East Asia

Do not judge the Church "hastily on the basis of the crises caused by scandals past and present,” nor use categories like left and right, or “confuse crisis with conflict” that “helps to create or consolidate certain elitist attitudes and ‘cliques’”.

Compliance with international norms against forced labour a prerequisite. A European Parliament resolution condemns China's work in Xinjiang, where the Muslim population is interned and forced to work in the cotton fields. The signing of the pact could damage future relations with the new US president.

The poet has often written in support of Hong Kong's democratic movement and has given interviews to foreign media. His wife Wang Li is accused of the same crimes, even though she had no part in her husband's work. Visits from his lawyer are prohibited under Covid-19 measures. Telephone communications monitored by the prison authorities. Pandemic crisis used to suppress freedom.

In the last Angelus of Advent today, Pope Francis called on people to arrive at Christmas with a "pure heart", so that Christmas may be an occasion for renewal, for fraternity for everyone, "let us look at our brother who suffers, the one who suffers is Jesus, it is Jesus in the manger ”.

Commentary on the Gospel of the 4th Sunday of Advent B (Luke 1, 26-38).

Xinjiang Jin is accused of blocking at least four online seminars at the request of the Chinese government. The US company distances itself and fires its employee. Artist Ai Weiwei talks about the repression of democratic protesters in Hong Kong. Democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai moved to a maximum security prison.

Washington is moving to counter Beijing's “expansionist” approach. The South China Sea is the hottest frontline. For US experts, the US is trying to prevent China from gaining immediate benefits while preparing to fight a long-term conflict. The Chinese are training to invade Taiwan, which is boosting its own defences. Japan is also hard at protecting itself from the Asian juggernaut.

The political scientist Ramiro Podetti says the region cannot be a simple supplier of raw materials to the Asian giant and points to te hneed to consider the Asia Pacific region as a whole. South America as a mediator between China and the US in a new world order. A global battle is underway in the field of technological innovation and the entertainment industry.

In this intense meditation, Card. George Pell speaks of his Christmas in prison, without Mass and without the Eucharist. Prayer for those in prison for a just punishment, or because they are persecuted from a religious or social point of view. Christmas is the exaltation of the monotheism of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, but only the latter celebrates Emmanuel, God with us. The wheel of eternal return is broken and Jesus indicates the end of time, "in heaven, where there are no prisons, no prisoners, no Covid".

The 12 are accused of illegally crossing the Chinese border. The two underage prisoners are still waiting for their formal indictment. The popularity of Hong Kong’s chief executive drops by 5 per cent in less than a month. Public satisfaction with the rule of law is also decreasing. People feel uncomfortable with the handling of the pandemic and the effects of the security law.

The Mekong Dam Monitor project seeks to safeguard the integrity of the most important waterway in Southeast Asia. For the United States, Beijing poses an “existential” threat to the region as it does to the South China Sea. US expert calls on ASEAN countries to adopt a “common position”.

Francis' message for the World Day of Peace. A call for universal access to the Covid vaccine. From Christianity the concepts of person and common good. The social doctrine of the Church "a precious heritage of principles, criteria and indications, from which to draw the 'grammar' of care".