Day: June 25, 2021

Jun 26th 2021 WHEN CONFRONTED with uncomfortable facts, China’s usual response comes in two parts. First it tries denial and obfuscation. Should that not work, officials attack the motives of foreign critics. Arguments over Xinjiang, a far-western region that China runs with an iron fist, have reached this dangerous stage. Listen to this story Your browser does not support the <audio> element. Listen on the go Get The Economist app and play articles, wherever you are Play in appPlay in app In recent months America, Britain, Canada and European Union…

Advertisement The Taiwanese edition of Apple Daily said Thursday it will continue operations despite the shuttering of its sister paper in Hong Kong. Taiwan’s government condemned the Hong Kong government’s move to freeze Apple Daily’s assets, using the draconian national security law enacted by Beijing to justify its closure of the pro-democracy newspaper. Apple Daily printed its last newspaper in Hong Kong on Thursday. The company ceased publication of its print newspaper in Taiwan in May, but parent company Next Digital said its online operations will be “unaffected.” Jimmy Lai,…

Advertisement As China’s Communist Party celebrates turning 100 next week, it is facing unprecedented challenges, largely of its own making. It is also facing tremendous international scrutiny and backlash on a wide array of fronts, from forced internment of Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities in China’s northwest Xinjiang region, to aggressive posturing in the South China Sea, and to the origins and spread of the novel coronavirus that has sickened and killed so many around the world. One would think, though, that at 100, the CCP would at least know…

Advertisement Last month, Hu Xijin, the editor of the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper, made a startling threat on his Twitter account: “I believe once Australian troops come to Taiwan Strait to combat against the PLA, there is a high probability that Chinese missiles will fly toward military bases and key relevant facilities on Australian soil in retaliation.” This followed an earlier editorial he authored in his own newspaper, titled “China needs to make a plan to deter extreme forces of Australia.” This appears to be the first public (and…

Advertisement China on Friday promoted Hong Kong’s top security official to the territory’s No. 2 spot as Beijing looks to the administration of the Asian financial hub to clamp down on free speech and political opposition. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Secretary for Security John Lee would replace Matthew Cheung as the city’s chief secretary, while police chief Chris Tang would take over Lee’s role. Raymond Siu Chak-yee, Tang’s deputy, will take over as head of the police force. Hong Kong’s government has long been lauded for its professionalism and…