Stories about East Asia from November, 2015
To the World, He's Malaysia's Most Famous Political Prisoner. To His Daughter, He's Simply ‘My Dear Papa’
Nurul Hana Anwar channeled her sadness into a recently published book, "My Dear Papa". The collages inside offer a deeply personal picture of her father Anwar Ibrahim.
Will Indonesia’s Police Circular on Hate Speech Suppress Freedom of Expression?
"This hands the police a powerful weapon, allowing it to decide what can and cannot be categorized as hate speech, and is absolutely problematic and dangerous."
In Malaysia, One Daughter's Long Wait for Her Father’s Return
When the Malaysian government imprisoned Anwar Ibrahim, they did not just take away his political career. They also took away a grandfather, a father and a husband.
Singaporeans Can Now Legally Own and Read ‘Fanny Hill’, but Playboy Is Still Banned
The government lifted the ban for 240 publications but 17 titles remain prohibited for being obscene or contrary to public interest.
Chinese Netizens Have Their Own Version of Thanksgiving: Fried Rice With Egg Day
"Sixty-five years ago, a plate of fried rice with egg changed the fate of China. We would have become North Korea without this dish (although the two are becoming alike)."
How the Ruling Oligarchy Imperils Japanese Democracy
How committed is Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to Japan's national defense, and what does that mean for the country's Constitution?
How Manila Became a ‘Walking Dead’ City During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit
Leaders from 21 nations arrived in Manila to attend an economic summit. As part of security measure, major roads were closed and flights were cancelled, which inconvenienced thousands of residents.
Taiwanese Netizens Make the Most of Chinese Users’ Brief Facebook Visit
"This is so counterproductive I almost died laughing. This whole thing simply helps Tsai Ing-wen's campaign"
More Than 100 Ex-Political Prisoners Win Parliament Seats in Historic Myanmar Election
About 10 percent of the winners in the election in Myanmar are former political dissidents who spent time in prison.
China and Hong Kong's 0-0 Draw in World Cup Qualifier Is Steeped in Symbolism
Some Hong Kongers silently booed during the Chinese national anthem. Others saw a parallel between their football team's performance against China and efforts to combat Beijing's increasing intervention.
Authorities Don't Like This Infographic Showing Why Thailand's Royal Insult Law Needs Reform
Military authorities summoned an editor of the Prachatai news website over the infographic, which they deemed "vague and might cause misunderstanding" in Thailand.
When China Briefly Unblocked Facebook, Trolls Rushed In
"I wish this precious experience can help our 'new friends' see a full picture of Taiwan's democracy, freedom and diversity. Welcome, all of you, to the world of Facebook!"
International Tribunal Reopens Indonesia's ‘Forgotten Genocide’
The Indonesian government is accused of orchestrating an anti-communist purge that killed at least half a million people. What kind of reconciliation is possible today?
Facebook Sees Sharp Spike in Hong Kong Government's Requests for User Data
"...it is quite obvious that the public have no way to know about the truth at the moment. We don’t know whether the reasons provided by the government are justified..."
Toraja Festival Features Traditional Dances of Indonesia
More than 100,000 people visited South Sulawesi to celebrate the "Lovely Toraja" festival. Toraja is an indigenous tribe in Indonesia with an estimated population of 1.1 million.
Think You're Cool? Then These Stop-Motion Ultraman Videos Are for You.
A YouTube user has created compelling stop-motion videos of the beloved Japanese superhero Ultraman.
Old Photos Show How the West Perceived Japan
Adolfo Farsari's hand-painted photos provide a glimpse of how Europeans regarded the country just a few decades after the end of that country's period of isolation.
As UN Climate Talks Approach, a Look at What's Changed Since Copenhagen
Is the world better suited for a climate change agreement than it was in 2009, when the last important negotiations took place?
Airpocalypse Strikes Again in China's Northeast
Hazardous smoke shrouds the city of Shenyang, where air quality has set a new record low, testing 130 times above levels considered safe by the World Health Organization.
Lumad Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines Speak Out Against Abuses
“The Philippine Army destroyed our school. They even burned our agricultural cooperative. I experienced getting jailed and now face trumped-up charges of kidnapping. We miss our ancestral land."
China Has a Few Walls to Climb If It Wants World-Class Universities
A columnist stoked debate about the openness of Chinese universities after he found himself having to literally scale the wall of Xiamen University to gain access to the campus.
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