Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, visited flood-affected people in northeastern Beijing's Miyun District on Monday and Tuesday, while providing guidance for flood relief efforts.
Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, went to a number of hospitals and shelters and the Miyun Reservoir to learn about local search and rescue operations, medical service, resident evacuation and relocation, and flood relief projects.
Citing instructions made by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Zhang said ensuring the safety of the people's lives and property should be prioritized, stressing the need to try every means to search for missing people, carefully treat the injured ones, and guarantee the basic life of affected people.
Zhang emphasized that the current period of time is a critical stage for flood control, in which it is essential to comprehensively consider the uncertainty of upstream water inflow, the safety of reservoirs, and the flood discharge risks downstream, and scientifically and precisely grasp the rhythm of flood discharge, in order to minimize disaster losses with the maximum effort.
He called for strengthened coordination among the relevant departments and between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei in responding to floods.
Zhang said that efforts need to be made in a timely manner to closely monitor high-risk areas such as the mouths of mountain torrents, the foot of steep slopes, floodplains in rivers, and low-lying areas, as well as high-risk periods of time like the time of heavy rainfall at night.
Besides, monitoring and early warning should be strengthened, and emergency risk-prevention measures need to be taken in advance and resolutely. Special attention should be paid to taking care of the elderly, the weak, the sick, the disabled and other groups with mobility difficulties to ensure their safe transfer, said the vice premier.
Since the onset of the current round of intense rainfall, Beijing had recorded an average precipitation of 165.9 mm citywide as of midnight Monday. The northern mountainous areas bore the brunt, with the northeastern district of Miyun alone receiving the highest rainfall of 543.4 mm.
Chinese vice premier visits flood-affected people, guides flood relief in Beijing
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
