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American Exit from U.N. Rights Council a “Crushing Victory” for China?

23rd June 2018

On Tuesday, the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council. Like its exit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the development has been seen as...

Nickname of the Week: Junior High Schooler

22nd June 2018

The Word of the Week comes from the Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon, a glossary of terms created by Chinese netizens and encountered in online political discussions. These are the words of China’s online “resistance discourse,” used to mock and subvert the official language around censorship and political correctness....

“John Oliver” Censored After Roast of Xi Jinping

22nd June 2018

U.S.-based British comedian John Oliver’s name has become a sensitive word on Weibo following a particularly well–researched 20-minute segment roasting Xi Jinping’s policies on his weekly HBO show “Last Week Tonight” last Sunday. At Inkstone, Alan Wong describes his unsuccessful...

Trump Clashes With Congress Over ZTE Rescue Deal

21st June 2018

In April, the U.S. Department of Commerce levied a crippling $1.19bn fine and seven-year export ban on Chinese tech giant ZTE for violating Iranian and North Korean trade embargoes, and failing to punish those responsible. President Donald Trump then overruled...