#Newspaper
Zoom promised to be better at censoring global calls at Beijing’s request
// the US-based video-conferencing company admitted to shutting down meetings held to commemorate those who died during the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China, and suspending the accounts of two activists and Humanitarian China, a US-based organization of exiled Chinese activists at the direct request of Beijing, who said the meetings were illegal. There are no Chinese laws stipulating that activities related to the June 4 massacre are illegal, but people in China, except Hong Kong, have been banned from holding any vigils or posting words related to the incident online.
//it simultaneously chastised governments for censoring their own citizens, while pledging to improve its own censorship mechanisms to better address censorship requests from different states. It sounded a contrite note over its inability to be surgically precise in its censorship, saying it “could have anticipated this need” to “block participants by country,” which would have allowed them to keep the meetings running despite “significant repercussions.”
//the company regrets that “participants both inside and outside of China were negatively impacted and important conversations…disrupted,” but that “[i]t is not in Zoom’s power to change the laws of governments opposed to free speech.”... “for situations where local authorities block communications for participants within their borders, Zoom is developing additional capabilities that protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders.”
//Apple... came under fire for removing a Hong Kong protest app from its app store. Microsoft-owned Skype, before it was completely removed from app stores in China in 2017, also had a China-only version of its software that censored a specific list of words.
//At the core of the issue is whether those companies should uphold their American values even if that means they giving up on the lucrative China market, as Google did, or continue their operations in the country by compromising certain practices such as adopting advanced censorship systems.
Full article: Quartz, (12-Jun)
https://t.co/htwTjfFmKT
#Censorship #Zoom #SharpPower #FreedomOfSpeech #China
Zoom promised to be better at censoring global calls at Beijing’s request
// the US-based video-conferencing company admitted to shutting down meetings held to commemorate those who died during the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China, and suspending the accounts of two activists and Humanitarian China, a US-based organization of exiled Chinese activists at the direct request of Beijing, who said the meetings were illegal. There are no Chinese laws stipulating that activities related to the June 4 massacre are illegal, but people in China, except Hong Kong, have been banned from holding any vigils or posting words related to the incident online.
//it simultaneously chastised governments for censoring their own citizens, while pledging to improve its own censorship mechanisms to better address censorship requests from different states. It sounded a contrite note over its inability to be surgically precise in its censorship, saying it “could have anticipated this need” to “block participants by country,” which would have allowed them to keep the meetings running despite “significant repercussions.”
//the company regrets that “participants both inside and outside of China were negatively impacted and important conversations…disrupted,” but that “[i]t is not in Zoom’s power to change the laws of governments opposed to free speech.”... “for situations where local authorities block communications for participants within their borders, Zoom is developing additional capabilities that protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders.”
//Apple... came under fire for removing a Hong Kong protest app from its app store. Microsoft-owned Skype, before it was completely removed from app stores in China in 2017, also had a China-only version of its software that censored a specific list of words.
//At the core of the issue is whether those companies should uphold their American values even if that means they giving up on the lucrative China market, as Google did, or continue their operations in the country by compromising certain practices such as adopting advanced censorship systems.
Full article: Quartz, (12-Jun)
https://t.co/htwTjfFmKT
#Censorship #Zoom #SharpPower #FreedomOfSpeech #China
Quartz
Censorship from Beijing is one more reason for you to worry about using Zoom
People were already uneasy about Zoom. Then it quietly suspended an account used by Chinese dissidents in exile who organized a Tiananmen event.
#Disinformation
Pro-China party twists official statistics in a bid to blame economic suffering on pro-democracy movement
The pro-China political party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), created a new Facebook post entitled “How badly has black-clad violence battered Hong Kong in past one year?”. Along with the post, a set of statistics concerning the economic, crime, and unemployment statuses of Hong Kong were duly shared, with the intent to highlight the unspoken impact of anti-ELAB protest activities and clashes throughout 2019. Factwire, however, looked into these numbers, and most of which are performance data from the first 4 months of 2020, during the height of Hong Kong’s coronavirus outbreak. It is an apparent disinformation campaign attempting to mislead citizens by summing up causes of complicated economic adversities on a single factor.
Looking at the data, the value of total retail sales was compared between the April’s of this year and last year, while the comparison on travelers was drawn between January 2020 and 2019. The post also mentioned unemployment and underemployment in Hong Kong. After verification, these figures were confirmed as only seasonal adjustments for the period from February to April 2020. When issuing the relevant data, the Tourism Board and the Government both mentioned the impact of epidemic outbreak, and consistently both did not mention anti-ELAB social movement as the cause.
The post also compared the crime figures from January to March this year with the same period last year, with information from the Hong Kong Police Force, in which cases concerning robberies and fraud were said not related to anti-ELAB movement.
Source: Factwire
#Jun16 #DAB #Statistics
Pro-China party twists official statistics in a bid to blame economic suffering on pro-democracy movement
The pro-China political party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), created a new Facebook post entitled “How badly has black-clad violence battered Hong Kong in past one year?”. Along with the post, a set of statistics concerning the economic, crime, and unemployment statuses of Hong Kong were duly shared, with the intent to highlight the unspoken impact of anti-ELAB protest activities and clashes throughout 2019. Factwire, however, looked into these numbers, and most of which are performance data from the first 4 months of 2020, during the height of Hong Kong’s coronavirus outbreak. It is an apparent disinformation campaign attempting to mislead citizens by summing up causes of complicated economic adversities on a single factor.
Looking at the data, the value of total retail sales was compared between the April’s of this year and last year, while the comparison on travelers was drawn between January 2020 and 2019. The post also mentioned unemployment and underemployment in Hong Kong. After verification, these figures were confirmed as only seasonal adjustments for the period from February to April 2020. When issuing the relevant data, the Tourism Board and the Government both mentioned the impact of epidemic outbreak, and consistently both did not mention anti-ELAB social movement as the cause.
