Latest news with #ChineseCivilWar
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Jackie Chan recalls moment his father revealed spy past
HONG KONG: Jackie Chan, 71, recently recounted the surprising discovery he made about his father, Charles. In an interview with People magazine, Chan revealed that his father had once confessed to being a spy for China's then-Kuomintang government in the 1940s. Chan recalled: "I was in my forties then, and my father stunned me into silence with this shocking revelation. He said, 'Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up,' before telling me that he was a spy. At first, I was unable to accept this, but five hours later I was ready." This revelation prompted Chan to commission the 2003 documentary, Traces Of The Dragon: Jackie Chan And His Lost Family. The film explored his father's work as a government spy during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. It also uncovered his mother, Lee-Lee's, secret past as an opium smuggler and gambler. Charles passed away in 2008 at the age of 93, and Lee-Lee died in 2002 at the age of 86. "As a child, my father sent me to a martial arts school as I was very naughty," Chan explained. "But this move turned out to be the catalyst for a long and fruitful career." Chan is currently starring alongside Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid: Legends, part of the long-running Karate Kid film franchise.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jackie Chan's real name isn't Chan, and his father was a spy?
Jackie Chan is one of the top martial artists, actors, and filmmakers known for his acrobatic fighting style, comedic timing, and daring stunts, which he often performs himself. Born as Chan Kong-sang on April 7, 1954, in Hong Kong, he has had a career spanning over six decades, making him one of the most influential figures in action cinema. Now, these are the things that almost everyone knows, but did you know that Jackie Chan's father was a spy? According to his recent confession, Chan himself got to know about this fact in his 40s. And that is not it, his real name is not even Chan! Jackie Chan recalls the moment The legend spoke about this in an interview with People magazine, recalling the moment he got to know about his father, Charles, not being a simple citizen. In the video, the star pointed out his parents in a family photograph, saying, 'That's my father and my mum. I cannot remember how old I was at the time.' Later, he looked back on the moment when his father revealed the secret to him when he was driving a car. He uttered, 'My father was a very handsome guy, and my father was a spy. I got to know my father's secret when I was 40-something... One day, I was driving my car, and my father suddenly said, 'Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up... I have a secret to tell you... You are not Chan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Trading con IA en Chile ayuda a usuarios a obtener ganancias potenciales! Mainhubfb Más información Undo Your original name is Fang.' The actor revealed that he was 'very shocked' at the revelation and was unable to listen to his father Charles' explanation of his past further. The family documentary His mother, Lee-lee Chan, also had a secret past; she was an opium smuggler and gambler before moving to Hong Kong. Jackie later commissioned a documentary in 2003, 'Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family,' which explored his parents' hidden lives. The movie showed his mother's gambling past and his father's work as a government spy during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. The documentary says it all, including how they fled to Hong Kong to avoid any political turmoil. It also shows Jackie Chan's struggle in the China Drama Academy. His Career Jackie Chan got into Hollywood in 1995 with a role in Rumble in the Bronx. However, it was 1998's buddy cop comedy 'Rush Hour,' opposite Chris Tucker, that established his status as a star. He got into this career as a stuntman but later got into the movies. This might be the reason for him to be so comfortable doing his own stunts, even in a movie. He started as one of the Seven Little Fortunes at the China Drama Academy, where he trained in acrobatics, martial arts, and acting. His breakthrough came with Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, followed by Drunken Master, which established his signature blend of martial arts and comedy. Beyond acting, Chan is a philanthropist, singer, and film producer, with a career spanning over decades. His influence on action cinema is unparalleled, inspiring generations of martial artists and filmmakers. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
China criticizes Hegseth's 'Cold War mentality' on Indo-Pacific
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth participates in an announcement by President Donald Trump about moving forward with the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House on May 20, 2025. File photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo June 1 (UPI) -- China criticized the United States on Sunday for having a "Cold War mentality" after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Beijing as a threat the Indo-Pacific region in a speech Saturday. "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat,'" a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S." Hegseth had delivered his remarks during the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue event in Singapore. He said the Indo-Pacific region is the United States' "priority theater" and won't allow China to push it and its allies out of the region. China retorted Sunday that "no country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself." "To perpetuate its hegemony and advance the so-called 'Indo-Pacific strategy,' the U.S. has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Hegseth had also said that China was "preparing to use military force" to alter the balance of power in the region and said that the United States and its allies must be prepared for armed conflict, citing "great progress" in the region toward "achieving peace through strength." "If deterrence fails -- and if called upon by [the] commander in chief -- we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best: to fight and win, decisively," Hegseth said. Mainland China and the island of Taiwan, among other islands, were ruled by the Republic of China before the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War in the early 20th century to the Chinese Communist Party, which established the new