Stories about East Asia from January, 2017
Myanmar Activists Say Junta-Era Defamation Law Must Go
"It is not appropriate that a citizen who criticises someone more powerful should face legal action of this kind."
It's Lunar New Year, and China's Young People Are Sick and Tired of It
The Chinese Lunar New Year is China's most important season for family reunions, but younger people are increasingly fleeing their relatives and the country altogether.
The Day Bangkok and Other Thai Provinces Turned Green on Google Maps
"When did we get so many forests in Bangkok?", asked a Twitter user.
Popular Chinese Selfie App Meitu Prompts Privacy Fears
"I think it’s just a very shady business practice to try to gather as much data as you can without asking for permission."
China Officially Outlaws Unauthorised VPNs
The Chinese government has been blocking some VPN services in China since 2015, but the current policy has officially made unregistered VPN and web-hosting services illegal.
Filipino Farmers and Activists March for Justice and ‘La La Land Reform’
'Stop killing peasants who feed the nation,' reads one banner during the January 20 march organized by peasant groups and activists in the Philippines.
Snapshots of Migrants Working at a Riverside Brickworks in Myanmar
In some cases, children as young as five years of age share in their family’s labor when they really should be playing or studying at school.
How the US Marines Spread Fake News About an Afghan ‘Terrorist’ In Okinawa
A long-term Afghan resident of Japan was accused of being a terrorist by an American military unit stationed in Okinawa Prefecture. It has since been debunked as "fake news".
China's Top Judge Warns Against the ‘Threat’ of Judicial Independence
"The speech should be the best migration service advertisement of the year."
Thai Junta Didn’t See the Irony of Installing Dinosaurs in Front of the Government House
"So many dinosaurs are at government house...a few are even seen outside."
Thai Army Invites Children to Play with Real Guns, Tanks and Assault Helicopters
"[We're] familiarizing them with soldiers and weaponry. By familiarizing them, they learn to love soldiers and even become soldiers."
Catchy Singlish Songs Urge Hong Kong to Return Military Hardware to Singapore
"Why you have to be liddat? Give us our Terrex back!"
Miniature Superhero Models Boost Jakarta Governor's Re-election Campaign in Indonesia
To show his support, a young Jakartan has created a miniature figure of Jakarta's controversial, famous governor.
Nickelodeon Won’t Get Its Underwater Theme Park in the Philippines, If Environmentalists Have Their Say
"For a channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible example to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources," says one critic.
Hong Kongers Snap Protest Selfies With Government’s Palace Museum Project ‘Exhibition’
After a cultural project proceeds without public consultation and the government spends even more money on a television series to promote it, Hong Kongers stage acts of protest through selfies.
Chinese Wonder If Smog Is Blackening Their Lungs Like It Is High-Speed Trains
"I don't think I will live as long as 80. Look at the train and see what happens to our lungs. My grandpa, aunt and uncle all have lung cancer."
A Life Outside Work for Hong Kong’s Filipino Domestic Helpers
"We have to enjoy it rather than sitting down [and being] sad," says Michelle Saluta, a domestic worker, about her day off each week.
An Indonesian Village's First Female Chief Ended Illegal Logging With Spies and Checkpoints
“I thought it was time for me to be brave and run for village leader,” Hamisah says.
Introducing ‘Vovinam’, a Vietnamese Martial Art Steeped in Political History
Vovinam, a response to French occupation of Vietnam, is an explosive hybrid of older practices found across the southeast Asian country.
Singapore's Prime Minister Leads Netizens in Expressing Gratitude for Foreign Workers
Local observers argue that real policies to protect migrant workers' rights are still absent in the wealthy Asian city state, however.
Survey Finds Young Social Media Users in Hong Kong Tend to Distrust the Government
The survey also found that despite young people’s frequent online activity, most of them seldom participated in offline political events.
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