China's southern regions respond as super typhoon Ragasa makes landfall

Authorities across southern China have been enacting emergency response measures as Typhoon Ragasa made landfall along the coast of south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday afternoon, with the powerful storm bringing ferocious winds and torrential rain.

Ragasa, the 18th typhoon of the year and by far the strongest, first entered the South China Sea late Monday and has been moving along the southern edge of Guangdong at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour.

The Guangdong provincial emergency management department had acted in advance of Ragasa's arrival, with over one million people being evacuated as a precaution. Various control measures have been imposed in coastal waters by local authorities, with all port operations suspended. Over 80,000 fishing boats have been secured in ports, while more than 12,200 offshore workers are taking shelter onshore across the province.

The central government has also urgently allocated supplies to support Guangdong in response to the typhoon.

Meanwhile, local authorities in other affected areas have also taken relevant measures.

In the southern island province of Hainan, high-speed rail services have been suspended, with flights also adjusted, and over 1,000 yachts being berthed.

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region evacuated tourists from its Weizhou Island and also closed coastal routes ahead of the incoming bad weather.

The typhoon also forced classes to be suspended in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) while local transport also ground to a halt, while the Macao SAR experienced severe flooding in low-lying areas with a number of residents relocated.

China's Central Meteorological Observatory has forecast that the intensity of winds and rainfall around the Guangdong coast will weaken on Thursday, with the heavy rain shifting to the west and likely hitting the neighboring Guangxi region.

The public have been advised to take precautions, avoid unnecessary trips, and be alert for the risks posed by potential flooding in urban centers, as well as possible mountain torrents and landslides in various other parts of southern and eastern China, including in the Yunnan, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces, where heavy rain is expected.

China's southern regions respond as super typhoon Ragasa makes landfall

China's top diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday that one of the top priorities at present is to contain the spread of the conflict and prevent further involvement of other countries.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president, at the latter's request.

Wang elaborated on China's position, saying that the current situation in the Middle East is still deteriorating, with the conflict continuing to spread. This has not only undermined the stability of global energy supply but also led to a severe humanitarian crisis.

Resorting to force will not solve the problem, and an unjust war should not be allowed to continue, he said.

In the face of the critical situation, China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should strengthen strategic communication and coordination, firmly uphold the UN Charter and international law, and prevent the world from regressing to the "law of the jungle," Wang said.

He added that the other two top priorities are for the international community to speak with one voice in calling for an immediate ceasefire and to intensify efforts to advance peace talks, and for the United Nations and the UN Security Council to play their due role in facilitating the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Despite the difficulties, dialogue and negotiation remain the right path out of the crisis, Wang said, adding that China and France should work together toward this end.

For his part, Bonne shared his perspectives on the current situation in the Middle East, including developments in Iran and Lebanon.

He said that France and China, as major countries, both support the United Nations, abide by international law, and advocate resolving differences through dialogue.

He said that the two countries should work together to explore solutions and contribute to easing tensions and resuming negotiations.

France is willing to enhance communication and cooperation with China to push for the early achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East, he added.

China's top diplomat urges efforts to prevent escalation in Mideast conflict