The post also compared the crime figures from January to March this year with the same period last year, with information from the Hong Kong Police Force, in which cases concerning robberies and fraud were said not related to anti-ELAB movement.
Source: Factwire
#Jun16 #DAB #Statistics
#DailyUpdate #Jun18 #COVID19
COVID-19 Updates (Jun 18)
At the time of writing, 8,476,295 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed with 452,084 deaths. 4,444,375 have recovered.
The 4 most affected countries are USA, Brazil, Russia and India.
Hong Kong has reported 4 imported cases.
Hong Kong is strengthening inspections for entrants from Beijing.
The Hong Kong Disneyland Park reopens today.
China has reported 24 local cases, 21 from Beijing, and 2 from Hebei and 1 from Tianjin.
China's CDC claims Beijing's Covid-19 outbreak is under control.
WHO suggests dexamethasone should be only used on patients with serious symptoms.
From Friday onwards Japan allows people to travel across different regions.
US - Eight Kansas State student-athletes test positive for Covid-19.
Coronavirus in Africa could set back some HIV preventions by a decade.
Eight countries account for 84% of the coronavirus cases across the African region.
Source: CNN, Worldometer, Now News
COVID-19 Updates (Jun 18)
At the time of writing, 8,476,295 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed with 452,084 deaths. 4,444,375 have recovered.
The 4 most affected countries are USA, Brazil, Russia and India.
Hong Kong has reported 4 imported cases.
Hong Kong is strengthening inspections for entrants from Beijing.
The Hong Kong Disneyland Park reopens today.
China has reported 24 local cases, 21 from Beijing, and 2 from Hebei and 1 from Tianjin.
China's CDC claims Beijing's Covid-19 outbreak is under control.
WHO suggests dexamethasone should be only used on patients with serious symptoms.
From Friday onwards Japan allows people to travel across different regions.
US - Eight Kansas State student-athletes test positive for Covid-19.
Coronavirus in Africa could set back some HIV preventions by a decade.
Eight countries account for 84% of the coronavirus cases across the African region.
Source: CNN, Worldometer, Now News
#EditorialColumn
The truth of China’s sharp power in the gaming industry
Nintendo (HK) released a campaign on Super Smash Bros Ultimate on 4 June, in commemoration of the N64 console. The idea is that the gaming experience would multiply by 6.4 times. Interestingly, the day actually has little ties to the actual release day of N64. Netizens quickly concluded that this campaign is in fact giving a nod at another eventful 6.4, or what happened at China's Tiananmen Square back in 1989.
China has a huge market. However, with its current wolf diplomacy, participating in this market may come with unexpected costs. The theft of intellectual property, for one, is a risk many foreign entrants must take when working with a local proxy. Complying with local censorship laws is another.
Examples like Animal Crossing and Devotion show that the Chinese audience tends to react very poorly at the slightest amount of what they perceive to be negative content, or ones that "hurt the Chinese's feelings". It could result in a game being banned in China and the company boycotted by Chinese gamers. Normally, most foreign companies tiptoe around sensitive issues in China.
As time goes on, governments and companies realize that heavy reliance on the Chinese market would result in over dependence on the country and its industries. The recent pandemic is a perfect and very unfortunate example of how much the world relies on this global manufacturing conglomerate.
At the same time, companies realize Chinese boycott may merely be lip service, as amidst the uproar, many Chinese gamers still try to purchase parallel imported products, when the licensed alternative is banned.
In the current situation where the world is reconsidering their relationship and interaction with China, it is not surprising if some companies try to push the envelope of the communist regime, in an effort to show that they are not pawns of China.
Source: Simon Shen’s Youtube, Hitchcock Game news Youtube
#SharpPower #Nintendo #Jun4 #CCP #ChineseBoycott #GamingIndustrial
The truth of China’s sharp power in the gaming industry
Nintendo (HK) released a campaign on Super Smash Bros Ultimate on 4 June, in commemoration of the N64 console. The idea is that the gaming experience would multiply by 6.4 times. Interestingly, the day actually has little ties to the actual release day of N64. Netizens quickly concluded that this campaign is in fact giving a nod at another eventful 6.4, or what happened at China's Tiananmen Square back in 1989.
China has a huge market. However, with its current wolf diplomacy, participating in this market may come with unexpected costs. The theft of intellectual property, for one, is a risk many foreign entrants must take when working with a local proxy. Complying with local censorship laws is another.
Examples like Animal Crossing and Devotion show that the Chinese audience tends to react very poorly at the slightest amount of what they perceive to be negative content, or ones that "hurt the Chinese's feelings". It could result in a game being banned in China and the company boycotted by Chinese gamers. Normally, most foreign companies tiptoe around sensitive issues in China.
As time goes on, governments and companies realize that heavy reliance on the Chinese market would result in over dependence on the country and its industries. The recent pandemic is a perfect and very unfortunate example of how much the world relies on this global manufacturing conglomerate.
At the same time, companies realize Chinese boycott may merely be lip service, as amidst the uproar, many Chinese gamers still try to purchase parallel imported products, when the licensed alternative is banned.
In the current situation where the world is reconsidering their relationship and interaction with China, it is not surprising if some companies try to push the envelope of the communist regime, in an effort to show that they are not pawns of China.
