The Philippines Looks to Ease Tensions Over South China Sea
After struggling with crippling relations tied to the South China Sea issue, the Philippines may be looking to back off on Beijing. The country’s acting Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo says the territorial issue will be raised during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila from Wednesday to Saturday, and carry on over into […]
Establishment Leader Rises to Hong Kong Leadership Amid Protests
Beijing-backed Carrie Lam has risen to Hong Kong’s top position at its Chief Executive, much to the rage of pro-democracy activists. Just after her victory was announced on Sunday, protests broke out throughout the city and some protesters even broke through police and tried to enter the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition where voting took […]
What Breathing in 10 Days of Smog Looks like In Your Lungs
Beijing remains one of the most polluted cities on the planet. And while we’re all familiar with images of smog engulfing the city, what does that smog look like when it follows the air into your lungs? Liu Yong, a researcher at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, decided to find out. And what he […]
Is the Green Movement Making China More Polluted?
The thick smog blanketing parts of northern China is raising some questions in residents’ heads. What’s really causing this? And why does it seem to be getting worst even though China is leading a massively expensive campaign to reverse the country’s record-peaking pollution by turning to clean energy? Some are saying the so-called green movement […]
China Announces it Will ‘Never Stop’ Construction In South China Sea
Last week’s international tribunal ruling at the Hague between the Philippines (who brought the case) and China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea did not end well for China. However, in what resembles a child-like “sore-loser” response to the court’s decision, the Chinese government has made a public vow to “never stop” construction […]
South China Sea Ruling Is In: Philippines Win, China Loses
The contentious situation in the South China Sea reached a turning point Tuesday when the long-awaited and much-publicized international tribunal hearing at the Hague came back with its ruling. The Permanent Court of Arbitration backed the Philippines, who brought the case forward, overwhelmingly ruling against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea. Nations […]
Chinese Schoolchildren Fall Ill Due to ‘Toxic’ Running Tracks
Young students all across China have been falling ill due to an unsuspecting, atypical, and quite surprising reason. The culprit? Toxic running tracks in the schools. State broadcaster CCTV released a rare undercover report Tuesday which revealed that industrial waste is being used in the manufacturing of running tracks. The incidents of children affected – […]
Parent Protests Erupt As China Announces Education Reforms
Several protests have popped up in China’s Jiangsu and Hubei provinces – this time, on the issue of education reform. The rallies burst forth upon the Chinese government’s announcement of a new quota system to be implemented that would allot nearly 80,000 slots in universities in the Jiangsu and Hubei provinces to students from poorer […]
Water from 80 Percent of China’s Wells is Too Polluted to Drink
More than 80 percent of underground wells tested in China have water too polluted for human consumption, according to a new survey released by the Ministry of Water resources. The ministry tested 2,103 wells across China’s polluted plains and found that 32.9 percent of wells had water with Grade 4 quality, which means it could […]
Man Captures Three Years of Beijing Air Pollution in Photos
Every morning before going to work, Zou Yi snaps a photo of the Beijing Television skyscraper from his living-room window on the 13th floor. Sometimes, the skyscraper basks in bright blue sky. Other times, it’s barely discernible behind a thick cloud of smog. For the last three years, Zou has been posting these photos along […]
