China's Shenzhou-22 crewed spaceship undocked from the space station combination at 2:44 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Friday, and will commence the return mission of sending the Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang back to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The spaceship is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region later.
The CMSA said that prior to the separation, the Shenzhou-21 crew, with the assistance of the ground staff, completed various tasks such as setting the status of the space station combination, processing and transmitting the experimental data, and transferring remaining supplies. The Shenzhou-21 crew also carried out handover work and exchanged in-orbit work experience with the Shenzhou-23 crew who entered the space station on May 25.
China launched the Shenzhou-21 spaceship on Oct. 31, 2025 to send the Shenzhou-21 crew to its space station for rotation with Shenzhou-20 crew. However, the Shenzhou-20 crew later found that Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return capsule viewport window suffered a suspected impact from space debris during its mission and was unfit for crew return mission.
On Nov. 14, 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew returned safely aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft. On Nov. 25, 2025, China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the Shenzhou-21 crew.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China looks forward to working with Canada to jointly advance the China-Canada new strategic partnership.
Wang made the remarks during talks with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Chretien initiated the "golden decade" of China-Canada relations during his tenure as prime minister.
The improvement in China-Canada relations meets the aspirations of both peoples, Wang said, adding that China looks forward to working with Canada to jointly advance the China-Canada new strategic partnership.
Highlighting China's rapid development, Chretien said that the economies of Canada and China are highly complementary.
He expressed his willingness to make contributions to friendly exchanges between the two nations.
Authorities in Changzhi, North China's Shanxi Province, held a press conference on Saturday evening regarding the gas explosion accident at the Liushenyu coal mine. Before the briefing began, all attendees stood in silence to mourn the victims of the tragedy.
At 7:29 pm on Friday, a gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine, operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group in Qinyuan County, where a total of 247 workers were underground at the time, per a release from the Qinyuan County Emergency Management Bureau published Saturday morning.
At the press conference, Changzhi Mayor Chen Xiangyang said that, as of the time of the briefing, the accident had resulted in 82 deaths, while two people remained missing and 128 others had been injured. "We feel extremely heartbroken and deeply guilty over this," Chen said, expressing profound condolences to the victims and extending sincere apologies to the families of those killed, the injured, and the wider public.
Officials at the briefing also said the scene was chaotic in the immediate aftermath of the accident, and that the company had failed to accurately account for the number of workers on duty, resulting in inaccurate figures being initially reported, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Meanwhile, officials at the briefing said preliminary assessments indicated that the company operating the mine was suspected of committing serious legal violations. Authorities pledged all effort in the ongoing search-and-rescue operation for the missing workers, while noting that the exact cause of the explosion remains under further investigation.
Officials also stressed that authorities would actively cooperate with the accident investigation and carry out a thorough inquiry in a truth-seeking and science-based manner to determine the precise causes of the disaster. They said the investigation must provide a responsible explanation to the victims, their families and the public.
According to Chen, an on-site emergency rescue command headquarters was immediately established following the accident, with multiple task forces set up to coordinate rescue operations, expert technical support, medical treatment, social stability work and emergence support.
A total of 335 professional rescue personnel and 420 medical workers were rapidly mobilized, while nearby mobile hyperbaric oxygen chambers and 86 ambulances were dispatched to the scene to support emergency rescue and medical treatment efforts. Experts organized by national and provincial health authorities also conducted remote medical consultations for the injured.
Authorities said they are closely monitoring underground gas and carbon monoxide levels to prevent secondary accidents. At the same time, officials ordered the suspension and rectification of all four mines operated by Tongzhou Group and said control measures had been immediately imposed on the company's actual controllers, executives and other relevant personnel.
When asked whether Japan became a topic of discussion during the meeting between the Chinese and US leaders, citing reports by Japanese media and the Financial Times claiming that the two sides had discussed Japan's "remilitarization" issue, Mao Ning, spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that China has already released information regarding the meeting between the Chinese and US leaders, and that the reports mentioned are inconsistent with the information held by China. Regarding China-Japan relations, China's position is clear, said Mao.
China's opposition to US arms sales to China's Taiwan region is consistent, clear and firm, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday at a regular press briefing, when asked to comment on reports that the acting US navy secretary said Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan had been put on pause to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations, and that Taiwan authorities claimed on Friday that there was no information indicating that the US intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale.
The latest response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry came after US media outlets reported on US Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao's remarks made on Thursday. According to The Hill, Cao said the US is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan for the war in Iran.
"Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty," Cao told US Senator Mitch McConnell at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, according to The Hill.
"We're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary," Cao said.
Asked by McConnell if he expects the sale to be approved at some point, Cao said that it would be up to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, The Hill reported.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that the US State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Cao's remarks.
