#US #InternationalRelations
#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
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#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
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#US #InternationalRelations
#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
China has halted visa-free tourist travel for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau in retaliation for sanctions from Washington, which accuses Beijing of violating democratic processes in the territory.
Announcing the measure on December 11, 2020, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying warned the US to “stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal politics, stop walking further and further along this dangerous and mistaken path”.
The United States on December 7 imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 mainland officials over their role in adopting the national security law for Hong Kong and Beijing's disqualification last month of pro-democracy lawmakers Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.
“China will also implement reciprocal sanctions against some US officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations, and their family members, over their actions on Hong Kong,” Hua said. When asked for the names of those sanctioned and when the sanctions would start, Hua did not elaborate.
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-sanctions/china-revokes-visa-exemptions-for-u-s-diplomat-passport-holders-visiting-hong-kong-macau-idUSKBN28K0N4
https://www.ft.com/content/6a7cbda8-bdc5-43cb-940e-aaea70dfaa0c
#PoliticalRetaliation #Visa
#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
China has halted visa-free tourist travel for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau in retaliation for sanctions from Washington, which accuses Beijing of violating democratic processes in the territory.
Announcing the measure on December 11, 2020, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying warned the US to “stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal politics, stop walking further and further along this dangerous and mistaken path”.
The United States on December 7 imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 mainland officials over their role in adopting the national security law for Hong Kong and Beijing's disqualification last month of pro-democracy lawmakers Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.
“China will also implement reciprocal sanctions against some US officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations, and their family members, over their actions on Hong Kong,” Hua said. When asked for the names of those sanctioned and when the sanctions would start, Hua did not elaborate.
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-sanctions/china-revokes-visa-exemptions-for-u-s-diplomat-passport-holders-visiting-hong-kong-macau-idUSKBN28K0N4
https://www.ft.com/content/6a7cbda8-bdc5-43cb-940e-aaea70dfaa0c
#PoliticalRetaliation #Visa
U.S.
China revokes visa exemptions for U.S. diplomat passport holders visiting Hong Kong, Macau
China said on Thursday it would revoke visa exemption treatment for U.S. diplomatic passport holders visiting Hong Kong and Macau after the United States imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on more than a dozen Chinese officials.
#HumanitarianCrisis
#UN human rights chief: Civil and Democratic Space in Hong Kong is rapidly shrinking
In Dec 2020, Hong Kong police launched political crackdown on pro-democracy civilians everyday.
United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet voiced concern at the “rapidly shrinking” civil and democratic space in Hong Kong and urged judicial authorities to uphold the right to due process and fair trial.
“Recent convictions of activists for protests that took place last year risk causing a wider chilling effect on the exercise of fundamental freedoms,” Bachelet told a news conference in Geneva.
Bachelet also voiced concern at “a range of serious human rights violations” in China’s Xinjiang region and said she hoped that a team from her office could go to China in the first half of 2021 to prepare for her visit there, being discussed with Beijing.
Source: Reuters #Dec10
https://uk.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-bachelet/un-rights-boss-urges-hong-kong-to-uphold-due-process-fair-trials
#UN human rights chief: Civil and Democratic Space in Hong Kong is rapidly shrinking
In Dec 2020, Hong Kong police launched political crackdown on pro-democracy civilians everyday.
United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet voiced concern at the “rapidly shrinking” civil and democratic space in Hong Kong and urged judicial authorities to uphold the right to due process and fair trial.
“Recent convictions of activists for protests that took place last year risk causing a wider chilling effect on the exercise of fundamental freedoms,” Bachelet told a news conference in Geneva.
Bachelet also voiced concern at “a range of serious human rights violations” in China’s Xinjiang region and said she hoped that a team from her office could go to China in the first half of 2021 to prepare for her visit there, being discussed with Beijing.
Source: Reuters #Dec10
https://uk.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-bachelet/un-rights-boss-urges-hong-kong-to-uphold-due-process-fair-trials
#Solidarity
Protesters' Painting is "the Best Advertisement", Says #Chickeeduck's CEO
Source: InMediaHK.net #Dec10
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Protesters' Painting is "the Best Advertisement", Says #Chickeeduck's CEO
Source: InMediaHK.net #Dec10
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#Solidarity
Protesters' Painting is "the Best Advertisement", Says #Chickeeduck's CEO
Chickeeduck has a new branch in Tin Hau slated to open soon, with a painting of a protester boldly displayed on its shutters. CEO Herbert Chow said the painting was his favorite part of the new store; since the painting faces the on-ramp to the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, "This is our best advertisement."
