US Media: Senior German Official Stopped the Publication of an Internal Report on Chinese Influence due to Worries of Possible Damage to German-Chinese Relations
American media company, Axios exclusively reported that a senior German official suppressed the publishing of an intelligence report document as officials worry that it would possibly damage the economic relationship between Germany and China. The report described China’s expansion of influence in Germany.
The exclusive report quoted two former US intelligence officials, they stated that this report is highly-confidential report has been completed since 2018. The content of the report examines China’s intention to influence Germany government, their community and business market. However, a senior German official stopped the report circulating within the German government. It was reported that only the German Chancellor Markel and several officials had read the report. When Axios asked the spokesperson of the German Federal Government, the spokesperson said that the German government would not comment on intelligence discovery or the activity of an intelligence company, as a matter of principle. The Federal Intelligence Service in Germany had also not commented on it yet.
The German policies towards China have been affected by economic factors, and sometimes, this would influence the perspective of the German government on the human right and national security issues. A former German Ambassador in China Volker Stanzel said in an interview that “Germany depends on exports to a high degree, and that gives the business a large influence. Business representatives talk to the government and are used to being listened to. The Chinese Communist Party succeeded in globalising its economy because it was able to join itself to foreign business interests.”
Businesses tend to discourage their local government from implementing policies that would harm China’s economic relations. However, Beijing authorities increasingly conflict commercial trade with politics, including threats in order to implement punitive economic measures on companies which criticised the human rights in China. As a result, Peter Altmaier, a German Businessman and the Economy Minister, is incentivised to fade out the seriousness of the human rights violation and security challenges in China.
#China #Germany #Axios #Economy #GermanChinaRelation #Business #Export #Politics
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201007/XG2SEAX2FZCTDDDU6ODB6A3SMA/
Axios #Oct06
https://www.axios.com/exclusive-top-german-official-hushed-up-report-on-chinas-influence-8c6aeef3-0f71-405f-a902-a215399f2068.html
American media company, Axios exclusively reported that a senior German official suppressed the publishing of an intelligence report document as officials worry that it would possibly damage the economic relationship between Germany and China. The report described China’s expansion of influence in Germany.
The exclusive report quoted two former US intelligence officials, they stated that this report is highly-confidential report has been completed since 2018. The content of the report examines China’s intention to influence Germany government, their community and business market. However, a senior German official stopped the report circulating within the German government. It was reported that only the German Chancellor Markel and several officials had read the report. When Axios asked the spokesperson of the German Federal Government, the spokesperson said that the German government would not comment on intelligence discovery or the activity of an intelligence company, as a matter of principle. The Federal Intelligence Service in Germany had also not commented on it yet.
The German policies towards China have been affected by economic factors, and sometimes, this would influence the perspective of the German government on the human right and national security issues. A former German Ambassador in China Volker Stanzel said in an interview that “Germany depends on exports to a high degree, and that gives the business a large influence. Business representatives talk to the government and are used to being listened to. The Chinese Communist Party succeeded in globalising its economy because it was able to join itself to foreign business interests.”
Businesses tend to discourage their local government from implementing policies that would harm China’s economic relations. However, Beijing authorities increasingly conflict commercial trade with politics, including threats in order to implement punitive economic measures on companies which criticised the human rights in China. As a result, Peter Altmaier, a German Businessman and the Economy Minister, is incentivised to fade out the seriousness of the human rights violation and security challenges in China.
#China #Germany #Axios #Economy #GermanChinaRelation #Business #Export #Politics
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201007/XG2SEAX2FZCTDDDU6ODB6A3SMA/
Axios #Oct06
https://www.axios.com/exclusive-top-german-official-hushed-up-report-on-chinas-influence-8c6aeef3-0f71-405f-a902-a215399f2068.html
After Obtaining 50k Petitions, the German Parliament Agrees to Hold a Hearing on China Sanction, said German Hongkonger Glacier Kwong
In September, Glacier Kwong Chung-ching, a Hong Kong resident in German and a former spokesperson of the "Keyboard Frontline", an NGO advocated for Human rights on the Web, submitted a proposal to the petition committee at the German Parliament. The petition called on the German Bundestag to formulate policies and to impose sanctions on China for the Hong Kong National Security Law. Glacier Kwong has got 50,000 signatures for the petition and posted on Facebook today that she had received an official document from the German Parliament confirming her eligibility for the hearing but was yet to know the date. She intends to reflect issues such as the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, describing it one of the small steps to liberate Hong Kong.
