Category: China
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A new setback for human rights in Tibet under Xi Jinping
200 students have been taken away from a Tibetan school and force-enrolled in a state-controlled residential school for their education and ‘proper’ upbringing. Earlier this month, the parents of about 200 Tibetan children in the age group 15 to 18 years were in for a shock when they were forced by the Chinese authorities of…
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Human rights group accuses China of punishing dissent, activism with vague laws
China’s legal system has long been criticized for its opacity and use of vague, sweeping laws to stifle dissent and activism. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, this tactic has intensified, with critics accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of wielding its legal system as a tool to suppress freedom of expression, punish political…
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The significance of Hong Kong’s arrest warrants and bounty in the EU
In March 2024, the Hong Kong government introduced a new security law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Also known as ‘Article 23 legislation’, it exacerbates the impact of the 2020 National Security Law by introducing a number of new crimes and longer sentences for existing crimes. Practically speaking, the two pieces of legislation are complementary…
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The EU Parliament calls on China to free economist Ilham Tohti and Uyghur physician Gulshan Abbas.
The European Parliament (EP) in session in Strasbourg adopted a landmark motion urging the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to ‘immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, as well as those arbitrarily detained in China’ and whose cases have been mentioned by the European Union (EU) at the Human Rights Council. The text lays out a strongly-worded demand that the PRC halts its ‘repression…
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Submarines: the soft underbelly of PLA-N
The accidental sinking of a Chinese nuclear submarine while under construction has exposed the soft underbelly of the submarine arm of the Chinese navy. Recurring accidents involving Chinese subs point to their technical shortcomings. The cloak of denial and secrecy in which Beijing tries to wrap these incidents is now unable to hide the truth.…
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China’s economic slowdown triggers urgent stimulus calls
China’s industrial output growth slowed to a five-month low in August, while retail sales and new home prices weakened further, bolstering the case for aggressive stimulus to shore up the economy and help it hit its annual growth target. The sluggish data released on Saturday echoed soft bank lending figures on Friday, underscoring weak growth…
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China’s Poverty Alleviation has failed
China has always had an urban-rural divide and despite Xi Jinping’s ambitious plans to remove people from poverty, recent evidence indicates increasing destitution in rural areas of China. A clear sign of policy failure. For instance, in Zhongwei, a city in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region, fighting poverty seems to be a never-ending battle.…
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China commemorates its 75th birthday, while Tibetans and Uyghurs suffer under Beijing’s domination.
President Xi Jinping marked the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday with a glowing review of the Communist Party’s achievements since late supreme leader Mao Zedong founded the country on Oct. 1, 1949. Some 120,000 people gathered to sing the national anthem in Tiananmen Square, where Xi described the founding of…
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Panic grips China as junta’s control wanes while rebels join democratic forces in Myanmar
China has left no stone unturned in backing the military regime in Myanmar as the latter has helped Beijing through thick and thin in getting its resources at cheap prices, while supporting it in consolidating its strategy in the region through the contentious Belt and Road Initiative. However, since Myanmar military’s control across length and…
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China’s Increasing Irritation with Taiwan’s Push for Global Recognition Through Sports: A New Cross-Strait Flashpoint
China is increasingly becoming irritated with Taiwan over its use of sports and other platforms to gain international recognition. Taiwan’s recent push to showcase itself as an independent entity, particularly after its successes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is viewed by Beijing as a direct challenge to its “One China” policy. This defiance, particularly under…