Stories about East Asia from September, 2015
China's State-Run Central Television Slammed for Plagiarizing a Photographer's Work
When a freelance photographer accused China's Central Television of plagiarizing his time-lapse photos of Tibet, the state-run station chose to ignore his copyright claims and instead intimidated him with threats.
Sudden, Massive Flooding Near Tokyo Catches Japan Off-Guard
The sheer scale of the flooding was surprising, and was reminiscent of the devastation caused by the massive tsunami that struck northeastern Japan in March, 2011.
In Northern Thailand, Massage Training Gives Female Prisoners a Second Chance
Every day, a line of customers wait patiently to book massage appointments at the Vocational Training Center. Slots fill up quickly, and many people are told to try again tomorrow.
Many Japanese Surprised Their Country Accepts Very Few Refugees
"Anyone who supports parliamentary democracy based on a constitution should never ignore the plight of refugees."
Indonesian Activists Remember Slain Human Rights Defender Munir Said Thalib
September marks 11 years since Munir Said Thalib, a human rights activist who exposed government abuses during the last years of President Suharto, was killed by suspected military agents.
Thailand's Military-Backed Government to Stay in Power After Draft Charter's Rejection
"This draft constitution will eventually establish a mechanism which will sustain the power of undemocratic entities over the democratic ones."
Could Privatization Clean Out the Corruption in China's State-Owned Enterprises?
Liu Shengjun, a well-know economist and opinion leader, has audaciously called for the privatization of state-owned enterprises, a taboo idea given China's commitment to the idea of collective ownership.
Indonesian House Leaders Face Ethics Probe After Cozying Up to Donald Trump
The surprise appearance of Indonesia's House speaker and his deputy at Donald Trump's campaign rally in New York angered many Indonesian netizens.
Trolls Go After Artists Who Aren't ‘Patriotic’ Enough During China's WWII Parade
American-born Taiwanese singer Christine Fan removed a photo of her twin babies after receiving a flood of online hate for not sharing military parade photos instead.
Will Singapore Vote for Continuity or Change?
"We’re also seeing a significant slice of the younger generation who feel that change is necessary,"
Censored Memes, Search Terms and Images from China’s WWII Parade
Whilst the visible comments about the massive military parade on Weibo were overwhelmingly positive, posts which were removed and collected at FreeWeibo.com showed users making fun of the occasion.
Will a Visit From Taiwan's Former Vice President Lend Weight to China's Revisionist WWII History?
Lien Chan will attend a military parade in China commemorating victory over the Japanese, even though the mainland is downplaying his own party's central role in World War II.
Meet the ‘Loa’ Podcast Network: What Vietnam's Mainstream Media Has Been Missing
"Loa seeks to explore the ideas and stories that shape Vietnam today. We amplify the voices you often don't hear and broadcast the perspectives you haven’t heard."
Japan's Push to Renew Military Operations Has Sparked Mass Nationwide Protests
Hundreds of thousands of people all over the country have turned out to protest new legislation that would allow Japan to go to war.