China

Hospitalization numbers related to the pandemic continue to drop in Hawaiʻi, but they are still rising in some locations — including parts of Asia. One of the most dramatic situations is taking place in Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in this Asia Minute.

While the pandemic continues to show signs of easing in Hawaii and across much of this country, it’s a different story in parts of the Asia Pacific. And that includes Hong Kong—which also faces another set of challenges. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in this Asia Minute.

The Year of the Tiger begins with hopes of prosperity. But Johnson Choi, head of the Hong Kong-China Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, says he is just surviving.

The Beijing Olympics open at the end of this week, but the publicity battles are already well underway. The United States government is leading a diplomatic boycott of the games — but China’s government says leaders from 25 other countries will attend Friday’s opening ceremonies. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in this Asia Minute.

One positive story about the environment in recent years has been about improvements in the ozone layer of the atmosphere. That’s a result of an international agreement phasing out the use of substances that hurt the protective layer. But a new study finds that at the ground level, man-made ozone is hurting food crops in East Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in this Asia Minute.

One of the largest countries in Southeast Asia is facing an energy crunch — and that’s sending ripples of impact around the region. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in this Asia Minute.

As COVID cases continue to rise across the islands and the country, there are also growing concerns in China. The current focus is a historic city in the center of the country — but there are also broader issues at stake. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more.

This past weekend, the Senate confirmed the appointment of American ambassadors to more than forty countries. South Korea was not on that list—and that’s a point of rising annoyance in Seoul. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Southeast Asia this week. He’s taking the long way home after attending the Group of Seven Foreign Ministers meeting in Liverpool — and before he returns to Washington he’ll also stop in Hawaiʻi. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more.

Last week, the United States announced a “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing Winter Olympics. While several American allies have joined the movement, the reaction has been more complicated in Northeast Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more.