Stories about East Asia from September, 2013
Music Flashmob in Hong Kong Times Square
An independent folk rock band, Noughts and Exes, teamed up with a number of indie bands occupied the Times Square in Hong Kong and held a flashmob music performance last weekend.
In Cage with Chinese Political Activist Wang Bingzhang
More background information about Wang Bingzhang.
Fuel Price Increase Divides Malaysia
Critics fear it would lead to higher cost of living while some believe the increase is reasonable given that Malaysia has one of the lowest fuel prices in the world
Chinese Pop Song: Rule Breaking Animal
Rensi from ChinaSMACK translated and explained the lyrics of a recently released pop song, ‘Rule-Breaking Animals’, written by a 27-year-old independent singer-songwriter Xu Song. The song is about the conflict between chengguan (city management officers) and street vendors and it has generated more than 12 million listen in QQ music...
Story Behind the “Cancelled” Beijing Independent Film Festival
Like other sensitive events, the Beijing Independent Film Festival was announced cancelled but quietly had its full program of screenings and panels held on schedule, except the opening ceremony. Liz Tung from Beijing Cream interviewed the festival's artistic director Dong Bingfeng on the story behind “cancellation”.
Thousands Reject Cambodia’s Election Results
The Opposition vows to hold more rallies next week and threatens to boycott the opening of the Parliament
East Timor: “Literacy Often Falls by the Way Side”
Marking the International Literacy Day, September 8, The Asia Foundation's blog, In Asia presents striking numbers on the quality of educational outcomes in Timor-Leste, a country where “education, and literacy in particular, too often falls by the wayside”: World Bank research found that 70 percent of first grade students in Timor-Leste were...
Tokyo's Hope for Improvements by 2020 Olympics
Some Japanese Twitter users are sharing their hope that the Olympics will mean an improved and more accessible Tokyo.
Chinese Tomboy Image Gets Popular
Offbeat China blogs about the rise of a new Chinese woman image – Nu Hanzi, meaning manly woman or Tomboy. The blog has also translated the 20 typical characters of a Nu Hanzi.
Hong Kong: A Cautionary Tale for Taiwan
A group of 300 individuals in Hong Kong published a statement in Taiwanese newspapers warning the Taiwan society against Sinicisation [i.e. the bad influence of mainland China]. The statement has two versions one published in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. Dictionary of Politically Incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese has translated...
Tokyo to Host 2020 Olympics
Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympics after the members of International Olympic Committee have voted on September 7th to select the host city. Tokyo 2020 reacts to the news #olympics2020 #BA2013 #olympics pic.twitter.com/lKws4Qcw4E — Olympics (@Olympics) September 7, 2013
Don't Say Millions Starved During China's Great Famine. Try ‘Nutritional Death’ Instead
A professor recently claimed that previous estimates that 30 million people died during the Great Chinese Famine is rumor. According to him, the difficult period caused 2.5 million "nutritional deaths".
100 Million Signature Campaign for Resolution of Japan's ‘Sex Slaves’ Issues
The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has launched a new campaign to gather 100 million signatures. Their online petition, in eight different languages, calls on Japanese government to offer an official apology and legal reparations to the victims and asks the international community to join their cause....
Podcast: Bo Xilai's Trial
Sinica hosts Ed Wong from the New York Times and James Miles of The Economist for a closer look at Bo Xilai's trial. The podcast discusses media transparency in China and historical comparisons with previous political purges, including the famous case against Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four during...
Why Malaysia's Fuel Price Hike is Wrong
Anil Netto uploaded the analysis of Institut Rakyat which described Malaysia's recent decision to slash fuel subsidies as a ‘wrong approach” to address the country's fiscal deficit. Wastage and corruption should be cut first and income-boosting policies should take effect before subsidies on essential goods should be open to reconsideration.
China: A Question Becomes a Rumor
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a report about a rumour crackdown case in Hebei. A woman asking if a murder took place in Louzhuang was arrested and detained for 5 days for spreading rumour and disturbing public order.
China: Show Swords in Ideology Battle
The Chinese President Xi Jinping recently launched the party's ideology battle to take over opinion leadership in a meeting of propaganda officials. In the past few days, state-controlled media outlets echoed with Xi's call by using the phrase “showing one’s sword” in their editorials. David Bandurski from China Media project...
China: New Visa Policies for Foreigners
Last year, the number of foreigners entering or leaving China reached 54 million. To cope with the situation, the Chinese government has introduced three new types of visas for foreigners. Cam MacMurchy from Nanfang.com put together a complete list of visa categories.
Hong Kong: More Restriction Imposed on Domestic Maids
The Hong Kong government has imposed further restriction on the domestic maids and made it harder for them to quit their contract and change job. Tom Grundy pointed out that the new policy will entrap domestic workers to abusive employers.
Homeless Foreigners on the Rise in Thailand
A charity group reports that there is an increasing number of homeless foreigners in Thailand.