All Asia Pacific
First LookWhy the IOC insists the Tokyo Games must go onDespite protests and a declared state of emergency in Japan, the International Olympic Committee says the Tokyo Olympics will safely open on July 23. Cancelling the Games would mean billions of dollars lost for the Japanese government and the IOC.
First LookFaced with a demographic crisis, China relaxes birth limitsOn May 31, China鈥檚 ruling Communist Party announced it will ease birth limits to allow all couples to have three children instead of two in hopes of maintaining its growth and avoiding the prospect of a declining population.
Chinese put premium on owning homes. Now Beijing wants to tax them.China鈥檚 debt burden, dubbed a 鈥済ray rhino,鈥� has prompted proposals for an unpopular property tax. But will Beijing kick the can down the road again?
First LookPublic pressure mounts in Japan for Olympic cancellationAsahi Shimbun, a leading Japanese newspaper, has called for the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics. Recent polls show 80% of Japanese are against the Games, but the government, which has spent $15.4 billion, has made no indication they will be canceled.
FocusWhy Indonesia鈥檚 rice paddy expansion is raising climate concernsIndonesia鈥檚 plan to convert peatland for food crops has raised doubts about sustainability, since past rice conversion projects sparked catastrophic forest fires.聽
Beijing embraces gig workers鈥� cause 鈥� but not their activistsChina鈥檚 delivery workers and others in the gig economy have called for better working conditions聽鈥� but Beijing wants to call the shots on reform.
First LookHow China is using social media to polish its image globallyChina is known for guiding public opinion at home, but how does the country shape public discourse globally? A seven-month investigation reveals how thousands of inauthentic accounts on Twitter and other social media sites amplify Chinese propaganda.聽
First LookAfter 100 days of military rule, what lies ahead for Myanmar?After ousting Aung San Suu Kyi鈥檚 government, the junta has managed to convey some sense of control by shutting down independent media and using force against protestors. Could unified efforts by the resistance and ethnic minority groups effectively challenge the junta?
First LookWill there be any Muslims left among the Chinese Uyghurs?The Chinese government says it protects freedom of religion, as long as believers follow laws and regulations 鈥� including a ban on religious education for minors. As a result, the number of Uyghurs practicing Islam is dwindling.聽
First LookDespite surveillance, Uyghurs around the world speak out onlineA growing number of young Uyghurs living overseas are mobilizing online to speak out against forced labor and other abuses against Uyghurs in China聽 鈥� even as they fear repercussions for family members.聽聽
Orchid Island became Taiwan鈥檚 tourist hotspot. Does it want to be?Orchid Island, Taiwan, where most residents are Tao, has experienced a tourism boom during the pandemic. Locals have one request: Respect our space.
First LookSoutheast Asia leaders demand end to violence in MyanmarSoutheast Asian leaders met in Jakarta Saturday for an emergency summit to demand immediate action in Myanmar. It was an unusually blunt move for the bloc which normally has a non-interference policy with its neighbors.
First LookIs South Korea losing appetite for 'comfort women' legal cases?For decades, the governments of Japan and South Korea have sparred 鈥� and sometimes reached agreements 鈥� over the treatment of Korean women forced into brothels during the Japanese occupation. But sexual slavery victims say they've been left out of the process.
Focus鈥楬e has not bowed鈥�: Jimmy Lai and Hong Kong鈥檚 futureJimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong鈥檚 Apple Daily paper, is one of the highest-profile figures arrested under the new national security law.
As Myanmar protests continue, a glimmer of greater unityMyanmar鈥檚 crackdown after the Feb. 1. military coup has laid bare military violence for the majority聽鈥� violence long understood by ethnic minorities.
First LookNorth Korea to skip Tokyo Olympics because of COVID-19North Korea said it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics to protect its athletes from the coronavirus. But the Games have also been a conduit for politics, and the North鈥檚 decision is seen as a diplomatic setback.
First LookChina continues Hong Kong clampdown as activists are convictedSome of Hong Kong鈥檚 most prominent pro-democracy advocates have been found guilty of unauthorized assembly, on charges stemming from anti-government protests in 2019. It is the latest blow to Hong Kong civil liberties.
First LookIn Myanmar, opposition leaders seek alliance with armed groupsAn underground government of civilians challenging Myanmar鈥檚 ruling military junta have crafted a new constitution, and is seeking an alliance with armed ethnic minority groups in the countryside who have long sought more autonomy.
First LookHow Beijing is tightening its grip on Hong Kong鈥檚 legislatureBeijing has reduced the amount of directly elected seats in Hong Kong鈥檚 legislature, likely increasing the mainland government鈥檚 grip on the island鈥檚 politics. 鈥淭he election system is completely dismantled,鈥� said one former lawmaker.
Myanmar protesters bridge religious divides to counter military coupMyanmar鈥檚 protesters are uniting across long-standing religious divides to oppose the military coup, activists say.