Burberry becomes first luxury brand to suffer Chinese backlash over Xinjiang
Burberry, a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), is the first luxury brand assailed by the Chinese backlash to Western accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, losing a Chinese brand ambassador and its hallmark tartan design.
The company’s iconic plaid design was also removed from the clothing worn by characters in Tencent's wildly popular video game “Honor of Kings”, according to a post on the game’s official Weibo account, winning praise from China’s netizens.
Award-winning Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu terminated her contract with Burberry as the brand’s ambassador as Burberry has not “clearly and publicly stated its stance on cotton from Xinjiang.
Source: Reuters #Mar26
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-burberry/burberry-becomes-first-luxury-brand-to-suffer-chinese-backlash-over-xinjiang-idUSKBN2BI0EI
#XinjiangCotton #BCI #BetterCottonInitiative #China #Burberry
Burberry, a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), is the first luxury brand assailed by the Chinese backlash to Western accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, losing a Chinese brand ambassador and its hallmark tartan design.
The company’s iconic plaid design was also removed from the clothing worn by characters in Tencent's wildly popular video game “Honor of Kings”, according to a post on the game’s official Weibo account, winning praise from China’s netizens.
Award-winning Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu terminated her contract with Burberry as the brand’s ambassador as Burberry has not “clearly and publicly stated its stance on cotton from Xinjiang.
Source: Reuters #Mar26
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-burberry/burberry-becomes-first-luxury-brand-to-suffer-chinese-backlash-over-xinjiang-idUSKBN2BI0EI
#XinjiangCotton #BCI #BetterCottonInitiative #China #Burberry
H&M Stores Vanish From China Maps as Xinjiang Spat Worsens
H&M outlets appeared not to show up on Apple Maps and Baidu Maps searches in China on Friday after the fashion retailer found itself at the center of an escalating spat over human rights in the contentious region of Xinjiang.
The disappearance of H&M’s physical stores from online maps comes after the retailer was removed from Alibaba’s e-commerce platform earlier this week as the controversy escalated. The company had been blasted by China’s Communist Youth League and the People’s Liberation Army on Mar 24 after social-media users dug out an undated statement about accusations of forced labor in the region’s cotton-picking industry.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://trib.al/BEhjL43 #HM
#HM #China #BaiduMap #AppleMap #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ForcedLabor
H&M outlets appeared not to show up on Apple Maps and Baidu Maps searches in China on Friday after the fashion retailer found itself at the center of an escalating spat over human rights in the contentious region of Xinjiang.
The disappearance of H&M’s physical stores from online maps comes after the retailer was removed from Alibaba’s e-commerce platform earlier this week as the controversy escalated. The company had been blasted by China’s Communist Youth League and the People’s Liberation Army on Mar 24 after social-media users dug out an undated statement about accusations of forced labor in the region’s cotton-picking industry.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://trib.al/BEhjL43 #HM
#HM #China #BaiduMap #AppleMap #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ForcedLabor
#UK Continues Issuing #BNO As Hong Kong Government Has No right to Dictate the Travel Document Validity to Foreign Countries
The Hong Kong government issued a letter to more than ten foreign embassies, reported by Reuter on March 25, 2021.
The letter stated that starting from Jan 31, 2021 the government does not recognize BNO as a valid travel document. The letter also demanded other embassies to stop accepting work holiday applications with BNO and advised that the HKSAR passport is the only acceptable document.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UK indicated that the HK SAR Government has no right to dictate whether a travel document is valid to foreign governments and that the UK government will continue issuing BNO as a legal travel document.
Reuters reported on Mar 25 that diplomats confirmed that a letter, witnessed by the reporter, was issued by the Hong Kong government to several embassies demanding the ban on work holiday application with BNO.
An anonymous diplomat opined, “the letter is going to be ignored by most countries… This is just the HK government’s wishful thinking. They have no rights to dictate what documents are accepted by foreign governments”. Another diplomat described the act as “bordering on belligerent”, which differs from its attitude in the past as an international financial center.
Source: Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3rt7bS0
#CCPRules #FailedState #Reuter #TravelDocument #Passport
The Hong Kong government issued a letter to more than ten foreign embassies, reported by Reuter on March 25, 2021.
The letter stated that starting from Jan 31, 2021 the government does not recognize BNO as a valid travel document. The letter also demanded other embassies to stop accepting work holiday applications with BNO and advised that the HKSAR passport is the only acceptable document.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UK indicated that the HK SAR Government has no right to dictate whether a travel document is valid to foreign governments and that the UK government will continue issuing BNO as a legal travel document.
