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This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Begum with you on this Monday, December the 1st, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program China's raising concerns over Japan's increased military spending amid the tensions over Taiwan.
American and Ukrainian officials say their talks on a Russia-Ukraine peace deal have been productive and China's Hainan province is preparing for a surge in tourism, with the island's special customs operations soon taking effect.
In business, China sets a new record for express deliveries.
In sports, World Athletics has announced its Athletes of the Year.
In culture and entertainment.
With a month to go, China's box office for the year approaches 50 billion yuan.
Now checking the day's top stories.
China's voice concern over Japan's increased military spending, warning against a resurgence of militarism.
This comes amid ongoing tensions, following Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi's remarks on Taiwan.
Soon, Tian Yuan has details.
China's foreign ministry says Japan continues to dodge and blur its position on Taiwan.
The ministry says Tokyo avoids referencing the Cairo Declaration, the Postum Proclamation and its own instrument of surrender all documents that confirm Taiwan's return to China.
The ministry added that Tokyo also stays silent on the four political documents that underpin China-Japan relations and on its own one-China plan pledge, repeating only that its position hasn't changed.
Spokesperson Lin Jian noted that the Cairo Declaration and the latest documents are core elements of the post-war international order and that Japan is legally obliged follow them.
These documents form the basis for Japan's return to the international community.
But Japan instead now ignores these binding commitments and instead cites other documents that excluded China, the country that suffered most from its past aggression.
China says this downplayed militarism distorts the history of the world anti-fascist war and challenges the post-war order.
Lin said the issue goes beyond Taiwan, accusing Japan of expanding its security agenda, raising defense spending and even debating that non-nuclear policy principles.
It warned that some in Japan seek to break free of the pacifist constitution and abandon obligations as a defeated nation.
Take a listen.
On matters of fundamental principle, Japan should not expect to muddle through.
We urge the Japanese side to take history as a mirror, engage in deep reflection, take Chinese concerns seriously and earnestly retract its erroneous remarks, demonstrating its political commitment to China through concrete actions.
The spokesperson added that they have not learned from history and have not fully acknowledged wartime crimes.
He called this a resurgence of military's thinking, an attempt to whitewash past aggression.
Ling said the world will not be fooled and China will never accept it.
The Japanese government has approved a supplementary budget proposal for fiscal 2025 boosting defense spending to 2 of GDP, ahead of schedule by two years.
Local media report that the defense ministry will get around 54 billion in the supplementary budget.
Some of that will be used for acquiring weapons, including destroyers, submarines, and missiles.
The additional budget brings the overall defense-related funding for fiscal 2025 to more than 70 billion.
An editorial published by Japan's Asahi Shimbun says Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi's security policies undermine the country's defense-oriented policy.
It also says the deterioration of Japan's status as a pacifist country is deeply concerning.
The Japanese Prime Minister's recent remarks, which hinted at possible military involvement in the Taiwan Strait, have drawn sharp criticism from international scholars.
Marina Karnogorska at the Slovak Academy of Sciences says Takeichi's statements clearly violate established international norms and undermine post-World War II agreements.
The senior researcher emphasizes that such remarks could destabilize regional security and send the wrong signal about Japan's commitment to peace.
The one China principle represents a universal consensus within the international community.
The government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
The fact that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Itakaichi dares to make such erroneous remarks on Taiwan reveals a revival of militarist and fascist ideology.
It constitutes a blatant provocation against post-WWII international order.
The Japanese people, more than anyone, should know that their nation is the only one to have been bombed by atomic weapons.
Therefore, Japan must be all the more determined to uphold peace and ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again, as this concerns the survival of all mankind.
Executive Director Vijay Prashad of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research says Takeuchi's record as a far-right politician shows a consistent pattern of defending Japanese war crimes and imperialism.
He warns that her comments on Taiwan without any acknowledgement of Japan's past violate the UN Charter and threaten international stability.
It's important to remember that she is a far right wing politician and has a long history in the far right, where she has long been an apologist for Japanese war crimes around all of Asia, including in China.
It needs to reflect on its own history a little bit.
And the very fact that you have a prime minister who is an apologist for Japanese war crimes, who defends Japanese imperialism and then makes a comment about Taiwan without ever having apologized or reckoned with.
The UN should should take action here because this violates also the UN charter, having made a statement which is a direct threat to a country.
Scholars warn that Takeuchi's remarks could increase regional tensions and undermine international norms.
Japan's future statements on Taiwan will be closely watched by the global community.
Since his defeat in World War II, Japan's been bound to numerous international legal documents, including the Potsdam Proclamation and the Instrument of Surrender.
These documents have served as safeguards to prevent a rise of militarism in Japan.
Wang Hao explains.
Eighty years ago, the Potsdam Proclamation delivered a clear and uncompromising message.
