Officers from the Xingning public security bureau, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, have founded a new media group to make short videos that are posted on Douyin. Many local governments across the country have opened accounts on the social media platform. [Photo/China Daily] Dangling precariously from a helicopter before jumping to the ground, the policeman quickly pulled out his gun and squeezed the trigger without hesitation. Loud cracks echoed all around and the bullets hit the centers of 10 targets standing 10 meters away. As a volley of gunshots split the air, the crack shot didn't flinch, he just kept moving. Though visually stunning and intended to set the heart pounding, this is not a scene from a Hollywood action movie, Instead, it is a 36-second video filmed at a shooting range by the Beijing Special Weapons and Tactics team that shows officers undertaking shooting scenarios to hone their skills. Since May 3, when it was posted on Douyin, a platform for short videos and music, the clip has gained more than 8.67 million likes and about 182,000 comments. Most people expressed respect for the SWAT team's tough training methods and astonishment at its shooting skills. The soaring popularity of Douyin, known as Tik Tok overseas, has encouraged more than 500 government departments and media organizations, including the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and people.cn, to open accounts as a creative way of providing better services and communications. In the first six months of the year, government-related video accounts gained more than 1.6 billion hits on Douyin, according to Beijing Byte-Dance Technology, a news and information content provider. custom silicone bandsyouth wristbandscharity bracelets ukdebossed wristbandrubber wristbands
General Wei Fenghe, China's defense minister, meets with his US counterpart James Mattis in Beijing, June 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] Militaries from China and the United States will enhance communication and properly manage differences and risks, senior military officials said on Wednesday. China resolutely follows the path of peaceful development, and the Chinese military will adamantly protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, General Wei Fenghe, China's defense minister, said while meeting his US counterpart James Mattis in Beijing, according to a release by the Ministry of National Defense. Wei also expressed China's stance and concerns to the US top defense official over issues regarding the South China Sea, Taiwan and Korean Peninsula. China and the US can only achieve joint development by upholding mutual respect, win-win cooperation and nonconfrontational attitudes, Wei said. The two militaries should fulfill the consensus reached by both countries' State leaders, increase mutual trust and cooperation, properly manage risks, and make Sino-US military-to-military relations truly a stabilizing factor for bilateral relations, he added. Mattis said China's development is beneficial for the US and the world, and both countries should get along in harmony, according to the release. The US side values Sino-US military relations, and is willing to optimize communication channels with China to facilitate open dialogues and improve risk management, he added. It is believed that the US and China, two great nations, can facilitate world peace and development through cooperation, he said. Mattis is conducting his first visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday. It is also the first visit to China of a US defense secretary since Chuck Hagel in April 2014.
