#Newspaper

Twitter Netizen question Li Fei Fei's pro-Beijing background
Cancelled many Twitter users' account

(20 May) Li Feifei, American Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) expert, joined Twitter last week. External has concern she has a close relationship with the Chinese government. Some netizens worried the China government influence Twitter. Right after a economist disclosed Li’s background, his four accounts were suspended by Twitter for review. On the other hand, Some netizens' accounts have been banned and warned after sharing some posts related to Li. Those involved have initiated a petition to the White House requesting investigation of both Twitter and Li.

Li Feifei, the former Clouds expert of Google, was on board as Independent director of Twitter last Monday (on 11 May). After that, some Twitter users sorted out some information about the network and cooperation between Li and the Chinese government. They expressed their concern that Chinese may influence Twitter to suppress opposite voices.

Netizens' concerns were not their imagination. An economist had a live on Sunday (17 May). He thought Li as an independent director was like to "let cat watch over fish" and did a review of Li's background deeply. On Tuesday (19 May), Twitter banned his accounts "Finance Cold-eye", "Cold Mountain review comment "and "Freedom wind", etc. His spare account, "Finance Cold-eye 2.0" has also been warned.

He questioned the ban of his accounts should be related to Li and complained to media that Twitter and its parent company, Google, suppressed Freedom of speech. He also listed information of other banned accounts which challenged Li before. He revealed he initiated the petition to the White House on the internet to request the investigation Chinese Communist Party(CCP) suppressing speech and Twitter banning dissident accounts quickly. He also asked to look into the cooperation between Google China Center and CCP in details via Li.

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Twitter-Netizen-question-Li-Fei-Feis-pro-Beijing-background-Cancelled-many-Twitter-users-account-05-30

Source: Rfa
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/li-05202020094251.html?encoding=None

#LiFeiFei #Twitter #Google #SharpPower #China #Censorship #AI #ChinaInfluence

#Newspaper

Award-winning protest photos, "Wounds of Hong Kong", were again removed on the Sony World Photography Awards website

(9 Jun) The Stand News journalist entered the Sony World Photography Awards official website and found that the 10 photos that once appeared this morning have been removed again, with only 4 photos remaining. Award winner Chung Ming Ko responded on facebook, “It’s pointless to look into the reasons why they have been posting and deleting the photos”. The public could view the full collection on Ko’s facebook page.
 
The Stand News wrote to the organizer, enquiring why some of the winning photos were deleted again. The organizer’s PR reply said, "As an international award and platform, we will consider our reach when publishing content, as well as the responsibility to be aware of the audience’s point of view. We encourage people to learn more about the award-winning photographers, and explore their full collection through the photographers’ channel and the links from our website”.
 
Editor’s note: Photos from Ko’s collection, “Wounds of Hong Kong”, were previously removed by the organizer in the finalist round due to the “sensitive nature” of his images
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17751

Source: Stand News

#Sony #Censorship #Kowtow #SharpPower

#Newspaper

Zoom closes account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen conference

Exiled dissidents of the Tiananmen Massacre used Zoom to host a forum about Beijing’s bloody Tiananmen Square Crackdown on protesters in 1989.

The event marked the first time so many high-profile figures with direct ties to the 1989 pro-democracy movement had come together in one space. The promotion was administered through WeChat only two days before to avoid the attention of China’s authorities.

The event on May 31 saw participants dial in from China to listen to the testimonies of many people tied to the events of June 4, including those who were imprisoned, exiled, and family members of the deceased.

The account used for the forum was disabled shortly after. A statement from Zoom suggested that it had taken such action because participants who were in China at the time of the conference had violated local laws by joining. Zoom offered no further elaboration on what laws had been broken and whether Chinese authorities were involved.

This is not the first time online activism related to the event appeared to be censored by even Western internet companies.

Full Articles: SCMP, (11-Jun)
https://bit.ly/2BeWCgS

#SharpPower #FreedomOfSpeech #Censorship #Kowtow #TiananmenMassacre #Zoom

#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

#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

#NetizensVoice

The grave doubts about Google and YouTube

The latest controversy comes from today that if a random code is typed in the Google search box, it will bring up the gas explosion charity dispute in Taiwan, which was used by Kuomintang to smear Chen Chu during the previous presidential election in Taiwan.

What do we see further ahead?

YouTube has been caught red-handed for automatically deleting messages containing the words "communist thief" or "fifty cent army (Wu Mao)" for a long time. According to The Verge's article, Youtube has been deleting the related comments since last October.

Related Article→
https://www.ithome.com.tw/news/137869

Last month, #GoogleTranslate has suddenly replaced Taiwan wordings with China's wordings with a "community certification" label next to them. Examples include the word “video” will be translated to “Shi Pin” (視頻; instead of “Ying Pian”, 影片) while the word “software” will be translated to “Ruan Jian” (軟件; instead of “Ruan Ti”, 軟體), to list just a few.

