DANICA CREAHAN WRITES — On Wednesday, Dec. 2, New Zealand’s government symbolically declared climate change an emergency through a motion tabled in parliament which recognized “the devastating impact that volatile and extreme weather will have on New Zealand and the wellbeing of New Zealanders, on our primary industries, water availability,…
Author: Asia Media Staff
INDIA: HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER, LOW STATUS FOR THE MUSLIM MINORITY
ZANE KRPAN WRITES — The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has been received extremely well since he won the 2014 election. His approval rating in August of 2020 was an astounding 78% and it has actually been higher in the past (Poll). In comparison to other world leaders, this…
JAPAN: CAN THE NEW ‘DEMON SLAYER’ MOVIE CONQUER THE WORLD?
MATEO FERNANDEZ WRITES — “Demon Slayer” has made Japanese history in both manga and anime. What is manga, for those who don’t know? Japanese graphic novels or comics that are inherently the building blocks of this uniquely Japanese form of entertainment. Just as in the U.S many movies are based…
THAILAND: IS THE COUNTRY’S DESTINY PRE-DETERMINED BY POLITICS?
LIAM ROGERS WRITES — The Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, was acquitted Wednesday, December 3, on conflict-of-interest charges. In 2014, he was accused of this by the Pheu Thai party, as he remained living in Army housing after his election. But in a unanimous decision by the constitutional court, he…
CHINA: STOPPING THE BLAME AND SHAME GAME AGAINST WOMEN
MONICA KELLY WRITES — On average, a woman spends eight years of her life menstruating – yet the topic of periods remains taboo and is stigmatized in China. This November, in a bid to end ‘period shame,’ women attending Chinese universities set up free sanitary pad dispensers in bathrooms. These…
US-CHINA RELATIONS: BIDEN’S AMERICA & XI’S CHINA MUST EVOLVE BEYOND MUTUAL DEMONISATION
TOM PLATE WRITES — The filling of key policy positions in the incoming Biden administration proceeds apace. But so far, none of the announced or expected top-level appointees proffer particular savvy or expertise about Beijing. The designated Biden secretary of state is Antony Blinken, whose dedicated career competence and sensible style…
PHILIPPINES: IS THIS THE WAY TO RUN A DRUG WAR?
NAWAF AL-SABAH WRITES- Although Colombia is the world’s top source of illicit drugs, traffickers have now made Asia a hub for both transportation and consumption. Interestingly, a few years ago, South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka became vulnerable regions for human trafficking due…
SOUTH KOREA: WHY KOREAN WOMEN DOMINATE THE LPGA — PART I
MATEO VALLES QUINTANA WRITES — Since the early 2000’s South Korean female professional golfers have been a dominant force on the LPGA tour and are repeatedly found at the top of the money list. In 2017, South Korean nationals Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu were first and second…
INDONESIA: BOBA TEA DRINKS MAKE MY HEART BUBBLE WITH JOY
GABY RUSLI WRITES — The sweet, milky, smooth, light brown tea. The dark brown, chewy, little bubble-like goodness at the bottom of the plastic cup. The excitement you feel when you’ve stuck your straw into the cup, ready to enjoy this drink that will satisfy your thirst and craving for…
ASIAN FUSION: WILL NETFLIX’S NEXT “AVATAR” SERIES WHITEWASH THE ASIAN-INSPIRED ORIGINAL?
CADY-BREE ABE WRITES — The new Netflix live action “Avatar the Last Airbender” TV series was set for release in 2020, but due to COVID-19, production has been delayed until 2021. Skeptical fans are not optimistic about the outcome. Here’s why. Many fans agree that the introduction to every episode…
CHINA: IS PUBLIC READINESS FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE SCIENCE-BASED, OR A SHOT IN THE DARK?
TIA CARR WRITES – Over 90% of Chinese citizens say they are willing to take a vaccine for Covid-19. Russians come in at less than 55%. Why? Surveys show that only around 70% of the global population would be “very or somewhat likely to take a COVID-19 vaccine.” They say…
US-SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS: BUILD BACK BETTER
KATHLEEN STEPHENS WRITES — It was only a couple of Saturdays ago that I was walking, masked of course, on a gorgeous autumn day along a Washington street lined with gingko trees aflame in gold, four days after the Nov. 3 general election, when I heard the news that Joe…
US-CHINA RELATIONS: EIGHT ‘SUGGESTIONS’ FOR THE BIDEN PEOPLE
KISHORE MAHBUBANI SAYS — The following is an excerpt from an Interview published by Project Syndicate on November 24th, 2020, with the distinguished famed Professor Mahbubani: Project Syndicate: You’ve warned that “the international order has lagged dangerously behind shifting global power dynamics.” Will US President-elect Joe Biden’s administration improve prospects…
US-CHINA RELATIONS: BEIJING CAN BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO PEACE AND PROSPERITY
TOM PLATE WRITES — The truth about the swelling importance of the People’s Republic of China in the Asia-Pacific is that without America’s corresponding help, unintended as it was of course, the reversal of position would not have happened as quickly. Perhaps it all began in 1997, with the collapse…
SOUTH ASIA: VICE-PRESIDENT ELECT KAMALA HARRIS CUTS A STRIKING FIGURE ON THE WORLD STAGE
SOPHIA JARAMILLO WRITES — As newly elected Vice President Kamala Harris will be endlessly discussed for her diplomatic relations and duties, her fashion will also be discussed, as it should be. It is necessary to bring light to the impact of all areas of her identity. Being of South Asian…
NEW ZEALAND: A BLUE WAVE WASHES ASHORE WHILE AMERICA IS LEFT HIGH AND DRY
DANICA CREAHAN WRITES — Though the elections occurred just a few weeks apart, New Zealanders and Americans are living in seemingly different worlds. With New Zealand at just under 2000 Covid-19 cases as a whole and the U.S. at more than 92,000 on election day alone, the one thing they…