As China urges couples to have children, reality TV shows tell a different story
By Phoebe Zhang
For weeks, a married friend has been watching a divorce reality show and telling me how much he wanted these couples to break up. One man was too manipulative, another didn’t appreciate his wife’s contributions and one woman was just needy.
I still wondered how a married man could wish for others to get divorced. So I watched the show myself. In the first 10 minutes of the first episode of the fourth season, when an interviewer asked Yang Zi, an entrepreneur and husband to actress Huang Shengyi, what his wife’s hobby was, he stuttered and asked her, “Do you really have any hobbies?”
Another couple wasn’t any better. The wife, a pet vlogger named Ge Xi, suggested that one of the most extraordinary things she had done in almost 10 years of marriage was to stay with her husband, internet celebrity Liu Shuang. This couple started bickering as soon as they got out of the car.
The reality show, See You Again, is produced by Mango TV and invites three celebrity couples on the brink of divorce on a trip for a few weeks, where they live together, discuss marital issues and at the end of this period, decide whether they want to get divorced or give marriage another try. During the show, a panel observes and comments on the couple’s interactions.
From this season’s very first episode, the show has dominated the charts. According to a media tally published last month, it has been viewed more than 800 million times on Mango TV, with a view rate of 40 to 50 million on the day new episodes are released.
On social media, it’s also one of the most discussed topics. People take the show quite seriously, debate it passionately and use powerful, emotional words to criticise these flawed relationships.
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By Phoebe Zhang
For weeks, a married friend has been watching a divorce reality show and telling me how much he wanted these couples to break up. One man was too manipulative, another didn’t appreciate his wife’s contributions and one woman was just needy.
I still wondered how a married man could wish for others to get divorced. So I watched the show myself. In the first 10 minutes of the first episode of the fourth season, when an interviewer asked Yang Zi, an entrepreneur and husband to actress Huang Shengyi, what his wife’s hobby was, he stuttered and asked her, “Do you really have any hobbies?”
Another couple wasn’t any better. The wife, a pet vlogger named Ge Xi, suggested that one of the most extraordinary things she had done in almost 10 years of marriage was to stay with her husband, internet celebrity Liu Shuang. This couple started bickering as soon as they got out of the car.
The reality show, See You Again, is produced by Mango TV and invites three celebrity couples on the brink of divorce on a trip for a few weeks, where they live together, discuss marital issues and at the end of this period, decide whether they want to get divorced or give marriage another try. During the show, a panel observes and comments on the couple’s interactions.
From this season’s very first episode, the show has dominated the charts. According to a media tally published last month, it has been viewed more than 800 million times on Mango TV, with a view rate of 40 to 50 million on the day new episodes are released.
On social media, it’s also one of the most discussed topics. People take the show quite seriously, debate it passionately and use powerful, emotional words to criticise these flawed relationships.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Paralysed Hong Kong Mirror dancer makes first Instagram post since accident
By Ambrose Li
Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin has expressed gratitude to his father in his first social media post since he was left paralysed after being hit by a giant screen at a concert by popular Cantopop boy band Mirror in 2022.
On his Instagram account, the 30-year-old posted a photo of his father, Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, in a face mask with what appeared to be his arm.
“Probably the only human being who loves me so much and actually cares about my every nano meter bit of improvement every single day,” the dancer said, ending his caption with a wounded heart emoji and a smiley face.
The social media post has attracted 25,902 likes and 852 shares so far.
His last post, which comprised three photos of him on stage, was made on July 27, 2022, just a day before the accident.
Last month, the father revealed that Mo Li was going through therapy “like a professional athlete”, saying he had lost all mobility and was currently paralysed in all four limbs.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Ambrose Li
Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin has expressed gratitude to his father in his first social media post since he was left paralysed after being hit by a giant screen at a concert by popular Cantopop boy band Mirror in 2022.
On his Instagram account, the 30-year-old posted a photo of his father, Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, in a face mask with what appeared to be his arm.
“Probably the only human being who loves me so much and actually cares about my every nano meter bit of improvement every single day,” the dancer said, ending his caption with a wounded heart emoji and a smiley face.
The social media post has attracted 25,902 likes and 852 shares so far.
His last post, which comprised three photos of him on stage, was made on July 27, 2022, just a day before the accident.
Last month, the father revealed that Mo Li was going through therapy “like a professional athlete”, saying he had lost all mobility and was currently paralysed in all four limbs.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong’s return to China endorsed as Sino-British Joint Declaration is signed – from the SCMP archive
By SCMP
This article was first published on December 20, 1984.
