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China Sanctions 3 People and an Organisation
One of the Sanctioned People: Proud to be Sanctioned due to Speaking Out for Hong Kong and Xinjiang


Source: Stand News #Mar28

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China Sanctions 3 People and an Organisation
One of the Sanctioned People: Proud to be Sanctioned due to Speaking Out for Hong Kong and Xinjiang


The sanctions between China, Europe and United Stated have not come to an end due to Xinjiang human rights issues. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction three people and an organisation in the US and Canada last night (27th March). Canada President Trudeau responded to the sanction that it was an “unacceptable behaviour”. A Canadian Federal Representative, who has been sanctioned, Michael David Chong, indicated that he has a responsibility to speak out for Hong Kong and Uyghurs.

The father of Michael David Ching came from Hong Kong, and he also can speak Cantonese. He said, “We, the people who live in the free places with democracy and the rule of law, must speak out for silent. If this means China will sanction me, I will take it as an honour”.

Source: Stand News #Mar28

https://bit.ly/3wiGFi1

#China #Europe #UnitedStated #US #HongKong #Canada #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Sanction #Cantonese #Democracy #MichaelDavid Chong #Glory
China intensifies Xinjiang propaganda push as global backlash grows

China has intensified claims that it faced a serious “terrorist” threat in Xinjiang as Beijing remained locked in a stand-off with western capitals over its sweeping security clampdown on Muslim minorities in the region. CGTN, the international arm of China’s state broadcaster, aired the final episode in a four-part documentary series that sought to justify the government’s policies by blaming international terrorist groups for violence in the region.

Western politicians and international scholars of Xinjiang have argued that Beijing’s claims of a “terrorist” threat are exaggerated and are lack of evidence for orchestrated attacks in the region.

Source: FT #Apr02

https://www.ft.com/content/80a4500d-84b0-4e4e-b208-7cf3e7d80df4

#Xinjiang #CCp #China #CGTN
China Takes Aim at ‘Illegal’ Club for Foreign Correspondents

China slammed a Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) as an “illegal organization,” broadening its attack on journalists whose reports differ from the government’s official line. While Beijing has long described the FCCC as illegal, the rebuke as a whole was longer and more detailed than in the past.

The BBC’s China correspondent John Sudworth recently left Beijing for Taipei. That followed criticism from the government over the broadcaster’s recent coverage. The BBC News Press Team said in a statement that his reporting “exposed truths the Chinese authorities did not want the world to know.”

The Communist Party-backed Global Times characterized Sudworth’s work as biased.

Source: Bloomberg #Apr01

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-01/china-takes-aim-at-illegal-club-for-foreign-correspondents

#China #FCCC #ForeignMediaThreatChina #China #BBC
Nike Navigates Controversy Once Again in All-Important China

Nike caught up in potential boycott over cotton sourcing. Shares fall along with Hennes & Mauritz and Burberry.

Nike, which says its products aren’t sourced from the region, has said it’s concerned about the reports and noted that its code of conduct prohibits using forced labor.

With U.S. and European brands in the spotlight, Chinese firms are rallying around Xinjiang, which produces more than 80% of the country’s cotton. Local companies said they’ll continue to source the material from Xinjiang are being rewarded in the stock market, including Anta Sports Products Ltd., the Chinese sneaker giant that owns the Fila brand.

Source: Bloomberg #Mar25

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-25/nike-tumbles-with-investors-wary-over-potential-china-fallout

#Nike #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #China
#Censorship
Board Of Advisors Issued Statement Criticizing Director Of Broadcasting's Attempt To Turn #RTHK Into Government Propaganda Machine

Source: Stand News #Mar27

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#Censorship
Board Of Advisors Issued Statement Criticizing Director Of Broadcasting's Attempt To Turn #RTHK Into Government Propaganda Machine

Patrick Li, former Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs and current Director of Broadcasting, has been seen constantly interfering with the public broadcaster RTHK’s programs since he took office in early March 2021.

In a statement issued on March 27, 2021, 19 members of the RTHK Board of Advisors criticized Li's intention to turn RTHK into a government propaganda machine.

The statement mentioned that Li has misinterpreted editorial independence as “editorial independence of RTHK” and stressed that it should not be defined by a small group of management on their personal stance and political mission.

The statement demanded Patrick Li to immediately explain the reasons and criteria for canceling or changing programs, and abolish the mechanism of sending program proposals to the Editorial Board for pre-screening.