government of the People's Republic of China in October 1949. The ROC in turn established a temporary capital in Taipei on the island of Taiwan, a former Japanese territory, in December 1949 that served as the seat for China at the United Nations until it was replaced by the People's Republic of China in 1971 when foreign countries switched their diplomatic relations. China views self-governed Taiwan and its 23 million residents as a wayward province and has vowed to retake it by force, if necessary. Many supporters of Taiwan have since argued that it is already an independent sovereign state separate from mainland China, which has never controlled Taiwan. Tensions between the United States and China started to grow during the administration of President Joe Biden in 2022 when then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, sparking a military response from the Chinese government and increased drills in the Taiwan Strait. In 2022, a four-star general predicted that the U.S. and China could be at war by the end of this year. After returning for his second term, President Donald Trump's administration has escalated tensions with China, particularly related to trade tariffs that appear now to be expanding into broader military and diplomatic arenas. For example, the Pentagon has increased naval patrols in contested areas of the South China Sea and bolstered military partnerships with allies including Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. "The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. No country is in a position to interfere. The U.S. should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "The U.S. must never play with fire on this question."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'My father was a Chinese spy': Jackie Chan reveals a big secret and his real name
Jackie Chan recently shared that he learned his father was a spy when he was in his forties. The actor, now 71, disclosed this personal detail during an interview with People magazine. He also discussed his discovery of his real surname and spoke about a documentary that explored his family's hidden history. Actor speaks about family secret During the interview, Jackie Chan showed a family photo and said, 'That's my father and my mom. I cannot remember how old I am at the time.' He then recalled a moment in his forties when his father, Charles, revealed the truth while they were in a car. Jackie Chan's Real Name 'My father was a very handsome guy, and my father was a spy. I got to know my father's secret when I was 40 something... One day, I was driving my car and my father suddenly said, 'Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up'... I have a secret to tell you... You are not Chan. Your original name is Fang,' Chan said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Year, More Productive You Grammarly Install Now Undo The actor said he was 'very shocked' by the revelation and felt unable to listen to the full explanation at the time. A documentary revealed more In 2003, Jackie Chan commissioned a documentary titled Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family. The film explored how his father worked as a government spy during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. The documentary also revealed that his mother, Lee-lee, had a hidden past as an opium smuggler and gambler. Live Events From Hong Kong films to Hollywood Jackie Chan began gaining global attention with his role in Rumble in the Bronx in 1995. His popularity grew after the 1998 release of Rush Hour, where he starred opposite Chris Tucker in a buddy cop comedy. Jackie Chan Making a Return in Karate Kid: Legends Chan has recently returned to the Karate Kid series with Karate Kid: Legends. He appears alongside Ralph Macchio, who also reprises his role. The film follows a new young martial artist, played by Ben Wang, who trains under the guidance of Chan and Macchio's characters. The trailer shows action scenes from a martial arts academy and dramatic moments in New York City. Jackie Chan's voice-over in the trailer says, "In life, you only have one question: Is it worth fighting for or not?" The film released in India on May 30.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Jackie Chan drops a bombshell! Says his father was a spy, Chan isn't his real name
Actor Jackie Chan is a legendary figure in the film industry, renowned for his impressive martial arts skills. Interestingly, his father was a spy, a fact that was kept hidden from Jackie during his younger years. Also read: Jackie Chan says Rush Hour 4 needs to happen soon — 'Otherwise, we'll be 100 years old…' The actor spoke about his past during an interview with People magazine, looking back on the moment when he discovered the secret from his father, Charles. In the video, the action movie star, now 71, shows a family picture, mentioning 'that's my father and my mom. I cannot remember how old I am at the time'. Later, he recalled the moment when his father shared the secret while he was driving the car. 'My father was a very handsome guy, and my father was a spy. I got to know my father's secret when I was 40 something... One day, I was driving my car and my father suddenly said, 'Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up'... I have a secret to tell you... You are not Chan. Your original name is Fang,' he added. The actor revealed that he was 'very shocked' at the revelation and initially felt unable to listen to his father Charles' explanation of his past. Back in 2003, Jackie had commissioned a documentary, Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family, which tells the story of how his father worked as a government spy during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. His mother, Lee-lee, also had a secret past as an opium smuggler and gambler, which the film covered. Jackie Chan got the ticket to Hollywood in 1995 with a role in Rumble in the Bronx. However, it was 1998's buddy cop comedy Rush Hour opposite Chris Tucker that cemented his status as a star. Jackie returned to the Karate Kid franchise with Karate Kid: Legends. The film sees Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprise their roles as Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso. The film follows a new young martial artist, played by Ben Wang, as he is trained by Chan and Macchio's characters. The trailer features scenes from a martial arts academy, intense action moments in New York, and Jackie Chan's voice-over saying, "In life, you only have one question: Is it worth fighting for or not?" The film was released on May 30 in India.