It stressed the complete ousting of those in charge who deceived the people of Japan into embarking on a global war.
Strict political constraints were placed to limit Japan's ability to wage war, including the removal of its ideological foundations of militarism.
Japan is also restricted from exercising the right to collective self-defense as defined in its constitution.
The concept was introduced in the UN Charter in 1945 and was created to safeguard collective security and prevent the resurgence of fascism.
The four China-Japan political documents and Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution further underscore its commitment to peaceful development.
In the 1972 Sino-Japanese joint statement, Japan explicitly expressed deep remorse for its wartime aggression and pledged to resolve disputes by peaceful means.
The exclusively defense-oriented policy enshrined in Japan's constitution has served as a fundamental assurance of Japan's pursuit of peaceful development since the war.
But in recent years right-wing forces in Japan have increasingly challenged the core principles of its post-war pacifist trajectory.
Proposals for armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, talks on abandoning the three non-nuclear principles And efforts to revise the pacifist constitution send a troubling signal suggesting Japan's departure from its long-standing commitment to peaceful development.
That was Wong Hao on Japan's peace commitments following the end of World War II.
Coming up, officials are reporting productive talks on a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
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Ten minutes past the hour.
US and Ukrainian officials have held what both sides called productive talks on a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the negotiations made solid progress and built on previous diplomatic contacts in recent weeks.
We had another very productive session building off Geneva, building off the events of this week.
As I told you earlier this morning, our goal here is to end the war, but it's more than just to end the war.
But there's more work to be done.
This is delicate.
It's complicated.
There are a lot of moving parts.
And obviously, there's another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation.
And that'll continue later this week when Mr. Woodcock travels to Moscow.
Secretary Rustem Umarov of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council said the meeting allowed both sides to address key priorities.
We were discussing about the future of Ukraine.
We discussed all the important matters that are important for Ukraine, for Ukrainian people, and US was super supportive.
We worked.
We already had a successful meeting in Geneva, and today we continue this success.
So at the moment, this meeting was productive and successful.
On the later stages, hopefully, we'll keep you updated.
The official also said they discussed the security, prosperity and rebuilding of Ukraine.
Rubio said discussions also focus on setting up Ukraine for long-term prosperity.
The meeting in Florida is the latest in two weeks of diplomatic activity.
U.S.
Envoy Steve Witkoff, who also attended those talks, will visit Moscow for discussions.
U.S.
President Donald Trump says the talks are going well and there's a good chance of a deal to end the conflict.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, says discussions have been constructive and focused on ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty and national interests.
Evangelos Sipsis has more from Kyiv.
In Kyiv, peace talks are back, but so is the reality of ongoing conflict.
With Russian strikes still hitting the country, Ukrainians are listening for what the talks in the US actually change and what Ukraine might be asked to give up.
A Ukrainian delegation, led by Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, is in the United States for fresh talks with US.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
A Washington's peace plan is reportedly being worked cut from 28 points to 19.
We're an independent country and we have to defend our own position.
Going along with the enemy, in my view, isn't right.
The plan should be based on fairness.
I understand it's a starting point for negotiations, but still, it must be fair.
We must return to the borders as they were at the moment of the attack.
We must also bring prisoners home, bring children home and receive reparations for destroyed property, for the loss of lives and for economic losses.
That's the gap negotiators have to bridge.
Here, people aren't talking about a deal on paper.
They're talking about independence justice, and what security looks like a day after any ceasefire.
If you have your country, if you have sovereignty of your country, you should determine what army will be and whether you go to NATO or not.
But in Kyiv, the revised peace plan still isn't sitting well, even with tweaks.
One change is the reported removal of any amnesty language.
Because Ukraine says accountability can't just be waved away.
And the big sticking points are still there.
Territory, security, guarantees.
And whether a ceasefire would actually hold.
We are ready to discuss even controversial plan from you because we need peace.
But this peace should be just peace.
We don't need peace without justice.
That's why we are ready to talk, we are ready to discuss, but we are not ready to capitulate.
So for many Ukrainians, the message is consistent.
Keep talking, but don't sign away the country's choices or demand for justice.
That was Evangelo Sipsis reporting from Kiev.
In the meantime, Russia says it's ready for serious talks on a Ukraine peace plan, but it cautions that many issues still need to be resolved.
Dasha Chernyshova has more from Moscow.
Russia is cautiously optimistic regarding the negotiations.
We've heard the Russian president backing the US drafted peace plan, but also saying that a lot will have to be negotiated.
So those talks that will be held in Russia with the US envoys, if we have been confirmed, and they are not going to be easy,
We've heard already some Russian officials, including Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, saying that every day that Ukraine is dragging with the talks, it is losing on the ground ground on the battlefield, and its negotiating position is getting worse and worse.
This is according to Peskov.
