China and Taiwan News 中国和台湾新闻
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News from non-state media sources about China and Taiwan. 来自非国营来源关于中国和台湾的新闻。中英双语 Bilingual English and Chinese
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#WhiteTerror #Regime #CCP
Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan Seen Looking Haggard After Hunger Strike in Chinese Prison

Source: Stand News #Feb6

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#WhiteTerror #Regime #CCP
Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan Seen Looking Haggard After Hunger Strike in Chinese Prison

The photos of citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan's appearance in court have been released. Zhang is said to have been undergoing a hunger strike for six months, and is seen looking haggard and in a wheelchair when appearing before the court accompanied by two court police in China.

Wang Jianhong, a supporter of the #FreeZhangZhan movement, posted the photos on Twitter, which were taken back in 28 December 2020 when Zhang stood trial at Shanghai Pudong People's Court.

The tweet mentioned Zhang was bound and forced to face the court, stating that, "the wheelchair she was in had a wide belt binding her to the back of her wheelchair preventing movement. She was wearing handcuffs." The tweet also mentioned that Zhang's mother stated to the media that Zhang looked "haggard and thin to the bone" when looked from behind.

Zhang Zhan, who conducted a hunger strike and once rebuked a judge with "This is where we judge you for your sins, not mine", was convicted of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" after posting videos on quarantine measures and the medical situation in Wuhan, and sentenced to four years in prison.

Zhang's lawyer had reported seeing Zhang with a NG tube, while being bound around the wrists and waist.

Source: Stand News #Feb6

===
Further Reading:

China Jails Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan, EU: She was Being Tortured, and Pompeo: the Case Reflects CCP Fears of Truthtellers
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/27951

#ZhangZhan #CitizenJournalist #CCPCourt #Injustice #PoliticalPersecution #HungerStrike #ChinesePrison
#CCPControl #Regime
British Foreign Secretary: China Breaches the Sino-British Joint Declaration Continuously

On March 13, 2021, British Foreign Secretary #DominicRaab issued another statement, shortly following the first one two days ago on March 11, 2021 in which he slammed Beijing’s decision to impose radical changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Raab wrote in the statement that “this is part of a pattern designed to harass and stifle all voices critical of China’s policies and is the third breach of the Joint Declaration in less than nine months.”

He further stated that, “the Chinese authorities’ continued action means I must now report that the UK considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration - a demonstration of the growing gulf between Beijing’s promises and its actions.”

In closing, Raab reiterated UK’s support to Hong Kong, saying that “the UK will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong. China must act in accordance with its legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.”

Immediately following the National People's Conference's (#NPC) resolution to impose an electoral overhaul on Hong Kong, Dominic Raab made a statement on March 11, 2021 saying that the latest step by Beijing would “hollow out the space for democratic debate in Hong Kong, contrary to the promises made by China itself.”

Several MPs of UK parliament, however, disparaged the British Government for paying mere lip-service and questioned whether the Government would impose #sanction over concerning officials in Hong Kong based on the Magninisky Human Rights Act.

#MagniniskyAct #SinoBritishJointDeclaration #ElectoralOverhaul

Source: Stand News #Mar13

https://bit.ly/3f18WU9
#Censorship #Regime
Pooh-Pooh, not Winnie: Chinese Media Avoid #Xi Satire

In Shanghai #Disneyland, a little boy attacked a worker in #WinniethePooh costume. However, the parents of the boy has been impertinent and refused to apologise to the worker.

The video went viral on the #ChineseInternet, but it seems “Winnie the Pooh” is a bigger problem to China's media than violence or parenting, as they use “Pooh-pooh bear” instead in reporting the news.

[Editor's note: the cartoon figure Winnie the Pooh has been used as a satirical representation to the #CCP General Secretary #XiJinping and was thereby banned in China for a period of time.]

Source: Liberty Times #May9
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3526274
#InternationalRelations #Regime
#China Pressures #Ukraine by blocking #COVID19 #vaccine shipment

//China pressured Ukraine into withdrawing its support for a call for more scrutiny of human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang by threatening to withhold Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines destined for Ukraine unless it did so, diplomats told The Associated Press on Friday, June 15, 2021.

Ukraine briefly joined a statement by over 40 countries, presented by Canada at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. Some human rights groups have alleged Chinese mistreatment of Muslim Uyghurs and others in the region.

On Thursday, Ukraine pulled its name off the list of supporting states after Chinese authorities warned Kyiv that they would block a planned shipment of at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine unless it did so, said diplomats from two Western countries. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Ukraine has agreed to purchase 1.9 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech. As of early May, Ukraine had received 1.2 million doses, according to Health Minister Maxim Stepanov.

