BEIJING – China’s New Ethnic Unity Law took effect on July 1, 2026, and it’s drawing sharp criticism because it reads less like a neutral unity policy and more like a legal push for forced cultural assimilation. Beijing says the law protects national cohesion, but the language around Mandarin-only schooling, political loyalty, and tighter control over […]

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BEIJING — A series of massive industrial explosions and factory fires has shaken multiple provinces across China this month. The rapid succession of these blazes has triggered widespread public anxiety over a perceived collapse in basic public safety. On June 3, three consecutive explosions tore through a chemical plant in the Wuzhong District of Suzhou. […]

The post Industrial Blazes in China Spark Fears of Economic Unrest and Information Blackouts first appeared on Chiang Rai Times.

BEIJING - On a winter day, Deng Wei recalls, heavy snow used to blanket parts of eastern China. Now, he says, even a proper snowfall has become rare.

The post Rewiring a City: Inside China’s Complex Path to Green Transition first appeared on Chiang Rai Times.

BEIJING - I’ve always loved that strange, slightly magical moment after a film ends. You step out of a cinema, the final scene still lingering in your mind.

The post Beyond the Screen: Beijing’s Film Festival Becomes a Citywide Experience first appeared on Chiang Rai Times.

BEIJING - China's military faces big troubles, yet officials stay quiet. In the first three months of 2026, seven top retired People's Liberation Army (PLA) generals died. Five served in the Navy. The timing stands out.

The post Mysterious Deaths Hit China’s Top Retired Generals first appeared on Chiang Rai Times.