We're also hearing Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, saying that Russia stems from the fact that Europe will not be part of those discussions, saying that Europe has lost its chance to sit at the table.
So a lot will be discussed in Moscow and obviously Russia will be trying to make sure that its red lines are not crossed, because Russia wants to make sure that the deal is lost in peace and certainly Moscow would like to have some sort of international recognition for that deal so that new generations in politics would still be welcoming and respecting the arrangements made.
That was Dasha Chernysheva reporting.
Russia has condemned recent Ukrainian attacks on its oil tankers in a port in the Black Sea.
A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said the two tankers, sailing under the Gambian flag and en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk were struck by drone boats on Friday and Saturday.
The port also came under attack over the weekend.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched drones and ballistic missiles against his country.
U.S.
President Donald Trump says he held a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but has not provided any details.
Trump said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed in its entirety.
When asked whether strikes against Venezuela were imminent, Trump said not to read into his comments, but he labeled Venezuela as a country that's not considered very friendly.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent weeks.
Since late August, the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean to combat alleged drug trafficking.
Maduro is tonight having any links to the illegal drug trade.
Stephen Gibbs has more from Caracas.
Well, many people here are really just wondering what might happen next.
The biggest tangible disruption is in connection with flights.
Ever since the Federal Aviation Administration announced last week that Airlines should take extra precautions flying close to or above Venezuela owing to US military activity, a move that led to several international airlines suspending services, ruining the travel plans of thousands.
The Venezuelan government has said it's looking at providing planes itself to repatriate those stranded.
It's also complained very strongly about a Trump Truth Social post on Saturday in which he said Venezuelan airspace is closed.
The government here said that was a colonialist threat incompatible with international law.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, on Sunday read a letter on behalf of President Nicolás Maduro to the members of the OPEC grouping of oil-producing nations, saying that the US is putting at risk regional and international stability.
Also this weekend there's been an air show here in Venezuela, in the city of Maracay, an opportunity for the government to display some of its military assets.
The mood there was a mix of a day out and a show of defiance.
So for the time being, it is a question of wait and see how this all pans out, whether the standoff continues or whether tensions between the United States and Venezuela might escalate.
That was Stephen Gibbs reporting from Caracas.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is seeking a presidential pardon in his long-running corruption case, an unprecedented move, since a verdict has not been issued yet.
The request triggered immediate protests outside the home of President Isaac Herzog, with demonstrators accusing Netanyahu of trying to avoid accountability.
In a letter released on Sunday, Netanyahu's lawyers said the trial is hindering his ability to govern and argued that a pardon would serve Israel's national interests.
President Herzog office called the request extraordinary, saying it carries significant implications.
Netanyahu's been facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust since 2020.
He denies any wrongdoing.
Coming up, China's Hainan Island is getting ready for an influx of international tourists.
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Around 19 past the hour.
Hainan Free Trade Portal launches special customs operations later this month.
With tourism as a pillar industry.
The southern Chinese island has seen a surge in international arrivals thanks to its sun-soaked beaches and its pioneering medical tourism pilot zone.
Wen Hongjie has the story.
Hainan, China's only tropical island province, draws some 97 million tourists every year.
People from colder places come here for warmth, and those from inland areas head to the sea.
But why are tourists from ASEAN countries with their own island vibes come here more than ever?
In fact, a new trend is emerging.
Here they come, the Indonesian group, 200 visitors.
For this extra-large Indonesian tour group, their first stop with a healthcare and wellness center.
I feel so much more relaxed and refreshed.
This is my first time in Hainan, and when I come back, I'd love to experience this again.
Beyond offering the unique experience of traditional Chinese medicine, The zone's real advantage lies in its access to high-end equipment and advanced treatments.
As part of the free trade port development, Hainan permits the early use of cutting-edge international medicines and medical services within this pilot zone.
Take this nuclear medicine scanner behind me, for example.
It's more advanced and precise than what many hospitals in Southeast Asia have.
It can detect issues much earlier, allowing earlier intervention and treatment.
That's a big draw for visitors from Indonesia.
While many medical tourism destinations need at least three days to deliver results, here reports arrive on the same day and they are issued in English, which is recognized internationally.
Far away in Indonesia, travel agencies have seized the opportunity.
Wilson began selling Hainan packages in 2017, first branding it as the Bali of China.
Now they are tailoring new packages to match the trend.
Hainan has a really cool way of growing and developing its tourism.
They don't just rely on their beaches, but they also leverage their life experiences.
So, judging by the number of trips booked there, it's growing quite rapidly.
This, of course, has had a very positive impact on our revenue from this destination.
For Wilson, direct flights make all the difference.
The Jakarta-Sanya route cuts travel time to just four and a half hour.
Hainan now operates 79 international passenger routes.
And as part of its wider opening up, The province is accelerating trials that would allow foreign airlines to operate flights between Hainan and the third country without returning to their home base, a policy known as the seventh freedom of the air.
