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China News Service, Guangzhou, February 18, Title: Communication: Thousands of miles of construction of the Silk Road in Laos is also the Chinese New Year

Author Wang Hua Shendian

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the noon temperature in Laos approached 35°C. Kang Lining, the project director of Guangdong Chuangcheng Construction Supervision Consulting Co., Ltd., took off his helmet, wiped the sweat on his forehead with a towel, and took out his mobile phone from his pocket. On the screen was a photo just sent by his wife: in the yard of his hometown in Shanxi, red lanterns were hung high, and dumplings were piled high on the curtain. He looked hungry.

In Laos, Chinese builders of the Taviyan-Napa double-circuit 230 kV transmission line project are clearing surface vegetation. Data chart. Photo courtesy of Guangdong Power Grid Corporation

This is the first Spring Festival spent by Kang Lining in Laos. He is the project director of the Taviyan-Napa double-circuit 230 kV transmission line project. All the routes here pass through the historical minefields in northern Laos. As the project director, Kang Lining knows that demining is the "lifeline" of all subsequent construction. He squatted down, traced the land where demining work had just been completed with his fingers, and said, "It's not something that can be passed by just signing. Every inch must be confirmed with your own eyes. This is responsible for everyone."

On-site physical construction was suspended as usual starting from New Year's Eve, but demining operations instead entered a critical period. In the tin room where the supervision department is stationed at the site, Kang Lining and his colleagues hung up a handwritten Spring Festival couplet: Build the Silk Road in a foreign land and clear mines first to protect safety. There was no glue, so it was fixed to the wall with transparent tape. The red paper was slightly trembled by the hot air that penetrated through the crack in the door.

On New Year's Day, the demining unit completed the clearance of the last core area. Kang Lining led the supervision team to inspect and accept points one by one, with the GPS locator flashing in his hand. His notebook is densely packed with data: demining depth, soil conditions, coordinates of underground obstacles… "These will be archived for twenty years."

The dry season in Laos is very precious. When the rainy season comes in May every year, heavy rains will bring construction to a standstill. "Every hour we spend now is to save money for the sprint before the rainy season." As the sun set, Kang Lining stood on the newly cleared channel and sent photos of the scene to the Construction Management Department of Guangdong Chuangcheng Construction Supervision Consulting Co., Ltd. and the owner's project department of Laos National Transmission Network Co., Ltd. (EDL-T). In the camera, he and his colleagues are standing under the banner of "China Supervision", with the line corridor extending into the distance behind them, and they are high-spirited in the dust.

Returning to the camp in the evening, the canteen prepared a simple New Year’s meal: dumplings ordered from a Chinese restaurant in Phonsavan, Xieng Khuang Province, plus locally purchased mango, plantain, minced meat salad and sticky rice, and specially bought Laotian beer. Kang Lining sent red envelopes to every left-behind employee, "It's just for good luck."

When the video call was connected, it was already nine o'clock in the evening at China's home. On the other side of the screen, my daughter came over and said, "Dad, is it hot over there? Has the scarf I knitted for you arrived?"

"We're here." Kang Lining smiled, but his eyes were a little hot: "We won't need it here. We will wear it when we go back to China for vacation." After hanging up the phone, he walked outside the camp alone. In the distance, marking flags left by demining operations formed a winding line in the dusk, pointing in the direction of the Mekong River. There, transmission towers will be erected in the future, bringing light to thousands of households in Laos.

As night falls, the last ray of sunset, like molten gold, slowly sinks into the embrace of the Xiang Khouang Plateau. Kang Lining opened the supervision diary for the new year and solemnly wrote on the title page: "On the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2026, Xieng Khouang, Laos. The progress of demining is in line with expectations and everyone is safe."

Outside the window, a tributary of the Mekong River flows quietly. In this Spring Festival in a foreign country, a group of Chinese builders interpret responsibility and responsibility with perseverance, building a road to the future. (over)

After watching too many extreme sweet pets and heart-wrenching sadomasochism, the threshold for ancient dolls has been raised – those who want to eat sweet food are afraid of excessive sugar content, and those who want to eat sweet pets are afraid of swallowing a knife in vain.

As a result, "Cui Mian and his wife" only took three minutes to take advantage of me!

After all, I have never seen such an "unfamiliar" couple in an ancient puppet show.

Husband in the eyes of his wife: My husband is honest, shy and kind.

The real husband is ruthless and cunning.

A wife in the eyes of a husband: My wife has lost her memory and is pretending to be stupid. She is very thoughtful. She must be planning something.

Actually the wife, she just wanted to go to the toilet.

The conversation between the couple, who is full of words and tries many things, comes from "The Story of the Willow Boat", which is currently being broadcast on Tencent Video.

One day, King Cui Xingzhou of Huaiyang rescued Liu Miantang, a woman who was seriously injured and had amnesia.

Her memory stayed on the day before her wedding. She only remembered that she had a fiancé named Cui Jiu.

Cui Xingzhou happened to be the ninth eldest son in the family, so Liu Miantang thought that the man in front of him was her husband.

Cui Xingzhou has been working hard to capture Lu Wen, the leader of the Yangshan bandits, for many years, and he mistakenly believed that Liu Miantang was Lu Wen's concubine. Therefore, he decided to make good on his mistake and pretended to be Liu Miantang's husband Cui Jiu, a businessman who loved his wife. He moved from the capital to Lingquan Town and spent all his family wealth to treat his wife.

This fake couple,

One has no emotional foundation and is constantly attacking himself, while the other is emotionally moved over time and is forced to be patient.

The way the two get along is full of all kinds of mistakes, they talk like chickens and ducks, and a series of wrong-frequency chats really bring about a lot of fun.

The sinister prince suddenly changes into a weak and delicate husband, the plot is too dense!

In order to wrap up the "Cui Jiu" vest in front of Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou had to perform at any time and place, causing a lot of jokes.

The prince's face is about to be lost by the prince himself.

Cui Xingzhou, who was obviously a ruthless and sinister boss, shot an arrow from 800 meters away and caught it with his bare hands.

Even Zhao Quan, a "doctor" friend beside him, is equipped with the most standard boss configuration.

The only shortcoming: the eyes are not very good (cross out) and not womanly.

(I don’t know my wife, Mei Cui Xingzhou)

In the past, it was Cui Xingzhou who interrogated others.

Until he met the witty Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou became the subject of interrogation and could only wrap up his "husband" vest cautiously.

Outside the house, Mother Li was bragging that everyone who was interrogated by the prince ended up crying and telling the truth.

As a result, in the room, it was Cui Xingzhou who was crying and shouting "admit": I am not like a businessman, because I am just a dude who can only play chess. My wife has always made the final decision on all matters in the family.

Faced with Liu Miantang's question – why do you say you go to the chess club to play chess every day, but no one in the chess club has heard of Cui Jiu's name?

Seeing that his vest was about to fall off again, Cui Xingzhou could only slap himself in the face: I am terrible at chess, but I also want to save face, so I used a pseudonym.

I even stumbled and made up a name now, Jiujiu.

Not only that, he had to hire actors himself and call them Jiujiu one by one. Only then did he eliminate Madam's suspicion.

In order to prevent the consummation of the marriage, the genius doctor Zhao Quan "diagnosed" Cui Xingzhou as suffering from an unspeakable illness.

In this case, let us put "Cui Xingzhou can't do it" on the public screen together!

The old servant, Mother Li, even added fuel and jealousy to deepen Cui Xingzhou's image of being incompetent.

This family depends entirely on you, madam!

Everyone worked together and finally transformed the decisive prince into a weak and weak husband.

But in order to catch the leader of the thieves, Lu Wen, Cui Xingzhou endured it.

Soon, he got results.

When Liu Miantang left the city, Cui Xingzhou thought he was sure that it would be Lu Wen who came to pick her up.

As a result, it was Liu Miantang and Divine Doctor Zhao who got off the carriage.

Green leaves floated down and landed on Cui Xingzhou's head, and everyone cast sympathetic glances.

Help: What should I do if I accidentally break up my wife’s “adultery” with my best friend?

A wife is not a real wife (for now), but a friend is a real friend.

Funny scenes like this have made me laugh countless times in just 6 episodes. I was originally worried that falling horse literature would be cruel to the heart and lungs. Unexpectedly, in order to put on the vest for the prince, it was full of jokes. I announced that "The Story of the Willow Boat" will be my latest sweet drama!

The cunning village leader has lost his memory but not his mind. He is so arrogant!

Amnesia jokes, two-way horse-trading, spies playing house… "The Story of the Willow Boat" can be said to be a collection of many classic elements that you will never tire of.

But the most eye-catching thing is the character creation of the heroine Liu Miantang, who has lost her memory but not lost her mind.

Audiences who have seen the trailer know that Liu Miantang is the "Lu Wen" Cui Xingzhou has been looking for. Three years ago, she planned to escape from marriage and put on the "Lu Wen" vest. Not only did she manage Yangshan in an orderly manner, she also helped the strong and the weak, robbed the rich and helped the poor.

In Liu Miantang who has lost his memory, the series still retains Lu Wen's outstanding skills and straightforward personality.

Facing the dude who bullied her, she pulled out the hairpin and tried to stab it.

