China steps up flood response as 329 rivers nationwide exceed warning levels

China's Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min on Friday emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the country's flood defense system in the face of extreme weather and rising water levels.

Since entering main flood season, 329 rivers nationwide have recorded water levels surpassing warning thresholds, with torrential downpours in some areas triggering secondary disasters such as flash floods, landslides, and urban waterlogging.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office, Chen said that a robust, modernized flood management framework is essential to protect against increasingly frequent and severe disasters.

"We are enhancing the national flood disaster defense system to better respond to extreme rainfall, severe flooding, and major emergencies. At the same time, we are enhancing management of flood storage areas and reservoir capacity to ensure space for water diversion and retention," said Chen.

The Ministry of Water Resources is intensifying rainfall and water monitoring, issuing early warnings more rapidly, and coordinating flood control infrastructure at the basin level to ensure precise and unified responses, he said.

Moreover, the ministry has also planned to further strengthen the flood defense network -- comprising reservoirs, riverways, levees, and flood storage zones -- while enhancing forecasting accuracy and extending lead times for alerts.

China steps up flood response as 329 rivers nationwide exceed warning levels

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle