· September, 2009

Stories about East Asia from September, 2009

China: Beijing students protest against parade rehersals

  21 September 2009

In the upcoming October 1 celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing will be mobilizing over one hundred thousands secondary and university students for parades. As it is compulsory for students to participate in the prolong parade rehearsal, some are not happy about it. Apple...

Taiwan: Kaohsiung set to screen film amidst controversy

  21 September 2009

The Kaohsiung Film Festival came under pressure from China over its decision to screen The Ten Conditions of Love, a documentary about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. As a result the Kaohsiung City Government decided to screen the documentary in advance of the film festival. Echo Taiwan criticises the Kaohsiung...

Japan: DPJ on Press Clubs and Media Opennness

  21 September 2009

Blogger APEESCAPE covers the way the Democratic Party of Japan has gone back on their promise and closed off press conferences to foreign, internet, and independent press. The Hatoyama administration is now under close scrutiny and APEESCAPE says “Today’s news is an incremental step to media openness, but not nearly...

Vietnam: Sex Trafficking in Saigon

  21 September 2009

Fish Egg Tree is angry and disappointed to learn that sex trafficking is rampant in Pham Ngu Lao in District 1 of Saigon, Vietnam even though authorities are aware of the problem.

Laos: Monk Chat Blog

  21 September 2009

The Monk Chat program in Vientiane is a venue where Lao monks and foreigners can exchange in dialogue about their culture and religion.

Japan: Threats on Twitter

  19 September 2009

Angry and frustrated, Akihito from the Polar Bear Blog reports that his wife received threatening DMs on Twitter and decided to delete her account [ja]. He thanks everyone who responded through Twitter, where many expressed outrage and offered encouragement and similar tales.

South Korea: Government sued activist with libel

  18 September 2009

Ohmynews! International has a report on South Korean government libel charge against a prominent activist lawyer Park Wonsoon. Part was charged 200 million won for damages from the National Intelligence Agency (“NIA”) last September 14.

South Korea: 6% of Kids Addicted to Internet

  18 September 2009

Korea Beat translated a local news on a report released by the Ministry of Health which affirmed: 6 out of 100 fourth-graders, over 34,000 in total, have an internet addiction serious enough to call for counseling and treatment.

Japan: The boyladies

  17 September 2009

An Englishman in Osaka introduced a theatrical troupe called the Takarazuka Revue Company. The group is famous for their boyladies – women performing man's role on stage.

China: Pretending to be a reporter

  17 September 2009

ESWN translated the Retrial of Wu Baoquan, a netizen sentenced to 2 year imprisonment for exposing a land dispute in Ordos city under the charge of libel. On 16 of September, the verdict of the retrial was released, apart from libel, the court introduced the new element of “pretending to...

Aceh, Indonesia: Adulterers will be stoned to death

  17 September 2009

Bad news for adulterers and homosexuals in Aceh, Indonesia: The Regional House of Representatives has passed a law that imposes a punishment of stoning to death against married adulterers and 100 lashes with a cane and a fine of 100 grams of pure gold against homosexuals.

Cambodia: Professional training for dentists

  16 September 2009

Details Are Sketchy criticizes a sub-decree by the Cambodian government which encourages dentists to undergo professional training but does not include a penalty for those who refuse to do so.

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.