When faced with a tongue-tied neighbor, she started to fight on the spot and reported her grudges on the spot.

Even if her husband does something that doesn't suit her, she will speak out and never get into trouble.

Cui Xingzhou once said, why do all the worries in the world not matter to you?

The well-informed King Huaiyang can appreciate her from the bottom of his heart, because Liu Miantang not only has a good attitude, but also has abilities.

She discovered that the owners of two adjacent stores were at odds with each other, so she first bought one of them, started a funeral shop, and successfully bought the other one at a low price.

She personally supervised the porcelain firing and quickly mastered the art of making porcelain.

The store's business was not good, so she opened new doors. He entered the Chamber of Commerce alone, recommended himself, and fought with other scholars.

The seniors of the Chamber of Commerce deliberately made things difficult and allowed her to join if she could sell porcelain to the government.

People around her persuaded her to seek help from Cui Xingzhou, but Liu Miantang insisted on saving herself. She successfully broke the situation by giving away a fish tank for free and asking for a 1-cent lottery prize.

With excellent mobility, observation, learning ability, and ability to withstand stress, Liu Miantang is truly a natural born businessman.

It's no wonder that Liu Miantang can control the prince easily.

During Cui Xingzhou's several "fallen horse" crises, Liu Miantang first collected enough evidence, then made insinuations and set traps to lure Cui Xingzhou into a trap.

This gives the audience enough urgency to speed up the plot rhythm.

A masked couple with double A's and O's + a refreshing rhythm with constant jokes. Doing business and catching bandits, the two people's career lines run parallel. Coupled with the two protagonists with big brains, the audience from God's perspective will naturally watch with interest and unobstructed breasts.

The life of this young couple is both sweet and sour, and they know how to push and pull!

While wearing a vest and losing their memory, they were originally a half-baked fake couple, but they seemed to have become sincere in the little moments they spent together day and night?

Who understands? This kind of probing and stirring between you and me is really top-notch pulling!

The initial interaction between the two was funny but also awkward.

Liu Miantang has always regarded Cui Xingzhou as her husband, flirting with him without knowing it.

As the gatekeeper of male morality, Cui Xingzhou could only pinch the quilt when faced with the enthusiasm of the fake wife, suppressing his inner fire.

The uneasy neighbors quarrel every day, like a human barrage.

Neighbor: "I'm going to hug my little lady right now."

Cui Xingzhou: How about we hug each other too? His resolute eyes seemed like he wanted to join the party.

The difference between "Cui Mian and his wife" and other fake dramas is that Cui Xingzhou knew it was a scam, but Liu Miantang truly regarded him as her husband.

The audience looked at the cold-faced prince from God's perspective, losing control a little bit. You know you can't love, but you still fall. He knew everything was false, but he took it seriously.

This uncontrollable heartbeat made Cui Xingzhou particularly vivid.

Hearing that Liu Miantang only had kindness towards him, he gritted his teeth.

When he sees Liu Miantang talking to other men, he will be inexplicably jealous.

Knowing that Liu Miantang was ill, Peipianpidian took the medicine and went home, claiming that I gave it to myself.

On the other side, Liu Miantang's tenderness and sweetness were all fake to Cui Jiu.

As she likes Cui Jiu more and more, it means that when her memory recovers, she will hate Cui Xingzhou more and more.

The audience knows this, so every time they express sweetness, there is sourness. The sweeter the present, the sadder it becomes when thinking about the future.

The audience and Cui Xingzhou will both wonder: Is this beauty real?

Lingquan Town is like the "paradise" created by Cui Xingzhou for Liu Miantang.

Here, there are noisy couples next door and gossiping neighbors, but there are also bustling streets, fragrant meat stewed in earthen pots, and steaming rice on the table.

They run a small business and live a life that is not rich but very practical. Away from the intrigues and deceptions of the court, he rushes around for firewood, rice, oil and salt every day.

Watching Liu Miantang gulp down her meal, Cui Xingzhou would unconsciously find her cute.

When Liu Miantang told him that husband and wife were the most fearless people in the world, it gave him peace of mind that he had never felt before.

But all this could disappear at any time. Whenever Liu Miantang thought about it, she would stay away from Cui Xingzhou.

The audience expects that the days of doing business and chatting about daily life can last forever.

But I also understand that if Liu Miantang doesn't recover his memory and can't truly trust each other, this relationship will ultimately be just a mirror image.

This kind of entanglement and pull is the most disturbing part of the literature about falling horses.

"The Story of the Willow Boat" uses the setting of mutual suspicion as the outside; it uses business and family life as the inside.

After all, the most soft-hearted thing about "Cui Mian and his wife" is that they gradually let go of their prejudices against each other and slowly fell in love with each other through eating vegetables and eating every day!

The series did not start out with the gratuitous setting of "the love goes on without knowing it", but rather commendably depicted the heart-pounding process of the two people. It also paved the way for the subsequent emotional twists and turns between the two, grabbing the hearts of the viewers who followed along!

So, when to drop your horse, wait online! urgent!

On February 14, the topic "Faye Wong appeared at the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal" became a hot topic without warning. This is her sixth time on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

In 1998, "Meet You Again" sung with Na Ying opened the symphony of enlightenment; in 2010, the song "Legend" became popular in the streets; in 2012, "Because of Love", a duet with Eason Chan, once again became a phenomenon. In 2018, he collaborated with Na Ying again in "Years" after 20 years, and dreamed back to "Meet in 1998"; in 2025, he sang the special single "What the World Gave to Me" for the Year of the Snake, creating a peak ratings of 34.86% for singing and dancing programs.

This year, her popularity is still unabated. Even before the Spring Festival Gala started, the song "The Moment You and I Experience" has already been on the hot search list. She is worthy of being a queen.

However, some netizens are not optimistic about this song. Its original name is "A Hundred Years of River is Just a Moment You and I Experience." It is a very niche song. The original singer is the band ZaZaZsu, which is composed of two students from Peking University. They have a hit single that is very popular on short video platforms – "Love River".

Finally, the much-anticipated stage is here! But it seems…a little unsatisfactory?

After watching it, many netizens all said in unison: It seemed really ordinary, even a bit ugly, and the ending was also very hasty. There was no climax in the whole process, and it just ended like that? Sure enough, it also confirmed the previous doubts of netizens about the song selection.

The only thing that can be said to be pretty good is the special effects. The pictures this time are indeed beautiful.

Maybe it's because expectations are too high. After all, before the show started, everyone saw the diva coming out again, and coupled with her record in previous years, they basically assumed that another hit song was about to be born. .

Looking back at Faye Wong's previous five performances, she is indeed a god.

1998: "Meet in 1998"

In 1998, the first Spring Festival after Hong Kong returned to the embrace of the motherland, Faye Wong stepped onto the Spring Festival Gala stage for the first time and performed "Meet You in 1998" with Na Ying.

That year, Faye Wong was 29 years old. She wore the iconic "double ball hair", paired with silver eye makeup and a simple long skirt. This look could be described as "shocking" at the time, breaking the usual red and festive tone of the Spring Festival Gala stage.

Na Ying's strong and steady and Faye Wong's ethereal and ethereal complement each other, and the melody of "Come on, let's meet at 98" quickly swept the streets. Tape sales skyrocketed, KTV karaoke rates dominated the charts for several months, and even sparked a trend of "date body" advertising copywriting.

27 years later, when the melody sounded again, those born in the 1970s heard the aftertaste of idealism, those born in the 1980s recalled the ignorance of youth, and those born in the 1990s felt the passionate era of their parents. Music critics said: "Every note of this song is soaked in the mood of the times. When the melody sounds, it is a rewind moment for the whole of China."

2010: "Legend"

After fading out of the music scene for five years, Faye Wong once again appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage in 2010, presenting Li Jian's "Legend".

This time, she wore a rainbow-striped skirt with pink stockings, and without the support of dancers, she conquered the national audience with her emotional singing. "Just because I looked at you one more time in the crowd." When Faye Wong sang these lyrics with an ethereal voice, Li Jian's song, which had been dormant for seven years, became an overnight hit, making Li Jian jump from an independent musician to a national-level singer, and "Legend" became the first phenomenon-level hit scene in the digital era.

2012: "Because of Love"

In 2012, Faye Wong sang "Because of Love" with Eason Chan, which was the most controversial in her Spring Festival Gala career. Feng Xiaogang ridiculed her for "changing from natural sounds back to human voices."

However, despite the flaws in the performance, this song still became a hit song for male and female duets in KTV, and its popularity continues to this day.

2018: "Years"

In 2018, Faye Wong and Na Ying reunited on the same stage after 20 years to sing "Years".

This time, Faye Wong appeared in a purple stretch gauze skirt. As the two slowly walked towards each other from opposite ends of the stage, the camera scanned the fine lines in their eyes and the tacit understanding of their smiles. The audience realized that it had been twenty years since "Meet You Again".

"The clouds are very light, the wind is very clear, let the stars float up and down." Faye Wong and Na Ying held hands, once again moving the audience across the country. The lyrics of this song were filled in by the two of them themselves, in the name of time to retain the innocence and beauty that cannot be changed by time.

