
About Tea Leaf Nation
Tea Leaf Nation decodes Chinese media, analyzes social trends, and features Chinese voices, all to illuminate the country from within.
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This 18-Year-Old Chinese Woman Is Beating the Schools at Sex Ed
In a nation where textbooks still teach that sex before marriage mars girls forever, Yao Sifan is offering a feminist take on the facts of life.

Beijing Deals Another Blow to Hong Kong’s Autonomy
An oppressive ruling by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee — aided by a compliant Hong Kong judge — has silenced champions of democracy.

China’s New Megacity: The Anti-Beijing
The government will build another metropolis from scratch. But it's not planning on following the old playbook.

Is Beijing Getting Scared of Homeschooled Confucian Activists?
The Communist Party's enthusiasm for private Confucian schools is cooling. It could be fearful of a moral system outside its control.

It’s Not Communism Holding China’s Youth Back. It’s Their Parents.
Pressure to save, marry, and work leaves no room for democratic aspirations.

When Marx Meets Islam
A Chinese regulation would prohibit online insults based on religion. Some decry it as antithetical to Communist values.

Heads, Beijing Wins. Tails, Hong Kong Loses.
The 2017 race for Chief Executive was supposed to be a watershed exercise in democracy. Instead, it may be a coronation.

What Just Happened in Beijing?
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson surprised many by parroting Chinese talking points, but it's unlikely to signal a policy shift.







Galleries

The Week in World Photos
Global protests against government-imposed lockdowns, gang violence in El Salvador, and hat tips to medical staff.

The Week in World Photos
A prayerful start to Ramadan, medical workers on the front lines of a pandemic, and the annual Lyrids meteor shower.
In the Magazine
In the Magazine

How to Save Global Capitalism From Itself
Decentralizing decision-making can help left-behind regions get back on track.

Britain’s Post-Brexit Identity Crisis
Boris Johnson has contradictory ideas for his country’s future—and no clear paths for getting there.
The Ugly End of Chimerica
The coronavirus pandemic has turned a conscious uncoupling into a messy breakup.
The 3 Most Polarizing Words in India
“Jai Shri Ram” was meant to be a celebration of a Hindu deity. But the phrase is turning into hate speech—and a dog whistle for attacks on Muslims.