China sees rapid advances in development of information infrastructure, application capabilities

China enhanced the development of information infrastructure and application capabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), making new breakthroughs in innovation in internet and information technology, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Over the past five years, China has consistently prioritized innovation as the primary driving force behind its informatization drive, yielding a series of landmark, original, and disruptive scientific and technological achievements.

"New achievements have been made in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and foundational software. The total number of devices running the open-source HarmonyOS operating system has surpassed 1.19 billion units. Multiple products, including Tongyi Qianwen and DeepSeek, rank among the world's top performers. Over 700 generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language model products have completed registration. Embodied intelligence is gradually advancing toward industrial applications, while intelligent agents are accelerating innovation and development," Wen Ruisong, director of the Informatization Development Bureau of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission said at the press conference.

Over the past five years, the added value of core industries of China's digital economy rose from 7.8 percent of national GDP to 10.4 percent.

China has built the world's second-largest digital economy and emerged as a global leader in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to smart manufacturing.

In 2024, the combined operating revenues of major firms of the country's electronic information manufacturing sector reached 16.19 trillion yuan (about 2.3 trillion U.S. dollars), while the combined revenue of the software sector hit 13.73 trillion yuan, representing increases of 33.8 percent and 68.2 percent respectively compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

"We have accelerated the coordinated digital and green transformation and development with enhanced efficiency. In the steel industry, digital energy and carbon management systems now cover about 40 percent of the national production capacity. Green, low-carbon digital production and lifestyle practices have become more widespread. The vitality of cyber and information technology enterprises continues to strengthen. The number of high-tech enterprises in the country has surpassed 500,000, with improvement in innovation capabilities of cyber and information technology companies," said Wen.

China has maintained a leading position in the world in the realm of digital governance. Over 90 percent of government services are now available online, and online and one-stop services are provided for over 92.5 percent of the items requiring provincial administrative licensing.

"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the number of China's internet users has grown from 989 million to 1.123 billion, with the internet accessibility rising from 70.4 percent to 79.7 percent. Over 60 percent of citizens have primary or higher-level digital literacy and skills. Informatization has facilitated the widespread availability and accessibility of high-quality resources in education, healthcare, culture, and other sectors," Wen said.

China sees rapid advances in development of information infrastructure, application capabilities

Japanese citizens held rallies on Thursday outside the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the National Diet building in Tokyo, protesting Japan's weapons export policies.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, agreed at a meeting on Monday to revise the implementation guidelines of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and lift restrictions that limit defense equipment transfers to five noncombat purposes. And they planned to submit the proposal to the cabinet in February next year.

Demonstrators chanted slogans, calling for a complete ban on arms exports, denouncing the ruling parties, and demanding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the cabinet to step down.

"I believe that Japan must never become a 'weapons merchant.' At present, there are already some companies in Japan engaged in weapons-related industries. Not only does the government fail to stop this, it is actually promoting it, attempting to revive the economy in this way. I find this extremely dangerous, and it makes me deeply dissatisfied. I want to make my opposition clear," a protester said.

Another voiced concern over Takaichi's erroneous and provocative remarks on China's Taiwan region.

"Japan has never recognized Taiwan as a country. Under the premise of respecting the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, and the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan should abide by these documents. But now the Japanese government is ignoring them. Is this a deliberate move, or that Prime Minister Takaichi simply does not understand the contents? This is deeply unsettling. It is totally disrupting the current situation and undermining Japan's position in international relations," said a demonstrator.

A third rally participant said a dangerous shift has been taking place in Japan.

"Recently, some people have started talking about 'possessing nuclear weapons.' In fact, over the past 20 to 30 years, the threshold for such discussions has been gradually lowered. The moral restraints that once hold back these debates, the [right] path Japan should follow, and its commitment to pacifism have been continuously weakened and dismantled. While the situation has worsened sharply due to Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks, this is actually the result of a trend lasting for decades. Both the lawmakers and the public lack sufficient awareness of and reflection on this ongoing trend. I am very concerned about this," another protester said.

Japanese protesters rally against arms exports in Tokyo