2025: "What the World Gave to Me"

In the Spring Festival Gala of the Year of the Snake in 2025, Faye Wong appeared on the Spring Festival Gala for the fifth time after seven years. She sang the solo song "What the World Gives to Me" to an emotional point. With tears in her eyes, she clasped her hands together and prayed devoutly.

"People's Daily" published an article by music critic Li Wan, saying that the song "responds to people's mentality in recent years and shows the kind of understanding and affirmation after experiencing some worldly events."

In the end, this performance "made the whole of China cry", and netizens called it "the healing song of the year".

From 1998 to 2026, 28 years have passed. Faye Wong's singing voice of "It's like listening to fairy music and my ears are temporarily bright" has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. It's no wonder that everyone had such high expectations before she appeared on the stage.

The look is changing, the songs are changing, the form is changing…but what the audience hopes remains unchanged is her ability to cleanse people's hearts on stage. However, judging from the current comments from netizens, Faye Wong this time may not meet expectations.

According to Russia's "Lenta.ru" report, some hotel rooms in China have been installed by criminals with hidden camera devices, which are used to record private videos of guests and sell them through social platforms. Many of them are marked with labels such as "Russian" to attract the attention of specific audience groups. According to reports, this situation comes from information released by the Te channel Shot.

The report pointed out that criminals usually enter the hotel in advance and install smaller camera equipment in a hidden position near the bed in the room. These cameras are generally less than two or three centimeters in size and are difficult to detect. The lens is aimed at the angle of the bed. The captured videos are then sold on social platforms. The subscription fee ranges from about 650 to 1,100 rubles (approximately RMB 55-95) per month, and there are also annual services.

Russian media also cited previous individual cases saying that a pair of guests from Hong Kong discovered that their private videos had been uploaded and spread after staying at a hotel in Shenzhen, a city in southern China, causing panic and concern. Relevant content pointed out that the main communication channels for this type of video are overseas social applications such as Te.

Overseas media and investigations have also shown that this type of "hidden camera" phenomenon is not an isolated incident. Investigations by the BBC and other organizations have found that dozens of such cameras have been installed in Chinese hotel rooms, and some videos are even broadcast live, causing the privacy of many guests, including foreign tourists, to be leaked.

In response to this problem, some regions and institutions in China have strengthened management measures in recent years, requiring hotels to regularly inspect concealed equipment and strictly investigating and punishing illegal installations. However, media comments believe that industry governance still faces challenges, and tourists need to be more vigilant when traveling and staying, and pay attention to suspicious equipment in the room.

Recently, the suspense spy drama "Guzhou" starring Zeng Shunxi, Zhang Songwen, Chen Duling, and Wang Yuwen was launched.

"Lone Boat" was launched at a time when the Olympic Games was in full swing, and many curious viewers decided to find out.

As a result, some viewers said after watching it: "I couldn't stand even one episode."

It is said that the script of this drama has been polished for ten years, but now it has become a strange thing among domestic spy dramas?

01

After ten years of polishing the script, bugs frequently appeared, and my IQ dropped?

"Gu Zhou" sets the time and space background in Suzhou during the Anti-Japanese War and the puppet period. It tells the story of the talented architect Gu Yizhong (played by Zeng Shunxi) who was forced to get involved in the crisis and joined the underground organization of the Communist Party of China with his girlfriend Xiao Ruotong (played by Wang Yuwen). Later, accompanied by Zhang Haimo (played by Chen Duling), who has a child with him, he and Wang Puppet Zhou Zhifei (played by Zhang Songwen) staged a duel between the two heroes, writing the history of the development of an agent of our party in the confusing and strange Jiangnan misty rain.

"Lonely Boat" takes Suzhou as the background and blends in the beauty of the south of the Yangtze River. The scenery and mirrors are also aesthetically pleasing.

Many viewers praised: the green bricks and green tiles restored the charm of Jiangnan, the dark-toned images made the undercurrent of the story under the background of the Republic of China more intense, and the use of Suzhou garden imagery also enriched the content of the story.

After the premiere, netizens had different opinions on the show, with some favorable comments, but of course there were also some "unfavorable words of advice".

From the documentary "Lone Boat", the audience learned that the script of this drama has been polished for ten years. But viewers who have watched the show expressed disbelief: "To be honest, the first episode felt like ten days of polishing."

The word that appears most frequently in audience reviews is: reduce wisdom.

They believe that the script of this drama is child's play, which reveals a "outrageous" feeling from the inside out, and some spy plots can be called "mentally retarded".

I don’t know whether it was the script that was stupid, the director’s filming that was stupid, or the actors’ acting that was stupid, but the audience felt vaguely that they had been fooled.

The plot arrangement at the beginning of the first episode aroused the audience's doubts, saying that it was "hurt as hell", and the rescue activity that was supposed to be extremely dangerous was as casual as playing house.

Even the audience can consider the preparations before the rescue, emergencies during the rescue, and post-rescue handling work, but they were ignored by the experienced screenwriters.

In the spy war drama, even the most basic anonymity of the underground party was not interpreted satisfactorily. The audience pointed out: "The spy war drama can't convey any sense of tension, and the lights are so bright during a raid at night", and "The Gu family only needs a loudspeaker to shout on the street that the whole family is anti-Japanese."

There are many plots to reduce intelligence, and many bugs are exposed in the details, such as forced arrangements to advance the plot. Some people even described it as "writing a piecemeal feeling of AI creation".

There is a plot in the play: Considering the disciplinary issues of the organization, the male protagonist was refused by the underground party members to participate in collective actions. The male protagonist said "You don't treat me as one of your own" and then turned around to leave like a coquettish person. After the second female begged for mercy, the leader agreed for him to follow.

The audience was shocked: "Screenwriters, what do you think of discipline… as a part of your play?"

What was even more outrageous was that no one except the male protagonist was spared in this operation, which can be said to have brought the "protagonist halo" to the extreme.

Another viewer discussed: "Normally the second female lead would have died several times in the first few minutes of the first episode, but she has been fine, not even injured… and still strutting around in the street wearing the same clothes."

In the play, with no passersby to block the situation, a group of enemies who were ambushing the second female lead were several meters away from the second female lead. They even had guns in their hands. They were in a situation with such an obvious disadvantage. The second female lead, who seemed delicate and weak, managed to escape like this and ran away directly.

The audience speculated that maybe it was the protagonist's halo blessing, or maybe there was another hidden secret, but they still couldn't understand it.

In the play, the male protagonist and a group of underground party members failed in their operations one after another. When they came to the base area, they all suspected that there was a mole, so conflicts arose internally and they began to fight each other face to face.

Viewers said that the play was different from the way in which moles were discovered in other spy films. The party should conduct one-on-one interrogations to prevent collusion. But in "The Lonely Boat", these people got angry on the spot and started a quarrel.

After being discovered and surrounded by the enemy, the protagonist group all escaped, but the play did not explain how they escaped.

The audience was puzzled by this and said: "This is the first time I have seen a plot where the Communist Party is having internal strife and the Kuomintang is surrounded by so many people and they can successfully escape."

Some people say that what scares most spy dramas is logical stupidity.

In fact, Lin Lisheng, the director and screenwriter of "Lone Boat", is the second screenwriter of "Latent", and the first screenwriter Jiang Wei also plays the role of producer in "Lone Boat" this time.

However, after watching the play, the audience suspected that Jiang Wei was just acting in name, and the level of the drama in "Lone Boat" could not be compared with the original "Latent".

Some viewers commented on "Latent": "The suspense links are woven extremely tightly, so the viewing experience is ups and downs, and the narrative efficiency is quite high."

Many people believe that "Insidious" and "Lonely Boat" are both spy dramas, and they are completely different.

Audiences who have watched "Lone Boat" concluded: "You can't dig into it. Once you dig into it, you feel that there are bugs everywhere, and the plot is not worth scrutinizing."

Regardless of the plot, even with the participation of veteran drama stars Zhang Songwen, Zhang Fengyi, etc., it seems that the shortcomings of "Lone Boat" cannot be saved.

The audience expressed: "How did Zhang Songwen choose this drama?" "It turns out that even if there are actors you like in the cast, the plot can't save it!" "It's a bad drama that even Gao Qiqiang can't save…"

02

It's another "old and new" configuration, and young actors are still "sluggish"?

Zhang Songwen almost had a "gold medal for exemption" after the popularity of "Hurry Up". This time Zhang Songwen played the villain again, and many viewers came for him.

Zhang Songwen's sassy appearance every time he appears is as if he is Zhou Zhifei himself.

On the surface, he gave instructions calmly, but in fact, the aura and contempt revealed in his eyes were already full of oppression.

The audience said that he performed the posture of a villain and became more and more stable on the villain track.

When Zhou Zhifei refused to lower his posture to play "Dog", he looked resolute and upright when facing the Japanese.

However, when facing his family, he is completely different from his resolute appearance outside, allowing the audience to see another side of this character. The audience laughed and said: Zhang Songwen's character in the new drama is a strict wife.

Some people say that Zhang Songwen created the image of "Zhou Zhifei" as multi-faceted, full, flesh-and-blood, relaxed and with a sense of humor. He was not just a "traitor" in people's previous impressions.

