The current situation in the Middle East is at a critical stage of transition between war and peace. China maintains communication and exchanges at various levels with relevant parties, including Israel, covering high-level interactions as mentioned, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday.

Lin made the remarks at a regular press conference on Friday, when asked by a reporter from foreign media to comment that since the outbreak of the US-Israel military operation against Iran, China has maintained close communication with Iran, the US, and other relevant countries, and that since Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi paid a visit to China recently, whether China has had high-level communication and exchanges with Israel.

China supports all parties in resolving differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means, achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, and safeguarding peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Lin told the press conference. 

China is willing to act in accordance with the spirit of the four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East put forward by the Chinese leader, and work together with the international community to continue playing an active and constructive role in this regard, Lin said.

As the Chinese mainland pushes forward the construction of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge, with the Xiamen section on track to complete its main offshore structure by the end of 2026, the Kinmen side remains largely untouched, underscoring a widening gap in progress between the two ends of the project, Taiwan regional media reported on Thursday. 

The bridge was also mentioned in the latest 10 measures unveiled to deepen cross-Straits integration and exchanges with the island. While many Kinmen residents have called for the project to proceed, saying that it would improve transport convenience and boost tourism, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the Taiwan island continued to highlight so-called security risks, hampering progress on the Kinmen side.

Taiwan regional media outlet United Daily News reported on Thursday that the Kinmen County Council had visited the planned Kinmen-side site of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge near Wulong Mountain in Jinsha township to assess the terrain, possible connection points and the area's development potential.

The report cited Hung Yun-tien, speaker of the Kinmen County Council, as saying that the proposed bridge would have a significant bearing on Kinmen's long-term development, with potential benefits for transport, industrial growth and people's livelihoods. He said that before any cross-Straits consensus is reached, local authorities should first coordinate internal views and build broader public consensus, laying the groundwork for future communication. Meanwhile, County Councilor Tung Sen-pao said the bridge issue cannot be resolved simply because one side wants to build it. 

"This is not a technical issue or a budget issue, but a cross-Straits political issue," he said.

The Xiamen section of the project, which is about 19.6 kilometers in length, runs from Xiamen island to Xiang'an International Airport and includes a reserved interface for a future extension to Kinmen, according to UDN.

A 2023 policy document issued by the State Council called for exploring joint infrastructure development between Xiamen and Kinmen and speeding up efforts toward electricity links, gas supply and a bridge connection. Construction of the Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge began in October 2023, while the planned 4.5-kilometer-long Dadan Island-to-Kinmen section is designed as a six-lane expressway with a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour, according to a release from the website of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. 

Also, among the 10 policy measures unveiled on Sunday by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee following KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's mainland visit, authorities said they would promote water, electricity and gas links between Fujian's coastal areas and Kinmen and Matsu, and advance sea-crossing bridge projects when conditions permit, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Constructing the bridge has long been a common call and urgent desire shared by residents in Kinmen. For example, a Kinmen Daily editorial published in November 2025 said that for many Kinmen residents, crossing the sea to Xiamen for study, work, investment and property purchases has become a normal part of daily life. It added that many people in Fujian on the mainland have ancestral roots in Kinmen, while many Kinmen compatriots from Taiwan live and build their careers on the mainland. 

"Their family ties have long stretched across the Straits. For them, the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge would offer an easier road home," it said.

However, the DPP authorities have continued to hype so-called security risks and claimed there is no plan for the project. Along with the recent package of measures to enhance connectivity with Kinmen, including proposals for shared transportation links, they have portrayed the project as part of the mainland's united front efforts. 

Taiwan regional media FTV News cited Chiu Chui-cheng, head of Taiwan's "mainland affairs council," as saying that these issues concern "national security" and public well-being, and must therefore be studied and handled by the authorities rather than bypassing the government.

DPP authorities should face up to the interests and demands of Kinmen residents, stop political calculation, and support the early completion and operation of the Xiamen-Kinmen bridge, Peng Qing'en, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press conference in November, 2025. 

Taiwan regional lawmaker Chen Yu-jen said in an exclusive interview with CCTV  in March that proposals for water, electricity, gas and transport links should be viewed as livelihood issues, given that Kinmen's proximity to the mainland makes such cooperation a positive step for economic and social development. She criticized the DPP authorities for seeking to cut Taiwan off from the mainland, stoking public fear and reducing cross-Straits exchanges in order to reinforce their "resist China, protect Taiwan" narrative.

