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

Freedom Alert

Freedom House Welcomes Chinese Decision to Release Activist Chen

May 21 2012 - 12:33pm

Freedom House welcomes the Chinese government’s decision to allow blind Chinese activist and self-taught lawyer Chen Guangcheng to travel with his wife and two children to the United States, where he will study law and English through a New York University fellowship. Freedom House calls on the Chinese authorities to cease their harassment of Chen’s family members who remain in China, and release those being held in detention.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 58

May 18 2012 - 3:20pm

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

HIGHLIGHTS
* State media fuel nationalism in China-Philippines standoff
* In online letter, party veterans urge sacking of security, propaganda officials
* Chinese state-owned paper to launch African edition
* Chinese blogger makes cross-strait comparisons after Taiwan visit
* Perry Link, Freedom House blog warn against assumptions of regime stability

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

Freedom House Applauds Global Action on International Day to End Homophobia

May 18 2012 - 2:01pm

Freedom House applauds international efforts to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity exemplified by global events on May 17 marking the International Day to End Homophobia (IDAHO).  The coordination of events in more than 100 countries worldwide, including countries with poor human rights records like Burma, Algeria, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, is a positive step forward in the struggle for equal rights for LGBTI. Despite these positive events, a number of troubling attacks on the day’s supporters illustrates the continuing need for vigilance in acknowledging rights abuses and ending discrimination.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe
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

Experts

Sarah Cook

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


Issues: 
Internet Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn

Director of the International Religious Freedom and Southeast Asia Programs


Issues: 
Religious Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific

Karin Deutsch Karlekar

Project Director of "Freedom of the Press"


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