China isn’t just extending its iron rule over Hong Kong, but now charging non-Chinese citizens in the West for supporting the democratic resistance.

Hong Kong’s National Security Law is just over a month old and the Chinese Communist Party is already wreaking havoc in what was once one of the freest places on earth. The law – which effectively silences almost all criticism of the government in Beijing – has quickly been used to arrest pro-democracy voices in Hong Kong.

What started with the rounding up of pro-democracy students and political leaders has now turned to arresting prominent Hong Kong business figures, including Apple Daily’s founder Jimmy Lai. Lai was arrested this week on charges of “colluding with foreign powers,” when in reality his crime is that Apple Daily is a wildly popular source of pro-democracy news and commentary in Hong Kong. 

To make matters worse, the National Security law is also being used to target anti-communist voices abroad. The CCP formally charged a handful of pro-democratic leaders who have successfully sought asylum abroad. In addition to that, the CCP extended itself to charge Samuel Chu, who has been a naturalized US citizen for over 25 years. When asked about the charges laid against him, Chu stated “I might be the first non-Chinese citizen to be targeted, but I will not be the last. If I am targeted, any American and any citizen of any nation who speaks out for Hong Kong can, and will be, too”.

A foreign power charging non-citizens for violating laws in a country they don’t live in shows that in the eyes of Beijing’s CCP, their reach knows no bounds. That overreach, and persistent threat, landed on Canadian shores just this week. Sing Tao – Canada’s largest Chinese language newspaper – rejected an advertisement that spoke out against Hong Kong’s National Security Law. 

While the paper is free (in Canada) to run whatever ads it likes, and reject whichever ads it doesn’t, it does raise questions as to why the paper would turn away several thousands of dollars in advertisement money. It isn’t baseless speculation to assume that the paper rejected the pro-democracy ad because it would put those involved on Beijing’s blacklist. The CCP has already signaled that it will charge US citizens for supposed crimes against the Chinese state, so naturally that same adventurism would extend to Canadians guilty of promoting democracy in Hong Kong.

This over-step by Beijing demonstrates that the CCP won’t just oppress their own citizens, which adds more fuel to the fire regarding how Canada should treat companies like Huawei or Tik Tok. Beijing’s 2014 Counter-Espionage law and their 2017 National Intelligence Law mandates that individuals and firms must support state intelligence work when asked, which pretty much guarantees that your data could be handed over to the Chinese government if Beijing were to ask for it. While these companies may claim that they are independent from the Chinese state, it’s incredibly unlikely that these companies wouldn’t comply if asked for data. If these companies didn’t comply, it is certain that the Chinese state would simply take what it requested, and reprimand those who didn’t comply. 

Regardless of what mainland owned firms want to be, their ties to the CCP are undeniable. Coupled with the fact that Beijing will not hesitate to charge non-citizens with crimes against the state makes for a toxic cocktail of privacy violations and state oppression. 

That’s why in liberal democracies, we must remain vigilant and support our fellow democratic voices who end up in the CCP’s crosshairs. Because at one point or another, this could affect people in our nations.

Originally published here.

David Clement is a columnist for the Western Standard, a Director at 21Democracy and the North American Affairs Manager with the Consumer Choice Center.

Hong Kong is succumbing to the power and authority of the Communist Party of China. 

The CCP has passed a national security law that would ban “treason, secession, sedition and subversion” and would allow for mainland Chinese law enforcement agencies to enforce those laws in Hong Kong. This clearly violates the “one country, two systems” agreement that isn’t set to expire until 2047. In response, Hong Kongers did as Hong Kongers do, and protested by the thousands. Unfortunately, their efforts did not dissuade the totalitarian communist party, and it is likely that this could be the end of a free Hong Kong.

As a bastion of liberal democracy, it is important that Canada takes a stand against China’s encroachment and clear unwillingness to meet its international obligations. The big question remains, what exactly can Canada do? We don’t have the hard power to challenge China, but we may have some soft power plays that could clearly show Hong Kongers, and the world, that Canada remains steadfast in its defense of liberal values.

Some will suggest that Canada needs to engage in a trade war with China to push back against their violations in Hong Kong. While the response of sanctions and tariffs might hit an emotional chord, it would be terrible public policy. A trade war with China is something that neither side can “win” because trade is not a zero-sum game. Additional tariffs on Chinese goods would simply inflate prices for Canadian consumers, and punish ordinary Chinese people for the cruelty of their unelected authoritarian government. Being forced to live under CCP rule is punishment enough, we don’t need to make matters worse by shutting Chinese goods out of the global market. Any sanctions, or prohibitions, should be limited to high tech products with national security concerns, like Huawei’s inclusion in our 5G network.