Source: Simon Shen’s Youtube, Hitchcock Game news Youtube
#SharpPower #Nintendo #Jun4 #CCP #ChineseBoycott #GamingIndustrial
YouTube
【萬國時空．沈旭暉 013】中美脫鉤與香港：中國Sharp Power的反面教材 🇨🇳🇺🇸
曾幾何時，中國把「一國兩制」視為拉攏台灣的國策之一，然而看見香港的「成功案例」，今天台灣絕大多數民意堅決抗拒「一國兩制」，甚至連韓國瑜，也說實行「一國兩制」要「over my dead body」。香港「一國兩制」不可能走回「井水不犯河水」，原因之一，正是中國早已放棄軟實力，改行「銳實力」。香港這反面教材，也成為全球觀察中國「銳實力」的實驗室，乃至對今日中美decouple，也有直接影響......
Simon 沈旭暉 堅離地 Social Media ▶
Facebook: https://ww…
Simon 沈旭暉 堅離地 Social Media ▶
Facebook: https://ww…
#Newspaper
Super Mario Maker 2 E-Commerca Listings removed in China
(14 Jun) Super Mario Maker 2 was removed from product listings on Taobao, one of the largest e-commerce platforms in China.
Some players make use of the sandbox game to create stages with names like "8964", "Xi JinPing the emperor of the wall nation". The game was then considered as "an insult to China" by the Chinese government. The Chinese authorities may be taking this as a preventive measure before offensive messages appear from the game.
Source: Unwire HK, Nintendosoup
#Nintendo #SuperMario2 #Censorship
Super Mario Maker 2 E-Commerca Listings removed in China
(14 Jun) Super Mario Maker 2 was removed from product listings on Taobao, one of the largest e-commerce platforms in China.
Some players make use of the sandbox game to create stages with names like "8964", "Xi JinPing the emperor of the wall nation". The game was then considered as "an insult to China" by the Chinese government. The Chinese authorities may be taking this as a preventive measure before offensive messages appear from the game.
Source: Unwire HK, Nintendosoup
#Nintendo #SuperMario2 #Censorship
Unwire.hk
Super Mario Maker 2 被指「辱華」 中國網店全線下架
中國對於網上內容，包括遊戲內的字眼都有嚴格的審查，水貨遊戲則是灰色地帶。最近有 Super Mario Maker 2 玩家在遊戲的自製關卡內加入諷刺字句，被中國網民發現後，網店已經全面下架無法購買。
#NationalSecurityLaw
Chairman of Bar Association Calls City’s National Security Law “Reverse Engineering” of Extradition Bill
The Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Den Chung-hua claimed on Monday (June 15) that the SAR government holds the “primary responsibility” to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, accountable for law enforcement and judiciary issues. However, in the event of an “extremely special” incident, the China state government will retain jurisdiction over the case.
In an interview, Philip Dyes, Chairman of Bar Association stated that the Chinese state government is attempting to take control of serious cases tempering national security in Hong Kong, in such a way that he described as a “reverse engineering of the extradition bill”.
Dyes explained that, “Rather than you going to the mainland, the mainland comes to you.” He carried on criticizing that there are still no concrete details in the National Security Law. But for now, it appears to be a weird hybrid of common law and civil law.
Source: Apple Daily
#Jun16 #Failedstate #OneCountryTwoSystem
Chairman of Bar Association Calls City’s National Security Law “Reverse Engineering” of Extradition Bill
The Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Den Chung-hua claimed on Monday (June 15) that the SAR government holds the “primary responsibility” to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, accountable for law enforcement and judiciary issues. However, in the event of an “extremely special” incident, the China state government will retain jurisdiction over the case.
In an interview, Philip Dyes, Chairman of Bar Association stated that the Chinese state government is attempting to take control of serious cases tempering national security in Hong Kong, in such a way that he described as a “reverse engineering of the extradition bill”.
Dyes explained that, “Rather than you going to the mainland, the mainland comes to you.” He carried on criticizing that there are still no concrete details in the National Security Law. But for now, it appears to be a weird hybrid of common law and civil law.
Source: Apple Daily
#Jun16 #Failedstate #OneCountryTwoSystem
#NOWTV
NOW TV chief Cheung Chi-kong will retire in August, former TVB Chinese team head Bill Chan takes his position
NOW TV has been one of the most credible news channels in Hong Kong. Its chief Cheung Chi-kong will retire in August 2020, and retired journalist Bill Chan will take his position. Cheung admitted in his interview with Stand News that he decided to retire before the anti-ELAB movement. He suggested that it is useless to worry if his departure will affect NOW’s credibility.
A NOW TV employee expressed his worry about Cheung’s departure. It still remains a question as to whether Chan’s new position will affect the TV station in any manner.
Another senior journalist from NOW TV suggested that Chan’s arrival was unexpected, because the position should have been given to Annie Cheng, Cheung’s subordinate who has been working with NOW for 15 years. He admitted that he was not confident about the personnel change because it may affect the freedom of press and the journalistic integrity of the NOW TV news team.
Source: Stand News
#Jun18 #TVB #PressFreedom #ChinaInfiltration
NOW TV chief Cheung Chi-kong will retire in August, former TVB Chinese team head Bill Chan takes his position
NOW TV has been one of the most credible news channels in Hong Kong. Its chief Cheung Chi-kong will retire in August 2020, and retired journalist Bill Chan will take his position. Cheung admitted in his interview with Stand News that he decided to retire before the anti-ELAB movement. He suggested that it is useless to worry if his departure will affect NOW’s credibility.
A NOW TV employee expressed his worry about Cheung’s departure. It still remains a question as to whether Chan’s new position will affect the TV station in any manner.
Another senior journalist from NOW TV suggested that Chan’s arrival was unexpected, because the position should have been given to Annie Cheng, Cheung’s subordinate who has been working with NOW for 15 years. He admitted that he was not confident about the personnel change because it may affect the freedom of press and the journalistic integrity of the NOW TV news team.