In the past, China’s government has been no stranger to pressuring other countries in Geneva diplomatic circles or in national capitals either to line up behind its statements or avoid backing statements that criticize, question or seek scrutiny of human rights in the country...//

Read full article:
https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-china-europe-ukraine-health-a0a5ae8f735b92e39c623e453529cbb9

Source: Associated Press #Jun25

#Uyghurs #CCP #WolfWarrior #Diplomacy #MadeinChina #Sinovac

Image: Stand News

https://beta.thestandnews.com/international/%E6%93%9A%E5%A0%B1%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%A8%81%E8%84%85%E6%89%A3%E8%B5%B7%E7%96%AB%E8%8B%97-%E8%BF%AB%E4%BB%A4%E7%83%8F%E5%85%8B%E8%98%AD%E9%80%80%E5%87%BA%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5%E6%96%B0%E7%96%86%E8%81%AF%E5%90%88%E8%81%B2%E6%98%8E-%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%B9-%E9%AB%94%E7%8F%BE%E7%8D%A8%E7%AB%8B%E8%87%AA%E4%B8%BB%E5%AF%A6%E4%BA%8B%E6%B1%82%E6%98%AF
#InternationalRelations #Regime
#China Pressures #Ukraine by blocking #COVID19 #vaccine shipment

//China pressured Ukraine into withdrawing its support for a call for more scrutiny of human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang by threatening to withhold Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines destined for Ukraine unless it did so, diplomats told The Associated Press on Friday, June 15, 2021.

Ukraine briefly joined a statement by over 40 countries, presented by Canada at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. Some human rights groups have alleged Chinese mistreatment of Muslim Uyghurs and others in the region.

On Thursday, Ukraine pulled its name off the list of supporting states after Chinese authorities warned Kyiv that they would block a planned shipment of at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine unless it did so, said diplomats from two Western countries. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Ukraine has agreed to purchase 1.9 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech. As of early May, Ukraine had received 1.2 million doses, according to Health Minister Maxim Stepanov.

In the past, China’s government has been no stranger to pressuring other countries in Geneva diplomatic circles or in national capitals either to line up behind its statements or avoid backing statements that criticize, question or seek scrutiny of human rights in the country...//

Read full article:
https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-china-europe-ukraine-health-a0a5ae8f735b92e39c623e453529cbb9

Source: Associated Press #Jun25

#Uyghurs #CCP #WolfWarrior #Diplomacy #MadeinChina #Sinovac

Image: Stand News

https://bit.ly/3ykp09J
#ReportersWithoutBorders and 44-NGO coalition urge Chinese President #XiJinping to release #Covid19 reporter on #hungerstrike

//On September 17, 2021, Reporters Without Borders (#RSF) and a coalition of 44 human rights NGOs urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to exonerate and release Covid-19 reporter #ZhangZhan, who has been on hunger strike since May 2020, for which she was forced-fed.

“Zhang Zhan did not commit any crime but instead courageously risked her life to inform the public on the health crisis. She should never have been arrested, let alone subjected to a harsh prison sentence”, says the head of RSF East Asia bureau, Cédric Alviani, who urges President Xi Jinping to “ensure that Zhang Zhan is released before it’s too late.”//

Source: RSF #Sept17

https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-and-44-ngo-coalition-urge-chinese-president-xi-jinping-release-covid-19-reporter-hunger-strike

Related news:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28615

#PoliticalProsecution #PressFreedom #Regime #CCPRules
#Pandemic #CCPLies
Spending on #PCR tests in China soared months before first #COVID19 cases revealed: Report

//Spending on tests used to detect coronavirus in China’s Hubei Province soared in the months before official reports of COVID-19 first emerged, suggesting the virus was spreading in the northern summer of 2019, well before it was publicly acknowledged by the Chinese government.

The data, compiled by Australian cyber security outfit #Internet2.0, showed that the sale of polymerase chain reaction tests – used to detect the presence of specific viruses – jumped to 67.4 million yuan ($14.3 million) in 2019, from 36.7 million yuan in 2018, and 29.1 million in 2017.

“We have come to the conclusion that based on the data analysed it suggests the virus was highly likely to be spreading virulently in Wuhan, China as early as the summer of 2019 and definitely by the early autumn,” the report states.//

Read full article:
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/spending-on-pcr-tests-in-china-soared-months-before-covid-19-revealed-20211005-p58x89.html

Source: The Age #Oct5
#Regime #GreatFireWall #Wuhan WuhanPneumonia
#Regime
HK public broadcaster removes social media pages of 12 popular programmes

Since one year ago, the Hong Kong public broadcaster #RTHK, with the change of management, has been removing programmes that the authorities deem "sensitive" from its website and restricting quality programmes from enrolling competitions.