Outside of avoiding a trade war – which would be more symbolism than serious public policy – Canada should immediately make an asylum declaration for those Hong Kongers wishing to flee the tightening grip of the CCP, similar to what the U.K. has done. Canada should welcome Hong Kongers who want to claim refugee status, and in fact, should encourage them to leave, bringing their capital (human and material) with them. A move like this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, either. Throughout the ‘80s and ’90s, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers migrated to Canada, largely in fear of the incoming handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese Government in 1997. Those migrants brought $4.2 billion with them to Canada to start their new lives as Canadians. Hong Kongers should be able to flee their homeland before military tanks roll in to enforce totalitarian laws, and Canada should offer refuge.

Beyond what Canada can directly do for the people of Hong Kong, there are some foreign policy changes that could help further demonstrate Canada’s commitment to liberal values, and to help avoid future events like Hong Kong from happening. 

First, Canada should change how we officially treat Taiwan, for the purpose of ensuring that Hong Kong doesn’t become a blueprint for what the CCP can get away with.

Unfortunately, Canada does not officially recognize Taiwan because we still acknowledge the One China Policy. Canada should immediately disregard the One China Policy, establish official diplomatic relations with Taiwan as a sovereign state, and establish a formal embassy in Taipei. Doing this would show the world that Canada is in fact a world leader when it comes to our democratic values and that we are willing to make a bold stance where others aren’t. On top of that, such a move could encourage other O.E.C.D. countries to do the same. A strong, internationally connected and recognized Taiwan is the only way we can ensure that Taiwan and the Taiwanese people do not ultimately fall to the CCP 

With Taiwan identified and recognized, Canada should loudly recommit itself to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, add Taiwan to the agreement, and seek to bring our American allies back to the table. While not a perfect trade agreement, from the lens of a free trader, an adopted TPP with US support would significantly empower other countries in the region and would limit our reliance on China, which certainly seems to be in line with the goals of U.S. President Donald Trump. A renewed TPP, signed in Taipei, would demonstrate to the CCP that the west isn’t going to stand idle and let the CCP run roughshod over the region.

Hong Kong, as a beacon of freedom, may be thrown into the dustbin of history well before 2047. The CCP’s recent maneuvering in Hong Kong, along with the bookseller kidnapping scandal, and attempted extradition bill, shows their willingness to destroy almost everything Hong Kong has stood for. Providing refuge for those who want to flee, recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state, and recommitting to international trade, would be the appropriate Canadian response.

Originally published here.

La storia dell’attrice nata in Cina, emigrata in America ed eletta Miss Canada. “Mio padre minacciato costantemente dal Regime per il mio attivismo”

Anastasia Lin attivista contro la Cina: “Vi apro gli occhi sul regime”

Anastasia Lin ha gli occhi pieni di energia, amarezza e forza allo stesso tempo. La sua storia è comune a migliaia di persone, nata e cresciuta in Cina, all’età di 14 anni riesce ad emigrare in America, si trasferisce in Canada dove comincia una nuova vita. Da forte sostenitrice del Partito Comunista Cinese (ma non c’era alternativa, dice Anastasia) si ritrova, piano piano, a comprendere la brutalità del Regime.

Studia, legge, approfondisce, e nella terra Americana avvia una nuova consapevolezza e una nuova attività di divulgazione e denuncia delle violazioni dei diritti umani in Cina. Nel 2015 viene eletta Miss World Canada, la finale di Miss Mondo avviene, quell’anno, in Cina. Anastasia fa domanda per il visto che le viene negato. Viene definita persona non grata al Governo Cinese.

Da allora Anastasia è ancora più attiva nel sostenere la causa a favore della democrazia e delle libertà in Cina. La sua è una storia di coraggio, di proposta e di rischi. “Mio padre vive in Cina, ed è stato minacciato molte volte dal Governo Cinese. Io sono il problema”.

Da quel giorno, Anastasia Lin è stata invitata a parlare all’ONU, al Parlamento Britannico, all’Università di Oxford e in molte altre iniziative internazionali. La incontriamo in un evento collaterale del World Economic Forum di Davos, all’interno della presentazione del progetto 21Democracy, un’iniziativa che punta a denunciare i rischi dovuti alla crescita dei regimi autoritari nel mondo.

Originally published here.

Sowohl konventionelle militärische Bedrohungen als auch neuartige Gefahren wie hybride oder Cyber-Kriegsführung und Wirtschaftsspionage stellen Europa und die Welt weiterhin auf die Probe.

In den letzten dreißig Jahren waren Wachstum und Frieden die beiden Hauptpfeiler für Wohlstand und Freiheit in Europa. Die Europäische Union und deren Mitgliedsstaaten haben Wachstum durch die Öffnung nationaler Märkte und durch Liberalisierung des Handels ermöglicht. Millionen von Verbrauchern geht es durch den ungehinderten Austausch von Waren und Dienstleistung besser als es noch einer Generation davor ging.

