· March, 2012

Stories about East Asia from March, 2012

China: Secret Arrest Law Passed

  15 March 2012

Samuel Wade from the China Digital Times translated some initial reactions from Twitter on the passing of a controversial amendment to China’s Criminal Procedure Law which provides legal ground to secret arrest and detention.

China: End of Chongqin Model Upon the Removal of Bo Xilai?

  15 March 2012

The former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, has been removed from his post and replaced by Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang. Some believe that it signifies the end of the Chongqing model, which adopts a Maoist populist approach to justify a hard-fist crackdown on organized crime. Does it mean that China will be more open now to initiating political reform?

Myanmar: Suu Kyi Speech Leaked on YouTube

  15 March 2012

The election campaign speech of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was leaked on the internet before its scheduled broadcast on state media. Suu Kyi criticized the negative legacy of military rule in her country.

Singapore: “Blackest Month for Bloggers”

  13 March 2012

Citing the numerous legal cases filed by Singapore public officials against prominent bloggers in the past month, Teo Soh Lung described the month of February 2012 as the “blackest month for bloggers and every Singaporean who treasures the right to free speech.”

South Korea: Guidelines for Stopping Jeju Naval Base Constructions

  13 March 2012

The Global Justice blog wrote about what individuals can do to promote and encourage protests against the Jeju naval base construction which has been blamed for destroying a rare ecosystem and disrupting the resident's livelihoods. Recently violent clashes between the government and protesters erupted as the construction launch date draws...

Singapore: Keeping Internet Safe

  13 March 2012

Andrew Loh reacts to the proposal of the Singapore government to develop an Internet code of conduct. The blogger suggests alternative ways to keep internet safe for young people.

Korea: Criticisms Mount against China for Repatriating North Korean Defectors

  13 March 2012

The Marmot's hole blog displayed interesting discussion threads on Chinese repatriation of North Korean defectors. Several reports revealed last week Chinese government sent back 31 North Korean defectors to North Korea where even families who helped those to escape from the country are being arrested and interrogated.

Singapore's Last Fishing Village

  13 March 2012

Remember Singapore posts pictures of Seletar Fishing Village which is described as “one of the last places in Singapore where you can find local fishermen making a living by the sea”

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.