It marked the first church my wife and son had entered in Canada—and, remarkably, it has since become our church home in Vancouver. There, my wife met her first Canadian friends, and I met my first pastor.

From a Chinese perspective, Christmas in the West carries the same significance as the Spring Festival does in China. It matters to everyone, regardless of race or cultural background.

Like the Spring Festival, Christmas celebrations begin in the evening. At dusk, people arrived from all directions to the small church, drawn by the good news—God is with us.

Elderly people in formal attire, young people in down jackets, old neighbors, and new immigrants all gathered at this hour. At the church entrance, different languages mingled in soft conversation before everyone entered the sanctuary, where the cheerful atmosphere settled into peaceful silence as Pastor Jim began his brief sermon.

The midnight service on Christmas Eve forms the celebratory climax. Large cathedrals resound with the rich tones of pipe organs, evoking history itself, while smaller chapels fill with joyful worship music.

When the familiar melody of “Silent Night” begins, a sense of peaceful holiness fills the air—even for someone like me, who is not yet a Christian.

Cultural diversity defines Vancouver. During the service, brothers and sisters read the Bible in various languages. Even in my small community church, worship rang out in seven tongues—English, Korean, Hindi,

German, Spanish, and others. A refugee from Africa took the stage to read a passage of Scripture in an indigenous African language.

For believers at the crossroads of multiple cultures, this night’s ceremony becomes both a return to faith’s source and a moment to seek an anchor for the soul.

The candlelight ritual moved me most. A large altar candle was lit first; then its flame rippled outward, row by row, hand to hand, until everyone held their own light. In moments, the hall glowed with gently flickering, starlike points. In that soft light, faces appeared calm and serene; to me, Christian faith seemed profoundly warm and gentle.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the congregation wished one another “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”. When the candles finally went out, everyone said their farewells and slowly stepped out into the cold, rainy night—the familiar drizzle of Vancouver. The inner peace they had received in the church—kindled by shared songs and candlelight—was the warmth they would carry back home.

Christmas at home differs greatly from church. At its centre stands a fully decorated tree, beneath which global traditions converge: German nutcrackers, Swedish straw goats, Chinese peace knots, and Indigenous woven ornaments—all side by side, quietly redefining “home.” Families gather to exchange gifts amid peace and joy.

My first Christmas in Vancouver was not white, but rainy. I felt that my wife had seen the True Light, and I myself began to learn to open my arms and embrace the people around me.

P.S. I am not yet a Christian, though I may become one someday. I volunteered to take photos at the church that Christmas Eve.

The post Vancouver in My Eyes VI – Christmas appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

Unlike the summer rain, which comes with force and stops abruptly, the early winter rain is gentle yet unrelenting—an omnipresence that permeates every cubic inch of air. There seem to be no raindrops at all, only a fine‑knit web of moisture drifting with the wind, blurring distant mountains and nearby trees into a gray ink‑wash painting. The grayish air, saturated with water, hangs heavy with the crisp, slightly cool scent of humus and rain‑soaked pine needles.

The asphalt on the streets deepens to a darker gray, like sheets of Chinese painting paper, with the light of sky and cloud as its backdrop and the hazy, shifting reflections of buildings and trees forming picturesque scenes.

In winter, darkness envelopes the city early, pushing night forward to as early as five in the afternoon. One by one, the city lights flicker on, and the rain shifts from solemn gray to beguiling color. Red, yellow, and white lights are softened by the rain, stretched in the darkness, and scattered by watery reflections, turning smooth, mirror‑like puddles into fragments of shattered, resplendent galaxies. As car headlights pass, they carve through the darkness with fleeting golden ripples amid rivers of sparkling light.

In the winter rain, Vancouver sheds the brightness and flamboyance of sunny days and becomes a tired beauty without makeup—detached and lonely. Yet within this boundless dampness, the city turns tender and contemplative.

Umbrellas become extensions of the body, and footsteps take on a slightly more purposeful haste.

As buses move through the rain, their windows glaze over with a thin mist, turning the warm interior lights and human silhouettes into impressionist paintings. Restaurants seem more crowded; through their windows, white steam and shifting figures create scenes of inviting warmth in sharp contrast to the cold, wet streets outside. The rustling of rain on rooftops is the day’s constant background sound; at night, it turns into a monotonous yet peaceful lullaby that lulls people to sleep.

Wrapped in pervasive dampness, life does not disappear; it simply adopts an inward, subdued state, lying dormant in preparation for future growth. Autumn dyes the maple leaves red, and the winter breeze then plucks them from the branches, spreading them as a thick carpet on the ground, to which the fine rain adds a glossy sheen. The lawns remain stubbornly green, and the pine needles, washed by rain, glow with the deepest shade of their green. In sheltered corners, cold‑hardy camellias stand quietly in the rain, waiting for the moment to bloom.

The winter rain soaks clothes and shoes and slows people’s pace; even the flow of time itself seems dragged into a slower rhythm. It wraps heaven and earth in a transparent crystal dome, shutting out the clamor and compelling people to look inward and reflect. The rainy season is contemplative and calm, nourishing a moist tranquility as the city moves quietly into winter.

