Michael Spavor: Canadian spy trial in China ends without verdict
A Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was arrested two years ago along with fellow Canadian and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.
Mr Spavor's trial took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong and just lasted for two hours. A group of foreign diplomats gathered outside the court, but all of whom were denied entry. Canadian diplomats were also refused access to Mr Spavor before his trial, and that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access". The closely-watched trial ended with no verdict.
Mr Kovrig is due to go on trial next week. Both Canadians have been held in prison since their arrest in December 2018.
Source: BBC #Mar20
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56452981
#Canadian #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #China
A Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was arrested two years ago along with fellow Canadian and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.
Mr Spavor's trial took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong and just lasted for two hours. A group of foreign diplomats gathered outside the court, but all of whom were denied entry. Canadian diplomats were also refused access to Mr Spavor before his trial, and that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access". The closely-watched trial ended with no verdict.
Mr Kovrig is due to go on trial next week. Both Canadians have been held in prison since their arrest in December 2018.
Source: BBC #Mar20
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56452981
#Canadian #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #China
Hong Kong activists urge EU not to ratify new deal with China
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Hong Kong activists urge EU not to ratify new deal with China
24 Hong Kong democracy activists including 13 in exile have warned the EU it must not ratify its planned new investment deal with China at a time when Beijing is tearing up international obligations to the people in Hong Kong
They have written to the EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for the EU to refuse to sign the treaty until China’s national security laws are repealed and restrictions on who can stand for election are lifted.
The letter, facilitated by Hong Kong Watch, is co-signed by leading activists including Ted Hui, Lam Wing-kee, Brian Leung, Nathan Law, Joe Tay, Ray Wong, Glacier Kwong, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng and Joey Siu.
The activists write: “Given that Beijing is in the process of rewriting Hong Kong’s electoral system in direct contravention to its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, is currently undertaking mass arrests and trials of pro-democracy lawmakers and activists under the draconian National Security Law, and is infringing on basic freedoms guaranteed both under the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we do not see how the EU can move ahead with ratification of this investment treaty.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/hong-kong-activists-urge-eu-not-to-ratify-new-deal-with-china
#HongKong #EUChinaInvestmentDeal #EU #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL
24 Hong Kong democracy activists including 13 in exile have warned the EU it must not ratify its planned new investment deal with China at a time when Beijing is tearing up international obligations to the people in Hong Kong
They have written to the EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for the EU to refuse to sign the treaty until China’s national security laws are repealed and restrictions on who can stand for election are lifted.
The letter, facilitated by Hong Kong Watch, is co-signed by leading activists including Ted Hui, Lam Wing-kee, Brian Leung, Nathan Law, Joe Tay, Ray Wong, Glacier Kwong, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng and Joey Siu.
The activists write: “Given that Beijing is in the process of rewriting Hong Kong’s electoral system in direct contravention to its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, is currently undertaking mass arrests and trials of pro-democracy lawmakers and activists under the draconian National Security Law, and is infringing on basic freedoms guaranteed both under the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we do not see how the EU can move ahead with ratification of this investment treaty.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/hong-kong-activists-urge-eu-not-to-ratify-new-deal-with-china
#HongKong #EUChinaInvestmentDeal #EU #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL
the Guardian
Hong Kong activists urge EU not to ratify new deal with China
Exclusive: Activists say EU should refuse to sign treaty until national security laws and election restrictions are lifted
As China Tracked Muslims, Alibaba Showed Customers How They Could, Too
As the Chinese government tracked and persecuted members of predominantly Muslim minority groups, the technology giant Alibaba taught its corporate customers how they could play a part.
Alibaba’s website for its cloud computing business showed how clients could use its software to detect the faces of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities within images and videos. The feature was built into Alibaba software that helps web platforms monitor digital content for material related to terrorism, pornography and other red-flag categories, the website said.
It could not be determined whether or how Alibaba’s clients had used the minority detection tool. But the potential for troubling use is high.
Source: NYT #Dec16
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/technology/alibaba-china-facial-recognition-uighurs.html
#Alibaba #China #Uyghur #Xinjiang #Surveillance
As the Chinese government tracked and persecuted members of predominantly Muslim minority groups, the technology giant Alibaba taught its corporate customers how they could play a part.
Alibaba’s website for its cloud computing business showed how clients could use its software to detect the faces of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities within images and videos. The feature was built into Alibaba software that helps web platforms monitor digital content for material related to terrorism, pornography and other red-flag categories, the website said.
