Israel's interception of the Francop came a week after Yemeni forces seized an Iranian ship transporting armor-piercing weapons to Houthi Shi'ite rebels in northern Yemen.
The ebullient Mr. Shi sports close-cropped hair and collared-shirt-and-sweater combinations more suited to an office worker than a guerrilla filmmaker.
The news of Mr Shi's recognition triggered a heated debate in academic circles, China Youth Daily notes in an article republished by Xinhua news agency.