Source: Stand News
#Jun18 #TVB #PressFreedom #ChinaInfiltration
#Court #IndiscriminateArrests
Another case of indiscriminate arrests: 17-year-old protester acquitted in trial
On 2 November last year, netizens called a rally against extradition bill in Victoria Park. A 19-year-old male student was arrested and charged for traffic obstruction with a traffic cone. He pleaded not guilty in a trial on Wednesday (June 17). Police officers who were in charged of the case made several amendments to his statement in the court, including allegations that the black-clad protester hurled traffic cones onto westbound line of Leighton Road, causing traffic obstruction. However, after viewing video footages recorded on that day, he admitted that the traffic was not obstructing the traffic.
Not only that the officer failed to recognize the defendant in the court, he also agreed with the defending lawyer’s that his observation on the day was inaccurate. The prosecution subsequently ended up with a decision to not provide further evidences, and the Magistrate ruled the case not substantiated.
Source: Stand News
#Jun17 #FailedState #PoliceState #PoliceBrutality #HKProtest
Another case of indiscriminate arrests: 17-year-old protester acquitted in trial
On 2 November last year, netizens called a rally against extradition bill in Victoria Park. A 19-year-old male student was arrested and charged for traffic obstruction with a traffic cone. He pleaded not guilty in a trial on Wednesday (June 17). Police officers who were in charged of the case made several amendments to his statement in the court, including allegations that the black-clad protester hurled traffic cones onto westbound line of Leighton Road, causing traffic obstruction. However, after viewing video footages recorded on that day, he admitted that the traffic was not obstructing the traffic.
Not only that the officer failed to recognize the defendant in the court, he also agreed with the defending lawyer’s that his observation on the day was inaccurate. The prosecution subsequently ended up with a decision to not provide further evidences, and the Magistrate ruled the case not substantiated.
Source: Stand News
#Jun17 #FailedState #PoliceState #PoliceBrutality #HKProtest
立場新聞 Stand News
被指以雪糕筒堵路 19 歲學生表證不成立無罪釋放 警員庭上多次改口供 | 立場新聞
去年 11 月 2 日網民發起維園反修例集會，19 歲男學生被指於銅鑼灣以雪糕筒堵路，被控在公眾地方造成阻礙罪...
#WhiteTerror #Education
Chief of Education Tasks City’s Secondary Schools to Develop Personalized Discipline Correction Scheme
Targets Those Arrested for Partaking in Pro-democracy Protests
The Education Bureau dispatched letters to all secondary schools in Hong Kong urging schools to tighten student counseling support, including long-term and personalized disciplinary schemes targeting those who were arrested or prosecuted, with an aim to strengthen their "social values". As for other affected students, schools were asked to provide psychological aids to ease their emotions.
The Bureau asked schools to fill out a set of pre-designed forms to report progress on each disciplinary scheme or assistance granted, including whether a personalized scheme has been developed and strategies deployed, so that the Bureau could be kept abreast with development of the cases and needs of individual schools.
Source: Stand News
#Jun16 #FailedState
Chief of Education Tasks City’s Secondary Schools to Develop Personalized Discipline Correction Scheme
Targets Those Arrested for Partaking in Pro-democracy Protests
The Education Bureau dispatched letters to all secondary schools in Hong Kong urging schools to tighten student counseling support, including long-term and personalized disciplinary schemes targeting those who were arrested or prosecuted, with an aim to strengthen their "social values". As for other affected students, schools were asked to provide psychological aids to ease their emotions.
The Bureau asked schools to fill out a set of pre-designed forms to report progress on each disciplinary scheme or assistance granted, including whether a personalized scheme has been developed and strategies deployed, so that the Bureau could be kept abreast with development of the cases and needs of individual schools.
Source: Stand News
#Jun16 #FailedState
#FreedomOfExpression
Statue artist couldn’t believe University-initiated disturbances are oppressing his freedom of expression
Students of Hong Kong Polytechnic University produced and exhibited a series of plaster statues of HK protesters. Without informing the student union, the school took away these plaster statues and some statues were severely damaged.
Statue artist, Ben was furious and is considering of seeking redress through civil claims or small claims tribunal from the school. He said, “I am fully aware of potential disturbances from people with opposing political stances. Similar incidences happened to the Lennon Wall built on campus. However, I couldn’t believe that these troubles actually came from inside the University.”
Source: inmedia.net #Jun16
#FailedState #HKProtests #Censorship #WhiteTerror
Statue artist couldn’t believe University-initiated disturbances are oppressing his freedom of expression
Students of Hong Kong Polytechnic University produced and exhibited a series of plaster statues of HK protesters. Without informing the student union, the school took away these plaster statues and some statues were severely damaged.
Statue artist, Ben was furious and is considering of seeking redress through civil claims or small claims tribunal from the school. He said, “I am fully aware of potential disturbances from people with opposing political stances. Similar incidences happened to the Lennon Wall built on campus. However, I couldn’t believe that these troubles actually came from inside the University.”
Source: inmedia.net #Jun16
#FailedState #HKProtests #Censorship #WhiteTerror
#Court
A hard-working university student, aged 23, with a shining educational background was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment for merely carrying a 90cm long plastic tube that even does not belong to her.
On 21 Sept 2019, hundreds gathered to take part in a “Reclaim Tuen Mun” march to oppose the “Dai Mas” (women who disrupt the peace for residents and park-goers with their suggestive dancing entertaining mainly older men and receiving money in return.)The march was allowed upon the reversed decision handed down by an appeal board.
The university student at the scene did nothing offensive; she has neither blocked the road nor charged against the police cordon line. While she was walking through an estate, someone passed her the plastic tube and she was arrested within the next 10 minutes.
She needs your support to get through these 3 months in prison. Please spare a few minutes and write to her some words of encouragement.
Source: https://m.facebook.com/113737406740068/posts/260689252044882/?d=n
A hard-working university student, aged 23, with a shining educational background was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment for merely carrying a 90cm long plastic tube that even does not belong to her.
