Cambodian Human Rights Committee Remarks on Recent Case of Detained Soldiers and Thai Response | CMAC Confirms Expertise on MK-84 Bomb as Evidence Supports Cambodia’s Claims | Cambodia Denies Thai Media Allegations of Drone Crossings and Urges Troop Return | Cambodia Urges Thailand to Match Words with Actions in Peace Efforts | BREAKING: Cambodia to Facilitate ASEAN Defence Observer Team Visit Along Border Regions in Support of Ceasefire Agreement | BREAKING: Two Suspects Detained in Phnom Penh Over Massive 562-Kilogram Drug Trafficking Case | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia Responds to Alleged Thai Military Movements Near Border Areas | Breaking News: Hun Sen Warns of Possible Thai Military Strike, Cancels Senate Meeting Tomorrow | Cambodian Defense Spokesperson Reports Calm but Cautions About Possible Developments Along Border | Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha Issues Directive Prohibiting UAV Launches in Border Provinces Amid Sovereignty Concerns | Cambodian Leader Hun Sen Warns of Heightened Tensions, Says Military on High Alert as Diplomacy Continues | TOP NEWS: Cambodia Condemns Thai Forces’ Entry into Sovereign Territory, Calls for International Support | BREAKING: Prime Minister Hun Manet Addresses Status of 18 Cambodian Soldiers in Thai Custody | BREAKING: Senate President Hun Sen Questions Thailand’s Refusal to Return 18 Captured Cambodian Soldiers |
Cambodian Human Rights Committee Remarks on Recent Case of Detained Soldiers and Thai Response | CMAC Confirms Expertise on MK-84 Bomb as Evidence Supports Cambodia’s Claims | Cambodia Denies Thai Media Allegations of Drone Crossings and Urges Troop Return | Cambodia Urges Thailand to Match Words with Actions in Peace Efforts | BREAKING: Cambodia to Facilitate ASEAN Defence Observer Team Visit Along Border Regions in Support of Ceasefire Agreement | BREAKING: Two Suspects Detained in Phnom Penh Over Massive 562-Kilogram Drug Trafficking Case | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia Responds to Alleged Thai Military Movements Near Border Areas | Breaking News: Hun Sen Warns of Possible Thai Military Strike, Cancels Senate Meeting Tomorrow | Cambodian Defense Spokesperson Reports Calm but Cautions About Possible Developments Along Border | Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha Issues Directive Prohibiting UAV Launches in Border Provinces Amid Sovereignty Concerns | Cambodian Leader Hun Sen Warns of Heightened Tensions, Says Military on High Alert as Diplomacy Continues | TOP NEWS: Cambodia Condemns Thai Forces’ Entry into Sovereign Territory, Calls for International Support | BREAKING: Prime Minister Hun Manet Addresses Status of 18 Cambodian Soldiers in Thai Custody | BREAKING: Senate President Hun Sen Questions Thailand’s Refusal to Return 18 Captured Cambodian Soldiers |

Figure skating-Chinese Americans Chen, Zhou soak up 'second hometown' Beijing

  • Posted Feb 4, 2022 15:08 by Anthony Ellis
  • 2004
  Aa |   aA

INTERNATIONAL: All athletes savour the chance to shine on the Olympic stage but the Beijing Winter Games will be especially meaningful for American figure skaters Nathan Chen and Vincent Zhou, who have strong family roots in the Chinese capital.

Chen grew up in Salt Lake City and moved to California to train but has been on a trip down memory lane in Beijing, where his mother's family hails from. Chen and medal hopeful Zhou are both first generation Americans whose parents migrated from China to settle in the United States. "I was here when I was 10-years old-ish," the 22-year-old told reporters.

"I remember going to the Beijing Zoo. So, like every time when we're driving from the (Olympic) Village here, I see the Beijing Zoo and am like, ‘Oh, I was here when I was 10.’ "So, it's kind of cool to be able to see that. Also, just hear stories from my mom growing up in Beijing and being like, ‘Wow, you know, I'm here’. Teenage skater Alysa Liu, who will compete in the women's singles for Team USA, also has Chinese heritage through her Sichuan-born father Arthur.

Obviously we still love the country of China, even after my dad left because of the government," 16-year-old Californian Alysa Liu told NBC's "Today" show in the leadup to Beijing.

"This is still his homeland, and he's very happy that I get to go to China again ... Just going back to China will make me feel good."

Arthur Liu fled China after participating in pro-democracy demonstrations in the country at the time of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing. Both Chen and Zhou have imbued their skating with Chinese themes.

Both Chen and Zhou have fans in China but also critics. They drew flak on Chinese social media for backing American ice dancer Evan Bates after he criticised China for its human rights record during a media summit last October. Zhou said at the summit he supported Bates' comments but wanted to focus on success in Beijing. "Having concerns about things going on in the political climate or elsewhere is important but not productive towards our primary goal," he said.


Related News