She said that due to the pandemic lockdown in Germany, she could only hold the hearing after lockdown, at the start of next year as the earliest, but she believes that as long as the hearing is held before the German election next year, the result will not be too far off. She also hoped that the hearing would address issues such as the importance of rescuing the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, the remaining freedom in Hong Kong, and the crumble of its political system. She hoped that the committee members of the German Parliament would take a stand on the China issues and that the hearing would be one of the formal occasions to discuss before the German elections. She also hopes that more people would pay attention to the China problem, as well as the situation in Taiwan and Xinjiang.
Source: The Stand News #Nov15
https://bit.ly/2Hg2CJW
#Germany #China #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #GermanParliament #Petition #GlacierKwong #KeyboardFrontline #Save12HKYouth
In September, Glacier Kwong Chung-ching, a Hong Kong resident in German and a former spokesperson of the "Keyboard Frontline", an NGO advocated for Human rights on the Web, submitted a proposal to the petition committee at the German Parliament. The petition called on the German Bundestag to formulate policies and to impose sanctions on China for the Hong Kong National Security Law. Glacier Kwong has got 50,000 signatures for the petition and posted on Facebook today that she had received an official document from the German Parliament confirming her eligibility for the hearing but was yet to know the date. She intends to reflect issues such as the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, describing it one of the small steps to liberate Hong Kong.
She said that due to the pandemic lockdown in Germany, she could only hold the hearing after lockdown, at the start of next year as the earliest, but she believes that as long as the hearing is held before the German election next year, the result will not be too far off. She also hoped that the hearing would address issues such as the importance of rescuing the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, the remaining freedom in Hong Kong, and the crumble of its political system. She hoped that the committee members of the German Parliament would take a stand on the China issues and that the hearing would be one of the formal occasions to discuss before the German elections. She also hopes that more people would pay attention to the China problem, as well as the situation in Taiwan and Xinjiang.
Source: The Stand News #Nov15
https://bit.ly/2Hg2CJW
#Germany #China #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #GermanParliament #Petition #GlacierKwong #KeyboardFrontline #Save12HKYouth
Germany Former BND President Warned that China Almost Dominates the World, and Urged Europe to Reduce Reliance on China
The former President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in Germany, Gerhard Schindler, spoke to the British press The Times that China was almost ‘dominating the world’, and that all European countries should be alert to this issue, lowering the ‘tactic reliance’ to China, especially for Germany.
Schindler, who served as the President of BND between 2011 and 2016, raised that China becomes more proactive in recent years, including aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the monopoly in the economy of African countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Eurasia. He said, 'China is very clever and silent in conducting these dominating actions activities that we can hardly spot in Europe.'
China is the largest trade partner of Germany which the bilateral import and export trade volume reached EUR 206 billion (HKD 1.9 trillion) last year. Schindler pointed out that Germany must reflect on the situation of 'Business relationships dominate the stance on China'. He believed that there was a need to revise the Germany-China relationship. ‘We have some industries relying on China, such as our vehicle manufacturing industry, but we should not rely more heavily on others to reduce this reliance. We should try to reduce dependence.’ Schindler said.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct26
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201026/YCUISDO4CFDGHG3H3EXBLYVX3A/
#China #Germany #TradeWar #GerhardSchindler #BND #TheTimes #DominatingActions
The former President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in Germany, Gerhard Schindler, spoke to the British press The Times that China was almost ‘dominating the world’, and that all European countries should be alert to this issue, lowering the ‘tactic reliance’ to China, especially for Germany.
Schindler, who served as the President of BND between 2011 and 2016, raised that China becomes more proactive in recent years, including aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the monopoly in the economy of African countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Eurasia. He said, 'China is very clever and silent in conducting these dominating actions activities that we can hardly spot in Europe.'