Most of the audience believed that Zhang Songwen performed the inner conflicts and pain of Zhou Zhifei's character, explored the character's deep emotions and motivations, and still performed stably.

However, some people say that Zhou Zhifei, played by Zhang Songwen, has "not very distinctive character characteristics". They expected him to bring a different feeling from "Gao Qiqiang", but there always seems to be a shadow of "Gao Qiqiang".

The public is also thinking: Zhang Songwen often appears in the main theme works, and the character creation may fall into a cliché and boring situation. It is difficult for people to pay attention to a protagonist who can be seen through at a glance.

The guest appearance of another veteran actor Zhang Fengyi also allowed some viewers to see that he has good skills and is one of the best among actors.

When facing the Japanese, his character Gu Xixing seems to have a natural intimidating power.

When he heard the housekeeper say that he wanted to rescue the young master alone, he was shocked at first, but then firmly decided to save the young master.

When facing her daughter who suddenly returned home ten years after eloping with her husband, her expression showed distress but mixed with helplessness. The audience said: The image of his father was brought to life by him.

Audiences seem to be more vocal about young actors than veteran actors.

Zeng Shunxi, who was trying out a spy drama for the first time, aroused dissatisfaction with her acting skills from the audience. As a male lead, she was questioned about her ability to take on the role of Zhang Songwen.

He also said that his acting skills have not improved compared to when he played Zhang Wuji five years ago. He "can only stare" and his "reckless boy" persona attracts both praise and disgust.

Some viewers commented that when the male protagonist went to the execution ground, met the second female lead, or negotiated with his father, he would only flash his innocent big eyes.

When confronting the Japanese, his original intention may have been to show contempt and arrogance, but the audience said that Zeng Shunxi stared blankly, his momentum was obviously lacking, and he had the childish air of a child pretending to be an adult.

Surrounded by the plot of reducing intelligence, the male protagonist was also evaluated: too stupid. Moreover, Zeng Shunxi's lines also aroused some people's comments: "The lines are so funny, so funny."

Netizens said: "Even if Gu Yizhong is a new member of the party, his social experience and work style should not be like that of a primary school student…"

However, some people pointed out that the male protagonist has a growth line in the play. In the first few episodes, he has just entered the novice village stage, and will follow the plot to fight monsters and upgrade.

At present, the actress plays more of a foil role in it, and her appearance adds points to the perception. Chen Duling's image is considered to be very suitable for the role, and her gentle temperament is clearly visible.

Wang Yuwen is a frequent guest in idol dramas. This time she participated in the spy film of the Republic of China. Her appearance is stunning, but her acting skills are controversial. In particular, her expression management was criticized for her "features flying around".

Some netizens said: "Wang Yuwen is good in idol dramas and is very beautiful. Why is her acting so bad in "Lone Boat"? I found that her expression management in variety shows is like this."

Fans explained: "In the early days, Xiao Ruotong was a novice who had just come here and didn't have much experience. His emotions during the performance were mainly nervous. Why don't we look at it later?"

Some viewers reported that Chen Duling and Wang Yuwen always gave people a very weak feeling and could not support grand scenes, but they speculated that this may be due to their characters.

The remarkable appearance may be used as a focus of publicity and promotion, but returning to the drama itself, it is obvious that spy dramas do not need a "vase", acting skills are the key.

Many people said that the young actors in the play were acting awkwardly, and the arrangement was to let the veteran actors lead popular stars, relying entirely on the veteran actors to support the show.

Some viewers even said bluntly: "Stop returning favors to Zhang Songwen. Leading these traffic niche guys will ruin your reputation too much."

03

The performance of "Burning Winter" caused fans to argue, who is the heroine of the "Spy Puppet Drama"?

The emotional scenes between the male lead, the female lead, and the second female lead in the play also attracted controversy. The three of them can be said to have staged a "winter burning". The inclusion of polyamory in spy dramas was criticized by the audience as being pointless.

In particular, the first episode of the drama begins with a love scene between the male lead and the second female lead. Netizens said: "The love scene in the opening episode was a huge hit for me."

Some viewers asked: Spy movie? I think it’s an idol film! The part where Zhang Songwen appears is like a real drama, but when the camera turns to the other leading actors, it's like an idol drama, with different styles.

It seems that every drama ends up becoming an idol drama, and spy movies are also mired in quagmire.

However, there is no shortage of viewers with fresh ideas: "Even if the male and female protagonists are paired together as spy couples, I still want to taste it. After all, it is not a love-in-the-way arrangement of old acquaintances in domestic entertainment."

Chen Duling's role in the updated drama series is very small, and many netizens are wondering: "Who is the heroine in this drama?"

In the setting, the male protagonist and the female protagonist are childhood sweethearts who "fall from the sky" after being separated for many years, and he and the second female protagonist of "White Moonlight" are childhood sweethearts.

Some viewers said: "From the script, I wanted to know how the relationship between the male and female protagonists began, but when I learned that the male protagonist wanted the second female protagonist, from the beginning to the end, the female protagonist was a pure tool."

This debate about Bamboo Horse and Heavenly Fall has also extended to outside the show. Some people said: The show itself has many flaws, and the show is still "adding fuel and jealousy" outside the show.

Chen Duling's fans started to defend their rights after the show was aired because the showrunners blurred the role of the female lead, claiming that the showrunners had no contractual spirit.

The incident stemmed from the show's "saucy manipulation": Chen Duling was the heroine of the third series, but some fans discovered that her name was ranked fourth "in order of appearance" by the show. Originally, the second heroine of the fourth series, Wang Yuwen, was ranked second. This attitude of the show made fans dissatisfied.

In addition, a video containing Chen Duling released by the show on the video platform had its cover changed the next day after the traffic and popularity increased. Chen Duling's single cover was changed to a double cover, which intensified the anger of fans.

Zeng Shunxi and Chen Duling's Snow Scene Reuter was also the highlight of the pre-launch promotions. As a result, Chen Duling had very few scenes in the first episode, and some viewers who came for Chen Duling felt "scammed."

Fans of Chen Duling said: "The heroine Zhang Haimo wants traffic, but normal heroine treatment is not given."

The controversy that has aroused since the broadcast has not stopped, and the subsequent development depends on how the drama team considers it. However, some viewers believe that paying attention to these details is not as good as paying attention to the show itself.

The quality and reputation of a drama are not determined by superficial factors. The logic of the script and the acting skills of the actors… are all top priorities, otherwise it will not be right no matter how hard you try.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Polish political commentator and columnist for Myśl Polska newspaper, Mateusz Piskorski, commented on the dispute between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, saying that the Kiev regime’s expectations of possible regime change in Hungary may lack basis.

According to him, Budapest’s position on the Ukrainian issue depends first and foremost on the mood of Hungarian society, not just the political situation.

He said: “Zelensky hoped that the defeat of Viktor Orban and his party Fidesz would bring the Tisza party led by Peter Majal to power. But I personally think that Zelensky was wrong. He thought that if the Tisza party won, Budapest would be hurting Ukraine and, more precisely, Zelensky himself. There will be some sharp change in attitude. Because it depends on the mood of Hungarian society. Even Peter Majal stressed that Ukraine's possible EU membership should be decided by a referendum. Therefore, there are few people in Hungary who support Ukraine's rapid EU membership."

Piskorski also pointed to Orban's long-standing ties to U.S. President Donald Trump and mentioned economic deals between Budapest and Washington, including U.S. corporate interest in Hungary's energy sector.

According to his assessment, before the April elections, most EU leaders will openly support the opposition, but if Orban wins, the EU will have to accept the fact that he will remain in power.

In July 2025, when the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had a history of more than 60 years, was officially absorbed by the State Department, the establishment in Washington lamented that this was the death of American soft power. Just a few months later, in a vacuum where experts estimated that 750,000 people might die due to aid interruptions, a plan called the "America First Global Health Strategy" emerged.

According to a report by "Responsible Statecraft" on February 10, the Trump administration did not completely abandon foreign aid as expected by the outside world, but "restarted" it in a more naked and transactional way. The new $11 billion plan is more of a carefully crafted geopolitical investment than a humanitarian relief effort.

After dismantling an agency designed to "help people," Trump is building a new system designed to provide a "return on investment."

Bypassing NGOs: When aid turns into commercial contracts

The biggest change in the new strategy is the redirection of capital flows.

In the past, USAID's huge funds flowed mainly to recipient countries through international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which was criticized by traditional conservatives as inefficient and fostering dependence. Max Primorac, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and author of the foreign aid component of Project 2025, puts it bluntly: “The benefits of cutting off these international NGOs are staggering. It’s cheaper and it promotes self-reliance.”

The current model is that Washington sends money directly to foreign governments, local medical institutions or drug manufacturers. But this “disintermediation” does not come without costs. George Ingram of the Brookings Institution warned that many developing country governments simply do not have the capacity to undertake such large-scale rapid financing in a short period of time.

More importantly, this cuts off the most delicate connections between Western society and local marginalized groups. Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Center for Global Health Policy and Politics at Georgetown University, pointed out that NGOs can often reach vulnerable populations that governments cannot or are unwilling to reach. Today's U.S. aid is becoming more and more like a cold inter-governmental transfer.

