Stories about East Asia from February, 2022
Taiwan watches Ukraine closely wondering how the West would react in case of Chinese invasion
The island nation will need external support to retain its sovereignty against the might of the People's Republic of China
Films on human rights abuses and courageous opposition in Myanmar
EngageMedia has curated a playlist of films that shows the extent of rights abuses in the country, as well as courageous forms of resistance against the continuing infringement on rights.
Japan's local rail lines become the latest pandemic victim
Japanese railway operators are using COVID-19 to squeeze money out of cash-strapped local governments.
Malaysian artist Fahmi Reza faces police probe and two charges for satirical posters
"Gov leaders must learn to take public criticism and dissent in stride and stop going after critics like #FahmiReza for poking fun at them."
The Beijing Winter Olympics: A wedding adjacent to a funeral
Are IOC leaders that naïve, or do they lack the vision to understand the concept of genocide and what it is like to be voiceless in a one-party regime?
In Hong Kong, foreign domestic workers face an ’emerging crisis’ as COVID-19 limits housing, travel options
A 35-year-old Filipina foreign domestic worker who had her visa application denied was forced to live on the streets of Hong Kong for two nights after testing positive for COVID-19.
Website of NGO Hong Kong Watch partially blocked amid rising fears of internet censorship
The website of NGO Hong Kong Watch appears to have been partially blocked in Hong Kong amid fears of rising internet censorship in the city.
Myanmar activists oppose sale of Telenor telecom to military-linked firm
"They have not consulted with the people risking their lives to resist the military junta, whose lives are in Telenor's hands."
Will Taiwanese academics be targeted by the Hong Kong National Security Law?
Wu was targeted for publishing the article “For an Unfinished Revolution” which discussed activists' work during the 2019 anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong.
Travel bans, Japan, and me
Thanks to Japan's strict, and, in some ways, incomprehensible COVID-19 travel restrictions for foreigners, it's hard to say when I'll be able to return.
Vietnam's human rights situation off to an ominous start in 2022
Eight people were arrested for "anti-State propaganda" in the first two weeks of 2022 alone, with a few multi-year sentences tacked on for good measure.
Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces mark coup anniversary with a ‘silent strike’
"The people have refused to allow themselves to once again become slaves of the military, and will never give up."
‘Your’dle: Wordle is now available in many of the world’s languages
Wordle is a fun way to flex your brain, but the open-source code behind the free game has also been adapted to work in different languages, including indigenous ones.
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.