Und trotz all dieser großartigen Entwicklungen seit dem Fall des Eisernen Vorhangs, gilt es jetzt nicht blind gegenüber autoritären Strömungen zu werden. Sowohl konventionelle militärische Bedrohungen als auch neuartige Gefahren wie hybride oder Cyber-Kriegsführung und Wirtschaftsspionage stellen Europa und die Welt weiterhin auf die Probe.

Chinas KP weltweit aktiv

Ein trauriges Beispiel, wie schnell Freiheit verloren gehen kann, ist Hong Kong. Obwohl es bis vor Kurzem als einer der freiesten und reichsten Staaten der Welt galt, hat der Einfluss der kommunistischen Partei aus Peking nun Überhand genommen. Das diskutierte Auslieferungsgesetz löste Straßenkämpfe aus, die nun seit fast einem halben Jahr anhalten. Ein Großteil der Gewalt kann auf gezielt geschürte Provokationen durch Handlanger der KP zurückgeführt werden.

Im kommunistischen China selbst befinden sich laut Angaben der New York Times über eine Million Uiguren in euphemistisch genannten „Umerziehungslagern“. Im Überwachungsstaat China darf man darüber allerdings nicht sprechen. Und dessen Interessen machen nicht an seinen Grenzen halt.

Die Debatte um den wünschenswerten Mobilfunkstandard 5G zeigt, wie gefährlich der Einfluss der chinesischen KP auf chinesische Firmen sein kann. Obwohl Firmen, wie Huawei oder ZTE Privatfirmen sind, scheint es eine große Nähe zur Partei zu geben. In Italien wurden mehrfach Hintertüren in Huawei-Technologie aufgedeckt.

Gerade offener und freier Handel hat die Globalisierung befeuert und hunderten Millionen von Menschen ein besseres Leben beschert. Trotz echter Bedrohungen durch staatsnahe Firmen aus China, sollte man von einem kompletten Handelskrieg absehen.

Eine kluge Antwort im Spannungsfeld von Handelsbeziehungen und der Angst vor dem Einfluß der KP auf unsere Privatsphäre wäre Technologie und Software von Firmen wie Huawei nur unter der Auflage von Open Source zuzulassen.

Wenn man so nah zur KP ist, muss man als Firma deutlich machen, dass man nichts zu verbergen hat.

Kultur, Sport, Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft unter KP Chinas Einfluss

Gleichzeitig sollten Verbraucher auch über den schleichenden Einfluss von Pekings Zensoren auf westliche Kunst und Kultur bewusst sein. Bei großen Studioproduktionen in Hollywood sitzt die KP oft schon in der Planungsphase mit am Tisch. Die von Disney produzierte Freddie Mercury Biografie wurde gleich so gefilmt, dass man die Szenen, die seine Homosexualität oder HIV Krankheit zeigen, leicht für den chinesischen Markt herausschneiden kann.closevolume_off

Nicht nur auf die amerikanische Basketballliga NBA wurde Druck nach individuellen Kritiken an China ausgeübt. Nachdem der ehemalige deutsche Nationalspieler Mesud Özil auf die Situation der Uiguren hinwies, strich ein chinesischer Fernsehsender die Ausstrahlung eines Spiels seines Clubs Arsenal London.

Doch liberale Demokratien müssen sich nicht nur gegen solche hybriden Angriffe auf ihre Freiheit und Rechtsstaatlichkeit vorbereiten, sondern sich auch gegen neue militärische Herausforderungen wappnen.

Während die russische Invasion der Krim und der östlichen Ukraine gezeigt hat, dass die NATO an ihrer östlichen Grenze wachsam bleiben muss, sollte die Politik auch nicht die chinesische Aufrüstung unterschätzen.

So wird in Europa und den Vereinigten Staaten darüber diskutiert eine neue Generation an elektromagnetischen Startvorrichtungen für Flugzeugträger doch nicht einzuführen. Die Marine der chinesischen Volksarmee ist da schon viel weiter und hat sich bereits für die Einführung dieser strategischen Schlüsseltechnologie entschieden. Das chinesische Militär arbeitet auch mit der russischen Marine an neuen atomgetriebenen Kriegsschiffen.

Diese Entwicklungen zeigen, wie wichtig es ist, dass liberale Demokratien wie die EU, die USA, Kanada, Australien und Japan eine neue Ebene der Zusammenarbeit finden. Diese neue Koordination muss zum einen Protestbewegungen wie in Hong Kong unterstützen, autoritären Einfluss in Demokratien aufdecken und zum anderen auch eine sinnvolle militärische Koordination vornehmen.

Originally published here.