PS: This article was written on Oct. 24, 2025 which was my mother’s 85th birthday. I dedicate this short piece to for her good health and longevity.

港燦在溫哥華之五 雨

溫哥華由深秋過渡到初冬的標誌，不是氣溫計上驟降的數字，而是一場來了便彷彿不再打算離開的雨。

它不像夏季的雨，來得暴烈，去得也乾脆；溫哥華初冬的雨，是一種彌漫在每一立方空氣裡的無所不在。它是矜持的，細如牛毛，隨風飄灑，將遠山近樹暈染成一片水墨的灰濛。空氣也似乎吸飽了水份，沉甸甸的，帶著腐殖土與濕透的松針那清冽而微涼的氣息。

街道上，柏油路面的顏色變得深沉，像吸墨的宣紙，將天光雲影都收納進去，映出兩旁建築與樹木朦朧的、流動的倒影。

不到下午五時，夜幕已提早垂落，城市的燈火逐一亮起，雨便顯露出它最為魅惑的容顏。那些紅的、黃的、白的燈光，全被雨水濡濕、拉長、打散，在平滑如鏡的積水窪裡，流淌成一片片破碎而璀璨的星河。車燈劃過，便在這星河裡犁出一道道轉瞬即逝的金色波痕。

此時的溫哥華，褪去了晴日下的明媚與張揚，像一個卸了妝的倦美人，顯露出幾分清寂，幾分疏離，卻又在這無邊的濕潤裡，滋長出一種內向的、沉思的溫情。

傘，成了人們手臂的延伸。步伐不再悠閒，多了些許目的明確的匆促。

巴士車窗玻璃上，總蒙著一層薄薄的水氣，將車廂內溫暖的燈光與人影，暈染成印象派的畫作。餐館的生意似乎也好了起來，隔窗望去，氤氳著白霧，人影幢幢，成了濕冷世界裡一個個誘人的、溫暖的標點。雨水敲打屋頂的沙沙聲，成了白日最恆定的背景音；到了夜裡，則化作催人入眠的、單調而安詳的搖籃曲。

在這彷彿無休止的濕潤包裹中，生命並未褪色，只是換了一種更為沉潛的方式。微風把紅透的楓葉都摘了下了，在地面鋪上了一層厚厚的地毯，細雨再給其加上一抹亮澤。草地依舊是執拗的綠，松針葉被雨水洗刷，綠得幾乎要滴下汁來。城市角落裡，耐寒的山茶已然鼓出飽滿的花苞，在雨中靜靜等待綻放的時機。

雨，固然濡濕了衣襪，拖慢了行程，卻也彷彿將時間的流速調緩了。它將天地籠進一個透明的水晶罩裡，隔絕了喧囂教人不得不向內審視，與自己的思緒相處。於是，這雨季的溫哥華，成了一座巨大的、流動的禪院。它在窗外淅淅瀝瀝的低語裡，供養著一種潮潤的靜謐，與一種在灰度中辨認細微光影的、安寧的敏感。

另：今日是母親85歲生日，僅以此文祝母親大人健康長壽。

The post Vancouver in My Eyes V – Rain appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

Born in Hong Kong in 1927 to a poor family, Uncle Kiu fled with his parents to his father’s hometown in Dongguan during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in the Second World War. After the war, Chan’s family returned to Hong Kong, where he helped his mother sell fish at the market to make ends meet. Yet, he knew early on that fishmongering was not his calling. Through a relative’s introduction, he found a job taking photos for tourists with a wooden box camera at Tiger Balm Garden—a humble opportunity that marked the beginning of his lifelong journey in photography.

In 1956, Uncle Kiu joined The Standard as a darkroom technician. Three years later, he moved to the South China Morning Post, becoming a full-time photojournalist. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he captured many defining moments in Hong Kong’s modern history: the 1962 influx of mainland refugees, the 1967 riots, the arrival of Vietnamese boat people, devastating typhoons and floods, and the Sino-British negotiations, among others.

His body of work was not only vast—reportedly exceeding 40,000 rolls of film—but also rich in depth and historical value. His achievements earned him six Honour Certificates from the World Press Photo organization and the Queen’s Honorary Medal in 1985, recognizing his outstanding contributions to journalism and historical documentation.

Uncle Kiu retired in 1987 in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in 1993. He passed away in Vancouver on April 6, 2024.

Like Uncle Kiu, I myself entered the industry in 1989 also as a darkroom technician at The Express News, and later became a photojournalist. Though I eventually switched to writing, my interest in news photography has never faded, and I’ve remained close friends with many photographers. When I started out, Uncle Kiu had already retired. I remember meeting him once at an industry gathering — a brief encounter that left a quiet impression. Yet, as I viewed his photos at the Vancouver exhibition this time, his warm smile and familiar presence vividly came back to mind.