China is the largest trade partner of Germany which the bilateral import and export trade volume reached EUR 206 billion (HKD 1.9 trillion) last year. Schindler pointed out that Germany must reflect on the situation of 'Business relationships dominate the stance on China'. He believed that there was a need to revise the Germany-China relationship. ‘We have some industries relying on China, such as our vehicle manufacturing industry, but we should not rely more heavily on others to reduce this reliance. We should try to reduce dependence.’ Schindler said.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct26
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201026/YCUISDO4CFDGHG3H3EXBLYVX3A/
#China #Germany #TradeWar #GerhardSchindler #BND #TheTimes #DominatingActions
#Manner #CCP
"Good Riddance": China Tells Off Germany's UN Envoy Who Asks Beijing to Release 2 Detained Canadians for Christmas
Germany's UN envoy Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, during his last UN Security Council meeting, asked China to free two detained Canadians for Christmas:
"Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture."
Shortly after Canadian police arrested China's Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in 2018, the Chinese Communist Party government detained Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat and cuurent advisor for the International Crisis Group think tank, and businessman Michael Spavor in China.
China's deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang immediately comdemned Heusgen for "malicious attack" and fired:
"I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfil the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security."
Heusgen plans to retire after working as a diplomat for more than 40 years.
Source: CBC; Apple Daily #Dec22
https://bit.ly/3pgL2FR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-n-germany-kovrig-spavor-1.5852655
#Kovrig #Spavor #2Michaels #ChristophHeusgen #Germany #GengShuang #UN #Christmas2020
"Good Riddance": China Tells Off Germany's UN Envoy Who Asks Beijing to Release 2 Detained Canadians for Christmas
Germany's UN envoy Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, during his last UN Security Council meeting, asked China to free two detained Canadians for Christmas:
"Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture."
Shortly after Canadian police arrested China's Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in 2018, the Chinese Communist Party government detained Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat and cuurent advisor for the International Crisis Group think tank, and businessman Michael Spavor in China.
China's deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang immediately comdemned Heusgen for "malicious attack" and fired:
"I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfil the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security."
Heusgen plans to retire after working as a diplomat for more than 40 years.
Source: CBC; Apple Daily #Dec22
https://bit.ly/3pgL2FR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-n-germany-kovrig-spavor-1.5852655
#Kovrig #Spavor #2Michaels #ChristophHeusgen #Germany #GengShuang #UN #Christmas2020
Twitter Blocked Trump’s Account; Merkel Thinks it was a Problematic Approach; French Finance Minister: Internet Giants Threaten Democracy
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
#Sanction #InternationalCommunity
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials
A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.
As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.
At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”
Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.
“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”
She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.
Source: Stand News, #Jan26
#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials
A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.
As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.
At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”
Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.
“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”
She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.
Source: Stand News, #Jan26
#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany
立場新聞 Stand News
鄺頌晴發起制裁中國聯署 德國會召開聽證會 德官員：歐盟正考慮制裁 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
被稱為「滑鼠娘娘」、現於德國漢堡留學的鄺頌晴去年與曾在港就讀德國學生 David Missal 發起聯署，要求...
#Court #818Rally #PoliticalPersecution
German Parliament Member: We should not give up on Hong Kong democracy advocates
In Hong Kong, a number of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong were accused of "organising and participating in the an assembly at Victoria Park on August 18, 2019 during the Anti-ELAB movement.
Among them were Lee Chu-Ming, Founding Chairman of the Democratic Party; Margaret Ng Ngoi-Yee, barrister and ex-Legislative Councillor; and Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Founder of Apple Daily. They were charged of "oganising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly". The trial began in court on Feb 16, 2021.
In Germany, #GydeJensen, the youngest female member of the #GermanParliament, showed support for the pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. She uploaded photos of her holding up a sign which said “WE STAND WITH HONGKONG”. She also mentioned that she had made motion in the parliament, urging #Germany and the #EU to show more concern on human rights issues.
Jensen stated that the prosecution of the pro-democracy figures was undoubtedly a political one, and was part of Xi Jinping’s plan to silence the democratic movement in Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong people would give up their hope on freedom and democracy.
Jensen warns that the agenda also applied to the international level. She stressed that international figures could not let themselves get numbed by Hong Kong’s current situation, nor give up on Hong Kong’s democratic advocates.
Source: Stand News #Feb17
#GlobalSupport #JimmyLai #MargaretNg #StandWithHongKong #InternationalSociety
German Parliament Member: We should not give up on Hong Kong democracy advocates
In Hong Kong, a number of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong were accused of "organising and participating in the an assembly at Victoria Park on August 18, 2019 during the Anti-ELAB movement.
