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Asian diaspora

Asian diaspora
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Asian diaspora. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Jenny Lau of Celestial Peach at the launch of her book An A-Z of Chinese Food, in London. The British-Chinese writer hopes it inspires East and Southeast Asians around the world. Photo: Ming Tang-Evans
Food and Drinks

British-Chinese author’s hopes for her A to Z of Chinese food

In An A to Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included), London writer Jenny Lau picks apart food clichés to explore what it means to be Chinese.

Tourism

London’s Chinatown to usher in the Year of the Snake with major celebration

Food and Drinks

‘No ego in the room’ at women chefs’ showcase Yes Shef in Canada

Food and Drinks

‘Little ninja’ ingredients give Western dishes a Japanese twist

A Japanese-American cooking instructor routinely adds items like sake, soy sauce and ginger to Western dishes to cater to Japanese tastes.

This image released by Knopf shows a recipe for Japanese Italian wedding soup, from the cookbook “Wafu Cooking: Everyday Recipes with Japanese Style” by Sonoko Sakai. (Rick Poon/Knopf via AP)
Fame and celebrity

The Bachelorette star Jenn Tran on using her television fame for good causes

After becoming the first Asian-American star of The Bachelorette, Tran took on Dancing with the Stars – now she’s leaving reality TV behind to help with the California fires, then return to med school.

Travel Destinations

Living the American dream, Pakistani migrant builds a tourist ‘stop spot’

Muhammad Ahmad’s burgeoning service centre near Lake George and Lake Placid in New York State is a success story of hard work and foresight.

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Fame and celebrity

16 new spiders have just been named after Jay Chou’s songs

In 2011, Taiwan’s astronomers named an asteroid after the Mandopop star – now, a scientist has brought us ‘Excuse spider’ and ‘Rainbow spider’.

Jay Chou performs at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center in November 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Food and Drinks

How MSG got its stigma, and those challenging ‘racist myths’

MSG has been demonised for decades. Now some in the food industry are repairing the flavouring’s reputation as part of a wider battle.

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TV shows and streaming video

The diaspora talent that thrives in Asia, and a chance for global exposure

Producers in Asia and North America collaborate on projects to give global exposure to Asian actors, including some born in the West.

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Food and Drinks

Vietnamese chef’s zero-waste recipes pay tribute to parents’ struggle

The son of Vietnamese refugees, Tu David Phu grew up with the idea of food frugality, which he channels in his cookbook The Memory of Taste.

Tu David Phu’s hot-pot-style salmon head sour soup. Photo: Penguin Random House
Donald Trump

Indian-Americans slam ‘racist’ comments by Trump supporters over visa scheme

The furore was sparked by a call from Donald Trump’s handpicked AI adviser Sriram Krishnan to remove country caps on green cards.

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Supporters of former president Donald Trump gather at the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Fame and celebrity

Shang-Chi and Barbie star Simu Liu’s home broken into in California

The incident comes amid a string of burglaries at the homes of Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes over the past year.

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US-China relations

What fate awaits undocumented Chinese migrants in the US under Trump?

President-elect’s plan unlikely to affect recent wave of border crossers who entered during the Biden administration, at least initially.

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Food and Drinks

Why savoury Chinese dumplings are becoming a winter solstice favourite

Sweet dumplings are common at winter solstice, but Taishanese savoury ones are trending on social media as influencers return to their roots.

Savory Taishanese tangyuan glutinous rice dumplings are gaining popularity as second- and third-generation Chinese influencers in the West share their parents’ recipes. The dumplings are a must at winter solstice and Chinese New Year. Photo: Getty Images
Food and Drinks

3 Chinese chefs cook up a seafood storm at food award dinner in Canada

Alex Chen, Li Bo and Leo Wang used a variety of skills that showcased their different backgrounds, cooking mainly local seafood.

Sichuan typhoon style BC geoduck and okra tempura by chef Li Bo. Photo: Chinese Restaurant Awards
Music

Why the popular North Star Boys want to ‘inspire Asian-Americans’

We speak to the boy band about their work in expanding Asian-American representation, how they met and why ‘the stars aligned’ for them all.

Books and literature

China’s ‘most famous woman’ on a career spent introducing it to the world

Her TV shows gave US viewers tastes of Asia and brought the world to Chinese homes. Yue-Sai Kan talks bridging the gap between East and West.

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Food and Drinks

New York Korean restaurant Jungsik’s third Michelin star a milestone

Jungsik the US’ first Korean restaurant with 3 Michelin stars, and the first place in New York in 12 years to be raised to guide’s top rank.

Grilled octopus with gochujang aioli, served at Jungsik in New York. Photo: Jungsik
United States

My Take | Trump has been Beijing’s most effective science talent recruiter

Many fear the supposedly defunct ‘China Initiative’ – a racial profiling programme targeting Chinese-born scientists in the US – could return with a vengeance.

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Architecture and design

Those ‘lucky cat’ figures? They’re not what you think

Numerous myths surround the maneki neko, but one thing is certain: these wealth-magnet felines are of Japanese origin, not Chinese.

Food and Drinks

Hongkonger serves Southern BBQ with a Chinese twist in London

Luk Man Hon shares his journey from running a vinyl record store to becoming barbecue pitmaster at Uncle Hon’s BBQ.

A mixed meat barbecue platter from Uncle Hon’s. The brisket (front right) shows the requisite “smoke ring” that barbecue fans look out for. Photo: Angela Hui
TV shows and streaming video

Asian stereotypes in Hollywood get the chop in Interior Chinatown

Jimmy O. Yang plays an actor whose world is turned upside down in Interior Chinatown on Disney+. Ronny Chieng and Chloe Bennet co-star.

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Jimmy O. Yang (left) and Ronny Chieng arrive for the premiere of Interior Chinatown in Los Angeles. Yang stars as an Asian actor who finds his world turned upside down in unusual ways. Photo: AFP
Music

How British-born Chinese singer Mui Zyu is taking back her heritage

Performing at Clockenflap 2024, Mui Zyu – real name Eva Liu – is exploring her Hong Kong heritage after years of feeling disconnected.

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Food and Drinks

Meet the chefs reinterpreting Korean food from London to LA

With many Michelin stars between them, these chefs are blending Korean cuisine with modern elements at their restaurants.

Art

Video art shows Chinese migrants’ struggle in 1800s New Zealand

Displayed at Tai Twun in Hong Kong, Lisa Reihana’s DigiRadiance: Gold_Lead_Wood_Coal shows Chinese miners in New Zealand in 360 degrees.

A visitor watches Lisa Reihana’s DigiRadiance: Gold_Lead_Wood_Coal. Photo: Edmond So
Food and Drinks

How Big Way Hot Pot succeeded by turning hotpot idea upside down

Vancouver hotpot chain where, inspired by the pandemic, you don’t share but order your own bowl, grew rapidly. Now it’s about to hit the US.

Big Way Hot Pot’s format allows diners to customise individual pots which are weighed for pricing, and cooked to order. Launched three years ago in Vancouver, Canada, where it continues to expand, the chain is about to start making inroads in the United States. Photo: Big Way Hot Pot
Chinese culture

Being Chinese | We’re Chinese and we fight to pay for dinner

Economic and societal shifts have forced me to reconsider the fight-to-pay ritual at multi-generation family gatherings.

Food and Drinks

Hello Kitty Cafe Vancouver an instant hit with fans of the cute cat

Former Hong Kong executive can’t restock the merch shelves fast enough at Hello Kitty Cafe Vancouver. Expansion across Canada beckons.

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