China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been a contentious topic in international affairs since it was announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013. The mega-project aiming to connect Central Asia, Europe, and Africa via economic trade routes has received mixed responses from the international community for its lofty goals. Despite criticism about the plan’s Read More…
Author: Xiao Wu
Chokehold on Internet Freedom: State-Run Cyberspace in Russia and China
The vastness of cyberspace and speed of information transfer make it a novel frontier ripe for trial and error. The trend of nations turning towards state-run cyberspace policy is up for discussion after Russia’s expedited approval of the ‘Runet’ law, or sovereign internet bill.
The Invisible Struggle of Female Migrant Domestic Workers
The recent confession of a Cyprian army officer murdering five migrant women and two children reopened the dialogue of migrant domestic workers’ (MDW) invisible fight against exploitation and human rights violations. Many juxtapose the MDW industry to modern day slavery. Common mistreatment MDW face include: inadequate or withheld wages, unregulated work hours, confiscation of personal identification, forced labour, physical/verbal abuse, and sexual harassment.
The Wandering Earth: China’s Cinematic Space Race
The Chinese science fiction film The Wandering Earth (Liu Lang Di Qiu) shattered boxes offices in 2019. Directed by Frant Gwo, the movie follows the Liu family’s post-apocalyptic space mission to save Earth from Jupiter’s gravitational orbit. The film’s thematic statements and successful public reception are a reflection of China’s increasing confidence in its space exploration program.