He wanted it to be a constant reminder to the government and the people of Hong Kong: "If they hadn't tried to ram the extradition bill through #LegCo last year, would these people have been on the streets?"
He also wanted to challenge the pro-Beijing camp's denigrating description of the pro-democracy protesters as "evil rioters". "If they withdrew the bill on June 12 [when LegCo was scheduled to vote on the extradition bill], no one would need to wear all this gear to protect themselves."
Chickeeduck had caught the attention of Hongkongers when they displayed a statue of Hong Kong's Lady Liberty in one of their branches earlier.
Originally a children's clothing store chain, the new branch will also carry products related to the anti-ELAB movement, such as T-shirts and small replicas of the Lady Liberty statue.
Chow said the store will present more merchandises with artwork from local artists.
Source: InMediaHK.net #Dec10
https://bit.ly/3r3b5ly
#HerbertChow #LadyLiberty #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests #ProtestArt #HongKongBrand #YellowEconomy
Protesters' Painting is "the Best Advertisement", Says #Chickeeduck's CEO
Chickeeduck has a new branch in Tin Hau slated to open soon, with a painting of a protester boldly displayed on its shutters. CEO Herbert Chow said the painting was his favorite part of the new store; since the painting faces the on-ramp to the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, "This is our best advertisement."
He wanted it to be a constant reminder to the government and the people of Hong Kong: "If they hadn't tried to ram the extradition bill through #LegCo last year, would these people have been on the streets?"
He also wanted to challenge the pro-Beijing camp's denigrating description of the pro-democracy protesters as "evil rioters". "If they withdrew the bill on June 12 [when LegCo was scheduled to vote on the extradition bill], no one would need to wear all this gear to protect themselves."
Chickeeduck had caught the attention of Hongkongers when they displayed a statue of Hong Kong's Lady Liberty in one of their branches earlier.
Originally a children's clothing store chain, the new branch will also carry products related to the anti-ELAB movement, such as T-shirts and small replicas of the Lady Liberty statue.
Chow said the store will present more merchandises with artwork from local artists.
Source: InMediaHK.net #Dec10
https://bit.ly/3r3b5ly
#HerbertChow #LadyLiberty #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests #ProtestArt #HongKongBrand #YellowEconomy
Citizen journalist detained over Wuhan reporting 'restrained and fed by tube'
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
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Source: The Guardian #Dec10
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Citizen journalist detained over Wuhan reporting 'restrained and fed by tube'
Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist and 37-year-old former lawyer, has been on a hunger strike at a detention facility near Shanghai. Zhang was arrested in May and accused of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble”, an accusation frequently used against critics and activists inside China, after reporting on social media and streaming accounts.
Zhang has been detained for more than six months after reporting on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Last month she was formally indicted on charges of spreading false information.
Zhang was previously detained on similar accusations by Chinese authorities in 2018, and again in 2019 for voicing support for Hong Kong activists. She denies the charge of falsifying information, telling her lawyer that all the information was gathered firsthand through interviews with Wuhan residents.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/citizen-journalist-detained-over-wuhan-reporting-restrained-and-fed-by-tube?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Wuhan #Covid19 #CitizenJournalist #China #ChinaDetention
Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist and 37-year-old former lawyer, has been on a hunger strike at a detention facility near Shanghai. Zhang was arrested in May and accused of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble”, an accusation frequently used against critics and activists inside China, after reporting on social media and streaming accounts.
Zhang has been detained for more than six months after reporting on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Last month she was formally indicted on charges of spreading false information.
