Stories about East Asia from January, 2020
Thai journalist convicted over a 2017 Twitter post about a labor conflict
"There is a high level of self-censorship in Thailand… When you forbid freedom of expression… you forbid an open society."
The impact of Hong Kong protests on Taiwan’s presidential election and cross-strait relations
The axis of Taiwan’s political dynamics has shifted from the country's economy and administration to China factor and cross-strait relation.
Is Taiwan an unrecognized country?
"While today the international community is happy to maintain the current status-quo when dealing separately with Taiwan and China, certain political forces in both places are advocating for a change."
Philippine art town unites against mining extension
Citing grave damages to their environment after five decades of gravel extraction, the people of Angono town are petitioning against the extension of mining in their area.
Carlos Ghosn's great escape embarrasses Japanese government
The Japanese government has been embarrassed as details of Ghosn's escape expose systemic shortcomings in the country's police and prosecution services, the judicial system, passport security and more.
Ahead of Taiwan's presidential election, KMT accuses DPP of ‘green terror’ and Beijing echoes
The political label “green terror” is also circulating widely on mainland Chinese state-affiliated media and social media outlets.
Beijing’s new top man in Hong Kong says he hopes city will return to ‘the right track’
The new director of Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong reiterated Chinese President Xi Jinping's expressed desire for "a harmonious and stable environment".
Six years after deadly crackdown of garment strike in Cambodia, families say no hope for justice
"Justice seems as far away as the horizon, or like searching for a needle in the bottom of the sea. We have not yet seen the light of justice."
What is at stake in Taiwan's January 2020 presidential elections?
The large questions of what should be Taiwan's political, social, economic, environmental, cultural model continue to dominate the political debate, and naturally surge at times of elections.
Chinese propaganda slogan ‘unifying Taiwan by force’ is losing its threatening edge
Ahead of Taiwan's 2020 presidential election, mainland Chinese propaganda has started to downplay the “unifying Taiwan by force” narrative.
Taiwan January 2020 presidential elections: who are the contenders?
All three candidates represent strongly divergent views on social values, economic development, relations with China and the status of Taiwan.