Prior to Cao's latest comments, US President Donald Trump had also addressed the issue. "I haven't approved it yet. We're going to see what happens," Trump told Fox News. "I may do it; I may not do it," according to The Hill.
Zheng Jian, a professor at the Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Friday that although Cao's remarks did not come from the highest level of the US administration, they were still delivered in a formal and important setting, suggesting that the suspension was likely a serious and official consideration rather than a casual remark.
At the same time, Zheng cautioned that the latest development does not necessarily mean the arms sale will ultimately be canceled.
"Selling weapons to Taiwan has long been an important part of the US strategy on the island," Zheng said, adding that while the US may be undergoing a strategic contraction on the Taiwan question, this does not mean Washington will completely abandon its strategy of using Taiwan question to constrain the Chinese mainland.
The latest developments have also triggered extensive discussions among media outlets on the island of Taiwan.
According to a report by Taiwan island media outlet CNA, a local official claimed there was currently no information indicating that the US planned to adjust the arms sale.
The DPP authorities' claim that they had not received any related information also reflected that "Taiwan independence" separatist forces on the island were unwilling to believe such a development could really happen, and were still stubbornly deceiving themselves that the US would always back them, Zheng said.
Meanwhile, according to another Taiwan island media outlet, United Daily News, a Kuomintang official said that after Trump's public statement to the media, he made it clear that he does not support "Taiwan independence" and that the US "will not fight for Taiwan independence."
The official was quoted by United Daily News as saying that a series of recent statements, together with efforts by China and the US to establish a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability, showed that the Kuomintang — whether in office or in opposition — opposes "Taiwan independence" and supports policies aligned with the US one-China policy and cross-Straits stability.
China has taken note of the Philippine leader reaffirming the adherence to the one-China policy and stressing that the country would not interfere in issues concerning Taiwan, and it should be emphasized that a large diaspora population and geographic proximity are not excuse for interference in other countries' internal affairs or involvement in other countries' sovereign issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.
The remarks came after Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in an interview with Japanese media ahead of his planned visit to Japan next week, said on Monday that the Philippines would not interfere in issues concerning China's Taiwan region, however meanwhile, claimed that the Philippines would unavoidably be affected in the event of any heightened tensions in Taiwan, particularly since there are almost 200,000 Filipinos working and living on the island, according to Philippine media outlets.
China hopes the Philippines will honor its commitments, act consistently, and uphold the one-China principle in practice, Guo told a regular press conference.
A Chinese expert said the remarks show Marcos' duality in that he says he is adhering to the Philippines' established one-China policy, while also tends to adopt an ambiguous stance on the Taiwan question for strategic interests. The expert also noted that Marcos' remarks may also be intended to align with Japan amid the latter's continuous military expansion.
In an interview with Japanese media on Monday, Marcos said the Philippines has consistently observed the one-China Policy, which recognizes the People's Republic of China as the only Chinese sovereign state, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
"I have to make it very clear. The Philippines has, from the very start, always held a one-China policy. We have always held a one-China policy, and we will continue to do that," Marcos said, per the PNA.
While Marcos said the Philippines does not meddle in what it considers an internal matter, he also claimed to call for the peaceful resolution of tensions involving Taiwan, and that is "what everyone's ultimate goal is in Japan, the Philippines, and all the countries around the region," according to the PNA.
The Philippine President also claimed that the Philippines would unavoidably be affected in the event of any heightened tensions in Taiwan, particularly since there are almost 200,000 Filipinos working and living on the island, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday that these remarks reflect Marcos' duality mindset. While the one-China policy is an established diplomatic policy of the Philippines that Marcos cannot violate as head of state, he meanwhile appears inclined to adopt an ambiguous stance on the Taiwan question in an attempt to gain strategic advantages and elevate the country's standing in regional affairs.
The expert noted that the Philippines takes its workers as an excuse, but such concerns are irrelevant to the essence of the Taiwan question, which falls squarely within China's internal affairs that brook no interference. The Philippines is well aware of China's red lines, and any opportunistic tactics it tries to adopt over the Taiwan question will backfire on itself.
Xu also said that since the interview was given to Japanese media, the Philippine President may also tend to align with Japan amid the latter's continuous military expansion, in a bid to reap relevant defense benefits from Tokyo.
According to Bloomberg, the Philippine leader's claims came ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he'll meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security cooperation.
During his meeting with Takaichi, Marcos said he would seek clarity on Japan's security posture after Tokyo eased rules on defense exports, the Bloomberg report said.
Japan's easing of arms exports not only runs counter to its own laws, but will also fuel regional arms races and undermine peace and stability across the region. Against such a backdrop, the increasing security engagement between Japan and the Philippines merits close vigilance from regional countries, Xu said.