On November 27, 2021,the broadcaster sneaked in a notice at the bottom of its website, saying that the station will halt the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages of 12 shows from December 3, 2021 onwards.

The notice, however, didn't give any reasons to the halt.

The programmes affected are:

- This Morning;
- The Pulse;
- LegCo Review;
- Hong Kong Connection;
- This Week;
- Think About Thinking;
- Headliner;
- Hong Kong Stories – A Time to Mend;
- Rich Mate Poor Mate Series 2 and 3;
- Sign Language; and
- Knowledge Zone.

Most of these shows are no longer in production, including the axed popular political satire show Headliner.

While some of these social media pages have been dormant for periods ranging from around two months to more than two years, others have been popular among netizens and followed by many.

The Facebook page of Hong Kong Connection had 360,000 likes and followed by 440,000.

The Facebook page of Headliner had 420,000 likes and followed by 480,000.

The Facebook page of This Week had 340,000 likes and followed by 430,000;

The Facebook page of Think about Thinking had 87,000 likes and followed by 100,000.

Image: Stand News
Source: Citizen News; #Dec2
https://bit.ly/2ZMdTLg

#MemoryWar #Silence #Censorship #Headliner #HongKongConnection
#Cybersecurity #FakeNews
Facebook takes down China-based network spreading false COVID-19 claims

//The parent company of #Facebook and #Instagram said on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, it has taken down more than 600 accounts, pages and groups connected to a Chinese influence operation spreading #COVID19 #disinformation, including an account purporting to be a fictitious Swiss biologist.

The China-based network was one of six #Meta, formerly know as Facebook, removed in November for abusing its platforms, a reminder that bad actors around the world are using social media to promote false information and harass opponents.

The China-based operation came to light after the company was alerted to an account purporting to be a Swiss biologist named Wilson Edwards (no such person exists). The account posted claims on Facebook and Twitter in July that the U.S. was pressuring World Health Organization scientists to blame China for the COVID-19 virus. The posts alleging U.S. intimidation soon appeared in Chinese state media stories.//

Image: Stand News
Source: NPR #Dec1
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060645940/facebook-takes-down-china-based-fake-covid-claims

#FakeIdentity #MadeInChina #CCPControls #CCP #Regime
#Taiwan Condemns Hong Kong Authorities' Crackdown on #StandNews

On December 29, 2021, Taiwan's three major political parties all issued statements in response to Hong Kong Police's crackdown on Stand News, expressing their concern and condemnation.

Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (#DPP), expressed "indignation and resentment" at the Hong Kong police's flagrant actions, searching media offices and arresting promoters of freedom and democracy. They consider these acts as strangling Hong Kong's freedom of expression and creating a chilling effect among media and public opinion. The DPP calls on the international community and Taiwan to continue observing Hong Kong's development.

The statement by New Power Party (#NPP) calls the actions by Hong Kong's national security police "disproportional", causing serious damage to the freedom of press, and effectively nullifies the rights laid out in the Basic Law: "Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike."

#Kuomintang, Taiwan's current opposition party, expressed deep concern that the authorities shut down a media company that spoke up for different public opinions and upheld principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights. They called on Chinese authorities to respect the younger generation's view of democratic values and freedom of speech. As Hong Kong had been the revolutionary headquarter of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, Hong Kong's democracy and freedom are deeply tied to the pursuit of democracy and freedom on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Citizen News; Liberty Times #Dec29
https://www.facebook.com/366243453719070/posts/1618965958446807/

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3784313

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
There are two sides to the state of the #Chinese regime. On one side, we're seeing a weakening of its system—a weakening economically, politically, and socially. At the same time, we see a #regime that's becoming more #aggressive on the world stage.

Join host #JoshuaPhilipp as we look into this.

⭕️Tune in here for the full episode 👉 https://ept.ms/ChinasTwoSides

🔵 Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at @EpochTV 👉 https://ept.ms/37ckRcx
#Regime #CCPRules
#China Bans #Christmas as 'Forbidden Western Celebration'

A leaked document showed that Chinese authorities ordered limits on festive celebrations.

The document, dated December 20, 2021 was issued by the PRC's Department of Education of Rong'an county in Liuzhou city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The directive, addressed to all elementary schools and kindergartens, is titled "Spreading the Chinese traditional culture and forbidding Western festival celebrations".