By Timothy Jim
Hongkong entered a new era at 5.30 pm today.
With a stroke of the pen, the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, officially endorsed the return of Hongkong to China — to take effect after 155 years of British rule over the territory.
Within six months, the agreement will take official effect and a joint liaison group will be formed to oversee the transfer of sovereignty on July 1, 1997.
Both Chinese and British leaders hailed today’s signing as a fresh example for the solution through peaceful negotiation of problems between nations that are left over from history.
Nearly all influential members of the Chinese Politburo attended the signing ceremony in the western main hall of the Great Hall of the People.
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By SCMP
This article was first published on December 20, 1984.
By Timothy Jim
Hongkong entered a new era at 5.30 pm today.
With a stroke of the pen, the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, officially endorsed the return of Hongkong to China — to take effect after 155 years of British rule over the territory.
Within six months, the agreement will take official effect and a joint liaison group will be formed to oversee the transfer of sovereignty on July 1, 1997.
Both Chinese and British leaders hailed today’s signing as a fresh example for the solution through peaceful negotiation of problems between nations that are left over from history.
Nearly all influential members of the Chinese Politburo attended the signing ceremony in the western main hall of the Great Hall of the People.
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Bangladesh said to be eyeing China’s J-10C fighters to upgrade ageing air force fleet
By Hayley Wong
Bangladesh appears to be considering an upgrade of its ageing fighter jets, and China’s J-10C is reportedly an option. But observers note the 4.5-generation multirole fighter would be a costly addition to the country’s fleet and risk inflaming tensions between China and India.
The assessment came after Bangladesh Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visited China last month and told reporters that his country was “devotedly trying to acquire multirole combat aircrafts and attack helicopters”, according to defence news website Indian Defence Research Wing.
The report also cited sources saying that the Bangladesh Air Force was considering purchasing 16 J-10CE fighters, the export variant of the J-10C, in the first phase of the upgrade.
During the visit, Khan attended the Zhuhai air show, China’s biggest showcase for defence and commercial aerial platforms.
The Bangladeshi air chief’s visit aimed to “further strengthen the existing cordial relations” and expand the scope of cooperation, according to Bangladesh’s military.
He also visited the headquarters of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), a state-owned defence company focused on aviation.
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By Hayley Wong
Bangladesh appears to be considering an upgrade of its ageing fighter jets, and China’s J-10C is reportedly an option. But observers note the 4.5-generation multirole fighter would be a costly addition to the country’s fleet and risk inflaming tensions between China and India.
The assessment came after Bangladesh Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visited China last month and told reporters that his country was “devotedly trying to acquire multirole combat aircrafts and attack helicopters”, according to defence news website Indian Defence Research Wing.
The report also cited sources saying that the Bangladesh Air Force was considering purchasing 16 J-10CE fighters, the export variant of the J-10C, in the first phase of the upgrade.
During the visit, Khan attended the Zhuhai air show, China’s biggest showcase for defence and commercial aerial platforms.
The Bangladeshi air chief’s visit aimed to “further strengthen the existing cordial relations” and expand the scope of cooperation, according to Bangladesh’s military.
He also visited the headquarters of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), a state-owned defence company focused on aviation.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Macau youth ‘happy to stay’, but will economic revamp create the right jobs?
By Emily Hung
Leo Zhou, a first-year student at the University of Macau, is clear about where he sees himself working in the future: mainland China.
“Macau has a strong focus on tourism and casinos, the demand and job offerings for engineers are very limited,” said the 19-year-old student from Macau, who is pursuing a degree in electrical and computer engineering.
He added he believed only one large telecommunication company could offer promising prospects for engineers.
“If the government takes concrete steps to nurture other industries such as finance, just like Hong Kong, I would be happy to stay here for my career,” the student said.
Zhou was among the young Macau residents who spoke to the Post and expressed dissatisfaction with their limited career choices despite the city’s drive to diversify its economy and reduce its long-standing dependence on the gaming sector.
Observers also warned an aggressive push to attract concerts and conferences, as part of the diversification efforts, would encourage young people to take up high-earning freelance jobs instead of investing in upgrading their skill sets.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Emily Hung
Leo Zhou, a first-year student at the University of Macau, is clear about where he sees himself working in the future: mainland China.
“Macau has a strong focus on tourism and casinos, the demand and job offerings for engineers are very limited,” said the 19-year-old student from Macau, who is pursuing a degree in electrical and computer engineering.
