In a recent comment, one of our readers pointed out: http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/the-diaoyusenkaku-islands-a-japanese-scholar-responds/ I thought this is a funny read of a Japanese ‘scholar’ thinks that why ‘Senkaku’ islands belongs to Japan. I don't think the conclusion is "funny" at all. I think it's "serious." Below is a very quick response (sorry, … [Read more...] about A Response to a Japan Scholar’s Response: War Loot is Ours to Keep
The Euphemism of Freedom – Case Study on Google in the Aftermath of Benghazi
Whenever a for-profit - or even non-profit - organization professes to do good, to be a society's guardian - as Google has - I feel queasy. It's not that I think Google (or more generally corporations, NGOs, charities, even churches) is inherently evil. It's just that no non-government entity owes society at large a fiduciary duty per se, as governments do. Take as a case … [Read more...] about The Euphemism of Freedom – Case Study on Google in the Aftermath of Benghazi
On Michael Anti: Behind the Great Firewall of China
Recently a TED video featuring Michael Anti on China's censorship seems to be making the rounds. I think Anti does bring some unique insights to the English speaking audience about China that we don't generally see in Western media; hence I am providing his video below. However, I think Anti can also be a stubborn ideologue who insist on viewing the world through ideological … [Read more...] about On Michael Anti: Behind the Great Firewall of China
Riots in Assam
There has been terrible violence in India's Assam region recently and the violence has spread to other parts of India. Since this is a blog on China, not India, I am not going to dig too much into the cause or even meaning of the riots. But I do want to point out the relatively "favorable" coverage India is getting. In almost all reports I see, India is cast as the force … [Read more...] about Riots in Assam
The Political Olympics
As the Olympics wind down in London, there can be little doubt in anyone's mind that this Olympics is about politics. How else can one explain the string of smears against Chinese athletes and their performances - coming from unexpected sources such as the prestigious journal of Nature - all in the name of "science and objectivity" - as well as expected sources such as the NY … [Read more...] about The Political Olympics