Two different Diaoyutai's are front-page news today. First, Diaoyutai islands: a Taiwanese fishing ship collided with a Japanese patrol ship off of the disputed Diaoyutai islands. One man was slightly injured as the boat sank; the passengers have been repatriated, but the crew remains held under Japanese custody. The sovereignty of Diaoyutai is disputed by all sides on the … [Read more...] about Taiwan and Diaoyutai
Olympic torch arrives in Shangri-La
The Olympic torch has arrived in its first Tibetan Autonomous county, and will arrive in Lhasa later this month. Reuters gives us this report of the torch's visit to Shangri-La in Yunnan province, with responses both positive and negative from Tibetans in China: … [Read more...] about Olympic torch arrives in Shangri-La
Tent Donation Campaign
According to government forecasts, up to 3 million tents are desperately needed in the earthquake zone. Every available tent in China has been redirected to this effort, and other international donors have done their best to help as well. (Pakistan, notably, has apparently donated every tent it owns to China.) Not satisfied with just donating money to a nameless charity, a … [Read more...] about Tent Donation Campaign
Relief effort unites ethnic minorities
Hong-Kong-based South China Morning Post (and perhaps East Asia's leading English language newspaper) gives us this article (courtesy of Bill Savadore in Qingchengshan): Bai Liqun still remembers the stories told by the elders about a time when her people slaughtered "Red Army" soldiers who entered the homeland of the Qiang ethnic group around 1949 because they feared the … [Read more...] about Relief effort unites ethnic minorities
Essay topics: 50 years of Gaokao
As many might know, this weekend was the 3-day university admissions test (gaokao). For decades, all Chinese children have studied for this test as if their life depended on it... and for decades, it really did. For those living in a culture that has long treasured the value of academic study, and a country with a planned economy, receiving a university degree has meant … [Read more...] about Essay topics: 50 years of Gaokao