Alina Wang
A native of New York, Alina has a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communications from Baruch College and writes about human rights, politics, tech, and society.
Asian Trade Bloc Looks to China as RCEP Aims to Invigorate a Struggling Regional Economy
Members of a China-centered Asian trade bloc hope the initiative will help stimulate local economies following crippling losses sustained during the pandemic. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) includes 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region...
Yuzhou: Second Chinese City Forced Into Total Lockdown Amid Government’s Zero-COVID Policy
After just three asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 were detected, Chinese authorities have placed the city of Yuzhou, home to roughly 1.1 million people, into a citywide lockdown. Residents woke up on Jan. 4 to see...
China’s Central Bank Launches Digital Currency App
In an ambitious push to expand its digital currency, China’s central bank has launched a trial version for its digital yuan via a wallet app. The app is now available on China’s Android and iOS...
China Seeks Nuclear Weapons Upgrades, Says US and Russia Should Reduce Their Arsenals
China’s senior arms official announced today that the country will continue to upgrade and expand its nuclear weaponry and urged Moscow and Washington to take initiative in reducing their larger stockpiles first. Fu Cong, director-general...
After Stand News Arrests, Another Hong Kong Media Outlet Closes Under Chinese Regime Pressure
Following the arrests of seven staff members from pro-democracy outlet Stand News, independent Hong Kong media Citizen News has announced its permanent closure on Jan. 2. The announcement, posted to its Twitter account, said that...
Almost 1,000 Homes Destroyed in Colorado Wildfires, 2 People Still Missing
Search teams are still trying to locate two people amongst smoldering debris from a massive wildfire that has destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and buildings in Colorado. The inferno, which broke out on Dec. 30, torched...
China Bans National Soccer Players From Getting Tattoos
The Chinese government has announced that soccer players will be banned from getting tattoos and ordered those with existing ones to remove or cover them up in order to “set a good example for society,"...
Blinken Urges Beijing to Release Journalists Detained in Hong Kong’s Stand News Police Raid
Stand News, the Hong Kong pro-democracy media outlet was shut down on Dec. 29 after its office was raided by police and its assets frozen over offenses of "seditious publication" in the latest crackdown on...
US Will Send 18 Officials to Upcoming Beijing Olympics Despite Diplomatic Boycott
On Dec. 28, the White House confirmed that the U.S. will be sending 18 officials to the upcoming Winter Olympics, which are scheduled to be held in Beijing in February 2022.This comes after the Biden...
Pregnant Chinese Schoolteacher Forced Into Psychiatric Hospital for Social Media Posts
Four months pregnant, 27-year-old Li Tiantian was only half-dressed when police dragged her out of her residence, and was barely able to bring her phone by hiding it in her underwear. Li, who teaches elementary...
China Imposes Travel Restrictions in Xi’an, Ordering Migrant Workers to Stay in City During New Year Break
After a handful of COVID-19 cases were detected in China’s northwestern city of Xi’an, the Chinese government announced on Dec. 26 that rural migrant workers across the surrounding Shaanxi Province would not be allowed to...
3 Key Factors Behind the Solomon Islands Anti-China Riots
The Solomon Islands, a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean home to roughly 680,000 people, has faced civil unrest in recent months. Violent protests broke out in late November after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was...