Among them were Lee Chu-Ming, Founding Chairman of the Democratic Party; Margaret Ng Ngoi-Yee, barrister and ex-Legislative Councillor; and Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Founder of Apple Daily. They were charged of "oganising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly". The trial began in court on Feb 16, 2021.
In Germany, #GydeJensen, the youngest female member of the #GermanParliament, showed support for the pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. She uploaded photos of her holding up a sign which said “WE STAND WITH HONGKONG”. She also mentioned that she had made motion in the parliament, urging #Germany and the #EU to show more concern on human rights issues.
Jensen stated that the prosecution of the pro-democracy figures was undoubtedly a political one, and was part of Xi Jinping’s plan to silence the democratic movement in Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong people would give up their hope on freedom and democracy.
Jensen warns that the agenda also applied to the international level. She stressed that international figures could not let themselves get numbed by Hong Kong’s current situation, nor give up on Hong Kong’s democratic advocates.
Source: Stand News #Feb17
#GlobalSupport #JimmyLai #MargaretNg #StandWithHongKong #InternationalSociety
Germany's UN envoy urged China to release the 2 captive Canadians, China replied “Good Riddance”
Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.
As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”
However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”
#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor
Source: Apple daily #Dec23
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/
Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.
As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”
However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”
#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor
Source: Apple daily #Dec23
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong activists in Germany, Berlin says
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in Germany since pro-democracy protests broke out in the city two years ago.
The letter to the head of parliament’s human rights committee mentioned the increasing attempts by Chinese state actors in Germany to influence public opinion in favour of the Chinese government since the start of the protests in Hong Kong. Also, it citied that the Chinese pro-government counter-demonstrators filmed and photographed participants “presumably for the purpose of intimidation” in the protest of supporting Hong Kong activists in Hamburg on Aug. 17, 2019.
Jensen, a member of the liberal FDP party said it was about time that the German government realised that actors for the Chinese government could pose a threat to exiled Hong Kongers.
Source: Reuters #Feb23
https://reut.rs/2ZGgUsC
#Germany #China #HongKongActivist #ChinaIntimidate
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in Germany since pro-democracy protests broke out in the city two years ago.
The letter to the head of parliament’s human rights committee mentioned the increasing attempts by Chinese state actors in Germany to influence public opinion in favour of the Chinese government since the start of the protests in Hong Kong. Also, it citied that the Chinese pro-government counter-demonstrators filmed and photographed participants “presumably for the purpose of intimidation” in the protest of supporting Hong Kong activists in Hamburg on Aug. 17, 2019.
Jensen, a member of the liberal FDP party said it was about time that the German government realised that actors for the Chinese government could pose a threat to exiled Hong Kongers.
Source: Reuters #Feb23
https://reut.rs/2ZGgUsC
#Germany #China #HongKongActivist #ChinaIntimidate
Germany is supplying Uighur ‘gulag’ in Xinjiang
German companies are supplying the technical backbone for the vast textile industry in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where at least half a million members of the persecuted Uighur minority have allegedly been forced to labour in the cotton fields.
Leaked trade figures from the Chinese customs authority underline the extent of Germany’s commercial entanglement in the region despite numerous claims of human rights abuses and “cultural genocide”.
Source: Times #Feb19
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germany-is-supplying-uighur-gulag-in-xinjiang-n3lqv7vmc
#Germany #Uighur #Xinjiang #HumanRights
German companies are supplying the technical backbone for the vast textile industry in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where at least half a million members of the persecuted Uighur minority have allegedly been forced to labour in the cotton fields.
Leaked trade figures from the Chinese customs authority underline the extent of Germany’s commercial entanglement in the region despite numerous claims of human rights abuses and “cultural genocide”.
Source: Times #Feb19
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germany-is-supplying-uighur-gulag-in-xinjiang-n3lqv7vmc
#Germany #Uighur #Xinjiang #HumanRights
Germany slams Hungary for blocking EU criticism of China on Hong Kong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong
China Reportedly Urges UN Members to Boycott Xinjiang-Related Issues and Denounces Botched Anti-China Performance
According to Reuters, the UN representatives, such as Germany, the US and the UK originally planned to have a video meeting for Xinjiang human rights issues. It is reported that the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations criticized the relevant activities for political motives and “anti-China” and sent letters requesting other member states to boycott activities.
