China’s Boarding Schools And The Forced Separation Of Tibetan Children (May 30, 2025, Religion Unplugged)
China is operating a vast network of “colonial” boarding schools across Tibet that forcibly removes children — including those as young as four — from their families…
Beyond 1s and 0s: China starts mass production of world’s first non-binary AI chip (June 9, 2025, South China Morning Post) (Subscription required)
China has initiated the world’s first large-scale application of non-binary AI chips, integrating its proprietary hybrid computing technology into critical sectors including aviation and industrial systems.
Why Xiaohongshu is the platform to watch amid Asia's social commerce boom (June 5, 2025, Marketing-Interactive)
Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as Rednote, is emerging as a transformative force in social commerce. With its recent high-profile "Red cat" initiative, the platform is not just enhancing how people express themselves - it's revolutionising how they shop, share, and connect online.
China’s ‘special forces’ tourists flock to Hong Kong but spend little (May 25, 2025, Financial Times) (Subscription required)
The city’s tourism industry is struggling. Tourists are spending less, as cost-conscious day-trippers replace luxury shoppers, squeezing revenues for the Asian financial hub’s retail, restaurant and hotel sectors.
Gaokao essays provide insight into today's youth (June 8, 2025, Global Times)
Following the revelation of essay questions after the Chinese exam, it was found that this year's essay questions were closely connected with the times and seen as having placed greater emphasis on human qualities in the face of the onslaught of artificial intelligence (AI), while focusing on assessing the depth of students' thinking capacity.
Chinese tech firms freeze AI tools in crackdown on exam cheats (June 9, 2025, The Guardian)
Big Chinese tech companies appear to have turned off some AI functions to prevent cheating during the country’s highly competitive university entrance exams. Suspension comes as 13m students take four-day gaokao tests for limited spots at country’s universities.
Chinese Scientists Detect New ‘Super-Earth’ 2,500 Light Years Away (June 9, 2025, Sixth Tone)
The breakthrough came using a cutting-edge observational method that detects unseen planets via subtle deviations in their orbit.
A Blank ‘Democracy Wall’ Sums up What Hong Kong Has Lost (June 9, 2025, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
This is the paradox of Hong Kong in 2025. The lights are on, the subway is running on time, and the shops are bustling. But the places where people once had the freedom to voice dissent – the parks, the streets, even the student bulletin boards – are now quiet. Life goes on in Hong Kong – but to where?
The mystery of China’s missing military (June 5, 2025, The Economist) (Subscription required)
At the Shangri-la Dialogue, the PLA delegation was usually led by China’s defence minister and given a relatively free rein to talk to foreigners. This year was different. China’s defence minister, Dong Jun, stayed away.
What drives China’s strongman?…and what do Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have in common? (June 5, 2025, Financial Times) (Subscription required)
What motivates Xi and what’s behind his friendship with the Russian leader? This episode is an edited recording of an event organised by Intelligence Squared that took place in central London late last month.
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Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
Blessing Asia
In October-2022 more than 500 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Thailand for the Asia 2022 Congress, sponsored by the Lausanne Movement and various partnering organizations. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress virtually and was mightily blessed. From Bible exposition to K-pop worship, and through seminars and workshops, the participants were encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in countries all over Asia. Clearly, God is on the move.
A beautiful vision was portrayed in a video of the popular worship song The Blessing, featuring singers from all over Asia. Here it is:
Many of the sessions have already been posted on their website and to their YouTube channel.
One that I found particularly helpful considering all that is going on in China was a presentation titled Church and State Relationship in Asia Today. You can see the video here.
I encourage you to spend some time on their website; there are fantastic resources for understanding God’s work in Asia today.
Original link: https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/blessing-asia/
Image credit: Andrea Brucker, via Unsplash
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