A Kinmen resident surnamed Yu told the Global Times that the bridge project would make life more convenient for local residents by improving land connectivity. She also expressed expectations for more mainland tourists to support the local tourism industry. She said the Taiwan authorities should take residents' livelihoods into consideration and pursue policies that expand, rather than restrict, cross-Straits exchanges.

Lin Wenhao, who grew up in Kaohsiung, studied in Kinmen and now works in Fujian on rural revitalization projects, witnessed the west main tower of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge completed on December 7, 2025.

"Transport was always one of the issues we talked about most when I was studying in Kinmen," Lin told the Global Times. Now traveling frequently between Kinmen and Xiamen for work and business, he said his biggest concern is the risk of transport disruptions or island closures.

"For the Taiwan authorities, the issue is about national security and strategic risk. But for Kinmen, it is about livelihoods, development and everyday needs," he said.

Lin added that Kinmen, Xiamen and Quanzhou are naturally positioned for deeper integration with the mainland, and that real connectivity would also bring a stronger boost to Kinmen's long-term development. 

World Intellectual Property Day fell on Sunday, but for China, it was more than an annual event. The nation is undergoing an important shift, moving from being a major importer to an important creator of intellectual properties. The change reflects the country's growing technological strength and offers new perspectives on the manufacturing sector and expanding international market presence.

Intellectual property and technological innovation are closely intertwined. According to a report run by the People's Daily on Sunday, as of the end of March, China had registered 5.53 million valid invention patents, maintaining its position as the world's leading filer of patents for consecutive years. In 2025, the number of high-value invention patents in China reached 2.29 million, with more than 70 percent of them stemming from strategic emerging industries.

The growth in invention patents has played a role in the continued evolution of China's manufacturing sector, which can be seen across several dimensions. 

First, the increase in patents has provided concrete technological support to the manufacturing industry. As the volume of patents rises, the technological capacity of Chinese manufactured products rises too, positioning the sector to engage more actively in global innovation.

Second, as the technological sophistication of Chinese products advances, so does the breadth of Chinese companies' global market expansion. No longer limited to exporting goods, Chinese companies are increasingly embedding themselves in the local supply chains, bringing investment and services such as consulting, after-sales support, and other integrated solutions. The shift signals a deeper engagement with local markets, where Chinese companies are not only contributing capital, but also creating local jobs and stimulating economic growth.

Third, the continued inflow of foreign capital into China's high-tech sectors, including the establishment of research and development centers, indicates that foreign companies are increasingly engaging with and benefiting from China's innovation ecosystem. The presence of global companies in China's R&D landscape highlights the active involvement of foreign investors, driven by their growing demand for Chinese technology.

Together, the developments form part of the ongoing evolution of global supply chains, with innovations serving as the primary driving force. The transition offers substantial benefits to the broader international industrial ecosystem. One driver of this process is technological progress, in contrast to the Western claims that mistakenly focus on the so-called overcapacity. In reality, it is China's technological advancements - not capacity growth - that are propelling the internationalization of its manufacturing sector.

The pace of technological advancement worldwide is accelerating, and simple capacity replication no longer provides a competitive advantage now. Chinese companies are keenly aware of this change. Within China, a competitive market environment has been developed, with intense competition across industries. To succeed, the companies must prioritize innovation and secure patents. 

This competitive pressure, combined with the push for technological progress, has been a driving force behind the growth and internationalization of China's manufacturing sector.

As a major participant in global supply chains, China's growth in invention patents plays a constructive role in the international economy. The increasing internationalization of Chinese manufacturing brings both investment and new momentum to global industrial networks. This shift generates benefits for local economies, with job creation and increased economic activity providing clear advantages for the communities. In this context, protecting the intellectual property and legal rights of Chinese companies is equally important.

Despite some foreign media outlets continuing to frame Chinese manufacturing in their lens of overcapacity, such narratives are increasingly at odds with the reality of China's technological advancements. Rather than simply expanding production, Chinese enterprises are focused on continuous innovation, leveraging technological progress to foster mutually beneficial cooperation with global supply chains.

According to the People's Daily, currently, China holds 61 percent of global artificial intelligence patents and two-thirds of patents related to robotics. In many emerging technologies, China is making significant progress. Investments in these sectors present opportunities for the global economy, particularly for the developing countries where technological progress can drive sustainable growth.

A clearer view of China's expanding patent base, its impact on industrial efficiency, and the resulting opportunities for global cooperation is essential to accurately evaluating its role in international supply chains. Focusing on these developments is set to offer a more balanced perspective on China's engagement with the global economy.