Author: Joanne Serrieh

Taiwan might see immigrant influx from Hong Kong as fear against security law grows
27Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Taiwan might see immigrant influx from Hong Kong as fear against security law grows

With the new Hong Kong security law in place, there is widespread concern among Hong Kongers with a growing number of them mulling over relocating to Taiwan to protect themselves from the Chinese crackdown.Its proximity and cultural similarities are the main factors which are attracting the people in Hong Kong.In response, the Taiwanese government has opened an office on July 1 to help Hong Kongers who seek legal residency in Taiwan, in anticipation of an influx of immigrants.“The new office was created precisely to more efficiently evaluate and process applications on a case-by-case basis,” said Kolas Yotaka, spokesperson at Taiwan’s presidential office, adding that existing resources are sufficient to handle the possible increase in arrivals.According to the Mainland Affairs Council in T
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Using Chinese 5G equipment akin to inviting Trojan horse into system: Taiwan Digital Minister
25Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Using Chinese 5G equipment akin to inviting Trojan horse into system: Taiwan Digital Minister

Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang has asserted that there is no such thing as "pure private companies" in China and that using Chinese equipment in core telecom infrastructure is similar to inviting a Trojan horse into the network."There's no such thing as pure private companies in China. From the perspective of the PRC, the ruling party can change your leader whenever the situation is intense," Audrey Tang, a hacker-turned-cabinet member said."If you include them [China-linked companies] in the infrastructure then you have to be very careful every time you update the system, as that could make the network vulnerable to allowing a Trojan horse inside the system," she said.Audrey’s remarks came as countries around the world are mulling a ban on Chinese company Huwaei from their 5G network
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Pompeo calls for ‘free and fair’ Hong Kong Legislative Council election
24Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Pompeo calls for ‘free and fair’ Hong Kong Legislative Council election

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has called for a free and fair Legislative Council election in the Hong Kong while congratulating the city’s pro-democrats for holding a successful primary, termed as “illegal” by China.Taking to Twitter, Pompeo congratulated the Hong Kong’s pro democrats for a successful primary.“Congratulations to Hong Kong’s pan-democrats for a successful primary. The Legislative Council election in September should be equally free and fair,” Pompeo tweeted.The territory-wide primary came less than two weeks after Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.On July 13, Beijing’s top representatives in Hong Kong labelled the primaries “illegal” and accused organizers of colluding with foreign powers in a “serious provocation” of Hong Kong’s electoral
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“PRC has doubled its campaign to impose an order of might makes right in South China Sea”
23Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

“PRC has doubled its campaign to impose an order of might makes right in South China Sea”

Assistant Secretary of Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affair, David R Stilwell has said that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has doubled-down on its campaign to impose an order of “might makes right” in the South China Sea.“In recent months, while the world has focused on the fight against COVID-19, the PRC has doubled-down on its campaign to impose an order of “might makes right” in the South China Sea. Beijing is working to undermine the sovereign rights of other coastal states and deny them access to offshore resources – resources that belong to those states, not to China,” Stilwell said in virtual interaction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.July 12 marks the anniversary of a historic statement in the South China Sea: the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling. “Th
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China using provocation, strong arm tactics in South China Sea: Analyst
21Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China using provocation, strong arm tactics in South China Sea: Analyst

Senior political scientist for the US-based RAND Corporation Andrew Scobell has said that China is using provocations, pressure and strong-arm tactics in the South China Sea all the while appearing reasonable and selling “carrots” in seeking a negotiated solution.On July 1, China sent a coast guard ship into the disputed waters of the South China Sea just to provoke its neighbors and the West. Vessel-track data showed it stopped at Subi Reef, one of China’s numerous military bases in the Spratly Islands, on July 2.Scobell, also a professor at Marine Corps University sees this as Beijing’s moves to strengthen its claims, using all instruments of national power.“Many Chinese Coast Guard vessels are a lot bigger than many of the ships in most Southeast Asian navies. This is all about, from a
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Coronavirus origin, conspiracies and silence
20Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Coronavirus origin, conspiracies and silence

