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.
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.
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”.
A tragedy in Hebei is the first case to be tried under 2020 rules that lowered the minimum age for criminal responsibility to 12. Both the victim and the perpetrators are children of internal migrants, "left behind" with their grandparents in rural areas.
Some defendants are given seven years in prison over the storming of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. Chief Executive John Lee wants the latter to approve by 31 March the legislation to implement Article 23 of Hong Kong’s constitution. The Diocese of Hong Kong issues a statement saying that the secrecy of confession will be upheld under the new law. By allowing police to detain a suspect for up to 16 days without charge, the bill is violating the right to legal counsel, raising concerns about abuses of basic rights.
The clash was triggered by the threat to ban the platform voted by the US House of Representatives. In response, the Chinese authorities have promised to defend its interests. American public opinion is also divided over the social network's popularity. Despite concerns, in the run-up to the vote in both the US and Europe many leaders (including Biden) have opened accounts.
A delegation of 11 representatives of China’s “official” Catholic bodies took part in the assemblies that ratify Xi Jinping's political choices. Bishop Yang Yongqiang, one of the two bishops who attended the Synod at the Vatican, was also present. Bishop Shen Bin told journalists that the new goals for China’s Catholic community are “self-control, self-management, and self-construction”.
Hong Kong’s legislature works overtime during the weekend to further restrict freedoms in the former British colony. Security Secretary Chris Tang justifies denying detainees the right to legal counsel for 48 hours with the risk of collusion. Meanwhile, Beijing reports the arrest and trial of about 2.4 million people.
A seminar sponsored in Taiwan by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue with Fu Jen Catholic University in a move to formulate some guidelines on a confrontation that the focus on the Chinese world makes increasingly necessary. Also starting tomorrow in Hong Kong is the third Christian-Taoist Dialogue.
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council is set to fast track the approval of a national security bill tabled today that imposes unprecedented restrictions to all forms of freedom in the former British colony, including life in prison for “treason” and up to ten years for “sedition”. The law also goes after people who do not report government opponents, a provision that will serve as an additional tool of pressure on religious communities.
Chinese influencers are asking followers to be careful after the leaked information from a hacking firm with ties to Chinese authorities was released. Teacher Li, who documented the anti-lockdown protests on Twitter, saw the number of their followers drop from 1.6 million to 1.4 million. The data leak also shows the breadth of China's cyber activities, including against foreign governments.
An image of Christ on the cross painted in Stanley Prison by the Catholic businessman on trial under the National Security Act is on display at the Catholic University of Washington. Meanwhile Agnes Chow from Canada recounts her imprisonment in Hong Kong in a video.
Record sales figures in 2023 with doubled profits in China for the largest local coffeehouse chain. But in the current difficult environment for the Chinese economy, the much lower price of its products also counts.
The authorities have completed the transformation of one of the most symbolic places of Chinese Islam. The minarets have been torn down, while a sentence at the entrance invites obedience and gratitude to Beijing. A change that also affects other mosques in the area, where a large Hui Muslim community lives. As for the churches, children are forbidden to enter.
The balance of trade between the two countries has increased by 10% in the past year, exceeding USD 1 billion. Tajiks import machinery and equipment of all kinds from China and export raw materials. There are currently 580 companies with Chinese capital working in the country. But the other side of the coin is the 60% of foreign debt now in Beijing's hands.
The outrage over the death in custody of Putin's opponent should not make the world forget that the number of political prisoners in Hong Kong is on rise with Beijing insists on "non-interference in internal affairs". On the Beijing Spring online platform, a Chinese dissident draws parallels with the fate of Liu Xiaobo and Peng Ming who died in Chinese prisons.
Stephen Chen Yueli was arrested as he entered mainland China on charges of "illegal business operations" for his involvement in printing children’s Sunday school materials. According to China Aid, he is in solitary confinement and cannot even see his lawyers. With him, eight other Christians were also arrested.
Turquoise Roof reports that Tibetans are forced at checkpoints to install an "anti-fraud" system that actually sends personal data to the police. A database powered by US IT giant Oracle analyses millions of messages to block any assertions of local identity.
The Apostolic Administrator of Harbin released a message to the faithful centred on the path to Easter. Following Pope Francis' call, he urges them to “prepare for the Great Jubilee in 2025” helping the Chinese Church to turn “Externalized ‘chanting’” into a deep prayer so that we can “fully and completely place ourselves before God”.
Beijing intensified its military activities during the Lunar New Year. Balloons floated over the Taiwan Strait for two consecutive days. For experts, it is a warning, part of the mainland’s psychological warfare against the rebel island. For the first time, armed soldiers performed at the national Spring Festival gala.
The three recent appointments of bishops indicate a willingness not to break. But the Agreement with the Vatican is never even mentioned by the People's Republic of China. While a "five-year plan" for Catholics has just come into force that cites Xi Jinping instead of the pope and invokes a "theological foundation" to a Sinicization that in fact remains only an adaptation to Party policy.
The German chemical giant announced plans to speed up its exit from two joint ventures in Korla after allegations claim that its local partners worked with Chinese authorities to indoctrinate the local Muslim minority. The decision follows investigations by German media.
Jailed in 2021, she was convicted of “inciting to subversion of state power". Her real offence was speaking out against the arrest of her partner, Xu Zhiyong (who had accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of poorly managing the pandemic) and fought for the rights of migrant workers.
The meeting with a delegation from the National Federation of Italy-China who brought the Dragon, the Lion and traditional arts to the Vatican halls. Pope Francis' wish: "May you all take bold risks on the path of dialogue".
After the ordination in Zhengzhou, a new ceremony was held today in Shandong. Bishop Anthony Sun Wenjun, 53, takes over from the former Apostolic Prefecture of Yiduxian, vacant since 2008. By replacing it with the Diocese of Weifang, Pope Francis has accepted the redrawing of the diocesan borders decided by Beijing.
Until now, citizens from the southern African kingdom could travel to Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days, like for many other countries. No official reason has been given, but the measure comes a few days after Nauru gave in to pressure from Beijing and dropped Taipei.
Msgr Wang Yuesheng, 57, president of the Patriotic Association in this province, had long been the Party's designated administrator in a diocese without a bishop since the Communists exiled the Italian Xaverian missionary Faustino Tissot in 1953. The rite was presided over by Shanghai Bishop Shen Bin.
China rejects accusations about Hong Kong, Uyghurs, Tibet, and jailed dissidents at a hearing by the Human Rights Council. Each country had only 45 seconds to express its views. Meanwhile, four UN special rapporteurs are calling for Jimmy Lai to be released and charges against him be dropped.
Maimed by People's Liberation Army blasts, for 35 years he continued to exhibit his wounds to recount the events of June 4, 1989, that Beijing has done everything possible to erase from memory. A former employee of a public company, disillusioned with the Party "that shot me in the legs," he had encountered Christian faith support in his struggles.
The US TV adaptation is based on “Three-Body Problem”, a novel by Chinese writer Liu Cixin. The production touches sensitive issues for China’s current leadership and its paramount leader Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, the Communist Party is taking on a greater role in the country's universities.
