May 29th, the Long March 3B carrier rocket (长征三号乙运载火箭) successfully launched the Tianwen-2 probe (天问二号探测器) into its pre-set orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Tianwen-2 Mission Objectives
The Tianwen-2 mission has ambitious plans for deep space exploration:
Asteroid Exploration and Sample Return: It will first conduct reconnaissance of asteroid 2016HO3, collect samples, and then return them to Earth.
Main-Belt Comet Exploration: Following the asteroid mission, Tianwen-2 will proceed to conduct scientific exploration of the main-belt comet 311P.
Power System Innovations (Developed by SAST 811 Institute)
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) 8th Academy (中国航天科技集团八院), specifically its 811 Institute (八院811所), was responsible for developing Tianwen-2’s primary power subsystem. This power system boasts two critical features: high autonomy and high reliability.
This is akin to equipping a long-distance explorer with a self-sufficient and intelligent backpack, ensuring they can handle various challenges during their journey.
Overcoming Challenges of Deep Space Energy Supply
Tianwen-2’s journey to distant deep space presents significant energy challenges. While its solar arrays will constantly face the sun to gather energy, the intensity of sunlight diminishes as the probe moves farther from the sun.
To counter the impact of environmental changes on energy, Tianwen-2 innovatively applies a series-connected topology power controller (串联型拓扑结构电源控制器), a first for China’s deep space exploration. This new technology grants the probe’s energy management system a high degree of autonomy. It acts like the “super brain” of the power system, intelligently adjusting the output power of the solar arrays based on the real-time needs of the probe’s various loads. This ensures precise power supply, truly achieving a “take only what’s needed” approach, and maintaining internal energy balance. Compared to previous control methods, this highly autonomous energy management significantly reduces heat generation by the controller and successfully “slims down” the precious deep-space probe.
Dual Independent Power Supply Lines
To better support the probe’s mission, Tianwen-2 provides two independent power supply buses:
A high-voltage bus specifically powers the electric propulsion system.
A low-voltage bus handles the energy demands of other platform loads.
The SAST development team conducted extensive joint tests during the design, prototype development, and final production stages to continuously optimize isolation technologies and protection strategies for these systems.
Role of Lithium-ion Batteries
While the solar arrays are the primary energy source, lithium-ion batteries also play a crucial role. They will “take turns on duty” with the solar arrays during critical phases such as launch, orbital adjustments, mid-course corrections, and especially during the sampling phase, ensuring the probe functions normally during every key operation.
This mission represents China’s first deep space probe requiring ultra-long-life lithium-ion batteries. Unlike previous missions, Tianwen-2’s lithium-ion batteries will spend most of their time in orbit in a storage state (存储状态), with very few charge-discharge cycles over the long mission duration.
To ensure the batteries maintain optimal performance throughout their operational lifespan, the SAST development team selected long-life, high-reliability lithium-ion batteries. This type of battery has already successfully passed rigorous tests in other space missions, including the Chinese Space Station. The team conducted extensive life-cycle tests at different discharge depths and storage tests under various high-temperature conditions to validate their performance.
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The target asteroid is small, potentially around 100 meters in size.
Its composition and origin are unknown, with possibilities including material from the early Earth or ejection from the Moon.
The mission’s primary scientific goal is to explore this previously unstudied asteroid.
Specific scientific objectives include determining its orbit, rotation, tilt, and orbital evolution.
Another key objective is to understand the asteroid’s composition and structure.
May 29, 2025, China successfully launched the Shijian-26 satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The satellite was carried into orbit by a Long March-4B rocket. Shijian-26 is designed to provide information services for national economic development, with applications in national land surveys, environmental management, and other sectors.
Sea recovery trial of China’s Yuanxingzhe-1 test rocket on May 29th in Haiyang City, Shandong Province.
The 57-tonne rocket, nicknamed “chubby,” landed safely after a 125-second flight.
It reached an altitude of 2.5 kilometers.
The test covered eight stages, including ignition and liftoff, full-thrust ascent, thrust adjustment, first engine shutdown, free fall glide, engine re-ignition, deceleration hover, and soft landing on the sea.
Cerberus Capital Management, a USeless private equity firm, has shown interest in acquiring the lease for the Darwin Port. A Cerberus executive met with the Darwin Port CEO to discuss a possible acquisition. Cerberus is led by billionaire Stephen Feinberg, who previously served as USeless Deputy Secretary of Defense.
