Canada-China Relations: Trudeau hopes for the release of two Canadian citizens before New Year; government sources have yet to receive any new information

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he hoped for good news soon about two citizens who have been detained in China for the last two years.

Canadian police picked up Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in December 2018. Shortly after, China arrested businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig on espionage charges, which Canada has described as a case of hostage diplomacy.

Asked by Global News whether he thought there would be good news for the men’s families before the New Year, Trudeau replied: “I certainly hope so,” and said, “they are just an inspiration to me ... we’re doing everything we can, both directly with China and with allies.”

Canada has consistently said the return of the two men is its top foreign policy priority. However, sources said they had not heard of any recent developments.

#Canada #China #espionage #Huawei #Trudeau #diplomacy

Source: Apple Daily #Dec17

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201217/YY5UVG2JAFBO7CX7C23576LMOU/

British MPs Call for Boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics: Uyghur Genocide Evidence is Clear, but the UK Has No Spine to Resist

Source from: The Stand News #Feb07

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British MPs Call for Boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics: Uyghur Genocide Evidence is Clear, but the UK Has No Spine to Resist

The British political circle continues to suppress Beijing on human right issues in China. Some parliamentarians and dignitaries call on the government, the Olympic Committee and athletes to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics next year.

Both UK Liberal Democratic Party Leader Ed Davey and Labour Party Member Chris Bryant urged the government and British Olympics Committee to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics. Davey indicated that the Winter Olympics would be a tool for Beijing's political propaganda. He also stated that the genocide evidence in Xinjiang done by China is very conclusive. All five types of genocide listed in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against Genocide occurred in Xinjiang. He accused that the British government of not daring to act is cowardly. “It is so strange that the British government has so far failed to resist. I cannot see why people would still want to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics. In my opinion, the British Olympics Committee should urge the International Olympics Committee to hold the Olympics games in other places. Otherwise, we will boycott."

Source from: The Stand News #Feb07

https://bit.ly/3pLzTww

#China #Xinjiang #Beijing #Uyghur #Genocide #HumanRights #UK #British #UnitedKingdom #WinterOlympics #UnitedNations #boycott #Olympic

Thousands in Hong Kong sign up to BNO visa scheme for UK citizenship

The new immigration route for British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong opened for applications on January 31. 5.4 million Hongkongers could ultimately be eligible for British citizenship under this scheme.

The UK government expects about 300,000 people to come to the UK under this scheme in the first five years.

Almost 5,000 Hongkongers have already applied for the UK’s visa route a fortnight after the scheme opened.

Source: The Times #Feb18

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thousands-in-hong-kong-sign-up-to-bno-visa-scheme-for-uk-citizenship-jbgffszbn

#BNOVisa #HonKong #UK #lifeBoat

Chinese Companies Supplying Arms, Military Equipment to Myanmar: Group

The five largest suppliers are Chinese state-owned enterprises, including China North Industries Group (NORINCO), the Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC), the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp. (CASIC), and the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC).

More than a dozen other suppliers were funded from China or Hong Kong.

Chairman of the Myanmar-Burma Assistance Association Zhang Shengqi said that it was not a secret China supplying arms to the Myanmar military and the stability of Myanmar directly impacted China's national interest and its security.

Source: RFA #Feb18

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/supplying-02182021091648.html

#Myanmar #ChinaMilitary #ChinaSupportMyanmarCoup #MyanmarCoup

CUHK cuts ties with student union

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) said on February 25 that it'll stop providing administrative support to the student union as well as venues for its activities after accusing its new cabinet of failing to clarify what the institution said were potentially unlawful statements and false allegations.

Source: Stand News; #Feb25

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#Education #University
#CUHK cuts ties with student union

The university issued an unprecedently strong statement in the evening, stating that "The Student Union Executive Committee members have made false allegations against the University and exploited the campus for their political propaganda, which ran counter to the mission of CUHK and brought the University into disrepute. "

A spokesman stressed the election platform of #Syzygia, which won the leadership election a day ago on February 24, 2021, does not represent the position of the university, reminding them that their comments on #NationalSecurity may be in violation of the law.

The university said it will also stop collecting student union fees on its behalf and require the student body to register as an independent society to assume its own legal responsibility. Members will also be suspended from their ex-officio positions in all university committees.

#Oppression

Source: Stand News, RTHK; #Feb25
https://bit.ly/3kn9oMY

#FirstHand #Feb25
Despite Oppression, #CUHK #StudentsUnion vows to speak up for their belief

0020 | CUHK campus

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) does not shy away from imposing hard-hitting #oppression on the newly elected Students' Union. The University cuts tie with the student body and refuses to provide any administrative support.

The newly elected Students' Union met with the press at around mid-night on Feb 25, 2021 to reiterate their stance.

Read more about the University's statement
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28769

Utterly disappointed at the University’s harsh measures, one female member of the cabinet broke into tears when presenting the cabinet’s stance. In a trembling yet stern voice, she stated that the Students' Union will carry on what they believe and speak up on contentious issues.

“We know that making a statement now will not bring any material change. We still want to speak up and make known of our stance.”

#University #Censorship #WhiteTerror

#FirstHand #Oppression
Students in Hong Kong apologize to supporters for being unable to deliver election promise amidst oppression from University

Chinese University (#CUHK) issued a daunting statement in the late evening of February 25, in which the University cut tie with the Student's Union accusing the newly elected executive committee members over ‘false allegations’ against the institution. The Statement also challenged the body for breaching the #NationalSecurityLaw and bringing school into ‘disrepute’.

