Stories about East Asia
What’s in store for Myanmar in 2025?
"The military is in a state of decline; it is weak and shrinking. The military has seen a wave of desertions, defeats, low morale and loss of dignity."
Activist Thai lawyer gets additional years in prison for ‘defaming’ the monarchy
"The fire of struggle has not yet been extinguished. The seeds of freedom have been sown in people’s hearts already. We now wait for them to grow."
Families of Hongkongers trapped in Myanmar ‘scam farms’ ask for diplomatic intervention
Families of human trafficking victims ask for Beijing's diplomatic assistance to rescue their loved ones who are held captive in "scam farms" in Myanmar.
From Myanmar to Australia, a former refugee shares what it means to struggle for Rohingya rights
"For us, citizenship alone will never be enough. We are calling for a process of reconciliation, reckoning, and truth-telling that fully recognizes our rightful place in Arakan/Rakhine State."
A year in Myanmar junta’s theatre of absurdity as military collapse loomed
"Myanmar’s military regime struggled harder to maintain a charade of normalcy this year as its territorial control shrank in the face of relentless resistance advances."
2025: The year we decide the internet's future
In 2024, critical discussions began that could reshape internet governance, with debates extending into 2025. At stake is the shift from a multi stakeholder model ... to a government-dominated approach.
Vietnam strengthens control of internet and civil society through new decrees
This new decree “neither protect the public from any genuine security concerns nor respect fundamental human rights.”
Fifteen times Hong Kong made international headlines in 2024
Hong Kong made the news on several occasions in 2024 whether for passing new security legislation, censorship laws, or the mystery surrounding the deaths of several monkeys at a city-centre zoo.
How is former US president Jimmy Carter remembered in China and Taiwan?
In mainland China, Jimmy Carter is often called “an old friend of China” as he played a pivotal role in establishing the diplomatic relations between the US and the PRC.
How the UN Cybercrime Convention 2023 can pose a threat to human rights defenders and exiled journalists
The convention must include mandatory dual criminality clauses, respect human rights safeguards, establishing that no cooperation will be provided in cases that could result in violations of fundamental rights.
Exploring the longstanding cultural tug-of-war between Thailand and Cambodia
While state-to-state relations are mostly positive, under the surface Thai and Cambodian citizens have been playing a game of cultural tug-of-war — with each laying claim to shared historical traditions.
Malaysia’s Mufti Bill sparks debate on religious plurality and accountability
"Policies shaped by restrictive fatwas could marginalize non-Muslims and discourage intellectual and religious discourse."
Can giant pandas rescue Hong Kong's economy?
Hong Kong officials hope the pandas can help stimulate the city's economy, boost tourism, and strengthen ties between Hong Kong and Beijing.
Global Voices Summit 2024: Where have all the bloggers gone?
Blogging has changed over time, making the online space in which people are expressing themselves more valuable than ever.
Chinese president Xi Jinping visits Macau to spotlight the casino hub as a showcase of One Country Two Systems
To ensure the Chinese president’s inspection tour in the casino hub is perfectly safe, Macau authorities have beefed up security measures
A pro-China rapper blows whistle on Beijing's influencer network in Taiwan
Chen Po-yuan, an insider of a pro-China influencer network in Taiwan, publicly revealed the operation of mainland Chinese state agencies within the self-ruled region.
Online safety or censorship? Malaysia’s parliament passes two contentious media bills
“These measures risk transforming Malaysia’s digital spaces into stricter and highly regulated environments, stifling open discourse and innovation while entrenching state control over the internet.”
Eyes in the sky: Hong Kong police considering AI-enhanced drone patrols
Hong Kong police are considering using drones for routine patrols and analysing their images with artificial intelligence.
‘Free yourselves from fear’: Cambodian youth activists fight for environmental justice
"The more they arrest our members, the more defenders are coming up. We will be always here fighting for environmental justice."
Revolution without borders: Myanmar exiles fighting the junta from abroad
“It doesn’t matter if we never get the chance to return home. We will continue to root out the military dictatorship.”
How tech companies enable censorship in Vietnam
"Our findings show a concerning situation where these companies almost always comply with an increasing number of content moderation requests from the Vietnamese government."
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