It could not be determined whether or how Alibaba’s clients had used the minority detection tool. But the potential for troubling use is high.
Source: NYT #Dec16
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/technology/alibaba-china-facial-recognition-uighurs.html
#Alibaba #China #Uyghur #Xinjiang #Surveillance
#Sanction
#US Human Rights Group Urges US State Secretary to Pressure China on HK Issue
Source: Stand News; #Mar18
https://bit.ly/3tU9mzD
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29201
#US Human Rights Group Urges US State Secretary to Pressure China on HK Issue
Source: Stand News; #Mar18
https://bit.ly/3tU9mzD
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29201
#Sanction
#US Human Rights Group Urges US State Secretary to Pressure China on HK Issue
On March 18, 2021, the US Secretary of State #AntonyBlinken met with Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first high-level meeting since President #Biden took office in January 2021.
A day before the high-level meeting, Francis Hui Wing-ting, founder of We The Hongkongers, a group of Hongkongers in the US, spoke to the media outside the White House alongside Tibetans and Uighurs.
Hui urged US representatives to put pressure on China's Human Rights issues in the meeting.
Hui talked about recent political oppressions in Hong Kong in the press conference, “all my friends in Hong Kong are either in prison or in exile.” She mentioned that the press conference would become evidence of her collusion with foreign powers under the National Security Law in Hong Kong.
Hui pointed out that the US decision to further sanction 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials in the wake of the high-level meeting shows the US stance on Chinese affairs. She hoped Blinken to put further pressure on Chinese officials and to bring issues of Hong Kong, East Turkistan, Tibet and Taiwan onto the table in the meeting.
Source: Stand News; #Mar18
https://bit.ly/3tU9mzD
#HongKong #Taiwan #Tibetans #Uighurs #Uyghurs #EastTurkistan #HumanRights #Sanctions #FrancisHui #WeTheHongkongers #Blinken
#US Human Rights Group Urges US State Secretary to Pressure China on HK Issue
On March 18, 2021, the US Secretary of State #AntonyBlinken met with Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first high-level meeting since President #Biden took office in January 2021.
A day before the high-level meeting, Francis Hui Wing-ting, founder of We The Hongkongers, a group of Hongkongers in the US, spoke to the media outside the White House alongside Tibetans and Uighurs.
Hui urged US representatives to put pressure on China's Human Rights issues in the meeting.
Hui talked about recent political oppressions in Hong Kong in the press conference, “all my friends in Hong Kong are either in prison or in exile.” She mentioned that the press conference would become evidence of her collusion with foreign powers under the National Security Law in Hong Kong.
Hui pointed out that the US decision to further sanction 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials in the wake of the high-level meeting shows the US stance on Chinese affairs. She hoped Blinken to put further pressure on Chinese officials and to bring issues of Hong Kong, East Turkistan, Tibet and Taiwan onto the table in the meeting.
Source: Stand News; #Mar18
https://bit.ly/3tU9mzD
#HongKong #Taiwan #Tibetans #Uighurs #Uyghurs #EastTurkistan #HumanRights #Sanctions #FrancisHui #WeTheHongkongers #Blinken
#PoliticalSuppression #BNO
Hong Kong authorities tells 14 countries to stop accepting special British passport
Source: Reuters #Mar25
Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29203
Hong Kong authorities tells 14 countries to stop accepting special British passport
Source: Reuters #Mar25
Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29203
#PoliticalSuppression #BNO
Hong Kong authorities tells 14 countries to stop accepting special British passport
//The Hong Kong government on March 25, 2021 confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North America and parts of Asia...
“The Hong Kong government has no authority to dictate which passports foreign governments recognise as valid,” a spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office said when asked about the Reuters report.
“The UK will continue to issue British Nationals (Overseas) passports which remain valid travel documents.”
Almost 3 million Hong Kong residents hold or are eligible for the BNO document that was created ahead of Britain handing the city back to Chinese rule in 1997.
Hong Kong has also started to mirror mainland China by not recognising dual nationality, preventing for the first time foreign diplomats from visiting locals with foreign passports in detention...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-passports-exclusive-idUSKBN2BH0PR
Source: Reuters #Mar25
#FailedState #Mainlandization #Passport #TravellingDocument
Hong Kong authorities tells 14 countries to stop accepting special British passport
//The Hong Kong government on March 25, 2021 confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North America and parts of Asia...
