U.S. Bans Cotton, Tomato Imports From China’s Xinjiang Region

Imports of cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang were announced to be banned on Jan 13 to target allegations of forced-labor practices in the northwest Chinese region.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents have been instructed to detain shipments containing these products, including those routed through or assembled in third countries in products such as apparel or tomato sauce.

Companies face increasing scrutiny over their supply chains in China. The new ban could have a significant impact especially in the apparel sector, which has already faced a number of customs restrictions amid concern about forced labor linked to the camps.

Source: WSJ #Jan13

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-bans-cotton-tomato-imports-from-chinas-xinjiang-region-11610572070

#USBanChinaProduct #ForcedLabor #Xinjiang

Biden Reportedly Adds “Asia tsar” position, Appointing an Eagle Party China expert who Called on Indo-Pacific Allies to join Forces Against China

Source: The Stand News #Jan13

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Biden Reportedly Adds “Asia tsar” position, Appointing an Eagle Party China expert who Called on Indo-Pacific Allies to join Forces Against China

Financial Times quoted resources saying that US President-elect Biden will nominate foreign policy expert Kurt Campbell for a new position deemed “Asia tsar”. Campbell is regarded as a hawk in China policy. He explained how China destabilized the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, and how the United States should work with countries in the region to respond in an article in Foreign Affairs on January 12. Regarding Taiwan policy, Campbell and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen are friends, expecting that he will benefit Taiwan in the cross-strait situation after taking office.

Three sources stated to Financial Times that Biden will soon announce the news about the nomination of Kurt Campbell. The main mission of the new position of “Asia tsar” is to face the challenge from China. The report said that Biden will face a series of China-related issues after taking office on January 20, including how to respond to Beijing's suppression of Hong Kong democracy protest, and deciding whether to keep retaining the Trump administration’s tough policy towards China. Biden reportedly understands that China's issues are not just related to diplomacy, national defence and economic, but also related to many departments. Therefore, it is necessary to hire an expert who is familiar with Asian affairs to integrate China policies of various departments of the US government.

Source from: The Stand News #Jan13

https://bit.ly/3usrGkD

#FinancialTimes #UnitedStates #US #JoeBiden #KurtCampbell #AsiaTsar #China #Taiwan #HongKong #Democracy #Protest #Beijing #Suppression

Over 30 Human Rights Organisations Call the EU to Add a Human Rights Clause in the China-EU Investment Agreement and to be Tougher on the Issue in a Joint Petition

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

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Over 30 Human Rights Organisations Call the EU to Add a Human Rights Clause in the China-EU Investment Agreement and to be Tougher on the Issue in a Joint Petition

The European Union and China reached an agreement on the China-Europe Investment Agreement (CEI) last month. Hong Kong Global Connect, together with more than 30 human rights organisations around the world, signed a joint letter on Wednesday, asking the EU to be tougher on human rights issues in China and to reconsider the CEI and the inclusion of human rights clause in the agreement.

More than 30 organisations signed the letter and sent the letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and the President of the European Parliament. Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli. The joint letter states that they are "deeply concerned" about the omission of the human rights clause from the final text of the agreement, which they believe that the EU will give a message about the promotion of close cooperation with China regardless of the scale or severity of human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party.

The organisations noted that the EU has an agreed and moral obligation to respect democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights when negotiating with China. They also recommend the EU to ensure that China ratifies key conventions, including the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, before acceding to the agreement. They also suggested that a human rights clause should be included in the EU-China Investment Agreement.

Hong Kong Global Connect, Hong Kong Watch, Human Rights in China, the International Federation for Human Rights, the International Campaign for Tibet, the World Uyghur Congress, and other human rights organisations signed the joint letter.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/WC3VWVZSRRCVJDJJ7WSMWJRSOA/

#EuropeanUnion #EU #China #EUChinaInvestmentAgreement #humanrightsissue #jointpetition #HongKongGlobalConnect #HongKongWatch #Tibetan #Uyghur #HumanRights #ChinaEU

US Nominated Trade Representative Will Confront China and Helps the America Workers

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

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US Nominated Trade Representative Will Confront China and Helps the America Workers

The trade policy of the president-elected Biden towards China catches much attention. Katherine Tai, the nominated US trade representative, says that the new government will continue to confront China over its trade practice, as US face stiffening competition from a growing and ambitious China. Tai also states that she will help American workers after taking over the office to ensure they are protected by the trade agreements and enhance US jobs, not just ensure low-price import goods for consumers.

The fiercer competition from China

Tai gave a video speech at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) on Jan 12, which was the first time after Biden's nomination. She mentioned that the US was facing stiffening competition from China, whose economy is directed by central planners who are not subject to the pressures of political pluralism, democratic elections, or popular opinion.

Tai pointed out that whether it is dealing with China or to ensuring the implementation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), American could only win when they were in unity. The new government will collaborate with bipartisan and allies.

