China Launches Largest Spectroscopic Telescope at Lenghu Observatory

The United States has announced aggressive new visa restrictions targeting Chinese students, particularly those connected to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields, sparking strong condemnation from China's Foreign Ministry, which labeled the move as politically motivated and damaging to US credibility. This visa policy shift occurs amid fragile US-China relations, with recent trade talks stalling and accusations of agreement violations. Meanwhile, China continues to advance its scientific and military capabilities, including launching the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample-return mission and constructing the Jiao-tong University Spectroscopic Telescope (JUST), its first large, general-purpose spectroscopic telescope to enhance independent astronomical research. Additionally, China condemned the US Golden Dome space defense project, accusing it of militarizing space, while simultaneously expanding its own space military operations. Cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait remain a focus for China, despite political tensions, with the mainland welcoming Taiwanese entertainers amid investigations by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party. These developments reflect an ongoing complex dynamic of technological competition, diplomatic friction, and cultural interaction between the US, China, and Taiwan.