“The Hong Kong government has no authority to dictate which passports foreign governments recognise as valid,” a spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office said when asked about the Reuters report.
“The UK will continue to issue British Nationals (Overseas) passports which remain valid travel documents.”
Almost 3 million Hong Kong residents hold or are eligible for the BNO document that was created ahead of Britain handing the city back to Chinese rule in 1997.
Hong Kong has also started to mirror mainland China by not recognising dual nationality, preventing for the first time foreign diplomats from visiting locals with foreign passports in detention...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-passports-exclusive-idUSKBN2BH0PR
Source: Reuters #Mar25
#FailedState #Mainlandization #Passport #TravellingDocument
U.S.
Exclusive: Hong Kong tells foreign governments to stop accepting special British passport
The Hong Kong government on Thursday confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North America and parts of Asia.
Canada Reminds Canadians with Dual Citizenship should only Recognise Themselves as Canadian under the “Nationality Law” in China when Facing Detention
Source: The Stand News #Jan29
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: The Stand News #Jan29
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Canada Reminds Canadians with Dual Citizenship should only Recognise Themselves as Canadian under the “Nationality Law” in China when Facing Detention
According to the Global News report from Canada on Wednesday (27th February), Global Affairs Canada predicted China will be more strictly enforced the Nationality Law, and called out the overseas citizens, who also have Chinese nationality, should only confess the Canadian national status if they are being questioned or detained by Hong Kong Law Enforcement, in order to access to Canadian consular services and protection. The spokesperson stated, referring to the “Nationality Law” in China, the law in Hong Kong would not recognise dual citizenship.
According to the report, Christelle Chartrand, a Spokesperson of Global Affairs Canada, replied to Global News via email. He stated that as China started enforcing the Nationality Law, which implemented in 1980, more “widely and strictly”, if a person who has dual citizenship being arrested in Hong Kong and recognises himself as Chinese, the relative organisation in Hong Kong can refuse the Foreign Ambassador meets with the arrested person.
The spokesperson reminds that if citizens want to get the Canadian consular services overseas, they should show their Canadian citizenship to the foreign government at “anytime”. According to the email, Canada has already raised their attention to the Hong Kong government and will continue to understand more about the details of treatment changes in dual citizenship.
Source: The Stand News #Jan29
https://bit.ly/3w2IEqC
#Canada #GlobalAffairs #HongKong #GlobalNews #DualCitizenship
According to the Global News report from Canada on Wednesday (27th February), Global Affairs Canada predicted China will be more strictly enforced the Nationality Law, and called out the overseas citizens, who also have Chinese nationality, should only confess the Canadian national status if they are being questioned or detained by Hong Kong Law Enforcement, in order to access to Canadian consular services and protection. The spokesperson stated, referring to the “Nationality Law” in China, the law in Hong Kong would not recognise dual citizenship.
According to the report, Christelle Chartrand, a Spokesperson of Global Affairs Canada, replied to Global News via email. He stated that as China started enforcing the Nationality Law, which implemented in 1980, more “widely and strictly”, if a person who has dual citizenship being arrested in Hong Kong and recognises himself as Chinese, the relative organisation in Hong Kong can refuse the Foreign Ambassador meets with the arrested person.
The spokesperson reminds that if citizens want to get the Canadian consular services overseas, they should show their Canadian citizenship to the foreign government at “anytime”. According to the email, Canada has already raised their attention to the Hong Kong government and will continue to understand more about the details of treatment changes in dual citizenship.
Source: The Stand News #Jan29
https://bit.ly/3w2IEqC
#Canada #GlobalAffairs #HongKong #GlobalNews #DualCitizenship
#Sanction #Weapon
#Switzerland Refuses to Provide the Hong Kong Police Force with Ammunition
According to a report by the Swiss media Sonntagblick on March 21, 2021, the Swiss government banned the state-owned arms manufacturer #RUAG Ammotec from supplying the 0.338mm rifle ammo to the Hong Kong Police Force.
The Swiss government made this decision based on the potential risks imposed on the safety of the civilians in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Police Force did not directly respond to the media inquiry by Apple Daily.
