China prepares to launch Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future.

The combination of the spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launching area.

After just over an hour of vertical transfer, the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft combination has now been positioned on the launch tower.

At present, engineers have ascended the tower and begun conducting preliminary inspections.

Subsequent pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be conducted as scheduled, with the launch planned for a suitable time in the coming days.

"After we entered the site on April 19, each system first conducted a status check on the rocket, followed by the simultaneous execution of multiple tasks across all systems, with the propulsion system completing the gas testing of the pressurized delivery system's fuel cells and the testing of the pyrotechnic devices, the structural system finishing the docking of the spacecraft and payload brackets, the closure of the fairing, and the docking of the spacecraft-carrier combination with the escape tower; and the propulsion system completing subsystem testing, small-scale and large-scale matching testing, and final system checks. So far, all system parameters meet specifications, and the rocket is operating normally. Next, we will conduct three rounds of electrical testing, primarily involving functional checks of the launch area, circuit inspections for ignition and emergency shutdown, and a full-scale launch rehearsal. Following that, we will perform a full-system gas leak test and fueling," said Xu Zheyao, a rocket designer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China prepares to launch Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship

China prepares to launch Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship

The EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese security check company Nuctech constitutes unlawful extraterritorial jurisdiction, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Justice on Friday.

Citing the rules on countering foreign states' unlawful extraterritorial jurisdiction measures, the ministry said that no organization or individual may comply with or aid the EU's unlawful extraterritorial jurisdictional measure.

The ministry spokesperson added that this move aims to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal persons and other organizations.

The spokesperson pointed out that the EU has arbitrarily sought excessive and unnecessary domestic information from Chinese entities during the probe, which runs counter to international law and basic norms of international relations.

The bloc's Foreign Subsidies Regulation is a unilateral tool. Since taking effect, the EU has repeatedly invoked it to carry out targeted and discriminatory probes against Chinese companies, the spokesperson said, describing such actions as typical protectionism under the pretext of fair competition.

China will never accept the arbitrary imposition of "long-arm jurisdiction" by foreign countries and regions on Chinese citizens and enterprises, the spokesperson noted.

"We urge the EU side to immediately rectify its erroneous moves. Should it insist on crossing the line, China will take firm countermeasures in accordance with the law," the spokesperson added.

China says EU's probe into Chinese company constitutes unlawful extraterritorial jurisdiction