The People’s Liberation Army does not want a war in the South China Sea, but will not be afraid of one if it knocks on China’s door, the military has said.

An editorial published on Tuesday on the PLA Daily’s website said the Chinese military is not afraid of “demons” and “intimidation”, adding that the PLA dares to “show its sword” and has a proven record of safeguarding national interests.

It invoked China’s determination and victory in the Korean War as well as the Chinese government’s warning toward the United States’ escalation in the 1960s during the Vietnam War.

“In the past, the PLA produced numerous miracles in wars, despite being outnumbered by enemies or having inferior weapons compared with those of its adversaries. Today, our troops are well equipped and high-spirited … Facing risk-takers, the PLA, which owns DF series ballistic missiles, will show them that we are ready for a war and we do not fear wars,” the article said.

In another article published on the same website on Wednesday, the writer blasted “some US politicians” for believing that lasting superiority over China and the Asia-Pacific will ensure the US’ “global leadership”, saying that playing tricks with China in the South China Sea is unreasonable and dangerous.

The article also suggests that the US should focus on its domestic issues instead of “interfering elsewhere” if it wishes to become “great again”.

The articles came after recent claims from senior US officials threatening to take hard-line measures against China over issues relating to the South China Sea.

Shao Yongling, a professor of military strategy at the PLA Rocket Force Command College, told China Daily that the remarks show the Chinese military’s determination and capability of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and interests anywhere.

“They also show that we are well prepared for contingencies. I believe these remarks are more like warnings than threats. They aim at telling the US that we will not tolerate negative actions that compromise our interests,” she said.

Shao added that the PLA Rocket Force will definitely be mobilized if there is a large joint operation in the South China Sea and that Chinese ballistic missiles are capable of covering all of the sea.

Li Li, a military equipment expert at PLA National Defense University, said recent moves by the US, such as sending the littoral combat ship USS Coronado to the South China Sea, indicate that the new US government will not relax its interference in the region and it does not want to see the recent improvement in relations between China and other nations in the region.

“However, no matter what measures the US plans to take, we will never abandon our sovereignty, interests and rights in the South China Sea,” she said.

Yang Xiyu, a researcher of Asia-Pacific security affairs at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told China Central Television that some US politicians are hoping that military pressure will intimidate China in the South China Sea, but this has repeatedly turned out to be useless.

He said that the stronger the PLA is, the less willing the US will be to launch a war against China.

Beijing’s largest curling club, I Sweep Curling Club, will give free lessons and programs to students in the city, joining efforts to promote the Olympic winter sports and offering kids the opportunity to experience the ice sport which is long considered expensive and unpopular.

The curling club, located in Beijing’s Huairou District, is the most professional in China and holds the largest space in Asia. Completed at the end of 2005, the club has served as the training venue for the national team.

Huairou District has added curling as an extracurricular activity in primary schools, middle schools and high schools since 2012. Schools offer programs to coach students on curling basics and combating skills with an aim to cultivate future professional athletes.

“Curling, long considered a noble sport, is actually very friendly for entry-level players,” said the man in charge of the club. “It is the only ice event that requires no skating skills and is accessible for all ages.”

The club has planned to expand its promotional programs to get more children involved.

Beijing plans to take new measures to better manage household garbage.

The city management committee, which was set up in 2016, will combine the previously separate systems of recycling household garbage and recyclable resources this year, in order to better sort and recycle garbage.

Citizens used to sell their reusable garbage and throw away other household garbage directly in their neighborhoods, often resulting in a mixture of all garbage in the community. With the new measures set to be introduced this year, residential garbage will be sorted at the beginning and the recycling work will be improved.

At a trial site of the city’s Chaoyang District, residents are encouraged to sort and sell their kitchen waste and recyclable garbage to a recycling company which will give them daily necessities or services in return. The garbage is then either sent to the city’s sanitation unit for further disposal or to companies that can reuse garbage as resources.

Beijing made much headway in infrastructure construction last year highlighted by the building of its new sub center, a new airport and a one-hour commuting circle, according to a press conference held by Beijing Municipal of Commission of Development and Reform.

The construction of the new airport, including a terminal and a takeoff area, scheduled to be finished in 2019, is proceeding smoothly. Highways, railways and transit lines that serve the area surrounding the new airport are under construction.

An intercity railway network that will connect Beijing, Tianjin and surrounding cities is expected to create the one-hour commuting circle in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

With the opening of Beijing-Taipei Expressway, highways in Beijing have an operational length of more than 1,000 kilometers.

Xingyan Expressway, Beijing-Qinhuangdao Expressway, the Capital Ring Highway (Tongzhou-Daxing Section), Yanqing-Chongli Expressway, New Airport Highway and the widening project of Beijing-Kaifeng Expressway are under construction, with a combined length of 184 kilometers.

Two people were slightly injured in a boiler explosion at a chemical plant in Tongling City of east China’s Anhui Province on Wednesday night, local authorities said.

The two suffered minor cut from glass fragments and were sent to hospital for treatment.

The accident happened at around 10:50 p.m. in a suburb area, according to Tongling’s fire department. The fire had been bought under control.

Video footage on microblog Sina Weibo showed huge fire, and heavy smoke billowed into the sky.

Preliminary investigation showed the explosion was caused by fuel oil burning, and no dangerous chemical products were involved, said Zou He, director of the public security bureau of Tongling.