Source: Apple Daily #Mar23
https://bit.ly/3vTl3Zm
#AsiasFinest #HongKongPolice #PoliceBrutality #LiveAmmo
#Switzerland Refuses to Provide the Hong Kong Police Force with Ammunition
According to a report by the Swiss media Sonntagblick on March 21, 2021, the Swiss government banned the state-owned arms manufacturer #RUAG Ammotec from supplying the 0.338mm rifle ammo to the Hong Kong Police Force.
The Swiss government made this decision based on the potential risks imposed on the safety of the civilians in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Police Force did not directly respond to the media inquiry by Apple Daily.
Source: Apple Daily #Mar23
https://bit.ly/3vTl3Zm
#AsiasFinest #HongKongPolice #PoliceBrutality #LiveAmmo
China Buys More Iranian and Venezuelan Oil, in a Test for Biden
China has sharply increased its imports of oil from Iran and Venezuela in a challenge to two Biden administration foreign-policy priorities, according to U.S. officials.
That trend is confirmed by other shipping trackers, some of which see those sales at 1 million barrels a day.
China is also increasingly flouting international sanctions on North Korea and is no longer trying to hide some of its smuggling activity as it seeks to help Pyongyang, U.S. officials said recently.
“The informal Chinese purchases have reduced the need to negotiate on oil sanctions” for Tehran, one Iran-focused U.S. official said.
Source: WJS #Mar19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-buys-more-iranian-and-venezuelan-oil-in-a-test-for-biden-11616146203
#IranianOil #ChinaIran #VenezuelanOil #USSanction
China has sharply increased its imports of oil from Iran and Venezuela in a challenge to two Biden administration foreign-policy priorities, according to U.S. officials.
That trend is confirmed by other shipping trackers, some of which see those sales at 1 million barrels a day.
China is also increasingly flouting international sanctions on North Korea and is no longer trying to hide some of its smuggling activity as it seeks to help Pyongyang, U.S. officials said recently.
“The informal Chinese purchases have reduced the need to negotiate on oil sanctions” for Tehran, one Iran-focused U.S. official said.
Source: WJS #Mar19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-buys-more-iranian-and-venezuelan-oil-in-a-test-for-biden-11616146203
#IranianOil #ChinaIran #VenezuelanOil #USSanction
China Signal Users Report Difficulty Accessing Messaging App
Signal have been blocked in China. On Mar 15, Signal users reported difficulties using the app in China without the help of a virtual private network, or VPN, which allows users to mask their location and access banned foreign communication services like Gmail and Twitter.
Signal has been a popular tool among political dissidents and journalists seeking a communication method that minimizes the risk of messages being intercepted by government censors and bad actors. In particular, the app has gained traction among China’s mainly Muslim Uyghur diaspora.
Signal recently surged in popularity when some WhatsApp users balked at changes in its privacy policies. Tesla Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk also gave Signal a boost when he recommended it in a tweet.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar16
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-16/signal-users-in-china-report-difficulty-accessing-messaging-app
#Signal #ChinaBanSocialMedia #VPN
Signal have been blocked in China. On Mar 15, Signal users reported difficulties using the app in China without the help of a virtual private network, or VPN, which allows users to mask their location and access banned foreign communication services like Gmail and Twitter.
Signal has been a popular tool among political dissidents and journalists seeking a communication method that minimizes the risk of messages being intercepted by government censors and bad actors. In particular, the app has gained traction among China’s mainly Muslim Uyghur diaspora.
Signal recently surged in popularity when some WhatsApp users balked at changes in its privacy policies. Tesla Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk also gave Signal a boost when he recommended it in a tweet.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar16
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-16/signal-users-in-china-report-difficulty-accessing-messaging-app
#Signal #ChinaBanSocialMedia #VPN
Government blocks motion to recognise China's treatment of Uighurs as genocide
Source: SBS #Mar15
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: SBS #Mar15
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Government blocks motion to recognise China's treatment of Uighurs as genocide
The federal government and Labor blocked the motion proposed by Independent senator Rex Patrick to the Chinese government's actions against the Muslim minority as "genocide".
“It is most regrettable that Coalition and Labor Senators combined to block a vote on a motion that recognises the incontrovertible fact that the Chinese Government is engaged in a campaign against the Uyghur people that constitutes an international crime within the scope of the 1948 Genocide Convention," Senator Patrick said.
Liberal Senator Jonathan Duniam said the government did not believe the motion was an appropriate means of addressing the human rights concerns. Labor Senator Katy Gallagher also said the party strongly condemned the "human rights violations" against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.
