Harbin Asian Winter Games draw record-breaking 1,222 athletes: officials

The 9th Asian Winter Games, which concluded on Friday in the renowned "ice city" of Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, drew a record-breaking 1,222 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the event in history, according to a press conference on Friday.

Members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee held the press conference to recap the overall success of the Games, highlighting key accomplishments and milestones.

With over 180 competitions in 64 ice and snow events, this edition of the Games was the most comprehensive to date. The addition of Saudi Arabia and Cambodia to the roster of participating countries marked a major breakthrough, broadening the Asian Winter Games' scope and reinforcing its position as a premier international sporting event, according to officials.

Meanwhile, a total of 110,000 spectators attended the events during the Games, immersing themselves in the excitement and energy of winter sports.

"We focused on creating a professional and fair competition environment. The venues were fully prepared, material and equipment support was sufficient, and the competition organization was orderly and efficient. This has been widely praised by athletes, technical officials, team officials, and media reporters from various countries and regions. During the Games, athletes from various countries and regions worked hard and aimed for excellence. They not only achieved excellent results, but also embodied the spirit of fair competition and aimed for new heights. They gained friendship and cultural resonance, demonstrating the Olympic motto of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together,'" said Zhang Haihua, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee and vice mayor of Harbin.

Officials from the OCA reiterated that the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games have set a high standard in terms of preparation, medical services, and volunteer engagement. "Everybody, not only Asia, everywhere, will see the athletes in participation, but also see a beautiful city of Harbin. I'm sure that Harbin has already set the standard, a template, what successful Games [are] about," said Timothy Tsun Ting Fok, first vice president of the OCA.

Harbin Asian Winter Games draw record-breaking 1,222 athletes: officials

A Chinese defense ministry spokesman on Friday criticized Japan's development of offensive weapons, calling it a dangerous departure from its pacifist constitution.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a report that Japan's Defense Ministry has, for the first time, publicly disclosed details of its development of a new ballistic missile with a range of 3,000 kilometers, far exceeding the scope of its "exclusively defense-oriented policy," which is seen as an effort to develop offensive weapons following U.S. calls for allies to enhance their strike capabilities.

"In recent years, Japan has continuously breached constraints of its pacifist constitution, moving further down the path of military expansion, which is dangerous and unpopular. The lessons of history are not the distant past, as Japanese militarism once brought innumerable disasters to Japan, Asia, and the rest of the world. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We demand that Japan draw profound lessons from history, exercise caution regarding military security, and take concrete actions to promote regional peace and stability, thereby earning the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community," said Zhang.

Japan's current Constitution, drawn up under the Allied occupation following World War II, is best known for its Article 9, by which Japan renounces its right to wage war and promises that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained."

China's defense ministry criticizes Japan's development of offensive weapons