Stories about East Asia from August, 2024
Two Hong Kong journalists found guilty of sedition after a 2-year trial
Two former chief editors of the now-defunct Stand News were found guilty of sedition, marking the first such conviction of journalists since the former British colony returned to China in 1997.
From Myanmar to Thailand: Displaced journalists tell their stories
"I still have concerns that police will raid our office and arrest us because we have no permit to operate a news agency."
Hong Kong’s neon glow dims, symbolising the end of an era
Amid the whirlwind of sociopolitical changes that transformed Hong Kong from a liberal to an authoritarian city, people's desire to preserve and understand pieces of Hong Kong’s heritage has intensified.
Coastal villages struggle to recover after oil spill disaster near Philippine capital
"Toxic oil spills in our oceans are like fires in our forests, leaving a path of destruction that brings decades of negative impacts."
What are the controversies over Hong Kong’s latest cybersecurity bill?
“The proposals give authorities overly broad powers that could threaten the integrity of service providers and rock confidence in the city’s digital economy.”
Being in exile is to struggle to say ‘here’
"Exile is about wanting to return ... Can we commit to a new home, without giving up on the hope of a free Hong Kong?"
‘We have nothing except our hearts, and our minds': Vietnamese activist sentenced to five years in prison
“The only thing we did was to act in accordance with our conscience, speak up our thoughts, our desire, our longing.”
Turkey is committed to undermining NATO
"Hesitation to hold Turkey accountable is partially understandable. NATO was created to counter the systemic threat posed by the Soviet Union. It has no developed mechanisms to counter internal threats ..."
Taiwan embraces Olympic gold medal boxer Lin Yu-ting amid unwarranted gender controversy
Amid unwarranted gender controversy, an online bullying campaign, and transphobic smears, gold-medal-winning Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has become a symbol for Taiwan.
In a blow to democracy, Thai court dissolves main opposition party
"The Constitutional Court should be an organisation that protects the Constitution and constitutional rights. Instead, it is an organisation that expands state power and limits people’s rights and freedoms."
Interview with Korean-Ukrainian podcaster Oleksandr Shyn about Taiwan's linguistic landscape
Taiwan is an extremely diverse society when it comes to languages. Global Voices interviewed Oleksandr Shyn, a Korean-Ukrainian podcaster who focuses on the island's linguistic landscape.
China helped Cameroon build drinking water infrastructure. Is it a debt crisis or developmental aid?
Cameroon has built up it's clean water infrastructure thanks to access to Chinese loans. However, what are the long-term consequences of the resulting debt?
Hip-hop artist recalls her husband’s execution in Myanmar
"At this moment, my sadness is there … I want to say that my loss is [of] one person, and it is incomparable to the losses of [many] others every day."
Malaysia’s social media licensing rule: Online protection or censorship?
"Licensing of social media platforms is unnecessary, high-handed and poses a serious danger to our democratic right to criticise or question the Government."
Can Hong Kong's achievement in the Olympics revive the city's spirit?
Some see the city's achievement in the Olympics as an opportunity to reclaim “Hong Kong’s Spirit.”
Hong Kong secondary students may soon be schooled in ‘Xi Jinping Thought’
Among topics for patriotic education in Hong Kong were: Xi Jinping Thought, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and national security and national defence.
When will fair employment for people with disabilities become a reality in Thailand?
"Does society perceive them as people with dreams and aspirations, or solely as vulnerable and marginalised with scarce opportunities all the time?"
Taiwan struggles to combat Chinese influence in its generative AI tools
Taiwan released TAIDE, a Taiwan-centric generative AI bot, in April 2024, to address cultural and political bias and security risks, like industrial espionage, cyber-attacks and propaganda, associated with imported AIs.
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