In China, single women in their 30s have become the target of attention for the wrong reason, not for their professional achievements but for their perceived undesirable marital status. This is the result of applying outdated yardsticks to a significant new social phenomenon.

The biggest news story gripping China for the past two weeks is a trivial one. It involves only two people - Faye Wong and Li Yapeng - who announced on Sept 13 that they had just divorced.

Wong is a superstar singer whose every move is covered by reporters or paparazzi. Li is an actor with a lower profile, a second-tier star, you could say.