New Zealand, Australia and Chile have rolled out a variety of vibrant activities to celebrate the Spring Festival, drawing enthusiastic participation from local communities.
On Sunday, the sixth day of the Year of the Horse, a joyful Spring Festival celebration took place at Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia, with visitors watching performances and exploring traditional Chinese folk customs, including playing pitch-pot and making traditional Chinese lacquer fans.
"It's an amazing experience. (I wish) all the people that we love to also be happy, healthy and prosperous for the year ahead," said one attendee.
From Friday to Saturday, a "2026 Spring Festival Carnival" was held at Victoria Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, attracting many local residents who savored festive performances, Chinese cuisine, and the holiday atmosphere.
"It's great. We love it," said a Christchurch resident.
On Saturday evening, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra teamed up with several artists from China to present a concert that blended Chinese and Western musical elements, offering local audiences a cultural celebration of the Chinese New Year.
In Santiago, Chile, a Spring Festival celebration event was held to welcome the Year of the Horse. Artists from both China and Chile took turns performing on stage, delivering a series of performances. The event also featured booths offering handicrafts and Chinese calligraphy, with local residents lining up to take part in the hands-on cultural experiences.
Themed activities held across world to celebrate Chinese New Year
Japanese citizens took to the streets of Tokyo's Shinjuku district on Saturday, voicing strong opposition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration for lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports, advancing a "National Intelligence Agency" bill, and pushing for the revision of the country's postwar pacifist constitution.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines.
The revisions scrap the restrictions that had limited arms exports to five non-combat categories, allow, in principle, the export of lethal weapons, permit transfers to nations engaged in active conflict under specified circumstances, and sideline parliament from the decision-making process, crossing a line that previous governments had at least nominally upheld.
"Allowing the export of lethal weapons and even attempting to possess nuclear arms, the Takaichi administration is leading Japan toward war, despite our postwar commitment of never starting a war again. Many people are worried. This must be stopped," said a protester.
The cornerstone of Japan's pacifist constitution is Article 9, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts. For decades, this article has been a fundamental constraint on Japan's military endeavors.
"I am firmly opposed to amending the Constitution. Takaichi claims 'the time has come,' but that's just her own decision. Without Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan could be swept into America's wars. That must not happen," said another participant.
"Japan once invaded other Asian countries and has maintained a pacifist constitution ever since. But now the government has arbitrarily decided to lift the ban on exporting lethal weapons without sufficient parliamentary debate. It's unacceptable," said another demonstrator.
"If we abandon our stance as a peaceful nation under the constitution, it would be absolutely intolerable. Thanks to Article 9, Japan hasn't waged war or been pulled into conflict. For Japan's place in the international community, Article 9 must not be changed," said another protester.
Tokyo protesters oppose Takaichi’s lethal weapons export, constitution revision plans
Tokyo protesters oppose Takaichi’s lethal weapons export, constitution revision plans
