Singapore PM Lawrence Wong’s ancestral ties spark Chinese social media interest: ‘the pride of Hainan’
- Online material from videos to commentary highlight new prime minister’s past comments on China as well as his supposed ancestral home in Wenchang, Hainan
- Observers note the bump in online interest reflects blurred boundaries between Chinese nationality and ethnicity
Soon after Lawrence Wong was sworn in on Wednesday as Singapore’s fourth prime minister since the city’s independence, a mix of online content from media members and observers found its way onto Chinese social media.
A video titled “Greetings from Hainan Island in China” appears to show a banner being put up in front of the Huang ancestral hall in Wenchang, Hainan – said to be Wong’s ancestral home – congratulating him on his appointment to Singapore’s top job.
Wong’s family name is Huang in Chinese.
Articles and videos mostly traced Wong’s ancestral ties to Beishan village in Huiwen town, noting his father first migrated from Hainan to Malaysia. Some clips highlight Wong’s growing-up years in Singapore, from his education milestones to career achievements.
Others, such as one by the Hainan Business Association in Shenzhen, detailed Wong’s personal interests and hobbies, such as guitar playing and riding motorbikes.
Describing Wong as a “grass-roots leader”, Tian Yuzheng from China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations said in an article posted by his institute’s WeChat account that as the first prime minister born after the island-state’s independence, Wong would continue the republic’s achievements.
“He will also promote Sino-Singapore relations to keep pace with the times and move forward steadily,” Tian said.
