The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: TomSea on August 12, 2019, 02:23:12 am
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(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/08/10/Farage-CPAC-Australia-700x420.jpg)
Nigel Farage at the CPAC Australia conference in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 10, 2019. (The Epoch Times)
World Needs to Stand Strongly Behind Hong Kong Protesters, Nigel Farage Says
By Elizabeth Li
August 10, 2019 Updated: August 10, 2019
Protests in Hong Kong against Beijing’s encroachment have put the spotlight on the “very real issue†of how to deal with the Chinese regime, Nigel Farage, Leader of the U.K. Brexit Party, said on the second day of the Australian Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
The Chinese regime would be considering whether “they want another Tiananmen Square on their hands because that I think is what we’re talking about now,†Farage told The Epoch Times at CPAC in Sydney on Aug. 10.
Farage was referring to ongoing protests in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition bill, which, if passed, could see people being handed over to mainland China to face trial in its opaque legal system.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world-needs-to-stand-strongly-behind-hong-kong-protesters-nigel-farage-says_3037131.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/world-needs-to-stand-strongly-behind-hong-kong-protesters-nigel-farage-says_3037131.html)
Who knew there was a CPAC Australia?? I certainly didn't but good.
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(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/08/11/GettyImages-1160942858-700x420.jpg)
Pro-democracy protesters throw back tear gas fired by the police during a demonstratrion against the controversial extradition bill in Sham Shui Po district in Hong Kong on Aug. 11, 2019. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)
China Society
Hong Kong Police Fire Tear Gas in Subway Station as Protests Continue for Another Weekend
By Nicole Hao
August 11, 2019 Updated: August 11, 2019
Share
Hong Kong was rocked by mass demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police on Aug. 11, as protesters shifted tactics to flash mob-style encounters with police in the 10th straight weekend of unrest.
Demonstrators recently adopted a strategy of retreating when pressed by police, only to reemerge en masse at another location.
Police, in response, fired tear gas and charged with batons at protesters in several locations, from shopping boulevards to bar-lined streets, and also fired tear gas inside a train station. They have accused protesters of throwing gasoline bombs.
The protests, which began more than two months ago in opposition to a bill allowing extradition to the mainland, has thrown the city into its most serious crisis in decades as its residents bristle against Beijing’s growing encroachment.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-into-subway-station-as-protests-continue-another-weekend_3037887.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-into-subway-station-as-protests-continue-another-weekend_3037887.html)
More coverage: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/clashes-08112019105702.html (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/clashes-08112019105702.html)
Coverage is so expansive, it's difficult to know where to begin.
Drudge making it #1 story here at 11 AM, Monday, Aug. 12th, 2019:
(https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/662e563862094c9a99682968fd6e9d13/1000.jpeg)
Gordon Change twitter fwiw: https://twitter.com/GordonGChang (https://twitter.com/GordonGChang)
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I wonder when the ChiComs is going to send in the troops.
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China moving mainland military units into Hong Kong as airport totally closed down
By Thomas Lifson
And the regime has ended the three days of protests (video here) at Hong Kong International Airport by shutting down the facility, one of the biggest nodes in the world’s international air travel network. Low profile, this is not. And that is one huge problem for the tyrants.
At this very moment, President Trump is fighting a lonely battle with China over its massive theft of intellectual property, currency manipulation and trade barriers. Beijing has been hoping that it could play off other advanced economies – currently noncombatants – against Trump, offering them the export markets that it would deny to the United States in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs and pressure. But if China brutally cracks down in Hong Kong as it did in Tiananmen 30 years ago, public pressure in Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Canada (among others) will make it difficult for their governments to side openly with China. The very last thing that Xi wants is a united front on trade. For almost two decades, China has enjoyed all the fruits of membership in the World Trade Organization without being held to account for its behavior that violates the agreement.
But the other party watching Hong Kong is even more important: The Chinese public. Almost nobody in China buys into the rhetoric of communism anymore. The Chinese Communist Party’s rule is accepted because it has been delivering a massive increase in prosperity and constructing the sorts of facilities that make people proud of their nation’s ascent. But now, that prosperity is faltering, making the ongoing discontent with authoritarianism and endemic, massive corruption harder to dismiss.
Read more at: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/08/china_moving_mainland_military_units_into_hong_kong_as_airport_totally_closed_down.html (https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/08/china_moving_mainland_military_units_into_hong_kong_as_airport_totally_closed_down.html)
It's looking like we will have a severe crackdown, if so, we will sticky a thread to keep up with developments. Any suggestions for thread names, anyone want to have their thread as the update thread, etc. Fine!
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Okay, looks like some heavy handed action could break at any time and there are plenty of sidestories going on,
Train station Hong Kong, water cannon used, so it is getting pretty serious.
Hong Kong protests: Violence erupts in train stations
Violence erupted in at least two underground train stations in Hong Kong, as the city saw its 10th weekend of protests.
Local news outlets captured police shooting non-lethal ammunition at close range and tear gas.
Footage courtesy of Apple Daily and RTHK.
Video:https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-china-49317261/hong-kong-protests-violence-erupts-in-train-stations
Hong Kong protests: Clashes as police fire tear gas into rail station
Police officers in Hong Kong stormed enclosed railway stations on Sunday, firing tear gas in an effort to force out protesters.
One video inside Tai Koo station showed officers firing what appeared to be non-lethal ammunition at close range.
It also showed several police beating people with batons on an escalator.
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Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49312752 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49312752)
South China Morning Post (SCMP.com )
Beijing warns of ‘signs of terrorism’ in violent unrest in Hong Kong
China’s top policy office on the city reiterates support for police, saying a ‘critical moment’ has been reached
Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also vows to crack down on violent crime with ‘iron fist’
Sarah Zheng
Published: 4:45pm, 12 Aug, 2019
More at: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3022438/beijing-warns-signs-terrorism-violent-unrest-hong-kong (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3022438/beijing-warns-signs-terrorism-violent-unrest-hong-kong)
The latter, yes, probably being "state media" much more, I thought they've had some fairly honest reporting in the past...