Zhang was previously detained on similar accusations by Chinese authorities in 2018, and again in 2019 for voicing support for Hong Kong activists. She denies the charge of falsifying information, telling her lawyer that all the information was gathered firsthand through interviews with Wuhan residents.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/citizen-journalist-detained-over-wuhan-reporting-restrained-and-fed-by-tube?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Wuhan #Covid19 #CitizenJournalist #China #ChinaDetention
the Guardian
Citizen journalist detained over Wuhan reporting 'restrained and fed by tube'
Former lawyer Zhang Zhan was on hunger strike after her arrest for ‘picking quarrels’
Griezmann cuts ties with Huawei citing fears over treatment of Uighurs
On December 10 (Thursday), the France and Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann ended his affiliation with Huawei. Griezmann was a global brand ambassador for Huawei
“Following strong suspicions that the Huawei company has contributed to the development of a ‘Uighur alert’ thanks to facial recognition software, I am announcing the immediate termination of my partnership with the company,” Griezmann said in an Instagram post.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/10/griezmann-cuts-ties-with-huawei-citing-fears-over-treatment-of-uighurs
#AntoineGriezmann #Huawei
On December 10 (Thursday), the France and Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann ended his affiliation with Huawei. Griezmann was a global brand ambassador for Huawei
“Following strong suspicions that the Huawei company has contributed to the development of a ‘Uighur alert’ thanks to facial recognition software, I am announcing the immediate termination of my partnership with the company,” Griezmann said in an Instagram post.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/10/griezmann-cuts-ties-with-huawei-citing-fears-over-treatment-of-uighurs
#AntoineGriezmann #Huawei
Chinese officials linked to Hong Kong arrests escape UK sanctions
The UK Foreign Office announced to place travel bans and asset freezes on 10 politicians, officials and others responsible for gross human rights violations in Gambia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
Backbench MPs had pressed the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in arresting pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said the issue was under consideration.
It is expected that the UK will present a new set of sanctions in January and that these will be focused on individuals thought corrupt – the first time the country will cite corruption as a reason to impose asset freezes under the legislation.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/10/chinese-officials-linked-to-hong-kong-activist-arrests-escape-uks-new-sanctions?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UKSanction #UK
The UK Foreign Office announced to place travel bans and asset freezes on 10 politicians, officials and others responsible for gross human rights violations in Gambia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
Backbench MPs had pressed the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in arresting pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said the issue was under consideration.
It is expected that the UK will present a new set of sanctions in January and that these will be focused on individuals thought corrupt – the first time the country will cite corruption as a reason to impose asset freezes under the legislation.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/10/chinese-officials-linked-to-hong-kong-activist-arrests-escape-uks-new-sanctions?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UKSanction #UK
Pompeo Urges U.S. University To Scrutinize Chinese Students To Avoid Stealing And Brainwashing
Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
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Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
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Pompeo Urges U.S. University To Scrutinize Chinese Students To Avoid Stealing And Brainwashing
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged U.S. universities to scrutinize China's assistance and students, warning that Beijing was set on to steal American innovations.
Speaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Pompeo said the United States welcomes Chinese who "genuinely" want study in the country, but also cited two cases of Chinese students who were charged with spying and some cases of Beijing harassing of students abroad. “If we don’t educate ourselves, if we’re not honest about what’s taking place, we’ll get schooled by Beijing,” he said. “The Chinese Communist Party knows it can never match our innovation, that’s why it sends 400 thousand students a year to the United States of America to study,” he added.
Once again, he called on U.S. universities to shut down all Confucius Institutes, “We cannot allow this tyrannical regime to steal our stuff, to build their military might and brainwash our people, or buy off our institutions to help them cover up these activities… We need administrators to close Confucius Institutes and investigate what so-called ‘student groups’ backed by the CCP money are actually up to on their campuses,” he declared.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201210/OQD4ET54EZF6BIRJZHCSJUGAJY/
#US #China #MikePompeo #ConfuciusInstitutes #University #USChinaRelation #ChineseStudents
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged U.S. universities to scrutinize China's assistance and students, warning that Beijing was set on to steal American innovations.
Speaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Pompeo said the United States welcomes Chinese who "genuinely" want study in the country, but also cited two cases of Chinese students who were charged with spying and some cases of Beijing harassing of students abroad. “If we don’t educate ourselves, if we’re not honest about what’s taking place, we’ll get schooled by Beijing,” he said. “The Chinese Communist Party knows it can never match our innovation, that’s why it sends 400 thousand students a year to the United States of America to study,” he added.