The petition included signatures including Barrister Randy Shek, Mr. Francis Fong, Honorary President of The Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Ms. Phyllis Cheung, Executive Director of Hong Kong Unison, Professor Lisa Leung, Associate Professor of Department of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University, Ms. Leticia Wong, District Council member , Mr. Warren Tam Ka-chun and Mr. Sin Chung-kai.

This petition listed a series of incidents related to Li, including the request for previewing programs such as “Hong Kong Connection”《鏗鏘集》 , “Viewpoint 31” 《視點31》; removing parts of the interview within programs of “Hong Kong Stories: The Pandemic Walker” 《香港故事:疫行者》, “LegCo Review” 《議事論事》and “The Pulse” 《脈搏》; and requesting staff to submit program proposals to an editorial committee composed of the Director and directorate staff for approval in early stages of program production.

Source: Stand News #March27

https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%95%B4%E8%82%85%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0-19-%E5%90%8D%E7%AF%80%E7%9B%AE%E9%A1%A7%E5%95%8F%E5%9C%98%E7%99%BC%E8%81%B2%E6%98%8E-%E6%96%A5%E6%9D%8E%E7%99%BE%E5%85%A8%E4%BB%A4%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0%E6%B7%AA%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%AE%A3%E5%82%B3%E6%A9%9F%E5%99%A8/

#Journalism #Propaganda #PatrickLi #StateMachine #FailedState
#OpinionArticle #Court #PoliticalSuppression
"I Do Not Plead Guilty": Hong Kong Journalist Facing Legal Challenge for Unveiling Suspected Police-Triad Collusion

Source: Stand News; #Mar24

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29316
#OpinionArticle #Court #PoliticalSuppression
"I Do Not Plead Guilty": Hong Kong Journalist Facing Legal Challenge for Unveiling Suspected Police-Triad Collusion

[Editor's note: This is an opinion article written by Au Ka-lun, a veteran journalist in Hong Kong.

In this article, Au recounted what happened during a court hearing where Bao Choy, a journslist working for the public broadcaster RTHK, was charged by the Hong Kong authorities for "giving false statement". The case has stirred up the population's outcry for censoring media freedom and infringing free speech.]

On March 24, 2021, in the courtroom of the Western Magistrate’s Courts in Hong Komg, veteran journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling resonantly said “I do not plead guilty”.

It is noteworthy that Choy said “I do not plead guilty" (我不認罪) instead of “I plead not guilty” (我唔認罪).

Bao Choy is a professional broadcaster who knows well the subtle difference between “do not” (不) and “Not” (唔) in Cantonese.

In Cantonese, the negation word that is pronounced “ng” is hard to sound out loudly, making it more difficult to be heard and message less affirmative.

Comparatively speaking, the sentence “I do not plead guilty” is more resounding and powerful.

Although I cannot see Bao Choy’s eyes and face through the screen, her clear response to the Court--by saying “I do not plead guilty” twice--found resonance outside the wall of the courtroom.

I heard not only her determination and defiance, but also her unyielding spirit with no fear, complaint and regret.

During the court hearing, the entire news documentary program, Hong Kong Connection: The Truth of 721. Perhaps, which was produced by Choy, was shown.

All those inside and outside the courtroom watched the investigative news programme, which is about the triad attack on pro-democracy protesters and passersby in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, together.

We saw footages where a large group of white-clad gangsters gathered in the early afternoon; we even saw plain-clothes police officers witnessing the gathering of these Triad members.

The documentary recorded the suspected collusions between the police and the gangsters; questioned the police’s leniency towards the Triad; and demonstrated the journalists’ persistence in reporting the truth.

However, the Hong Kong authorities has deliberately tossed these facts aside. They charge a journalist for checking the car plates and owners' information.

It is a simple case, in which both the prosecution and the defendant did not summon a witness.

The case is upright and aboveboard, leaving Bao Choy nothing to defend for herself but holding her head high and said, “I do not plead guilty.”

Source: Stand News; #Mar24

https://www.thestandnews.com/court/%E8%94%A1%E7%8E%89%E7%8E%B2-%E6%88%91%E4%B8%8D%E8%AA%8D%E7%BD%AA/

#BaoChoy #AuKaLun #Journalism #Professionalism #RTHK
British Law Firm Being Sanctioned and Responded on China's Stupidity: Independent Practitioners Can Have Different Views as Clients and Colleagues

Source: Stand News #Mar28

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British Law Firm Being Sanctioned and Responded on China's Stupidity: Independent Practitioners Can Have Different Views as Clients and Colleagues

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction nine personnel and four entities, including British Essex Court Chambers. The chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and Head of Cloisters Human Rights Practice Group, Schona Jolly, described the sanctions from China are “maladroit”, as lawyers are work in the same office but are all independent and might not agree with the views of clients and colleagues. She reiterated that China should accept the independent investigation by the international society on Xinjiang human rights problems instead of engaging “the diplomatic tactics”.