港燦在溫哥華之五 雨

溫哥華由深秋過渡到初冬的標誌，不是氣溫計上驟降的數字，而是一場來了便彷彿不再打算離開的雨。

它不像夏季的雨，來得暴烈，去得也乾脆；溫哥華初冬的雨，是一種彌漫在每一立方空氣裡的無所不在。它是矜持的，細如牛毛，隨風飄灑，將遠山近樹暈染成一片水墨的灰濛。空氣也似乎吸飽了水份，沉甸甸的，帶著腐殖土與濕透的松針那清冽而微涼的氣息。

街道上，柏油路面的顏色變得深沉，像吸墨的宣紙，將天光雲影都收納進去，映出兩旁建築與樹木朦朧的、流動的倒影。

不到下午五時，夜幕已提早垂落，城市的燈火逐一亮起，雨便顯露出它最為魅惑的容顏。那些紅的、黃的、白的燈光，全被雨水濡濕、拉長、打散，在平滑如鏡的積水窪裡，流淌成一片片破碎而璀璨的星河。車燈劃過，便在這星河裡犁出一道道轉瞬即逝的金色波痕。

此時的溫哥華，褪去了晴日下的明媚與張揚，像一個卸了妝的倦美人，顯露出幾分清寂，幾分疏離，卻又在這無邊的濕潤裡，滋長出一種內向的、沉思的溫情。

傘，成了人們手臂的延伸。步伐不再悠閒，多了些許目的明確的匆促。

巴士車窗玻璃上，總蒙著一層薄薄的水氣，將車廂內溫暖的燈光與人影，暈染成印象派的畫作。餐館的生意似乎也好了起來，隔窗望去，氤氳著白霧，人影幢幢，成了濕冷世界裡一個個誘人的、溫暖的標點。雨水敲打屋頂的沙沙聲，成了白日最恆定的背景音；到了夜裡，則化作催人入眠的、單調而安詳的搖籃曲。

在這彷彿無休止的濕潤包裹中，生命並未褪色，只是換了一種更為沉潛的方式。微風把紅透的楓葉都摘了下了，在地面鋪上了一層厚厚的地毯，細雨再給其加上一抹亮澤。草地依舊是執拗的綠，松針葉被雨水洗刷，綠得幾乎要滴下汁來。城市角落裡，耐寒的山茶已然鼓出飽滿的花苞，在雨中靜靜等待綻放的時機。

雨，固然濡濕了衣襪，拖慢了行程，卻也彷彿將時間的流速調緩了。它將天地籠進一個透明的水晶罩裡，隔絕了喧囂教人不得不向內審視，與自己的思緒相處。於是，這雨季的溫哥華，成了一座巨大的、流動的禪院。它在窗外淅淅瀝瀝的低語裡，供養著一種潮潤的靜謐，與一種在灰度中辨認細微光影的、安寧的敏感。

另：今日是母親85歲生日，僅以此文祝母親大人健康長壽。

The post Vancouver in My Eyes IV – Shadows of Hong Kong Past appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

My first encounter with the Lions Gate Bridge was while driving from my home in South Vancouver to a doctor’s office on the affluent North Shore. After passing through downtown, the road cut through the forested heart of Stanley Park. Suddenly, the green steel bridge—with its two lion statues standing guard—appeared before me. Just moments earlier, I had been surrounded by towering trees; now, I was driving high above the ocean, with the sea stretching endlessly on both sides. The sudden shift was dazzling with its impact was both visual and physical. The bridge is relatively narrow, with only three lanes, and as cars sped past, I felt an uneasy thrill—as though one careless turn of the wheel could send me off the edge. Even inside the car, I could feel the vibration and hum of the deck, as if the whole bridge trembled with each passing vehicle.

Though the speed limit is 80 km/h, few seem eager to reach it. Perhaps the view is too awesome—drivers instinctively slow down to take it in. Or maybe, like me, many simply have a touch of vertigo.

The Lions Gate Bridge spans the First Narrows of Burrard Inlet, connecting downtown Vancouver with the North Shore. It stretches 1.5 kilometers, its twin towers rise to 111 meters, and the deck hovers 61 meters above sea level. Its name comes from “The Lions,” the twin peaks that crown the North Shore mountains.

Construction began in March 1937, and the bridge officially opened on November 14, 1938—nearly ninety years ago. It was designed by the same engineer who created San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Initially privately owned, it was purchased by the Canadian government in 1955. In 2000, the bridge underwent a year-long restoration to widen the lanes and pedestrian sidewalks. On March 24, 2005, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

Automobiles have been widely used for just over a century, yet this nearly 90-year-old bridge remains one of Vancouver’s key arteries.

The Lions Gate Bridge reminds me of the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong—both are suspension bridges of roughly the same length. The latter, completed in 1997, is larger and structurally more complex. Yet the Lions Gate Bridge, built sixty years earlier and still carrying heavy traffic every day, deserves the highest respect for its designers and builders.

Despite my fear of heights, I once visited Stanley Park to walk across the bridge. Unlike Tsing Ma, the Lions Gate has pedestrian pathways where people stroll, jog, cycle, or walk their dogs while enjoying the view. But after stepping onto the bridge and walking only twenty or thirty meters toward the first tower, my knees began to weaken. The height was unmistakable, the surface quivered underfoot, and faint creaks echoed through the steel cables. I kept telling myself: this bridge has stood here nearly ninety years, carrying thousands of cars each day—surely, it won’t fail today. Yet, that small voice in my head insisted, “Leave now… hurry up!”

In Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour is crossed by three tunnels. When the Eastern Harbour Crossing was first proposed, some suggested building a bridge instead. Advocates believed a bridge would become a new city landmark and a draw for visitors, while critics argued that typhoons would make it unsafe, it could disrupt harbour traffic, and its cost would far exceed that of a tunnel. In the end, the government chose the tunnel.

From a practical point of view, the decision made sense. But still, one cannot help wondering—if a bridge had been built across Victoria Harbour, open to both vehicles and pedestrians, offering panoramic views of the city and sea—it might have become every bit as iconic as the Lions Gate, something no tunnel could ever replace.

I once came across a short piece of prose online about bridges. One line stayed with me:

“Walking across a bridge is passing commas in time;

The bridge itself is the eternal em dash—

Linking two shores that seem apart,

Knitting all the stories and poems, and

Travel between them.”

港燦在溫哥華之五 雨

溫哥華由深秋過渡到初冬的標誌，不是氣溫計上驟降的數字，而是一場來了便彷彿不再打算離開的雨。

它不像夏季的雨，來得暴烈，去得也乾脆；溫哥華初冬的雨，是一種彌漫在每一立方空氣裡的無所不在。它是矜持的，細如牛毛，隨風飄灑，將遠山近樹暈染成一片水墨的灰濛。空氣也似乎吸飽了水份，沉甸甸的，帶著腐殖土與濕透的松針那清冽而微涼的氣息。

街道上，柏油路面的顏色變得深沉，像吸墨的宣紙，將天光雲影都收納進去，映出兩旁建築與樹木朦朧的、流動的倒影。

不到下午五時，夜幕已提早垂落，城市的燈火逐一亮起，雨便顯露出它最為魅惑的容顏。那些紅的、黃的、白的燈光，全被雨水濡濕、拉長、打散，在平滑如鏡的積水窪裡，流淌成一片片破碎而璀璨的星河。車燈劃過，便在這星河裡犁出一道道轉瞬即逝的金色波痕。

此時的溫哥華，褪去了晴日下的明媚與張揚，像一個卸了妝的倦美人，顯露出幾分清寂，幾分疏離，卻又在這無邊的濕潤裡，滋長出一種內向的、沉思的溫情。

傘，成了人們手臂的延伸。步伐不再悠閒，多了些許目的明確的匆促。

巴士車窗玻璃上，總蒙著一層薄薄的水氣，將車廂內溫暖的燈光與人影，暈染成印象派的畫作。餐館的生意似乎也好了起來，隔窗望去，氤氳著白霧，人影幢幢，成了濕冷世界裡一個個誘人的、溫暖的標點。雨水敲打屋頂的沙沙聲，成了白日最恆定的背景音；到了夜裡，則化作催人入眠的、單調而安詳的搖籃曲。

在這彷彿無休止的濕潤包裹中，生命並未褪色，只是換了一種更為沉潛的方式。微風把紅透的楓葉都摘了下了，在地面鋪上了一層厚厚的地毯，細雨再給其加上一抹亮澤。草地依舊是執拗的綠，松針葉被雨水洗刷，綠得幾乎要滴下汁來。城市角落裡，耐寒的山茶已然鼓出飽滿的花苞，在雨中靜靜等待綻放的時機。

雨，固然濡濕了衣襪，拖慢了行程，卻也彷彿將時間的流速調緩了。它將天地籠進一個透明的水晶罩裡，隔絕了喧囂教人不得不向內審視，與自己的思緒相處。於是，這雨季的溫哥華，成了一座巨大的、流動的禪院。它在窗外淅淅瀝瀝的低語裡，供養著一種潮潤的靜謐，與一種在灰度中辨認細微光影的、安寧的敏感。

另：今日是母親85歲生日，僅以此文祝母親大人健康長壽。

The post Vancouver in My Eyes II – Bridges appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

Just days after Carney remarked that Canada is “having a rapprochement with China,” Newsweek published an analytical piece titled “China’s Plans to Dominate at Sea in 2026,” portraying China as an emerging global threat — particularly to North America.

While Chinese officials are likely to dismiss the piece as another reiteration of the “China threat” rhetoric, most of the naval developments cited are verifiable facts already reported by Chinese media. With little new information available, Newsweek appears to have relied on a sensational headline to capture attention on New Year’s Day.

Newsweek cited statistics claiming that China has built the world’s largest navy — over 370 warships and submarines, including three aircraft carriers. As America’s main maritime rival, China is expected to continue rapidly modernizing its navy and expanding its presence at sea in the coming year, according to the report.

It is true that China’s shipbuilding capacity and power projection capabilities have both advanced markedly. The advanced Fujian aircraft carrier entered active service, and the PLA Navy conducted multiple long-range exercises, including its first dual-carrier operation in the Western Pacific. Two high-profile naval presences near Australia also drew global attention.