He added he believed only one large telecommunication company could offer promising prospects for engineers.
“If the government takes concrete steps to nurture other industries such as finance, just like Hong Kong, I would be happy to stay here for my career,” the student said.
Zhou was among the young Macau residents who spoke to the Post and expressed dissatisfaction with their limited career choices despite the city’s drive to diversify its economy and reduce its long-standing dependence on the gaming sector.
Observers also warned an aggressive push to attract concerts and conferences, as part of the diversification efforts, would encourage young people to take up high-earning freelance jobs instead of investing in upgrading their skill sets.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Athlete’s family says they paid HK$100k to group that said it could get her into Olympics
By Lars Hamer
The parents of a young skateboarding athlete have claimed they paid more than HK$100,000 to a group that said it could get her to the Olympics, only to discover it had no official standing in Hong Kong.
Speaking at a press conference alongside sports sector lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong on Wednesday, the teenager’s father, surnamed Su, said he had signed a five-year contract in 2021 with the China Hong Kong Skateboarding Federation because of this belief.
Su also claimed that when he tried to break the contract, the federation demanded HK$300,000 in compensation and threatened to stop the girl from skating for a year if they did not get the money.
While the father said he did not report the matter to police to spare his daughter any further anguish, lawyers acting for both sides resolved the dispute in July.
“In the conversation between myself and the so-called chairman of the association, he told me that he does have the authorisation to nominate my daughter to participate in the Asian Games and even the Olympic Games,” Su said. “This is one of the main reasons why I signed that five-year contract.”
But Reeve Tsui Yin-lung, the federation’s president and head coach, denied taking money from the family, or promising to ensure the teenager would reach the Games.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Lars Hamer
The parents of a young skateboarding athlete have claimed they paid more than HK$100,000 to a group that said it could get her to the Olympics, only to discover it had no official standing in Hong Kong.
Speaking at a press conference alongside sports sector lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong on Wednesday, the teenager’s father, surnamed Su, said he had signed a five-year contract in 2021 with the China Hong Kong Skateboarding Federation because of this belief.
Su also claimed that when he tried to break the contract, the federation demanded HK$300,000 in compensation and threatened to stop the girl from skating for a year if they did not get the money.
While the father said he did not report the matter to police to spare his daughter any further anguish, lawyers acting for both sides resolved the dispute in July.
“In the conversation between myself and the so-called chairman of the association, he told me that he does have the authorisation to nominate my daughter to participate in the Asian Games and even the Olympic Games,” Su said. “This is one of the main reasons why I signed that five-year contract.”
But Reeve Tsui Yin-lung, the federation’s president and head coach, denied taking money from the family, or promising to ensure the teenager would reach the Games.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Superpower showdown: how US-China economic warfare could play out under Trump
By Mandy Zuo
After retaking the White House last month, US president-elect Donald Trump celebrated his victory by attending an Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout with his friend and UFC president, Dana White, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk.
Days later, Trump, the well-known fan of mixed martial arts, started to announce his pick of a group of diehard supporters for his “America first” agenda who are expected to come out swinging at China – America’s most consequential geopolitical rival – in his second term.
From Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street executive who has been vocal about tariffs, to Peter Navarro, a hawkish economist sanctioned by Beijing, choices made by Trump for his economic team signal that competition and conflicts between the world’s two largest economies are set to intensify, according to analysts.
And some say that China, which has maintained a stable team of loyalists to President Xi Jinping and gained experience with Trump in his first term, may respond with more composure – as demonstrated in the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi – while trying to dissolve attacks from the United States.
Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who has been the “Chinese lead in US economic and trade talks” since last year, is expected to play a pivotal role in dealing with what looks to be shaping up as a fresh round of trade contentions.
Unlike when Trump first entered politics and had to rely on the opinions of establishment Republicans, his strong return has elevated loyalty to his primary criterion for selecting candidates, aiming to minimise any constraints on presidential power.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Mandy Zuo
After retaking the White House last month, US president-elect Donald Trump celebrated his victory by attending an Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout with his friend and UFC president, Dana White, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk.
Days later, Trump, the well-known fan of mixed martial arts, started to announce his pick of a group of diehard supporters for his “America first” agenda who are expected to come out swinging at China – America’s most consequential geopolitical rival – in his second term.
From Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street executive who has been vocal about tariffs, to Peter Navarro, a hawkish economist sanctioned by Beijing, choices made by Trump for his economic team signal that competition and conflicts between the world’s two largest economies are set to intensify, according to analysts.