On 21 Sept 2019, hundreds gathered to take part in a “Reclaim Tuen Mun” march to oppose the “Dai Mas” (women who disrupt the peace for residents and park-goers with their suggestive dancing entertaining mainly older men and receiving money in return.)The march was allowed upon the reversed decision handed down by an appeal board.
The university student at the scene did nothing offensive; she has neither blocked the road nor charged against the police cordon line. While she was walking through an estate, someone passed her the plastic tube and she was arrested within the next 10 minutes.
She needs your support to get through these 3 months in prison. Please spare a few minutes and write to her some words of encouragement.
Source: https://m.facebook.com/113737406740068/posts/260689252044882/?d=n
Latest pro-democracy initiative crushed in retail sector
On Wednesday (June 16), a retail chain of kids’ wear erected a 2-meter tall Lady Liberty Hong Kong statue in its shop located in Discovery Park shopping mall, which was owned by New World Development, one of the pro-China megacorporations in Hong Kong.
The next day, management office of the shopping mall issued a letter to the shop requesting the removal of the statue, claiming that decoration for a “first class shopping center” should fulfill certain requirements and the statue is apparently not related to the shop’s retail business. While the pro-Beijing camp leaders called for their supporters to lodge complaints against the retail chain.
Source: Stand News #Jun17
#FailedState #FreedomofExpression #LadyLiberty
On Wednesday (June 16), a retail chain of kids’ wear erected a 2-meter tall Lady Liberty Hong Kong statue in its shop located in Discovery Park shopping mall, which was owned by New World Development, one of the pro-China megacorporations in Hong Kong.
The next day, management office of the shopping mall issued a letter to the shop requesting the removal of the statue, claiming that decoration for a “first class shopping center” should fulfill certain requirements and the statue is apparently not related to the shop’s retail business. While the pro-Beijing camp leaders called for their supporters to lodge complaints against the retail chain.
Source: Stand News #Jun17
#FailedState #FreedomofExpression #LadyLiberty
#Taiwan
Taiwan to provide aid to oppressed Hong Kong people who wish to live in Taiwan
Mainland Affairs Council announced today (Jun 18) the details of the plan to help Hong Kong people to stay and live in Taiwan. It is stated that the public and private sector will cooperate to help Hong Kong people settle down in Taiwan.
From 1 July 2020, a liaison office will be set up to handle enquiries from Hong Kong people wishing to stay in Taiwan. Those with threats to their lives will be given priority.
"From the anti-ELAB movement in 2019, to the forceful implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong recently, the Taiwanese were able to see the dedication of the Hong Kong people in this fighting for freedom. Beside condemning China for exploiting Hong Kong’s freedom and human rights, we will continue to show our support to Hong Kong at a institutional level."
Source: MAC website #Jun18
Further reading:
Pompeo says U.S. considers welcoming Hong Kong people, entrepreneurs
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-usa-pompeo/pompeo-says-u-s-considering-welcoming-hong-kong-people-entrepreneurs-idUSKBN23837A
Taiwan to provide aid to oppressed Hong Kong people who wish to live in Taiwan
Mainland Affairs Council announced today (Jun 18) the details of the plan to help Hong Kong people to stay and live in Taiwan. It is stated that the public and private sector will cooperate to help Hong Kong people settle down in Taiwan.
From 1 July 2020, a liaison office will be set up to handle enquiries from Hong Kong people wishing to stay in Taiwan. Those with threats to their lives will be given priority.
"From the anti-ELAB movement in 2019, to the forceful implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong recently, the Taiwanese were able to see the dedication of the Hong Kong people in this fighting for freedom. Beside condemning China for exploiting Hong Kong’s freedom and human rights, we will continue to show our support to Hong Kong at a institutional level."
Source: MAC website #Jun18
Further reading:
Pompeo says U.S. considers welcoming Hong Kong people, entrepreneurs
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-usa-pompeo/pompeo-says-u-s-considering-welcoming-hong-kong-people-entrepreneurs-idUSKBN23837A
reurl.cc
中華民國大陸委員會
提供大陸委員會官方發佈的新聞、重要活動、大陸政策、兩岸統計、臺港澳關係、本會官方YouTube及Picasa影音頻道等相關資訊。
Zoom cuts off activist's accounts at the behest of the Chinese government
Suspending meetings that commemorate Tiananmen Square massacre and shutting down host activists’ accounts, Zoom admitted conforming to China’s demands to cut “illegal” activities, despite the meetings were held outside Chinese boarder.
Unlike other Western social media, Zoom is not blocked in China. Zoom's alarming behavior raise the question of it bowing to Chinese pressure, if not being a puppet platform at all. Several activists on Chinese issues based in US and Hong Kong shared their experience with Zoom and expressed their frustration upon being shut down.
In response, Zoom stated that the action was due to their inability to ban users based on their location and they are working on the function to comply with local authorities on their regulations. It continued to clarify that they did not provide any meeting content or user information to the Chinese government.
Zoom’s quibble however failed excusing itself from condemnation from lawmakers and human right groups, and US senators demanded it to pick a side between free-speech and censorship. While the intentions of Zoom are unclear, its deeply entangled relationship with China - through capital and intelligence - should alert the public enough about potential security risks.
#CyberSecurity #Zoom #CCP #censorship #FreedomofSpeech
Source:
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/12/zoom-admits-cutting-off-activists-accounts-in-obedience-to-china?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true
Further reading:
Zoom promised to be better at censoring global calls at Beijing’s request
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22601
Zoom closes account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen conference
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22600
Suspending meetings that commemorate Tiananmen Square massacre and shutting down host activists’ accounts, Zoom admitted conforming to China’s demands to cut “illegal” activities, despite the meetings were held outside Chinese boarder.