Schona Jolly also indicated that according to The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers defined by the United Nations, lawyers' professional work should not be intimidated by sanctions and should not be implicated by clients. She stated that the sanctions to the whole lawyer office from China are “maladroit” as they work at the same office but are independent and self-employed practitioners, not necessarily sharing their professional points of views with other colleagues and clients. China sanctions the whole structure (i.e. the whole office) will only reflect their misunderstanding on the British law professional operations and the independence of lawyers.

Source: Stand News #Mar28

https://bit.ly/3cRJ1gd

#China #England #Sanctions #UnitedNations #Lawyer #Independence #InternationalSociety #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Diplomatic
Western brands caught between US and China over human rights

Western companies are being forced to choose between supporting human rights and profits from China, caught up in a battle the US and its allies are waging with Beijing over its persecution of Uyghur Muslims.

As China comes under scrutiny ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, human rights activists are urging companies to take a stand over the repression of Uyghurs, which the US this week formally declared was “genocide”.

The rising pressure comes as Beijing has begun whipping up nationalist opposition to brands such as Nike and H&M that have voiced concerns about Xinjiang or vowed to eliminate the use of forced labour from the northwestern Chinese region from their supply chains. While some companies have stood their ground, others have removed criticisms from their websites.

Source: FT #Apr02

https://www.ft.com/content/a0be4094-2aba-4275-a3ca-ec5e58cc5032

#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #BeijingOlympic2022 #ChinaGenocide
'Xinjiang cotton is my love': Patriots on show at China Fashion Week

Designer Zhou Li, chief designer and founder of Chinese fashion brand Sun-Bird,  is a patriotic supporter of a boycott targeting several major western apparel brands in China that have expressed concern over alleged rights abuses in Xinjiang province.

Zhou said her garments on runway show at China Fashion Week, which featured slick minimalist designs with ruffles and ancient Chinese characters, used Xinjiang cotton exclusively.

“For our Chinese designs, I’m certainly right to support the Xinjiang people,” Zhou said.

Source: Reuters #Apr01

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-fashion-week/xinjiang-cotton-is-my-love-patriots-on-show-at-china-fashion-week-idUSKBN2BO48B

#XinjiangCotton #Xinjaing #China #ChinaGenocide #ZhouLi
Hong Kong: China limits parliament to 'patriots'

China has passed sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral rules which will tighten its control over the city. The number of directly elected seats in parliament has been cut almost by half, and prospective MPs will first be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee to ensure their loyalty to the mainland.

All prospective LegCo candidates will now have to go through two rounds of vetting before they can run, by the powerful pro-Beijing Election Committee as well as by a new screening committee. Carrie Lam said that will include background checks by the police and national security department.

Source: BBC #Apr01

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56560829

#HongKong #HKElection #HKLegCo
#Solidarity #ChingMingFestival
Elderly Pays Respect to casualties in Hong Kong's Prodemocracy Movement: "We Shall Not Give Up"

Chan Ki-kau, nicknamed 'Grandpa Chan', is a member of Protect the Children, a group dedicated for safeguarding protesters' rights in Hong Kong.

On April 5, 2021, Chan arrived at the Sandy Ridge Public Cemetery with several fellow citizens at around 11am to pay tribute to the nameless deaths. The day was "Ching Ming Festival", a "tomb-sweeping" day in Hong Kong.

Chan has visited the cemetery on three consecutive days. Yet, his ID was checked by plainclothes police still. Chan shared the water and the mosquito repellent he broufht with other citizens on site.

Chan hopes to pay respect to all the casualties in the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and tell Hongkongers "to not give up".

Source: InMedia #Apr5
https://bit.ly/3cNI8oM

#SandyRidge #Cemetery #GrandpaChan
#GlobalSupport #Petition
Over 100 lawmakers around the world condemn HK government's cruel treatment of pro-democracy activists

Source: Stand News; IPAC Global #Apr2

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29324
#GlobalSupport #Petition
Over 100 lawmakers around the world condemn HK government's cruel treatment of pro-democracy activists

#AndyLi, one of the 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists imprisoned in China, was transferred back to Hong Kong on Mar 22, 2021 after serving his sentence in China; however Li’s family has been unable to reach him for multiple days.

