We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Is gold medallist Vivian Kong ‘the perfect Hong Kong girl’?
Even as Hong Kong waits with excitement at the prospect of more medals for the city at the Paris Olympics, residents cannot seem to get enough of their current heroine, Vivian Kong Man-wai. The star fencer topped the list of biggest trending searches on Google on Saturday shortly after her historic triumph, as curious residents rushed to learn more about the 30-year-old épéeist.
2. China’s coastguard faces ‘unprecedented strain’ as tensions rise on 3 fronts
China’s coastguard has found itself embroiled in a series of intense confrontations in three major hotspots – with tensions simultaneously coming to a head in a two-week period in late June. In one of the most dramatic incidents, the Philippines accused China of acting like “pirates” and carrying out “aggressive and illegal” operations after one Philippine sailor lost a thumb when coastguards armed with axes and knives boarded resupply vessels.
3. Swimmer Zhang’s Paris Games bronze sparks sympathy, fury on Chinese social media
Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei’s bronze medal in the women’s 100m butterfly has been met with encouragement and cynicism on social media. United States swimmer Torri Huske clinched the gold medal, with compatriot and world-record holder Gretchen Walsh in second place.
4. Here are the 4 civilian aircraft behind China’s sky-high aviation ambitions
The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has put two types of civilian jets in the air and two bigger ones on the drawing board after 22 years of work. Comac aims to advance China’s goal of technological self-sufficiency and sell its aircraft overseas. The Shanghai-based manufacturer seeks to compete largely with Airbus and Boeing, because their aircraft have similar specs.
5. Singapore National Day banner with foreigner stirs xenophobia debate
A Singapore politician’s comments about a foreign girl featured in National Day posters have stirred debate on xenophobia in the city state, with experts saying the opposition is capitalising on anti-foreigner sentiment for political mileage.
6. US ‘has no right to intervene’: China urges Asean to resist ‘external’ meddling
Beijing has urged Southeast Asian countries to resist alleged US and Nato-led “external interference” in the South China Sea and other regional hotspots, stepping up pressure on its neighbours amid an escalating war of words with Washington. Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi hammered home the message on the sidelines of an Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Laos last week, saying that the United States had “no right” to intervene in the South China Sea.
7. Sad lice-infected China girl blossoms thanks to stepmother’s unconditional love
The story of an uncared-for little girl in China who became a different person thanks to the love of her stepmother has melted hearts on mainland social media.
