China's famous herd of wandering elephants has recently increased in population with a notable rise in the number of baby elephants, according to the Pu'er Forest Fire Brigade of Yunnan Province.
In video footage taken by firefighters on a recent patrol near the Guanping station in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, a large group of wild Asian elephants can be seen moving through the forest. They sometimes form a long line along a creek while, at other times, they can be seen foraging, with adults helping the youngsters find their feet.
The baby elephants were also frequently observed snuggling close to their mothers or nursing.
"There were 16 elephants in 2021. Now, they live with other herds, making a total of 28 elephants. We recently observed seven baby elephants," said Hong Guanghua, a firefighter with the Xishuangbanna detachment of the Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade.
The herd gained global attention four years ago when they traveled north from the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest to the outskirts of Kunming, Yunnan's capital, before returning to their traditional habitat in the southern parts of the province with human assistance.
Asian elephants receive first class protection in China and their population in the country has doubled from about 150 in the 1980s to more than 300 today, thanks to the country's increased conservation efforts.
China's famous wandering elephant herd grows larger
International figures have strongly criticized recent statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, calling them a blatant violation of international law and an unacceptable interference in China's internal affairs.
At a Diet meeting on Nov 7, Takaichi claimed that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
The remarks, which challenge China's sovereignty, have drawn sharp rebuke from observers across the globe, who warn such actions threaten regional stability.
Ruben Guzzetti, director of the Argentine Institute of Geopolitical Studies, said that "a substantial body of prior documentation establishes that Takaichi's statements constitute undue interference in China's internal affairs and a violation of its sovereignty. This is now clear, and it represents a very significant threat to international peace."
Echoing this sentiment, David Monyae, director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, contextualized the issue within historical memory.
"Given the history, the fascism and the damage that Japan caused, not just in China but the whole of Asia and the world during the Second World War, with all those atrocities, what we want is that Japan starts to recognize and starts stating clearly all the atrocities that it caused and to show a sign that it is reversing and it is not going to do what it did in the past. I think for Japan to bring back an imperialistic colonial mentality, it's something that is unacceptable," he said firmly.
The criticism also came from political figures. Tshilidzi Bethuel Munyai, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, condemned the Japanese leader's statements as "reckless, absurd, and an act of transgression, blatantly undermining the deployed diplomatic achievements between the two countries."
"It erodes the foundation of political trust between China and Japan. It signals very reckless right-wing forces within Japan and the broader international community. By the way, China has firm resolve to safeguard the national sovereignty and as well as territorial integrity," said Munyai.
Amidst this international backlash, experts assert that China's demand for a retraction of Takaichi's remarks is fully justified. The consensus among critics is clear: such provocations undermine the foundations of international law and bilateral relations, and must be withdrawn to prevent further escalation.
Int'l voices condemn Japanese PM's remarks as unacceptable violation of China's sovereignty