International flights are taking off and landing every day.
Yet what unfolds here goes beyond rising tourist numbers.
It's a launchpad for a burgeoning global service trade.
As the island prepares to launch its special customs operation.
Foreign travel agencies, hotel groups, cruise operators and airlines can all tap into this gateway.
Hainan is opening to the world, turning boundaries into benefits.
That was Wanhongjia in Hainan.
On Venezuela's northern Caribbean coast lies the isolated village of Chuao, a community accessible only by boat and one that's preserved more than four centuries of traditional cacao craftsmanship.
The native Criollo cacao, renowned for its distinctive flavor, continues to be harvested, fermented and sun-dried entirely by hand, with the harvest season now underway.
Villagers are working as much as their ancestors did.
Lei Shengping has the story.
November marks the busiest time of year in Chuao.
Shortly after 7 in the morning, villagers gather at the cooperative with sickles, buckets and other tools before boarding trucks to reach the plantations.
Despite the heat, humidity and constant insects, generations of Chua families have kept the tradition of hand-picking cacao pods alive.
Estalita has worked with the cooperative since she was 16.
No, porque yo estoy acostumbrada.
I'm very familiar with the food.
Sometimes we can tell just by knocking the pot down whether it's good or spoiled.
Our Criollo cacao is special because we grow it with love and care, and also because of the richness of the soil.
Cacao shapes daily life for all 4,000 residents of Chuao.
Every step, from harvesting and fermentation to drying and sorting, is carried out manually and collectively, as it has been for centuries.
The coastal village, surrounded by mountains on three sides, can only be reached by a half-hour boat ride to the nearest town of Croni.
This semi-escalation has helped preserve the real native Creole variety in its purest form.
After a morning of work, the pods are brought back to the cooperative.
Villager Hernandez helps load the fresh fruit into wooden fermentation boxes lined with banana leaves, where they remain for seven days.
We work as a great team.
We love what we do.
Cacao sustains our families.
Our parents raised us with it, and we are proud to continue that work.
Once fermented, the beans are moved to open country yards for a week of sun drying without chemicals or machinery.
In order to preserve the beans' natural aroma and sweetness.
Herrera Bacalhado oversees the drying process.
First we spread beans on a rough surface to remove the remaining pulp, then 4-5 days on a semi-rough floor, depending on the sun.
We turn the beans at midday so they dry evenly.
Finally, we finish on a smooth surface.
The strong sunlight allows moisture to move from outer layer back inside and then redistribute evenly, giving the beans a balanced, consistent dryness.
The cooperative has now documented these traditional methods in manuals to ensure their passion.
Worldwide, more than 80% of cacao is high-yield for a standard variety grown largely in Africa.
Crayola, by contrast, accounts for less than 5 of global production, but is widely regarded as the finest flavor.
Last year, Chua produced only around 20 metric tons, yet its gentle acidity and complex fruit notes place it firmly in Europe's premium chocolate market.
Many luxury single-origin baths proudly build the village's name.
Twelve centuries-old techniques have been recognized as part of Venezuela's national cultural heritage and now draw visitors from around the world.
A tourist from Spain says the visit feels like a step back in time.
In today's industrialized world, it's incredible to find a place where handmade cacao traditions still survive.
It's truly wonderful.
For Chua, cacao is more than a livelihood.
It's a symbol of Venezuela's native cacao heritage and a living expression of the culture that has sustained this coastal village for generations.
That was Lei Shengping reporting.
The number of people killed in recent floods and landslides across Sumatra Island has surpassed 440.
Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency says North Sumatra has recorded the highest number of casualties.
More than 200,000 Indonesians have been forced to flee their homes.
Michael Morillet reports.
The storm may be over, but the struggle has just begun.
Afriyanti used to run a shop here on Indonesia's Sumatra Island.
Her family gathered on Sunday, trying to make sense of the devastation.
They met here at her house, now little more than a wall.
This was my home.
I have nine of my family members here.
We have nothing left.
Everything was gone.
We only have the clothes on our backs.
More than 200,000 Indonesians have fled their homes.
Roads have become rivers.
Rescue teams now having to deliver food by helicopter because it's the only way in.
The storm has left many in shock.
Marina Nordin says she was swept away as floodwaters hit her village in Aceh province.
I couldn't evacuate because I can't walk.
The flood carried me.
Malaysians now also trying to piece their lives together.
The storms have killed at least two people.
This farmer escaped with his life, but his paddy field has been destroyed.
My paddy field is like a sea.
There have been waves of water and the wind is strong.
I still can't see my crops at all.
From the sky, the impact of these storms is clear, but it's on the ground, where people have to pick up the pieces, where this story is really unfolding.
That was Michael Marillier reporting.
We're at 29 past the hour.
