Stories about East Asia from June, 2013
Hundreds Banned from Hong Kong Website
HKGolden, a forum of great cultural and political influence in Hong Kong recently has banned more than 300 user accounts. While the website administrator explained that the move was in reaction to defamatory charge, some believe that it is a political purge as many of removed account users like to...
Video Exposes Lavish Lifestyle of Thai Monks
This viral video shows Thai monks reportedly from the Si Sa Ket’s Kanthararom district riding in a private plane and carrying luxury brand bags and sunglasses.
South Koreans Protest Electioneering
College students and civic groups took action against the National Intelligence Service (NIS)'s illegal interference with the lastest presidential election. Major universities in South Korea have released statements condemning the secret agency, the ruling party and the police. Net users have gathered 95 thousand signatures in the second round [ko] of online petition. Several protests are...
‘V for Thailand’ Protesters Call for Ouster of Thai Prime Minister
The group which calls itself ‘V for Thailand’ has already organized three mass assemblies in Thailand’s capital this month demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Wearing white Guy Fawkes masks, protesters have decried the alleged corruption in the government.
China's Undercover ‘Street Vender’ Sting Exposed
Urban management officers, also known as Chengguan, have been under much media scrutiny lately. A recent story of a Chengguan going undercover as a street vendor at night went viral online. The seeming PR campaign drew wide skepticism among netizens. Offbeat China explains.
China Announces Campaign to Weed Out Party Corruption
The Chinese Communist Party is launching a year-long campaign to clean up the party to do away with corrupt elements in its organization. But many Chinese netizens have expressed skepticism toward the campaign, arguing that democracy with the open participation of the people, and not a closed internal process, is the best way to get rid of corruption.
Malaysia Launches Dengue Web Portal
To fight dengue, Malaysia's Ministry of Health launched a GIS-based web portal called I-Dengue, “which aims to provide the public with the latest information on dengue hotspots and preventive measures on how citizens can avoid getting the disease.” Dengue is a tropical virus with no known cure that is carried...
China Shoots Down Accusations that Edward Snowden is a Spy
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower behind the revelations of the United States massive Internet spying program, turned to the Guardian newspaper once again, this time for an online Q&A, shortly after China broke its silence over the leaking scandal and said Snowden was not a spy for the country. Despite a cautious response from the government, China's online world has been abuzz with chatter surrounding the case.
Analysis on North Korea's Nuclear Talk
North Korea has recently tried to open discussion with South Korea and the United States on the denuclearization issue. 38 North project site posted a detailed analysis on current inter-Korean dynamics and future prospects.
‘China Open Mic': Examining China's Development Footprint in Africa
The arrests and the release of Chinese gold miners was the topic of the very first China Open Mic Google hangout organised by China Open Mic Sunday, June 16, 2013. China Open Mic (@ChinaOpenMic) is an open space that aims to inform and transform thinking on China in global development in the digital age.
Defeat Has China's Soccer Fans Up in Arms
Chinese national football has long been mocked by fans in China for its poor performance and corruption allegations. Offbeat weighed in on a recent defeat from the national football team that has galvanized many avid soccer fans.
Support Snowden Rally in Hong Kong
HongWrong has collected a large number of media reports on the rally to support Edward Snowden in Hong Kong on 15 of June, 2013. Hundreds rallied in the rain demanding the U.S government to stop its spying activities and Hong Kong government to protect Snowden.
Chinese Football Team Defeated Again
Barry van Wyk from DANWEI blogs about Chinese media and football fans’ reactions to the recent humiliating defeat of 5-1 at home for China’s football team against an under-strength team of youngsters from tiny Thailand.
China's “Leftover” Women
In China, if a young woman does not marry by age twenty-eight, she is widely considered “leftover”. If she is single by age thirty, she is made to feel she has truly expired. Melissa Schneider, a couples counselor living in Shenzhen, believes that the so-called “leftover women” problem has been...
Japan's WordPress Communities Celebrate 10 Years
WordPress communities in Japan celebrated the 10th anniversary of the open source blogging platform. Events were held in Sapporo, Kagawa, Tokyo, Chiba and Osaka. There are 40 local WordBench [ja] groups, Japan's WordPress local community directory is powered by BuddyPress. Naoko Takano blogs more about the events in Japan.
Burmese Blogger Calls for Religious Tolerance
dawn_1o9, a young Burmese blogger, expresses her disappointment over the reported cases of violence between Buddhists and Muslims in some parts of Myanmar: I'm a Buddhist. I'm a Burmese living in Myanmar. But I just don't have anything against the Muslims living in Myanmar….what makes me a true Buddhist is...
Investigative Journalism in Indonesia
Akhlis Purnomo laments the state of investigative journalism in Indonesia. …there has not been much of investigative journalism in Indonesia. Most of them are not even investigative, but more like reportage on everyday issues….These are then labelled as investigative by producers and TV stations.
Follow ChinainAfrica Open Mic Hangout Online
The #ChinainAfrica Open Mic Hangout on Chinese miners in Ghana and China-Africa relations is live online. Watch it on YouTube and follow it on Twitter using the hashtag #ChinaOpenMic.
Rupert's divorce creates buzz in China
The media mogul Rupert Murdoch has filed for divorce from his Chinese-born wife Wendi Deng. Deng is his third wife and they have two daughters. The divorce has prompted a wave of speculation online that she married Americans with ulterior motives of climbing the social letter and getting richer. ChinaSmack...
Anger Over Attacks Against Myanmar Migrants in Malaysia
The ethnic violence in Myanmar seems to be spreading in nearby countries. Some Myanmar Buddhist migrants in Malaysia have been attacked in recent weeks which many people believe are related to the ongoing ethnic and religious tension in Myanmar. The initial response of the Myanmar government to deny the issue angered many netizens
Pastor for South Korea's Biggest Church Charged with Financial Crimes
The largest Pentecostal Christian congregation in South Korea, and the world, Yoido Full Gospel church went under fire as its founder and senior pastor Cho Yong-gi await trial along with his two sons. They have been indicted on charges of breach of duty, embezzlement and tax evasion involving tremendous amount of money, a sensational event involving an iconic, mega-church in the country.