Latest news with #Fujian
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Dish in Focus: Xiamen-style popiah at Ming Pavilion
Within the sanctuary of Island Shangri-La, Ming Pavilion delivers a cuisine born from the warmth, freshness and flavour of the Fujian province of China. Having crossed borders and travelled through the kitchens of various Asian countries, Hokkien cooking has evolved to reflect the tastes and environments of these different cultures. Advertisement Now, head chef Jack Lam Yeung is telling the story of this time-honoured cuisine and celebrating Hokkien culinary heritage by drawing out a multitude of flavours with Fujian ingredients. Head chef Jack Lam Yeung at Island Shangri-La's Ming Pavilion. Photo: Handout In dishes like the Xiamen-style popiah, Lam redefines culinary traditions while skillfully balancing textures and flavours. 'The overall texture of the popiah includes soft vegetables and crispy ingredients like seaweed, sugar-fried peanuts, pork floss and pork lard,' Lam explains. 'This provides a varied and satisfying mouthfeel with each bite.' A beloved classic originating from Fujian, popiah is a type of fresh spring roll also known as 'thin pancake' in Teochew (a dialect spoken in the city in neighbouring Guangdong province). Often enjoyed during family gatherings and following Ching Ming Festival, Lam's version is crafted with locally sourced ingredients like Oldham bamboo shoots and carrots, which are marinated for 20 minutes in rich pork and seafood broths, infusing the vegetables with a rich savoury depth. Xiamen-Style popiah at Ming Pavilion. Photo: Handout 'The inspiration for the dish is deeply rooted in tradition. Following the family's gathering to honour their deceased loved ones, the dish symbolises hopes for a prosperous year ahead,' he says. 'Over time, it has evolved to become a staple during various festivals and family gatherings, such as Lunar New Year. Families sit down together, chat, and enjoy their time while wrapping and eating popiah with their preferred ingredients.' Advertisement The Ming Pavilion dish features early harvested seaweed and nori powder from Fujian, adding a rich umami flavour and a salty fragrance that enhances the overall taste. Perfectly boiled tiger shrimp and crispy pork floss contribute to the popiah's texture, while house-made thick and chewy flatbreads cradle the marinated filling, preventing moisture loss.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Chinese navy drill near Japan sparks concern
SINGAPORE — A Chinese naval drill near Japan has sparked concern from Tokyo, which in recent days lodged a protest with Beijing and made the rare decision to publicly disclose Chinese military movements. In the last few weeks China's two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, have been conducting simultaneous drills in the Pacific, in an unprecedented move. Chinese fighter jets have done hundreds of landings and take-offs from the carriers. A few came close to Japanese surveillance planes, prompting Tokyo to convey its "serious concerns" to Beijing. China has said its activities are consistent with international law and accused Japan of conducting "dangerous moves". On Tuesday, the Japanese defence ministry released a map tracing the Chinese aircraft carriers' daily positions since 25 May. Japan does not usually disclose details of foreign militaries' movements. It shows both carriers coming close to Japanese islands, and at times sailing through Japan's exclusive economic exclusive economic zone is an area beyond a country's territorial waters where that country has exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources, but other countries are allowed freedom of navigation through map also shows the Liaoning sailing past the "second island chain", a line of defence outlined in US foreign policy doctrine that connects Japan to Guam. This makes it the first Chinese aircraft carrier to do so , according to Japanese news defense ministry also said they had observed more than 500 landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters during the 7 June, a Chinese fighter jet took off from Shandong and followed a Japanese surveillance aircraft for about 40 minutes, according to Tokyo. The next day, a Chinese fighter jet flew close to a Japanese plane for twice that duration, and crossed in front of chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said last week that they relayed to Beijing their concern about these "abnormal approaches," which could have caused accidental foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that their "activities in relevant waters and air space are consistent with international law and international practices", and that the two countries were communicating through existing channels."Let me point out that it is the close-in reconnaissance of Japan's vessels and airplanes on China's normal military activities that has caused maritime and air security risks. China urges Japan to stop those dangerous moves," he its two carriers continue to sail through the Pacific, China's military gave an update on Tuesday on its newest carrier, the Fujian. It said sea trials were on track and the carrier is expected to enter service later this Fujian will be their first carrier that will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch their planes - a technology that currently only American aircraft carriers technology allows a carrier to launch a wider range of aircraft, and launch fighter jets much fighter jets will also be able to take off with their full fuel and weapon loads from the Fujian, noted a Global Times report, and the carrier would enable a "significantly higher" number of sorties compared to its month's drill follows February's much-scrutinised naval exercise in the Tasman Sea that prompted concern from Australia and New and Wellington had complained Beijing had given insufficient notice of the drill, and some commercial planes had to be diverted last defense minister Richard Marles later acknowledged that the naval exercise was in accordance with international law, while at the same time urging China to be more transparent about the reasons for what he called an "extraordinary military build-up".China's latest moves come as the US promises to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific while balancing other month US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the US's solidarity with the region, saying the US would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated. China in response accused the US of being the "biggest troublemaker" in on Monday the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea. Multiple outlets have reported it is moving to the Middle East, as the war between Israel and Iran deepens and the US contemplates entering the Suzuki, a professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, said China's latest naval exercise was Beijing "testing the waters" of the US-Japan military alliance at a moment when the US is shifting its attention to the Middle East."With US assets concentrating in the Middle East, China sees this as an opportunity to escalate... so it's a sort of cunning way for China to raise the level of attention," he he added, was "not an exponential, but step-by-step, gradual escalation" as it "seeks any holes in Japan's coastal and maritime defence... they are testing the patience of Japan." — BBC