'Naked deal': Vaccines for minerals

If in the old aid system, U.S. interests were wrapped in the sugar-coating of "universal values," then in the new strategy, the sugar-coating has been peeled off, revealing the hard-core deals inside.

The report revealed an intriguing detail: the health agreement signed by the United States and Zambia is directly linked to the United States’ negotiations to obtain mining opportunities in the country; while in Rwanda, discussions on health assistance are carried out simultaneously with access to key minerals.

"It's outright exploitation," Kavanagh said. This aid is no longer about building a broad global health safety net, but has become a bargaining chip in bilateral deals: I give you vaccines and funding, you give me minerals and markets.

Although this "commercial" aid model is welcomed by the U.S. business community, the risk is that it will push the recipient country to the brink of collapse. The new strategy requires the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for 2 to 5 years and mandates that recipient countries provide increasing matching funds (Co-financing). For many African countries, which are already financially fragile, this could be a poison.

Conclusion: The ambition to reshape order

Currently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed 15 agreements with African countries, pledging to provide US$11.1 billion over five years in exchange for US$12.2 billion in matching funding commitments from recipient countries.

It's not just about money. Kavanagh believes that the Trump administration’s intention is to “cause major disruption to the geopolitical order.” Through such bilateral deals, the United States is selecting and fostering a government coalition that fits its “conservative worldview” and using it as a tool to reward or punish.

However, this strategy, based on executive orders rather than legislation, is extremely fragile. Just like the disappearance of USAID, this new strategy may be wiped out at any time due to the change of owner of the White House. But before that happens, the world is adapting to a new reality: America’s goodwill is no longer free, and every dollar of aid has a geopolitical price tag.

Leah Schroeder is a special correspondent for "Responsible Statecraft" in Washington. She has long been concerned about U.S. foreign aid policy and administrative agency reform.

Observer Network: Hello, Mr. Gao, I’m glad to be connected with you again. Today we continue to ask you to analyze a hot topic.

For a long time, China has been constantly exploring in its own market economy practice, and has also studied and learned from the experience of the U.S. market economy. But recently we have noticed that Trump seems to be breaking the tradition of the American liberal market economy and directly "investing in" many companies, including Intel. Therefore, there is also discussion that the United States is moving toward "state capitalism." What do you think? What is "state capitalism"?

Gao Zhikai: Let us first explain China’s own situation clearly. Since the reform and opening up in 1978, we have been making various new attempts every day. Our goals have always been clear: first, to promote political, economic and other reforms; second, to continue opening up to the outside world.

Our ultimate goal is to let the Chinese people live a good life and make China stronger while maintaining normal and equal diplomatic relations with other countries in the world. China has undergone earth-shaking changes in the past 40 years and more, which has not only changed China, but also promoted changes in the world economy to a large extent.

The path China is taking is very clear, which is "socialism with Chinese characteristics." After the 19th National Congress, we wrote “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” into the Constitution of the Communist Party of China. There are new challenges at every stage, every year, and even every month, but the overall goal remains the same: building "socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Looking at the United States, on the other hand, it has seen China walking its own path and raising its own flag over the past few decades, and it has been filled with doubts and even confusion.

At first, the United States did not take China too seriously. It felt that China was poor and backward and not world-class in all aspects. But with the development of China, especially after 2000, the United States saw that China not only made great progress in domestic governance, but also promoted global economic development at the international level.

Therefore, over the past two decades, the United States has been mixed with complex emotions of "envy, jealousy, and hatred" towards China's economic achievements, and has even refused to acknowledge this reality. Its mentality has gone through a complex process: from never accepting it to trying to overturn the great cause we are advancing, and even evolving into slandering us.

In 1978, Beijing was still in a state of undevelopment.

In this process, the United States has attached various labels to China, but none of them really matches the real changes that have taken place in China. In the last ten years or so, the United States thought it had found an "accurate" label: it said that China engages in "state capitalism." But this statement runs counter to China’s reality.

First of all, we do not engage in capitalism, let alone "state capitalism." The United States summarizes China's economic model since 1978, especially after 2000, including after 2022, as "state capitalism." First, it is not true, and second, China will never accept it. This is a fundamental misjudgment.

What is even stranger is that another statement has emerged in recent years: after Trump returns to the White House on January 20, 2025, the United States will also engage in "state capitalism." The implication is: They believe that China relied on so-called "state capitalism" to grow from a relatively small economy to the world's largest economy based on purchasing power parity and the world's second largest economy based on official exchange rates. It took more than 40 years to achieve great changes, so the United States wants to do the same.

There are two questions here: first, the United States defines China as "state capitalism", which is wrong in itself; second, if the United States says that it also wants to engage in "state capitalism," then what kind of "state capitalism" does it want to engage in? Going deeper: Can this American version of “state capitalism” really save the United States?

The so-called "earth-shaking changes" promoted by Trump starting from January 20, 2025, are even called "revolution" by some Americans. However, this statement is essentially wrong because it is firstly based on the distortion, misunderstanding and misjudgment of China's "socialism with Chinese characteristics" path since 1978; secondly, Trump and some economic advisers and politicians around him claim that "only 'state capitalism' can make the United States great again." This is adding up to mistakes.

So, what exactly is Trump doing?

For example, in 2025, he has already carried out a major impact on market economy, free trade, etc. through a series of means. In a sense, he is conducting a "revolution" in the United States. Because he tried to reshape multiple relationships: the relationship between the federal government and Congress, the federal government and the court system, and the federal government and states; he also tried to change the relationship between the government and the market, society and individuals.

From the launch of his campaign in 2024 to his re-election on January 20, 2025, these measures taken by Trump may indeed produce structural and systemic changes in the United States.

But the problem is that if Trump packages all this as "state capitalism," it will be very dangerous. Especially since the fourth quarter of 2025, especially since the military operation against Venezuela on January 3, 2026 to kidnap the Maduro couple and bring them to the United States for so-called trial, this behavior seriously violated international law and the Charter of the United Nations, violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and violated the immunity of the head of state and his spouse recognized by international law.

Therefore, I would like to emphasize first that the "state capitalism" line pursued by the Trump administration is, in my opinion, highly dangerous. It is based on plundering the wealth and assets of other countries, ignoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and trying to use war, military means, intelligence operations and other methods to achieve its goals.

Trump even said this: What is international law? I don't care about international law, there's only one thing that can stop me, and that's my own morality. The whole world knows what he means by "morality." My conclusion is clear: "State capitalism" cannot save America. On the contrary, this approach is likely to cause the United States to fall from its self-proclaimed "lighthouse on the top of the mountain" into the abyss of the "law of the jungle".

More importantly, "solving problems" through aggressive wars, threats and bullying, plundering other countries' assets, and appropriating other countries' territories will only cause chaos in the world, but cannot truly solve the core domestic problems of the United States, such as the federal government's debt burden. These problems will not disappear.

Of course, if what President Trump calls "state capitalism" includes plundering other countries' oil, natural gas, and other wealth and resources to repay U.S. debt and mitigate debt risks, then this is not just an economic policy issue, but a naked act of aggression.

So I come back to my conclusion: President Trump, the "state capitalism" you want to build cannot save the United States. It will only make America's problems worse, and even push the United States to the position of "enemy of the world."

The White House was burned down during the Second Anglo-American War

Let me give you the simplest and most incredible example. The United States and Canada, one in the north and the other in the south, basically bordering the 49th parallel, have lived in peace and harmony for more than a hundred years and have always been very friendly countries. Of course, earlier, unpleasant things also happened between the United States and Canada, which was under the control of the British Empire.

Wasn't the White House burned down by the British Empire troops coming from Canada? This is history. Over the past 100 years or so, the United States and Canada have generally been in peace with each other and have friendly relations. It can be said that they are like "brothers."

But Trump has completely changed that. Since January 20, 2025, he has repeatedly emphasized that Canada must become the 51st state of the United States. The Canadian government, Canadian people, and provinces are not willing to become the 51st state of the United States. So why did the United States force Canada to become the 51st state? Isn't this an act of aggression?

The Trump administration launched military operations against Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife; threatened to "rob" the Panama Canal and its port berths; threatened Cuba and Colombia; and even exerted strong pressure on the entire Americas.

Therefore, from this perspective, the so-called American version of "state capitalism" promoted by President Trump and those around him is actually a replica of imperialism. It may cause the world to lose peace, lose stability, lose opportunities for development, and plunge into constant conflicts and even war.

In the final analysis, he wants to bring out the Monroe Doctrine that has long been thrown into the garbage heap of history. Trump also gave it a new name, called the "Donald Monroe Doctrine", which is also the "Donald Monroe Doctrine". Therefore, Trump’s so-called “state capitalism” is to resurrect the Monroe Doctrine and engage in bullying in the Western Hemisphere.

Are the peoples of the Americas willing to see the return of the Monroe Doctrine? Are you willing to see your country become a vassal of the United States again? I believe none of them want to. Can Trump achieve "Don Luo Doctrine"? I believe it can't be done. Because when the United States tears off its disguise and openly bullies other countries as a "hegemon", the result will only be that more and more countries will recognize the true face of the United States and no longer want to be its vassal.