Reuters reported on Mar 25 that diplomats confirmed that a letter, witnessed by the reporter, was issued by the Hong Kong government to several embassies demanding the ban on work holiday application with BNO.
An anonymous diplomat opined, “the letter is going to be ignored by most countries… This is just the HK government’s wishful thinking. They have no rights to dictate what documents are accepted by foreign governments”. Another diplomat described the act as “bordering on belligerent”, which differs from its attitude in the past as an international financial center.
Source: Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3rt7bS0
#CCPRules #FailedState #Reuter #TravelDocument #Passport
Hundreds of Uighurs protest Chinese minister's Turkey visit
ON Mar 25, nearly 1,000 Uighurs rallied in Istanbul as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Turkey to focus on coronavirus vaccines and the countries' extradition treaty.
Turkey is using the Chinese firm Sinovac's CoronaVac jab in its inoculation effort and is currently negotiating new deliveries.
Uighurs in Turkey fears that China is making new shipments dependent on Turkey's ratification of an extradition treaty that the parliament in Beijing approved late last year.
The protesters waved sky blue flags of Uighurs separatists' self-proclaimed state of East Turkestan as they gathered in Istanbul's historic old town chanting "China, stop the genocide!"
Source: CNA #Mar26
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/turkey-hundreds-uighurs-protest-chinese-minister-wang-yi-visit-14491224
#Turkey #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide #CovidVaccineDiplomacy #CovidVaccine
ON Mar 25, nearly 1,000 Uighurs rallied in Istanbul as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Turkey to focus on coronavirus vaccines and the countries' extradition treaty.
Turkey is using the Chinese firm Sinovac's CoronaVac jab in its inoculation effort and is currently negotiating new deliveries.
Uighurs in Turkey fears that China is making new shipments dependent on Turkey's ratification of an extradition treaty that the parliament in Beijing approved late last year.
The protesters waved sky blue flags of Uighurs separatists' self-proclaimed state of East Turkestan as they gathered in Istanbul's historic old town chanting "China, stop the genocide!"
Source: CNA #Mar26
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/turkey-hundreds-uighurs-protest-chinese-minister-wang-yi-visit-14491224
#Turkey #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide #CovidVaccineDiplomacy #CovidVaccine
Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
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Source: The Guardian #Mar26
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Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates
Chinese celebrities and politicians were racing to distance themselves from western brands as Beijing stepped up a campaign to penalise those making accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, including fashion companies that boycott the region’s cotton.
Burberry was one high-profile target, as the award-winning actor Zhou Dongyu ended her “brand ambassador” role, the company’s hallmark tartan was scrubbed from a popular video game, and a Hong Kong lawmaker shared a widely mocked photograph of herself staring mournfully at a trio of scarves she promised not to wear again.
Some brands including Muji and Fila responded to the boycotts by underlining their commitment to using cotton from Xinjiang, a reminder of China’s importance as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for fashion.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/chinese-actor-quits-as-burberry-ambassador-as-xinjiang-cotton-row-escalates?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #Burberry #Muji #Fila
Chinese celebrities and politicians were racing to distance themselves from western brands as Beijing stepped up a campaign to penalise those making accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, including fashion companies that boycott the region’s cotton.
Burberry was one high-profile target, as the award-winning actor Zhou Dongyu ended her “brand ambassador” role, the company’s hallmark tartan was scrubbed from a popular video game, and a Hong Kong lawmaker shared a widely mocked photograph of herself staring mournfully at a trio of scarves she promised not to wear again.
Some brands including Muji and Fila responded to the boycotts by underlining their commitment to using cotton from Xinjiang, a reminder of China’s importance as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for fashion.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/chinese-actor-quits-as-burberry-ambassador-as-xinjiang-cotton-row-escalates?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #Burberry #Muji #Fila
the Guardian
Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates
Burberry and H&M among brands targeted over stance on region at centre of Uighur abuses allegations
#XinjiangCotton Incident: China's Lawyer Claims Termination Of Contract Due To Damage Of National Interest Would Not Require Any Compensation
Source: Stand News #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29288
Source: Stand News #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29288
Muji Operator Shares Tumble as Brand Seen at Risk of China Boycott
Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo are embroiled in the escalating controversy over cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region. Shares of Muji operator tumble nearly 7% in Tokyo trade. Als, several Chinese celebrities say they will cut ties with Uniqlo.
