The latest report by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China laments the difficulties created by the increasing presence of politics in the economy. National security seems more important than China's growth. Xi Jinping is planning a visit to France in May to mend fences.
In a place where 1,832 people are already in prison on political grounds, the new law implementing Article 23 only “cloak[s] injustice with a veil of institutional legitimacy,” wrote a few months ago Chow Hang-tung, jailed for remembering the dead in Tiananmen Square. The real answer is not to forget this China behind bars, in Hong Kong and in the People's Republic.
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At least six people have been killed and many more injured in different attacks in Beijing, Shenyang, and at a school in Zhejiang province. The authorities have not released too many details, but images from the attacks have been widely shared online. Several commentators in social media blame anger against society created by economic issues.
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Every lawmaker spoke in support of the new legislation implementing Article 23, which imposes life in prison in case of insurrection and grants police exceptional powers. Set to come into force this Saturday, the bill’s quick approval highlights the power of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee. After the vote, Lee called it a “historic day”, protection from a “colour revolution”. For him, “there must be one country before two systems”.