Once again, he called on U.S. universities to shut down all Confucius Institutes, “We cannot allow this tyrannical regime to steal our stuff, to build their military might and brainwash our people, or buy off our institutions to help them cover up these activities… We need administrators to close Confucius Institutes and investigate what so-called ‘student groups’ backed by the CCP money are actually up to on their campuses,” he declared.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201210/OQD4ET54EZF6BIRJZHCSJUGAJY/
#US #China #MikePompeo #ConfuciusInstitutes #University #USChinaRelation #ChineseStudents
Canada says citizens held in China have not been tried in case linked to Huawei
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been confined by China since December 10, 2018, just days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
In Dec 2020, Canada said it had confirmed with China that a pair of Canadians held for two years in China in a case linked to a Huawei executive have not been put on trial.
Chinese prosecutors announced earlier 2020 that Kovrig had been charged on suspicion of spying for state secrets and intelligence, and Spavor on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets.
Source: NBCN News #Dec10
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-canadians-have-been-indicted-tried-case-linked-huawei-executive-n1250677
#Canada #TwoMichael #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been confined by China since December 10, 2018, just days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
In Dec 2020, Canada said it had confirmed with China that a pair of Canadians held for two years in China in a case linked to a Huawei executive have not been put on trial.
Chinese prosecutors announced earlier 2020 that Kovrig had been charged on suspicion of spying for state secrets and intelligence, and Spavor on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets.
Source: NBCN News #Dec10
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-canadians-have-been-indicted-tried-case-linked-huawei-executive-n1250677
#Canada #TwoMichael #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China
#NobelPeacePrize Laureate Pays Tribute to #AppleDaily Founder #JimmyLai Among Other Media Workers
Source: Rappler #Dec10
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Source: Rappler #Dec10
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#NobelPeacePrize Laureate Pays Tribute to #AppleDaily Founder #JimmyLai Among Other Media Workers
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was award to #MariaRessa and #DmitryMuratov, independent journalists in the Philippines and Russia respectively, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.
In the award ceremony on December 10, 2021, Ressa and Muratov paid tribute to all those media workers who were murdered or detain, upon receiving the Peace Prize in Oslo.
Ressa is a journalist and the CEO of Rappler, a news outlet
in the Philippines that is critical of the government. In her acceptance speech, Reesa called to attention the press freedom at stake in different parts of the word:
"I remember he brutal dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta, my friend, Luz Mely Reyes in Venezuela, Roman Protasevich in Belarus (whose plane was literally hijacked so he could be arrested), Jimmy Lai languishing in a Hong Kong prison, Sonny Swe, who after getting out of more than seven years in jail, started another news group and now is forced to flee Myanmar."
Source: Rappler #Dec10
https://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/full-text-maria-ressa-speech-nobel-peace-prize-awarding-ceremony-2021/
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was award to #MariaRessa and #DmitryMuratov, independent journalists in the Philippines and Russia respectively, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.
In the award ceremony on December 10, 2021, Ressa and Muratov paid tribute to all those media workers who were murdered or detain, upon receiving the Peace Prize in Oslo.
Ressa is a journalist and the CEO of Rappler, a news outlet
in the Philippines that is critical of the government. In her acceptance speech, Reesa called to attention the press freedom at stake in different parts of the word:
"I remember he brutal dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta, my friend, Luz Mely Reyes in Venezuela, Roman Protasevich in Belarus (whose plane was literally hijacked so he could be arrested), Jimmy Lai languishing in a Hong Kong prison, Sonny Swe, who after getting out of more than seven years in jail, started another news group and now is forced to flee Myanmar."
Source: Rappler #Dec10
https://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/full-text-maria-ressa-speech-nobel-peace-prize-awarding-ceremony-2021/
RAPPLER
FULL TEXT: Maria Ressa’s speech at Nobel Peace Prize awarding
‘Without facts, you can't have truth. Without truth, you can't have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy, and it becomes impossible to deal with the existential problems of our times: climate, coronavirus, now, the battle for truth.’
#Interview #StandNews
#EU ambassador in Hong Kong : Impact of #NationalSecurityLaw ripples beyond political groups to civil rights groups for women and labour
Source: Stand News #Dec10
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#EU ambassador in Hong Kong : Impact of #NationalSecurityLaw ripples beyond political groups to civil rights groups for women and labour
Source: Stand News #Dec10
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