CMG hosts media event on building maritime community with shared future

The China Media Group (CMG) on Saturday hosted a round table series media event themed "Our Shared Home" in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, gathering global experts to discuss challenges in and solutions to safeguarding humanity's shared blue home amid escalating geopolitical tensions

The event was co-hosted by CMG with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance.

At the event, experts from countries such as Britain, Indonesia and Singapore joined their Chinese counterparts to discuss maritime governance, security, and the blue economy.

They highlighted the contemporary value and practical significance of building a maritime community of a shared future against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions affecting maritime stability and security.

"It (the South China Sea) can be regarded as a testing ground for us to build a community with a shared future for the oceans. Cooperation does not merely bring about practical benefits; crucially, it enhances mutual trust. Only with mutual trust can peace and stability be guaranteed for a long time," said Wu Shicun, chairman of Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance.

"China is the the biggest partner for trade and economic for ASEAN countries. So ocean is a part of that cooperation. Not only in the fishery sector, but also with the port, I mean infrastructures, ocean infrastructures, so this opportunity is really good momentum to expanding more," said Veronika Saraswati, director of the Global Development Research Center in Indonesia.

Attendees also discussed the production of documentaries on the South China Sea and other maritime-themed media products.

CMG hosts media event on building maritime community with shared future

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Manhattan, New York City on Saturday in a massive anti‑war rally, with protesters voicing opposition to escalating conflict and demanding an end to U.S. military action in the Middle East.

In the afternoon near Central Park, crowds gathered holding placards and chanting against the widening conflict. Demonstrators condemned U.S. military strikes on Iran and demanded an immediate halt to war operations.

"Stop the war," demonstrators chanted as they assembled in Midtown Manhattan, one of several focal points of the protest.

According to U.S. media reports, more than 3,000 related demonstrations took place across the country on the same day, with New York City serving as one of the main gathering cities for the coordinated anti-war movement.

"Ceasefire now, no more endless wars, why are we attacking countries in the Middle East? And we are a nation that has been at war long enough. It is time for peace," said a protester.

"No more extra wars, no war on Cuba," said another protester.

In addition to opposing war, protesters also voiced anger over domestic concerns such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"I don't like what's going on in this country, I don't think anybody does. Well, that among many, many other things, not just the war, but there's a lot of things like healthcare, arresting citizens that aren't criminals, and the list goes on and on. There's a lot of grievances," said a protester.

The demonstrations came in the wake of joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28. The attacks killed Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians.

Thousands protest in Manhattan against US military action in Middle East