Featured stories about East Asia
Stories about East Asia
What overseas Chinese citizens make of Xi Jinping's resignation rumours
Rumours of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s potential resignation have swirled on Chinese social media in the past two weeks and prompted a lot of speculations among overseas Chinese dissidents.
Activists rally for marriage equality in Thailand
A petition was launched proposing amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code to allow marriage registration between two people of any gender.
A Uyghur journalist's demand: Bring an end to my family’s decades of suffering
"I urge UN staff to help get information on whether my 11 relatives are alive and, if so, where are they and why and how they were punished?"
The Philippines: Protests erupt as a former dictator’s son leads the presidential election tally
"It is difficult for voters to be confident in election proceedings marred by machine errors and breakdowns."
Does Indonesia have a healthy free press? Not according to West Papua
This World Press Freedom Day, we review the human rights violations, free speech barriers, and media abuses in Papua, which has been annexed by Indonesia for almost 60 years.
Exploring the Mariko Aoki phenomenon: Do bookstores make you poop?
"The intensity of the information that you encounter in museums and libraries—or the sudden quiet of a garden—can trigger an autonomic response in your gut."
For acclaimed journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, winning a Nobel Peace Prize offers no protection
For Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Russian editor Dmitry Muratov, winning the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize has not provided protection from their attackers and state threats as they continue their investigations.
Hong Kong’s press freedom plunged from satisfactory to a ‘difficult situation’ in a matter of years
Hong Kong’s ranking was dragged down by the enactment of the National Security Law and the prosecutions of journalists.
China: Weibo’s new location tag exposes the whereabouts of users, opinion leaders and tiny pinks
Despite privacy concerns, the location data has unexpectedly exposed the whereabouts of pro-government opinion leaders and patriotic trolls.
Malaysian writer faces blasphemy probe for Facebook post
"Uthaya Sankar SB’s arrest for his social media post highlights the limits of free expression in Malaysia on issues such as religion."
Japan officially rebukes Ukraine for comparing wartime emperor with Hitler, Mussolini
"You can love Japan, and be proud to be Japanese, without defending this history of fascism."
How Myanmar's military supporters are using Facebook to justify violence
Mainstream media outside Myanmar have failed to report on pro-Junta narratives.
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club cancels Human Rights Awards for fear of legal risks
Launched in 1995, the Awards is one of the most important platforms to celebrate and honour human rights journalism from around Asia.
The censorship of Shanghai citizens in lockdown sparks an uproar on Chinese social media
A six-minute video on the lockdown in Shanghai had gone viral and sparked large-scale online protests after the Chinese censor handed down a comprehensive content removal order on April 22, 2022.
On Timor-Leste's 20th independence anniversary, former president Ramos-Horta makes a comeback
Ramos-Horta, a leader in the independence process, received 62 percent of the votes, securing a victory over current president Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres, who received 38 percent in the second round of elections on April 19.
Myanmar activists launch ‘Blue Shirt’ campaign to show solidarity with political prisoners
"These activists bravely stood up against the military coup, but the world seems to have forgotten about them."
Abuse, arrests, and harassment: How environmental activists fare in Vietnam
"Harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment are just some of the tactics Vietnam uses to silence environmental activists."
Japanese fast food exec fired after talk of “hooking young women on meth”
The former Yoshinoya executive's remarks are just one example of the deeper problem of misogyny that plagues Japanese society.
Who is John Lee? A look into the incoming Hong Kong chief executive's political positions
John Lee is on track to be elected the next chief executive by the 1,462 Election Committee members.
Technology: a problem or a solution in Myanmar’s revolution?
Myanmar has faced surveillance and censorship in its digital spaces since it opened the internet to the public in the early 2000s.
Unverified claims that a popular herbal medication prevents COVID-19 triggers online backlash in China
While Shanghai residents are struggling with food shortages, they have an abundant supply of “Lianhua Qingwen”.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
