· June, 2012

Stories about East Asia from June, 2012

China:Famous School Teacher Harassed Boys

  29 June 2012

FMN reported that a deputy principal of high school affiliated with East China Normal University has been accused of having harassing his male students at school. Several victims decided to break the silence after 15 years. Official news says Zhang is fired from his position now. Read the full story...

China: Support for ObamaCare

  28 June 2012

At Tea Leaf Nation, David Wertime looks at reactions to the US Supreme Court's vote yesterday in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). “Evil capitalism. Why can’t Chinese socialism be as evil?” retorts one microblogger.

Korean ‘Comfort Women’ Photo Exhibit Sabotaged in Japan

  27 June 2012

A South Korean photographer explains his ordeal in holding an exhibition in Japan that documents aging 'Comfort Women', the term used for Koreans drafted as sex slaves by the Japanese during World War II. Many South Koreans and fans of the photographer online, accused Japanese extremist right-wing groups of refusing to admit their war crimes and attempting to sabotage the art exhibition.

Japan: Generational Gap of Hope in Tough Economy

  27 June 2012

Japan’s younger working generation are leading a very different life from their parents, who prospered in the ‘Bubble Economy’ of the 1980s and 1990s. This generation consumes less, works under stricter conditions, and have less ‘hope’ of their future. Here a working woman in Japan narrates her uneasiness towards her parents’ generation and the society built by them.

Singapore Versus Hong Kong

  27 June 2012

Singapore Armchair Critic compares the economic, financial, governance, and press freedom indicators of Hong Kong and Singapore. The two cities are the major financial centers of East Asia

Thailand: Amnesty or Reconciliation Bills?

  27 June 2012

After more than six years of protracted political conflict, Thai parliamentarians have began drafting several 'reconciliation bills' to promote national unity. Netizens have many questions regarding the proposed bills. This article also provides unofficial English translations of the draft bills

China: Local Residents Clash with Police in Shaxi, Guangdong

  26 June 2012

Police from Shaxi, a city in China Guangdong Province, confirmed on their official Weibo account a barrage of police officers during a public protest. The protest was sparked on Monday, by the beating of a local elementary school students by a teenager from Chongqing. The local officers came to tie...

Singapore: Online Portal Found Posting False Information

  26 June 2012

Singapore Press Holding's citizen journalism portal STOMP has found itself in an embarrassing position after it was discovered that a content producer had posed as an anonymous member of the public to submit false news to the site. Here are netizen reactions

China: Reporter Resigns for Dirty Joke About Female Astronaut

  26 June 2012

Female astronaut Liu Yang has come to represent the recent launch of the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, a space mission for the manifestation of China's national glory. Prior to this, a decision by Southern People Weekly reporter Cao Linhua to crack dirty jokes about Liu and her fellow astronauts using China's largest social media platform, Weibo Sina, has resulted in his resignation.

Hong Kong: Maid's Toilet and Bedroom

  26 June 2012

Local newspaper exposed that a popular children songs singer Purple Lee has put her migrant domestic maid to live in a room where there is a bed and a toilet bowl. Dictionary of politically incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese has translated netizens’ reaction to the news.

China: Victim of Late Term Abortion Labelled as Traitor

  26 June 2012

The father of the aborted seven-month-old fetus, Deng Jiyuan, upon interviewed with a German reporter was labelled as traitor of the country and the local government mobilized residents to protest outside his house. David Wertime from Tea Leaf Nation has the full story.

Malaysia Plans To Expand Cash Transfer Program

  25 June 2012

Khoo Kay Peng advises the Malaysian government to review its plan to further expand the cash transfer program known as Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M). The author insists the money can be used instead to stimulate the local economy

China: An Account of Citizen Disappearance

  25 June 2012

Cao Yaxue from Seeing Red in China has translated civil rights activist Xu Zhiyong's account of his recent disappearance – a more than 24 hours interrogation and illegal detention.

China: Bridge Blogger List

  25 June 2012

DANWEI has presented its annual Model Worker Awards 2012, a list of the best specialist websites, blogs and online sources of information about China.

5 Web Sites on Chinese Philanthropy in English

  25 June 2012

If you are interested in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and desire to know more of  Chinese philanthropy, Helen's “5 Web Sites on Chinese Philanthropy in English” might be a good start for you. Helen is currently preparing for GP Common web site, and thinks it would be beneficial to have a...

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.