Hong Kong – I happened to be in this glorious international city (special administrative region of China) when the terrible typhoon hit the Philippines right in the gut. It was then that one appreciates how the reports of the eclipse of the U.S. role in Asia have been greatly exaggerated.…
Category: East Asia
NORTH KOREA: First Lady Gone Wild?
RYAN LIPPERT WRITES – Rumors flew recently after several musicians in North Korea’s Unhasu Orchestra were executed for allegedly making porn. Because those killed reportedly included President Kim Jong-Un’s former girlfriend Hyon Song-wol, North Korea watchers said it may ultimately have tied back to the beloved leader’s current wife, Ri…
TAIWAN: Singer Desert Chang Deserted by Chinese Fans?
BRIAN CANAVE WRITES — It looks like Taiwanese singer Desert Chang has spark political tension with China. Again. It seems small things, such as raising a Republic of China flag during a performance, can rub some people the wrong way. Chang, a leading alternative musician from Taiwan, performed last week…
HONG KONG: More Free Than US?
LAUREN CHEN WRITES – In a column in the South China Morning Post, International author Graeme Maxton lauds Hong Kong for its press freedom. His perspective is based on his experience over the years, writing hundreds of articles and making radio appearances in Hong Kong without being censored for tackling controversial…
CHINA: Kids Say the Darndest Things
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – What’s more scary – hate speech coming from the mouth of an adult or a child? When Jimmy Kimmel asked on the October 16 episode of his live talk show, “We owe China $13 trillion US of debt; how shall we pay them back?” He was greeted…
MOVIE REVIEW: The Redeeming Value of a ‘Touch of Sin’
ROBERT DYLAN FIELDS WRITES – Globalization is a heated issue in China. Even as the country has synced with the rest of the world economically — lifting millions out of poverty in the process — some Chinese fear too much integration threatens the very foundation Chinese culture. As a populace…
CHINA: Journalist Fesses Up
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – How far would you go to make some extra money? Would you forsake your vow to report the truth and nothing but the truth? Chen Yongzhou, a Chinese writer for the New Express, has admitted to continuously fabricating reports that were unsubstantiated and false against Zoomlion,…
TAIWAN: Local Media Enthralled by Film Shoot in Taipei
BRIAN CANAVE WRITES — CUT! It out local Taiwnese news media! French director Luc Besson has had enough and wrapped up location shooting in Taipei ahead of schedule. This is due to the intrusion of local media on the sets of Besson’s upcoming film, Lucy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scarlet Johansson…
CHINA: Utilize Diverse Cultural Traits to Expand Soft Power
BY A ‘CHINA DAILY’ STAFF WRITER FROM BEIJING — Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? Do you think the Arthur Conan Doyle-created character can take on Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency operative who exposed Washington’s controversial global surveillance program? If “yes”, how about a cat-and-mouse game…
SOUTH KOREA: Overregulation of Technology Coming to an End?
RYAN LIPPERT WRITES – South Korea enjoys some of the world’s most advanced technology. In addition, the country enoys nearly ubiquitous and extremely fast broadband. Still, one thing keeps South Korea from realizing its full online potential: Heavy-handed government regulation. This may be about to change. In South Korea, the…
JAPAN: New Komeito Party Hopes to Safeguard Media Freedom
JEREMIAH FAJARDO WRITES – Amid the battering winds of Typhoon Wipha, the Japanese government has publicized a refreshing piece of legislature, hoping to broaden the media’s freedom of speech. The bill, referred to as the “Secrets Protection Bill,” aims at “protecting national security secrets to ensure freedom of the media…
CHINA: When Media Asks For Answers, China Doesn’t Miss a Beat
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – It takes a strong country to admit its past faults, which is something Japan is still working towards. 2013 commemorates the 68th anniversary of the Chinese people’s triumph over the Japanese in the War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War. For those unfamiliar with the War of…
JAPAN: The Fine Art of Pleasure
The British Museum in London has mounted an extraordinary exhibition of explicit and beautifully detailed paintings, prints and books going back to at least the 16th century. Called Shunga (the term of curators and art historians) this Japanese visual celebration of the erotic has inspired artists such as Picasso, Rodin…
TAIWAN: Plurk – or Tweet?!
BRIAN CANAVE WRITES — Taiwanese netizens are obsessed with social media and social media giants, Facebook and Twitter, do not fail to recognize this. This is in lieu to Facebook and Twitters announcements to further tap into the potential of Taiwanese markets. But why are these companies so eager to have…
HONG KONG: Elephant Alibaba Roars at Hong Kong Exchange
LAUREN CHEN WRITES – A co-founder of Chinese Internet giant Alibaba took to the blogosphere September 26 to criticize Hong Kong regulators. His complaint? The region’s market regulations are too restricting for the biggest IPO since Facebook. At issue are complex rules about the corporate ownership structure of a firm…
CHINA: Media Coverage Hypes Rabies Awareness
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – Were you even aware that World Rabies Day existed? Probably not. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, rabies kill more than 2,400 people a year in China – that’s the most in the world after India. That is quite depressing considering one can…