Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#HumanRights #Solidarity
French Footballer Griezmann cuts ties with #Huawei citing fears over treatment of #Uighurs
//The France and Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann ended his affiliation with Huawei on Dec 10, 202p, saying there are “strong suspicions” that the Chinese tech giant has contributed to the repression of the mostly Muslim minority Uighurs.
Griezmann’s announcement followed media reports that Huawei has tested facial recognition software intended to help China’s surveillance of the group.
“Following strong suspicions that the Huawei company has contributed to the development of a ‘Uighur alert’ thanks to facial recognition software, I am announcing the immediate termination of my partnership with the company,” Griezmann said in an Instagram post.
“I take this opportunity to invite Huawei to not just deny these accusations, but to take concrete actions as quickly as possible to condemn this mass repression, and to use its influence to contribute to the respect of human and women’s rights in society.”//
Image: BBC
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/10/griezmann-cuts-ties-with-huawei-citing-fears-over-treatment-of-uighurs
#AntoineGriezmann #CCP
French Footballer Griezmann cuts ties with #Huawei citing fears over treatment of #Uighurs
//The France and Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann ended his affiliation with Huawei on Dec 10, 202p, saying there are “strong suspicions” that the Chinese tech giant has contributed to the repression of the mostly Muslim minority Uighurs.
Griezmann’s announcement followed media reports that Huawei has tested facial recognition software intended to help China’s surveillance of the group.
“Following strong suspicions that the Huawei company has contributed to the development of a ‘Uighur alert’ thanks to facial recognition software, I am announcing the immediate termination of my partnership with the company,” Griezmann said in an Instagram post.
“I take this opportunity to invite Huawei to not just deny these accusations, but to take concrete actions as quickly as possible to condemn this mass repression, and to use its influence to contribute to the respect of human and women’s rights in society.”//
Image: BBC
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/10/griezmann-cuts-ties-with-huawei-citing-fears-over-treatment-of-uighurs
#AntoineGriezmann #CCP
the Guardian
Griezmann cuts ties with Huawei citing fears over treatment of Uighurs
The France and Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann has cut commercial ties with the Chinese tech giant Huawei
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#US #InternationalRelations
#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
China has halted visa-free tourist travel for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau in retaliation for sanctions from Washington, which accuses Beijing of violating democratic processes in the territory.
Announcing the measure on December 11, 2020, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying warned the US to “stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal politics, stop walking further and further along this dangerous and mistaken path”.
The United States on December 7 imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 mainland officials over their role in adopting the national security law for Hong Kong and Beijing's disqualification last month of pro-democracy lawmakers Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.
“China will also implement reciprocal sanctions against some US officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations, and their family members, over their actions on Hong Kong,” Hua said. When asked for the names of those sanctioned and when the sanctions would start, Hua did not elaborate.
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-sanctions/china-revokes-visa-exemptions-for-u-s-diplomat-passport-holders-visiting-hong-kong-macau-idUSKBN28K0N4
https://www.ft.com/content/6a7cbda8-bdc5-43cb-940e-aaea70dfaa0c
#PoliticalRetaliation #Visa
#China suspends visa exemption for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau
China has halted visa-free tourist travel for US diplomats to Hong Kong and Macau in retaliation for sanctions from Washington, which accuses Beijing of violating democratic processes in the territory.
Announcing the measure on December 11, 2020, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying warned the US to “stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal politics, stop walking further and further along this dangerous and mistaken path”.
The United States on December 7 imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 mainland officials over their role in adopting the national security law for Hong Kong and Beijing's disqualification last month of pro-democracy lawmakers Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.
“China will also implement reciprocal sanctions against some US officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations, and their family members, over their actions on Hong Kong,” Hua said. When asked for the names of those sanctioned and when the sanctions would start, Hua did not elaborate.
Source: RTHK; Financial Times; Reuters #Dec10
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-sanctions/china-revokes-visa-exemptions-for-u-s-diplomat-passport-holders-visiting-hong-kong-macau-idUSKBN28K0N4
https://www.ft.com/content/6a7cbda8-bdc5-43cb-940e-aaea70dfaa0c
#PoliticalRetaliation #Visa
U.S.
China revokes visa exemptions for U.S. diplomat passport holders visiting Hong Kong, Macau
China said on Thursday it would revoke visa exemption treatment for U.S. diplomatic passport holders visiting Hong Kong and Macau after the United States imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on more than a dozen Chinese officials.
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Citizen journalist detained over Wuhan reporting 'restrained and fed by tube'
Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist and 37-year-old former lawyer, has been on a hunger strike at a detention facility near Shanghai. Zhang was arrested in May and accused of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble”, an accusation frequently used against critics and activists inside China, after reporting on social media and streaming accounts.
