I too experienced many points of friction when visiting and working in China. My nationality and ethnicity was often either positive (Singaporeans are so good at English and Mandarin!!) when geo-political relations were good, or absolutely tragic (you are all hanjian race traitors!!) when they were not.
I’m suspicious of all attempts to bring us into the ‘Chinese fold’.
Anecdotally I find these things happen with much more frequency with northerners. It could also be a cultural clash of north and south (most in the Chinese diaspora are from specific parts of the coastal south). I find when I meet someone from the south, no one ever chides me on Mandarin (coz let’s be real, it sucks). And also tends to have more cultural affinity towards.. the rest of the world, and other ways of existing as a ‘Chinese’ person that isn’t just, Xi’s China.
English is also imprecise. The words are just ‘Chinese’ (nationality) or ‘Chinese’ (ethnicity). In various Chinese languages there are different words. ‘Zhongguoren’ (citizen of the PRC), which we never use to describe ourselves because we are not. Also the PRC didn’t exist when most of our ancestors left. Huaqiao / huashang / huayi / tang ren (overseas Chinese, of varying degrees of China centrism). I prefer the terms we use in SE Asian or S Chinese languages rather than Mandarin, though.
The project was held back for the longest time due to corruption allegations. I hope it goes forward smoothly soon. Am impatient for Malaysia to have its own HSR 😊
Oh und mal was ganz anderes: nächste Woche habe ich mir auf einer Recherche in Thailand einen Tag Layover in Bangkok gegönnt. Habt ihr Tipps für diesen Tag? Was/wen sehen in #Bangkok? (Und was keinesfalls tun?)
Pagetek in Cuyonon means to fill one's stomach! It's a foodcourt along the main road right across Itoy's Coffee Haus (they serve the iconic cashew frappe).
This is Vietnamese Cuisine's seafood bowl (lots of garlic and a bit of surprise with the pineapple mixed in) and their excellent garlic cheese bread. I also liked their honey citron fruit tea, very generous with the berries. No photo, drank too fast...
Reportedly, #Zelenskiy's push for the #PeaceSummit at the #ShangriLaDialogue in #Singapore wasn't as warmly received as expected. He's obviously hoping to get #BBM (President Marcos) & the #Philippines on #Ukraine's side for the peace initiative. This last minute surprise will throw the Philippine diplomatic staff in an uproar 🤣.
Mr #Zelensky’s surprise attendance in the middle of #Asia’s leading security forum effectively thrust #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine to the forefront of everyone’s minds and also forcefully demonstrates how interconnected the security issues in #Europe & #Asia are.
Media Chinese International Ltd, a Malaysia-based media group, announces a 44% staff reduction to cut rising publishing costs, affecting nearly 800 employees.
The company plans to leverage AI to monetize digital content and further reduce costs.
This move highlights the ongoing challenges in the media industry.
#Shrimp & #Chayote#Stirfry - simple, yummy & healthy dish. I use extra garlic in mine & eat it with steamed rice but it's great on its own.
Chayote is also known as vegetable pear or christophine. Peel the skin off before cooking as it's tough/not fun to chew. A #vegetable that's used in lots of #AsianCooking. Fab source of vitamin C, dietary fibre & potassium.
Both to be thankful you don't have to eat any emergency things, which are in that category for good reason, and that you know you can still fall back a little before hunger becomes a real threat.
I remember talking to people who lived through the 1944/45 famine, and the tastes they talked about weren't very fun.
A lot of "safe" things are impossibly bitter, for example.
"#Cambodia will start work on a controversial US$1.7 billion (S$2.3 billion) canal linking the capital #PhnomPenh to the sea in August, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on May 30. The Chinese-backed Funan Techo canal has sparked fears in neighbouring #Vietnam that it could be used by Chinese warships, and reduce Cambodian dependence on Vietnamese ports.