And some say that China, which has maintained a stable team of loyalists to President Xi Jinping and gained experience with Trump in his first term, may respond with more composure – as demonstrated in the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi – while trying to dissolve attacks from the United States.
Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who has been the “Chinese lead in US economic and trade talks” since last year, is expected to play a pivotal role in dealing with what looks to be shaping up as a fresh round of trade contentions.
Unlike when Trump first entered politics and had to rely on the opinions of establishment Republicans, his strong return has elevated loyalty to his primary criterion for selecting candidates, aiming to minimise any constraints on presidential power.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Musk pressures US lawmakers to reject funding bill, raising risk of government shutdown
By Reuters
Elon Musk, tapped by US president-elect Donald Trump to prune the federal government, on Wednesday pressured Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap spending bill, which would trigger a partial government shutdown.
Musk said Congress should pass no laws until Trump returns to the White House next month, but some House of Representatives members immediately said they would vote for the stopgap bill.
The Tesla chief executive and world’s richest person, who spent more than US$250 million to help Trump get elected, said lawmakers who vote to extend government funding past Friday should be voted out of office.
That could complicate efforts to avert a shutdown that would disrupt everything from air travel to law enforcement days before the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday.
“This criminal bill should NOT pass,” Musk wrote on social media.
Unless Congress acts, the federal government will run out of money to fund operations on Saturday. Negotiators on Tuesday agreed on a deal to extend funding through March 14.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
Elon Musk, tapped by US president-elect Donald Trump to prune the federal government, on Wednesday pressured Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap spending bill, which would trigger a partial government shutdown.
Musk said Congress should pass no laws until Trump returns to the White House next month, but some House of Representatives members immediately said they would vote for the stopgap bill.
The Tesla chief executive and world’s richest person, who spent more than US$250 million to help Trump get elected, said lawmakers who vote to extend government funding past Friday should be voted out of office.
That could complicate efforts to avert a shutdown that would disrupt everything from air travel to law enforcement days before the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday.
“This criminal bill should NOT pass,” Musk wrote on social media.
Unless Congress acts, the federal government will run out of money to fund operations on Saturday. Negotiators on Tuesday agreed on a deal to extend funding through March 14.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China should seize the moment to promote peace on Korean peninsula
By Chan Young BangAnar Shaikenova
China is at a crossroads as the most important player on the Korean peninsula. It must either tolerate continuous belligerent escalations from North Korea backed with nuclear weapons or promote peace and stability through denuclearisation of the peninsula and diminish US influence in the region.
During the past two months, a whirlwind of profoundly important political events has occurred with far-reaching implications for the global order.
US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to power has ignited intense speculation and pre-emptive action regarding his promise to broker peace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment has thrown the nation into political chaos. In Syria, rebel forces toppled president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, sending shock waves through the Middle East and Moscow. As a consequence of these events, five strategic variables mark a turning point for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and how China can act on it.
First, Trump’s second term will result in a political shift for the US. President Joe Biden’s objective in northeast Asia has been primarily to check China’s rise by forging alliances, such as the trilateral partnership with South Korea and Japan, and the Aukus defence pact with Australia and the UK. Trump’s regional policy will not be burdened with the rules-based order advocated by his predecessor.
In addition, Trump’s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might lead to renewed talks. Most importantly, this shift could push South Korea and Japan to take more responsibility for their defence. Leaders of both countries have expressed an interest in joining the nuclear club to deter North Korea, and increased militarisation and nuclear expansion are not in China’s best interests.
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By Chan Young BangAnar Shaikenova
China is at a crossroads as the most important player on the Korean peninsula. It must either tolerate continuous belligerent escalations from North Korea backed with nuclear weapons or promote peace and stability through denuclearisation of the peninsula and diminish US influence in the region.
During the past two months, a whirlwind of profoundly important political events has occurred with far-reaching implications for the global order.
US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to power has ignited intense speculation and pre-emptive action regarding his promise to broker peace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment has thrown the nation into political chaos. In Syria, rebel forces toppled president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, sending shock waves through the Middle East and Moscow. As a consequence of these events, five strategic variables mark a turning point for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and how China can act on it.
First, Trump’s second term will result in a political shift for the US. President Joe Biden’s objective in northeast Asia has been primarily to check China’s rise by forging alliances, such as the trilateral partnership with South Korea and Japan, and the Aukus defence pact with Australia and the UK. Trump’s regional policy will not be burdened with the rules-based order advocated by his predecessor.