Zhang has been detained for more than six months after reporting on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Last month she was formally indicted on charges of spreading false information.
Zhang was previously detained on similar accusations by Chinese authorities in 2018, and again in 2019 for voicing support for Hong Kong activists. She denies the charge of falsifying information, telling her lawyer that all the information was gathered firsthand through interviews with Wuhan residents.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/citizen-journalist-detained-over-wuhan-reporting-restrained-and-fed-by-tube?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Wuhan #Covid19 #CitizenJournalist #China #ChinaDetention
Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist and 37-year-old former lawyer, has been on a hunger strike at a detention facility near Shanghai. Zhang was arrested in May and accused of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble”, an accusation frequently used against critics and activists inside China, after reporting on social media and streaming accounts.
Zhang has been detained for more than six months after reporting on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Last month she was formally indicted on charges of spreading false information.
Zhang was previously detained on similar accusations by Chinese authorities in 2018, and again in 2019 for voicing support for Hong Kong activists. She denies the charge of falsifying information, telling her lawyer that all the information was gathered firsthand through interviews with Wuhan residents.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/citizen-journalist-detained-over-wuhan-reporting-restrained-and-fed-by-tube?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Wuhan #Covid19 #CitizenJournalist #China #ChinaDetention
the Guardian
Citizen journalist detained over Wuhan reporting 'restrained and fed by tube'
Former lawyer Zhang Zhan was on hunger strike after her arrest for ‘picking quarrels’
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Chinese officials linked to Hong Kong arrests escape UK sanctions
The UK Foreign Office announced to place travel bans and asset freezes on 10 politicians, officials and others responsible for gross human rights violations in Gambia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
Backbench MPs had pressed the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in arresting pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said the issue was under consideration.
It is expected that the UK will present a new set of sanctions in January and that these will be focused on individuals thought corrupt – the first time the country will cite corruption as a reason to impose asset freezes under the legislation.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/10/chinese-officials-linked-to-hong-kong-activist-arrests-escape-uks-new-sanctions?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UKSanction #UK
The UK Foreign Office announced to place travel bans and asset freezes on 10 politicians, officials and others responsible for gross human rights violations in Gambia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
Backbench MPs had pressed the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in arresting pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said the issue was under consideration.
It is expected that the UK will present a new set of sanctions in January and that these will be focused on individuals thought corrupt – the first time the country will cite corruption as a reason to impose asset freezes under the legislation.
Source: The Guardian #Dec10
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/10/chinese-officials-linked-to-hong-kong-activist-arrests-escape-uks-new-sanctions?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#UKSanction #UK
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Pompeo Urges U.S. University To Scrutinize Chinese Students To Avoid Stealing And Brainwashing
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged U.S. universities to scrutinize China's assistance and students, warning that Beijing was set on to steal American innovations.
Speaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Pompeo said the United States welcomes Chinese who "genuinely" want study in the country, but also cited two cases of Chinese students who were charged with spying and some cases of Beijing harassing of students abroad. “If we don’t educate ourselves, if we’re not honest about what’s taking place, we’ll get schooled by Beijing,” he said. “The Chinese Communist Party knows it can never match our innovation, that’s why it sends 400 thousand students a year to the United States of America to study,” he added.
Once again, he called on U.S. universities to shut down all Confucius Institutes, “We cannot allow this tyrannical regime to steal our stuff, to build their military might and brainwash our people, or buy off our institutions to help them cover up these activities… We need administrators to close Confucius Institutes and investigate what so-called ‘student groups’ backed by the CCP money are actually up to on their campuses,” he declared.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201210/OQD4ET54EZF6BIRJZHCSJUGAJY/
#US #China #MikePompeo #ConfuciusInstitutes #University #USChinaRelation #ChineseStudents
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged U.S. universities to scrutinize China's assistance and students, warning that Beijing was set on to steal American innovations.
Speaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Pompeo said the United States welcomes Chinese who "genuinely" want study in the country, but also cited two cases of Chinese students who were charged with spying and some cases of Beijing harassing of students abroad. “If we don’t educate ourselves, if we’re not honest about what’s taking place, we’ll get schooled by Beijing,” he said. “The Chinese Communist Party knows it can never match our innovation, that’s why it sends 400 thousand students a year to the United States of America to study,” he added.
Once again, he called on U.S. universities to shut down all Confucius Institutes, “We cannot allow this tyrannical regime to steal our stuff, to build their military might and brainwash our people, or buy off our institutions to help them cover up these activities… We need administrators to close Confucius Institutes and investigate what so-called ‘student groups’ backed by the CCP money are actually up to on their campuses,” he declared.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec10
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201210/OQD4ET54EZF6BIRJZHCSJUGAJY/
#US #China #MikePompeo #ConfuciusInstitutes #University #USChinaRelation #ChineseStudents
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Canada says citizens held in China have not been tried in case linked to Huawei
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been confined by China since December 10, 2018, just days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
In Dec 2020, Canada said it had confirmed with China that a pair of Canadians held for two years in China in a case linked to a Huawei executive have not been put on trial.