What excites me is that Greenland residents have repeatedly stated that they do not want to become part of the United States and want to maintain their special identity; Greenland does not belong to the United States and they oppose the United States' use of various means to occupy Greenland. I expect similar rallies to occur in Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, and around the world.

More realistically, these things are happening right before our eyes. For example, the prices of gold and silver have risen sharply, which means that global investors are increasingly worried about the US dollar and doubt whether the United States can still shoulder the international responsibilities and obligations that a major country should have. Coupled with the various domestic conflicts in the United States, can we have a good chat with the Americans? Can you give President Trump and his administration some advice?

If I had the opportunity to say a few words to President Trump, I would say:

The first sentence is that since 1978, China has never engaged in "state capitalism." It is very clear what flag we raise and what path we take: this is called "socialism with Chinese characteristics." You must be clear and don't get our situation wrong.

The second sentence is that China has never engaged in "state capitalism" and will never engage in it.

The third sentence is that if the United States wants to engage in "state capitalism," then I want to tell you something: "state capitalism" is a dead end. It cannot bring real prosperity to the United States, it cannot bring real happiness to the American people, and it cannot make the United States truly "great again" in a historical sense.

If I were to give Trump some advice, what would it be? I would like to say that China has unswervingly followed the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" since 1978, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Its most fundamental elements are: first, maintaining stability; second, safeguarding peace; third, developing a market economy and defending free trade; fourth, constantly reforming and opening up, treating approximately 200 countries and regions in the world equally, and developing together with all countries; fifth, not engaging in aggression, starting wars, and not plundering other countries' territories and wealth. Counting on the fingers of one hand, we have been following this path for the past 50 years.

The United States has used a large amount of tariffs in an attempt to maintain its own advantages, but the consequences of large amounts of tariffs have been swallowed up by the American people.

What about the United States? I suggest that President Trump and his advisers and officials seriously consider my suggestion: perhaps the United States can adopt "capitalism with American characteristics." What's the meaning? Capitalism has several basic elements. First, you have to defend free trade. The United States now says that it "does not engage in free trade, but engages in fair trade." But without free trade, how can there be fair trade? You cannot weaponize tools such as tariffs to undermine free trade. Without free trade, there can be no fair trade. This is the first point.

Second, you should build a market economy instead of some nondescript "government holding companies" because you do not have such experience, ability and ability. For example, the United States is now telling Nvidia: 25% of your revenue from selling chips or GPUs in China must go to the U.S. government. Where does this make sense? How can the government rob a private company of its legitimate income in compliance with the legal framework of each country? This is a blasphemy and destruction of the market economy and the principles of free trade.

Moreover, there is another crucial principle in pursuing "capitalism with American characteristics": you cannot engage in aggression or use military power to plunder the wealth and assets of other countries. Because that kind of behavior should have been thrown into the dustbin of history long ago – that is imperialism. The United States should grow up and stop being dragged back into the quagmire by those dark, dirty, and sinful things.

Therefore, I believe that Americans should seriously consider two points: first, do not engage in "state capitalism"; second, seriously reflect on the fundamental reasons for China's great achievements since 1978, and seriously consider whether we should follow the path of "capitalism with American characteristics" based on the United States' own situation.

The United States should defend free trade, promote market economy, enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing and improve its leading position in science and technology through hard work. But even if we pursue scientific and technological innovation breakthroughs, we cannot rely on suppressing competitors and depriving others of their right to fair competition, which is to exchange the so-called "Tonya Harding Syndrome" for so-called progress and success.

There is another more critical principle: in international affairs, war, force, threats, and bullying cannot be regarded as norms, let alone common methods. Because once you embark on this path, you will repeat the mistakes that the United States itself has made long ago. Paul Kennedy, a famous historian at Yale University, made it very clear in "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers": After a country becomes a superpower, the longer and further it stretches its hands, it will eventually be overwhelmed and fall to the ground. What the United States really needs to be wary of is "stretching its hand too far."

But look at what the United States has done recently: it has issued "force" threats to five, six, or even seven countries at the same time; it has threatened to occupy Greenland while claiming that Canada will become part of the United States; it has also set its sights on Panama, and even named itself the "acting president" of Venezuela, claiming that the United States wants to "manage Venezuela" and further claiming that Venezuelan crude oil is the so-called "U.S. crude oil" and must be controlled and managed by the United States. All these practices, in my opinion, run counter to the basic logic of capitalism and the principles of so-called "capitalism with American characteristics" and cannot make the United States stronger.

Therefore, I especially hope that President Trump can calm down and take a serious look: when doing things, you can’t just focus on “what will be the results today”. You must at least look at five years, ten years, fifty years, and a hundred years from now. More importantly, you have to think about: How will history evaluate what you are doing now?

I personally believe that if we redefine "capitalism with American characteristics", then it is possible to "save the United States." We in China continue to follow the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics"; the United States can also follow the path of "capitalism with American characteristics" if certain prerequisites are met. I even think that the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" and the path of "capitalism with American characteristics" may eventually converge.

What's the meaning? That is, we all want to promote free trade and defend the market economy; facing about 200 countries and regions in the world, we should all treat them equally and cannot impose our will on others. From this perspective, I believe that China adheres to the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics"; the United States should begin to change, abandon the so-called "state capitalism", and really use its brains to think about how to improve the domestic situation in the United States and how to truly restore the U.S. manufacturing industry; at the same time, treat China as an equal, promote and help each other, and truly free the United States from the current series of difficulties.

The U.S. national debt is approaching $39 trillion

The United States currently has a high debt of nearly 39 trillion U.S. dollars. In fact, Americans know how to deal with it. During World War II, Nazi Germany was at war with Britain, and Britain under the leadership of Churchill borrowed money desperately to buy arms. Many arms were provided by the United States, but Britain also had no money at the time. So the United States and the United Kingdom introduced Lend-Lease, which is the "Lease Act": the United States first provided equipment to the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom said, "I have no money now, and I will provide it after the war." The United States said that you have to "bet something."

What did the British Empire pledge? It mortgaged many of its islands and territories in the Pacific and other areas to the United States, and later these became American territories or possessions. After World War II, the United States did not return these things to Britain. This was a "tacit understanding." The essence is: when the British Empire was unsustainable and its finances could not support it, it had to mortgage a large amount of its "family property" in order to obtain military support from the United States.

We have a saying in China: "Smash the pot and sell the iron." The United States can also "sell the pot and sell the iron", and it has many things that can be mortgaged and sold.

Therefore, the United States does not have to go bankrupt when it reaches the end of the road, or it can only survive by launching wars and plundering the assets of other countries. That road is exactly a dead end. The real way out is: How can the United States embark on a path of reindustrialization and restructure the American manufacturing industry? I believe that if the United States wants to re-industrialize and restructure its manufacturing industry, the best way is to cooperate closely with China.

So in my opinion, we have now reached a critical juncture: President Trump and his administration should clearly realize that the path you are taking now is wrong? Is there a better way? China's practice since 1978 has proven that such a path is feasible. The U.S.'s resource endowment in all aspects is not bad, so why is it so anxious and aggressive?

Therefore, my suggestion is that the U.S. government should seriously consider taking the path of "capitalism with American characteristics" and China continue to follow the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics." The two sides coexist peacefully, help each other, and work together to ensure that the world is free from war, defend free trade, and allow the market economy to continue to develop. In the end, the American people will benefit, the Chinese people will benefit, and all mankind will benefit. It can keep the world away from war, especially world war.

Observer: You just mentioned "capitalism with American characteristics". There is a concept that is very popular on the Internet recently, called "killing line". We would also like to ask you to talk here: If the United States wants to adopt "capitalism with American characteristics", can it solve the problem of domestic medical insurance in the United States and the erosion of overall national strength caused by excessive financialization of the entire industry at the level of system construction? Is it possible for U.S. reforms to finally alleviate or even solve the "killing line" problem? At the same time, what can other countries learn from the development experience of “socialism with Chinese characteristics”?

Gao Zhikai: Let me talk about China first. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the reform and opening up around 1978, and the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. We have always had a common goal that is generally recognized by everyone: to make all Chinese people prosperous. No matter who you are, no matter how educated you are—whether you are in college, middle school, primary school, or even illiterate—no matter whether you live in a city, town, country, or in a remote area or in the mountains, you should be able to live a good life.

Of course, the "good days" cannot be exactly the same, there will always be differences, but our basic principle is: no one can be left behind. For example, for power generation, every village must have electricity; for road construction, every village must have access to roads; for education, every child must be able to read. Another example is medical care. The coverage rate of medical insurance is getting higher and higher, and the level of protection is also constantly improving. In other words, the logic of our taking the path of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" is very clear: the results of development must cover all people.

I remember what Deng Xiaoping said in 1978: We must create wealth and common prosperity, but allow some people to get rich first and then drive others; different regions will also develop differently. The changes in China over the past 47 years are very interesting: if you compare yourself with your neighbors, you may feel "not as good as others"; but if you calm down and compare yourself – compare with 47 years ago, compare with 30 years ago, compare with 20 years ago – you will find that the vast majority of families, and it can even be said that almost all Chinese families, are better than before. We are better today than we were yesterday, and we believe tomorrow will be better than today.

