China has built the world's largest earthquake early warning system, an official said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang Kun, head of the China Earthquake Administration, introduced the country's achievements in reforming and developing emergency management from 2021 to 2025 at the State Council Information Office's press conference on the achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
"China has built the world's largest earthquake early warning system. A real-time warning system that can send alerts within seconds has covered over 90 percent of key risk areas, and a rapid reporting system capable of delivering seismic intensity data within minutes has provided strong support for disaster response and rescue decision-making," said Wang Kun.
Since the warning system was put into operation, it has issued 359 warnings for earthquakes of magnitude four and above, providing the public with time to take protective measures and enabling industries such as high-speed railways and precision manufacturing to implement emergency responses, he added.
In addition, China has made groundbreaking progress in earthquake science and technology innovation.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, multiple key research projects achieved important breakthroughs, continuously enhancing our scientific and technological innovation capacity. We released the world's first 100-million-parameter large seismic-wave model. Earthquake early warning technology overcame more than 60 key technical challenges," said Wang Kun.
While enhancing technological capabilities for disaster reduction, China has also vigorously promoted fundamental risk census and engineering reinforcement projects.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China conducted its first national survey of earthquake disaster risks. We coordinated with relevant departments to promote the reinforcement of houses and facilities in 229 key counties within high-intensity areas such as Sichuan, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. The reinforced buildings have withstood the test of multiple earthquakes, reducing casualties," the official added.
China builds world's largest earthquake early warning system: official
China builds world's largest earthquake early warning system: official
Japanese protesters gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Monday, voicing opposition to proposed revisions to three security documents.
The demonstration came the same day Japan’s government held its first expert panel meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss updates to the three documents, including the National Security Strategy.
Protesters said the government is taking steps they view as dangerous, including easing restrictions on the export of lethal weapons and seeking changes to Japan’s pacifist constitution.
"The export of lethal weapons in itself violates the constitution. From the beginning, they should never have had such weapons. So it is absolutely something we can not allow,” said one protester.
"This will evolve into a situation where wars can be constantly launched, thereby leading to the spread of war. That’s why I believe this is absolutely unacceptable. Since we cannot stop the weapons industry, they’ll try to start wars to keep it going. Profiting from weapons is absolutely not allowed and this itself also violates Article 9 of the constitution, so it must not be done," another protester warned.
Several protesters also argued that amending the constitution is unacceptable.
"I believe amending the constitution is absolutely not allowed. I think we have been able to live in peace until now because the constitution exists. With excuses like ‘the times have changed’, they’re trying to change it casually, turning our country, which has long taken an anti-war stance, toward war. Anyone can clearly see that intention. So I believe we must firmly oppose it," said a man.
"I feel an extremely strong sense of crisis. I also work in an educational institution. The children we have worked so hard to raise being sent to the battlefield - that is completely unacceptable," said a woman.
Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.
Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting.
The expert panel will meet once a month before finalizing a proposal around the fall, after which Takaichi's cabinet aims to approve the revision by year-end.
Japanese protesters rally against proposed revisions to three security documents
