Piglets are held in pens at a pig farm. [Photo/IC] China has lifted pig quarantines in most of the areas where outbreaks of African swine fever have been found, signaling a steady slowdown in the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Tuesday. Since the first outbreak of the deadly pig disease was discovered in August in Northeast China's Liaoning province, 113 cases in 28 provincial-level regions have been confirmed by the ministry. Restrictions on the transport of pigs in 105 of those cases have been lifted. The ministry has imposed strict quarantine measures in affected areas and ramped up supervision of pig farms, transport businesses and the pork processing industry after the onset of the highly contagious viral disease. Humans are not affected. Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said the spread of the virus has slowed because of measures imposed by the authorities, but added that it's difficult to wipe out the disease in the short term. In the latest case, which was discovered on March 12 in Linshui county of Guang'an, Sichuan province, a transport truck carrying 150 pigs, nine of them dead, was seized at a toll station. It was the second case in March after an outbreak that killed 20 pigs on a breeding farm in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was confirmed on March 7. The next step, Yu said, is to maintain the momentum of the ongoing disease prevention and control measures and strengthen oversight over the slaughtering sector. On Friday, the ministry launched checks on slaughterhouses nationwide and ordered them to carry out self-inspections. Yu stressed the need to secure supplies of live pigs and pork products. The domestic output of live pigs in China has been declining since the second half of last year because of the disease, according to Yang Hanchun, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine of China Agricultural University. Yang predicted that the supply of pork products is likely to tighten in the third or fourth quarter of this year and lead to a price surge. customize your own charm braceletmontre bracelet silicone decathlonfigured wristbandpersonalized sports braceletsdesign your own rubber bracelet online
A ship-borne J-15 fighter jet prepares to land at the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning (Hull 16). A Chinese Navy flotilla including aircraft carrier Liaoning has conducted a series of exercises in the South China Sea since the grand naval parade last Thursday. [Photo/Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China] The Ministry of National Defense has dismissed an Australian media report claiming that the Chinese Navy challenged Australia in the South China Sea as not in accordance with facts. The Australian Broadcasting Corp cited anonymous defense officials in a report on Friday as saying that China challenged three Australian warships in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reported. In response, the Chinese ministry confirmed in a Friday afternoon statement that naval vessels of China and Australia had an encounter on April 15 in the waters of the South China Sea. The Chinese vessels used professional language in their contact with Australian naval forces, and their operations were legitimate, regulated, professional and safe, the ministry said without elaborating on the exact numbers of the naval vessels from either side. The relevant report made by Australian media is not in accordance with facts, the ministry said. Also on Friday, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian navy has a perfect right to traverse the South China Sea, the AP reported. When asked about Turnbull's comment, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China always respects and safeguards the freedom of navigation and overflights enjoyed by all countries in the South China Sea in line with international laws. If Australia has hidden intentions or indications in this regard, it is hoped the country would face up to the stable and good momentum in the South China Sea region's situation, work with China and other countries in the sea to maintain its peace and stability and inject positive energy into the region, Hua said. A Beijing-based military expert with ties to the People's Liberation Army said Australia is only an outsider in the South China Sea region, and it should remain highly prudent and refrain from meddling. It is natural to see Australia's hope to play a bigger role in the region, but the issue is whether it can play a positive, constructive role, said the expert, who asked not to be identified.