Unlike other Western social media, Zoom is not blocked in China. Zoom's alarming behavior raise the question of it bowing to Chinese pressure, if not being a puppet platform at all. Several activists on Chinese issues based in US and Hong Kong shared their experience with Zoom and expressed their frustration upon being shut down.
In response, Zoom stated that the action was due to their inability to ban users based on their location and they are working on the function to comply with local authorities on their regulations. It continued to clarify that they did not provide any meeting content or user information to the Chinese government.
Zoom’s quibble however failed excusing itself from condemnation from lawmakers and human right groups, and US senators demanded it to pick a side between free-speech and censorship. While the intentions of Zoom are unclear, its deeply entangled relationship with China - through capital and intelligence - should alert the public enough about potential security risks.
#CyberSecurity #Zoom #CCP #censorship #FreedomofSpeech
Source:
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/12/zoom-admits-cutting-off-activists-accounts-in-obedience-to-china?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true
Further reading:
Zoom promised to be better at censoring global calls at Beijing’s request
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22601
Zoom closes account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen conference
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22600
the Guardian
Zoom admits cutting off activists' accounts in obedience to China
Meetings on Tiananmen Square massacre and Hong Kong crisis were taken down because Communist government complained
#Newspaper
Chinese Students Barred From Using Common Computer Code As US Sanctions Bite
Students at two Harbin educational facilities recently discovered that they no longer have access to MATLAB, a widely used coding language for technical computing.
MathWorks, the company that developed MATLAB, said that they are prohibited from providing technical or customer support to the two institutions due to U.S. government regulations as the two institutions are listed as ones that posed a risk of procuring items for military end-use in China.
This change is believed to have far-reaching implications for scientific research at the two Chinese institutions, with one implication being how students and staff can no longer publish research papers or carry out commercial projects using MATLAB.
Full Article: CX Tech News, (11-Jun)
https://bit.ly/3fopu5c
#USChinarelations #USSanctions #MATLAB
Chinese Students Barred From Using Common Computer Code As US Sanctions Bite
Students at two Harbin educational facilities recently discovered that they no longer have access to MATLAB, a widely used coding language for technical computing.
MathWorks, the company that developed MATLAB, said that they are prohibited from providing technical or customer support to the two institutions due to U.S. government regulations as the two institutions are listed as ones that posed a risk of procuring items for military end-use in China.
This change is believed to have far-reaching implications for scientific research at the two Chinese institutions, with one implication being how students and staff can no longer publish research papers or carry out commercial projects using MATLAB.
Full Article: CX Tech News, (11-Jun)
https://bit.ly/3fopu5c
#USChinarelations #USSanctions #MATLAB
Caixinglobal
Trending in China: Chinese Students Barred From Using Common Computer Code As US Sanctions Bite
#Newspaper
China, Iran targeting presidential campaigns with hacking attempts, Google announces
//Chinese and Iranian government hackers have targeted the Gmail accounts of staffers working on the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and President Trump, respectively
//They may do so in search of insights into the thinking of the next American leader, or as the Russians did in 2016, to obtain material that might be disclosed publicly or used to interfere in the election.
//The hackers used a common technique called “phishing,”... enabling the hacker to gain access to the target’s credentials.
//Some analysts say the greater threat is the prospect of hacking, dumping and altering information that can embarrass or disparage a candidate or damage a campaign. The hacking and leaking of Democratic emails in 2016 led to the resignations of party officials and disrupted the party convention.
//Google threat analyst Shane Huntley said on Twitter that the hacker groups involved are APT31, which is linked to the Chinese government, and APT35, which is linked to the Iranian government.
//In 2008, Chinese government hackers compromised the computer networks of then- Sens. and presidential rivals Barack Obama (Ill.) and John McCain (Ariz.). In 2012, foreign and domestic hackers tried to gain access to the campaign networks of Obama and Mitt Romney (R).
//Iran has a history of weaponizing information... after seeing the political divisions Russia exploited in 2016 through both hacking and social media operations, it might be tempted to try something similar
Full article: Washington Post, (05-Jun)
#China #Iran #PresidentialCampaign #Election #Hacking #Google #Gmail #Biden #Trump
China, Iran targeting presidential campaigns with hacking attempts, Google announces
//Chinese and Iranian government hackers have targeted the Gmail accounts of staffers working on the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and President Trump, respectively
//They may do so in search of insights into the thinking of the next American leader, or as the Russians did in 2016, to obtain material that might be disclosed publicly or used to interfere in the election.
//The hackers used a common technique called “phishing,”... enabling the hacker to gain access to the target’s credentials.
//Some analysts say the greater threat is the prospect of hacking, dumping and altering information that can embarrass or disparage a candidate or damage a campaign. The hacking and leaking of Democratic emails in 2016 led to the resignations of party officials and disrupted the party convention.
//Google threat analyst Shane Huntley said on Twitter that the hacker groups involved are APT31, which is linked to the Chinese government, and APT35, which is linked to the Iranian government.
//In 2008, Chinese government hackers compromised the computer networks of then- Sens. and presidential rivals Barack Obama (Ill.) and John McCain (Ariz.). In 2012, foreign and domestic hackers tried to gain access to the campaign networks of Obama and Mitt Romney (R).
//Iran has a history of weaponizing information... after seeing the political divisions Russia exploited in 2016 through both hacking and social media operations, it might be tempted to try something similar
Full article: Washington Post, (05-Jun)
#China #Iran #PresidentialCampaign #Election #Hacking #Google #Gmail #Biden #Trump
#Newspaper
China convicts Uighurs in sham trials at Xinjiang camps
//Detainees were forced to endure countless hours of indoctrination and language classes, perched on small stools.
