East Asia

The summit in Singapore fails to reconcile tensions between Beijing, Manila and Hanoi. Chinese Minister of Defense: No military expansionism and hegemony. But Vietnam and the Philippines buy submarines to protect sea boundaries and call for the U.S. intervention. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh citizens' protests over Spratly and Paracel islands invasions.

Hundreds of workers at Kazakh-Chinese oil company are on strike for better pay and more labour rights. Leading trade union activist Sokolova is arrested as hundreds are threatened with firing. Government authorities appear unwilling to negotiate.

In the annual message in memory of the democracy movement massacre in Tiananmen Square, the group that gathers together victims' families calls on the government for dialogue “before it's too late" and calls for "truth, not money". The reference to movements in the Middle East: "Beijing fears democracy arriving in China, which is it why represses human rights."

Born on line, the protest sees people picket diplomatic missions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Philippine government announces a protest to the United Nations. United States also concerned as China sets its sights on Spratly and Paracel islands.

Bao Tong was taken from home to an undisclosed location. Ziling Ding, founder of the Mothers of Tiananmen, is under house arrest. Threats to dozens of activists and dissidents in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong. The current situation is similar to the time of Tiananmen: injustice, corruption, nepotism.

Japan’s Christians are working to support people affected by the tsunami and earthquake, regardless of religion. The diocese of Sendai concentrates on reaching isolated people and places.

The Chinese government is preparing Episcopal ordinations without papal mandate. Priests, candidates and bishops are under pressure from the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Whilst understanding their plight, the secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples calls on them to stand their ground and resist. Vatican appeals for the release of imprisoned Chinese bishops are met with government silence. The beatification of Card Gong Pinmei and other Chinese martyrs under Communism is under consideration.

Ahead of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, many activists and democrats have been put under house arrest or have disappeared. Since February, Beijing has arrested hundreds of dissidents, fearing Jasmine Revolution-style protests.

The great trade unionist and member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong says: "A darkness similar to that of 1989 has fallen upon China. Beijing has launched a wave of unprecedented persecution. They are afraid of democracy and the Church's message, which is why it is essential to remain vigilant and always and only ask for the truth."

The no-confidence motion was rejected by 293 votes to 152. Naoto Kan has promised that he will resign after "having fulfilled certain tasks,” namely the management of the tsunami disaster of 11 March. Has not set a precise date, but the deadline could be September.

Tibetans and Indians express their solidarity towards the Mothers of Tiananmen and their movement as they seek the truth of what happened on 4 June 1989. For the former prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Beijing “is brutal to everyone, against minorities but also its own people”. Its offer of money in lieu of an apology is “unreasonable”.

The number of visitors to Nepal is up, especially from Asia. Despite tensions and social disorder, tourism remains crucial for the country’s development, but for experts, the sector alone cannot sustain the Nepali economy.