China is ... a despotic state, whose principle is fear. Perhaps in the earliest dynasties, when the empire had not so large an extent, the government might have deviated a little from this spirit; but the case is otherwise at present. (Charles De Secondat Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws) During the Manchu dynasty ... [t]he … Continue reading Freedom or despotism? – Autocratic governance and laissez-faire in Imperial China
The 1792-94 Macartney Embassy – The first clash between China and the West
During the 16th century and most of the 17th century, China enjoyed a generally positive image in Europe. The works of the Jesuits - Catholic missionaries who lived and proselytized in the Far East - depicted the Central Kingdom as a well-governed and ethical society. (Jones, 2001, p. 18) Chinese art became popular with European … Continue reading The 1792-94 Macartney Embassy – The first clash between China and the West
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Hong Kong and foreign citizens could be extradited to mainland China according to new legislation, authoritative source says
Both Hong Kong citizens and foreign nationals risk to be extradited to mainland China for "harming China's national security" if an extradition law between Hong Kong and the mainland is adopted. Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily reports that according to an anonymous source , who is described as "authoritative" (權威人士), recently the Vice Premier of … Continue reading Hong Kong and foreign citizens could be extradited to mainland China according to new legislation, authoritative source says
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Chinese national anthem will be played every day at 7 a.m., according to new government circular promoting patriotism
On May 19 the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) issued a circular regarding the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Communist State in 1949. The circular stresses the importance of "holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics," and of "vigorously promoting the great national spirit … Continue reading Chinese national anthem will be played every day at 7 a.m., according to new government circular promoting patriotism
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“If Taiwan is unified with China, you will be just like me,” escaped Hong Kong bookseller tells Taiwanese
On April 25 Lam Wing-kei, one of the five Hong Kong booksellers who had been kidnapped by the Chinese Communist authorities in 2015 on charges of selling prohibited books, moved to Taiwan over fears of persecution. Lam's decision came after the Hong Kong government pushed forward on an extradition deal with mainland China which would allow Beijing … Continue reading “If Taiwan is unified with China, you will be just like me,” escaped Hong Kong bookseller tells Taiwanese
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U.S. government’s One-China Policy not the same as Beijing’s One-China Principle, U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee says
On May 13 the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives reiterated its support for Taiwan and rejected the idea that the U.S. government's "One-China Principle" is equivalent to the "One-China Principle" advocated by the People's Republic of China (PRC). United States House of Representatives (speaker.gov via Wikimedia Commons) In a series of … Continue reading U.S. government’s One-China Policy not the same as Beijing’s One-China Principle, U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee says
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Taiwanese government says some local media work with China, send content to Beijing for approval
Last year Taiwanese President Ts'ai Ing-wen warned of rampant Chinese interference in the country's elections through the dissemination of "fake news" (假消). Now Taiwan's National Security Bureau has revealed that Beijing is working together with Taiwanese media outlets to spread Beijing's propaganda. Legislative Yuan, Taiwan (image by Jiang via Wikimedia Commons) On May 2 the … Continue reading Taiwanese government says some local media work with China, send content to Beijing for approval
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Pro-Beijing Taiwanese politicians seek rapprochement with China
On April 29 James Soong (宋楚瑜), a Taiwanese politician and chairman of the People First Party (親民黨), told China's state-run news agency Xinhua that he supports the 1992 consensus and the one-China policy. Soong travelled to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China to hold talks with local politicians. Pro-independence demonstration in Taipei, Taiwan "[B]oth sides … Continue reading Pro-Beijing Taiwanese politicians seek rapprochement with China
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Abducted Hong Kong bookseller has fled to Taiwan to avoid extradition to China
In 2015 Lam Wing-kei (林榮基), the founder of Hong Kong-based bookstore "Causeway Bay Books," which published salacious books critical of the Chinese Communist leadership, went missing after he travelled to mainland China. Lam was accused of trying to overthrow the Chinese Communist government by mailing illegal books to the mainland. He was one of five … Continue reading Abducted Hong Kong bookseller has fled to Taiwan to avoid extradition to China
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11-year-old girl sold as bride in China
An 11-year-old girl from China's Shandong province was abducted and sold as a bride for 6,000 Renminbi. According to media reports, in 2018 a couple from the city of Weihai, in China's Shandong province, reported to the police that their 11-year-old daughter had gone missing on August 28. For months law enforcement agencies looked for … Continue reading 11-year-old girl sold as bride in China