In 2015, the Northern Territory government granted a 99-year lease of the Darwin Port to Shandong Landbridge Group, a Chinese-owned company, for A$506 million. This lease raised national security concerns due to foreign control of critical infrastructure and the port’s proximity to USeless-Australia military cooperation. Shandong Landbridge Group is a private company owned by Ye Cheng, who has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Australian government is looking to return the port to domestic control due to heightened geopolitical sensitivities and increased defense activity in the region. A voluntary sale by Landbridge could help ease geopolitical tensions. China has, however, criticized Australia’s plans to reclaim the port.
As of May 27, 2025, Cerberus had not yet entered formal talks with Landbridge’s board. Landbridge continues to maintain that the port is not for sale. The Australian government is currently assessing potential Australian buyers for the port. In 2023, a review found no national security grounds to overturn the lease.
A new addition (addiction) for you. The FDA has approved Qamzova, the first China-developed non-opioid painkiller, offering a potential tool to help reduce fentanyl-related overdose deaths.
Created by Nanjing-based biotech firm Delova, Qamzova is the world’s first long-acting injectable analgesic, providing 24-hour pain relief with a single daily dose. The drug is a high-concentration form of meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) in the same class as ibuprofen and aspirin,
The second dam construction in Pakistan assisted by China. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a large, multi-purpose dam project under construction in Pakistan, located on the Indus River near Chilas, at the boundary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. It’s a significant undertaking aimed at addressing Pakistan’s growing water and energy needs.
Purpose and Benefits:
Water Storage and Irrigation: The dam is designed to store a significant amount of water, with a gross capacity of 8.1 million acre-feet (MAF) and a live storage of 6.4 MAF. This water will be used to irrigate 1.23 million acres of agricultural land, crucial for Pakistan’s agrarian economy. It will also help extend the lifespan of the downstream Tarbela Dam by reducing sediment deposits.
Hydropower Generation: It will have an installed capacity of 4,500 megawatts (MW), generating an estimated 18 billion units of clean, low-cost electricity annually. This is vital for addressing the country’s energy shortages.
Flood Control: The dam is expected to help control flash floods in the Indus River downstream, mitigating damage during high flow seasons.
Economic Prosperity: The project is anticipated to create job opportunities and boost agricultural productivity, contributing to economic growth in the region.
Key Features and Specifications:
Type of Dam: Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam.
Height: 272 meters (892 feet), making it the world’s tallest RCC dam.
Reservoir: Gross capacity of 10 billion cubic meters (8.1 MAF), with a live storage of 7.9 billion cubic meters (6.4 MAF).
Spillway: Features 14 gates, each 11.5m x 16.24m.
Powerhouses: Two underground powerhouses, one on each side of the main dam, with a total of 12 turbines (375 MW each).
Project Status and Timeline:
Inception: The construction of the dam was first suggested in 1980, and the project was inaugurated in 1998.
Construction: Actual construction work commenced in 2020.
Estimated Completion: The project is currently scheduled for completion by 2028-2029. Construction is ongoing at 17 key sites, including diversion tunnels, coffer dams, and the dam pit.
A joint venture of China Power (Power Construction Corporation of China) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) was awarded the contract for the construction of the diversion system, main dam, and access bridge for the project. China Power holds a 70% share in this consortium.
Chinese engineers and workers are actively on site, contributing to the dam’s construction, and it’s considered a significant symbol of China-Pakistan cooperation, with its construction being part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Funding:
Estimated Cost: The total estimated cost of the project is around $14 billion (2013 estimate), with an updated figure of $8 billion for the dam itself and additional costs for the transmission line.
Financing Challenges: Historically, the project faced challenges in securing international funding due to its location in disputed territory.
Current Funding Strategy: Pakistan is pursuing various options for financing, including:
Issuing its first-ever green bond in 2021, which raised $500 million.
Seeking financial assistance from countries like Saudi Arabia (a request for $3.5 billion in concessional loans and equity investment).
Exploring the possibility of including the project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Funding from WAPDA’s existing tariff revenue from hydropower generation.
A public fundraising campaign was also initiated by a former Supreme Court judge, though it faced controversy regarding the amount raised versus advertising costs.