//In some facilities, they had to watch TV propaganda broadcasts praising President Xi Jinping for hours on end.The slightest infraction, such as a whispered conversation, was met with swift and harsh punishment.
//After picking a crime from the list came a sham trial, in which the detainees had no legal representation and were convicted without evidence or due process of any kind.
//they were handed a piece of paper detailing more than 70 acts and forced to choose one or several of them. Most of them were religious acts, such as praying or wearing a headscarf.
//the Chinese government has released those with Kazakh residency permits, passports and family members living in Kazakhstan, which is home to a sizable Uighur community.
//For those without outside links and citizenship, however, it is virtually impossible to escape China's vast network of repression and constant surveillance.
//"They threatened us: 'if you don't pick anything, that means you did not confess your crime. If you don't confess, you will stay here forever.' That's why we picked one crime,"
//one man managed to refuse, a rare show of individual bravery in a camp surrounded by high walls and watchtowers and guarded by armed officials.Over the course of three days, officials — some high-ranking — berated him endlessly, trying to force him to sign a confession... he was released into months of strictly monitored house arrest. At the time, he says, he was the only one who was freed, while all the other detainees remained in the camp.
//most acts deemed illegal were of a religious nature is a further indication that the Chinese authorities are targeting the religion and cultural practices of its Muslim minorities in an attempt to eradicate them
//Since 2016, the Chinese government has been arresting ethnic Uighurs and Kazakhs and imprisoning them in what... have been referred to in the West as "re-education" camps.
//According to estimates, at least 1 million of the roughly 10 million Uighurs and Kazakhs living in Xinjiang have disappeared into the vast network of prisons and camps.
//There are legitimate reasons for Chinese authorities to be concerned about Uighur extremism... decades of cultural and political discrimination... state-sponsored migration of the majority ethnic Han Chinese to Xinjiang, widespread discontent has... turned violent.
//in the majority of cases, China is imprisoning Uighurs based on their religious practices and culture, rather than extremist behavior.
//there are three categories of re-education camps: Those with minimum security, which seem to have been built with the goal of reintegrating detainees back into society and have a strong vocational training element. Secondly, there are medium-security facilities, where detainees spend three to five years but are eventually released. Finally, Ruser says, there are the maximum-security facilities, where detainees are locked up indefinitely, "with no intention of ever letting them back into society again" — an extrajudicial form of detention
//imams and those deemed religious are more likely to be sent to prison, sometimes for decades, most likely as they are considered "irreformable."
//Others were sent to labor camps, like one detainee who told DW she was forced to work in a glove factory.
//Their experience has left deep emotional and physical scars. All of the former inmates DW spoke to suffered from obvious post-traumatic stress disorder, including memory loss and insomnia. During the interviews, they alternated between rage and tears, as they recalled their ordeals, which included interrogations and sexual abuse.
Full Article: DW EXCLUSIVE (08-June)
Further reading:
Trump Signs Sanctions Law Over China Crackdown of Uyghurs
https://international.thenewslens.com/amparticle/136604
#China #reeducationcamp #Detention #Xinjiang #Uighurs #Kazakhs #Muslim #Prison
China convicts Uighurs in sham trials at Xinjiang camps
//Detainees were forced to endure countless hours of indoctrination and language classes, perched on small stools.
//In some facilities, they had to watch TV propaganda broadcasts praising President Xi Jinping for hours on end.The slightest infraction, such as a whispered conversation, was met with swift and harsh punishment.
//After picking a crime from the list came a sham trial, in which the detainees had no legal representation and were convicted without evidence or due process of any kind.
//they were handed a piece of paper detailing more than 70 acts and forced to choose one or several of them. Most of them were religious acts, such as praying or wearing a headscarf.
//the Chinese government has released those with Kazakh residency permits, passports and family members living in Kazakhstan, which is home to a sizable Uighur community.
//For those without outside links and citizenship, however, it is virtually impossible to escape China's vast network of repression and constant surveillance.
//"They threatened us: 'if you don't pick anything, that means you did not confess your crime. If you don't confess, you will stay here forever.' That's why we picked one crime,"
//one man managed to refuse, a rare show of individual bravery in a camp surrounded by high walls and watchtowers and guarded by armed officials.Over the course of three days, officials — some high-ranking — berated him endlessly, trying to force him to sign a confession... he was released into months of strictly monitored house arrest. At the time, he says, he was the only one who was freed, while all the other detainees remained in the camp.
//most acts deemed illegal were of a religious nature is a further indication that the Chinese authorities are targeting the religion and cultural practices of its Muslim minorities in an attempt to eradicate them
//Since 2016, the Chinese government has been arresting ethnic Uighurs and Kazakhs and imprisoning them in what... have been referred to in the West as "re-education" camps.
//According to estimates, at least 1 million of the roughly 10 million Uighurs and Kazakhs living in Xinjiang have disappeared into the vast network of prisons and camps.
//There are legitimate reasons for Chinese authorities to be concerned about Uighur extremism... decades of cultural and political discrimination... state-sponsored migration of the majority ethnic Han Chinese to Xinjiang, widespread discontent has... turned violent.
//in the majority of cases, China is imprisoning Uighurs based on their religious practices and culture, rather than extremist behavior.
//there are three categories of re-education camps: Those with minimum security, which seem to have been built with the goal of reintegrating detainees back into society and have a strong vocational training element. Secondly, there are medium-security facilities, where detainees spend three to five years but are eventually released. Finally, Ruser says, there are the maximum-security facilities, where detainees are locked up indefinitely, "with no intention of ever letting them back into society again" — an extrajudicial form of detention
//imams and those deemed religious are more likely to be sent to prison, sometimes for decades, most likely as they are considered "irreformable."
//Others were sent to labor camps, like one detainee who told DW she was forced to work in a glove factory.
