Stories about East Asia from July, 2011
Plank Vietnam
A Tumblr account was created encouraging Vietnam netizens to post their planking pictures.
Vietnam: TEDx Mekong
TEDx Mekong will take place on August 18 in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. This year's theme is “Entrepreneurship in Vietnam”
Vietnam: Resolving the dispute over Spratly Islands
Vietnam Talking Points uploads an article by Thi Quang Lam, a former general in the South Vietnamese Army, who writes about the dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea involving Vietnam, China, and other Southeast Asian nations.
Practicing legal profession in Vietnam
Attorney Huynh Van Dong writes about the challenges facing lawyers in Vietnam. He reports that an increasing number of lawyers are now in jail for “expressing their own personal opinion.”
China: Hu Jia's tweets
Mainland Chinese activist Hu Jia had been imprisoned for 3.5 years under the charge of “inciting state sedition”. He was released on 26 of June 2011. @WLYeung has translated Hu's tweets about his state of mind.
China: Music Video on Wenzhou Train Crash
Some netizens have changed the lyrics of a popular rock song “Nothing to my name” by Cui Jian to comment upon the Wenzhou Train Crash. C Custer from China Geeks has the lyrics of the music video translated.
China: Censorship pressure on Wenzhou train crash
Qian Gang and David Bandurski from China Media Project discuss about censorship pressure faced by mainland Chinese media in the reports of Wenzhou train crash.
China: Journalist Beaten by Police for Reporting on Riot
China Digital Times has a translation of a journalist, Lu Chaoguo's account of his experience when reporting the riot in Anshun, Guizhou province. The journalist was detained and beaten by local police.
U.S.A., Japan: The US Declares War On The Japanese Mafia
Investigative journalist Jake Adelstein reported [en] that US President Obama has officially declared war on the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, as it represents an “extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.” Japansubculture.com also published the text of the actual executive order.
Japan: On Fake Glasses
Marxy at Neojaponisme gives an interesting insight [en] on the “lens-less frame” trend spreading in Japan.
South Korea: Controversies on the Return of Korean Royal Books
Koreans celebrated in May 2011 the return of a collection of Korean Royal books, looted by French troops in 1866. As it was later found out that the return was a de facto 'rent' of the treasure, many people have expressed resentment toward the French and Korean governments for failing to fulfill their long awaited wish.
Cambodia: Blog Article Leads to Murder Investigation
Cambodian opposition politicians and embassy officials are now investigating the death of a young domestic helper in Malaysia after a news blog reported that the maid was a victim of physical abuse.
China: Know more about activist Wang Lihong
Wang Lihong, one of many lesser known activists jailed in China, is facing imminent trial. The blog Free Wang Lihong has published a detailed English biography of her. Amnesty International has also issued an appeal to take action for her release.
Global Voices Bloggers to Mentor Youth Activists from 10 Countries
Today we announce the names of 10 Global Voices bloggers and 11 activists who will be working together virtually over the next months as part of a new mentoring initiative developed by Global Voices and Activista, the youth network of international development organization, ActionAid.
South Korea: 35 Million Users’ Information Leaked in Cyber Attack
Thirty-five million Koreans’ information stored in the South Korean portal site Nate and Cyworld, was hacked in cyber attack from China. One net user from Daum Agora website blamed [ko] Nate's default setting in checking emails- reading the emails without preview function- for involuntarily opening doors to mass hacker attacks.
China: Wen Jiabao in bed for 11 days?
Jing Gao from The Ministry of Tofu questions the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's statement in the press conference of the Wenzhou train crash that he was ill and in bed for 11 days. According to the records (in snapshots) of official newspapers, Wen had been active in meeting foreign visitors...
Vietnam: More than 500 Attended Barcamp Saigon
The fourth Barcamp in Saigon was held last Sunday, July 24, at RMIT International University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was the biggest Barcamp in Saigon in terms of attendance.
South Korea: 41 Dead in Torrential Flooding and Landslides
Torrential rain has battered South Korea for several consecutive days, causing landslides, flooding and power cuts. At least 41 people have been killed and 12 people are still missing. Throughout the disaster, South Koreans have shared updated stories, photos and useful tips for those affected via Twitter.
Malaysia: Letter of Catholics to Pope
A letter signed by 365 Catholics and other Christians in Malaysia was sent to Pope Benedict XVI expressing concern about the timing of the visit of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the Vatican. They remind the Pope that Najib used “unnecessarily excessive force” in dispersing a democracy walk early...
Philippines: Online reactions to president's speech
Blogwatch gathers online reactions to the Philippine president's second state of the nation address delivered last Monday.
Cambodia: Need for independent media
KI Media uploads a dissertation by Sothearith IM that highlights the importance of developing an independent media in Cambodia.
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.