In a village on the outskirts of China’s Wuhan, an elderly woman is chanting quietly. In early February, her 44-year-old brother died from coronavirus, and she cannot forgive herself.After the ceremony, Ms Wang says that the shaman received a message from beyond the grave. Her brother, Wang Fei, had absolved her of any blame. “Feifei doesn't hold me responsible,” she says. “He was trying to comfort me and persuade me to accept his death.”Her brother died in a Covid ward, unable to see visitors; his last days lived out in a series of desperate text messages. “I feel so tired,” he wrote in one of them.Ms Wang’s guilt is a product of one of the cruellest aspects of this global pandemic – the enforced isolation of sufferers from their families.“I couldn’t go to the hospital to take care of him
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Hong Kong’s top cop overshadows city Chief as China cracks down with its security law
20Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Hong Kong’s top cop overshadows city Chief as China cracks down with its security law

Hong Kong’s combative police Chief Chris Tang has, from the beginning, a law which has rocked the financial hub of Asia this year with several protests. He says, the new national security legislation was needed to extinguish calls for the city’s independence and restore order.On June 30th, he got his wish. Just an hour before the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China on July 1, the Communist Party of China imposed the law, arming Tang with a range of powerful tools to quell popular dissent. And within 24 hours, Tang’s officers had arrested 10 people under the new law along with about 360 others suspected of existing offenses as protests erupted over Beijing’s move.With the legislation in action, political groups disbanded. Activists fled overseas. Shops ripped down posters supp
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China’s new agency in Hong Kong to monitor national security law implementation
19Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China’s new agency in Hong Kong to monitor national security law implementation

After just a few days of imposing its national security law, Chinese authorities have opened up its national security office in Hong Kong that will be engaged in monitoring the implementation of the newly enacted law in the city with special administrative region.To develop the headquarters for the Central government's Office for Safeguarding National Security, the authorities have transformed the Metropark Hotel in Causeway Bay, according to media reports.The inauguration came as Hong Kong’s education bureau announced on July 8 that schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” because it contains political messages.Beijing security agents will be operating here under the new legislation which prohibits what Beijing views as secessionis
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Coronavirus: China’s workers and graduates fear for their future
17Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Coronavirus: China’s workers and graduates fear for their future

Disastrous shutdown brought by the coronavirus pandemic has left many workers and young graduates fear for their future as unemployment looms over their head.In a building which is half shut and dark, Huang waits by a workbench for the welder to pass the next metal tray. There's only a handful of staff in the factory.The boss is stranded in Europe. They haven't had any new orders from their American customers for months. This is a business that's desperately trying to keep the lights on."Up until now we haven't received any substantial mass production orders to keep the factory running and to be able to pay salaries and to be able to stay afloat," Yuliya Yakubova said.Speaking from Italy she said, "The last [thing] I want to do really is fire or let go employees." But she doesn't have long...
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Banning ‘Liberate Hong Kong’ slogan was govt’s worst mistake: Co-author
16Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Banning ‘Liberate Hong Kong’ slogan was govt’s worst mistake: Co-author

The slogan ‘Liberate Hong Kong: the revolution of our times’ has now been banned by the authorities and the slogan co-author has said that the ban was one of the government's worst mistake in handling the political unrest.The infamous slogan was created by ex localist leader Edward Leung, ousted lawmaker Baggie Leung and former member of party Youngspiration who asked to be known as J.The slogan first gained popularity during the anti-extradition law movement last in July last year in Sheung Wan.“The 'Liberate Hong Kong' flag was first waved in Sha Tin's New Town Plaza on July 14. On July 21 in Sheung Wan, as far as I know, a number of Edward Leung's supporters were at the scene," J was quoted as saying. "They began chanting and the crowd responded fervently," he added.“The government made
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