8 Chinese agents were charged by the United States for coercing dissidents to return to the mainland.

The US Justice Department announced today (29th October) that 8 Chinese agents, including 7 Chinese and 1 non-Chinese, were charged with conspiring to work on China’s behalf to find Chinese dissidents in the US, and use threats, harassment, surveillance, and intimidation to force them returning to China. 5 of them were under arrested and 3 others are still remain at large.

An online press conference by the US Justice Department was held on Wednesday morning in local time, disclosing the details of this operation. All eight defendants are charged with conspiring to act as illegal agents for a foreign government. Among these 8 persons 5 has been arrested, but still 3 of them are on the loose and believed to be in China now.

John Demers, Assistant Secretary for National Security Affairs of the US Department of Justice, stated that those defendants are Chinese agents, they carried out the so-called "Operation Fox Hunt" in the US, those goal was to target Chinese nationals living in foreign countries and intimidate them into returning to China for imprisonment or worse. The US Department of Justice described the "Operation Fox Hunt" to be a part of Chinese government’s global campaign and is illegal.

Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme stated that the defendants assisted PRC officials in a scheme to coerce targeted individuals to return to the PRC against their will. "The United States will not tolerate the conduct of PRC carrying out state-authorized actions on U.S. soil without notice to, and coordination with, the appropriate U.S. authorities. Nor will we tolerate the unlawful harassment and stalking of U.S. residents to further PRC objectives", he said.

Source: Stand News #Oct29

#China #OperationFoxHunt #US #USJusticeDepartment #JohnDemers #SethDDuCharme

Taipei accuses Beijing of WHO 'obstruction'

Taiwan on Monday said "obstruction" by Beijing had prevented it from attending a key World Health Organisation meeting focused on the coronavirus, accusing the global body of prioritising politics over health.The island has seen remarkable success in combatting the pandemic – with only seven deaths and fewer than 600 confirmed cases – as many parts of the world report surging numbers of infections and deaths.But it is frozen out of the WHO by Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to take it by force if necessary.The WHO's decision not to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly, due to resume virtually on Monday after being cut short by the pandemic in May, was a result of "political considerations", Taipei's foreign ministry said on Monday."The ministry expresses deep regrets and strong dissatisfaction over China's obstruction of Taiwan's participation," it said in a statement."As the world is still under serious threat of the Covid-19 pandemic... it is an irony to the 'health for all' goal under the WHO charter" to exclude Taiwan, it added.Taiwan attended the annual assembly between 2009 and 2016 as an observer, under the name Chinese Taipei. But Beijing has blocked its participation since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to acknowledge the island is part of "One China".A growing number of countries, including the United States, have called for Taiwan to regain its observer status at this year's assembly, amid fears its exclusion could jeopardise efforts to curb the pandemic.The World Medical Association, a confederation of national medical associations that jointly represent more than 10 million physicians, said last week "it is both cynical and counterproductive" to exclude Taiwan. "The Covid-19 pandemic is proof that cooperation for and with all health care systems in the world is necessary," chairman Frank Montgomery said in an open letter to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.Tedros has said Taiwan's participation can only be decided by member states with the consent of "the relevant government" – a reference to Beijing. (AFP)

2020-11-09 15:53:42

China declines to acknowledge Biden victory

China declined on Monday to congratulate Joe Biden as the winner of the US presidential election, saying the outcome of the vote was still to be determined.While incumbent Donald Trump has yet to concede and has launched several legal challenges, many world leaders congratulated Biden and running mate Kamala Harris after the Democrats were declared winners at the weekend and spontaneous celebrations erupted across American cities.Trump's four years in the White House have been marked by a costly trade war and increasingly icy relations with China, with the two powers sparring over areas from blame for the Covid-19 pandemic to Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.China – among a handful of major countries including Russia and Mexico that has not congratulated the president-elect – said Monday it had "noticed that Mr Biden declared he is the winner of the election.""Our understanding is that the outcome of the election will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told press at a regular briefing.After declining to acknowledge Biden's victory despite repeated questions from reporters, Wang said: "We hope the new US government can meet China halfway."Trump has refused to concede defeat, complaining in a tweet on Sunday, "Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be?"(AFP)

2020-11-09 17:09:02

Taiwan says not invited to WHO meeting after Chinese ‘obstruction’

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/11/09/taiwan-says-not-invited-to-who-meeting-after-chinese-obstruction/

UK Media: Intelligence Agencies Recruit Chinese Talents to Strengthen Intelligence Investigations against China's Spy War

In response to the growing threat from China and its espionage activities, the UK media reported that the national intelligence agencies would recruit Chinese language talents for a variety of intelligence activities.