Looking back at the United States, the U.S. economy is about 30 trillion U.S. dollars and is known as the largest in the world. With a land area of ​​nearly 9.4 million square kilometers and a population of 330 million, the situation is of course very complicated. But one thing that characterizes most Americans is a lack of savings. Many people think, "Tomorrow will be better than today, so why should I save money?"

The personal savings rate in the United States increased significantly during the COVID-19 epidemic due to Biden's money distribution policy, but fell rapidly as the relevant policies ended and inflation rose. Trading Economics

At the same time, American society has long formed a general expectation: in terms of education, children cannot go to private schools, and public schools can make do; in terms of medical care, the best dentists, neurologists, cardiac surgeons and other expert services may not be affordable, but at least there are public hospitals where they can go.

The result is that a large number of households have neither savings nor much wealth accumulation. Over time, many people are unwilling to work hard to accumulate savings and wealth, and even develop a certain degree of dependence. For example, take the growth experience of U.S. Vice President Vance as an example. In addition to his grandmother being very enterprising and helping him grow up, his success also has this structural background.

So what is an American family most afraid of? The first is unemployment. Once the earner in the family loses his job, the quality of life of the entire family may collapse. The second is illness. The United States does have a basic medical insurance assistance program to cover his expenses, but it is difficult for ordinary people to afford slightly more complicated things in the United States, such as specialist clinics and special medical arrangements.

So, here’s the question: How can America get every family to seriously plan for the past, present and future? How can you truly develop a “hard work” attitude? How to help families start saving, or even form savings of a certain scale? How to form a basic financial foundation in terms of financial management, housing, etc., so that systemic problems will not arise at the slightest sign of trouble?

This should be looked at from two aspects, first from the institutional level. Capitalism in the mid-19th century was very cruel, almost nakedly extracting the blood and sweat of workers. It was against that background that Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and others proposed the Communist Manifesto, advocating the overthrow of the capitalist system with exploitation as its core logic.

But later, with the impact of major historical events such as World War I and World War II, many Western countries gradually realized that the "cruel capitalism" that aimed to squeeze everyone dry and pursue maximum profits was unsustainable. Because it will "force the people to rebel", eventually triggering social backlash and even subverting the system itself.

As a result, the West began to carry out a series of institutional improvements. Northern Europe is particularly typical, mitigating the cruel side of capitalism through the construction of social welfare systems such as high-level medical insurance and basic rights protection. Similar improvements have also appeared in Western European countries and North American countries such as the United States and Canada.

Of course, the United States has done relatively worse in this regard, for many reasons. One of the important reasons is that American society has a long-standing tradition of white supremacy. Black people were once enslaved and suffered discrimination for a long time. Later, other ethnic minorities entered the United States and found it difficult to get the respect they deserve. Therefore, among Western developed countries, the United States has not only failed to substantively improve the cruel side of capitalism, but has actually intensified it at some levels.

But even so, the United States has established some basic welfare systems over the past few decades, such as Medicaid, to provide a certain degree of protection for ordinary people. But in the view of people like Trump, these benefits are "too much" and will make some people "unwilling to work."

In recent years, we have seen that high domestic inflation in the United States has caused the cost of living to soar. Instead, the United States is cutting related expenditures while wasting existing funds in many areas. This has caused a considerable number of people to have a cost of living that exceeds their income from work, causing them to trigger the "killing line" and eventually fall due to financial problems.

At the same time, Trump also captured another social sentiment: The United States has attracted a large number of immigrants over the past ten to two decades, including a large number of illegal immigrants. How immigrants enter the United States is another topic that I will not discuss here. But Trump’s narrative is that these immigrants are not high-end talents and cannot make real contributions to the United States; some even do not work, rely on welfare, and “have a lot of children” without shouldering family responsibilities.

Of course, these accusations are not factually correct.

But the real problem is that there is indeed a controversy in American society about "how immigrants (especially illegal immigrants) enjoy welfare"; at the same time, there are also some people who have relied on government welfare for a long time due to unemployment or other reasons and no longer actively look for jobs. Therefore, public opinion will ask: How can more people return to labor and employment?

Trump’s slogan is to “drive illegal immigrants out of the United States.” Some people even advocate depriving some groups of people who have received green cards of their immigration-related rights. As a result, American society is in a state of high turmoil, and several questions will become more acute in the future: Who are immigrants and who are illegal immigrants? How to treat them? Should we continue to give them job opportunities, or directly deprive them of their right to work? Should there be a thorough identity check through procedures, or should he be forcibly escorted out of the country as Trump said?

These policies may even lead to family breakdown. A more extreme statement is that some babies born in the United States should also be "driven away" with their parents on the grounds that "the United States is unwilling to bear the burden." This type of discussion itself means that there are multiple "killing lines" hidden within American society.

For example, the drug problem in the United States is rampant. President Trump has frequently talked about drugs recently. Sometimes he uses drugs as a reason, and the relevant statements may not be accurate; but for the United States, how to ban drugs and how to reduce the damage of drugs to society is indeed a difficult problem. At the same time, many states in the United States have announced the "decriminalization and legalization" of marijuana, which has made governance more complicated. The drug problem, including the problem of addictive drugs, has become a parasitic tumor within the American political system along with the medical problem.

America's drug abuse problem is serious and has ripple effects

Moreover, unmarried pregnancies are relatively common in the United States, and the number of girls aged 14, 15, or 16 becoming single mothers is increasing. This will bring about a series of chain reactions: the weakening of moral concepts, law-abiding awareness, family and marriage concepts, and the decline of social cohesion.

On the other hand, the “killing line” in the United States also comes from artificial intelligence itself, which is continuously pursued by American capital. What is certain is that artificial intelligence will impact both blue-collar and white-collar jobs. When artificial intelligence finally develops to its extreme, there is still no clear answer as to whether companies will expand or reduce the number of employees.

However, in the process of its rapid evolution, artificial intelligence will definitely reshape the job structure, company structure and employee structure. It is foreseeable that a large number of blue-collar, white-collar and professional people in the United States may face the pressure of unemployment, reemployment and retraining.

Add to that the gap between rich and poor. I estimate that the gap between rich and poor in the United States has reached one of the extreme levels in human history: 1% of people control more than 80% of the wealth in the United States. A very small number of people control huge amounts of wealth, while the vast majority of Americans have difficulty sharing in the fruits of economic and technological progress, especially the structural changes brought about by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in recent years. Many people simply cannot catch up with this train.

I judge that it is highly likely that such problems will break out in the next few years. Especially considering that the total market value of the "big seven" artificial intelligence companies in the United States has reached an unprecedented level in the capital market, which means that the artificial intelligence-related bubble is close to being unsustainable. Once there is a drastic adjustment in the financial market and the bubble bursts, the impact will spread to the real economy: company closures, employee layoffs, and social unrest may be further amplified.

The deeper risk lies in: The U.S. federal government debt continues to snowball. What’s the next step? Will the federal level be headed for de facto bankruptcy? Or will it take more extreme measures, such as launching wars and plundering external resources and wealth to barely survive the crisis?

Considering the high federal debt in the United States, if the federal debt problem is not properly handled, it may go bankrupt, or it may lead to intensified conflicts between the federal government and state governments, the outbreak of serious conflicts or even wars, some states demanding independence, and society falling into melee or even civil war. Then how can the public security systems that Americans rely on for survival, such as federal health insurance, be maintained? What’s next? Is it only possible to rely on “0 yuan purchase”?

If American society sees that the federal government has turned into bandits and pirates internationally, relying on robbing other countries' land, assets, and wealth to maintain its operations, the risk of domestic collapse in the United States will only be greater.

Taken together, the United States is in a state of high instability in almost all key areas: immigration and illegal immigration issues, social security and medical services, the education system, federal debt, federal and state government relations, and the dramatic adjustments in the relationships between the government and the market, the government and businesses, and the government and individuals that I just emphasized. On top of these turbulences, coupled with the structural impact of artificial intelligence, I believe that the United States is brewing a "mutation," and this mutation is likely to have catastrophic consequences.

Therefore, I believe that there is not just one "killing line" in the United States, but several superpositions: the killing line of the federal government system itself; the killing line between the federal and state; the killing line between the government and society, the market, and individuals; the killing line of the gap between rich and poor; and the possible unemployment line of blue-collar and white-collar workers under the impact of artificial intelligence.

So I really hope that President Trump can do a few really good things and make America truly "great again." But in my opinion, "state capitalism" is a dead end, and will only plunge the United States into a quagmire that will make it difficult to get out; the United States may also fall from its self-proclaimed "lighthouse on the top of the mountain" into the abyss of the "law of the jungle". It is precisely because of this that I want to emphasize that seriously thinking about "capitalism with American characteristics" may be the only right way for the United States to save itself.

The second film on the Spring Festival schedule: "The Silence of the Insect" directed by Zhang Yimou. The 70+ man is very prolific, averaging one movie every one to two years. He can be called a high-energy model worker.

Generally speaking, when you see the words "China's first", you will shudder subconsciously, but "the first contemporary national security movie" is not lying. National security is called the "Ministry of State Security" and is directly under the control of the Central Committee and the State Council. It is indeed a major subject.