//Their experience has left deep emotional and physical scars. All of the former inmates DW spoke to suffered from obvious post-traumatic stress disorder, including memory loss and insomnia. During the interviews, they alternated between rage and tears, as they recalled their ordeals, which included interrogations and sexual abuse.
Full Article: DW EXCLUSIVE (08-June)
Further reading:
Trump Signs Sanctions Law Over China Crackdown of Uyghurs
https://international.thenewslens.com/amparticle/136604
#China #reeducationcamp #Detention #Xinjiang #Uighurs #Kazakhs #Muslim #Prison
Deutsche Welle
China convicts Uighurs in sham trials at Xinjiang camps
More than 1 million Uighurs have disappeared into China's internment camps in Xinjiang province. A DW investigation reveals how many of them were tried for their alleged "crimes" in sham trials.
#DailyUpdate #Jun19 #COVID19
COVID-19 Updates (Jun 19)
At the time of writing, 8,519,543 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed with 454,582 deaths.
US - Mayor in Florida county signs executive order requiring face coverings.
Researchers propose MMR booster vaccine to combat COVID-19.
Venezuela's Maduro tightens grip on power, helped by coronavirus lockdown.
Germany's coronavirus app downloaded nearly 10 million times in 4 days.
UK coronavirus alert level decreased.
Coronavirus spikes bring US states and cities back to the table to discuss protection measures.
Millions of Yemenis could be infected with coronavirus and up to 85,000 people could die, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said in a report today.
The UK ditches its coronavirus app for Google and Apple version.
India sees surge in new coronavirus cases with more than 13,500 infections in 24 hours.
China reports 28 new coronavirus cases, 25 were reported in Beijing.
Delhi increases beds and ramps up testing as coronavirus cases near 50,000 mark.
China - Beijing says new outbreak is "under control".
Japan reports 68 new coronavirus cases -- more than half are in Tokyo.
India lifts export ban on hydroxychloroquine.
Mexico sees highest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases as the country reports more than 5000 new infections.
Source: CNN, John Hopkins University
COVID-19 Updates (Jun 19)
At the time of writing, 8,519,543 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed with 454,582 deaths.
US - Mayor in Florida county signs executive order requiring face coverings.
Researchers propose MMR booster vaccine to combat COVID-19.
Venezuela's Maduro tightens grip on power, helped by coronavirus lockdown.
Germany's coronavirus app downloaded nearly 10 million times in 4 days.
UK coronavirus alert level decreased.
Coronavirus spikes bring US states and cities back to the table to discuss protection measures.
Millions of Yemenis could be infected with coronavirus and up to 85,000 people could die, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said in a report today.
The UK ditches its coronavirus app for Google and Apple version.
India sees surge in new coronavirus cases with more than 13,500 infections in 24 hours.
China reports 28 new coronavirus cases, 25 were reported in Beijing.
Delhi increases beds and ramps up testing as coronavirus cases near 50,000 mark.
China - Beijing says new outbreak is "under control".
Japan reports 68 new coronavirus cases -- more than half are in Tokyo.
India lifts export ban on hydroxychloroquine.
Mexico sees highest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases as the country reports more than 5000 new infections.
Source: CNN, John Hopkins University
#Stalking
Apple Daily Founder stalked by suspicious persons for 3 days
After the NPC passed the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Lai Chee-ying, founder of Next Digital, was stalked by suspicious persons.
Apple Daily reported that from 16 Jun, Lai has been followed by unknown cars and individuals, and 2 minivans followed him from his home to his office in Tsuen Kwan O. He was also followed by several people in different areas in Hong Kong, armed with professional surveillance equipment.
One of the people stalking Lai was also found to share the same name as a senior police officer.
Source: Stand News
#Jun18 #JimmyLai #NextDigital #NationalSecurityLaw
Apple Daily Founder stalked by suspicious persons for 3 days
After the NPC passed the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Lai Chee-ying, founder of Next Digital, was stalked by suspicious persons.
Apple Daily reported that from 16 Jun, Lai has been followed by unknown cars and individuals, and 2 minivans followed him from his home to his office in Tsuen Kwan O. He was also followed by several people in different areas in Hong Kong, armed with professional surveillance equipment.
One of the people stalking Lai was also found to share the same name as a senior police officer.
Source: Stand News
#Jun18 #JimmyLai #NextDigital #NationalSecurityLaw
#HongKongProtests #Students
School Boycott and Strike Referendum: Education Bureau Warns Against Participation
Hong Kong Secondary School Students Strike and the Hong Kong Strike will hold a referendum on school boycott and strike on 20 Jun to collect opinions on this issue.
Demosisto Vice President, Isaac Cheng Ka Long clained that the referendum was supported by most students, due to their concerned over how the National Security Law may affect their future. He was confident that there will be more than 10,000 effective votes.
The Education Bureau issued a letter to secondary and primary school principals that schools should not allow students to participate in the referendum.
If more than 60% of students and 80% unions supports the action, then an official strike will be started to oppose the National Security Law in Hong Kong.
Source: Ming Pao ; Now News
#Jun18 #strike
School Boycott and Strike Referendum: Education Bureau Warns Against Participation
Hong Kong Secondary School Students Strike and the Hong Kong Strike will hold a referendum on school boycott and strike on 20 Jun to collect opinions on this issue.
Demosisto Vice President, Isaac Cheng Ka Long clained that the referendum was supported by most students, due to their concerned over how the National Security Law may affect their future. He was confident that there will be more than 10,000 effective votes.
The Education Bureau issued a letter to secondary and primary school principals that schools should not allow students to participate in the referendum.
If more than 60% of students and 80% unions supports the action, then an official strike will be started to oppose the National Security Law in Hong Kong.
Source: Ming Pao ; Now News
#Jun18 #strike