Stories about East Asia from April, 2016
Chacha the Chimp Escaped a Zoo in Japan. Angrily.
An image of an enraged chimp lunges at would-be captors on live TV goes viral.
Cambodian Human Rights Group Criticizes Telecoms Law

Some observers suspect that the law reflects the ruling party's desire to stifle online discussions as elections approach in 2017 and 2018.
Social Media Photos Show Aftermath of Strong Quake in Kumamoto, Japan
"We're spending an uneasy night as aftershocks continue in Kumamoto City. Right now we have evacuated to the playing fields at Kumamoto University."
Taiwanese Travelers Are Wary After China Flexes Its Long Arm in Kenya
"This incident is terrifying...We could be deported to China if the Chinese government claims that we violated Chinese law (even though we didn't violate any law in the third country)."
Japanese Social Media Goes Gaga Over Anime-Style English Textbook
"After her middle school entrance ceremony today, my daughter came home with her new English textbook. Ellen Sensei is totally cute!"
Chinese Students Face Online Debt Trap
Government-run People’s Daily said parents should "guide their [children's] thoughts, cultivate their financial literacy and raise their consciousness of risk."
In China, Alleged Assault Footage Helps Muffle Panama Talk
Three members of China's all-powerful politburo standing committee had relatives implicated in the Panama Papers, but national media has been silent on the leak.
Thai Army's ‘Attitude Adjustment’ Camp Helps Critics to Be Healthy and Obedient
Instead of receiving certificates, graduates of 'attitude-adjustment' sessions will sign MOUs stating they will cease all activities against the government.
What Do People Tweet While Waiting for the Train to Go By?
Tokyo's 34,000 level rail crossings are an unmistakable feature of the city, and an unavoidable fact of urban life.
The Week That Was at Global Voices Podcast: What Panama Papers?
In this episode, the period gets political in Poland, Afro-Chileans demand recognition in Chile, and Chinese censors go into overdrive to remove the Panama Papers -- even from email.
Photos: Protesting Farmers Asking for Rice Violently Dispersed by Police in the Philippines
The hashtag #BigasHindiBala (Rice not bullets) trended in the Philippines after police violently dispersed protesting farmers who were demanding food from the government.
Wanna Reach the Chinese Internet Market? Time to Register Your Domain in China.

New rules will require leading foreign companies including Microsoft and Apple to register their sites' domain names with local DNS providers in order to remain accessible in China.
Chinese Censors Erase #PanamaPapers Evidence From Web

The leaked files reveal offshore companies linked to China's top leader, who has vowed to fight "armies of corruption". But most mainland Chinese haven't even heard about them.
‘Free West Papua’ Campaign Turns to Social Media for Global Support
The campaign encourages netizens to express support to the independence struggle of West Papua by posting photos on social media using the hashtag #LetWestPapuaVote.
When a Mother's Love Conflicts With Loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party
"...nowadays, so many people see 'patriotism' as a business and as a path to get a promotion. They talk about ideology but think about business."
Posting Photos of Red Bowls on Facebook Is Now Deemed Seditious by the Thai Junta

"The Thai junta’s fears of a red plastic bowl show its intolerance of dissent has reached the point of absolute absurdity."
Japan and Its Wonderful Cherry Blossoms
In late March and April, Japan comes alive with beautiful cherry blossoms. Here is just a small collection of Instagram snaps of this lovely time of year.
Meet the Filipino Scientist Who Invented the Videophone in 1954
"Before there was Skype and FaceTime, a Filipino scientist invented a television-telephone."


