Related Article→
https://www.facebook.com/BerryVoice/posts/3014567928622541

Google put the blame to the Youtube incident on its algorithm, but they haven’t said a word about the translation incident. What will be the excuse of the “Chen Chu, charity fund” incident this time?

I would like to ask: How much longer do Google have to hide behind “the algorithm” explanation ? How much longer do they have to keep us quiet?

Source: Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/551090876/posts/10157093414550877/?d=n

Further reading:
Remove China Apps garners 1 million downloads in India, gets 4.8 stars on Google Play Store 
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22143
YouTube is deleting comments with two phrases that insult China’s Communist Party
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21939

#SharpPower #Google #GoogleTranslate #ChinaInfluence #Youtube #Taiwan

#Newspaper

Thai Actor, Bright, Apologizes to China Over His Girlfriend’s Twitter Scandal

//“So pretty, looks just like a Chinese girl.”... “What style is this?” Weeraya responded, “Taiwanese girl.” This prompted a Twitter war between Chinese and Thai netizens as many Chinese netizens felt offended and disrespected by Weeraya’s actions. Chinese netizens on Weibo also started campaigns to boycott Bright and subbing teams vowed to stop subbing his series, “2gether: The Series”, which was really popular in China at the time.

//Bright remained silent on the issue until June 20. He uploaded a video on Weibo and apologized to China... had started out the video apologizing for his own mistake first... was sorry for “mistakenly referring to Taiwan as a country in a travel show” he hosted talking about Thailand and Taiwan... he was only introducing tourist destinations and wasn’t trying to impose any political agendas.

//When asked why he stayed silent on the accusations of insulting China and the Chinese people, Bright apologized and explained that he thinks it was a misunderstanding. He respects China and each person. He has never thought about insulting any race. Bright also apologized...

//Bright also expressed that he has Chinese heritage and definitely wouldn’t look down on Chinese people or ethnic Chinese. Lastly, Bright expressed his apologies in Chinese: “Hello everyone, I am Bright. I am sorry to China. I am sorry to you all.” Unfortunately, many Chinese netizens didn’t accept his apology. They left a lot of comments telling him to “get lost!” There were a minority of fans who left supporting comments.

//Watch the video here: https://www.weibo.com/tv/v/J7yEfvGLX?fid=1034:4518014322671659

Further reading:
Milk Tea Alliance Takes on China's Little Pinks in Meme War
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19818

Full Article: 38jiejie, (20-Jun)

#SorryToChina #Kowtow #Thailand #Bright #Twitter #MemeWar #SharpPower #Taiwan #Nationalism

#Newspaper
Do as we say! China orders UK firms to obey or else they'll 'pay price and be hit hard'

//British financial services company Standard Chartered Plc and UK bank HSBC have both endorsed China’s proposed security law for Hong Kong... The Chinese Communist Party's official news platform, the Global Times, gave a veiled threat to British companies, such as HSBC, that if they chose to ally themselves with US and UK interests concerning the Huawei 5G rollout and the Hong Kong Security Law there would be consequences. On Tuesday the Global Times declared that if HSBC were to side with UK and US interests, "its image would bear an indelible stain and likely that its Chinese business would take a hit”.

//"Given its reliance on Chinese profits, it will be a life-or-death test for HSBC…And whether or not the bank can overcome its dilemma will really test the political wisdom of its management.”… companies need to pay the price for the choices they have made."

//On Tuesday, Andrew Rosindell MP voiced many parliamentarian's “concern and surprise” at HSBC and Standard Chartered PLC’s support of China’s newly proposed National Security Law in Hong Kong.

//"We cannot let UK owned and run businesses put profits above human rights and fundamental freedoms

//”The actions of HSBC and Standard Chartered PLC undermine and devalue the UK’s political warning shots fired at China.

//"We cannot simultaneously scorn and invest in a regime that so overtly breaches human rights laws.

//The Early Day Motion was signed by eleven cross-party MPs who have called on the Government to set forth measures to encourage HSBC and Standard Chartered Plc to review their support for National Security Law for Hong Kong, which will effectively criminalise freedom of expression in the city.

//Last week Beijing denounced British bank HSBC for supposedly funding "terrorists".

//By "terrorists" central communist authorities mean citizens involved in the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.

//Chinese authorities then announced that HSBC had capitulated to their demands and were closing the accounts of those involved in Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.

//The Global Times wrote: "These are the accounts that channel funds to terrorists…”They termed the bank's previous inaction a fence-sitting tactic."

