Stories about East Asia from September, 2024
Seeking independence from Chinese exports, Brazil enters bid to explore rare earths
Rare earths are essential for the green energy transition, however, they are also difficult to mine and harmful to the environment, leading to the “rare earth paradox.”
Japan-born Nepali children struggle to ‘be Nepali’
Japan has become a key destination for Nepali migrant families, but their children must adapt to Japanese education, facing difficulties transitioning back to Nepalese education upon returning home.
A global experience in a translation classroom: Interview with Dr. Ya-mei Chen
For about two decades, Global Voices's Lingua program has seen many partners and collaborators. Among them, there's one educator who incorporates Lingua and its translation work into her teaching method.
Ex-editor of Hong Kong’s Stand News Chung Pui-kuen jailed for 21 months for sedition in landmark case
Kwok Wai-kin, the designated judge for national security trials said the defendants were not conducting genuine media work, but participating in the so-called resistance then.
Taiwan's ‘Iron Man of Asia’ is brought back into the limelight in a new documentary film
Taiwan's first silver medal at any Olympic Games remains an unknown figure, but a new documentary is shedding light on the 'Iron Man of Asia' of the 1960s.
The impact of China's fishing policies on West Africa
Climate pressure and overfishing have reduced domestic fish output in China, forcing Chinese fishing vessels into overseas waters. Fishermen in West Africa are paying the price.
Indigenous People defend traditional farming in northern Thailand
"We make a living. We follow the system laid down by our ancestors. What rotational farming fields were like 300 years ago, the fields are the same as back then."
A Japanese schoolboy was killed in China, raising concerns about increasing xenophobia
As anti-Japanese sentiment spreads in China, the second hate-crime in two months is raising questions about the country’s nationalistic education and how it is spreading xenophobia.
Hong Kong Article 23: Three jailed over a seditious T-shirt, bus graffiti, social media posts in six months
At least 14 people have been arrested on suspicion of violating Article 23 since the law was enacted on 23 of March, 2024.
‘Truth deserves to be seen’: Artists decry film censorship in the Philippines
Two Philippine films were given X-ratings, and therefore banned from airing in theaters, angering cinephiles and free-speech activists alike.
Lessons from Indonesia's 2024 election: Social media, censorship, and youth vote
During the elections, generative AI content was used in the campaigns by many parties and there were a variety of attitudes towards its use.
Fueling China's EV expansion: The green revolution and its environmental demands in Central Asia
China is looking to increase its electric vehicle exports in Central Asia, however, the region's coal-based energy grid and increasing EV-related mining projects could stunt the benefits of this green vehicle transition.
Hong Kong journalists are under systematic and organized attacks
Threatening messages were sent to family members, landlords, employers and associated organisations of 15 journalists, hateful contents were posted on Facebook targeting 36 journalists.
How did a Hong Kong judge find media outlet Stand News a seditious ‘tool’ to smear Beijing?
The appointed judge said: The line [Stand News] took was to support and promote HK autonomy. It became a tool to smear and vilify the Central Authorities and HK Government.
Does ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ conquer the game world with its free spirit or China’s soft power?
Some believe that China's desire to promote its soft power has contributed to the game's popularity, others see the creating team's will to confront the destiny of the gaming sector.
‘Peringatan Darurat’: Youth-led protest against corruption and nepotism in Indonesia
"The Peringatan Darurat movement represents a significant moment in Indonesian politics, demonstrating the power of social media to rapidly mobilise mass protests."
Making documentaries for select audiences: Interview with Nepali filmmaker Rajan Kathet
To understand the challenges and joys of documentary filmmaking — a rare profession in Nepal — Global Voices spoke to Rajan Kathet, a Kathmandu-based filmmaker.
China’s top nationalist influencer Hu Xijin silenced for over a month, but very few miss him
Hu Xijin, the former chief editor of the Chinese-state-funded Global Times and a prominent nationalist commentator, has been quiet on social media for over one month, since he critiqued party policy.
Pacific leaders’ statement removes Taiwan reference after China complaint
China intervened in the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), insisting Pacific leaders remove any mention of Taiwan from their communique on the forum.
Hong Kong NGOs for sexual minorities suffer government funding cuts and pressure
Apart from government cut of funding, LGBTQ+ groups face huge pressure for organizing public activities and they have refrained from applying foreign funding to prevent political risk.
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