Four Cambodian snowboarders competed in this year's Asian Winter Games, marking the tropical country's first time participating in the international sporting event.
The 9th Asian Winter Games officially opened on Friday in Harbin City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and runs until Feb 14.
This year's Games have drawn more than 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, making it the largest edition in terms of participation, according to organizers.
The team includes four snowboarders who made their debut at the Yabuli ski resort in Harbin.
Cambodian competitors, who made their debut at the Yabuli Ski Resort in Harbin, said that they value the chance to learn from athletes from around the continent.
"We'll just go there to share connections with other people from outside countries. I just feel happy that I have the opportunity to come here. I don't have much experience on snowboard, but I would love to try more and more if I have the opportunity to train," said Chantsovanratanak Doung, a Cambodian snowboarder.
He added that he is "really happy" to be in Harbin, despite being unaccustomed to the city's harsh cold temperatures.
Doung's teammate Mengchoing Phin said he is glad to have the opportunity to experience China during the event.
"I am so excited to be here. The winter sports are amazing. Snow, and China, Chinese people are so amazing. I love the culture. I love the food here. Everything is amazing," he said.
Cambodian snowboarders compete in Winter Asian Games for first time
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
