THE INITIUM Archives - Worldcrunch

Grandma And Me? Taiwan’s Gen Z Already Bears The Weight Of An Aging Society

by Ni Liu December 16, 2025December 17, 2025

In The News china

Discount Delivery: The Youth Trap Of China’s Takeout Economy

by Juan Juan December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

Geopolitics united states

How Chinese Students In America Have Been Hit By The U.S.-China Showdown

by Pan Debiao December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

Future artificial intelligence

How China’s Boom In PhDs Is Distorting Academia — And Destroying Careers

by Shi Lei November 2, 2025November 3, 2025

Doctor Ni Yan (L) inspects a patient at Renmin Hospital of Leibo County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province

The Shifting Weight Of China’s Social Security System

by Bai Ju September 19, 2025September 19, 2025

Moscow, Russia, June 2025: A proud owner photographs a Labubu keyring doll.

In The News china

After The Frenzy, Is China’s Labubu Craze About To Crash?

by Toodles Kwan September 7, 2025September 8, 2025

An episode of the show Fēi Chéng Wù Rǎo (If You Are The One) on December 28, 2024

A Close-Up Look At China’s Boom Of Blind Dating On Live Streams

by Miya Shen April 8, 2025May 24, 2025

Photo of man looking at his phone

Death Of Internet Freedom? How The U.S. And China Are Converging On Digital Sovereignty

by Fang Tianyin March 5, 2025May 24, 2025

File photo of Bashar and Asma al-Assad in Moscow in January 2005

Geopolitics syria

Asma Al-Assad In Exile? Searching For The Real Story Of Syria’s Former First Lady

by Michelle Courtois December 23, 2024May 24, 2025

Photo of a Stand-up comedian taking a bow onstage after performing at Beijing's Laughing Fruit Factory

Society standup comedy

“Two Censors Walk Into A Bar…” Inside The Slippery World Of Stand-Up Comedy In China

by Zhang Wei October 9, 2024May 24, 2025

Economy economic crisis

With China’s Upwardly Mobile, Crashing Out Of The Luxury Market

by Lin Chen September 19, 2024May 24, 2025

Photo of Taylor Swift performing at Singapore's National Stadium

Economy taylor swift

How Taylor Swift Triggered A Stadium Construction Boom In Southeast Asia

by Ye Lang August 30, 2024May 23, 2025

An Artistic picture of a semi-transparent blue man walking through a town with trees

LGBTQ Plus china

Farewell Beijing: When An Expat Musician Stood Up To China’s Morality Police

by Fan Yuxin June 28, 2024May 23, 2025

photo of a man on a ladder installing a cctv camera

Future security

How China’s Mass Surveillance Fuses High Tech And Citizen Snitching

by Dan Wu June 24, 2024May 24, 2025

Photo of women crossing a street in Seoul, South Korea

Women Worldwide south korea

Are We Anti-Kids? A Deep Dive Into South Korea’s Plummeting Fertility Rate

by Yu Meixia June 5, 2024May 24, 2025

Photo of a man waving a flag during the anniversary of Hong Kong Protest in London

Society immigration

Hong Kongers In The UK: The Hard Part About Political Asylum

by Chen Xi April 25, 2024May 23, 2025

Pedestrians walk under a vibrant archway of red lanterns on a bridge in Taipei, Taiwan ushering in the Year of the Dragon

Migrant Lives immigration

In Taiwan, Immigrants And Their Children Redefine Identity For An Island Nation

by Michelle Courtois February 6, 2024May 22, 2025

China's "Belt And Road" 10 Years On: Grandiose Plans, Pure Nationalism, Vague Future

China’s “Belt And Road” 10 Years On: Grandiose Plans, Pure Nationalism, Vague Future

by Lin Anbu January 24, 2024May 21, 2025

Photo of a mobile phone displaying an "African makeup" tutorial on Douyin, TikTok's version of its platform designed for the Chinese market

What The Saga Of Chinese Influencers In Africa Says About Social Media — And China

by Xoc Kapi January 22, 2024May 21, 2025

Street artist painting on paper

Society immigration

Chinese Bookstores Abroad: An Immigrant’s Link To Culture, Memory And Home

by Michelle Courtois December 15, 2023May 22, 2025

Technicians examine mobile phone chips at a manufacture plant in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province

