How China is trying to Control the Internet

Tricked into Surgery: India’s Hysterectomy Scandal | Investigate Asia In India, the average age of women having a hysterectomy is just 34. Many are a lot younger. Thousands of women are being tricked into expensive and unnecessary operations to remove their wombs by unscrupulous private doctors. As well as leaving their families burdened with heavy debt, the operations push the women into early menopause, often leaving them weak and unable to work. In the sugar growing region of Beed, one in three women have had their wombs removed. Many of them, like Prabarvati, went to the doctor with period pain, backaches or bladder infections and were told they had cancer and the only solution was an urgent hysterectomy. She was 26 when she had the operation. Years later, she suffers from crippling pain and appears decades older. Her daughter had to stop going to school and start working the cane plantations to help the family survive. Other women were pushed into having the operation by cane cutting contractors, who are reluctant to hire women who menstruate. There is a belief

Love and Sex in India | Investigate Asia It’s the birthplace of the Kama Sutra and Bollywood romances but in real life, kissing in the street or just talking about sex in India is considered obscene. In a place where 90% of marriages are arranged and the bride’s family must pay a large dowry, young girls are taught that society considers them a burden. Millions of baby girls are abandoned or illegally aborted. A series of brutal rapes and murders have led to claims of a ‘rape culture’ in India. We investigate the role of India’s system of castes and customs and hear from a lawyer who defends parents who have murdered their children in ‘honour’ crimes. We also meet openly gay Prince Manvendra who fights for his love and for his society to become more accepting and educated in a country where homosexuality is illegal. From forbidden love stories to arranged marriages and spectacular weddings where the bride and groom only just met, we follow the epic stories of young couples in India. This documentary first aired 2018 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Dirty Deals in Pattaya: The Dark Side of Sex Tourism in Thailand | Investigate Asia In 2023, Luck Films reported on the ways paedophiles were exploiting post-COVID poverty in Thailand to abuse children. In this documentary, we return to the place where it all began, checking in with stories that have continued since the first film aired and examining whether any real reform is happening – or is even on the horizon. Luck Films uncovered the case of a German suspect arrested for child abuse in Pattaya who was able to flee to Germany by paying a bribe. After the film aired, Frankfurt prosecutors took him into custody. He admitted on camera to taking a minor to his room “to have sex” but denied any abuse. The revelations sparked political outrage in Thailand, leading to a government inquiry. However, it remains to be seen whether tangible reforms will be implemented. Despite TUI removing Pattaya hotels from its program, this follow-up film – Dirty Deals in Pattaya – reveals how child exploitation still persists in luxury hotels. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome

China Dissidents | Investigate Asia From harassing relatives back home to disrupting protests and spying on critics in other countries, China is one of the most aggressive governments in targeting dissidents abroad. We follow three dissidents in America as they continue their fight for democracy. Juntao Wang, a primary organiser of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and one of the world’s most renowned Chinese dissidents, has led the Democratic Party of China for more than a decade from its New York headquarters. But, wherever he goes, pro-Beijing mobs often follow. While showing support for Taiwan’s democracy, his group is violently attacked. Artist Weiming Chen, who criticises the Chinese government through his sculptures, has been spied on and had his work burned down. Meanwhile, asylum seeker Chunyan Wang, forced into exile after her house was appropriated by the Chinese government, is constantly surveilled. She takes her protest directly to the Chinese Vice Premier during US-China trade talks. But her attempts to hand him a petition lead to her being arrested and tried for a criminal conviction, facing ten years in prison

India under Modi: The New Hindu Superpower | Investigate Asia What if the next world superpower was India, not China? With its 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is already the most populous country in the world. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India has embraced both ultra-productivity and ultra-nationalism. Everything that happens in the world happens in India on a much larger scale. In the past decade, Modi has transformed and reshaped the country: for the better according to his supporters, for the worse according to his opponents. India is now the fifth largest economy in the world and has democratized access to technology. No one can deny the scale of the country’s social, political and cultural transformation. Slowly but surely, Modi is positioning India as a counter- balance to the West. He has silenced his opponents, rewritten the national narrative to the point of erasing whole swathes of its own history and created a new apartheid. But India, which often seems so distant and far removed from our preoccupations, has also become the magnifying glass of global challenges. The strategic

Fake Food | Investigate Asia A photojournalist from Beijing travels to the city of Changsha to uncover the truth and seek evidence against the unscrupulous food industry that produces and sells fake food products to unknowing consumers. An issue which has brought about tragic and mammoth health repercussions to a nation of a billion people. This documentary first aired in 2014 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to Investigate Asia - Explore the diverse landscapes of Asia through in-depth documentaries that delve into the region's politics, economy, culture, and history. From ancient traditions to modern innovations, our content offers a unique perspective on the forces shaping Asia today. Join us on a journey to better understand one of the world’s most dynamic and influential regions. Whether you're a history enthusiast or curious about global affairs, this channel is your gateway to discovering Asia.