//British banking giant HSBC reportedly makes most of its profits in the Hong Kong financial services market. Trades through the banking sector of Hong Kong contributed more than 80 percent to the company's profits during the first quarter of 2020.

//71 of the world's 100 largest banks have large bases in Hong Kong. The city's banking sector is the ninth-largest in the world and is the second-largest in Asia after Japan.

Full Article: Express, (21-Jun)

Further reading:
Kowtowing to Beijing does not help HSBC
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22590

National security law: Britain urged to go ‘one step further’ for Hong Kong’s BN(O) passport holders alarmed by Beijing legislation
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3089455/national-security-law-britain-urged-go-one-step-further

#NationalSecurityLaw #UK #HSBC #StandardCharteredPlc #Kowtow #Bully #SharpPower #CCP #terrorists #Finance

#Interview #LawKachung

Hong Kong top analyst Law Ka-chung left China-based bank because "top of Beijing political circle" said so

(1 May) Law Ka-chung joined the Hong Kong branch of Bank of Communications (BOCOM) in 2005. Two years later, he got promoted as the Chief Economist and Strategist. He write freely and criticized the Hong Kong and China economic systems without any restriction for many years. He started feeling the pressure from China related to his work around 2010.

//"People think it is not appropriate to have a Hongkonger as spokesperson for a China-based bank."

//China-based banks adjusted policy and extended the scope to "purge" Hongkongers step by step. China-base banks don't hire local young people anymore.

//the main point was the system problem...It is about politics and the decision is from top to down (from Beijing)."

//China would like to connect the world via China-based banks... "China sent a lot of people to Hong Kong to learn how the external financial market worked."

//In 2010, he announced that BOCOM would stop comment or run analysis related to China affairs... the excuse BOCOM used was "China affair should come from the China headquarter."

//the decision of the Hong Kong branch "was not from the bank, but it was top-down from there Communist Party of China (CCP).”

//China GDP started to slow down from 10.5% in 2010 to 9,5% and 7.9% year by year. "In the beginning, China didn't think they would collapse because of your comments. However, when things get worse, they would like you to shut up," ...When the economy gets worse, the nature of CCP comes out.

//the Hong Kong financial market changed and put too much focus on China because capital from China soared rapidly.

//So-called financial institutes not only did their own business but also executed political mandate.

//"If you want to be an international financial centre, you can't focus on Asian markets only. You should cover the America and Europe markets as well."

//Hong Kong government and China-based banks focused solely on China market and often launched China related financial products.

//if China wants to internationalize RMB, financial institutes issues RMB bonds everywhere, and China-based banks has to promote that.

//"In the 1980s, when China wanted to take over Hong Kong, they planned to replace all the Hong Kong people with the mainland Chinese. It is just about time to push all of the Hongkongers out."

//BOCOM requested staff to attend marches against umbrella movement in 2014 and counted who attended.

//the impact of SARS in 2003 was much worse.

//Why did the analyst need to align with the Government?

//the demand during umbrella movement in 2014 was still about a general election. However, some voices in the anti-ELAB movement are related to Hong Kong independence and topple the regime in China... China doesn't care about the special status of Hong Kong and execute hard-line policy.

//Since China government can't brainwash the young generation, they turned against all Hongkongers.

//People worried the China will take over private wealth... Hong Kong enforce the law at random, and Hong Kong judicial was overridden, one country two systems is completely over."

//"Money will leave astonishing like leakage in water pipe. And it will never come back."

//speed up de-globalization, Asian countries replacing China as global factory, the agent of capital flow and investment foundation moving to Singapore and away from Hong Kong.

//"The financial centre is losing power. China market is declining. Our financial centre position will diminish."

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Hong-Kong-top-analyst-Law-Ka-chung-left-China-based-bank-because-top-of-Beijing-political-circle-said-so-06-28

Source: In Medium

#NationalSecurityLaw #AntiELAB #RMB #Mainlandization #FinancialHub #SharpPower #Censorship #Kowtow

#NobelPrize
Hitler Barred Germans From Receiving the Nobel Prize;
China Warns Oslo Against Awarding Nobel Peace Prize to Hongkongers

After the then-imprisoned journalist Carl von Ossietzky (1889-1938) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1935, Hitler amended the law to prohibit all Germans from receiving the Nobel Prize. .

In August 2020, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Norway against awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to what the CCP sees as "dissidents", "In the past, and today, in the future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in China's internal affairs".

He also said while China was the first country to report the existence of the Coronavirus, it does not mean that the virus had originated in China.

Hongkongers were nominated by Guri Melby, currently Minister of Education in Norway in October 2019 for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020.

Source: DW; RTHK #Aug28

Further Reading:
Hong Kong people nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/8922

#SharpPower #Norway