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
The 17th Straits Forum Held in Xiamen, China: Promoting Cross-Strait Folk Exchanges and Integrated Development
XIAMEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 June 2025 - The opening ceremony of the 17th Straits Forum was held in the morning of the 15th in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China. As the largest-scaled, widest-ranging and most influential folk exchange event across the Taiwan Strait, guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered together to discuss the beautiful vision of cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. This session of the Straits Forum focused on the theme of "Expanding Folk Exchanges and Deepening Integrated Development". It set up four major sections, namely grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic exchanges, with 56 series of activities arranged. The main venue of the forum was in Xiamen, while related activities were held in relevant prefecture-level cities in Fujian and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone. More than 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan were invited to participate. Ma Ying-jeou, the former chairperson of the Kuomintang who attends the Straits Forum for the first time, stated in his speech at the meeting that the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The natural bond of Chinese people on both sides, who share the same roots and origin, cannot be severed, and non-governmental exchanges across the Strait are unstoppable. Currently, Fujian is steadfastly expanding economic and trade cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, deepening folk exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan, and enhancing the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, so as to make new contributions to the great cause of promoting the reunification of the motherland. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, "We warmly welcome our Taiwan compatriots to actively participate in building the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. Let us move forward together, work hand in hand, and jointly seize development opportunities to share the fruits of integration" Xiamen has earnestly implemented the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Supporting Fujian in Exploring a New Path for Cross-Strait Integrated Development and Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. It continues to take the lead in piloting innovations for cross-strait integrated development, promoting integration through connectivity, preferential policies, and emotional bonds, so as to create more development opportunities and broader space for Taiwan compatriots. It is reported that the Straits Forum has been successfully held for 16 sessions, with nearly 800 activities of various types carried out. A total of more than 350,000 person-times of compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have participated, among whom over 140,000 person-times are Taiwan compatriots. The Straits Forum has effectively played an important role in expanding cross-Strait folk exchanges and deepening cross-Strait integrated development. Hashtag: #ChineseHeadlinesNewMedia The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Chinese Headlines New Media
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
The 17th Straits Forum Held in Xiamen, China: Promoting Cross-Strait Folk Exchanges and Integrated Development
XIAMEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 June 2025 - The opening ceremony of the 17th Straits Forum was held in the morning of the 15th in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China. As the largest-scaled, widest-ranging and most influential folk exchange event across the Taiwan Strait, guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered together to discuss the beautiful vision of cross-Strait exchanges and session of the Straits Forum focused on the theme of "Expanding Folk Exchanges and Deepening Integrated Development". It set up four major sections, namely grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic exchanges, with 56 series of activities arranged. The main venue of the forum was in Xiamen, while related activities were held in relevant prefecture-level cities in Fujian and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone. More than 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan were invited to Ying-jeou, the former chairperson of the Kuomintang who attends the Straits Forum for the first time, stated in his speech at the meeting that the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The natural bond of Chinese people on both sides, who share the same roots and origin, cannot be severed, and non-governmental exchanges across the Strait are Fujian is steadfastly expanding economic and trade cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, deepening folk exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan, and enhancing the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, so as to make new contributions to the great cause of promoting the reunification of the motherland. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, "We warmly welcome our Taiwan compatriots to actively participate in building the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. Let us move forward together, work hand in hand, and jointly seize development opportunities to share the fruits of integration"Xiamen has earnestly implemented the. It continues to take the lead in piloting innovations for cross-strait integrated development, promoting integration through connectivity, preferential policies, and emotional bonds, so as to create more development opportunities and broader space for Taiwan is reported that the Straits Forum has been successfully held for 16 sessions, with nearly 800 activities of various types carried out. A total of more than 350,000 person-times of compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have participated, among whom over 140,000 person-times are Taiwan compatriots. The Straits Forum has effectively played an important role in expanding cross-Strait folk exchanges and deepening cross-Strait integrated #ChineseHeadlinesNewMedia The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Alamak! Why Singapore English is so colourful
