On 9 September 1979, the ‘helmsman’ of China’s path to communism died. Still honoured in Beijing as a talisman, his name means nothing to Generation Z, who are chasing the China of social media. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping has revived his rhetoric on the primacy of the Party and his methods for promoting his nationalist agenda.
Fr. Mella begins a three-day protest in front of Shek Pik prison. He urged the imprisoned activists not to lose hope. In January, he had demonstrated calling for the release of Catholic tycoon Jimmy Lai. Since the imposition of the security law, police have arrested nearly 200 people; 113 have ended up on trial.
The Court in the Hague rejected China's territorial claims in the area. Last month a hundred Chinese ships were reported near the Julian Filipe coral reef claimed by Manila. The new government has promised to defend country’s borders, but does not want a confrontation with China. The US warns that it will defend the Philippines if it is attacked.
A founder of Changsha Funeng, a humanitarian NGO, Cheng is forced to work with a sewing machine and attend courses on the superiority of socialism. He was recently subjected to solitary confinement for three months. In his prison, guards regularly abuse and torture political prisoners.
Koo Sze-yiu will have to spend nine months in prison for sedition: he had organised a protest against the Winter Olympics in the Chinese capital. A veteran of the pro-democracy camp, he has already had 14 convictions for his activism. He told the judge that prison is nothing compared to the contribution of dissidents in China.
A conference was held today in Rome marking the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Holy See. “Historical circumstances have forced Taiwan and the Holy See to walk together for many years. Taiwan cannot be regarded as a mere historical legacy that we can get rid of,” said Fr Gianni Criveller (PIME) in his address.
The situation has been dragging on for some time due to a scam worth US$ 6 billion. Plainclothes agents indiscriminately attacked the victims. Footage of the incident was censored on social media. At least 4,000 small Chinese banks have an opaque structure.
The 8 July attack produced no "Abe effect”. Voter turnout was 52 per cent. With a substantial majority, the LDP will be free to set the coming legislative agenda. Police are still looking into the killer's motive, apparently connected to his mother's ties to the Unification Church.
In a recent interview, Pope Francis expresed his hopes for the renewal of the accord due to expire in October. Since it came into force, six bishops ordained (two appointed previously) and six more have taken possession of their dioceses. But throughout China - despite the Agreement - at least 36 dioceses have no bishop.
The police did not specify which organisation it was, but Japanese social media pointed the finger at the Unification Church. The former premier and other political figures had links to the sect, but a clearer picture will have to await the outcome of the investigation. How the Unification Church spread from Korea to Japan.
His political positions, especially on Taiwan's defense, pitted the former premier against the Chinese. And while India loses an ally in building an anti-Chinese front, the Russians cannot be overly sorry either. For South East Asia, Abe was a promoter of regional multilateralism.
For the Italian missionary, “this is a first for Japan”, yet surprised “to see so many young people in front of maxi-screens to follow the news.” If the gunman acted on his own, it “would raise questions about a society” that “creates people with personalities that can explode.”
China's economy struggles to recover from recent Covid-19 lockdowns. Li announces more reforms and openness. However, the forecast for the national GDP is below expectations. A 74 billion euro domestic investment plan is ready. Meanwhile, the flight of foreign capital from the country continues.
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