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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53155160

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The crackdown is broad and systematic, and extends beyond democracy movements. Over 300 people have been arrested in national security cases since June 2020, with around 200 formally charged and dozens convicted. Prosecuted people include activists, community organisers, former legislators, journalists and student leaders. In one significant case, 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians were prosecuted for organising an unofficial primary election in 2020, which in a democracy would be considered normal political activity.

Suppression extends beyond organised opposition to basic civic engagement. After a major fire in November 2025, at least five people who questioned government responsibility and demanded accountability were arrested or detained. Even trivial activities now carry national security implications.

Independent civil society is being dismantled and replaced with state-aligned structures, mirroring mainland China’s model. The government has created state-aligned community committees and fire-prevention mutual aid committees that extend monitoring and political management into everyday community life. Control is no longer exercised only through top-down enforcement but through bottom-up networks embedded in local communities.

[...]

The diaspora has become the primary vehicle for organised civic resistance. Exiled journalists report on seditious topics and counter government disinformation. Organisations such as the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation and Washington DC-based Hong Kong Watch conduct advocacy and sanctions campaigns.

[...]

Reversing this process will be a long-term effort, not achievable through any single policy change. Domestically, it is key to preserve an accountability culture, civic identity and historical memory. Hong Kong’s diaspora preserves the memory that Hong Kong was once defined by freedom of expression, rule of law and a vibrant civil society.

Internationally, governments must recognise that this is not only a local issue but a challenge to international norms and the advance of a broader authoritarian governance model. Responses must include sustained diplomatic pressure, coordinated sanctions against those responsible for abuses, legal frameworks to address transnational repression and stronger protections for diaspora communities and independent media.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53153566

Archived

The rights group 'Article 19' is alarmed by a recent smear campaign carried out by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines targeting an investigative journalism outlet following their reporting on Chinese influence operations in the country. The online harassment is part of a broader pattern of transnational repression and influence operations in the Philippines’ information space that seeks to discredit China-critical narratives. It undermines the right of the media to independently carry out critical journalism and share information in the public interest.

'Article 19' calls for the Chinese embassy to cease its harassment of independent journalists, and for Filipino authorities to use available diplomatic channels and protection mechanisms to respond and maintain the safety of the targeted outlet.

[...]

In October 2025, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) published print and video reporting by Regine Cabato analysing Chinese influence operations in the country. Following publication, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines shared a series of Facebook posts smearing the investigative outlet, attacking their credibility and suggesting their reporting served foreign, rather than Philippine, interests.

PCIJ found that accounts aligned with ex-president Rodrigo Duterte quickly circulated the embassy’s initial post, resulting in over 400 re-shares to a combined audience of at least 3 million followers within 24 hours. In a 2025 hearing, Duterte-aligned influencers had confirmed participation in Chinese-funded media training seminars, with one participant stating he ‘gained an understanding of “how China media works”’. These subsidised trips are a common tactic in China’s foreign information manipulation operations playbook; they persuade local elites and other non-Chinese proxies to push Beijing’s preferred narratives.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53155160

Archived

[...]

The crackdown is broad and systematic, and extends beyond democracy movements. Over 300 people have been arrested in national security cases since June 2020, with around 200 formally charged and dozens convicted. Prosecuted people include activists, community organisers, former legislators, journalists and student leaders. In one significant case, 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians were prosecuted for organising an unofficial primary election in 2020, which in a democracy would be considered normal political activity.

Suppression extends beyond organised opposition to basic civic engagement. After a major fire in November 2025, at least five people who questioned government responsibility and demanded accountability were arrested or detained. Even trivial activities now carry national security implications.

Independent civil society is being dismantled and replaced with state-aligned structures, mirroring mainland China’s model. The government has created state-aligned community committees and fire-prevention mutual aid committees that extend monitoring and political management into everyday community life. Control is no longer exercised only through top-down enforcement but through bottom-up networks embedded in local communities.

[...]

The diaspora has become the primary vehicle for organised civic resistance. Exiled journalists report on seditious topics and counter government disinformation. Organisations such as the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation and Washington DC-based Hong Kong Watch conduct advocacy and sanctions campaigns.

[...]

Reversing this process will be a long-term effort, not achievable through any single policy change. Domestically, it is key to preserve an accountability culture, civic identity and historical memory. Hong Kong’s diaspora preserves the memory that Hong Kong was once defined by freedom of expression, rule of law and a vibrant civil society.

Internationally, governments must recognise that this is not only a local issue but a challenge to international norms and the advance of a broader authoritarian governance model. Responses must include sustained diplomatic pressure, coordinated sanctions against those responsible for abuses, legal frameworks to address transnational repression and stronger protections for diaspora communities and independent media.

