China warns the Philippines to stop all infringement activities and provocations against China in the South China Sea immediately, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, the spokesman, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to the Philippine incursion into territorial waters around China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea on September 16. On the day, the Philippines amassed over 10 official vessels to insist on illegally intruding into the territorial waters. The Chinese Coast Guard lawfully imposed control over the Philippine vessels and expelled them.
"The Huangyan Dao has always been part of China's inherent territory. The illegal intrusion of Philippine vessels into China's territorial waters around the Huangyan Dao seriously violates China's sovereignty and other rights and interests, and severely undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea. It is rational and lawful for the Chinese Coast Guard to exercise control over them and resolutely expel the intruders in a professional and restrained manner," Zhang said.
"The territorial scope of the Philippines has long been defined by a series of international treaties, and the Huangyan Dao lies outside its territorial boundaries. The Philippines has repeatedly harassed the Chinese side, infringed upon China's rights and created maritime tensions, acting as a troublemaker and disruptor of peace in every sense. We solemnly warn the Philippines to immediately cease all infringements and provocations. China will continue to take resolute and effective measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," said the spokesman.
China warns Philippines to halt all provocations in South China Sea: spokesman
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