Future artificial intelligence

Why The U.S. Trade Blockade Can’t Stop China’s Sprint For All-Powerful AI

by Michelle Courtois December 11, 2023May 21, 2025

Economy finance

How A Xi Jinping Dinner In San Francisco May Have Sealed Mastercard’s Arrival In China

by Michelle Courtois November 30, 2023May 21, 2025

Photo of police forces in Taipei, Taiwan, ahead of clashes during anti-government protests in Nov. 2020

Israel-Palestine War gaza

Why Taiwan Backs Israel Even If Its Own Struggle Mirrors Palestine’s

by Michelle Courtois November 21, 2023May 24, 2025

photo of a monastery on a hilltop in Tibet

Geopolitics china

Tibet Or Xizang? Why China May Be Ready To Rename The Contested Land

by Michelle Courtois November 3, 2023May 24, 2025

Western Plunders Of Antiquities? Challenging The New Chinese Uproar

Society history

Western Plunders Of Antiquities? Challenging The New Chinese Uproar

by Michelle Courtois October 23, 2023May 24, 2025

Chinese man smoking a cigarette with a solemn facial expression

Big Tobacco, Tax Windfalls: The Inside Story Of What Really Feeds China’s Smoking Habit

by Worldcrunch October 3, 2023May 22, 2025

Photograph of an ethnic Uyghur man cooking Kebab in Kashgar bazaar.

Geopolitics technology

Every Step, Every Swipe: Inside China’s System Of Total Surveillance Of Uyghurs

by Michelle Courtois September 14, 2023May 24, 2025

A young person signs to a camera infront of a black background

Why Have Hong Kong’s Hearing Impaired Been Left Behind?

by Michelle Courtois August 31, 2023May 19, 2025

Poster from a series showing two women and a man.

Women Worldwide china

Imperfect Victim: What A Chinese Series About Sexual Assault Can And Can’t Say

by Michelle Courtois August 24, 2023May 23, 2025

Two women standing with colorful masks on.

In The News love

A Dark Journey Into Hong Kong’s World Of LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

by Michelle Courtois July 25, 2023May 19, 2025

Image showing Rohingya immigrants who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for three days being held at the Amtali Police Station.

Geopolitics india

How Beijing’s Backing Of Myanmar Sharpens China-India Tensions

by Michelle Courtois July 17, 2023May 23, 2025

Image showing people taking a subway train in Guangzhou

Women Worldwide china

The Creepy Men Who Film Women On China’s Subways — And The Case That Sparked A Backlash

by Michelle Courtois June 27, 2023May 23, 2025

North Korea celebrates 75 years of its armed forces.

Future south korea

Will Hack For Nukes: Inside North Korea’s Cryptocurrency Extortion Ring

by Michelle Courtois June 19, 2023May 19, 2025

'MTF' Alarm, Life Is Crueler Than Ever For Trans Women In China

LGBTQ Plus china

‘MTF’ Alarm, Life Is Crueler Than Ever For Trans Women In China

by Dan Wu May 16, 2023May 23, 2025

Image of two senior men playing chinese Checkers.

LGBTQ Plus wuhan

My Wife, My Boyfriend — And Grandkids: A Careful Coming Out For China’s Gay Seniors

by Dan Wu March 28, 2023May 24, 2025

Photo of teenagers in Taiwan

Pop And Propaganda — How Taiwan’s Teens Are Lured By Chinese Social Media

by Dan Wu February 21, 2023May 23, 2025

Photo of shop window

Why Estonia’s EU “Digital Residency” Is Getting Popular In China — And Taiwan

by Dan Wu February 10, 2023May 21, 2025

Photo of a pharmarcist walking past shelves with medication in Yucheng, northern China

In The News china

As COVID Explodes, An Inside Look At China’s Gray Market Of Generic Drugs

by Dan Wu January 27, 2023May 22, 2025

A photo of A baby joins National Celebration Day in Taipei in October

Geopolitics china

A Perfect Storm Of China-Taiwan Hostility: Will It Snap In 2023?

by Dan Wu January 20, 2023May 23, 2025

Chinese catholic priests celebrating mass

In The News china

Between Xi Jinping And Pope Francis, China’s Catholics Are Still Stuck In Limbo

by Dan Wu December 25, 2022May 23, 2025