On Apr 2, 2021, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (#IPAC) issued a statement criticizing the Hong Kong government’s cruel and inhumane treatment towards Li and his family, and called for the release of Li and all pro-democracy activists that are detained unfairly.

Signatories of the statement involve national lawmakers from the UK, US, Canada, Japan, and different European countries, as well as IPAC’s advisors. The statement mentioned that, since Li’s transfer to Hong Kong after serving his 7-month sentence in Shenzhen, Li has been held in a single cell in a psychiatric facility without being able to get in touch with his family. The statement described Li’s treatment as “cruel, inhumane and shocking”.

Li’s case was also described as an “emblematic of the Chinese Government’s ruthless crackdown on Hong Kong’s way of life, and disregard for the international treaties designed to protect it.”. The signatories pledged to make urgent representation to their respective governments, and demanded Hong Kong government to release Li and all activists that are being detained unjustly.

Source: Stand News; IPAC Global #Apr2

https://ipac.global/over-100-parliamentarians-call-for-release-of-jailed-hong-kong-activist-andy-li-in-global-statement/

https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/12-%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA-%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E9%80%BE%E7%99%BE%E5%9C%8B%E6%9C%83%E8%AD%B0%E5%93%A1%E8%81%AF%E7%BD%B2-%E6%96%A5%E6%9D%8E%E5%AE%87%E8%BB%92%E8%88%87%E5%AE%B6%E4%BA%BA%E5%A4%B1%E8%81%AF%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%BA%E9%81%93-%E4%BF%83%E6%B8%AF%E5%BA%9C%E6%94%BE%E4%BA%BA/

#PoliticalSuppression #Save12 #Save12HKYouths #CCPRules #PoliceState
US fears China is flirting with seizing control of Taiwan

The US is concerned that China is flirting with the idea of seizing control of Taiwan as President Xi Jinping becomes more willing to take risks to boost his legacy.

“China appears to be moving from a period of being content with the status quo over Taiwan to a period in which they are more impatient and more prepared to test the limits and flirt with the idea of unification,” a senior US official told the Financial Times.

The simulation occurred as Chinese warplanes spent two days flying in and out of Taiwan’s air defence zone just days after Biden was sworn in, in what was the largest Chinese exercise in the area until the intrusion on Mar 26. One US defence official said the incident was not the first time China had simulated attacks on US ships.

Source: FT #Mar27

https://www.ft.com/content/3ed169b8-3f47-4f66-a914-58b6e2215f7d

#ChinaTaiwan #Tawian
China: Companies should resist boycott threats

Human Rights Watch said that companies threatened with Chinese government-promoted boycotts should stand firm in their opposition to forced labor.

Chinese authorities have recently encouraged consumers across China to boycott companies that have publicly expressed concerns about forced labor and other human rights violations against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

“The Chinese government’s actions, effectively punishing the companies trying to uphold those standards, are a brazen attempt to weaken an emerging global norm,” Human Rights Watch said.

Source: HRW #Mar27

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/27/china-companies-should-resist-boycott-threats

#XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #China #ChinaGenocide
Australia threatens to take China to WTO and backs Boris Johnson's stance on Uighur abuses

Australia’s trade minister threatened to take China to the World Trade Organization over its “unjustifiable” decision to increase duties on Australian wine imports for up to five years. China’s commerce ministry announced levies ranging from 116.2% to 218.4% would be slapped on Australian wine imports from Mar 30.

Australia also called for the WTO to investigate Chinese tariffs on barley imports, following a series of economic sanctions or disruptions to Australian products to China’s vast market.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have reached their lowest since the deadly 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Source: The Guardian #Mar27

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/27/australia-threatens-to-take-china-to-wto-and-backs-boris-johnsons-stance-on-uighur-abuses?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#AustraliaChina #AussieWine #China #WTO
Chinese students in Australia fear reprisals at home if they speak out, inquiry hears

Chinese students in Australia are afraid to speak out on politically sensitive issues because of potential repercussions for relatives back home

Human Rights Watch has said its ongoing research into academic freedom in Australia had found anxiety and loneliness among Chinese students, with some engaging in self-censorship to avoid a backlash from Beijing.

“All these very young people who said that their greatest fear was their parents being visited back in China because of something they said or did or participated in while they were in Australia,” a former ABC journalist McNeill told the joint committee on intelligence and security in Canberra.

Source: The Guardian #Mar11

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/12/chinese-students-in-australia-fear-reprisals-at-home-if-they-speak-out-inquiry-hears?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#Australia #China #ChineseStudents