Read more about #CUHK’s statement
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28769

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#FirstHand #PoliticalOppression
Students in Hong Kong apologize to supporters for beinh unable to deliver election promise amidst oppression from University

At around mid-night, the new student union cabinet called for a press briefing to state their stance in response to the University’s tough measures. Members thanked their supporters for their votes and trust, however, they apologized for not being able to carry out duties as they promised in their election manifesto.

In the face of hard-hitting suppressions and obstructions from the University, members vowed to continue their fight in the Student's Union as long as they can.

At the end of the press briefing, members of the cabinet raised and bowed to the audience to show their deep apology.

Source: First Hand, #Feb26

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Read more:
Despite Oppression, #CUHK #StudentsUnion vows to speak up for their belief
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28771

#GlobalSupport #Ethics
12 Japan firms will kill business deals involving #Uyghur forced labor

Source: Kyodo News #Feb21

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#GlobalSupport #Ethics
12 Japan firms will kill business deals involving #Uyghur forced labor

//Twelve major Japanese companies have established a policy of ceasing business deals with Chinese companies found to benefit from the forced labor of the Muslim Uyghur minority in China's far-western Xinjiang region.

In a report last year, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute identified over 80 global companies "directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of Uyghur workers outside #Xinjiang through abusive labor transfer programs."

Kyodo News recently asked 14 Japanese companies mentioned by the think tank how they plan to respond.

With the exception of Panasonic Corp., which declined to comment, all companies either denied directly doing business with companies suspected of benefiting from forced labor or said they could not verify the claims against their suppliers.

The 12 include Toshiba Corp., Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing brand, Sony Corp. and Hitachi Ltd.//

Read full article:
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/b25bf2a754e7-12-japan-firms-will-kill-business-deals-involving-uyghur-forced-labor.html

Source: Kyodo News #Feb21

#Cotton #JapaneseCompany #Toshiba #Uniqlo #Sony #Hitachi #HumanRights

US urged Beijing to reinstate the qualifications of two lawyers in the Hong Kong 12 case and stop suppressing Taiwan

Source: The Stand News #Feb03

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US urged Beijing to reinstate the qualifications of two lawyers in the Hong Kong 12 case and stop suppressing Taiwan

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price indicated on Tuesday (2 Feb), that the Biden administration is in no hurry to engage with China, and said it would do so once it was in “lockstep” with its allies and partners, only then there will be engagement in several areas with China. He also said the US government is deeply concerned by China's attempts to disbar lawyers appointed by families in “12 Hongkongers’ case”, urged Beijing to respect human rights. In addition, he said China should cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan

Ned Price said on Twitter, that the United States is “deeply concerned by China's attempts to disbar and harass human rights lawyers Lu Siwei and Ren Quanniu for representing the Hong Kong 12. We urge Beijing to respect human rights and the rule of law and to reinstate their legal credentials at once.”

Source: The Stand News #Feb03

https://bit.ly/3bzgDxf

#China #Beijing #Taiwan #UnitedStates #NedPrice #BidenAdministration #HumanRights #RuleOfLaw #Save12 #Save12Youths

Pro-Beijing reforms threaten “end” of HK’s legal system, top lawyer warns.

Paul Harris, the New Bar Association head, has warned that calls from pro-Beijing figures in Hong Kong to radically reform the territory’s judiciary could spell “the end of the present legal system”. Proposed council would amount to “a powerful body which would tell judges what to do” and would be “a major backward step”.

Harris suffered a barrage of criticism from China’s state media and central government last month after he suggested to change some provisions of the security law.

Source: FT #Feb21

https://www.ft.com/content/da312e66-bea5-464f-bc5a-490729f3fbca

#HongKong #NationalSecuritylaw #HKLegalSystem

UK to call for UN probe of Uighur camps in China’s Xinjiang province

The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab would use an address to the UN human rights council on Feb 22 to urge fellow members to address rights violations in China, Myanmar, Belarus and Russia, with particular emphasis on initiating an independent investigation by the UN high commissioner for human rights into forced labour camps run by Beijing.


The UK has taken an increasingly robust stance against Beijing over the past year following the imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong, and mounting evidence that the treatment of Uighur Muslims amounts to genocide.

Raab said that the reported abuses in Xinjiang including torture, forced labour and forced sterilisation of women were extreme and extensive. They were taking place on an industrial scale

Source: FT #Feb22

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/hong-kong-plans-to-make-politicians-swear-oath-of-loyalty-to-beijing

#UK #UNHumanRights #China #Myanmar #Belarus #Russia

MPs vote to label China's persecution of Uighurs a genocide

A Conservative motion said China's actions in its western Xinjiang region meet the definition of genocide set out in the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. Also, the motion callson the government to lobby the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympic Games out of Beijing.

The final tally was 266 in favour and zero opposed. Two MPs formally abstained. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and almost all of his cabinet colleagues were absent for the vote.

After the vote, Garneau issued a statement saying the federal government remains "deeply disturbed by horrific reports of human rights violations in Xinjiang, including the use of arbitrary detention, political re-education, forced labour, torture and forced sterilization.

Source: CBC #Feb22

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uighur-genocide-motion-vote-1.5922711

#Canada #Xinjiang #BoycottBeijing2020 #ChinaGenocide