Reuters gain a note by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, criticizing the European member states such as Germany, United States, England, Australia, and Canada, to hold the activities of using “human rights issues” as a political tool to intervene China Xinjiang’s affairs, and to create division and turmoil in China’s development. China criticized that the related countries got addicted to advocate confrontation with China, stated those activities involved political motivation, and urged other member states not to participate in “anti-China activities”.
The report stated, ambassadors of the US, Germany, and the UK at the United Nations originally planned to speak out in the activity and invited the CEO of Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth, and the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, for participation. It mainly discussed how the United Nations and civil society support and speak out for human rights issues of Xinjiang Turks and other ethnic minorities.
Source: Stand News #May08
https://bit.ly/3hP3rJh
#China #Beijing #Xinjiang #Uyghurs #Turks #Minorities #HumanRights #SexualAbused #AntiChina #UnitedNations #UN #UnitedStates #US #Germany #England #UK #Australia #Canada #HumanRightsWatch #AmnestyInternational
According to Reuters, the UN representatives, such as Germany, the US and the UK originally planned to have a video meeting for Xinjiang human rights issues. It is reported that the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations criticized the relevant activities for political motives and “anti-China” and sent letters requesting other member states to boycott activities.
Reuters gain a note by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, criticizing the European member states such as Germany, United States, England, Australia, and Canada, to hold the activities of using “human rights issues” as a political tool to intervene China Xinjiang’s affairs, and to create division and turmoil in China’s development. China criticized that the related countries got addicted to advocate confrontation with China, stated those activities involved political motivation, and urged other member states not to participate in “anti-China activities”.
The report stated, ambassadors of the US, Germany, and the UK at the United Nations originally planned to speak out in the activity and invited the CEO of Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth, and the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, for participation. It mainly discussed how the United Nations and civil society support and speak out for human rights issues of Xinjiang Turks and other ethnic minorities.
Source: Stand News #May08
https://bit.ly/3hP3rJh
#China #Beijing #Xinjiang #Uyghurs #Turks #Minorities #HumanRights #SexualAbused #AntiChina #UnitedNations #UN #UnitedStates #US #Germany #England #UK #Australia #Canada #HumanRightsWatch #AmnestyInternational
立場新聞 Stand News
中國據報促聯合國成員國杯葛涉疆議題活動 維族婦女美國會作證指遭性侵虐待 北京斥拙劣反華表演 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
《路透社》報道，德國、美國及英國等聯合國代表，原定下周三（12日）就新疆人權問題舉行視像活動，據報中國常駐聯合...
Germany calls on China to allow further investigations into COVID origins
German Health Minister Jens Spahn called on China to make it possible for investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue, saying more information was needed.
Speaking during a visit to the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, Spahn also announced a 260 million euro ($307 million) donation to WHO's ACT-Accelerator programme, which aims to ensure the entire world, including poorer countries, receive coronavirus vaccines and tests.
"I call on China to make it possible for the investigations into the origins of COVID to be continued," he said.
Source: Reuters #Jul15
https://reut.rs/3itCQk3
#Germany #China #Covid19
German Health Minister Jens Spahn called on China to make it possible for investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue, saying more information was needed.
Speaking during a visit to the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, Spahn also announced a 260 million euro ($307 million) donation to WHO's ACT-Accelerator programme, which aims to ensure the entire world, including poorer countries, receive coronavirus vaccines and tests.
"I call on China to make it possible for the investigations into the origins of COVID to be continued," he said.
Source: Reuters #Jul15
https://reut.rs/3itCQk3
#Germany #China #Covid19
Germany Sent Warship to South China Sea in Nearly 20 Years
China has many disputes on the South China Sea Sovereignty with many countries. Germany sent a warship to the South China Sea on Monday (Aug 2), the first such activity in nearly 20 years. The aim is to maintain international stability. They stated that the warship would not enter the 12-mile range from the disputing sovereignty area.
Deutsche Welle said that Germany sent Frigate Bayern for a 6-months voyage, during which it would refill the needs from the ports from the allies. Germany might show their disagreements with the Chinese sovereignty at the South China Sea when the warship bypassed the area, which would affect the China-Germany relation. However, an official from the German Ministry of Defense stated that Frigate Bayern would not enter 12-mile of the disputing area nor the Taiwan Strait.