It's not the first time that Marcos made provocative claims about Taiwan. In August 2025, Marcos claimed his country would inevitably be drawn "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan due to its proximity to the island and the presence of large numbers of Filipino workers there, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Refuting such claims, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in August 2025 that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair which is at the very core of China's core interests. How to settle it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves, which brooks no interference.
It needs to be further stressed that "geographic location" and "large volume of Filipinos" in Taiwan should not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries. These claims not only contravene international law and the ASEAN Charter, but also harm regional peace and stability and the fundamental interests of its own people, the spokesperson said.
"We urge the Philippines to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of China-Philippines Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations, and refrain from playing fire on issues bearing on China's core interests," the Chinese spokesperson stressed.
"We firmly oppose any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan region of China, and firmly oppose US arms sales to Taiwan region of China. This position is consistent and clear," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Zhu made the remarks in response to questions from a Taiwan region media regarding comments made by Donald Trump following the China-US leaders' meeting, in which he reportedly said arms sales to Taiwan are a "very good negotiating chip," though he had decided to put the decision on hold. The reporter also asked whether the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan was discussed during the meeting, how the mainland views Trump's remarks, and whether there's comments on a potential "Trump-Lai call," after Trump said he would consider speaking with "the person running Taiwan" before deciding on arms sales plans.
China Media Group (CMG), the parent organization of state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), has reached an agreement with world football governing body FIFA to broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup in China, CCTV reported Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty and ensuring that Chinese fans will be able to watch the biggest edition of football's premier tournament.
"On the afternoon of May 15, CMG and FIFA jointly announced that they reached an agreement on media rights cooperation for a new cycle of FIFA World Cup tournaments," a statement from CCTV reads.
"The agreement covers the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup," according to the statement.
Friday's announcement did not mention any financial detail over the deal.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, will kick off on June 11 and feature 48 teams for the first time in the tournament's history.
The agreement follows a protracted negotiation process that had drawn attention among Chinese football fans and industry observers.
According to previous reports from Beijing Daily, FIFA initially sought between $250 million and $300 million for the Chinese broadcasting rights for this year's World Cup, a figure that many Chinese fans considered excessively high considering the report suggested CCTV's budget was in the range of $60 million to $80 million.
The negotiations drew significant attention on Chinese social media, where many fans questioned whether the rights fee accurately reflected current market realities.
Analysts noted that while the World Cup remains one of the most valuable sports properties globally, broadcasters face increasing pressure to justify high acquisition costs amid changing viewing habits and a more cautious advertising environment.
In response to an earlier inquiry from the Global Times, FIFA said that "discussions in China regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage."
FIFA's Secretary General Mattias Grafström is in Beijing this week and met Chinese Football Association officials on Tuesday, where he voiced support for Chinese football development.
The delay was particularly notable because previously the deal was often reached more than half a year ahead of the opening of a World Cup tournament.
Under a 2015 notice issued by China's former State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, CCTV holds the exclusive right to negotiate and purchase FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights for China.
The eventual breakthrough in negotiations removes the prospect of millions of Chinese fans being unable to watch the tournament through the country's most widely accessible broadcaster.
Although the Chinese men's national team has not qualified for a World Cup since its sole appearance at the 2002 tournament, interest in the football championship remains strong, with the World Cup continuing to attract vast audiences across the country.
According to FIFA, China accounted for 49.8 percent of all hours of viewing on digital and social platforms globally during the 2022 edition of the World Cup in Qatar.
CCTV will also distribute online rights to other livestreaming platforms ahead of the World Cup.
At the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday local time, China's representative to the conference proposed amendments to relevant paragraphs of the draft outcome document, calling for a reaffirmation of the international consensus on nuclear disarmament and expressing concern over rhetoric advocating the pursuit of nuclear weapons by non-nuclear-weapon states.
The Chinese representative stated that China hopes the draft outcome document will reflect and reaffirm relevant principles aimed at upholding the international consensus on nuclear disarmament, according to the China Central Television (CCTV) News.
Given the vast differences among countries in the size of their nuclear arsenals, nuclear policies, and strategic security environments, nuclear disarmament must consistently follow the principles of maintaining global strategic stability and ensuring undiminished security for all countries, said the Chinese representative. At present, reducing the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies is an important and practical measure to lower the risk of nuclear war, CCTV reported.
China also stated that it supports pragmatic progress on nuclear disarmament based on previous consensus and suggested adding content calling on nuclear-weapon states to abandon permanently possessing nuclear weapons. At the same time, China supports proposals by the majority of countries to strengthen follow-up arrangements to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) and backs concrete measures to prevent nuclear war, per the report.