It urged people to report to the authorities immediately if anyone finds individuals and organizations arranging any Christmas event.

The directive also said a special officer has been designated at the County Public Security Bureau to handle complaints regarding the matter and urged people to contact the authorities immediately if anyone finds individuals and organizations arranging any Christmas event.

Source: Set News; #Dec24
https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=1047163
#WinterOlympics #MassSurveillance
Official #Beijing 2022 Olympics #MobileApp Is Marred by Security Flaws, Researchers Say

//In a report released Tuesday, Citizen Lab also said the app didn’t properly encrypt sensitive metadata transmitted through the app’s messaging function, which meant any eavesdropper operating a Wi-Fi hot spot could discover who users are communicating with and when.

The Beijing 2022 handbook for athletes and officials says My 2022 is intended to ensure the safety of all Games participants and “is in accordance with international standards and Chinese law.”//

Read the full article:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/official-beijing-2022-olympics-mobile-app-is-marred-by-security-flaws-researchers-say-11642511957

Source: WSJ #Jan19

#BigData #Regime #Cybersecurity #ChineseInternet #PoliceState #ChineseLaw
#Censorship #Silencing
China's Internet censors suggested contents mocking #XiJingping

On January 12, 2022, a Twitter account in the name of "New Youth" (新青年) twitted several screenshots showing possible censorship on #Baidu, the most used search engine in China.

The screenshots are lists of search results on Baidu, which is said to be automatically generated by AI based on most popular searches and most used keywords.

"New Youth" claimed that on Baidu's search bar, it used to prompt multiple AI suggested contents associated to "The incumbent" (現在這位) in its dropdown box, such like:-

"The incumbent is going to reign forever?" (現在這位是一直要坐下去嗎);

"The incumbent is not stirring up economy but movement" (現在這位不搞經濟搞運動);

"The incumbent craves for grandiose deeds" (現在這位好大喜功);

"The incumbent sucks in promoting economy" (現在這位搞經濟不行);

"The incumbent brags everyday, incredible!" (現在這位天天吹, 厲害了).

These suggested contents are seemingly pointing at the top CCP leader, Xi Jingping, criticising and mocking his leadership.

Currently, Baidu has removed all these suggested contents associated to "The Incumbent".

#CCP #Manipulation #Regime #ChineseInternet

Source: RFA; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/31Y8HVK
China State Media Demonizes its Netizens' #StandWithUkraine Effort

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Chinese-language comments supporting the aggression and deriding Ukrainian women were made by #LittlePink and opinion leaders on various social media platforms in China. Other Chinese-speaking netizens, who were appalled at these comments and behaviors, began translating them into other languages and posting them online for the world to see.

Calling themselves "The Great Translation Movement", the volunteer translators soon caught the attention of international media - as well as China's own propaganda machine.

Global Times, a tabloid owned by the Chinese Communist Party, condemned these volunteer translation efforts for painting China in a negative light. In a Weibo post on March 17, 2022, The Party mouthpiece called the translations an "evil force", inciting Anti-China hate on the Internet and endangering China as a whole. It also accused the participants to be supported by "foreign, anti-China forces", suggesting that they lacked "normal morals" and could not bear to see China's successful development - and its "temporary problems".

See also: Chinese in Ukraine Are Trying to Pass for Japanese as Anger Grows over Pro-Invasion Comments by ‘Little Pink’
https://publielectoral.lat/BeWaterHK/312

Source: Global Times Weibo, The Great Translation Movement Twitter #Mar17
https://twitter.com/TGTM_Official/status/1504448184763904001?t=WLgra5Yo_4hpAR0H37dD3Q&s=19

#Regime #GlobalTimes #Propaganda #TheGreatTranslationMovement
#Shanghai starts China's biggest #COVID19 lockdown in 2 years; residents call it "insane"

Although Chinese officials said lockdown would not be imposed on #Shanghai, two days later the authorities announced that the city will be locked down in two stages from Monday, March 28, 2022 onwards for nine days.

According to BBC, this is the biggest city-wide #lockdown since the Covid outbreak began more than two years ago.

Soon after the government's announcement was out, panic buying occured in various parts of Shanghai.

Videos on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, showed people fighting in supermarket over produce. Some Chinese netizens commented that it was "unbelievable that they are looking at 21st-Century Shanghai" and that the policy was "insane".

Source: InMedia; BBC #Mar28
https://bit.ly/380pPwx

#WuhanPneumonia #ChineseStyle #Lockdown #Pandemic #Regime