China’s Most Diabolical Censorship Strategy: Keep ‘em Happy
China is known as one of the world’s leaders in propaganda and censorship. The ruling Communist Party runs mass-reaching print and broadcast media networks. Meanwhile, it controls what its people can and can’t see online: The Great Firewall. But in the age of the Internet and mobile everything, the most influential wing of its propaganda […]
China to Ban VPNs
China has ordered telecommunication firms to block access to individual Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by February 2, 2018. These VPNs provide users with encrypted connections which can block China’s vast censorship system. But that system is about to encroach even deeper into the lives of Chinese citizens. Without these VPNs, it would be virtually impossible […]
U.S. Downgrades China to List of Worst Human Trafficking Offenders
The 2017 Trafficking In Persons (TIPS) report by the United States State Department lists China as one of the worst countries in acknowledging and combating human rights violations. It was grouped into the worst-offending Tier III, where it shares a spot with countries like North Korea and Iran. Last year, the State Department then led […]
Britain Looking Away as China Overcomes Hong Kong: Angela Guy
In 1997, a Sino-British Joint Declaration created a “One Country, Two Systems” pact between China and Hong Kong. The treaty effectively solidified the protection of Hong Kong’s society and markets from Beijing until 2047. But twenty years later, many Hong Kongers believe China has encroached even further upon their community and legal system. One of […]
U.S. Losing Patience with China on North Korea
The United States is pressuring China to go after companies dealing with North Korea, Beijing’s single biggest trading partner. President Donald Trump had been relying on China to pressure North Korea into dialing back its aggressive nuclear and military programs in the midst of ongoing missile launches by the Hermit Kingdom. But the commander-in-chief of […]
Does China Pose Existential Threat to Taiwan?
Beijing continues to anger its neighbors as it builds militarized artificial islands in the contested South China Sea — a region China lays virtually all claim to. And despite an international court denying these claims and a recurring shows of force by the United States to uphold freedom of navigation in the area, Beijing continues […]
Taiwanese Activist Held in China Enflames Sino-Taipei Relations
Somewhere in China, a Taiwanese activist and former philosophy student is believed to be held on suspicion of endangering national security. Back home, that’s all his colleagues and family is hearing and they’re demanding answers. Lee Ming-Che has not been heard from for 23 days. On Monday, China revoked his wife’s travel permit shortly before […]
China Threatens to Back Unprecedented Sanctions on North Korea
In a rare move, the Chinese government is openly warning its ally North Korea to halt its testing of nuclear bombs and missiles or face retaliation from the United States under the command of President Donald Trump. An article in China’s state-run People’s Daily Newspaper read, “Not only [is] Washington brimming with confidence and arrogance […]
China’s Auto Industry Could Run Over Relations With U.S.
Anyone who thought President Donald Trump was just spewing hype when he criticized China for unfair business practices may want to take a look at the auto industry. Because of the hefty taxes that China imposes on imported vehicles, an American-made Jeep Wrangler could cost $30,000 more in China, making it a lucrative spot for […]
Chinese Judge Ranks Jailing of Human Rights Lawyer Greatest Achievement of 2016
2016 was one for the books. In China, one prominent judge recalled the year in justice and declared a victory for human rights, by praising the arrest of a human rights lawyer. He specifically called out Zhou Shifeng and commended his “severe punishment” for “endangering state security.” Known for taking politically sensitive cases and defending dissident […]