Singaporeans are the most frequent users of colorful words in English after Americans, Britons, and Australians, according to a study reported by CNN. As native English speakers, Americans, Britons, and Australians naturally use English expletives more often than non-native speakers from places like India or Pakistan. But Singaporeans use such words more frequently than even native English speakers from New Zealand and Canada. 'English in Singapore is increasingly seen not as a second language, but as a native language,' the study notes. Singapore has indeed appropriated the English language as its own. This sense of ownership comes through powerfully in Catherine Lim's book Romancing the Language . 'It's said that even if you speak several languages, there's only one in which you live — your mother tongue,' she wrote. 'The language in which I live, breathe, think and dream is, by that definition, not the Hokkien of my parents and their parents, and their parents' parents, all the way back to the southern Chinese province of Fujian, where we came from, so long ago. It is English. English is my mother tongue in the fullest, most meaningful sense of the word.' She recalled her first encounter with English at age six when she attended a convent school in the town of Kulim in what was then Malaya. 'The sheer excitement of the new language had instantly relegated the Hokkien of my birth and upbringing to secondary position. It seemed that I was walking into a brave new world.' Not every child experiences this dramatic transition from one language to another in Singapore now that English has become the first language for so many people. According to the Department of Statistics, Singapore, almost half the population speaks English most frequently at home. However, people generally mind their language, both in Singapore and abroad. Bad words are rarely used, according to the CNN study. Based on web data (excluding social media and private messaging), the research found 'vulgar words' made up just 0.036% of all words in data from the United States, 0.025% in Britain, 0.022% in Australia, and 0.021% in Singapore. The incidence was even lower in New Zealand (0.020%), Malaysia (0.019%), Ireland (0.019%), Jamaica (0.017%), and Canada (0.016%). Given its clean image, Singapore might have been expected to be more discreet in its language. But the study suggests that 'youthful swearing in Singapore' could be a reaction against the government's 'strict stance against swearing and offensive language in public areas'. New entries in Oxford English Dictionary Alamak! The Malay word just slipped into the Oxford English Dictionary, which calls it an 'interjection' expressing 'surprise, shock, outrage, dismay or outrage.' The local word 'lah' also entered the dictionary, which says it's 'used with various kinds of pitch to convey the mood and attitude of the speaker,' as in 'Come and see lah,' a quote from the former newspaper New Nation . Words used in Singapore and Malaysia have been creeping into the Oxford English Dictionary over the years. The newest entries, added in the March 2025 update, mostly refer to favourite local dishes that have made Singapore a haven for foodies: Kaya: A jam made from coconut milk, eggs, and sugar, usually flavoured with pandan leaf, found in Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Kaya toast: A sandwich consisting of two slices of toasted bread spread with butter and kaya, popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Ketupat: A small rice cake boiled in a pouch of woven palm leaves, originating in Indonesia but also popular in Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. Otak-otak: A Southeast Asian dish of ground fish or seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk, wrapped in banana or palm leaves, and cooked by steaming or grilling over charcoal, usually served with nasi lemak. Nasi lemak: A Malay dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and flavored with pandan leaf, served with various garnishes like cucumber slices, fried fish, roasted peanuts, cooked egg, and sambal, typically eaten for breakfast. Fish head curry: A dish influenced by Chinese and South Indian cuisine, featuring a large fish head (usually sea bream or snapper) cooked in tangy tamarind-based curry gravy with vegetables like eggplant and okra. Half-boiled egg: An egg cooked briefly in freshly boiled water so the yolk and white remain runny, then cracked open and served in a bowl, seasoned with dark soy sauce and white pepper. Steamboat: A dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables dipped in boiling stock by diners at the table, or the metal pot used for cooking and serving such dishes. See also Should everyone in Singapore speak English? Tapau: To take food or drink from a restaurant for consumption elsewhere. These new entries join Singapore words already in the dictionary: Shiok: An exclamation expressing admiration or approval. Ang moh: A light-skinned person, especially of Western origin; a Caucasian. Atas: Sophisticated, highbrow, classy—sometimes with negative connotations of arrogance or snobbishness. Blur: Slow in understanding; unaware, ignorant, confused. Chicken rice: Boiled, roasted, or braised chicken served with rice cooked in chicken stock and flavoured with ginger and pandan leaves, originating in Hainan province but particularly popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Chilli crab: Crab cooked in a sweet and spicy gravy containing red chillies and tomato. Hawker centre: A food market where individual vendors sell cooked food from small stalls with shared seating. HDB: Housing and Development Board. Lepak: The practice of loitering aimlessly or idly; loafing, relaxing, hanging out. Killer litter: Objects thrown or falling from high-rise buildings, endangering people below. Singlish: An informal variety of English spoken in Singapore, incorporating elements of Chinese and Malay. One reason so many Singaporean and Malaysian delicacies have entered the Oxford English Dictionary is that its editors seek 'untranslatable words'. 'The names of local dishes tend to be borrowed into English rather than given an Anglicised name,' explains Danica Salazar, OED executive editor, discussing the inclusion of terms like 'kaya toast' and 'nasi lemak'. That's why exclamations like 'alamak' and 'lah' have also made it into the dictionary. They are really untranslatable lah!