Beijing cloudy and minus 6 Monday evening.
Sunny with a high of 0 tomorrow.
Nanchang's cloudy overnight and 10, then a high of 19.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's cloudy and 7 this evening, then sunny and 18.
The NTN's down to 16, then cloudy and 29.
Phnom Penh will be cloudy tonight and tomorrow.
The low's 23, a high of 32.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall and 25 degrees on Tuesday.
Kampala will see a light rainfall with a low of 19 and cloudy and 27 degrees.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China is raising concerns over Japan's increased military spending amid the tensions over Taiwan.
American and Ukrainian officials have said their talks on a Russian-Ukraine peace deal have been productive.
And China's Hainan province is getting ready for a surge in tourism, with the island's special customs operations soon taking effect.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Shh, listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
And right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
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Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Begum with you on this Monday.
Still to come.
In business, China sets a new record for express deliveries.
In sports, World Athletics has announced its Athletes of the Year.
In culture and entertainment.
With a month to go, China's box office for the year approaches 50 billion yuan.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
Now checking the day's headlines.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he will be paying a state visit to China this week.
This is Macron's fourth state visit to China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to France last year on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During the upcoming visit from Wednesday to Friday, President Xi Macron will discuss China-France relations and address key international and regional issues.
Chinese Premier Li Cheng and top legislator Zhao Leji will also meet with Macron.
France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic ties with China on the ambassador level.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with France, deepen cooperation and enhance multilateral coordination.
Chinese citizens can now travel to Russia visa-free for tourism and business purposes for up to 30 days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the policy on Monday.
The visa-free period runs through September 14th of next year.
The move reciprocates China's decision in early September to grant visa-free entry to Russian citizens under the same conditions.
Hong Kong authorities say at least 151 people died in Wednesday's fire, with more than 30 others still unaccounted for.
The blaze broke out in a high-rise complex on November 26, sweeping through several residential blocks.
Police have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter.
China's delivered its first seaborne platform for recovering rockets.
It's a critical piece of infrastructure for the country's reusable rocket launches.
It follows the launch of commercial rocket firm I-Space's landing vessel in August.
The ship's designed to retrieve the first stage of the I-Space reusable rocket.
Chinese rocket manufacturers are racing to advance reusable vehicle development.
So far, multiple rocket makers have completed essential vertical takeoff and landing tests.
Indonesian authorities say more than 440 people have died in recent floods and landslides.
The National Disaster Management Agency said North Sumatra recorded the highest number of casualties, accounting for nearly half the victims.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre said adverse weather has killed more than 350.
The education ministry suspended activities at universities and other educational institutions.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says the United States' military threats in the Caribbean could jeopardize global energy market stability.
He made the remarks in a letter to the Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Maduro said the deployment of more than 14 US warships and 15000 troops in the Caribbean Sea is creating a climate of tension that could disrupt regional security and affect energy supplies.
He denounced the US attempt to seize Venezuela's crude oil oil reserves, warning that it poses a direct risk to the balance of the global market.
A dozen migrants remain stranded at the Chile-Peru border.
They fled Chile after presidential frontrunner Jose Antonio Cast promised to expel undocumented migrants, but Peru has blocked the border with soldiers and police.
The migrants trapped at the crossing cannot move forward or return home.
Ecuadorian migrant Cecilia said that she's running out of food and money.
I have been here for almost five days now.
And I'm running out of money to go to my country.
We have nothing to eat.
We haven't had breakfast and we haven't had lunch.
And they keep us like this.
They don't let us go anywhere.
They don't let us leave.
And I want to go.
And nobody comes to help us.
They don't give us any help.
And there are children here.
A cast leads in the polls ahead of next month's runoff election against leftist Jeanette Tejara and has made strict immigration policies the centerpiece of his campaign.
Former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's launched a new left-wing party in Liverpool.
The party formerly known as Your Party aims to establish itself as a political home for rather disaffected Labour supporters.
The party said its membership has reached 50,000.
A poll last week found that 12% of British voters would consider voting for the new party.
Coming up in business, China sets a new record for express deliveries.
The Beijing Hour.
Thank you Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Monday.
The Shanghai Composite was up nearly 0.7%.
The Shenzhen Component gained almost 1.3%.
Industrial metal and forestry shares were among the top gainers.
The Hong Kong stock also ended higher on Monday.
The Hang Seng Index gained almost 0.7%.
In Japan, the Nikkei lost nearly 1.9%.
The Hainan Free Trade Port Tourism Regulations officially take effect on Monday.
The new regulations aim to promote high-quality development of the province's tourism by tapping into its characteristic resources, such as marine and rainforest ecosystems.
The regulations emphasise the enhancement of coastal resorts, watersports and forest sightseeing.
Additionally, they also encourage the development of low-altitude tourism, such as helicopter sightseeing tours.
