Asia Weekly names Diaoyu voyagers 'people of the year'

Eight activists from Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland who sailed to the Diaoyu Islands to claim them for China appeared on the cover of Asia Weekly as “people of the year”.

Lauded as national heroes in the Chinese-language magazine are captain Yeung Hong, vessel owner Lo Chau, Tsang Kin-shing, Koo Sze-yiu, Wong Fah-man, Lo Chung-cheong, Ng Shek-yiu from Macau and Fang Xiaosong from the mainland.

The activists have “changed the course of history in China, as well as the power structure in Asia” by their “fearless determination, passion, wisdom and action", said the report.

Seven members of the group managed to land on the main island and pitch China's national flag - the first time since 1996. All seven were profiled by Asia Weekly; Wong, who stayed on the boat, was commended for carrying the national flag.

Asia Weekly's first 2013 edition commended their efforts and briefly profiled each of the eight activists.