National observatory issues yellow alert for Typhoon Wipha

China's national observatory issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Wipha on Saturday as the sixth typhoon of the year is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains to the southern coastal regions of the country.

The typhoon, observed at 19.9 degrees north latitude and 120.2 degrees east longitude at 05:00 on Saturday, is moving northwestward at a speed of 25 km per hour, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

It is anticipated to make landfall along the coastal areas from Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province to Wenchang City in Hainan Province on Sunday afternoon or evening, the meteorological center said.

The NMC continued to issue a blue alert for heavy rains on Saturday as the typhoon approaches.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system for typhoons, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.

According to the NMC, from Saturday afternoon through Sunday, heavy rains are expected to batter provinces and cities in north, east, south and southwest China.

Some areas in southern coastal Guangdong, the Leizhou Peninsula, northern Hainan Island, southwestern Sichuan Basin, southern Shaanxi, and southeastern Taiwan will see rainstorms. Some of these areas will probably experience thunderstorms and gales.

In response to the possible wind and rain impact caused by the typhoon, the main section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) was temporarily closed.

According to a joint decision by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, traffic control measures are scheduled to be in place from 23:00 on Saturday to 08:00 on Sunday, subject to adjustment depending on weather conditions.

Drivers and travelers are advised to follow alerts issued by the emergency command of the bridge and to stay updated on the latest weather forecasts and adjust travel plans accordingly.

According to meteorological experts, as of Saturday, a total of six typhoons had generated over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea this year, aligning with the historical average of 5.9. Among them, two typhoons, namely, Wutip and Danas, have already made landfall in China.

National observatory issues yellow alert for Typhoon Wipha

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