Undeniably, China is demonstrating an increasing ability to challenge U.S. naval dominance as its fleets operate farther from home. Combined with a vast missile arsenal, its maritime buildup forms a key component of China’s effort to counter U.S. presence along the “first island chain” in Asia.

Yet an inconvenient fact remains: China’s principal naval focus is still on the Western Pacific and the nearby Indian Ocean. To portray China as an imminent threat to North America — including Canada — is an overstretch of both geography and intent.

Beijing, as it has consistently maintained, emphasizes that its military development is “entirely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests,” with no intention of targeting any third party.

Tom Shugart, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), noted China’s continued construction of another nuclear-powered carrier. He also highlighted the new stealth frigate and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship — capable of serving as both a landing platform and a carrier for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — describing it as “a class of warship currently unique to China.”

Shugart further pointed to rising Sino-Japanese tensions, citing Japan’s claim that a Chinese jet had locked its radar on a Japanese aircraft — an “ominous sign,” in his view.

However, the broader point remains: although the Chinese navy currently ranks first in total ship tonnage, its actual combat capability still trails far behind.

The clearest indicator of modern sea power — aircraft carriers — decisively favors the United States, which operates 11 carrier strike groups. China, including the not-yet-battle-ready Fujian, has only three.

The Liaoning and Shandong remain far less capable than America’s nuclear-powered carriers, and Chinese naval personnel lack the real combat experience of their U.S. counterparts.

Even Newsweek conceded that it remains uncertain whether China will proceed with additional next-generation warships. The report also acknowledged that one of the PLA Navy’s main goals for 2026 is to strengthen amphibious capabilities — integrating landing craft and expanding the use of civilian vessels in amphibious drills.

The grand military parade on September 3 last year showcased equipment that

amazed both domestic and foreign analysts familiar with the PLA, particularly the rapid progress of its navy and air force. Yet key questions persist: Does China truly have the capability to dominate the seas — or even the capacity to plan such domination?

As the world’s second-largest economy and home to the largest ocean-going merchant fleet, China understandably seeks a military strong enough to secure its global economic interests. Still, the West remains uneasy with a rising, communist China. The “China threat” narrative — more a product of rhetorical maneuvering than of sober analysis — continues to dominate Western headlines.

It seems Newsweek has already affixed the “hegemon” label to Beijing. Whether China intends or is able to dominate the seas is perhaps less important to the magazine than maintaining a narrative that sustains engagement and clicks.

In contrast, the Canadian government’s pragmatic caution in managing China relations — recognizing both risks and opportunities — may prove to serve the nation’s interests far better.

指其是「一個不祥的跡像」。

文章引多名西方的軍事專家分析說，中國海軍可能會在2026年擴大部署範圍，包括增加部署頻率和持續時間，並前往更遠的地區。「跨越國際日期變更線的遠

海任務很可能會成為其中一部分。」不過，專家認為，中國海軍的重點仍將放在西太平洋及鄰近的印度洋地區。

文章認為，中國海軍在2026年發展的另一個主要目標是持續增強的登陸能力，包括進一步整合登陸艇以及在兩棲演習中使用民用船只。

文章指 《新聞周刊》稱，隨著美國加大造船力度，並向前沿部署兵力以維持其在太平洋地區的軍事存在，中國是否會進一步增強其海上力量，包括建造新型艦艇，這些都還有待觀察。

作為平衡報道，該文也請中國駐美國大使館發言人劉鵬宇回應。他則重申了中國的立場,強調中國的軍事發展不針對任何第三方，這些發展完全是為了維護國家主權、安全和發展利益。

他還表示，中國航母的未來發展計劃將根據國防需要進行全面考慮，必須強調的是，中國走和平發展道路的戰略抉擇，獨立自主的和平外交政策，決定了中國始終不渝奉行防御性國防政策。

雖然中國官方一定會再指這篇文章也是「中國軍事威脅論」炒作，但事實上文章內談到的中國海軍發展大多為中國官方報道過的「事實」，但稱「中國計劃2026『稱霸海上』」則是「標題黨」無疑。

中國軍事力量近年的確高速發展，特別是去年「九三」大閱兵展現的裝備，連很多熟悉中國軍事的中外專家都「大吃一惊」，其中中國海空軍的發展更是令人注目，但中國真具有「稱霸」實力？或是「計劃稱霸」的實力嗎？

眾所周知，若以噸位計，中國海軍艦船噸位早已是世界第一，但以軍事實力，離「第一」則很遠。單以現代海軍最具代表性的航母比較，美軍有11個航母艦隊，中國加上還沒有形成戰力的「福建艦」也只有三艘航母，而其中的「遼寧艦」和「山東艦」戰力也無法和美軍的核動力航母相提並論。而更為重要的是美軍的航母和海軍人員不少具實戰經驗。

中國的經濟規模已是世界第二，有全球最大規模遠航商船隊，經濟利益涉及全球。中國需要有相應的軍事實力來維護自己的經濟利益，保護自己的安全，無可厚非。但是，對於主導世界百年的西方來說，不同於西方的中國「共產政權」是無法讓人放心的。於是，不論中國是否想「稱霸」，中國是否有實力「稱霸」，西方都先把「稱霸」這頂帽子扣到了中國頭上。

