Society

Big Data & AI Harnessed to Perfect the Police State in China
The increasing sophistication and reach of the country’s AI-enabled police-state apparatus mean that it is possible that Liu’s peaceful, moderate and incremental goals for political liberalization might lapse into dormancy for the foreseeable future.

From Mao to TV Health Shows: The Changing Chain of Command Facing China's Elderly
Having lived through the Maoist decades when the Party-state told them how to live their private lives, senior citizens are now learning to become self-governing subjects, writes Wanning Sun.

The Last of Taiwan's 'Blind Masseurs'
'Blind massage' was first introduced to Taiwan by the Japanese during the colonial era. More than 100 years later, signs for blind massage parlors remain a common sight in the underground malls and streets of Taiwan but the number of masseurs is declining.

ASIA NEWS BITES: Deadly Earthquake Strikes Sichuan; North Korea Threatens to Launch Missiles at Guam; Japan Warns North Korea Nuclear Threat Has Entered ‘New Stage’
A quick roundup of the most important news from around the region.

How to Ensure China's Elderly are Not Poor
Progress with reform across a whole range of areas is needed, including health care, so that citizens can live longer active lives and avoid falling into poverty once they retire, writes Vincent Koen.

The ‘Home of Overseas Chinese’ Memorializing Emigrants
Taishan County is honoring the memories of emigrants by restoring the pier from which they began their journeys and building a museum for ‘silver letters.’

ASIA NEWS BITES: Samsung Exec Fights Back Tears in Corruption Trial; Japanese Re-Start Air Raid Drills, 70 Yrs on from WWII; Indonesia-Russia Trade Palm Oil, Coffee for Jets
A quick roundup of the most important news from around the region.