Stories about East Asia from February, 2025
Providing a safe space for Myanmar’s embattled journalists and human rights defenders
"The international community can play a crucial role in supporting exiled journalists by providing safe spaces — both online and offline — where they can work without fear."
Indonesia's former president included in 2024 global ‘Most Corrupt’ list
"This should serve as a warning to those nominated that the people are watching, and they care.”
Singapore activist charged for joining candle lighting vigils for death row inmates
“This is a clear example of judicial harassment made in retaliation for simply exercising one’s right to protest and freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.”
The political economy of fact-checking in Indonesia
"The credibility of information that ensures a healthy civic space and democracy is a shared responsibility not only by fact-checkers, but also the government, [tech] platforms, and academics, among others."
‘Let’s talk about something else’: China’s AI chatbot DeepSeek censors sensitive topics
When asked about the 2019 HK protests, DeepSeek said: “under the strong leadership of the central government, HK will surely overcome any difficulties and maintain its prosperity and stability.”
UNESCO is unwittingly contributing to the controversy surrounding the term ‘Lunar New Year’
This year marks the first new year since UNESCO approved China’s application to include customs of the Spring Festival to its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Refugee hospitals on the Thai-Myanmar border affected by US aid freeze
Hundreds of refugees have been impacted after US funding was abruptly cut to refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border.
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