指其是「一個不祥的跡像」。

文章引多名西方的軍事專家分析說，中國海軍可能會在2026年擴大部署範圍，包括增加部署頻率和持續時間，並前往更遠的地區。「跨越國際日期變更線的遠

海任務很可能會成為其中一部分。」不過，專家認為，中國海軍的重點仍將放在西太平洋及鄰近的印度洋地區。

文章認為，中國海軍在2026年發展的另一個主要目標是持續增強的登陸能力，包括進一步整合登陸艇以及在兩棲演習中使用民用船只。

文章指 《新聞周刊》稱，隨著美國加大造船力度，並向前沿部署兵力以維持其在太平洋地區的軍事存在，中國是否會進一步增強其海上力量，包括建造新型艦艇，這些都還有待觀察。

作為平衡報道，該文也請中國駐美國大使館發言人劉鵬宇回應。他則重申了中國的立場,強調中國的軍事發展不針對任何第三方，這些發展完全是為了維護國家主權、安全和發展利益。

他還表示，中國航母的未來發展計劃將根據國防需要進行全面考慮，必須強調的是，中國走和平發展道路的戰略抉擇，獨立自主的和平外交政策，決定了中國始終不渝奉行防御性國防政策。

雖然中國官方一定會再指這篇文章也是「中國軍事威脅論」炒作，但事實上文章內談到的中國海軍發展大多為中國官方報道過的「事實」，但稱「中國計劃2026『稱霸海上』」則是「標題黨」無疑。

中國軍事力量近年的確高速發展，特別是去年「九三」大閱兵展現的裝備，連很多熟悉中國軍事的中外專家都「大吃一惊」，其中中國海空軍的發展更是令人注目，但中國真具有「稱霸」實力？或是「計劃稱霸」的實力嗎？

眾所周知，若以噸位計，中國海軍艦船噸位早已是世界第一，但以軍事實力，離「第一」則很遠。單以現代海軍最具代表性的航母比較，美軍有11個航母艦隊，中國加上還沒有形成戰力的「福建艦」也只有三艘航母，而其中的「遼寧艦」和「山東艦」戰力也無法和美軍的核動力航母相提並論。而更為重要的是美軍的航母和海軍人員不少具實戰經驗。

中國的經濟規模已是世界第二，有全球最大規模遠航商船隊，經濟利益涉及全球。中國需要有相應的軍事實力來維護自己的經濟利益，保護自己的安全，無可厚非。但是，對於主導世界百年的西方來說，不同於西方的中國「共產政權」是無法讓人放心的。於是，不論中國是否想「稱霸」，中國是否有實力「稱霸」，西方都先把「稱霸」這頂帽子扣到了中國頭上。

The post Is China Planning to “Dominate the Seas” in 2026? appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

From the moment I set foot in Canada, Vancouver revealed its “true colors” to me: lush, abundant greenery.

We Hongkongers take pride in our natural spaces within the city and consider ourselves environmentally conscious. Our Legislative Council carefully scrutinizes construction plans in the suburbs to protect nature. Vancouver, however, is quite the opposite—green wilderness dominates, making an urban person like me struggle to believe I’m still in a city. My son’s school in South Vancouver is said to be in a “downtown” area, but to me, it feels anything but “downtown”.

In Hong Kong, “downtown” means skyscrapers and postmodern symbols of urbanization and commercialization. While in Vancouver, however, “downtown” simply refers to an area with more settlements compared to the surrounding areas. Here, people focus on protecting human lives while embracing nature, especially when bears showing up at the yard of the houses in the suburb areas.

Around my rental places, trees, grass, flowers, and chubby, timid squirrels surround us; bold blossoms brighten the landscape, and mountains stand like guardians in the background, making the sky feel lower than it does in Hong Kong. There’s a Chinese saying mocking those who look for greener grass abroad—“the moon looks fuller in a foreign land”. I’m not one of those people, but I have to admit, the sky in Canada does feel lower than in Hong Kong.

This makes it a wonderful place for my son to enjoy flying his drone. Ten years ago, I bought him a drone thinking Victoria Park would be the perfect spot to fly it. However, before we could even unpack it, a park staff member stopped us. “We must protect passers-by!” the patroller explained. In contrast, Vancouver feels “empty” compared to Hong Kong, offering plenty of open (and low) sky for my son to fly his toy drone.

Sounds perfect, right?

Of course not—I didn’t bring a drone with me! They are all in Hong Kong!

