China: dictatorship is a tool to achieve democracy; Allies follow US boycott of Beijing Olympics

[Ellanjay]

China: dictatorship is a tool to achieve democracy; Allies follow US boycott of Beijing Olympics​

In a blow to China’s #CyberSpying network, Microsoft shut down 42 websites from a Chinese hacker group on Monday. The websites run in nearly 30 countries, including the United States. The United States won't send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Are the United States' key allies following suit? Beijing thought the European Union would lift its sanctions on blacklisted human rights abusers, but Brussels proves them wrong. The Chinese Communist Party claims China is also a democracy, called "Chinese style democracy." At the same time, it launched a campaign to discredit the U.S. democracy. Is there any direct election in China? The communist regime says yes, but not every resident agrees.

 

[Ellanjay]

Footage: China's para-police attack street vendor; Lithuania braces for China-led corporate boycott​

More countries are joining a #DiplomaticBoycott of the Beijing Olympics, and mixed messages are coming out of Beijing. On one hand, it accuses the nations of politicizing the Games. On the other, Beijing says it doesn’t care if they attend. But that’s not the only boycott happening. China is now snubbing Lithuania for strengthening its ties to Taiwan. The European Union responds, saying it's ready to stand up against all types of political pressure from China’s communist regime. Members of China’s Communist Party have a new personal obligation: to have three kids. That's according to a state media editorial, requiring party members to help boost the country's birth rate and relieve its population crisis. Chinese authorities are disqualifying independent candidates from running in an election, as Beijing claims it embraces a better style of democracy than the United States.

 

[Ellanjay]

Behind Biden’s Boycott of Beijing 2022; What China Wants to Teach the West About Democracy.​

At the time of publishing, the U.K. and Canada are the latest countries to join the diplomatic Boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. This comes just days after the White House’s corresponding announcement. The U.S. cited persecution of Uyghur in Xinjiang as the primary reason for its action. But, are there other motives underlying its stand against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at this time? And why is there no mention of Peng Shuai accompanying this boycott being made in the name of human rights? What is the relationship between the U.S. boycott of the Winter Olympics and Russia's preparations to invade Ukraine? The CCP has recently leveled heavy criticism against Western democracy. Alongside this, it has announced its own brand of ‘democracy,’ i.e., “Whole Process Democracy.” How does the latter stand up to a basic democracy litmus test?

 

[Ellanjay]

Nicaragua breaks ties with Taiwan, turns to Beijing; Uyghur tribunal: Beijing committed genocide​

The United Nations chief plans to visit Beijing for the Olympics. The decision comes amid a diplomatic boycott by the United States and some of its allies. Friday is International Human Rights Day. Numerous abuses have been reported as commonplace inside China and under other regimes. But now, people are standing up to offer a message of hope. Chinese authorities are blocking human rights supporters from leaving their homes. But it’s nothing new, and has been happening annually for years around Human Rights Day. A massive wave of unemployment is coming for China, warns a renowned professor. Chinese regulators remove some 100 apps from the country’s app stores. They say the software bans result from collecting “excessive personal information.” That’s as the regime ramps up its grip on user data. A central American nation turns away from Taiwan to embrace Beijing. But Taiwan’s president says pressure from authoritarian countries proves the island is on the right path.

 

[Jinentonix]

Winnie the Pooh thinks China is a democracy?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Silly old bear.

 

[Ellanjay]

China: will ‘strike back’ at US sanctions; China detects first case of Omicron: report​

A building dubbed China’s “Little Red Mansion” is shocking Chinese society after a brutal sex slavery case was exposed within its walls. The details are shedding light on the ugly truth of Shanghai police corruption, and those linked to it. The Chinese Communist Party says its economy is on the up and up. But a number of state employees are reporting pay cuts up to 20 percent. Extensive U.S. sanctions are angering Beijing. The regime’s foreign ministry warns of retaliation, while the penalties seek to address human rights abuses in the country. Two long-time allies agree to strengthen their ties. The United States and Japan are upping their deterrence and response capabilities, looking to combat tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

 

[Ellanjay]

Harvard professor on trial for hiding China ties; US to deepen defense alliance in Indo-Pacific​

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it has no regrets over awarding the Winter Games to China. But the comment is colored by international backlash over the county’s human rights record. America’s top diplomat vows to defend Indo-Pacific freedoms. Amid China’s ongoing aggressiveness in the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is backing the need for rules-based order. A Harvard University professor is facing the music, appearing on trial for hiding his ties to China. Officials accuse him of accepting thousands in funding through Beijing’s infamous Thousand Talents Program. Starbucks serves up an apology this week after an investigation found some stores in China using expired ingredients. Concerning footage suggests Chinese police are using a revamped policy to turn a profit. Locals say the officers are confiscating scooters and motorbikes without cause, and selling them overseas.

 

[Ellanjay]

Instructor fired for comment on Nanking Massacre; Leaked docs reveal Huawei’s close ties to CCP​

One person you won’t see at the Beijing Olympic–the Japanese Prime Minister. He announced today that he has no plans to personally attend the games. A Chinese state media chief is retiring, after years of defending Beijing’s policies. A college instructor lost her job in China over comments about the Nanking, now known as Nanjing, Massacre. Her firing comes amid the 84th anniversary of the incident. Recently-leaked documents suggest that Chinese telecom giant Huawei has closer ties to the Chinese communist party than it’s led on. And public outcry over tennis star Peng Shua has kicked China’s censorship machine into overtime. But Chinese netizens are getting creative in their attempts to out-smart it. We examine the Communist Party’s toolbox for blocking online discussion it deems sensitive.

 

[Ellanjay]

‘Destroy the faith of the people’: Kerry Gershaneck on Beijing’s media warfare | China in Focus​

In this special episode, we sat down with professor Kerry Gershaneck, author of “Media Warfare,” as well as Bradley Thayer, founding member of the Committee on the Present Danger: China. They touch on Beijing’s influence overseas through ideological means, such as through media warfare, why Taiwan is such a target, how it relates to the United States and allies, and what it means going forward. Thayer said, “Principally, media warfare is about ideology. And when it comes to ideology, this is a contest the U.S. should win, hands down. U.S. ideology of freedom, #ReligiousFreedom, respect for minority rights, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, are far more favorable around the globe than the Chinese regime’s totalitarian approach and oppression of minorities, religious minorities, suppression of human rights. So, in theory, at least, the United States should win this battle hands down, but because the U.S. has dropped its guard, we have seen the Chinese regime being able to advance a narrative.” Gershaneck noted that “one of the objectives for the PRC in trying to destroy #Democracy on Taiwan is to destroy the faith of the people that are in the process of democracy, and democratic institutions. They want to divide the people of Taiwan and demoralize them, they want to ensure that there are nothing but economic and diplomatic problems, diplomatic isolation, failure of economic programs, so they grind down the people of Taiwan so they just want to quit again. To win without kinetic warfare, to win without shooting, without fighting, without invading—you basically demoralize people to the point they just quit.”

 

[Dixie Cup]

Why would anyone want to go to China if surveilled at every point of the visit? CISIS is already concerned about the CCP agents threatening some Chinese in Canada - why wouldn't they also use the information from surveillance they received in China on our athletes, coaches & families that chose to go?

I guess that's the chance one takes. I understand that these athletes train for a long time, but what is more important?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

To see the sights?

 

[Ellanjay]

Pompeo calls for athletes to boycott Beijing Olympics​

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shares his reasons for boycotting the Beijing Olympics and discusses Chinese surveillance concerns on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’