In addition, Trump’s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might lead to renewed talks. Most importantly, this shift could push South Korea and Japan to take more responsibility for their defence. Leaders of both countries have expressed an interest in joining the nuclear club to deter North Korea, and increased militarisation and nuclear expansion are not in China’s best interests.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Nato chief wants to put Ukraine in position of strength for any peace talks with Russia
By Associated Press
Nato’s secretary general said he wants to discuss ways to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any future peace talks with Russia during a meeting on Wednesday with Ukraine’s president and a small number of European leaders.
But Mark Rutte appeared frustrated at growing speculation in Nato capitals about when those peace talks might start and whether European peacekeepers would be involved, saying that speaking publicly about it plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“High on the agenda is to make sure that the president, his team in Ukraine, are in the best possible position one day when they decide so to start the peace talks,” Rutte told reporters as he welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his residence in Brussels.
The focus, Rutte said, must be “to do everything now to make sure that when it comes to air defence, when it comes to other weapons systems, that we make sure that we provide whatever we can”.
He said that another issue up for discussion would be “how to make sure that when peace comes one day that we also think about the economy of Ukraine now, but also after a future peace deal”.
Zelensky posted on Telegram that he would hold talks with the leaders of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland and UK representatives, who were in Brussels. He is also due to take part in an EU summit in the Belgian capital on Thursday.
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By Associated Press
Nato’s secretary general said he wants to discuss ways to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any future peace talks with Russia during a meeting on Wednesday with Ukraine’s president and a small number of European leaders.
But Mark Rutte appeared frustrated at growing speculation in Nato capitals about when those peace talks might start and whether European peacekeepers would be involved, saying that speaking publicly about it plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“High on the agenda is to make sure that the president, his team in Ukraine, are in the best possible position one day when they decide so to start the peace talks,” Rutte told reporters as he welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his residence in Brussels.
The focus, Rutte said, must be “to do everything now to make sure that when it comes to air defence, when it comes to other weapons systems, that we make sure that we provide whatever we can”.
He said that another issue up for discussion would be “how to make sure that when peace comes one day that we also think about the economy of Ukraine now, but also after a future peace deal”.
Zelensky posted on Telegram that he would hold talks with the leaders of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland and UK representatives, who were in Brussels. He is also due to take part in an EU summit in the Belgian capital on Thursday.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
New York man Chen Jinping pleads guilty in Chinese ‘secret police station’ case
By Reuters
A New York resident who prosecutors say operated a “secret police station” in the Chinatown district of Manhattan to aid Beijing’s targeting of dissidents, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent.
Chen Jinping, 61, entered the plea at a hearing in Brooklyn Federal Court before US District Judge Nina Morrison. He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on May 30.
In court, Chen admitted to removing an online article about the alleged police station on behalf of China’s government in September 2022. He said he was not registered with the US Justice Department as a foreign agent at the time, as US law requires of people acting for other countries.
Chen and a New York-based co-defendant, Lu Jianwang, were initially arrested on April 17, 2023. Lu has pleaded not guilty to the same charge, as well as to obstruction of justice.
The arrests followed a 2022 investigation published by Spain-based advocacy group Safeguard Defenders that reported China had set up overseas “service stations”, including in New York, that illegally worked with Chinese police to pressure fugitives to return to China.
The Department of Justice has been ramping up probes into what it calls “transnational repression” by US adversaries such as China and Iran to intimidate political opponents living in the United States.
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By Reuters
A New York resident who prosecutors say operated a “secret police station” in the Chinatown district of Manhattan to aid Beijing’s targeting of dissidents, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent.
Chen Jinping, 61, entered the plea at a hearing in Brooklyn Federal Court before US District Judge Nina Morrison. He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on May 30.
In court, Chen admitted to removing an online article about the alleged police station on behalf of China’s government in September 2022. He said he was not registered with the US Justice Department as a foreign agent at the time, as US law requires of people acting for other countries.
Chen and a New York-based co-defendant, Lu Jianwang, were initially arrested on April 17, 2023. Lu has pleaded not guilty to the same charge, as well as to obstruction of justice.
The arrests followed a 2022 investigation published by Spain-based advocacy group Safeguard Defenders that reported China had set up overseas “service stations”, including in New York, that illegally worked with Chinese police to pressure fugitives to return to China.
The Department of Justice has been ramping up probes into what it calls “transnational repression” by US adversaries such as China and Iran to intimidate political opponents living in the United States.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
