A media activist, researcher and educator currently based in Hong Kong. My Twitter account is @oiwan and personal views are published on: patreon.com/oiwan
Latest posts by Oiwan Lam
Taiwanese ex-president Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China sparks speculation
It's clear that the KMT is eager to reestablish relations with China without upsetting Taiwan’s autonomy, yet Ma’s visit will be politically difficult as few are likely to embrace him.
How did Chinese politics play out in the Oscars 2023?
The Oscars are always political. But this year, the 95th Annual Academy Awards has also been entangled with Chinese politics and controversies.
Veteran Hong Kong labor rights activist arrested on suspicion of foreign collusion
The 65-year-old labour rights activist Elizabeth Tang was arrested outside Stanley prison on suspicion of foreign collusion after visiting her husband Lee Chuek Yan who is charged with "inciting subversion."
Hong Kong: Women's workers rally cancelled amid arrest threats
A women’s rights group had planned a rally on March 5, ahead of International Women’s Day. But the rally was abruptly canceled after waves of political pressure emerged.
Chinese ‘white-hair’ protestors denounce medical insurance reform
Despite huge efforts made by official media outlets to highlight the positive side of the medical insurance reform, public distrust continues spreading.
Can China act as a peace broker in the Russian-Ukraine war?
China is attempting to rebuild ties with the EU and is blaming the US for taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine War ahead of a meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Will Chinese advanced AI chatbots survive China’s online censorship?
China Digital Times asked a Chinese chatbot “How do you comment on Chinese leader Xi Jinping?” and the chatbot answered, “Your entry contains rule-breaking terms, please re-enter.”
Hong Kong’s wetland conservation remains uncertain in the Northern Metropolis
The Northern Metropolis project covers 30,000 hectares of land along Shenzhen River and Deep Bay where the city's major wetlands are located.
How the US anti-vaccine disinformation on COVID-19 is appropriated in China
Without verifying the content, China propagandists and spokespeople cited American far-right disinformation spreader Project Veritas, and urged the US to investigate Pfizer's role in engineering the COVID-19 virus.
Anti-zero-COVID ‘white paper’ protesters face forced disappearance in China
An unknown number of anti-zero COVID policy protesters were forced into disappearance during Christmas and Lunar New Year break in China.
From 37 to 60,000: China’s official COVID-19 death toll data remains opaque
...there are a total of 35,519 hospitals, the 60,000 figure implies that, on average, there was fewer than two COVID-related death per hospital between December 8 and January 12.
Why was the major COVID-19 drug Paxlovid delisted from China's medical insurance scheme?
The Chinese poor will not be able to access the WHO-recommended "life-saving" COVID-19 drug after delisting Paxlovid from China's basic medical insurance scheme. But online patriots are backing the decision.
The borders between Hong Kong and China reopen ahead of Lunar New Year
Official narratives frame the border reopening as a “new start” for businesses. Many Hong Kong residents had suffered from almost three years of separation under the zero-COVID policy.
Beijing empowers Hong Kong Chief Executive to direct local courts on national security-related trials
"...judicial independence [in Hong Kong] vanishes when executive authorities can override a court decision without being challenged by a judicial review."
China falls into a chaos amid a Tsunami-scale winter COVID-19 outbreak
Many countries have announced new travel restrictions on travellers from greater Chinese regions due to inadequate sharing of epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data.
What is Hong Kong role in Russia's sanction evasion?
The latest reports out of Hong Kong indicate that Russian-affiliated corporations in Hong Kong had evaded western sanctions by exporting chips and even military drones to Russia.
Hong Kong launches a national security legal battle against media tycoon Jimmy Lai
"Jimmy Lai, a 75-year-old media tycoon, is PRC's no.1 national enemy in Hong Kong...He may not be able to get out of prison alive."
China faces a rough road to ending its zero-COVID policies
Under the zero-COVID policy, public resources have been spent on PCR tests, building quarantine facilities, propaganda, and controlling people's movement rather than vaccinations or improving medical infrastructures.
China’s foreign interference narrative fails to successfully demonize the nationwide anti-zero COVID protests
"...if there are foreign forces, they will not incite people to protest...they should wish the lockdown last for a decade until the country and its people become so poor..."
China’s zero-COVID policy sparks rare country-wide protests
"...I am the one who jumped from the highrise; I am the victim trapped in the fire. If I am not there yet, I will be the next one."
What role does the Chinese government play in the latest Foxconn workers protest?
The recent protests had taken place against the backdrop of the exploitative labor conditions.