Shares in Ryohin Keikaku, which is the operator of the Muji chain of minimalist furniture and lifestyle
Stores and advertises items using Xinjiang cotton, fell as much as 6.8% in Tokyo, the most since July. It said it had vetted its supply chain and would continue to monitor compliance with law.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-26/muji-operator-tumbles-as-brand-seen-at-risk-of-china-boycott
#HM #Muji #Uniqlo #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide
Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo are embroiled in the escalating controversy over cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region. Shares of Muji operator tumble nearly 7% in Tokyo trade. Als, several Chinese celebrities say they will cut ties with Uniqlo.
Shares in Ryohin Keikaku, which is the operator of the Muji chain of minimalist furniture and lifestyle
Stores and advertises items using Xinjiang cotton, fell as much as 6.8% in Tokyo, the most since July. It said it had vetted its supply chain and would continue to monitor compliance with law.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-26/muji-operator-tumbles-as-brand-seen-at-risk-of-china-boycott
#HM #Muji #Uniqlo #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide
#Court #PoliticalOppression
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29332
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29332
#Court #PoliticalOppression
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Hong Kong's courts are experiencing a large backlog of protest-related cases, with some trials scheduled as late as 2024.
The riot case against pro-democracy protesters entering into the Legislative Council (#LegCo) chambers on July 1, 2019, which had its first hearing last week, is scheduled for trial in May 2023, more than 2 years later.
An anonymous barrister pointed out that the jail terms handed out for recent riot cases are 4 to 5 years, though the sentences are often reduced to around 3 years for good behavior in prison.
Time spent in custody while awaiting trial also counts toward time served, therefore some of the accused may have already served their sentences by the time the court has found them guilty. If they are found innocent, however, then "they would have been jailed for nothing these three years. We're talking three years, not a couple of months."
The situation is effectively handing down a punishment before the trial, the barrister said, and is unfair to the accused.
Though some arrestees in riot cases are released on bail, the terms include night-time curfews and prohibitions from being in certain locations, or from leaving the city.
The barrister calls the bail conditions harsh and disruptive to the lives of the accused, "as if it's meant for punishing them first." Bail conditions in other criminal cases are not nearly as numerous or complicated, he says, "I don't quite understand why riot cases nowadays need so many bail conditions."
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210326/WWXAESVWLBCGXDRMFJYGDOCDRE/
#PoliceState #Bail #Injustice #Detention #RightToSpeedyTrial
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Hong Kong's courts are experiencing a large backlog of protest-related cases, with some trials scheduled as late as 2024.
The riot case against pro-democracy protesters entering into the Legislative Council (#LegCo) chambers on July 1, 2019, which had its first hearing last week, is scheduled for trial in May 2023, more than 2 years later.
An anonymous barrister pointed out that the jail terms handed out for recent riot cases are 4 to 5 years, though the sentences are often reduced to around 3 years for good behavior in prison.
Time spent in custody while awaiting trial also counts toward time served, therefore some of the accused may have already served their sentences by the time the court has found them guilty. If they are found innocent, however, then "they would have been jailed for nothing these three years. We're talking three years, not a couple of months."
The situation is effectively handing down a punishment before the trial, the barrister said, and is unfair to the accused.
Though some arrestees in riot cases are released on bail, the terms include night-time curfews and prohibitions from being in certain locations, or from leaving the city.
The barrister calls the bail conditions harsh and disruptive to the lives of the accused, "as if it's meant for punishing them first." Bail conditions in other criminal cases are not nearly as numerous or complicated, he says, "I don't quite understand why riot cases nowadays need so many bail conditions."
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210326/WWXAESVWLBCGXDRMFJYGDOCDRE/
#PoliceState #Bail #Injustice #Detention #RightToSpeedyTrial
China imposes sanctions on UK MPs, lawyers and academic in Xinjiang row
China has imposed sanctions on 10 UK organisations and individuals, including the former leader of the Conservative party Iain Duncan Smith, over what it called the spreading of “lies and disinformation” about human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The sanctions are a response to Britain’s decision to implement measures against four Chinese officials on Mar 22.
The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, responding to the expected Chinese countermeasures, said: “It speaks volumes that, while the UK joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the Chinese government sanctions its critics.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/china-sanctions-uk-businesses-mps-and-lawyers-in-xinjiang-row
#China #ChinaRetaliatoryMeasure #UK
China has imposed sanctions on 10 UK organisations and individuals, including the former leader of the Conservative party Iain Duncan Smith, over what it called the spreading of “lies and disinformation” about human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The sanctions are a response to Britain’s decision to implement measures against four Chinese officials on Mar 22.
The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, responding to the expected Chinese countermeasures, said: “It speaks volumes that, while the UK joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the Chinese government sanctions its critics.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/china-sanctions-uk-businesses-mps-and-lawyers-in-xinjiang-row
#China #ChinaRetaliatoryMeasure #UK