a template, what successful Games [are] about," said Timothy Tsun Ting Fok, first vice president of the OCA.

Harbin Asian Winter Games draw record-breaking 1,222 athletes: officials

Russian media have widely condemned Japan's revision of its arms export rules, warning that the move marks a major shift in Japan's defense policy and poses new risks to regional stability.

The Japanese government officially revised "the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines on Tuesday to allow overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities, despite waves of large-scale protests, local media reported.

The revisions scrap rules that limit Japan's defense equipment exports to five non-combat categories, namely rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and mine sweeping.

Under the new policy, weapon exports will not require prior parliamentary approval. Instead, the government's National Security Council will make export-related decisions, with the Diet informed only after approval.

The Russian Business Consulting Daily commented that the changes marks a major shift in Japan's defense policy.

Russia's Vzglyad notes that Australia has signed a contract with Japan for its Navy to purchase its first three frigates from Japan.

Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reported that tens of thousands of Japanese citizens have rallied in Tokyo to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's attempts to revise the constitution.

The revisions, approved by the Cabinet and the National Security Council, coincide with the kickoff of the three-day spring festival at the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression.

Takaichi sent a ritual "masakaki" tree offering to the controversial shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II.

Russian media slam Japan for revising non-combat arms export policy