為了小兒子安心讀書，三個月前辭了做了三十多年的媒體工作離開香港，來到加拿大溫哥華當陪讀家長。雖然以前多次到加拿大旅遊，對溫哥華並不陌生，但在這里裏生活，我才真正感受同為國際大都會城市，溫哥華和香港的各種不同……

港燦在溫哥華之一 綠

香港是一個人多地少的城市，香港社會對綠地的保護相當「執著」，政府如果要砍一棵大樹都需要小心奕奕，想在新界的廢棄農地搞發展也需要經過環境評估及立法會通過，更不用說動用郊野公園土地了。但即便如此，在大多數人的認知裏，香港是一個石屎森林城市，不論是商業區還是居民居住區，想找點綠色都是很難的，如果在市區擁有一個能見綠色的住宅，已可稱為「豪宅」。

不過，在溫哥華，「綠」則是居民生活的一部分，推窗見樹出門踏青是生活常態，不論是在由高樓組成的鐵路鎮居民住宅區還是溫哥華市商業中心地區，綠色也不會從視線中消失。

據官方的數據，溫哥華的「樹冠覆蓋率」即使在人口密度最高的Richmond也超過10%，有些地區的 「樹冠覆蓋率」更超過60%。溫哥華近年經常在各項世界最佳居住城市排名中名列前茅，其中一個最大的優勢就是有很好的空氣質素，而空氣質素的優劣則和綠化的程度息息相關。

為方便兒子讀書，我租住在溫哥華南的一個住宅區。由住宅出門，不論向南

或向北，走不到百米，都會見到一個公園。公園內有古樹，有兒童遊樂設施，有步道，還有足球場及棒球場。

來到溫哥華，為方便出行買了一輛車。一次自己想在家門口洗車，有鄰居見到阻止，「這是犯法的」，「在街上洗車是違法的，因為它會把化學清潔濟和油脂衝進路邊排水溝，污染下水道，也會破壞路邊的植物」。

在兒子五、六歲時，他特別喜歡遙控飛機，於是我網購了一架遙控戰鬥機。但買回來才認識到，在香港根本不太可能找到一個可以給初學者試飛遙控飛機的地方。在香港最大的城市公園維多利亞公園，管理人員明確警告，公園內不能施放遙控飛機，即使在中心大草坪上也不能，「會撞傷人」。香港有不多的幾個大型球場，但顯然球場內是不可能讓孩子去玩遙控飛機的。於是，至今十多年過去，孩子已出洋讀書了，那架遙控飛機依然躺在收納室的架子上，一次都沒有飛行過。

The post Greener Grass in Vancouver appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

In England, King John, under pressure from his barons, sealed the Magna Carta (the Great Charter) at Runnymede. This groundbreaking royal charter limited the sovereign’s power and affirmed rights for free men, especially the protection of private property. The Magna Carta established the principle that even the king must obey the law, laying the foundation for constitutional governance and legal protections in Britain, which later became fundamental to Canada’s political system.

The Magna Carta’s principle that private property should be safeguarded from arbitrary interference by the sovereign became a cornerstone of British society and the Christian world from the 13th century onward. Over time, Britain developed a stable system where wealth accumulation and protection were secured, fostering economic growth and individual rights both in England and its colonies, including Canada and Hong Kong of 19th and 20th centuries.

Canada’s bond with Britain was cemented in 1763 when the Treaty of Paris was signed between Great Britain and France. That same year, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, famously articulated the ethos of protecting private property with his famous quote, “The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail—its roof may shake—the wind may blow through it—the storm may enter—the rain may enter—but the King of England cannot enter!”

In contrast, 1215 in China marked the beginning of the Mongol era. Genghis Khan initiated his expeditions to the south and west that year. His grandson, Kublai Khan, born in 1215, ultimately conquered the Song Dynasty in 1271, leaving devastation and massive population loss—nearly 90 percent of the population in Southern China perished due to the invasion. China was thereafter ruled by emperors wielding absolute power through Machiavellian scholar-officials.

By 1763, while British forefathers were affirming property rights in Canada, China’s richest official, Heshen, was getting himself well prepared for his career success. He soon rose dramatically, and also fell within days, if not months. From 1763 to 1799, he accumulated vast wealth under imperial favor. Then, when Emperor Qianlong died in 1799, he was executed by the successor emperor within weeks, and his wealth confiscated without legal protection or recourse. This episode exemplifies how private wealth in China was vulnerable to imperial whim rather than safeguarded by an independent legal system.

Hong Kong was considered a “blessed place”—a barren island permanently ceded to Britain and developed under the same legal system as Canada. It remains the only common law jurisdiction among Chinese communities. Although Heshen’s tragedy occurred nearly 200 years earlier, many businessmen in Hong Kong felt insecure after the Communist Party took control in 1997. Some conglomerates, such as Jardine Matheson, chose to leave, while others diversified their asset portfolios to minimize risk.

China has only recently begun developing frameworks to protect private wealth amid its evolving political landscape. In the 1990s, Beijing discussed legislation to protect private property, but substantial progress was limited. Some American investors, including McDonald’s, refrained from purchasing properties in China even during its market boom. They are, in a sense, standing on the right side of history.

