Society

It may not be said, but some people feel that China owes the world an apology for being the source of the Covid-19 epidemic. How valid is this claim? Zaobao’s associate editor Han Yong Hong examines both sides of the debate.

A man queuing and buying medicines for residents, chefs preparing signature dishes, a volunteer turned patient... ThinkChina takes a look at the ordinary lives in China and the heartwarming acts of kindness from everyday heroes.

With proposed loosening of regulations on permanent residence for foreigners in China, netizens are worried that it might be easier for illegal immigrants to become legal immigrants, or for low-calibre foreigners to stay put. Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan presents the arguments.

Despite an uptick in China’s Covid-19 recovery efforts, people are still taking turns playing doctor. This speaks to the societal issue of opportunists preying on superstitions for their own ends, with no regard for the consequences, says Edwin Ong, Lianhe Zaobao’s Chongqing correspondent.

Amid rising negative feedback, the plug was pulled from launching a government-endorsed publication on China’s experience battling Covid-19. Rightly so, says Beijing correspondent Yang Danxu, as now is not the time to celebrate success when the battle to overcome the epidemic has not been won.

In 1966, Indonesia banned the use of the Chinese language. The ban lasted 32 years, and led to up to two generations of Chinese Indonesians becoming completely assimilated. However, when the ban was lifted in 1998, there was an immediate rush to learn the Chinese language. But is that enthusiasm still there? Zaobao reporter Sim Tze Wei visits schools in Indonesia to find out more about the changes in Indonesia’s Chinese language education over the past 20 years.

Norman Yik finds a silver lining in the Covid-19 chaos coursing through Hong Kong. A group of self-reliant individuals are showing that the fighting spirit that Hong Kong is known for is alive and well. And Tai Hing Shing charts the beginning of a busy week as Hong Kong civil servants return to office.

The investment is low, the focus is flawed, the mindset needs changing... For Chinese economics professor Zhang Rui, it is evident that China's public healthcare system is not robust enough. He says that long-term public health capacity building, particularly in disease prevention and emergency preparedness, should be at the top of the Chinese agenda.

The Chinese people's love for consuming game meat goes back a long way, and is deeply rooted in history and culture. But doing so comes with risks, not least the risk of being infected by parasites, viruses, and bacteria. ThinkChina takes a look at how and why the Chinese eat various wild animals, as well as various other cultures that also have a penchant for game meat.