Stories about East Asia from May, 2019
Indonesian General Election 2019: Unique events from the campaign trail
According to an Australian think-tank Lowy Institute, Indonesia has the distinction of holding the largest single-day elections in a democratic country.
In Myanmar, Buddhists offer white roses to Muslims during Ramadan
"There is no place for religious extremists in our country."
China arrests filmmaker for retweeting an image of a liquor bottle referencing Tiananmen Massacre
The bottle label carries the image of "Tank Man" with the description "Never forget, never give up".
How Chinese tech workers are organizing the online #996 labor movement, despite risks of censorship
In contrast to other social movements and memes on the Chinese internet, #996 has taken shape largely on GitHub.
Can’t wait to be married: hundreds of same-sex couples celebrate their weddings in Taiwan
May 24 opens the gates to marriage equality for same-sex couples in Taiwan. Hundreds of couples got married on the island, celebrating social recognition and the end of discrimination.
30 years after the Tiananmen Massacre: The troubled history of the Goddess of Democracy
The Goddess of Democracy stood for five days in the Tiananmen Square in 1989 before the bloody massacre of June 4.
In the UK, Timorese celebrated 17 years since the restoration of Timor-Leste's independence
The Timorese residing in the university city of Oxford, UK, hosted the event "20 May", where they celebrated 17 years of the restoration of Timor-Leste's independence.
Inflatable Tank Man sculpture appears in Taiwan ahead of Tiananmen Massacre anniversary
"I think it is important to the Taiwanese people to continue discussing this topic – preventing people from forgetting this event"
Taiwan's same-sex marriage bill is a half-victory for rainbow families
Taiwan has officialized same-sex marriage and granted new rights to the queer community, yet for LGBT parents with children, the battle continues.
Love wins: same-sex marriage law fully endorsed by Taiwan’s legislature
Taiwan is the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage, now officially voted by the parliament. The first weddings are expected on May 24.
Mozambican contestant won world bodybuilding competition in Hong Kong
Saraiva is a renowned figure for bodybuilders in Mozambique.
30 years after the Tiananmen Massacre: An interview with survivor Zhou Fengsuo
"It is becoming more and more difficult to demand responsibility for June 4th. Do you still have any hope?"
In Hong Kong, the sexual connotation of Ikea's new tofu ice cream ad creates controversy
"[The ad] generates the image of a woman wishing for her body to be eaten like tofu."
Singapore parliament approves ‘anti-fake news’ law — will this curtail free speech?
The law gives broad, unchecked powers to government ministers to determine what online information is "false" and should thus be censored or corrected.
Hong Kong multimedia project commemorates the 30th anniversary of June 4 massacre in Beijing
"Facts are being distorted [...] No journalist should let this happen. Not only should they retell the tragedy but also their insights into it. That's the obligation of every witness of history."
Chased by dogs on Google Street View Japan
A cute dog on Google Street View has gone viral on Japanese Twitter, resulting in more than 100,000 retweets.
Tencent's new game shows how censorship rules are implemented in China
The new regulation compels game publishers to promote Chinese values, culture and images through their games.
Despite the release of detained Reuters reporters, free speech remains under threat in Myanmar
"...the case of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo is proof that journalists are in constant risk of political reprisal for keeping power in check."
Do you really need to learn Japanese to live in Japan?
The more hard-won the lessons we learn about the country, the more some of us realize how mundane life in Japan actually is.
Announcing the Global Voices Asia Pacific Citizen Media Summit: Join us in Taipei, Taiwan on June 2!
The Summit will address new techno-political challenges and their implications for internet rights and activism, digital security and privacy, digital inclusion and development.
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.
