Stories about East Asia from June, 2017
Is It the 20th Anniversary of Unification With China…or the Fall of Hong Kong?
Hong Kongers have several reasons to be unhappy with the city's relationship with China.
Beatles Memorial Day Marks the Anniversary of the Iconic Band’s First Visit to Japan
The 1966 visit by the Beatles to Japan is regarded as a turning point in Japanese postwar culture.
Vietnamese Blogger Phạm Minh Hoàng Detained, Stripped of Citizenship, and Exiled to France
"I wrote blogs and continued to express my views on issues like democracy, corruption, territorial sovereignty. This is something that anybody could do, and to be honest, everybody should do."
At Thailand's Request, YouTube Blocks Video Clip of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’
"Juntaland's dictator blocking Charlie Chaplin's satirical film mocking dictator is hilariously insane and dictatorial," wrote a journalist on Twitter.
China's Great Firewall Grows Ever-Stronger As Virtual Private Networks Disappear
"If one day I cannot climb over the wall, will you miss me?"
In China, an Antagonistic Anti-Refugee Stance Finds Support Online
Netizens bullied Yao Chen, a famous Chinese actress who is the UN Refugee Agency’s first Goodwill Ambassador in China, and rejected the idea of taking in refugees.
More Than a Year Later, Landslide Victims Scrape By in a Resettlement City in Myanmar
"A year after the resettlement, residents only just received power and still do not have running water. They are left to rely on collecting rainwater and deliveries from aid groups."
Chinese Cities Are Shaming Jaywalkers With Facial Recognition Software
"Public interest is greater than individual interest,"a traffic police researcher argues. But legal experts argue that the measure violates people's privacy.
Thailand’s Junta Leader Wants Citizens to Answer Four Leading Questions About Elections
"If in the future, Thailand experiences another coup d’etat, will it be charged as a crime against the state?" wrote an activist in response.
Fake News Twists Hong Kong Airline Hostesses’ Refusal to Wear Chinese Name Tags
Chinese media portrayed the refusal as another example of Hong Kong-mainland tension. In reality, it was about privacy.
Japan's Controversial Anticonspiracy Bill Becomes Law
"It's possible that the law, which is intended to deal with organized crime groups, will expand to affect ordinary citizens."
Hong Kong Activists Urge Restaurants to Remove Shark Fin Soup From Menus
"Just as Hong Kong consumers have a responsibility to stop eating shark fin, restaurant groups like Maxim's also have an equal responsibility to stop selling it."
Japanese Traditional Sweets Day Means Twitter Is Full of Mouth-Watering Photos of ‘Wagashi’
Did you know Japan has observed "traditional sweets day" on June 16 for more than a thousand years?
The Disturbing Wedding Trend in China of Groomsmen Sexually Assaulting Bridesmaids
"Bridesmaid is such a high risk role -- sexual harassment, rape and now death."
Netizen Report: China Has a New Cybersecurity Law
Online censorship keeps rising in Egypt, Rouhani’s ICT Minister brags of Internet censorship in Iran and Venezuela tests the boundaries of online anonymity.
Singapore Ad Watchdog Advises LGBT Event to Remove ‘Supporting Freedom to Love’ Tagline
"We cannot see how a tagline calling for inclusion and love can be seen as undermining the concept of family or disrespecting the individual," wrote the Pink Dot organizers.
Photos and Videos Show Massive Destruction of Marawi Battle Zone in the Philippines
"I weep for all the civilians who were mercilessly killed, I weep for the lost homes of my people," wrote the mayor of Marawi City.
China Shutters Entertainment News Sites, Citing ‘Socialist Values’ and Cybersecurity
Crackdowns on entertainment news outlets indicate that controls are not only directed at the foreign enemy, but at thoughts and activities seen to go against “socialist core values”.
Locals Rejoice as Restart Planned for Nuclear Power Plant
The reactor restarts are welcome news to isolated host communities. However, residents of one of Japan's most densely populated regions are fearful about the potential for another massive nuclear accident.
Myanmar Activist Charged with Defamation for Livestreaming a Satirical Play about the Army
“I streamed it live so that my friends could watch it because my son participated in the drama. I did not intend to defame the military," the activist told reporters.
A Video Ad That Suggests Black Isn't Beautiful Sparks Outrage in Malaysia
"Pull out the ads and sign your boss and agency up for social sensitivity 101 class please," wrote a Twitter user, addressing Watsons health and beauty chain.
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