The New York Times: The Opinion Pages comments: "The calls for independence, as unlikely and impractical as that is, reflect growing resentment for how Beijing and its local representatives have governed the city and intervened in its affairs....But the LegCo [local legislature] insurgents and their supporters in the general public are increasingly fighting a lonely battle as powerful forces around the world are scrambling to appease Beijing....China, once Hong Kong’s poor cousin, has become the world’s second largest economy....The fact is that the fate of Hong Kong has always been linked to China, an integral part of its destiny because of history, culture and geography. Independence is not an option for Hong Kong. Like the rest of the world, Hong Kong people will have to cope with the reality of a rising and more powerful China."

The Washington Post: Wonkblog comments: "China’s bid for soft power was on show this week, as Sony Pictures Entertainment formed an alliance with Dalian Wanda, a Chinese company that has become one of the world’s largest media empires, in a deal announced Friday....For Hollywood, China provides the blockbuster combination of a huge movie market and cash-rich equity funds that are eager to invest in films and companies. The Chinese box office is on pace to soon surpass the U.S. as the world’s biggest market, perhaps next year....'From a political standpoint, this is very much in line with Chinese media policy, and Wang Jianlin is closely aligned with these policymakers,'says Aynne Kokas, an assistant professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and the author of the forthcoming book 'Hollywood Made in China.' So it's a short leap to think Wang means to use his corporate power to expand China's influence abroad, she says. 'I think we should believe Wang Jianlin when he tells us what he plans to do.'" 

The Associated Press reports: "Japan’s top government spokesman warned China on Monday against expanding its military activity to the skies over disputed East China Sea islands after eight Chinese warplanes flew near the area over the weekend....The aircraft, believed to be two fighter jets, four bombers and two reconnaissance aircraft, did not violate Japanese airspace during a long-distance roundtrip flight, Suga said, but it was the first time Chinese warplanes had flown that route.Chinese media reports said the flights were part of a routine exercise involving about 40 aircraft. Suga acknowledged that the flights might be part of an exercise, but said that Japan would respond firmly to any violation of Japanese airspace."