1215年的預示

要理解加拿大和香港發生的變化，我們需要回溯到1215年，這一年是歷史上的一個里程碑，以截然不同的方式塑造了英格蘭基督教世界和中國元明清三代。

先看英格蘭，國王約翰在其諸侯的壓力下，于拉尼米德簽署了《大憲章》（Magna Carta）。這份開創性立法的限制了君主的權力，確認了自由民的權利，尤其是對私有財產的保護。《大憲章》確立了即使是國王也必須遵守法律的原則，為英國的憲政治理和法律保護奠定了基礎，後來這一原則也成為加拿大政治體制的基礎。

從13世紀起，《大憲章》中保護私有財產免受君主任意干涉的原則成為英國社會和基督教世界的基石。隨著時間推移，英國建立一個能夠內部制衡、司法獨立的民主政治體系，從而使財富積累和保護得以保障，促進了英格蘭本土及其殖民地（包括加拿大和19、20世紀的香港）的經濟增長。

1763年，英國和法國簽署了《巴黎條約》，確立了加拿大英國殖民地的地位。同年，查塔姆伯爵威廉·皮特用著名的話語闡述了保護私有財產的精神：“即使是最貧窮的人，也可以在自己的茅屋中蔑視皇家的一切力量。那茅屋可能搖搖欲墜，風可能吹進屋裡，風暴可能來襲，雨水可能滲入——但英國國王不可進入！”

回頭看中國，1215年則標誌著蒙古人時代的開始。這一年，成吉思汗開啟了南征與西討，而他的孫子忽必烈也于這一年出生。忽必烈於1271滅了南宋，過程極其慘烈，南方的人口減少近90%。此後，中國的皇帝坐擁絕對皇權，而文官體系則充滿殘酷的政治鬥爭。

及至1763年，正當英國先祖在加拿大建立私有財產不可侵犯的社會管理體系時，和珅正在積極努力走入仕途。隨後他官運亨通，從1763年至1799年，他成為乾隆皇帝的寵臣，成為巨富。1799年乾隆皇帝駕崩，他隨即被嘉慶皇帝處決，所有財富當即充公，整個過程毫無任何法律保護或者救濟手段。在中國，私人財富在受帝王所左右，“普天之下莫非王土”的觀念深入人心，財產不僅在法律上，甚至在觀念上也未能得到獨立的司法體系予以保護。首富尚且如此，平民自不必說。

然而，香港被視為“福地”。它原本是一個荒蕪的小島，清朝時永久割讓給英國，因而得以在普通法體系下發展、壯大，和加拿大一樣。現在，香港仍然是華人社區中唯一採納普通法的司法管轄區。1997年，距離和珅的充公已是198年，但香港商人仍感到不安，不知道他們的私有財產是否能夠得到法律保護。一些財團（如怡和集團）躲之不及，其他則通過多元化資產組合來降低風險。

事實上，中國直到近年才開始在不斷變化的政治環境中嘗試建立保護私人財富的框架。1990年代，社會甚至討論立法保護私有財產不可起凡，但最終不了了之。有鑑於此，包括微軟在內的一些美國投資者一直租用辦公地點，拒絕在中國購置房產。某種意義上，他們或許 站在了歷史的正確一邊。

The post 1215: How Britain and China Diverged in Their Paths appeared first on Jonathan Lee.

In 1982, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang met with Britain’s Lord Privy Seal Humphrey Atkins and firmly asserted China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong amid ongoing Sino-British negotiations. Later that year, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher experienced an accidental fall on the steps in Beijing during her visit, adding to the tension and anxieties among Hongkongers. This sequence of events alarmed Hong Kong’s elite, stirring fears that the “borrowed time” under British rule was coming to an end. While many local elites hoped to maintain the city’s colonial status, some prominent professionals felt an urgent need to emigrate to Western countries, with Canada emerging as a favored destination for safety and opportunity.

Then came 1984—a year that, for many Hongkongers, echoed the dystopian vision of George Orwell’s 1984. When the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed in July, the first wave of Hong Kong migrants—predominantly elite businessmen and professionals—began settling in Canada. While Canada was often seen as a vast land with “cold” economic energies, few recognized its enduring constitutional continuity, which had remained largely unchanged since 1867 and was deeply rooted in British legal principles dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215.

The Magna Carta’s legacy resonates in Canada’s foundational document, the Constitution Act of 1867, establishing Canada as a federation “under the Crown of the United Kingdom” with a constitutional framework inspired by British parliamentary democracy.

Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, recognized the need to balance government power with citizen rights—an essential Magna Carta principle. This legacy shaped Canada’s political evolution, culminating in the Constitution Act of 1982, which patriated the constitution, affirming full Canadian sovereignty and introducing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enshrining civil liberties within the British legal tradition.

In sharp contrast, Hong Kong’s British traditions waned rapidly after the 1984 Joint Declaration that outlined Hong Kong’s 1997 return to Chinese sovereignty under the so-called “one country, two systems” framework, promising 50 years of high autonomy. Despite retaining much of its legal system, Hong Kong’s political operation has been profoundly Sinicized, with British political customs becoming politically sensitive or taboo.

Thus, while Canada preserved and evolved its British constitutional heritage as a symbol of stable sovereignty and rights protection, Hong Kong’s British political traditions diminished significantly under Communist rule. How and why did two places sharing British colonial roots follow such divergent paths? This question will be explored in the following article.

The post 1982: Canada vs Hong Kong appeared first on Jonathan Lee.