#Germany #FrigateBayern #Warship #SouthChinaSea #Sovereignty #China #DeutscheWelle
Source: Stand News #Aug03
https://bit.ly/3xKrai9
China has many disputes on the South China Sea Sovereignty with many countries. Germany sent a warship to the South China Sea on Monday (Aug 2), the first such activity in nearly 20 years. The aim is to maintain international stability. They stated that the warship would not enter the 12-mile range from the disputing sovereignty area.
Deutsche Welle said that Germany sent Frigate Bayern for a 6-months voyage, during which it would refill the needs from the ports from the allies. Germany might show their disagreements with the Chinese sovereignty at the South China Sea when the warship bypassed the area, which would affect the China-Germany relation. However, an official from the German Ministry of Defense stated that Frigate Bayern would not enter 12-mile of the disputing area nor the Taiwan Strait.
#Germany #FrigateBayern #Warship #SouthChinaSea #Sovereignty #China #DeutscheWelle
Source: Stand News #Aug03
https://bit.ly/3xKrai9
German Media Criticized China as a “Soulless Medal Factory”,
14-year-old Gold Medallist Practices Diving Hard for her Sick Mother
Tokyo Olympics ended on 8 August which China is almost the champion for having the most Olympics gold medals. However, its “national system” of training athletes to win glory has been controversial. Suddeutche Zeitung recently described China as a “soulless medal factory” in an article. The 14 years old Olympics champion Quan Hongchan, also known as the “diving genius”, was mentioned in the previous interview that she was tricked into diving due to her poor academic results and the incentives to get medical treatment for her sick mother. She has to dive more than a hundred times a day and nearly 300 times on land that she only stay at home during the holidays and has never been to amusement parks or zoos.
Some Weibo netizens lamented the poor treatment of athletes by the national team and felt very distressed. After she won the award, many Chinese snack brands offered to give away her favourite snack, and some mainland companies also gave away a house, a shop, and RMB $200,000 in cash.
Moreover, a Weibo public account, “Middle-Class Life Observation”, posted a comment, but was being banned at the moment, stated that because Quan was too young to be sensible to thank the party and the country. Instead, she directly said that she once wanted to give up but revealed her wills to make money to treat her mother’s illness by working hard. However, she had no idea what kind of disease her mother has as she did not know how to pronounce those words. It is questionable that Quan, who started diving at the age of 7, may not receive a good education at all, making her speech “difficult to beautify”.
Source: Stand News #Aug07
https://bit.ly/3ybucw8
#Olympics #Tokyo #China #Germany #Diving #Weibo #Athletes #Education #QuanHongchan #Diving #SuddeutcheZeitung
14-year-old Gold Medallist Practices Diving Hard for her Sick Mother
Tokyo Olympics ended on 8 August which China is almost the champion for having the most Olympics gold medals. However, its “national system” of training athletes to win glory has been controversial. Suddeutche Zeitung recently described China as a “soulless medal factory” in an article. The 14 years old Olympics champion Quan Hongchan, also known as the “diving genius”, was mentioned in the previous interview that she was tricked into diving due to her poor academic results and the incentives to get medical treatment for her sick mother. She has to dive more than a hundred times a day and nearly 300 times on land that she only stay at home during the holidays and has never been to amusement parks or zoos.
Some Weibo netizens lamented the poor treatment of athletes by the national team and felt very distressed. After she won the award, many Chinese snack brands offered to give away her favourite snack, and some mainland companies also gave away a house, a shop, and RMB $200,000 in cash.
Moreover, a Weibo public account, “Middle-Class Life Observation”, posted a comment, but was being banned at the moment, stated that because Quan was too young to be sensible to thank the party and the country. Instead, she directly said that she once wanted to give up but revealed her wills to make money to treat her mother’s illness by working hard. However, she had no idea what kind of disease her mother has as she did not know how to pronounce those words. It is questionable that Quan, who started diving at the age of 7, may not receive a good education at all, making her speech “difficult to beautify”.