[...]

Archived

Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday as the war in the Middle East drives up oil prices globally.

Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometers by 60 yuan ($8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also announced fuel surcharge hikes.

International flights will be subject to the system's calculations, according to statements issued on Wednesday that did not mention the conflict.

The move comes as the war in the Middle East, and Iran's effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, have sent crude prices soaring.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53153566

Archived

The rights group 'Article 19' is alarmed by a recent smear campaign carried out by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines targeting an investigative journalism outlet following their reporting on Chinese influence operations in the country. The online harassment is part of a broader pattern of transnational repression and influence operations in the Philippines’ information space that seeks to discredit China-critical narratives. It undermines the right of the media to independently carry out critical journalism and share information in the public interest.

'Article 19' calls for the Chinese embassy to cease its harassment of independent journalists, and for Filipino authorities to use available diplomatic channels and protection mechanisms to respond and maintain the safety of the targeted outlet.

[...]

In October 2025, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) published print and video reporting by Regine Cabato analysing Chinese influence operations in the country. Following publication, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines shared a series of Facebook posts smearing the investigative outlet, attacking their credibility and suggesting their reporting served foreign, rather than Philippine, interests.

PCIJ found that accounts aligned with ex-president Rodrigo Duterte quickly circulated the embassy’s initial post, resulting in over 400 re-shares to a combined audience of at least 3 million followers within 24 hours. In a 2025 hearing, Duterte-aligned influencers had confirmed participation in Chinese-funded media training seminars, with one participant stating he ‘gained an understanding of “how China media works”’. These subsidised trips are a common tactic in China’s foreign information manipulation operations playbook; they persuade local elites and other non-Chinese proxies to push Beijing’s preferred narratives.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53121782

Archived

A court in Taiwan awarded Chunghwa Telecom more than half a million US dollars in compensation for the damage a Chinese vessel caused to a subsea telecom cable. The financial award comes on top of a three-year prison sentence Taiwan imposed in June 2025 on the Chinese national who was commanding a decrepit vessel with a murky identity.

[...]

It came out in court in June 2025 that the captain, who would only give his name as Wang according to media reports, had ordered two sailors to drop anchor in a well-marked zone prohibiting anchoring and marked on charts to have critical undersea infrastructure. Early on the morning of February 25, the vessel was observed moving in a zigzag pattern. Chunghwa Telecom reported an outage on its cable Tai-Peng 3, which runs to the offshore islands of Penghu.

[...]

A court in Taiwan convicted the captain in June 2025 and sentenced him to three years in jail [...] The captain later appealed, but a court in Taiwan rejected his case.

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This and several other incidents prompted Taiwan to dramatically increase its monitoring of vessels. It said it was specifically targeting ships with third-world flags like the Togo registry of this vessel. It asserted that the vessels are all Chinese-owned and present an increasing danger to Taiwan as tensions escalate with China and the demands for reunification.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53121782

Archived

A court in Taiwan awarded Chunghwa Telecom more than half a million US dollars in compensation for the damage a Chinese vessel caused to a subsea telecom cable. The financial award comes on top of a three-year prison sentence Taiwan imposed in June 2025 on the Chinese national who was commanding a decrepit vessel with a murky identity.

[...]

It came out in court in June 2025 that the captain, who would only give his name as Wang according to media reports, had ordered two sailors to drop anchor in a well-marked zone prohibiting anchoring and marked on charts to have critical undersea infrastructure. Early on the morning of February 25, the vessel was observed moving in a zigzag pattern. Chunghwa Telecom reported an outage on its cable Tai-Peng 3, which runs to the offshore islands of Penghu.

[...]

A court in Taiwan convicted the captain in June 2025 and sentenced him to three years in jail [...] The captain later appealed, but a court in Taiwan rejected his case.

[...]

This and several other incidents prompted Taiwan to dramatically increase its monitoring of vessels. It said it was specifically targeting ships with third-world flags like the Togo registry of this vessel. It asserted that the vessels are all Chinese-owned and present an increasing danger to Taiwan as tensions escalate with China and the demands for reunification.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53108988

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s unwillingness to condemn forced labor in China risks reducing pressure on the Chinese government to end its repression of ethnic Uyghurs.

Responding to Member of Parliament Michael Ma’s comments casting doubts on reports of forced labor in China, Carney told the media on March 30 that Canada “takes issues of forced labor and child labor incredibly seriously.” But when asked directly whether forced labor is present in China, Carney said that “there are parts of China that are higher risk.”