The Evening Standard reported that MI6, MI5 and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) would soon increase the recruitment of language experts, particularly Chinese speakers, to be at the "heart of intelligence investigations".

Some job boards have already posted recruitment notices by the intelligence agencies, "Coming soon: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ will soon launch recruitment campaigns for Chinese language experts". Adding that, the Chinese language experts at MI5 will use their language skills to provide intelligence analysis and play an active role in directing projects and advancing investigations.

The report pointed out that China’s espionage activities have reached a considerable scale, intending to steal intellectual property and other commercial secrets and interfere in politics. The new MI5 director, Ken McCallum, said earlier that British intelligence officers discovered that China attempts to interfere in politics. He also revealed that Britain, which recently thwarted China's political interference in the European Union, is facing a severe challenge from these "hostile acts".

Source: Apple Daily #Oct31

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201031/KPKXF5NIN5EQZK7KW3CAKAC7LM/

#UK #China #EU #BritishIntelligenceAgencies #EveningStandard #MI5 #MI6 #GCHQ #ChineseLanguage #ChinaEspionage #ChinaSpyWar #KenMcCallum

(HKers in Taiwan | Aegis restaurant in Taipei)

Taiwan authorities pressed charges of vandalism and public insult against four suspects on Monday, over the attack of Aegis, a Taipei restaurant known for its support to exiled Hong Kong activists. One defendant, surnamed Mo, faced an additional charge of accidental infliction of injury for hurting a staffer’s eyes when trashing the store with chicken feces.

The four pleaded guilty and revealed the name of the Chinese mastermind behind the attack in October, who is on the run in mainland China and wanted by Taiwan authorities.

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According to the defendants, a Chinese man surnamed Chen instigated the act and offered a reward of NT$30,000 (US$1,049) to two suspects surnamed Lee for an initial inspection. Chen paid the cousins and Mo NT$15,000 for damaging the restaurant and another NT$30,000 after completing the act.

The investigators found that another Chinese man was involved in the attack, while the motivation remained unknown.

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Aegis will reopen on Nov. 11 after a three-week closure since it was trashed.

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https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20201109/6RWFW4ROOJFZTAPLA44BOSNF64/

(u/KvasirsBlod)

Eight individuals charged with conspiring to act as illegal agents of the People’s Republic of China.

Five of the have been arrested on the charge a of illegally doing the biding of the Chinese government in the U.S.

Defendants conducted surveillance of and engaged in a campaign to harass, stark and coerce certain residents of the U.S. to return the PRC as part of global, concerted, and extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt”.

PRC’s Operation Fox Huat targets Chinese individuals living in foreign countries that PRC government alleges those committed crimes under PRC crimes and seeks to repatriate them to PRC face to charges.

Source: The U.S. Department of Justice #Oct28

https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/eight-individuals-charged-conspiring-act-illegal-agents-people-s-republic-china

#US #CCP #Chineseagent

(Taiwan's office that assists HKers seeking asylum)

The Taiwan-Hong Kong Service and Exchange Office (Office), established to assist Hongkongers who seek political asylum in the self-governed island, has received over 1,600 phone and email enquiries since its launch in July, according to a report by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council.

Speaking at the Internal Administration Committee of the Legislative Yuan on Monday, the Council said the administration will continue to defend Hong Kong people’s rights and interests.

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The administration is also reviewing amendments to the system and recruitment of professional talents under the “Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering the Taiwan Area and Setting up Residence or Registered Permanent Residence in R.O.C.” To protect Taiwan’s national security, an additional review mechanism will be introduced to screen those who were originally from mainland China or have been employed by Chinese military or political organizations.

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https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20201109/IKLETIPRWNDTFL44HJDK3AKOVY/

(u/KvasirsBlod)