Nighttime economy initiatives will be promoted, with extended business hours in shopping areas to enrich the tourist experience.
Now for more.
Our reporter Zhou Fang spoke with Zhou Mi at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The Hainan Free Trade Port tourism regulations emphasize differentiated development.
What measures can authorities take to implement this differentiated positioning and build a unique tourism brand with global appeal?
Well, I just returned from Hainan.
I found that you know, we went to different cities in Hainan and I found that different cities, they do have their special characteristics.
For Hainan, I think it's really an opportunity to build a tourism island.
That means that it's going to support the different cities and qualities of Hainan to develop their own special and different advantages based on the abilities and the capacities of enterprises that they can just try to do more to improve their tourism, I mean for the attracting of the tourists from all around the world.
As for the policies, I think that there may be several kinds of methods.
The first one is that we have to make it clear about what kind of experiences the tourists can come here to enjoy, like the culture things, or some beautiful sceneries or other things.
So we have to encourage the enterprises to be know more profitable and you know, they can design their packages of the tourism and that will give our very clear signals to the tourists and they can just enjoy from that.
And that must be on the profitable and sustainable way.
What can be done to ensure that these new formats not only attract tourists but also achieve sustainable commercial operation?
In this regard, i would think that we have to try to find out the best way for, for free, fulfill the expectation of the tourists like uh, can we do something uh, to meet some of it, of a very special uh, you know, like the desire, especially for the people from the north part, in the winter they are feeling much warmer here and they can have our, our period of stay here in Hainan, like for several months.
So can we do more to have some better design?
Like we can develop some indoor activities like, even in the very hot weather, can we develop some of the facilitation or infrastructure to make the people feel much better.
I do believe that we are supporting the market to be more functional.
There was Zhou Mi sharing his thought on Hainan Free Trade Port tourism regulations.
Data from the State Post Bureau shows that by the end of last month, the annual volume of China's express deliveries exceeded 180 billion for the first time.
Small packages were moving at a faster pace.
The monthly average exceeded 16 billion deliveries, with a daily record of 777 million and over 6200 deliveries per second.
Northern China has begun its winter tourism season with a range of travel options for snow enthusiasts.
In Heilongjiang Province.
More than 300 tourists have caught the Y783 train from Harbin, the first specialised ice-snow tourism service of the season.
The six-day tour focuses on slow travel and deep cultural immersion in regional hotspots, local cuisine and interactive activities.
Following fresh snowfall, Zhangjiakou's Zhongli District is preparing for a ski tourism boom.
Shijiazhuang Airport has increased flights to Zhangjiakou, forming a one-hour air shuttle network served by multiple airlines.
Meanwhile, the village of Pingxi Liang in Muromuchi is also getting ready to welcome winter sports enthusiasts as temperature drops.
Tax refunds for overseas tourists at the aviation port in Xinjiang's capital hit over 8 million yuan, or around 11 million US dollars, in the first 10 months of the year, a 26-fold yearly increase.
The northwestern region received 2.1 million inbound visitors, up 6%.
Xinjiang, renowned for its diverse natural and cultural tourism resources, has long been a major draw for international travellers.
To further facilitate cross-border tourism, China has introduced a series of measures to optimise its departure tax refund policy, including lowering the minimum purchase threshold and streamlining the refund process.
At the international departure area of Wurimuchi Tianshan International Airport.
Signs and information screens in six locations languages guide travellers through the tax refund process.
The region has expanded its tax refund categories to 12, including cultural products, textiles and local foods.
Now sales of electric cars have taken off in South America, with Chinese brands in the lead.
Thousands of EV units are arriving directly from Shanghai to a port that has transformed trade between China and the region.
Dan Collins reports.
Peru's Chiang Kai-Port is becoming the gateway to South America for Chinese carmakers that are widening their footprint across the region with both traditional vehicles and EVs.
The Chinese-built mega-port majority owned by the Chinese shipping giant Costco, has nearly halved the Trans-Pacific shipping times.
As a deep water port, it can receive much larger cargo vessels.
And by the end of this year around 19000 vehicles are expected to have arrived and made inroads into Peru and beyond.
We have a second dock that handles general cargo and has slightly more robust cranes than the first dock.
Likewise, this dock can receive ships carrying cars that have these characteristics, called cranes roll on, roll off to allow cars to be loaded and unloaded.
Recently, one has left cargo, which is distributed immediately.
The fully automated port was inaugurated at the end of last year by Chinese President Xi Jinping and then Peruvian President Dina Boloarte, following its hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation leaders' meeting.
You won't find a Tesla showroom in Lima, at least not yet, but you will find many which are showing Chinese models like this BYD, as well as Wuling and Dongfeng.
And most of all, the cars are EVs or hybrids.
Electric car sales are growing at historic levels in South America.
In the Peruvian capital Lima, distributors vary.
