· March, 2012

Stories about East Asia from March, 2012

Cambodia: The First BarCamp Angkor

  24 March 2012

Since 2008, BarCamps in Cambodia have been organized in Phnom Penh. But this year's BarCamp will take place in the provincial town of Siem Reap, the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex.

China: Turning Duck into Goose

  23 March 2012

Ministry of Tofu translated a local news report about restaurant's trick by giving duck plastic surgery, making it looks like goose so as to making bigger profit.

China: Performance on Losing Weight

  23 March 2012

China Hush translates a local feature report on an artist's performance on losing weight. Beijing artist Wang Jun is to live on top of an electronic scale for a month, from 18 March to 18 April to show people the weight loss process.

China: Political Rumors in Beijing

  23 March 2012

With the sudden removal of Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai, rumors continue to spread about the internal power within the Chinese Communist Party. David Bandurski from China Media Project describes the atmosphere of political insecurity in Beijing.

China: Debate on Kony 2012

  21 March 2012

The Kony 2012 viral video also drew significant attention in China. On the popular Chinese video site Youku, the same video harvested over 8 million views in a few days. Here netizens discuss their reactions.

China: Shanghai International Adult Products Expo

  20 March 2012

The 9th Shanghai International Adult Products Expo kicked off with pole dancers and adult movie stars from Japan on March 18, 2012. Off-beat China has posted a set of photos on the exhibition's opening.

Postscript to East Timor Presidential Elections

  20 March 2012

The incumbent president of East Timor conceded defeat in the recent presidential election which was hailed by both citizens and international observers as generally peaceful and credible. Here are other online reactions using the hashtag #eleisaun2012.

Video: Surfers, Fishermen and Radiation in Post Earthquake Japan

  20 March 2012

Journalist Lisa Katayama and filmmaker Jason Wishnow are documenting the lives of people dealing with radiation in a post-earthquake Japan. In We Are All Radioactive, they are including 50% footage made by themselves in the areas around Fukushima Power Plant, and 50% footage made by residents who were given waterproof digital cameras.

Cambodia's First IPO

  19 March 2012

Sihanoukville Journal writes that the Cambodia Stock Exchange opened last year but no company has been listed yet. But three state corporations will soon trade stocks which are being keenly anticipated by global investors

Philippines: Electric Jeepneys

  19 March 2012

Prime Sarmiento writes that the Philippines has recently launched the largest electric public transport fleet in Southeast Asia with its first commercial franchise of electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys). The jeepney is the most popular public mode of transport in the country

Philippines: Noynoying is the New Planking

  18 March 2012

Because planking protests are now banned in the Philippines, activists resorted to Noynoying. What is Noynoying and how did it replace planking as a popular protest pose in the country? Noynoying refers to President Noynoy Aquino who is accused by activists of doing nothing to stop the rising prices of oil and other basic goods. Noynoying pictures have gone viral already in the local cyberspace.

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.