Daily News

“Dead to Rights” Sparks Controversy Over Anti-Japanese Sentiment

Published

3 months ago

August 18, 2025

To mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese government released several “patriotic films” during the summer, including Dead to Rights, which has grossed 2.5 billion RMB to date. The film has sparked controversy for promoting anti-Japanese sentiment, with social media in China flooded with hostile comments toward Japan and users expressing alternative views facing online attacks or reporting.

The film has reportedly had a negative impact on children. Clips circulating online show children crying after watching the movie, shouting, “We must kill all Japanese,” smashing Japan on a Chinese map with tools, or tearing up Japanese anime cards, raising concern among parents and scholars.

Dead to Rights is based on images of Japanese atrocities during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. The plot follows a 15-year-old boy who apprentices at a Nanjing photo studio and discovers photographs of Japanese soldiers committing murders, rapes, and looting. He preserves dozens of images, 16 of which later serve as key evidence in war crime trials. However, several Japanese historians have pointed out historical inaccuracies. They note that Japanese military photographers primarily captured scenes of their soldiers’ bravery, not acts of violence against civilians, and such film reels would not have been processed at local studios, suggesting the story is largely fictional.

Scholar Zeng Jianyuan argues that the film leverages wartime narratives to stoke nationalism, deflect domestic tensions, and influence Sino-Japanese and Sino-American relations, reflecting political motives rather than cultural storytelling. Australian-based historian Li Yuanhua adds that the Chinese Communist Party has long used wartime narratives to incite anti-foreign sentiment and obscure historical truths, including collaboration and profit with Japan during the war.

Dead to Rights was released in Australia and New Zealand on August 7.

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Daily News

Trump Holds Talks with Xi Jinping and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Within 24 Hours

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Blessing CALD Editorial

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi within a 24-hour period.

According to Chinese official sources, Xi spoke with Trump late on the night of November 24, during which both leaders reiterated the importance of maintaining communication. Xi stated that U.S.-China relations have “remained stable” following the Busan meeting and emphasized that the two countries should promote cooperation on the basis of mutual respect. During the call, Xi reiterated China’s stance on the Taiwan issue, highlighting the importance of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Following the call, Trump posted on social media, describing U.S.-China relations as “very solid” and disclosed that he had accepted an invitation to visit China in 2026, without providing further details.

Approximately one day later, Trump held another call with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. According to Japanese sources, the call was initiated by Trump and focused on U.S.-China relations and regional developments. Takaichi stated that both sides confirmed they would continue to maintain close communication and described her exchanges with Trump as “maintaining good communication.”

Neither call disclosed specific policy details, but the fact that the U.S. communicated with both Beijing and Tokyo in quick succession is seen as a signal of keeping diplomatic channels open.

Amid rising tensions between China and Japan, the Japanese government has firmly refused to retract Takaichi’s earlier remarks regarding a “Taiwan contingency,” stating that peace in the Taiwan Strait concerns the international community and emphasizing that its position is “fully maintained.” China has recently issued a series of countermeasures against Japan, including flight restrictions and travel advisories, further straining bilateral relations.

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Daily News

Research Shows Coalition Voter Trust Hits Record Low

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Blessing CALD Editorial

The latest Australian Election Study (AES) results reveal that, for the first time in the 2025 federal election, the Coalition has lost its long-held image as the “better economic manager.” Voters generally perceive the Labor Party as more credible on policies relating to the economy, taxation, housing, and cost of living. The study notes that while the Coalition led Labor by 26 percentage points in 2019, it fell behind by 4 points in 2025—signaling a major shift in its core political assets.

The research, conducted post-election by the Australian National University and Griffith University, surveyed 2,070 voters. Data shows that in nine out of ten policy areas, voters favored Labor, including healthcare, education, and climate change, with the Coalition maintaining an edge only on national security. Although 42% of voters anticipate the economy will worsen over the next year, overall pessimism has declined since 2022, reflecting some confidence in the current government’s economic stability.

On leadership ratings, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was rated the least popular major-party leader since AES began in 1987, perceived as lacking leadership and motivational qualities—a key factor in the Coalition’s election losses. In contrast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese enjoys higher approval ratings, but the study notes a long-term decline in voter trust toward major leaders overall, not limited to the opposition.

The report also highlights changes in voter composition—25% of voters indicated they do not identify with any party, a historic high, surpassing the proportion supporting the Liberal Party (24%) for the first time. The study points out that only 21% of millennial voters backed the Coalition in 2025, continuing a trend of younger voters moving away from conservative parties, posing potential challenges for both major parties’ future political landscape.

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Daily News

Australia’s Emergency Mental Health Crisis Worsens

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Blessing CALD Editorial

New data shows that Australians experiencing mental health crises are spending increasingly longer periods in emergency departments (ED) while waiting for inpatient beds, with some severe cases forced to remain for more than 23 hours. The findings reflect unprecedented pressure on the nation’s emergency and mental health systems. In a report released on the 25th, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) stated that EDs have been “forced to become the primary entry point” for mental health emergencies, but severe shortages in staffing and beds have pushed waiting times to unsafe levels.

According to the report, nearly 10% of mental health patients now wait more than 23 hours—an increase of around seven hours compared with a decade ago. Between 2016 and 2024, mental health-related ED presentations grew by 11% to more than 310,000, with the sharpest increases seen among First Nations people and those aged over 65. The proportion of high-urgency cases climbed from 63% to nearly 75%. ACEM stressed that mounting pressure is preventing EDs from providing appropriate care.

ACEM president Stephen Gourley warned that without immediate government investment, healthcare quality will worsen. He noted that some patients are left for long periods in brightly lit and noisy emergency areas due to the lack of available beds—conditions he described as “bordering on inhumane.” South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania were identified as the most affected, with only around 40% of patients receiving care within recommended timeframes.

ACEM is calling on state governments to increase the number of mental health beds and expand community support services, to prevent people from being forced into EDs due to a lack of alternative options. The report highlighted positive results from initiatives such as “Safe Haven Cafes” and collaborative mental-health emergency response models implemented in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, recommending these be rolled out nationwide.

The report comes as federal and state governments engage in tense negotiations over hospital funding. The Productivity Commission recently criticised the national mental health agreement signed three years ago for failing to meet its targets, noting that around 3,000 Australians die by suicide each year, with economic losses exceeding AUD 200 billion.

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