Some, like Pangu, deliver different brands and models to order.
A major bonus for Peruvian buyers is the cost effectiveness as opposed to traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
Last year, with the APEC leaders meeting here in Peru, many people began to learn more about Chinese technology, particularly the vehicles we sell.
And what customers know is that they are quite innovative.
The technology they have is cutting edge.
The designs are very modern, so they are actually quite attractive to customers.
Peru, sales of hybrid and electric vehicles grew 44 this year, while in Chile, Chinese cars already account for nearly a third of total sales.
Even so, EVs are just a fraction of the new cars sold in Peru so far this year.
Currently in Lima there are only about 40 charging stations and nationally there are a similar number.
So most people who buy electric cars have their hands tied because they don't know if they're going to find a charging station to recharge the battery.
So that's a very big obstacle for them.
Jia believes with improved infrastructure and incentives, sales of EVs and hybrids can only continue to rise.
That was Dan Collins reporting.
Chongqing has launched another China-Europe freight train, also known as the China Railway Express, bound for Budapest.
The train carrying automotive and motorcycle parts, electronic products and other consumer goods from the southwestern Chinese city will take about 11 days to reach the major transport hub serving China.
Central and Eastern Europe.
The new route is Chongqing's second fixed-schedule China-Europe freight train service, after the one connecting the municipality with Duisburg, Germany.
According to China Railway Chengdu Group, the Chongqing-Budapest route will reduce travel time by around 30.
As a flagship project and a landmark brand of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China Railway Express has established a logistics network across Eurasia.
It now reaches over 230 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries.
Thank you very much.
That's Wang Zihang with Business.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Just ahead in sports.
World Athletics has announced its Athletes of the Year.
Sideline story brings you all things sports related the hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to sideline story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in china and around the world.
47 past now with sports.
Here's young one thank you, shane.
Swedish pole vault star i'm in the Duplantis and American sprinter Sidney McLaughlin-LeBron have received the top honors as the World Athletes of the Year.
It came during the 2025 World Athletics Awards ceremony on Sunday.
In 2025, Duplantis broke the men's pole vault world record four times and was unbeaten in all 16 of his competitions, including sweeping the indoor and outdoor world titles.
According to World Athletics, the 26-year-old has become the first male Paul Volta in modern athletics history to remain undefeated in a single event for two consecutive years.
McLaughlin-Lebrun won women's 400m title in Tokyo with a time of 4778 seconds, breaking a 42-year-old world championship's record.
She became the first athlete in history to win world titles in the 400m flat and 400m hurdles.
She also helped Team USA secure gold in the 4x400m relay at the Tokyo Worlds.
This year's rising stars went to world medalists Edmund Serum of Kenya and China's Zhang Jialuo.
Zhang improved the world U-20 hammer record to 7724 meters at the Chinese Championships in Chuzhou and clinched the bronze at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Serum also won bronze in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Tokyo Worlds.
He was runner-up in the Diamond League final and achieved the top four finishes in four other Diamond League meetings during the season.
Also in this year's awards, China was honored with the Member Federation Award.
Turning to football, China has sealed its place at next year's AFC U-17 Asian Cup.
It came after China defeated Bangladesh 4-0, wrapping up qualifying with five straight victories, 42 goals scored and none conceded.
Shui Weihao struck twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0 before Zhao Songyuan added a late fourth.
China had earlier eased past Bahrain, Timor-Leste, Brunei and Sri Lanka.
Turning to European football, in the Premier League 10-man Chelsea held visiting Arsenal to a 1-0 draw in the highly-charged top-of-the-table London derby.
It was Chelsea's biggest test so far, with the Gunners leading the Premier League and Champions League.
Chelsea had the Lions' share of possession, but then Moises Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute.
Even so, the team managed to break the deadlock three minutes into the second half when Trevor Chalobah flicked in captain Reece James' corner.
Arsenal had only suffered one defeat across all competitions this season and they were aiming to move seven points clear of second-placed Man City.
Arsenal levelled after the break as Mourinho powered in a header from Bukayo Saka's cross, and Chelsea held on for the final half hour in a bad-tempered match.
Chelsea manager Enzo Morisca said he believes his team outperformed in the game.
Sometimes you have to be happy even with one point.
For sure, the target was to win the game.
Again, 11-11, I think we were a better team than them.
We managed the game, we controlled the game, we created chances and we didn't concede nothing.
And then the red card changed a little bit the dynamic, but even with that I think the way the players dealt with that has been outstanding.
Arsenal manager Mikel Lauteta said he feels the Gunners should have come out on top.
First of all, I think it was a really proper London derby.
Really intense.
You could sense from the beginning that every duel, every action has something on it.
Two teams very willing to win.
And not much football.
It was a lot of restarts, a lot of free kicks, stops, a lot of yellow cards.