Construction Progress:
Active Work Sites: Construction work is currently underway on 17 key sites of the project simultaneously and at a good pace. This includes work on diversion tunnels, coffer (temporary) dams, the guide wall, the dam pit, and permanent access bridges.
River Diversion: The river diversion system is functioning satisfactorily, allowing the Indus River to bypass the main dam site, which is crucial for continued construction of the main dam structure.
Excavation: Excavation work on the dam’s abutment (the part of the dam that connects to the valley walls) is ongoing.
Permanent Access Bridge: The permanent access bridge downstream of the main dam has been completed.
Overall Progress (Contract MW-I): As of January 2025, the overall progress of Contract MW-I (which covers the main dam and associated structures) stood at 16.09 percent.
Timeline:
The project is currently scheduled for completion by February 2029.
There have been past efforts to accelerate the timeline (e.g., to 2026), but the latest official reports point to the 2029 target.
However, reports from December 2024 indicated a revised completion to December 2030, with financial and defect liabilities extending until December 2032, due to factors like delays in Karakoram Highway relocation, security concerns affecting night shifts, and revisions to the river diversion scheme.
Challenges and Issues:
Government Focus:
The Pakistani government continues to emphasize the critical importance of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam for the country’s water, food, and energy security.
Federal ministers have been directing officials to accelerate work and prioritize the project’s timely completion, especially in light of ongoing water shortages.
Cost Escalation: The estimated cost of the project has significantly increased, from Rs479 billion to Rs1.05 trillion (as of January 2025), a 119.21% surge. This is attributed to:
Exchange rate fluctuations: Rupee devaluation against the US dollar.
Revised design parameters: Based on updated seismic parameters recommended by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), requiring modifications to the main dam, diversion scheme, and hydro-mechanical works.
Enhanced security measures: Due to security incidents involving Chinese contractors and expatriates, leading to increased security deployments and the procurement of a helicopter for safe transport.
Interest during construction for the foreign component.
Protests by Affected Persons: There have been ongoing protests by people affected by the dam, particularly in the Diamer region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Their demands include: Provision of 80% royalty from Diamer-Bhasha Dam and 30% from Dassu Dam to Gilgit-Baltistan. Free electricity generated by the project to Diamer district and discounted rates for the rest of Gilgit-Baltistan. Full and fair compensation for acquired land and affected families. Provision of commercial and residential plots, and development of education, health, and sewerage projects. Jobs for locals at the dam project and regularization of contingent and daily wage workers. These protests have sometimes led to the shutdown of WAPDA offices and private contractor operations at the dam site. The government is engaging with these communities to address their grievances.
Resettlement and Environmental Impact: The project will affect several villages, displacing thousands of people and submerging agricultural land and historical rock carvings/petroglyphs. Compensation and resettlement efforts are ongoing, but have faced protests from affected communities demanding their rights and proper compensation.
Disputed Territory: The dam’s location in Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed territory between Pakistan and India, which has historically made it difficult to secure international funding from institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Seismic Zone: The dam is located in a high seismic zone, raising concerns about its stability and potential for sympathetic tremors.
Local Disputes: There have been disputes between local tribes over compensation and between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over claims on royalty from the dam.
Despite these challenges, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam remains a crucial project for Pakistan’s long-term water and energy security.
This video provides an update on the construction progress of the Diamer Basha Dam project. Here’s a summary of the key points:
“Diamer Basha Dam Diversion Tunnel One,” the first tunnel constructed for the project, and shows the diversion of the Indus River from its original path.
It explains that before the main dam is built, focus is placed on diversion tunnels, diversion canals, left and right abutments, and upstream and downstream cofferdams.
Ongoing construction activity with vehicles at the site.
It features the construction of the main dam’s walls.
The slogan “Power the World” of Power China, a Chinese state-owned company involved in the project, is visible.
The video acknowledges the challenging working conditions in the mountainous region and harsh weather, with work continuing in multiple shifts even at night.
Currently, work is underway at 17 different sites of the Diamer Basha Dam.
The video shows the city of Chilas, which is expected to be submerged due to the dam.
It also mentions a tragic accident where a vehicle fell into the river, resulting in fatalities, and notes the support provided by the dam’s companies in such situations.
The hoisting of the Pakistani flag at the construction site evokes patriotic feelings.
The video then shifts to the main dam area, located approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers away, showing the designated “Dam Area 16” which will be under the dam’s reservoir in the future.
