Stories about East Asia from August, 2019
China’s hunger for minerals stirs resistance in rural Thailand
Chinese efforts to obtain a cheap source of a crop-boosting mineral are raising fears of an environmental crisis among farming communities in Thailand.
A Hong Kong artist’s ‘surreal’ depiction of the anti-extradition protests
In addition to the Lennon Wall, the artist's work has likened the protesters to superheroes, compared protest power to Dragon Ball Z, and depicted the protesters fighting against Gozilla.
‘I am a Hongkonger’: Artist Ai Weiwei on why he supports the city’s protest movement
'Freedom of expression is the most important weapon to combat authoritarianism. Authoritarians simply have no imagination, and without that, they have no future.'
Election focuses spotlight on disability issues in Japan
Kimura Eiko and Funago Yasuhiko, who both rely on motorized wheelchairs and caregiver support in order to carry out daily tasks, were elected to the upper house of Japan's parliament.