Stories about East Asia from May, 2015
Rohingya Boat Refugees Rejected by Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
"Action on #Rohingya is a real test of character for #ASEAN. Are we compassionate or heartless nations?"
In Japan, a Social Network Dedicated Entirely to Weather News
Like weather? Interested in citizen journalism? A Japan-fan to boot? SoLive24 may be the social network for you.
Global Voices Partners With Thai News Site Prachatai
Prachatai, which means 'free people' in Thai, is an independent online newspaper in Thailand that has defied authorities by making a stand against martial law.
A Viral Music Video in China Pokes Fun at Xiaomi CEO’s Imperfect English
After Lei Jun’s English skills were mocked following a short speech at one of the tech giant's product launches, Chinese are once again asking—Is English important for business internationalisation?
Award-Winning Photos Capture the Indigenous Tao People on Taiwan’s Orchid Island
An increase in tourists has the Tao people worried about new challenges to their fishing way of life.
A Japanese Town Wants UNESCO Recognition for Kamikaze Memorabilia
Before the young pilots flew to their deaths in WWII, many left behind letters and other artifacts. The town of Chiran wants them given UNESCO's "Memory of the World" status.
‘Uber Is Doomed to Be Investigated in China’
Web users are criticizing local Chinese authorities for cracking down on crowd-sourced taxi service Uber, accusing them of protecting the taxi industry and attacking yet another foreign Internet company.
‘They Belong in the Classroom, Not in Prison': Myanmar's Detained Student Protesters
"They belong in the classroom, not in prison. That's why I painted their portraits."
Hong Kong Citizens Want Legal Protections for Their Metadata
Should government agencies really be able to look at Hong Kongers' telephone metadata without any oversight from the courts?
Chinese Netizens See Symbolism in Viral Stage Collapse Video
"To celebrate the Mother's Day for our mother country, the Bijie city theatre in Guizhou Province puts on a grand performance of 'The Collapse of the Chinese Dream.'"
A Han Musician’s Song Slams Stereotypes of China’s Xinjiang Region
A new song written by an ethnic Han encourages people to abandon their prejudices towards Xinjiang, a western region in China where ethnic tensions still simmer.
How Does China's Foreign NGO Management Law Curb the Development of Civil Society?
The "fundamental purpose of the law" is "to significantly tighten the Government's control over civil society," Human Rights Watch told Global Voices.
Philippines Deports Thai Worker for Insulting Filipinos on Facebook
Some Filipinos in Thailand criticized the deportation: "Offensive, hateful and downright irresponsible as [the remarks] are, they were not criminal."
More and More, LGBT Japanese Are Coming Out of the Closet
An Internet survey conducted by international PR and advertising giant Dentsu has found that 1 in 13 Japanese people (7.7%) between the ages of 20 and 59 identify as LGBT.
Singapore Shuts Down News Website on World Press Freedom Day
"The (government's) draconian measures...legitimize excessive intervention by the state and set a precedent for the diminution of our online space."
What Happens When Japan Goes on a Week-Long Vacation?
There are mixed emotions as Japan's extended holiday ends. Some are sad to return to work, while others welcome life's return to normal.
Questions After Indonesia Executes Drug Convicts From Australia, Brazil and Nigeria
Debates continue about the death penalty law, the ‘war on drugs’, and the possibility that some of the convicts could be victims of injustice.
Chinese People Seem to Love Uber. Chinese Authorities? Not So Much
Authorities raided Uber offices in China twice in one week as part of a crackdown on unlicensed taxis. Some believe the real reason is to wipe out a foreign competitor.
Hong Kong Civic Groups Demand Legal Protections Against Mobile App Surveillance
Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates fear that police have been monitoring instant messages and chat apps with no government oversight.
Workers Celebrate Labor Day by Joining Street Protests Across Southeast Asia
Tens of thousands of workers across the region trooped to the streets to demand higher wages, benefits, and other improvements amid rising living costs.
What Does Cleavage Censorship Have to Do With Hong Kong's Electoral Policy?
Many believe that both the $2-million censorship of cleavages and the government's proposal are expensive, unnecessary, not genuine and submissive to Beijing's political will.
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