So not a lot of fluidity.
But after the sending off of Kayser, obviously we wanted to settle the game.
In other Premier League games, Manchester United came from behind to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace, ending a five-year wait for a league victory at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool won 2-0 at West Ham as coach Arne Slott left Mohamed Salah on the bench for the first time in a league match under his tenure.
Aston Villa edged Wolverhampton a wondrous 1-0 in the Midlands derby, thanks to Boubacar Kamara's second goal for the club.
In the Spanish La Liga, Real Madrid were knocked off top spots after being held to a 1-0 draw at Girona.
Barcelona now has a one-point lead at the top, with Real in second after three straight draws.
And finally, in Formula 1, Red Bull's Max Verstappen has won the Qatar Grand Prix.
The victory sent the three-way battle for the world title against McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into a season-ending showdown in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
Verstappen is aiming for a fifth straight world title, while Piastri and Norris are chasing a first.
Verstappen promises he and Red Bull will fight until the end.
All three title contenders have won seven races this season and Norris can still become the first British driver to win the world title since Lewis Hamilton clinched the last of his seven in 2020.
But he will need to hold off a load-charging Verstappen to make it happen.
Thank you very much.
That's Yong Guang with sports.
Just ahead in culture and entertainment.
With a month to go, China's box office for the year approaches 50 billion yuan.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
3.53 past the hour.
In culture and entertainment, China's film industry continues its strong recovery.
Official data shows, the 2025 box office has already topped 48 billion yuan, or over 67 billion US dollars.
Analysts credit the box office growth to holiday season releases and improving theater facilities in third-tier cities.
Looking ahead, analysts say the winter holiday season and international film festivals are poised to add another boost to Chinese cinema takings.
An alliance of companies, universities and research institutions has established a group for developing virtual reality tech and filmmaking.
In 2025, the China Film Administration incorporated VR film into its regulatory framework, granting them the Dragon Label, China's official film release permit, for the first time.
Wearing head-mounted displays, audiences can immerse themselves in the films, exploring scenes through head and body movements and transforming from spectators into participants.
Technologies like gesture recognition and eye tracking enable virtual real-space interaction.
After its establishment, the Alliance will focus on promoting collaborative innovation across multiple areas, including technological research, content creation and review standards.
A landmark Chinese novel's journey to the stage is now reaching audiences in Beijing.
The play The Waters of Fate traces an intellectual's personal and professional evolution across a period of profound change in modern China.
Li Cheng reports.
In the final countdown to the curtain's rise, the backstage hustle is a performance in itself.
For the cast, however, the real drama begins long before the lights dim.
Portraying someone of a different age and experience is my challenge.
I've had to refine it repeatedly to bridge the gap.
The challenge lies in my character's sparse dialogue.
I must condense her entire life into just three or four lines.
I play an old-school intellectual.
It's not difficult for me.
I feel I'm already like him.
Set against the backdrop of the late 20th century, The Waters of Fate traces years of profound shifts in one man's life and work.
His path, shaped by changing expectations and new responsibilities, mirrors the wider transformations in Chinese society.
We've been performing this for over seven years. continually refining and adjusting it.
This is realist theater.
Everyone can find some sliver of common ground with it.
Each person undergoes being tempered and honed by life.
This commitment to realism is shared by the entire cast.
The production exemplifies the vitality of China's original theater scene.
Its journey of continuous refinement through over 100 performances in more than seven years, showcases the discipline and persistence that drive China's original theater.
That was Li Cheng reporting.
The Bulgarian capital has hosted a screening event for Blue Planet Outside the Window, China's first documentary filmed in space.
The Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Space Research and Technology Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences co-sponsored the event.
The screening featured large-scale models of the Chinese space station and the Long March 2F carrier rocket.
Guests also received a selection of China-related books.
The documentary presents the work and daily life of Chinese astronauts during their six-month mission aboard China's space station, from October 2021 to the following April.
It also included the first spacewalk by a Chinese female astronaut.
57 past the hour.
Beijing cloudy and minus 6 on Monday evening.
It'll be sunny with a high of 0 tomorrow.
Nanchang's cloudy overnight, a low of 10, a high of 19.
Elsa in Asia.
Islamabad's cloudy and 7 this evening, then sunny and 18.
Bintian's down to 16, then cloudy and 29.
Phnom Penh will be cloudy tonight and tomorrow.
The low is 23, a high of 32.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall in 25 degrees on Tuesday.
Kampala will see some rainfall in a low of 19, followed by cloudy conditions in 27.
Juba is overcast tonight and tomorrow, down to 23 degrees, a high of 38.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today China's raising concerns over Japan's increased military spending amid the tensions over Taiwan.
And American and Ukrainian officials say their talks on a Russia-Ukraine peace deal have been productive.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together, precisely 6 pm.
Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
