Hong Kong rail upgrade, Japan’s friendship marriages, China military’s ‘wake-up’ call: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

From Belgrade embassy bombing being China’s ‘wake-up’ call to modernise military to Japan’s friendship marriages, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

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Published: 11:35am, 10 May 2024Updated: 1:33pm, 10 May 2024

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. For China’s military, Belgrade embassy bombing was a ‘wake-up’ call to modernise

From the moment five 2,000-pound guided bombs from an American B-2 stealth bomber hit its embassy in Belgrade, China’s security perceptions and defence policies changed forever.

2. Why China would be ‘suicidal’ to take on US, Japan navies with the Fujian

A Chinese national flag flutters near China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Photo: AP

The Philippines should be alert to the “potent challenge” posed by China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, as security analysts warn that Beijing’s flexing of its naval muscles is a “message to all parties” that it is prepared for air and sea warfare in the region’s contentious waters.

3. Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to pause services at 4 stations for upgrade on July 28

Hong Kong’s rail operator MTR Corporation will suspend Kwun Tong line services at four stations on July 28, marking the first extensive equipment upgrade in the company’s 45-year history.

4. China ‘could build world’s biggest collider’ – but is it worth US$5 billion?

The CERN president has weighed in on the debate around China’s proposed particle accelerator which would dwarf Europe’s Large Hadron Collider (pictured). Photo: Keystone via AP

One of Israel’s top physicists has entered the debate over whether China should build the world’s largest collider, saying he believes the country is now capable of the feat.

“Chinese scientists can build this machine,” Eliezer Rabinovici, an emeritus professor of physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who is also the president of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), said.

5. ‘Ingratiating’: Beijing slams Taiwan’s president-elect Lai over Japan remarks

Taiwanese president-elect William Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that he hoped to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and Japan during his term in office, create economic prosperity for both sides, and “jointly maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region”.

6. What is friendship marriage? Japan’s latest way to couple up excludes love or sex

A new relationship trend called “friendship marriage” in which young people embrace union without love or sex has hit Japan. The Post finds out why, and what it is. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Increasing numbers of young people in Japan are adopting a new type of marital relationship that requires neither love nor sex, in a trend called “friendship marriage”.

7. China’s first publicly recognised transgender woman Jin Xing remarries ex-husband

Jin Xing, China’s first publicly recognised transgender woman, who was forced to divorce her German husband 18 years ago, has remarried the love of her life. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

China’s first publicly recognised transgender dancer has remarried the love of her life whom she was forced to divorce 18 years ago.

“Forced to divorce in 2006 for the children, we remarried after 18 years, witnessing our journey of love and responsibility,” Jin wrote in an online post.