What US-China row over Pelosi and Taiwan means for Asian region

As a possible Taiwan visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparks explosive rows between Beijing and Washington, the reaction from Southeast Asian nations has been more muted, including calling upon the two rival powers to defuse tensions. International relations and defence experts say it is understandable that Beijing sees Pelosi's likely trip as a "provocation",...

‘Find a job and man’: Desperate mum in China goes on TV to beg daughter with 6 cats to marry

A 70-year-old Chinese woman has begged a local TV station for help as she is "extremely worried" about her single and unemployed 38-year-old daughter who spends her time posting videos of her six cats online. The daughter has a degree from a top university and worked in Beijing and Shanghai, but several years ago quit her...

Chinese husband kicks wife of 2 days out of house after air conditioning dispute, sparks divorce debate online

A domestic argument in a new marriage spurred a debate on the mainland Chinese internet over the weekend after a shouting match over air conditioning went viral. An unnamed woman in the northern Chinese province of Henan tried to turn on the air conditioning during the heatwave in late July that saw temperatures in the country...

‘You nightclub girl’: Woman in China may sue cyberbullies over nasty comments for her pink hair

A young woman in eastern China who was the target of online abuse hired lawyers and said she plans to take legal action against the cyberbullies who called her a "nightclub girl". They criticised her for her pink hair after she shared a celebratory post that included her bedridden grandfather. Zheng Linghua, a 23-year-old university graduate...

Yang Zi’s “Lost You Forever” Releases Promotional Poster

Starring Andy Yang Zi (楊紫), Deng Wei (鄧為), Zhang Wanyi (張晚意), and Tan Jianci (檀健次), upcoming wuxia fantasy romance Lost You Forever <長相思> recently released its promotional poster. While Yang Zi’s fans were delighted with her beautiful visuals, others were disappointed as none of the male leads were featured in the still. Lost You Forever is adapted from the third book The Book of Mountain and Sea <山经海纪>  in...

China detains woman over offerings to Nanking massacre war criminals

Police in China’s eastern city of Nanjing have detained a woman authorities say honoured Japanese war criminals at a Buddhist temple, as news of the tributes sparked public outrage and disciplinary action against officials. Wu Aping, 31, a medical school graduate, confessed to having been deeply troubled by accounts of the brutal Japanese invasion, and came...

Tugboat crew of Hong Kong’s troubled Jumbo Floating Restaurant in ‘dire situation’ under confinement at mainland Chinese port

Crewmen of the tugboat that towed Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant are in a “dire situation” and running out of food and water after being held at a mainland Chinese port for weeks over a probe into the ill-fated journey of the iconic vessel, according to operators. A senior official of shipping company S&P Marine, which...

“Immortal Samsara” Opens to Viewer Backlash

Kicking off with five episodes at one go, anticipated costume drama Immortal Samsara <沉香如屑> has been getting flak from disappointed viewers who pointed out its various flaws, including its predictable story, “laughable” CGI and sloppy editing, with many giving it a one-star rating. Storyline Lacked Surprise Element Xianxia dramas typically follow a formulaic logic where deities were forbidden from falling in love...

‘I spend $31,000 a day’: China influencer cancelled for promoting ‘evil trends’

A handout photo. Influencer Wang Xuancheng is under fire for her lavish lifestyle, including travelling by helicopter, amid an ongoing crackdown on excessive celebrity wealth.South China Morning Post A Chinese influencer who claimed she spends 150,000 yuan (S$31,000) a day and travels by helicopter has been blasted on mainland social media and criticised by state propaganda...

Eileen Gu wins best breakthrough athlete ESPY, Weibo erupts over Chinese speech

Eileen Gu has taken home another title, this time being named the best breakthrough athlete at the 2022 ESPYs, and added to her status on both sides of the world with an acceptance speech that ended in Chinese. The Winter Olympian was honoured at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (US time) alongside some...