Stories about East Asia from July, 2014
The 5 Most Insensitive Reactions to the MH17 Crash in Ukraine
With emotions running high following the plane crash in Ukraine, a handful of particularly calloused statements by figures in Moscow and Donetsk have attracted the RuNet's attention.
Malaysians on MH17 Crash: “Regardless of Nationality, We Are All United in Grief”
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed in eastern Ukraine Thursday evening. The plane was carrying 298 passengers and crew members.
The Arrest of CCTV News Anchor and Refection on China's Public Relation Business
The arrest of CCTV news anchor Rui Chenggang was related to his ties to PR firm Edelman subsidiary in China. Silicon Hutong took the opportunity to reflect upon public relation businesses in China: Two issues prevent widespread improvement in PR industry ethics in China. First is a persistent exclusivist belief...
China's National Mahjong Team Loses To Japan
Mahjong, originated from China is considered a national game. The fact that China's national mahjony team lost the the fifth Open Mahjong Championship in France and finished in 37th place out of 51 teams came as a shock to the country. Worse, the individual title was claimed by a Japanese...
China Is Demolishing Churches and Stripping Others of Their Crosses, but It Swears It Isn't Targeting Christianity
China maintains it is going after all illegal buildings, but Christians are calling the campaign religious persecution.
Chinese Activist Hu Jia Attacked
Prominent Chinese activists Hu Jia was attacked last night on July 16 in Beijing. He reported the incident in his Twitter: 今天7月16日,刚才20:12,我在北京市朝阳区草房地铁站东侧100米路北被若干便衣人员袭击受伤。他们随后驾车离去,我眼镜被打飞未能看清车号。此刻感到身体不适,靠在路边,准备报警。胡佳 #傅政华 #国保档案 pic.twitter.com/ztb1x0IzJk — Hu Jia 胡佳 (@hu_jia) July 16, 2014 Today (July 16), just now at 20:12, I was attacked by a number of plain clothes cops...
Singapore's Libraries Don't Want Kids Reading About Tango the Penguin and Her Two Loving Fathers
Singapore's National Library's has banned three children's books that feature same-sex couples after one person's complaint, calling the decision 'pro-family'. The reading public is not happy.
Typhoon Glenda Batters Luzon Island in the Philippines
Typhoon Glenda (International name: Rammasun) wrought havoc in Luzon Island in the Philippines. Netizens are using the Twitter hashtag #glendaph to monitor the situation.
The Warning Squad Is Here to Tell You About Hong Kong Police's ‘Repression’ of Pro-Democracy Protesters
Local artist Kasey Wong created the Hongkongese Warning Squad, a protest performance that criticized the police's harsh treatment of peaceful protests.
Warning Against Racial Nationalism in Hong Kong
Evan Fowler told a story about a conflict happened to his friends in a subway train. He compared the incident with its Sydney version in which a Chinese descend was called a “gook” and found Hong Kong passengers’ indifference to the racist remarks disturbing: I believe the incident that my...
China Detains Star News Anchor Rui Chenggang Amid Widening Anti-Corruption Campaign
Authorities led him away from the TV studio on Friday just before his show went on air.
China: No More Cantonese Mother Tongue on Guangdong TV News
Despite the strong public sentiment against the language policy that marginalizes the Cantonese mother tongue in Guangdong province, Guangdong TV quietly replaced Cantonese news broadcast with Putonghua. How do people from Guangdong react to the change? See Charles Liu's translation from Nanfang.com.
Indonesians Light a Thousand Candles for Peace in Palestine
Scores of Indonesians gather in central Jakarta, the country's capital, to light 1,000 candles in protest to the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Chinese Women Protest Against the World Cup
Offbeat China explained why women are so angry and how the World Cup has destroyed relationships in China. They are primarily pissed about two things: 1) their partners neglecting family responsibilities due to late-night game watching; 2) reckless gambling on games.
Embarrassing Encounters With Foreigners Who Understand Chinese
Charles Liu from Nanfang.com translated a local newspaper's collection of Chinese people's embarrassing stories of speaking behind the back of foreigners who understand Chinese.
Hong Kong's Anglican Archbishop Says Pro-Democracy Protesters Should Be Like Jesus and Keep Quiet
Jesus was silent like a lamb in the face of his crucifixion, according to Archbishop Paul Kwong.
If You're an Artist in China Who Wants to Perform Abroad, Your Life Just Got More Complicated
China is targeting its arts groups' organised performances on foreign soil as part of a push for austerity.
Sparrows in China Died From Eating Too Much Rice? Chinese Netizens Are Skeptical
A large number of sparrows died after eating rice spilled on the ground from a shipment at a dock in Yichang city, Sichuan province. A local food security expert said that the sparrows probably just ate too much and burst. Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated the news as well as Chinese...
US and China's Strategic and Economic Dialogue
China File invited economist William Adams and Political Economy Professor from Peking University, Zha Daojiong, to comment on the upcoming high-level bilateral diplomatic exchange known as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and China.
Activists in Hong Kong and Taiwan Are Sharing Tools to Map and Live-Stream Protests
Two teams tested out tools from Taiwan during the July 1 rally in Hong Kong, which gathered a half a million people to protest for democracy and autonomy from China.