Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯

White Paper Increases Securitization of Hong Kong - Jamestown Executive Summary: On February 10, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) released a white paper titled “Realizing National Security Under ‘One Country, Two Syste...

Beijing’s 2026 white paper on Hong Kong dropped one day after Jimmy Lai’s 20-year sentence. As with 2014 and 2021, the timing was deliberate.
My new piece in @jamestown.org’s China Brief breaks down the four things the document really signals. 🧵
🔗 jamestown.org/white-paper-...

🚨As soaring temperatures continue to break records, elderly Hongkongers living alone in poorly ventilated homes face a greater risk of worsening health conditions or even death.

HKFP investigates how the climate emergency affects the city’s densest neighbourhoods.
hongkongfp.com/2026/03/08/a...

Images published by Iranian state media show remnants of a US Tomahawk missile at a girls’ school in Minab.
It’s not possible to independently verify the provenance of the remnants from this imagery alone. But Bellingcat previously detailed how a Tomahawk missile hit a structure next to the school.

Taiwan scholar barred from testifying in Tiananmen vigil trial over ‘irrelevant’ expertise, Hong Kong court says A Taiwanese academic was barred from testifying in Tiananmen vigil activist Chow Hang-tung’s national security trial as the evidence he planned to give was “irrelevant” to the case at hand, a Hong …

Taiwan scholar barred from testifying in Tiananmen vigil trial over ‘irrelevant’ expertise, Hong Kong court says

"One clause says that only the state has the right to promote “a system of symbols of Chinese civilisation”"
civilisational discourse in action: as I've been saying, it's about claiming difference internationally and erasing difference internally.

I’ve been closely tracking Chinese social media reactions to the developments in Iran over the past few days. In the end, the findings of my research say much more about China’s online discourse than about what’s happening in Iran. Read on whatsonweibo or Substack: open.substack.com/pub/eyeondig...

Truly

We are all going to die at the hands of some of the dumbest people alive

Is Ian Still In There? People in a vegetative state may be far more conscious than was once thought.

Eve Baer never stopped believing that her son, unresponsive for decades after a severe brain injury, was still there. Eventually, science proved her right, @sarahzhang.bsky.social reported. This story is a finalist for a National Magazine Award for Feature Writing:

Alberta immigration trends and Danielle Smith's rhetoric: a visual timeline.

OpenAI: Chinese agent used ChatGPT for smear ops : Note to secret agents: ChatGPT is NOT a private diary

Transnational repression for the AI age: www.theregister.com/2026/02/25/c...

My next job I want is to crochet these cute red beanies for Japanese statues

Seven NGOs brought together disadvantaged groups and low-income families to watch a livestream of the 2026 budget in Mong Kok on Wednesday. Around 30 residents participated.

I’m sorry, I can’t get over this. How is your first response coming right out of the Olympics ‘our team sucked because those losers aren’t actually really Chinese’

Temple of boom! Why Taiwan’s religious sites are becoming unlikely rave venues Dance culture faces barriers in Taiwan, with frequent raids on nightclubs. But Temple Meltdown is trying a different tack, with sound systems overseen by gods

"This is our religion, and this is our culture,” Tsai says, “so doing this music event, in front of the temple, is very close to our lives. I love it.”

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...

I am genuinely curious whether such tours work as intended, given how many protesters and activists did what they did knowing it would mean jail, or were outright willing to die for a democratic HK

British woman who reported rape in Hong Kong 'could face prison' Isabel Rose, 25, was arrested hours after she reported being raped to Hong Kong police.

This is so fucked up

At the risk of moving into the discourse a 2nd time today, the fact that a lot of Americans in the replies see this as a bit of fun trash talk between rivals kind of illustrates the extent to which maybe a lot of Americans aren't reading the room in how they are viewed internationally at this point

in the wise words of Demi Lovato

To add another smaller thing, I’m kinda curious about how beauty standards in China react to Alysa’s unconventional appearance (which I absolutely adore). I remember all the fawning over Eileen’s looks that left me a bit perturbed

On pins and needles: Why Olympians pass the time knitting A number of Olympic athletes have turned to knitting during the heat of the Games, including Ben Ogden, who this week became the most decorated American male Olympic cross-country skier.

A number of Olympic athletes have turned to knitting during the heat of the Games, including Ben Ogden, who this week became the most decorated American male Olympic cross-country skier.

Four members of a Canadian men’s curling team celebrate on the ice, smiling and hugging in a tight group. They wear white jerseys with red maple leaf crests and “CANADA” on the chest, black pants with red accents, and hold red curling brooms. One player faces the camera with a beard and a wide grin; another has “KEN” visible on the back of his jersey. A yellow handle is visible at one player’s waist. Behind them are blue rink boards, a digital scoreboard, and seated officials in the stands. The scene is brightly lit inside an arena.

Canada has won gold in Men's Curling at the Winter Olympics!
From 1998 to 2022, Canada has won three gold, two silvers and a bronze.
The only time Canada has not medaled in men's curling was in 2018 when we finished fourth.

as someone who had to work with my own parent to see how them living vicariously through me was detrimental to me, I feel this so hard

It took me too long to realize, understand and forgive why they did that. So Arthur’s understanding of Alysa’s wish to be independent was healing to read

Very briefly, why I think it's important for Arthur Liu to (reluctantly) embrace being a role model for other Asian fathers who want their kids to succeed but neglect their well-being, something that Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan delivered in spades during their Oscars-winning performances in EEAAO:

I don’t love the headline, but I love this piece. I appreciated how willing Arthur is to be vulnerable about the struggles of single parenthood (especially as a father!) and the realization to let your children be independent

this was my spookiest thing I experienced

Sesame Hotel (芝麻大酒店) — Josh Ellis Photography Its been said that I'm a bit slow with some of the photos I post. Sometimes it takes months for me actually get around to blogging about something or sharing photos with people. While I’m out shooting...

Some interesting history and tidbits of the hotel (芝麻大酒店). I was pretty shocked to learn the hotel only closed in 2008. Taiwan’s humidity is unforgiving and the hotel looked far more dilapidated than I expected.

Not sure I’ll do this again, but went to a rave in an abandoned hotel in Taoyuan. Turns out, we raved in one of the top ten haunted places in Taiwan (十大猛鬼酒店)?

For any fellow horror enjoyers, here to report no spooky vibes or ghostly encounters, just a cool venue