Carrier group patrols pose new regional test

US warships have begun a fresh round of "freedom of navigation" patrols in the South China Sea. Despite China's strong opposition, the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group began what are described by the US navy as "routine operations" in the waters on Saturday.

Think tanks as supplement to policymaking

Chinese think tanks, be they State-sponsored or private, are inching forward in the global intellectual race. Nine of these made it to the world's top 175 think-tank list prepared recently by the Lauder Institute of University of Pennsylvania. The university report says the United States has the largest number of think tanks (1,835) and China the second largest (435).

China can help boost European Union's economic growth

Many European leaders have run out of words to describe the situation in the European Union. But there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

China and US restore belief that they can reduce frictions

The outlook for this year once appeared bleak with the United States seeming set on a collision course with China.

Let CPC's voice be heard

Sunday marked the first anniversary of the remarks on the publicity work of the Communist Party of China made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to some major media outlets. In his remarks, he expounded profoundly on the important role of the media, its responsibilities and mission, giving a powerful stimulus to both the domestic and international significance of journalism.

Effective measures to protect judges help uphold rule of law

A RECENT ASSAULT ON A JUDGE in a county in East China's Jiangsu province by a discontented litigant once again highlighted the urgent need for better protection of judges. CCTV.com commented on Sunday:

Punish officials for falsifying accident's death toll

ON TUESDAY, A GAS EXPLOSION in a coal mine in Lianyuan county in Hunan province, Central China, killed nine people according to the local authorities. However, there were actually 10 victims and the Lianyuan officials sought to hide the fact. Xinhuanet comments:

Addressing the problems in bike-sharing

BY THE END OF 2016, the number of bike-sharing app users in China had reached 18.9 million and the market continues to grow. However, problems have emerged that call for more attention. Thepaper.cn comments:

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Emerging innovation powerhouse with new patent policy

Some recent headlines claim Chinese companies overwhelmingly "don't innovate", "lack creativity" and with the help of the Chinese authorities are "thieving" US intellectual property. They also claim the new administration in the United States has vowed to tackle this "massive theft".

From school economy to economic schooling

After spending handsomely to celebrate Spring Festival, Chinese couples are preparing to spend yet more extravagant amounts on their children's education at the beginning of the new semester.

Japan's textbook risky move on islands

China urged Japan last week to respect facts and instill in Japanese children the correct knowledge of history. The exhortation came in response to Japan's new draft guideline for school curriculum, which was released last Tuesday, for the first time requires elementary and junior high schools to teach students that China's Diaoyu Islands, and other islands that Japan has disputes with the Republic of Korea, are "inherent" Japanese territory. The ROK too has formally protested these claims by Japan.