#US #China #Mexico #Canada #NFTC #USMCA #KatherineTai #Biden #TradePolicy

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/FTLBNXDUEZAVHDSNZNXHQL2WMY/

US Reveals Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework, Suggests to Resist China, Helps India to rise and Assist Taiwan's Defence

Source: Stand News #Jan13

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US Reveals Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework, Suggests to Resist China, Helps India to rise and Assist Taiwan's Defence

The night before the US presidential power transfer, the Trump government announced a decrypted file called the US Strategic Framework for Indo-Pacific on Jan 12, revealing the US strategic details for the Indo-Pacific region, including helping India to accelerate its rise and assisting Taiwan to develop national defence strategies, in order to counterbalance China. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of China criticised that the US used the Indo-Pacific strategy to suppress China, undermining the peace and the stability of the region.

This strategic framework was originally regarded as a confidential document, but the Trump government decided to make it public before the government changes. The document was approved by President Trump in February 2018 and has provided "overall strategic guidance" to the US operation for three years, stating that the US would maintain the long term promises on freedom and openness to the Indo-Pacific region.

Robert O'Brien, the US National Security Advisor, criticised in a press release that Beijing is increasing the pressure on the Indo-Pacific region, requesting these countries to submit their freedom and sovereignty to the "mutual fate" suggested by the CCP.

The document suggested an objective: North Korea will no longer be a threat, India will dominate South Asia, and the US will collaborate with the allies, to stand against China's coercive undermining sovereignty actions. The US expected that they could be India's first preferred partner regarding safety issues. Both countries will cooperate to maintain maritime safety and to resist China's influence on South and Southeast Asia.

Source: Stand News #Jan13

https://bit.ly/3fuUP9U

#US #China #Taiwan #NorthKorea #India #SouthAsia #SoutheasAsia #RobertOBrien #IndoPacific #StrategicFramework #Trump

Nominated Trade Representative Will Resist China and Helps the US Local Workers

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

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Nominated Trade Representative Will Resist China and Helps the US Local Workers

The trade policy of the president-elected Biden towards China catches much attention. Katherine Tai, the nominated US trade representative, says that the trade policy of the new government will continue to counter China. She describes that although China is increasing in ambition and economy, the US still faces increasing competition against China. Tai also states that she will assist the American workers after taking over the office to ensure they are protected by the trade agreement and to increase employment, not only just seeking low-price import goods for customers.

The accelerating fierce competition from China

Tai gave a video speech at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) on Jan 12, which was the first time after Biden's nomination. She mentioned that the US was facing accelerating competition from China, describing that China's economy was led by the CCP which was not affected by the political diversity, democratic election or the pressure from public opinion.

Tai pointed out that no matter it was to deal with China or to ensure the implementation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), American could only win when they were in unity. The new government will collaborate with both parties and the foreign allies.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/FTLBNXDUEZAVHDSNZNXHQL2WMY/

#US #China #Mexico #Canada #NFTC #USMCA #KatherineTai #Biden #TradePolicy

#Court
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies

The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.

Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.

#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.

#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.

However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.

Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.

Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.

Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.

Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.

Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13

https://www.hkcnews.com/article/49003/%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1-%E9%84%92%E5%B9%B8%E5%BD%A4-%E4%BD%95%E6%A1%82%E8%97%8D-49015/%E3%80%90%E7%85%BD%E6%83%91%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%A1%88%E3%80%918%E8%A2%AB%E5%91%8A%E5%9B%9A4%E5%80%8B%E5%8D%8A%E6%9C%88%E8%87%B314%E6%9C%88-%E5%AE%98%E6%96%A5%E8%87%AA%E5%A4%A7%E5%8F%AA%E9%87%8D%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%AC%8A%E5%88%A9%E6%BC%A0%E8%A6%96%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85-%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1%EF%BC%9A%E8%8B%A5%E6%82%BC%E5%BF%B5%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E6%98%AF%E7%BD%AA-%E5%B0%B1%E8%AE%93%E6%88%91%E8%83%8C%E8%B2%A0

#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution

#Court
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies

The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.

Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.

#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.

#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.

However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.

Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.

Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.

Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.

Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.

Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13

https://bit.ly/3A6Xj6n

#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution

#UK #CCPThreat
#MI5 accuses lawyer of trying to influence politicians on behalf of China

Source: Guardian #Jan13

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#UK #CCPThreat
MI5 accuses lawyer of trying to influence politicians on behalf of China

An unprecedented security warning from MI5 was circulated to MPs and peers on Thursday that accused a lawyer, Christine Lee, of seeking to improperly influence parliamentarians on behalf of China’s ruling Communist party.

It is the first time that MI5 has issued an “interference alert” relating to China and concerns a high-profile Anglo-Chinese lawyer who received an award from Theresa May and who has donated £584,177 to the office of Labour MP and former shadow cabinet member Barry Gardiner.

The alert names and pictures Christine Ching Kui Lee, who has allegedly “knowingly engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist party”.

It added that the UFWD was “seeking to covertly interfere in UK politics through establishing links with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum” and to “cultivate relationships with influential figures”.

Read the full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/13/chinese-national-trying-to-improperly-influence-politicians-says-mi5

Source: Guardian #Jan13

#SecurityBreach #Espionage #Lawyer