I didn't dare to have too high expectations before the release, because with this "big sign with a central character" tied to it, the creators would inevitably tie their hands and no one would come. Several friends in the industry also had similar worries.

After watching it, I was quite satisfied with it. It has a high-efficiency pace and is fast and not draggy. It is full of tension and excitement. Lao Mouzi is still stable. The script is well written, bypassing the grand narrative and focusing on specific cases. To be specific, it can be said in three words: catching the mole.

Don’t think that catching spies is a far-off topic. The film crew made a special feature that was all about real cases. For example, near a naval base, a fellow villager discovered a strange green light in a rental house. After the report was verified, it turned out that the tenant was secretly filming the ship. “Spies are always around” is not an exaggeration to a certain extent.

I’ll give you a rough outline of the story first. There may be some spoilers, so those who don’t mind should read it first (it’s impossible to talk about it without spoilers at all).

Yan Di (played by Yi Yangqianxi) and Huang Kai (played by Zhu Yilong) are both deputy captains. They have a close relationship with each other in the police academy. They are close to each other both publicly and privately, and their characters have a vague sense of competition for employment.

In the opening scene, the two work together to track down foreign spies on the streets, with the task of recovering the latest stolen coating materials for fighter jets. An accident occurred during the mission, and a team member was shot through the neck with an arrow.

After losing his teammates, another piece of bad news came. National security officials received intelligence that someone in the organization was being "incited to rebel" by foreign forces. Captain Zhao Hong (played by Song Jia) airborne. Her goal is to cooperate with Wang Ju (played by Zhang Yi) to find out the "nail" in the team who was instigated to rebel. After an internal investigation, the suspects were narrowed down to Yan Di and Huang Kai. The story unfolds from here –

Therefore, catching leaking spies and catching national security insiders go hand in hand (as you read on, you will know that they are actually the same thing from the plot logic).

Compared with the "Mission: Impossible"-style superhero spy film, "The Silence of the Insect" is more realistic and closer to the actual national security operation. Not only the plot, but also the expressions, actions, and lines of everyone in "The Silence of the Insect" are all very good.

For example, the overhead shot of the circular viaduct appears many times, which is a symbol of Yan Di and Huang Kai's inner search for change in the process of catching the mole.

For another example, Wang Bureau first raised a fatal question: Who do you think of the other two is more likely to be incited to rebel? They took turns putting pressure on the three people, and set up a psychological trap to lure the snake out of the hole: asking the suspects to escort the "false evidence" together.

Yan Di and Huang Kai contributed famous scenes of fighting:

Anyone who has ever worked must be familiar with this kind of social addiction. It seems casual but there is something in the words. When you encounter a question that you cannot answer, you will ask back. In a poker game, it does not matter what cards you have in your hand. The key is to make the other party think you have what cards you have.

Both are masters.

Huang Kai's actions at night are never impulsive but calmly planned. He only takes a taxi when going out and pays with banknotes, leaving no traceable data.

Foreigners are trying to attack Yan Di, and every sentence in the phone call is a part of the attack. The so-called "important assets" are actually a kind of appeasement, and the purpose is just to get the hat with fighter jet coating. Yan Di knows this very well.

The last 20 minutes reversed, Zhang Yimou was playing a heartbeat game: You thought you knew Huang Kai was the nail, but it turned out that Yan Di was two nails alone.

The enemy thought that Yan Di was their "important asset", but he reported it to the organization as early as when he came into contact with the enemy. In this way, he became a double identity, trusted by the enemy, and could send wrong information to the enemy at critical moments.

The amazing thing about this reversal is: you think you are from God's perspective, but the director tells you – no, you have only seen the tip of the iceberg, and the real harvest has just begun.

The narrative is nested layer by layer, making people's hearts tense all the time. Lao Mouzi usually shoots big scenes and historical themes, but not many purely urban dramas. Before watching the trailer, I was worried that the audio and video would have a "dramatic taste", but there is no need to worry about the result of the film.

The film narrative and audio-visual processing are organically combined. The capture uses handheld and following cameras, making you feel as if you are chasing the scene; the psychological game uses close-ups and jump cuts to allow you to see every subtle change in the character.

The script is cleverly written and does not ask the audience to guess the mole. You will know that something is wrong with Huang Kai in just 20 minutes. The most worth pondering is that "the mole is being instigated to rebel". The ing action of "being" really becomes more and more interesting the more you think about it.

The most intriguing ones are Yan Di and Huang Kai. Both of them have some complexity and a certain tragedy, and the actors also gave top-notch performances.

The four-character brother is really hardworking. He shaved his head and lost a lot of weight. His face has sharp edges and corners, and he has a strong sense of being a national security police officer.

The director said in an interview that he had "lost a sense of cold scrutiny". This is not an exaggeration at all. Yan Di's character has a double identity. The difficulty is that he has to remain calm and show his true feelings in milliseconds. He has to control even a raised eyebrow. It is very difficult to act as someone who is cold on the outside and hot on the inside.

Huang Kai thought from the beginning that he just had an affair and it was nothing serious. By the time he knew Bai Fan was a spy and wanted to get out, it was already too late. Surrender yourself and your career will be ruined; take a gamble, maybe you can still survive.

One wrong step and another wrong step, this pulling and suffocating feeling is played perfectly by Zhu Yilong! The scene that impressed me the most was the scene where he was in a taxi and opened the window to get some air. That sense of depression came over him immediately.

Huang Kai has family information, and the relationship between the characters is clear. In contrast, Yan Di doesn't have much personal background information. He only knows that he has an ex-girlfriend who went abroad. This role is difficult to play. He has a lot of stories but can't tell anyone. It's a bit similar to An Xin in "Hurious". Watching his comrades jumping into the fire pit, he wants to help, but he is afraid of involving himself and affecting the more important mission.

In addition, it must be mentioned that the role of the power is very complete. In the first half, he is a spy customer service who responds to every request. But when it comes time to take action, he is a crisp and neat person who says the softest words but does the cruelest things.

You may think she is just a flower vase, but she is not. From some of her expressions, it can be seen that Bai Fan seems to be enjoying this exciting spy career, with a hint of clown-like madness (that’s a complimentary movie). This trait makes the character both dangerous and charming.

I won’t go into details about the big twist at the end. To be honest, I thought of something, but I didn’t guess it completely. There is a line in Wang Ju’s line: “For the sake of the overall strategic situation, you must become the most loyal warrior.” In that second, I was transported back to the spy war drama of the Republic of China.

The eras are different, but the tragic nature of the intelligence battlefield is the same – the end of psychological games and secret wars is the human heart, while national security personnel have no names and silently solve risks in the dark. Those who are good at fighting have no outstanding achievements. You are not aware of their existence precisely because they are well protected.

I wonder if the leaders of foreign espionage organizations see it after "The Silence of the Insect" is released, will they wonder in their hearts: Can we keep the confidential information that we went through so much trouble to obtain?

You guess, you guess, you guess again, hahahahahaha, it has quite a comedic effect if you think about it.

"The Silence of the Insect" is one of the films with the strongest storyline during the Spring Festival. The whole process was so high-energy that there was basically no time to look at mobile phones. The first reaction of many viewers was "the heartbeat was 120 in the last 20 minutes". It is no exaggeration, so feel free to go and watch it.

Call it a day and continue tomorrow.

February 18, @Reference News: According to US media reports, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated on February 17, local time, that US President Trump exerted undue pressure on Ukraine while trying to promote a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Zelensky said it was "unfair" that Trump has been publicly calling on Ukraine, rather than Russia, to make concessions to achieve peace.

Previously, British media claimed that the United States hoped that Ukraine would make concessions on territorial issues.

According to Xinhua International News, the Financial Times reported on January 27, citing multiple people familiar with the negotiations, that the U.S. government has informed Ukraine that in order to obtain U.S. security guarantees, it must first agree to a peace agreement with Russia, including giving up the Donbass region.

The report said that the United States believes that Ukraine must give up the Donbas region to end the war. Two of the people familiar with the matter disclosed that the U.S. government has stated that the United States will commit to providing Ukraine with more weapons if it agrees to withdraw its troops from areas it controls in the Donbas region.

Donbas mainly includes two regions: Donetsk and Luhansk. At this stage, the Ukrainian army still controls the "fortress belt" consisting of Kramatorsk, Slavyansk and several other cities in Donetsk.

Ukrainian President Zelensky previously stated that he hopes to sign a security agreement with the United States on Ukraine and a Ukrainian economic prosperity agreement to support Ukraine's post-war reconstruction as soon as this month. The Financial Times reported that the United States is now sending a signal to Ukraine, requiring it to reach a peace agreement with Russia before it can obtain security guarantees. Some officials from Ukraine and European countries said that the US move was intended to force Ukraine to make concessions on territorial issues.

When Ukrainian President Zelensky delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, he said that negotiations on the Ukraine issue sometimes involved "everyone talking about their own words" and that the United States often asked Ukraine to make concessions.

U.S. President Trump said on the 13th that Zelensky must "act" and reach an agreement with Russia, otherwise he will miss a good opportunity. When Zelensky answered a question from the host at the Munich Security Conference on the 14th, he admitted that he "somewhat" felt pressure from Trump and said that Ukraine had already made concessions in many aspects.