Source: Stand News #Aug07
https://bit.ly/3ybucw8
#Olympics #Tokyo #China #Germany #Diving #Weibo #Athletes #Education #QuanHongchan #Diving #SuddeutcheZeitung
立場新聞 Stand News
德媒評中國「沒靈魂的獎牌工廠」 14 歲金牌得主全紅嬋稱為醫病母苦練跳水 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
東京奧運明天（8 日）結束，中國目前奧運金牌數位列第一，但其「舉國體制」訓練運動員為國爭光一直備受爭議，《南德...
More than 20 Diplomats in Beijing Calling China to Release the 2 Arrested Canadians;
China Criticizes Canada for “Gathering Nations and Confusing Right and Wrong”.
Canadian merchant Michael Spavor was being convicted of espionage by a Chinese court and sentenced to 11-year imprisonment. Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau criticized the trial process as a sham trial, being unfair and Opaque.
Diplomats from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and the EU, gathered at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to show their supports. They urged to have a fair trial or a release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Canada for “gathering individual countries, disregarding the facts and confusing the right and wrong”.
Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau stated in the live broadcast at CTV Television Network on August 11 that the sentence is a lack of fairness and transparency. He also indicated that “We are known that arbitrary detention of China and a sham trial with a lack of transparency and with an unreasonable judgement do not match the International Law”. He continued that the Canadian government was negotiating with Senior officials from China and the US, finding the solution to release both. However, Marc did not reveal any details.
Source: Stand News #Aug12
https://bit.ly/3jaPXb4
#Canada #China #Japan #UnitedStates #UnitedKingdom #Australia #Germany #EU #Embassy #ShamTrial #Transparency #Unfairness #ForeignAffairs #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor #MarcGarneau
China Criticizes Canada for “Gathering Nations and Confusing Right and Wrong”.
Canadian merchant Michael Spavor was being convicted of espionage by a Chinese court and sentenced to 11-year imprisonment. Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau criticized the trial process as a sham trial, being unfair and Opaque.
Diplomats from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and the EU, gathered at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to show their supports. They urged to have a fair trial or a release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Canada for “gathering individual countries, disregarding the facts and confusing the right and wrong”.
Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau stated in the live broadcast at CTV Television Network on August 11 that the sentence is a lack of fairness and transparency. He also indicated that “We are known that arbitrary detention of China and a sham trial with a lack of transparency and with an unreasonable judgement do not match the International Law”. He continued that the Canadian government was negotiating with Senior officials from China and the US, finding the solution to release both. However, Marc did not reveal any details.
Source: Stand News #Aug12
https://bit.ly/3jaPXb4
#Canada #China #Japan #UnitedStates #UnitedKingdom #Australia #Germany #EU #Embassy #ShamTrial #Transparency #Unfairness #ForeignAffairs #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor #MarcGarneau
立場新聞 Stand News
廿多國外交官北京聲援加拿大 促請中方釋放兩加籍被捕人 中方批「糾集個別國家、混淆是非」 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
加拿大商人斯帕弗（Michael Spavor）被中國法院裁定間諜罪名成立，判囚11年，加拿大外交部長加爾諾批...
China Rejected the German Frigate Bayern to Stay in Shanghai Harbour
Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, indicated, “China decided to reject Frigate Bayern entering the Shanghai harbour after consideration”.
Germany dispatched the Frigate Bayern to cruise in the South China Sea in early August. It is the first time for Germany to pass through the South China Sea in 20 years, where involves sovereignty disputes. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Defence Minister, said this action's target is to maintain international order, being consistent with Britain, the United States, Japan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region. In March, she expressed her annoyance on Twitter about China’s military threats. She believed Germany should corporate where they can be corporated with China and oppose if unnecessary.
Source: Stand News #Sep16
https://bit.ly/3aIRQqB
#China #Shanghai #Germany #ForeignAffairs #FrigateBayern #SouthChinaSea #Twitter #UK #US #Japan #IndoPacificRegion
Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, indicated, “China decided to reject Frigate Bayern entering the Shanghai harbour after consideration”.
Germany dispatched the Frigate Bayern to cruise in the South China Sea in early August. It is the first time for Germany to pass through the South China Sea in 20 years, where involves sovereignty disputes. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Defence Minister, said this action's target is to maintain international order, being consistent with Britain, the United States, Japan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region. In March, she expressed her annoyance on Twitter about China’s military threats. She believed Germany should corporate where they can be corporated with China and oppose if unnecessary.