Chinese prosecutors announced earlier 2020 that Kovrig had been charged on suspicion of spying for state secrets and intelligence, and Spavor on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets.
Source: NBCN News #Dec10
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-canadians-have-been-indicted-tried-case-linked-huawei-executive-n1250677
#Canada #TwoMichael #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been confined by China since December 10, 2018, just days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
In Dec 2020, Canada said it had confirmed with China that a pair of Canadians held for two years in China in a case linked to a Huawei executive have not been put on trial.
Chinese prosecutors announced earlier 2020 that Kovrig had been charged on suspicion of spying for state secrets and intelligence, and Spavor on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets.
Source: NBCN News #Dec10
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-canadians-have-been-indicted-tried-case-linked-huawei-executive-n1250677
#Canada #TwoMichael #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Reuters: China puts pressure multinational firms to break ties with Lithuania or be driven out of China market
The relationship between China and Lithuania is still poor. Chinese customs recently removed Lithuania from its list of "countries of origin", making it impossible for Lithuanian goods to enter China, and Lithuania's foreign minister asked the European Union to intervene with China.
The Reuters news agency on Thursday (9 December) quoted Lithuania's deputy foreign minister and representatives of local industry that China had asked a number of multinational companies to cut ties with Lithuania or else drive them out of the Chinese market.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday that he did not understand the situation reported by Reuters, but stressed that China has always acted in accordance with WTO rules, criticizing "Lithuania's betrayal of trust and justice, blatantly violating the political promises made to China when the two countries established diplomatic relations, creating ‘one China, one Taiwan’ in the world and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that China is determined to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reuters quoted Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomėnas as saying that China is putting pressure on multinational companies, saying that if they use Lithuanian-made components and goods, they can no longer sell in the Chinese market or get supplies in China, and some companies have already cancelled contracts with Lithuanian suppliers.
Source: StandNews #Dec10
#Reuters #Lithuania #ChinaLithuaniaRelation #EU #ChineseCustoms #Lithuaniangoods #ChineseForeignMinistry #WangWenbin #LithuanianForeignMinistry #MantasAdomėnas
The relationship between China and Lithuania is still poor. Chinese customs recently removed Lithuania from its list of "countries of origin", making it impossible for Lithuanian goods to enter China, and Lithuania's foreign minister asked the European Union to intervene with China.
The Reuters news agency on Thursday (9 December) quoted Lithuania's deputy foreign minister and representatives of local industry that China had asked a number of multinational companies to cut ties with Lithuania or else drive them out of the Chinese market.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday that he did not understand the situation reported by Reuters, but stressed that China has always acted in accordance with WTO rules, criticizing "Lithuania's betrayal of trust and justice, blatantly violating the political promises made to China when the two countries established diplomatic relations, creating ‘one China, one Taiwan’ in the world and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that China is determined to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reuters quoted Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomėnas as saying that China is putting pressure on multinational companies, saying that if they use Lithuanian-made components and goods, they can no longer sell in the Chinese market or get supplies in China, and some companies have already cancelled contracts with Lithuanian suppliers.
Source: StandNews #Dec10
#Reuters #Lithuania #ChinaLithuaniaRelation #EU #ChineseCustoms #Lithuaniangoods #ChineseForeignMinistry #WangWenbin #LithuanianForeignMinistry #MantasAdomėnas
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong aka BeWater HK
Foreign media: Kosovo diplomatically boycotts Beijing Winter Olympics
Following the #UnitedStates, #Australia, #Britain, #Canada and other countries, foreign media said #Kosovo also expressed support for the US diplomatic boycott of the #Beijing #WinterOlympics and joined the boycott on Thursday.
According to the report from Alast, Kosovo President #VjosaOsmani supports the US decision on diplomatically boycotting #China, and she joined the boycott due to China's violation of #HumanRights.
Even though the Kosovo delegation will resist all official ceremonies and events during the Beijing Winter Olympics, the athletes will still participate in the game.
Source: Stand News #Dec10
Following the #UnitedStates, #Australia, #Britain, #Canada and other countries, foreign media said #Kosovo also expressed support for the US diplomatic boycott of the #Beijing #WinterOlympics and joined the boycott on Thursday.
According to the report from Alast, Kosovo President #VjosaOsmani supports the US decision on diplomatically boycotting #China, and she joined the boycott due to China's violation of #HumanRights.
Even though the Kosovo delegation will resist all official ceremonies and events during the Beijing Winter Olympics, the athletes will still participate in the game.
Source: Stand News #Dec10