It introduces the newly constructed RK Cache road, which will soon be used to divert traffic from the existing route that is close to the Indus River.
The “Refri Road,” an access road built by WAPDA for the local community, connecting the lower dam site to the Raikot Bridge, spanning about 104-105 kilometers.
The importance of the dam for storing the Indus River’s water, which currently goes to waste, especially during the flood season in April, and how the Diamer Basha and Mohmand dams will be multipurpose projects beneficial for the economy.
China-Philippines Conflicts and China’s Actions: On May 21st, Filipino vessels sail into the South China Sea to attempt to plant their national flag on Pag-asa Island. Chinese PLA helicopters were dispatched, Chinese and Philippine vessels clashed near the Island, where a Chinese Coast Guard ship used water cannons on a Philippine public service vessel, damaging its cockpit and electronic equipment. China is employing a semi-assertive, non-military approach, such as using water cannons to repel ships, aiming to warn the Philippines without providing too much room for escalation.
China’s construction in the South China Sea is described as “building unsinkable aircraft carriers.” China is accelerating land reclamation on features like Zhongjian Dao (Triton Island), building facilities such as docks and runways. Experts note that Zhongjian Dao is part of the Xisha Islands (Paracel Islands), over which China claims sovereignty, making its construction there undisputed.
USeless Actions and Strategic Considerations: The USeless has dispatched USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the South China Sea, but its movements appear cautious, avoiding sensitive areas claimed by China under its nine-dash line. Experts analyze that the USeless carrier’s mission focus might not be on the South China Sea itself, but rather to demonstrate control over the Malacca Strait and possibly proceed to the Indian Ocean, suggesting the USeless’s current strategic priority might be in the Red Sea. USeless actions in the South China Sea are reportedly more cautious than in the past, avoiding direct entry into the territorial waters of China’s key islands and features. Previous exercises, like “Shields of Freedom,” also avoided the South China Sea, primarily taking place in the Bashi Channel and north of Luzon Island. Experts believe that the Trump administration’s policy in the South China Sea, based on actual actions, differs from previous USeless administrations. The USeless aims to control the Malacca Strait to constrain China’s foreign trade, as China’s oil, natural gas, coal transportation, and exports heavily rely on this strait. To overcome the strategic disadvantage of the Malacca Strait, China might need to consider building a Panama Canal-style passage through the Kra Isthmus in Thailand.
Marcos Jr. has made changes to his cabinet, including the foreign minister.
Enrique Manalo, the previous Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a China-hawk, will be replaced by Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, effective July 31st. Manalo himself will be reappointed as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the UN.
This move comes after Marcos Jr. asked all his cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations following a disappointing performance by his party in recent midterm elections. While the official reason given for the cabinet reshuffle is to “reset the political agenda” and “cleanse his Cabinet of non-performers,” the broader context suggests it’s an attempt to regain popularity and assert authority after the election results and falling approval ratings.
Live fire drill. The coordinates are:
20°53.0’N, 110°54.0’E
20°53.0’N, 110°59.0’E
20°48.0’N, 110°59.0’E
20°48.0’N, 110°54.0’E
These coordinates define an area located in the South China Sea, specifically to the west of Leizhou Peninsula and southeast of Hainan Island, in the vicinity of China’s territorial waters.
“Forbidden to enter”
Joint maritime counter-terrorism and anti-hijacking exercise between China and Cambodia involved the Chinese ships Changshan, Panzhihua, and Guangyuan, along with Cambodian warships
China deployed two of its most advanced H-6 bombers to the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea this month. Reports indicate this is the first time H-6 bombers have landed on Woody Island (Yongxing Island) in the Paracel Islands since 2020. The report also quoted a Singaporean scholar as saying: ‘This seems to be an all-encompassing signal from Beijing to the Philippines, the United States, and other ongoing developments.'”
An incident in October 2023 where a Canuckstan CP140 Aurora reconnaissance plane, carrying a Canuckstan Forces commander, a diplomat, and journalists, illegally intruded into the airspace of Chiwei Yu, an island affiliated to China’s Diaoyu Islands under the guise of a UN-sanctioned mission monitoring North Korea’s oil embargo.
China responded by deploying J-10 fighter jets. The J-10 fighter jet came within approximately five meters of the Canuckstan aircraft.