Source: Stand News #Sep16
https://bit.ly/3aIRQqB
#China #Shanghai #Germany #ForeignAffairs #FrigateBayern #SouthChinaSea #Twitter #UK #US #Japan #IndoPacificRegion
#DeutscheBank CEO warns recession is inevitable, says #Germany must cut reliance on #China
Source: CNBC #Sept7
Read more
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Source: CNBC #Sept7
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#DeutscheBank CEO warns recession is inevitable, says #Germany must cut reliance on #China
//The German economy stagnated in the second quarter, while producer price inflation hit a record high in July. The German finance ministry cited reduced gas supplies from Russia, rising costs of energy and other goods, and persistent supply chain disruptions in part due to China's "zero-Covid" policy...
"When it comes to dependencies, we also have to face the awkward question of how to deal with China. Its increasing isolation and growing tensions, especially between China and the United States, pose a considerable risk for Germany," Sewing said, adding that China had become a "cornerstone" of the German economy.
He highlighted that China accounts for around 8% of German exports and 12% of imports, while more than one-tenth of the sales of companies listed on the country's DAX stock index go to China, adding that the pandemic made clear the extent to which German supply chains rely on Russia.
"Reducing this dependency will require a change no less fundamental than decoupling from Russian energy," he said.//
Source: CNBC #Sept7
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/07/deutsche-bank-ceo-warns-of-recession-says-germany-must-cut-china-reliance.html
#Inflation #Recession #WorldEconomy
//The German economy stagnated in the second quarter, while producer price inflation hit a record high in July. The German finance ministry cited reduced gas supplies from Russia, rising costs of energy and other goods, and persistent supply chain disruptions in part due to China's "zero-Covid" policy...
"When it comes to dependencies, we also have to face the awkward question of how to deal with China. Its increasing isolation and growing tensions, especially between China and the United States, pose a considerable risk for Germany," Sewing said, adding that China had become a "cornerstone" of the German economy.
He highlighted that China accounts for around 8% of German exports and 12% of imports, while more than one-tenth of the sales of companies listed on the country's DAX stock index go to China, adding that the pandemic made clear the extent to which German supply chains rely on Russia.
"Reducing this dependency will require a change no less fundamental than decoupling from Russian energy," he said.//
Source: CNBC #Sept7
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/07/deutsche-bank-ceo-warns-of-recession-says-germany-must-cut-china-reliance.html
#Inflation #Recession #WorldEconomy
CNBC
Deutsche Bank CEO warns recession is inevitable, says Germany must cut reliance on China
Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing has warned that a recession in Germany is inevitable, and urged the country's leaders to accelerate its decoupling from China.
Germany Proposed to Sop the Trade with Cosco Shipping International
The German government proposes to refuse Cosco Shipping International (00517) being listed as the largest company at the Hamburg cargo terminal. It can avoid excessive reliance on China and let the mainland face obstruction on overseas acquisition.
German media said that most German politicians have doubts about COSCO taking a stake in the Hamburg Terminal. They are not willing to pass the fundamental infrastructure to the Chinese people.
The Germany Financial Minister, Robert Habeck, worries that Cosco Shipping's stake will increase Germany's reliance on China. Therefore, he intends to disagree with this trade.
Hamburg is currently the third-largest European terminal and the 19th-largest port in the world.
Source: Channel C #Aug25
https://bit.ly/3KlwiBp
#Germany #Hamburg #FinancialMinister #RobertHabeck #CoscoShippingInternational
The German government proposes to refuse Cosco Shipping International (00517) being listed as the largest company at the Hamburg cargo terminal. It can avoid excessive reliance on China and let the mainland face obstruction on overseas acquisition.
German media said that most German politicians have doubts about COSCO taking a stake in the Hamburg Terminal. They are not willing to pass the fundamental infrastructure to the Chinese people.
The Germany Financial Minister, Robert Habeck, worries that Cosco Shipping's stake will increase Germany's reliance on China. Therefore, he intends to disagree with this trade.
Hamburg is currently the third-largest European terminal and the 19th-largest port in the world.
Source: Channel C #Aug25
https://bit.ly/3KlwiBp
#Germany #Hamburg #FinancialMinister #RobertHabeck #CoscoShippingInternational