Asia-Pacific

Over the past five years, the Asia-Pacific region has been the only one to record steady gains in political rights and civil liberties as measured by Freedom House. Although it is home to China, where over half the world’s Not Free population lives, and North Korea, the least free country in the world, a number of Asia-Pacific countries have made impressive gains in the institutions of electoral democracy—elections, political parties, pluralism—and in freedom of association. Nonetheless, problems persist regarding many fundamental rights, and Freedom House supports local civil society groups throughout Southeast Asia in promoting and advocating the work of human rights defenders.

Countries & Territories: 43
3.9 billion people
44% free
Press:
5% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

News & Updates

China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 57

May 11 2012 - 4:03pm

Freedom House’s weekly update of press freedom and censorship news related to the People’s Republic of China

HIGHLIGHTS
* State media criticize U.S. role in Chen Guangcheng case
* Al-Jazeera reporter expelled, foreign journalists obstructed
* Propaganda official to head liberal media group
* Trading in People’s Daily Online shares halted after price surge
* Dismissing privacy risks, Evernote plans China data center

Issues: 
Internet Freedom, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Freedom Alert

China Clamps Down on Media With Closure of Al Jazeera Beijing Bureau

May 8 2012 - 3:08pm

Freedom House denounces Chinese authorities’ refusal to renew the visa and press credentials of Al Jazeera English’s Melissa Chan, thereby forcing the closure of its Beijing Bureau. This is a clear instance of Chinese authorities using visas as a tool to censor foreign media and is a demonstration of the abysmal environment for journalists in China.  Freedom House calls on Chinese authorities to reinstate Chan’s visa and allow her to  resume her work as a correspondent.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Freedom Alert

Death of Imprisoned Man Highlights Thailand’s Unjust Lese Majeste Law

May 8 2012 - 2:40pm

Freedom House is saddened by the death of 61-year-old Thai citizen Ampon Tangnoppakul, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in November 2011 of violating the Computer-Related Crimes Act and Lèse Majesté law for sending text messages ‘offending the Thai royal family.’ His death calls attention to the pernicious Lèse Majesté Law, which bans comments deemed offensive to the royal family in violation of the universal right to freedom of expression and should be repealed.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 56

May 4 2012 - 6:16pm

Freedom House’s weekly update of press freedom and censorship news related to the People’s Republic of China

HIGHLIGHTS
* People’s Daily leads loyalty campaign after Bo Xilai ouster
* Despite censorship, social media play critical role in Chen Guangcheng affair
* Sina reports risks of real-name registration failure
* China-Philippines naval standoff prompts hacker war
* Freedom House releases Freedom of the Press 2012

Issues: 
Internet Freedom, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Experts

Karin Deutsch Karlekar

Project Director of "Freedom of the Press"


Issues: 
Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa

Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn

Director of the International Religious Freedom and Southeast Asia Programs


Issues: 
Religious Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Sarah Cook

Senior Research Analyst for "Freedom on the Net" and East Asia


Issues: 
Internet Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Afghanistan
32 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Afghanistan
32 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Australia
23 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
18 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Bangladesh
151 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Bhutan
708 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Brunei
410 thousand people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Burma
54 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
88 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Burma
54 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
88 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Cambodia
15 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
China
1.3 billion people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
83 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
China
1.3 billion people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
83 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Taiwan
23 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Fiji
852 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
India
1.2 billion people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
36 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Indonesia
238 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
46 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Japan
128 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
North Korea
24 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
7.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
South Korea
49 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
32 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Laos
6.3 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Malaysia
29 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
41 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Maldives
325 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Mongolia
2.8 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Nepal
30 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
New Zealand
4.4 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Pakistan
177 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
55 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Papua New Guinea
6.9 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Philippines
96 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Solomon Islands
545 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Sri Lanka
21 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Thailand
70 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
61 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Vanuatu
252 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Vietnam
88 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
73 / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
New Caledonia
252 thousand people
Scores Overview

Countries and Territories

Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
China
East Timor
Fiji
Hong Kong
India
Indian Kashmir
Indonesia
Japan
Kiribati
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Mongolia
Nauru
Nepal
New Zealand
North Korea
Pakistan
Pakistani Kashmir
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Samoa
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Tibet
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Vietnam

Programs

Cambodia

In Cambodia, Freedom House enhances indigenous expertise in conducting policy research and analysis on critical issues through targeted trainings and on-going capacity building.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Southeast Asia Human Rights

Freedom House supports civil society groups’ efforts to actively engage ASEAN’s human rights mechanism, the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and provides opportunities for strategic exchanges and knowledge-sharing sessions among activists.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Intergovernmental Bodies, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific