Stories about East Asia from August, 2014
China Will Let Hong Kongers Vote for Their Next Leader — But Only If a Pro-Beijing Committee Selects the Candidates
"We urge all Hong Kong citizens to stand up and speak out. The fact that they refuse to hear us does not mean that we don't exist."
From a “Gaza Stripper” in Texas to Chinese Migrants in Egypt, Kim Badawi Photographs Intercultural Encounters
In this interview, photographer Kim Badawi discusses his work on cultural encounters, and on the role of social media when mainstream news fails to report stories that matter to communities.
Activist Blogger in Vietnam Gets 3 Years Behind Bars for ‘Obstructing Traffic’
A court has sentenced a prominent Vietnamese activist blogger to three years in prison for posing a “serious obstruction to traffic.” Her two other companions will join her behind bars.
Macau Authorities Crack Down on Pro-Democracy Activists Who Want the Right to Vote for Their Next Leader
Macau, a special administrative region of China, elects its top leader via a committee. Three pro-democracy groups have organized an unofficial referendum on the right to vote in 2019.
‘Citizen Lawmakers’ in the Philippines Are Organizing a Campaign To Do What Politicians Won't: Abolish Pork Barrel
Hundreds of organizations hailing from various sectors have united in a historic attempt to collect enough signatures for a law abolishing the corruption-tainted presidential and congressional pork barrel.
One Person Holds the Three Most Powerful Positions in Thailand Today
Prayuth Chan-ocha is Thailand’s new prime minister. He is also the army chief who staged a coup last May and appointed himself as head of the coup government.
Experience the “Hanoi Soundwalk” Interactive Audio Tour
The Soundwalk is an “interactive, geo-locative audio tour” where a user with a headphone and smartphone app equipped with GPS can hear sounds as he or she walks around the city. …when you move around the sounds will appear to be coming from a particular location, and you can discover...
China Insists That Hong Kong Should Only Have Pro-Beijing Candidates — for National Security
China's Basic Law Committee Li Fei said that "the person who governs Hong Kong must be a patriot" or the city risks turning into an independent political entity.
China Blocks Beijing Independent Film Festival
Beijing authorities blocked an annual independent film festival from opening on August 23, 2014. The move is seen as a sign that Beijing is tightening ideological controls. According to indie director Huang Wenhai, the shutdown was “the darkest day in the history of Chinese independent film.” Started in 2006 by independent art critic Li Xianting,...
Leaked Documents Reveal How the Chinese Communist Party Channels Public Opinion
What exactly do China's online "opinion analysts" do? A recent scandal at Peking University sheds light on the question.
Digital Reconstruction of Cambodia's Angkor Wat
The Smithsonian Channel has uploaded a video showing a digital reconstruction of Cambodia's Angkor Wat using 3D image technology. Angkor Wat (Temple City) is a popular tourism destination in Cambodia which used to be the capital of the Khmer Empire in the 12th century. It is also a massive religious...
Beatriz’s War: East Timor's First Feature Film
A Guerra da Beatriz (Beatriz’s War) is the first feature film from East Timor. It is about Indonesia's occupation of East Timor from 1975 to 1999 and its impact on the Timorese society. According to the producers of the film, it was “made guerrilla style by the men and women...
Ignoring Pro-Democracy Protests, China's Media Trumpets Pro-Beijing March in Hong Kong as the ‘Majority’
China has promised Hong Kong a direct vote for the next chief executive, but insists that a committee approve the candidates. Pro-democracy protesters want the right to choose the candidates.
Five Million People Have Had Enough of Myanmar's Current Constitution
Myanmar's opposition is pushing a large-scale constitutional reform effort to remove "undemocratic provisions" that it says sustain the country's current military-backed government.
Pro-Government Protesters in Hong Kong Were Reportedly Rewarded With Cash and Free Food for Showing Up
Pro-Beijing groups have been eager to match the level of mobilization shown by the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Thailand's Military Junta Cements Its Power With ‘Undemocratic’ Interim Constitution
Thailand’s military government has enacted an interim constitution which critics described as a charter that is designed to perpetuate a military dictatorship.
Pope Francis’ New Wheels Cause a Stir in South Korea
Pope Francis' inaugural visit to South Korea caused a media frenzy, thanks in part to scenes of the pontiff riding around in a Kia, instead of a bulletproof sedan.
Derailed Train Exposed Inefficient Philippine Mass Transport System
Scores were injured when a train overshot its stop at a busy intersection in south Manila. The crash ignited an intense discussion about the weak and inefficient mass transportation system in the Philippines. Authorities vowed to improve train service amid rising public anger over the incident.
Yasmine: Brunei's First Feature Film
The film Yasmine is notable because it is Brunei's first feature film. It is about a young woman who wanted to be a champion of silat, an indigenous martial arts from Brunei. The film has been well-received in various international film festivals.
How the ‘Boycott McDonald’s’ Campaign for Gaza is Hurting Some Muslims in Malaysia
The campaign was organized to pressure companies accused of supporting Israel. But McDonald's in Malaysia says it is hurting their workers and their families.
The Worst Explosion in Taiwan's History Has Set Off a Major Political Debate
A recent gas-line explosion killed 30 people in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city, setting off a debate about the the underground pipelines that serve the nation's petrochemical industry.
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.
