Author: editorjrwd
After years of contributing to the South China Morning Post, I’ve decided to step away. Ironically, it was a petty dispute that pushed me to make the final call. But in truth, this decision should’ve been made back in February—for reasons far more serious. That was when the Post chose to play a disturbing role in what was clearly a state-orchestrated attempt to discredit Gui Minhai, the bookseller who was kidnapped and imprisoned for selling material in Hong Kong that embarrassed China’s leadership. What unfolded was no ordinary interview. It was the third of Gui’s staged “confessions”—the kind you’d expect…
The strongest lockdown in history: one country at a time—it sounds like a global countdown. In reality, it was a chain reaction. City after city, nation after nation, shutters came down. Airplanes grounded. Borders closed. Humanity slowed to a crawl. But lockdowns weren’t uniform. Each country imposed its own version—some carefully measured, others aggressively enforced. Some protected public health; others triggered crises of their own. As the pandemic spread, governments chose control over comfort, often at extraordinary costs to daily life and civil liberties. This is the story of how lockdowns unfolded—not all at once, but one country at a…
Science fiction youth in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong: imaginations not worn down by reality—this phrase captures a quiet but powerful shift unfolding across Chinese-speaking societies. As the world edges deeper into a digital future, the youth in these regions are not simply watching—they’re imagining, creating, and reshaping the narrative through science fiction. Amid political tensions, academic pressure, and societal expectations, you might expect young minds to turn inward or give in to cynicism. But instead, they’re turning outward—toward distant galaxies, alternate timelines, and AI civilizations. They are writing, illustrating, coding, and building new futures not just for escape,…
Historical interpretation after democratization: The controversy over Taiwan’s history textbooks is not just about words in a book—it’s about who gets to define a nation’s past. In Taiwan, the shift from authoritarian rule to democracy brought many freedoms. But it also reopened old wounds. Nowhere is that more evident than in the battle over what students should learn about their country’s history. History is never neutral. In Taiwan, it’s deeply political. The way the past is presented—what is emphasized, what is omitted, and what is redefined—shapes how future generations view their identity. After democratization, Taiwan began to move away from…
It’s a question that carries weight—not only for students investing in international education but also for a country redefining its role in the global workforce. Thousands of Chinese students arrive in New Zealand every year with high hopes, strong ambitions, and the dream of building a successful life abroad. But what happens after graduation? Do these students find real career opportunities, or do they hit invisible walls? This article explores the real-world job prospects for Chinese students in New Zealand, cutting through glossy university brochures to understand the landscape they actually face. The Growing Appeal of New Zealand for Chinese…
The phrase “Hong Kong independent media attacked” is no longer a rare headline—it has become a grim reality for a city that once stood tall as a haven of free speech in Asia. In a span of just a few years, a vibrant and pluralistic press landscape has been dismantled. The city that once served as a model for journalistic integrity and freedom has witnessed an aggressive suppression of voices that dared to question, investigate, and expose. The implications of this crackdown are vast—not only for Hong Kong’s residents but also for the global democratic community that once looked to…
Some songs entertain. Some songs fade. But a rare few stay with us, burning slowly through the years like a candle in a darkened room. “The Rage No Longer Luo Dayou” is one of those rare anthems. It’s not just a piece of music—it’s a soul laid bare, a poetic reckoning with time, politics, identity, and emotional exhaustion. Luo Dayou, a name synonymous with the golden age of Taiwanese pop, gave us this unforgettable track. It is as much about the rage that once was, as it is about what remains when that rage quiets down. The result is deeply…