Stories about East Asia from July, 2013
An Undeniably Racist Song, ‘Asian Girlz’ Sparks Controversy
Packed with Asian stereotypes and fetishes, song ‘Asian Girlz’ by ‘Day Above Ground’ has invited controversy and angry comments. Blogger Angry Asian Man typed down the entire lyrics to comment [if they have not] ‘run out of stereotypical Oriental stuff to list off, the song would have gone on for another ten minutes”. The...
Slim Majority for Ruling Party in Cambodian Polls
Cambodia's Opposition party may have gained more seats in this year's National Assembly elections but the ruling party, which has been in power in almost three decades, continued to dominate the overall results. Election fever is over, the results are out and nothing changes afterall, despite massive gains by the...
Student Movement in Taiwan
“The Far Eastern Sweet Potatoes” has written a review and analysis of the development of student movement in Taiwan in reaction to issues such as media monopoly and land justice against the background of cross-strait relation.
An English Written Chinese Classical Couplet
Chinese couplet is a kind of classical poetry written in two lines, which are corresponding to each other in length as well as syntactic and semantic properties. As the couplet can be pasted to the entrance of a house, sometimes a short extra line, horizontal line to be pasted in...
Outspoken Chinese Singer Detained Over Online Bomb Threat
Some fear authorities will make an example of her with harsh punishment.
Brunei Bans Daytime Dining in Muslim Restaurants
The new directive which surprised many people applies to foreigners and tourists as well during the holy month of Ramadan
INFOGRAPHIC: Singapore Waste Statistics
According to Singapore's National Environment Agency, every person in Singapore generated 1,370 kg of waste in 2012. About 60 percent of the waste were recycled and 40 percent were disposed in incinerators and landfills
Hazreen Shaik Daud: Malaysia’s First Transgender in Politics
Some netizens described Hazreen's appointment as a "surprisingly courageous, righteous and respectable initiative."
Taiwan: Flash Protests Against Land Expropriation
The dispute over land expropriation in Miaoli County has lit a fire for a series of flash protests targeting the President and the Premier for their indifference to citizens’ suffering. Several policemen from a “special district branch” were reported to check protesters’ I.D. and take away those who refused to...
South Korea: Over 25 Thousands Protested Against the Secret Agency Scandal
Mass protests against the state secret agency's electioneering scandal thundered across South Korea over the weekend. More than 25 thousand Koreans (Police estimated little below 8000 people) allegedly have attended a candlelight vigil in Seoul and dramatic photos and a video clip of the protest have been shared in major online venues.
South Korea's Military Culture Under Scrutiny After Teen Boot Camp Deaths
Five students drowned at a private summer boot camp after instructors made them take off their life jackets and jump into the sea.
Women Candidates in Cambodian Election
Mapping tool confirms that women candidates are still the second choice of Cambodia’s major political parties
African Fabric Kimono Belt Supports Mothers in Earthquake Disaster Area
A group of Japanese mothers in Sendai city is producing special kimono belts with fairly-traded African fabrics. Yumi Nakano, who organizes the fundraising [ja] by requesting a donation in exchange for the belts, hopes to encourage more people to enjoy the traditional Japanese kimono and help support the mothers of the...
Taiwanese Professor Arrested in Protest Against Forced Demolitions
Taiwanese professor Hsu Shih-Jung was yelling "Today you demolished Taipu, tomorrow we demolished the government" when he was dragged away by police.
Petition to Amend Vietnam Laws that Restrict Media Freedom
More than 60 Vietnamese bloggers signed a unity statement urging the Vietnam government to improve its human rights record and commitment as it vies for membership in the UN Human Rights Council: The Vietnamese government also needs to review the human rights situation in their own country and the Vietnamese...
Open Letter Calls for Lawyer's Release
More than 400 Chinese citizens signed an open letter on July 23, 2013, calling on Chinese authorities to release Xu Zhiyong, a prominent lawyer and rights campaigner who was detained on July 16 after calling for the release of activists and campaigning against government abuses. CHINA MEDIA PROJECT has translated the letter...
China Sets Up Fund to Research ‘Chinese Dream’ Campaign
The "China dream", China's propagandistic twist on the American dream which props up the Communist Party as the only way to prosper, has received academic funding for research.
Vincent Wijeysingha: Singapore’s First Gay Politician
On his Facebook he wrote: I am going to Pink Dot tomorrow. And yes, I am gay.
State of Islam in Southeast Asia
Murray Hunter of the University Malaysia Perlis discusses the situation of Muslim-majority societies in Southeast Asia as well as the issues associated with the rise of Islam in the region. Poverty, literacy, education, displacement, feudalism, unemployment, suppression, and control is dispossessing Muslims within ASEAN. Government and Ulama are trying to...
Japanese Railway to Sell Customers’ E-Ticket Data
Japan's largest railway company has decided to sell non-identifying data on its commuters to third-party companies. Though technically legal, some see the move as an invasion of privacy.
Watermelon Vendor's Death Triggers Backlash Against China's Urban Management Officers
The Linwu urban management authorities intended to cover up the death of a watermelon vendor, Deng Zhengjia, with huge compensation. Chinese netizens wanted the truth.
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