Taiwan to tear down Chiang Kai-shek statues, Hong Kong’s sushi packaging guessing game: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week
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. Taiwan will tear down all remaining statues of Chiang Kai-shek in public spaces
Taiwan’s government will remove all remaining statues of late president Chiang Kai-shek from public spaces in what is seen as a bid to erase his legacy and the historical link with mainland China.
2. China shows off nuclear might ahead of top US diplomat Antony Blinken’s visit
China’s JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile makes its debut during a military parade in Beijing in 2019. Photo: Xinhua
China showed off its nuclear second-strike capability – the ability to hit back after an enemy launches an initial nuclear attack – just two days before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing and Shanghai.
3. US sell-or-ban ultimatum against TikTok stirs unease in China
The United States government’s passage of a sell-or-ban law against popular short video app TikTok has stirred unease and anger in mainland China, even as Beijing and social media giant ByteDance keep silent about their response.
4. Hong Kong authorities under fire after clarification over sushi served in plastic
A Japanese supermarket in Tsim Sha Tsui replaced transparent plastic boxes for takeaway with paper packaging. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong environmental authorities have come under fire after saying supermarket sushi can be served in plastic boxes, with one legislator claiming the clarification contradicts the law governing a new ban and only further sows confusion.
5. Japan warns of scorching summer as it experiences ‘very worrying’ temperatures
Women use portable fans to cool off while walking around Tokyo in the summer of 2023. Photo: AFP
Temperatures across much of Japan soared to unseasonably high levels over the weekend, with the country’s meteorological agency warning of another scorching summer.
6. ‘Why so many foreigners?’ EV hungry buyers take centre stage at Canton Fair
Some overseas attendees at Canton Fair said that despite the reports in the West of the threats caused by China’s overcapacity in the new energy sector, they cannot resist the temptation to see how cheap and affordable the Chinese products are.
7. China tourist plunges to her death posing for photo at Indonesia beauty spot
A woman tourist from China has died after she plunged off a cliff at a famous volcano site in Indonesia as her husband took her photo. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Sohu
A tourist from China who was posing for photos at a famous volcano in Indonesia has died after she accidentally stepped on her dress and tumbled down a cliffside.
