South China Morning Post Columnist Alice Wu’s take on the new book IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FUTURE: TOM PLATE ON ASIA (Marshall Cavendish International, Asia, Singapore 2014): Alice Wu writes: “Once upon a time, before the turn of the century, while studying under and working for my university professor…
Category: Uncategorized
SINGAPORE: Lee Kuan Yew School Provides a Platform for an American Media Man’s View of Asia
Distinguished Indian academic and journalist Kanti Prasad Bajpai, vice dean for research (pictured above), warmly introduced U.S. columnist and author Tom Plate earlier this month at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The event was an hour-long presentation on the new book IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FUTURE:…
THE TERRIBLE TYPHOON: The U.S. Steps into a Storm
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.…
QATAR: The Nation’s Other Face
ALEXANDRE GUIRAUD-COINTREAU WRITES – Two German journalists were detained recently by Qatar authorities for investigating the plight of the country’s migrant workers. Filmmaker Peter Giesel and cameraman Robin Ahne were on a follow up investigation for The Guardian, which had previously claimed such laborers faced a form of modern-day slavery.…
MOVIE REVIEW: Miyazaki’s Final Work Soars Above the Rest
ROBERT DYLAN FIELDS WRITES – One of the most pressing issues being debated in Japan today is the need to beef up the country’s military presence. Since the end of World War II, Japan has officially gone without an Army (a pacifist constitution being a condition of peace with the Allied…
MYANMAR: “Our Walls Bear Witness” of the Rohingya Genocide
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is exposing the world to the suffering of the Burmese Rohingyas. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority that represent 4% of Myanmar’s population. Though they’ve lived in Myanmar, also called Burma, for many generations, the country’s most recent Constitution denies them…
LOS ANGELES: Seen From Here, the Aussie PM Seems Clueless
The following PACIFIC PERSPECTIVES column was recently syndicated to newspaper editors in the U.S. and Asia. By Tom Plate – A spat between Indonesia and Australia is not receiving proper attention in our media. This is predictable given American parochialism but, even so, it is causing serious heartburn in some…
MALAYSIA: Trickery beats out U.S. Navy’s Ignorance
MARLENA NIP WRITES– A sneaky Malaysian businessman is accused of overcharging the U.S. Navy and obtaining military secrets from naval officers. Three senior officials were arrested from the United States Navy for taking part in one the highest corruption scandals within the Navy in years. U.S. Naval Commander Jose Luiz…
AFGHANISTAN: The “Courage” of an Afghan Journalist
VITTO BANEZ WRITES – What makes a good journalist? Is it the way they pursue a lead? Or can it be the way they go with their gut? For Najiba Ayubi, it was her love for the media of her homeland. This passion led her to voice her opinion on the country’s…
CAMBODIA: A Call on the Political Elite for the Rights to Media Freedom
ARACELI PALAFOX WRITES – Want to figure out how democratic a country really is? You don’t have to go far. The freedom of its press goes a long way toward revealing its overall democratic values and practices. And in Cambodia, the lack of democracy has been revealed both at home…
LEBANON: Apologize to Hezbollah or Face Social Unrest?
NICOLE SABA WRITES – How could a skit lead to violent protests? Just ask the Lebanese! According to the Daily Star, a recent episode of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International’s (LBCI) show, “Basmat Watan” included impersonations of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as the Prophet Jonah, causing much unrest…
PHILIPPINES: Pacquiao Looking to Punch His Career Back on Track
TREVOR ISBELL WRITES – A palpable hue of anticipation seizes the Philippine Islands as the Filipino professional boxer, Manny Pacquiao, gears up for his bout against what some are calling his next victim, American boxer, Brandon Rios. Filipino boxing fans are brimming with expectation as Pacquiao seems hungrier than ever…
The ‘Big Guns’ of Journalism Show More Than Just Courage
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – On October 23, three Asian and Middle-Eastern women were recognized for their journalistic bravery. It is well known that being a reporter is one of the most dangerous professions. But for women, the risks are even greater. The women who were honored with the Courage in…
MALAYSIA: Government says NO to Ke$ha
MARLENA NIP WRITES — Tick Tok. At the eleventh hour, the Malaysian government closed its gates to American pop star, Ke$ha. The risqué pop star was scheduled to play a concert in Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital. Livescape, the promotion group holding the event, was notified the night before that Malaysian…
HONG KONG: Media Freedom Denied, Decision Unexplained
LAUREN CHEN WRITES – “Must we all buy the type of toilet paper designed by the government?” Disgruntled Hong Kong Television Network’s (HKTV) chairman, Ricky Wong Wai-kay asked this very question after his network was denied a free-to-air TV license. The unexplained denial has created backlash among many who feel as…
BANGLADESH: Tweets for Change
KIARA BRAMASCO WRITES – Internet technology and Twitter join forces to spread awareness of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. The Accord is an independent, legally-binging agreement signed by over 100 apparel corporations, several Bangladeshi Unions, two global trade unions, and nineteen countries from Europe, North America,…