NATHANIEL SCHOSSAU WRITES – A scene in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated “Barbie” movie, set for release July 21 and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has caused controversy over—of all things!— a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The reason: Vietnam and China both claim a particular part of…
KAYA RODRIGUES WRITES – In February, I wrote an article about 4Ocean, a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified Corp dedicated to solving the oceanic crisis of global plastic pollution by creating jewelry from recycled plastic. Today, as I gear up to begin my career in retail jewelry with a brand…
ANYA CHINAPPI WRITES – On June 17 police and city officials in Daegu, South Korea, clashed with supporters of LGBTQ rights just hours before the scheduled start of the 15th annual Daegu Queer Culture Festival. Tensions ran high as hundreds of local city officials and workers, backed by Daegu’s mayor…
SAM BECK WRITES – It was a momentous event, the culmination of a long fight to recognize the rights of those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community, and a nationwide celebration of Pride Month: On June 24, Manila held the Metro Manila Pride March and Festival, and Quezon City held the LoveLaban:…
RYAN BYRNE WRITES – Last week, after more than a year of trading barbs and lawsuits, the world’s preeminent golf circuit, the PGA Tour, announced that it, along with the European-based DP World Tour, would merge with the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. The LIV Tour, then, managed to leverage the enormous coffers…
ARMAAN JHANGIANI writes – Societies with law and order, power and stability, and virtues of morality and love have always been epitomized as the peak of human community and self-restraint. While the beginnings of America would encapsulate this, the industrial rise following America’s success in World War II would introduce…
Dear Asia Media International and LMU Community: I am saddened to share that Tom Plate, clinical assistant professor of Asian Pacific American Studies, passed away on May 23, 2023, of natural causes. He was 79 years old. Professor Plate joined LMU in August 2010 teaching part-time as a Distinguished Scholar…
ASIA MEDIA INTERNATIONAL REPORTS – The LMU and AMI family is proud to pass along the very happy news that Michelle P. Nguyen has accepted Columbia University’s invitation of admissions to its internationally prestigious School of International and Public Affairs. SIPA sits in the very top tier of public policy…
YUKANA INOUE WRITES – On the surface, the recently debuted girl group XG appears to be like any other K-Pop girl group. Upon closer examination, however, one quickly finds that all seven members — Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Juria, Cocona, Maya and Harvey — are Japanese and their production company, Xgalx,…
AMI FOUNDER TOM PLATE WRITES – Over the decades, even during rare warmish breaks in the tundra of US-China relations, I do not think I ran across a single American foreign correspondent who claimed that their Beijing posting was an easy job. The other day, while thoroughly enjoying former CNN…
ALI ZANE WRITES – The Netflix original series “The Glory” has provided viewers with a new perspective on the trauma that school violence victims carry throughout their lives. “The Glory,” produced by Netflix and Hwa&Dam Pictures – a Korean drama production company with an impressive list of works and a…
SPENCER H KIM WRITES – Thirty-six years ago I helped co-found the Pacific Century Institute (PCI). Our goal was to build “bridges of understanding” between the peoples living on the vast Pacific Rim because we saw the coming century as the “Pacific Century.” That this is now the Pacific Century…
MICHELLE CHANG WRITES – When the clock strikes 5:00pm, people finish their last emails, close their computers, and head out after a long day at work. At least, that’s what is normally expected; but a recent proposal under review by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol would mandate a maximum 69-hour…
AMANI ALAWWAD WRITES – After the recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi made a surprising move by calling a meeting of Central Asian countries March 22. Was this an audacious power play aimed at expanding its influence in the region? The meeting, held…
GONZALO REYES MONTANO WRITES – The United States is not the only country deeply concerned with the direction of China’s potential. Consider the substantially increased military spending plans proposed by the current government of the United Kingdom, based upon the fear of imminent danger posed by China. But what is…
