Latest posts by Oiwan Lam
Why are Chinese parents anxious about premade meals served in schools?
Many expressed worries that the premade food sector will offer children untra-processed food and take away jobs.
In China, questions remain ahead of Huawei’s launch of the Mate 60 phone series
As China's Huawei launches its new phone brand, Mate 60, questions over the origins of their processing chips and the timing of the launch remain.
As Xi Jinping snubs the G20 Summit, India replaces China as leader of the Global South
China said it welcomed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, provided that it would not turn into a geopolitical tool.
The Chinese 2023 map has nothing new. But why are China’s neighbours mad about it?
The strongest reactions came from countries in Southeast Asia as the Chinese map claims virtually the entirety of the South China Sea.
China retaliates as Japan discharges treated radioactive water from Fukushima
China is the only country in the world that bans seafood from Japan over Fukushima discharge of treated radioactive wastewater.
China is on the precipice of its own major financial crisis
Many are worried that the bankruptcy of Evergrande will trigger a domino effect that extends that crisis from the property to the finance sector.
Chinese propaganda takes over a graffiti wall on London’s Brick Lane
"Their performance captures China’s characters: When 'China' is present, it erases all the diverse colors and cultures brutally with zero respect."
Devastating floods in Hebei expose the site selection problem of China’s sub-capital, Xiong’an
One Weiboer put the water channeling politics in China in a nutshell: "Whether a place is submerged or not relies not on its altitude but on its political status."
Commentators discourage extending national security crackdowns to ‘soft resistance’ in Hong Kong
The government is considering clamping down on “soft resistance” when drafting the local version of National Security Law (HK-NSL).
Speculations about China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang disappearance from the public eye include alleged affair and power struggle
Beijing has cited unspecific “health reasons” to explain Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's disappearance from the public eye for over three weeks, yet few believe in this official explanation.
A forensic investigation finds a site that doxxes Hong Kong activists and journalists is likely backed by Beijing
Toronto-based Citizen Lab finds circumstantial evidence that suggests the campaign operators held links to mainland China.
How Chinese students’ aspiration for equality is reflected in the fictional Shanhe University
The students' utopian dream has exposed the dim reality of China's education system and the systemic discrimination against students from poor provinces.
China rolls out new patriotic education law to consolidate its single-party regime
The law aims to enhance patriotism for all Chinese people both within the country and overseas, particularly citizens from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Can Hong Kong afford its planned artificial island construction project?
In addition to the irreversible damage to Hong Kong's marine life and sea beds, the city’s fiscal reserves may be completely drained in a decade or so thanks to the pricy project.
Digital rights activist groups urge tech giants to defend against Hong Kong’s injunctions against protest anthem
More than 24 human rights and digital rights groups believed that the injunctions, once granted, would have a “disastrous effect” on freedom of expression and information access, with global implications.
Hong Kong Court asks: Who are the defendants of the protest anthem injunctions?
"Even if [the injunction] successfully restrained Google, it would only prohibit its circulation within Hong Kong. The SAR government has to apply an injunction in the U.S.A to take down the videos globally […]"
Inspired by a Netflix drama, Taiwan finally has its #MeToo moment
The DPP staffers’ statement pointed to a Netflix drama about sexual assault, and urged the party to stand with progressive values and stop playing ignoring sexual harassment.
Hong Kong authorities clamp down on the annual commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown
Ahead of the 34th anniversary of the June 4th 1989 Tiananmen crackdowns, the Chinese term “special days” or “special occasion” replaced former political slogans like “vindication of June 4” because of censorship
Hong Kong purges public libraries of politically sensitive books
The Audit Commission released a report demanding the public library operator step up its efforts in removing books that were “manifestly contrary” to the interests of national security.
China is tackling its food crisis by turning forests into farmland
Although China’s total grain output — 686.53 million tons in 2022 — could fully feed its 1.3 billion population, it is still looking to convert massive swaths of forest and green space to farmland.
Pro-Beijing politicians urge Hong Kong to scrap the Gay Games 2023
Anticipating political pressures from the conservatives, Gay Games Hong Kong has adopted a depoliticised strategy by stressing the economic benefit of hosting the international event in Hong Kong.