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#TVB #CCTVB #WhiteWash #Election
"#FakeNews": Pro-Beijing TV Channel Broadcast Misleading Report of Postponed Elections Overseas

Beijing-friendly TVB reported on 17 August 2020 on several postponed elections in other countries. However, its graphic titled "Five Eyes Alliance Postpones Elections" quickly angered netizens, who accused the TV station for whitewashing Beijing's forceful postponement of Hong Kong's legislative elections.

The report was seen as portraying other nations' election delay to legitimize what happened in Hong Kong. Some netizens outright called it "fake news".

In fact, out of the five countries listed, New Zealand is the only one postponing a federal-level election, and that only by one month. Britain's parliamentary elections was last held in 2019, and the next one will not be held until 2024. The elections cited by TVB were for a number local councils and mayors. Australia's is for the provincial government of New South Wales, and it is only delayed by four weeks. In Canada's case, the dates were for municipal elections in the single province of New Brunswick.

Joshua Wong noted that, most significantly, the decision to delay these elections were made by democratically-elected governments, who are voted in and can be voted out by their citizens. In contrast, Hong Kong's postponement was singlehandedly decided by China's National Congress, precluding and overruling any decision the Hong Kong Legislature might make, thus giving Hongkongers no say in the matter.

The screenshot of the TVB graphic was widely circulated in a Facebook post since yesterday. As citizens from the countries concerned confirmed that no federal elections were scheduled, netizens accused TVB for using the information to mislead and justify China postponing Hong Kong's legislative election, which is indeed a top-level election. Some are calling for the TV station to immediately issue a correction and clarification.

Sources: Patrick Yeh's Facebook; Joshua Wong's Facebook; Kau Yim Media #Aug18

Actual News on Election Postponements:

Britain:

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/parliament-and-elections/elections-elections/coronavirus-faqs-on-postponed-election/

Australia:
https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/Elections/Local-government-elections/Local-Government-Elections-2021

Canada:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/municipal-elections-postponed-covid-1.5500648

#FiveEyesAlliance
#DQ #LegCoElection
Beijing Disqualify Elected Legislators in Hong Kong to Silence Critics, says #FiveEyesAlliance

Source: The Stand News #Nov19

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#DQ #LegCoElection
Beijing Disqualify Elected Legislators in Hong Kong to Silence Critics, says
#FiveEyesAlliance

The Five Eyes Alliance, an intelligence coalition formed by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, issued a joint statement expressing serious concern regarding decision of China's Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) on “Issues Relating to the Qualification of the Members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, which resulted in the disqualification of four elected legislators, describing it as part of a campaign to silence all critical voices.

The statement urge Chinese government to reconsider their decision, and immediately reinstate the Legislative Council members. It stated that for the the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong authorities must respect the channels for the people of Hong Kong to express their legitimate concerns and opinions. It further reminds China as a leading member of the international community, is expected to live up to its international commitments and its duty to the people of Hong Kong.

Source: Stand News #Nov19

#UK #UnitedStates #Canada #Australia #NewZealand #HongKong #China #Disqualification #LegislativeCouncil #NPCSC
China Imposes Steep Duties on Australian Wine due to "Trade Violation". Australian Says the Move Deals Major Blow on the Industries

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) stated that its investigations had revealed that Australian wine exports breached China’s Anti-dumping Regulations, harming the local wine industry. MOFCOM would impose duties on Australian wine importers. Charges increase from 107.1% to 212.1% for the Australian wine in “containers of two litres or less”. The customs authority determined the cost.
Apart from the wine industry, other industries also suffered as a consequence of deteriorating China-Australia relations. China earlier cited “failed to meet environmental standards” as the reason to hold up 82 coal ships and 1,500 cargo crews at Chinese ports, involving AUD 1.1 billion of coal.

China-Australia relations have soured in recent years as both nations made moves at each other on the global stage. Australia has repeatedly criticized China’s human rights policies towards Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghurs. Since the national security law took effect in Hong Kong in early July, Australia has also made available "safe haven" policies for Hongkongers.

The move was not the first undertaken by China to target Australian products. The New York Times editorial opined that one of the key moments that turned China-Australia relations to the worse was when the Australian government made a statement at the start of the year calling for an independent inquiry into the source of COVID-19. China has since then gradually imposed restrictions on Australian imports. The editorial described this move as reflecting a “CCP-style globalization” policy: on the one hand promoting the opening up of countries, while on the other using threats to coerce other countries to follow China’s approach in different matters.

Besides actual trade moves, China has adopted increasingly hard-line expressions in its foreign policy addresses to Australia. The Five Eyes alliance, which Australia is part of, has previously called on China to reconsider their decision on Hong Kong Legislators disqualification, and was rebuked by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian, “No matter if they have five eyes or ten eyes, if they dare harm China's sovereignty, security and development interests, they should beware of their eyes being poked and blinded”

#wine #Australianwine #Australia #Aus #China #Antidumping #MOFCOM #MinistryofCommerce #CCP #FiveEyesAlliance #ZhaoLijian #HongKong #LegCoDisqualification

Source: Stand News #Nov27

https://bit.ly/2JYqXVG
The Five Eyes plans to sanction China to counter Beijing's trade war against Australia

China has been making moves to put pressure on Australian trade. The Australian media reported that the Five Eyes Alliance, which consists of Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, has recently discussed how to deal with the situation and has not ruled out imposing trade sanctions against China. Australia has just formally filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization today against the China-initiated trade war.

According to reports, the Five Eyes Alliance is negotiating to respond to China’s trade sanctions against Australia. The U.S. is actively considering the possibility that each of the five countries may impose trade restrictions on Chinese goods or services, or that only Australia may impose punitive tariffs on China. The other four countries are open to express their support.

Fergus Hanson, the Director of International Cyber Policy Centre of Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that the Five Eyes could also refer to Article 5 of NATO. It establishes a collective defence mechanism for member states which can respond to China's trade sanctions against Australia. “Only in this way can let the CCP realize that it (the trade sanctions) is a two-way street. Our current approach is not a solution to this problem."

Source: Apple Daily #Dec16

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201216/JR6ZDIMKLJCKJF7LS7G4CT4AEY/

#FiveEyesAlliance #AustralianChinaRelations #Australia #US #UK #Canada #NewZealand #tradewar #WTO #FergusHanson #ASPI