Carney’s remarks ignore extensive and consistent documentation of state-imposed forced labor involving Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China’s supply chains, including cotton, automotive, solar, and critical minerals. The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and others have for several years reported on crimes against humanity by Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang region.

Carney’s comments also divert from past Canadian government statements expressing concern at forced labor in Xinjiang. In January 2021, Canada’s Global Affairs Ministry issued an advisory warning businesses of forced labor risks there.

[...]

Carney’s government [...] has so far failed to adequately enforce legislation blocking products made with forced labor and has not acted on a proposed supply chain due diligence law modeled in part on legislation in the European Union.

[...]

As Prime Minister Carney takes Canada forward in a multipolar world, he should make clear that Canada’s foreign and trade policy will be grounded in human rights, including by unequivocally condemning Uyghur forced labor.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53108728

Archived

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday cautioned government negotiators against entering potential oil and gas agreements with China, warning that Beijing has not been a “reliable partner” despite ongoing discussions on possible cooperation.

“The Chinese Communist Party is not a reliable partner on the negotiating table,” said Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for West Philippine Sea matters, during a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

“Historically, we have observed a difference in the way they speak and their actions on the ground. These are facts which are recorded.”

The warning came after Philippine and Chinese officials held back-to-back meetings for the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province.

Despite the renewed talks, Trinidad said the AFP would continue patrol and monitoring operations in the West Philippine Sea, stressing the military remains vigilant while diplomatic discussions proceed.

[...]

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio also warned that joint oil and gas exploration between the Philippines and China could be a “trap.”

“Joint development is a trap because joint development means China owns the gas, the oil, all the natural resources,” Carpio said during a visit to Pag-asa Island.

“China has the sovereign rights. That’s from the point of view of China. So why will we accept that?” he added.

Carpio visited Pag-asa Island to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church and was shown by the Philippine Coast Guard structures being built by China in Panganiban Reef, which is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone. Chinese maritime militia vessels were also observed in Sabina Shoal.

[...]

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s unwillingness to condemn forced labor in China risks reducing pressure on the Chinese government to end its repression of ethnic Uyghurs.

Responding to Member of Parliament Michael Ma’s comments casting doubts on reports of forced labor in China, Carney told the media on March 30 that Canada “takes issues of forced labor and child labor incredibly seriously.” But when asked directly whether forced labor is present in China, Carney said that “there are parts of China that are higher risk.”

Carney’s remarks ignore extensive and consistent documentation of state-imposed forced labor involving Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China’s supply chains, including cotton, automotive, solar, and critical minerals. The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and others have for several years reported on crimes against humanity by Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang region.

Carney’s comments also divert from past Canadian government statements expressing concern at forced labor in Xinjiang. In January 2021, Canada’s Global Affairs Ministry issued an advisory warning businesses of forced labor risks there.

[...]

Carney’s government [...] has so far failed to adequately enforce legislation blocking products made with forced labor and has not acted on a proposed supply chain due diligence law modeled in part on legislation in the European Union.

[...]

As Prime Minister Carney takes Canada forward in a multipolar world, he should make clear that Canada’s foreign and trade policy will be grounded in human rights, including by unequivocally condemning Uyghur forced labor.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53072462

Archived

[...]

The central risk is not a sudden systemic collapse, but a drawn‑out period of sub‑par growth, weak returns on investment, and fragile confidence—a pattern that will sound familiar to students of Japan’s post‑1990 trajectory.

Several specific challenges stand out:

• Demographics: An aging, shrinking population caps housing demand and undermines the traditional link between urbanization and construction booms.
• Balance sheets: Developers, local governments, and some financial institutions face long, grinding deleveraging cycles.
• Policy trade‑offs: Stimulating housing too aggressively risks re‑inflating the bubble; tightening too hard risks tipping growth into a deeper downturn.
• Confidence: Once households lose faith in property as a one‑way wealth escalator, rebuilding sentiment can take years.

[...]

Archived

[...]

The central risk is not a sudden systemic collapse, but a drawn‑out period of sub‑par growth, weak returns on investment, and fragile confidence—a pattern that will sound familiar to students of Japan’s post‑1990 trajectory.

Several specific challenges stand out:

• Demographics: An aging, shrinking population caps housing demand and undermines the traditional link between urbanization and construction booms.
• Balance sheets: Developers, local governments, and some financial institutions face long, grinding deleveraging cycles.
• Policy trade‑offs: Stimulating housing too aggressively risks re‑inflating the bubble; tightening too hard risks tipping growth into a deeper downturn.
• Confidence: Once households lose faith in property as a one‑way wealth escalator, rebuilding sentiment can take years.

[...]