Source: SBS #Mar15
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/government-blocks-motion-to-recognise-china-s-treatment-of-uighurs-as-genocide
#Australia #ChinaGenocide #Xinjiang #HumanRightsViolations
The federal government and Labor blocked the motion proposed by Independent senator Rex Patrick to the Chinese government's actions against the Muslim minority as "genocide".
“It is most regrettable that Coalition and Labor Senators combined to block a vote on a motion that recognises the incontrovertible fact that the Chinese Government is engaged in a campaign against the Uyghur people that constitutes an international crime within the scope of the 1948 Genocide Convention," Senator Patrick said.
Liberal Senator Jonathan Duniam said the government did not believe the motion was an appropriate means of addressing the human rights concerns. Labor Senator Katy Gallagher also said the party strongly condemned the "human rights violations" against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.
Source: SBS #Mar15
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/government-blocks-motion-to-recognise-china-s-treatment-of-uighurs-as-genocide
#Australia #ChinaGenocide #Xinjiang #HumanRightsViolations
SBS News
Government blocks motion to recognise China's treatment of Uighurs as genocide
Independent senator Rex Patrick had earlier met Australian Uighurs in front of Parliament House to call out China's repression of the ethnic minority in Xinjiang.
#Court
Masked Plainclothes Officer Accuses Civilian of "Assaulting the Police"
A 28-year-old #CivilServant was charged for "elbowing" a plainclothes police officer and possessing a Swiss army knife. The case was trialed in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 23.
The alleged assault took place during a commemorative gathering 2 months after the indiscriminate police attack at the Prince Edward Station on Aug 31, 2019. Station sergeant Leung Sai-cheong admitted to the court that most of the police officers that evening were masked, but he denied that the police were disguising themselves as protesters.
The station sergeant said, "I was disguised as a civilian to blend into the scene. The lawyer wants me to describe the disguise in detail, like whether it was a hawker or a construction worker. It is really hard for me to describe it to you."
The defence pointed out that Leong's testimony differs from records in his logbook, but Leong disagreed.
Source: Stand News #Mar23
#AsiasFinest #PrinceEdward831
Masked Plainclothes Officer Accuses Civilian of "Assaulting the Police"
A 28-year-old #CivilServant was charged for "elbowing" a plainclothes police officer and possessing a Swiss army knife. The case was trialed in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 23.
The alleged assault took place during a commemorative gathering 2 months after the indiscriminate police attack at the Prince Edward Station on Aug 31, 2019. Station sergeant Leung Sai-cheong admitted to the court that most of the police officers that evening were masked, but he denied that the police were disguising themselves as protesters.
The station sergeant said, "I was disguised as a civilian to blend into the scene. The lawyer wants me to describe the disguise in detail, like whether it was a hawker or a construction worker. It is really hard for me to describe it to you."
The defence pointed out that Leong's testimony differs from records in his logbook, but Leong disagreed.
Source: Stand News #Mar23
#AsiasFinest #PrinceEdward831
#SocialMedia #Censorship
#LINE Reportedly Forbids the Mentioning of "Tiananmen Incident"
According to a Japanese netizen, the instant text messanger LINE bans the phrase "Tiananmen Incident" in its memo function "Keep".
The Tiananmen Incident generally refers to the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989 in Beijing.
The original post in Twitter was, however, removed.
Source: Internet #Mar23
https://twitter.com/SKYTAN_DAYO/status/1374645384908259331
https://www.facebook.com/100034668333390/posts/492584131907194/?d=n
#June4th #Tiananmen
#LINE Reportedly Forbids the Mentioning of "Tiananmen Incident"
According to a Japanese netizen, the instant text messanger LINE bans the phrase "Tiananmen Incident" in its memo function "Keep".
The Tiananmen Incident generally refers to the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989 in Beijing.
The original post in Twitter was, however, removed.
Source: Internet #Mar23
https://twitter.com/SKYTAN_DAYO/status/1374645384908259331
https://www.facebook.com/100034668333390/posts/492584131907194/?d=n
#June4th #Tiananmen
CPPCC report does not mention the implementation of "One Country Two Systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong", and "High degree of Autonomy" for the first time since 1997 but states "Patriots ruling Hong Kong" instead.
#CPPCC #OneCountryTwoSystems #PatriotRuling #GoHKgraphics
#CPPCC #OneCountryTwoSystems #PatriotRuling #GoHKgraphics