Stories about East Asia
14 November 2019
University of the Philippines unveils new subject on the Marcos dictatorship to counter historical revisionism
The new subject can be a platform for the “conscientization” of young Filipinos on the importance of human rights, social justice and the continuing struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.
Hong Kong's university campuses turned into battlefields amidst a three-day strike
Clashes between police and student activists started the first day of the general strike on 11 November as some protesters attempted to create roadblocks to disrupt traffic.
13 November 2019
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong responds to Thai Army Chief
Joshua Wong gives updates on the Hong Kong protest and addresses allegations by Gen Apirat Kongsompong, Thai Royal Army Chief.
Former university lecturer jailed for online posts in Vietnam
Vietnamese authorities continue their crackdown on freedom of expression against ordinary citizens even when they do not engage in any grassroots activism or political movements.
Letter to China: My Uyghur friend Zainur has been detained in one of your camps for two years
"They scanned the faces of anyone who entered the masjid. They banned fasting. We buried our books. They told us to remove locks from our doors. 'I don’t know why.'"
12 November 2019
Hong Kong activists denounce court ban on ‘violent’ content as a threat to internet freedom
Internet Society Hong Kong will file a judicial review against an interim injunction prohibiting anyone from posting, re-posting and aiding the dissemination of information that promotes violence.
11 November 2019
Hong Kong police violence escalates dramatically: unarmed protesters shot with live rounds
Hong Kong protests escalate into city-wide roadblock and strikes, after allegations of gang rape in a police station and the death of a 22-year-old university student.
9 November 2019
Surveys show majority of Hong Kong people have lost trust in the city's police force
The issue of police brutality and abusive use of force has replaced the extradition bill to become the city's major concern.
3 November 2019
Will collective farming by artists save one of Manila's remaining urban fields?
"As peasant advocates aiming at promoting agroecology, we want to participate in agricultural production."
1 November 2019
Beijing constructs an “independence” plot for Hong Kong protests through information operations
Initial findings strongly suggest that the Chinese Communist party and state media outlets played a key role in spreading disinformation that framed the protests as a “pro-Hong Kong independence” movement.
Celebrating “Mundane Halloween” in Japan
"Mundane Halloween" has become an October tradition in Japan.
30 October 2019
The Hong Kong protests are becoming more violent because justice is not being served
"I am not asking you to tolerate violence, I am asking you to understand it."
29 October 2019
Taiwanese court rules no jurisdiction in Vietnamese marine disaster case, victims to appeal
Taipei District Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by nearly 8,000 Vietnamese fishers against Formosa Plastics Group (FPG) over the marine disaster in Vietnam in 2016 out of jurisdiction concern.
28 October 2019
DreamWorks’ ‘Abominable’ film banned in Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines for showing China’s claim over disputed seas
"We have to engage with them, and they are sensible people...They are just being misled."
27 October 2019
From camps to prisons: Xinjiang’s next great human rights catastrophe
While most of the world’s attention has been focused on the region’s “re-education” camps, an incredible number of those detained in 2017 and 2018 are now being given lengthy prison...
22 October 2019
Hong Kong political scientist likens Hongkongers to a stateless nation
'... to balance the interests of China, the US and HK people, the city needs a truly democratic self-government that can represent HK people's interests and understand the complexity of...
21 October 2019
First Thai female Theravada monk named one of BBC’s 100 most influential women
Dhammananda’s efforts to re-establish the Theravada bhikkhuni (female monastic) lineage in Thailand have been met with resistance from both the laity and monks who are against ordaining women.
18 October 2019
How bad is African swine fever for the pork supply crisis in China?
Animal epidemic control is about people, such as whether or not the media could effectively monitor the authorities and inform the public at early stage of the outbreak.
14 October 2019
Thai judge shoots himself in court after alleging political interference in courtroom decisions
"Return rulings to judges. Return justice to people....My statements might hold weight as light as a feather, but a judge’s heart must be as firm as a mountain."
13 October 2019
Youth join Climate Strike in Japan as government invests in fossil fuels
Japan is not void of warriors shouting out for climate sustainability. But these young activists are concerned that the adults aren’t ready to hear them.
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.
