Featured stories about East Asia
Stories about East Asia
Sino-Brazilian relations in 2023: Will Brazil join the Belt and Road Initiative?
On March 28, Brazil’s president, Lula, will visit China. Experts do not expect that the Belt and Road Intiative might be a topic between the two leaders.
LIVE on March 23: China's Belt & Road initiative—New cycle, or fundamental shift?
Join us on YouTube Live on March 23 for a discussion of how recent world events have shaped the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in China and in the Global South.
How Vietnam’s state trolls are undermining free speech and democracy
"We urge Meta to cross check systematically all reporting on human rights NGOs pages such as Viet Tan to avoid falling in trolls’ trap."
Malaysian police probe women’s march organizers for pro-LGBTQ+ posters
"In the last 3 years, there has been a resounding lack of movement by our government to protect and preserve the rights of women and other marginalised genders."
Kenya-China relations strained as new government grapples with a debt crisis
A dispute over a Chinese store is now at the heart of a simmering strained relationship as Kenya struggles to restructure its Chinese debt.
Turkey–China partnership: Is Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative not delivering enough?
Beijing and Ankara position themselves as partners and global players in an Asia-Middle East-Europe corridor. Yet despite China's grand statements about its investment in Turkey, little has materialized so far.
How did Chinese politics play out in the Oscars 2023?
The Oscars are always political. But this year, the 95th Annual Academy Awards has also been entangled with Chinese politics and controversies.
Veteran Hong Kong labor rights activist arrested on suspicion of foreign collusion
The 65-year-old labour rights activist Elizabeth Tang was arrested outside Stanley prison on suspicion of foreign collusion after visiting her husband Lee Chuek Yan who is charged with "inciting subversion."
Filipino drivers hold jeepney strike against the government’s phaseout plan
"The fight of drivers and operators also belongs to the people. Drivers will have no jeepneys to use. Millions will have to endure the lack of access to affordable transportation.
Behind the scenes: Chinese influence in North Macedonia
While investments from Chinese companies amounted to only two percent of the total Foreign Direct Investment in North Macedonia in 2021, China maintains influence in numerous sectors and industries.
Hong Kong: Women's workers rally cancelled amid arrest threats
A women’s rights group had planned a rally on March 5, ahead of International Women’s Day. But the rally was abruptly canceled after waves of political pressure emerged.
Chinese ‘white-hair’ protestors denounce medical insurance reform
Despite huge efforts made by official media outlets to highlight the positive side of the medical insurance reform, public distrust continues spreading.
Pacific voices call for urgent global climate action
Several initiatives highlight stories, narratives, and art performances that articulate the appeal of Pacific Island nations for a more decisive global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Zero benefits for Albania from China's Belt and Road Initiative
The prime minister, during a recent official visit in Japan, stated he saw no economic benefits from what is left of China's "17+1" economic cooperation bloc with Eastern European nations
The impact of China’s expanding footprint in Uzbekistan’s automobile industry
For Uzbek consumers, China’s BRI is seemingly bringing practical solutions in terms of access to car ownership but also tackling air pollution, and indirectly changing a culture of state monopolies and corruption.
Undertones: Zimbabwe's cyberpunk cities fueled by China
Zimbabwe is set to become Africa’s first country with a “smart” capital city built from scratch. But many are wary of Zimbabwe becoming a surveillance state.
Latin America walks a fine line between East and West amidst Ukrainian conflict and China-U.S. tensions
At the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in the midst of growing tensions between superpowers, our region maintains an ambiguous role.
Can China act as a peace broker in the Russian-Ukraine war?
China is attempting to rebuild ties with the EU and is blaming the US for taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine War ahead of a meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Cambodia’s prime minister revokes license of independent news outlet Voice of Democracy
"We believe that the closure of VOD would represent a grave step backwards for both press freedoms and the rule of law in Cambodia."
Will Chinese advanced AI chatbots survive China’s online censorship?
China Digital Times asked a Chinese chatbot “How do you comment on Chinese leader Xi Jinping?” and the chatbot answered, “Your entry contains rule-breaking terms, please re-enter.”
Myanmar media two years after the 2021 coup: ‘Resistance, resilience, restoration’
"The international community must renew its commitment to Myanmar and protect and defend the courageous journalists who are risking their lives to report on the regime’s ongoing human rights abuses.”
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.