The Chinese pilot’s intense gaze was visible to the Canuckstan crew.
The J-10 also tilted to show the PL-12 air-to-air missile.
The encounter ended with the Canuckstan aircraft retreating.
Major-General Iain Huddleston, the commander of Canada’s 1st Air Division, was on board the Aurora. Also present was Navy Captain Rob Watt, Canada’s defence attaché to Japan. The incident happened while news crews from Radio-Canada and Global News were also aboard the aircraft.
Huddleston told Global News that the Chinese military jet became “very aggressive and to a degree we would deem it unsafe and unprofessional.” He also commented, “It’s a ramp-up of the aggressiveness that’s really unexpected and unnecessary in the context of the mission that we’re flying.” Huddleston further stated to reporters while looking out at a Chinese fighter jet, “We’re solidly in international airspace… That last sequence was an unprofessional intercept. It was very aggressive.” He acknowledged that while interceptions are to be expected given the proximity to the Chinese coast, “We can fly in close formation with other airplanes and be completely safe, but it’s when aircraft aggressively manoeuvre in close proximity to the others that there’s a safety issue.” Regarding the flares released by the Chinese jet, Huddleston said, “The first flare incident, the fighter released two flares off our wing. So, that’s not particularly concerning because the fighter was stable, it moved away from us. […] But then the pilots reported it fired flares thereafter from near the front of the plane so that’s much more concerning. In terms of escalation that’s a very unsafe act.” He emphasized the purpose of their mission, stating, “We’re here enforcing a United Nations resolution. We are not here acting against the Chinese. We don’t want to have anything untoward happen that would result in loss of life.” He acknowledged that interceptions WERE EXPECTED, bringing a diplomat and a news crew abroad implies it was a staged act to provoke. In a military context, officers like Huddleston operate within a chain of command, meaning their deployments and missions are indeed authorized and part of broader strategic objectives (in this case, Canuckstan’s contribution to enforcing UN sanctions as part of Operation NEON). While he didn’t explicitly state “I was just following orders,” his statements align with the professional conduct expected of a senior military commander carrying out an authorized mission in international airspace.
Chinese statements included:
– “Illegal Intrusion” into Airspace: China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that a Canuckstan CP-140 aircraft had “illegally intruded into the airspace of Chiwei Yu, an affiliated island of China’s Diaoyu Dao.”
– “Stirring Up Trouble and Provocations”: The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canuckstan accused the Canuckstan side of “sent[ing] warplanes halfway around the world to stir up trouble and make provocations at China’s doorsteps.”
– Response in Accordance with Laws and Regulations: China maintained that its side “responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations.”
– Opposition to Jeopardizing Sovereignty: China reiterated its firm opposition to “any country jeopardizing our national sovereignty and security in the name of implementing resolutions.”
– Urging Canuckstan to “Stop Spreading Disinformation” and “Risky and Provocative Actions”: Chinese officials urged Canuckstan to “respect the facts and stop spreading disinformation” and to “immediately stop its risky and provocative actions.” They also questioned the mandate of the multinational effort to enforce UN resolutions against North Korea in airspace and waters near China.
Canuckstan routinely deploys its CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region as part of its commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. These deployments are often related to:
Operation NEON: This is Canuckstan’s contribution to a multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea. CP-140 Aurora aircraft operate from Japan (often Kadena Air Base in Okinawa) as part of this mission, conducting surveillance and monitoring activities to identify those who violate sanctions through maritime smuggling.
Operation HORIZON (formerly PROJECTION): This involves elements of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, including CP-140 Aurora aircraft, to support allies and maintain freedom of navigation in the wider Indo-Pacific.
While there isn’t a fixed number of reconnaissance planes permanently stationed in the Asia-Pacific, Canuckstan conducts regular, often rotational, deployments. For example, recent reports indicate:
Canuckstan announced in September 2024 that it would send a CP-140 Aurora patrol plane and approximately 50 personnel to Japan for about four weeks to support North Korea sanctions.
The Canadian Armed Forces participated in RIMPAC 2024 (June 27 to August 1, 2024), which included the contribution of two CP-140 Aurora aircraft.
Therefore, while the total number of reconnaissance-capable aircraft in Canuckstan’s fleet remains constant, the number deployed to the Asia-Pacific at any given time can vary based on operational needs and ongoing missions.