Twitter, alleged "Hong Kong Free Press": https://twitter.com/HongKongFP (https://twitter.com/HongKongFP)
Any name changes to thread, suggestions welcomed.
'An eye for an eye': sea of black at Hong Kong airport protest
Hong Kong (AFP)
The protesters streamed into Hong Kong airport and quickly transformed the arrivals hall at one of the world's busiest transport hubs into a sea of black.
Instead of being met by smiling relatives and friends, passengers arriving at the airport were greeted by thousands of pro-democracy activists chanting "fight with Hong Kong, fight for freedom!"
Most were dressed in the movement's trademark black clothing, some sporting construction hard hats or gas masks.
And many added a new accessory on Monday: eyepatches or bandages to pay tribute to a woman who suffered a serious face injury at a protest on Sunday night.
https://www.france24.com/en/20190812-an-eye-for-an-eye-sea-of-black-at-hong-kong-airport-protest (https://www.france24.com/en/20190812-an-eye-for-an-eye-sea-of-black-at-hong-kong-airport-protest)
If one looks at some of the photos, I have seen demonstrators wearing "hard hats" out there. Now I see it mentioned.
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It really does look like bus loads of soldiers going to Shenzen, across the border from Hong Kong, don't like the looks of this:
https://twitter.com/AlexandreKrausz/status/1160947525442056193
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBxnEyFWsAI7B_b?format=jpg&name=small)
More at: https://twitter.com/AuroraIntel/status/1160916141918892032
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BKMK
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It really does look like bus loads of soldiers going to Shenzen, across the border from Hong Kong, don't like the looks of this:
Then you’ll really love the APC convoy.
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIi1mP5Yce8#)
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Riot police clash with protesters at Hong Kong airport
HONG KONG (AP) — Riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters at Hong Kong's airport late Tuesday night, moving into the terminal where the demonstrators had shut down operations at the busy transport hub for two straight days.
Officers armed with pepper spray and batons confronted the protesters who used luggage carts to barricade entrances to the airport terminal.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-airport-struggles-reopen-013258820.html (https://www.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-airport-struggles-reopen-013258820.html)
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Why doesn't the President step up and say something in support of Hong Kong? I mean for goodness sakes the protesters are waiving around the most recognizable sign of freedom in the world at their protests...the American Flag!
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I don't see any way this turns out well.
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Why doesn't the President step up and say something in support of Hong Kong? I mean for goodness sakes the protesters are waiving around the most recognizable sign of freedom in the world at their protests...the American Flag!
“Trump is telling [Chinese President] Xi Jinping very clearly: ‘Do whatever you want in Hong Kong. All I care about is a trade deal,’†argued Michael Fuchs, a former State Department official in the Obama administration. What Trump aides say means “nothing when the president is making his own position very clear again and again and again.â€
Trump’s defenders argue his comments are either misinterpreted or not considered in full.
His supporters point out that Trump, when asked about Hong Kong in early July, said the protesters are “looking for democracy. And I think most people want democracy.â€
But Trump later drew flak for saying Xi had “acted responsibly†in handling the protests, for calling the demonstrations “riots†and for saying the issue is “between Hong Kong and China.†While Trump’s supporters said the president was trying to praise Xi for not yet cracking down on the protesters, while also implying the movement won’t succeed if it turns violent, China’s state-run media hyped up his description of the Hong Kong protests as “riots.â€
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/trump-china-hong-kong-protests-1452624 (https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/trump-china-hong-kong-protests-1452624)
Fuchs is probably correct in his assessment. However, it cannot be overlooked how the Obama administration left Iranian protestors hanging in 2011-12.
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Fuchs is probably correct in his assessment. However, it cannot be overlooked how the Obama administration left Iranian protestors hanging in 2011-12.
And we were outraged about that as we should have been. We have an opportunity to be better than Obama when it comes to standing up for and supporting freedom loving people around the world. As the leader of the free world this is where Trump needs to step in and be his most Presidential...doesn't look like it's gonna happen though.
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And we were outraged about that as we should have been. We have an opportunity to be better than Obama when it comes to standing up for and supporting freedom loving people around the world. As the leader of the free world this is where Trump needs to step in and be his most Presidential...doesn't look like it's gonna happen though.
It’s not terribly shocking, when he expresses admiration for autocrats like Putin, Xi, and Kim. Meanwhile, he mocked Moon at his fundraiser, picked ‘dandruff’ off Macron, and asked Trudeau if Canadians burned down the White House. :shrug:
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And we were outraged about that as we should have been. We have an opportunity to be better than Obama when it comes to standing up for and supporting freedom loving people around the world. As the leader of the free world this is where Trump needs to step in and be his most Presidential...doesn't look like it's gonna happen though.
Did the U.S. president greenlight a potential Chinese crackdown in Hong Kong? (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/06/did-us-president-greenlight-potential-chinese-crackdown-hong-kong/)
By Frita Ghitis
The Washington Post
There are growing signs that something truly horrific is about to happen in Hong Kong. President Trump has essentially given China’s rulers a green light to crush the pro-democracy protests. His flippant remarks could have grave consequences . . .
. . . “I don’t know what China’s attitude is,†he mused disingenuously. “Somebody said that at some point they’re going to want to stop that.†This would have been a good place for him to urge restraint by Beijing, to defend the people’s right to protest peacefully, to say the United States is watching closely.
Instead, he washed his hands: “But that’s between Hong Kong and that’s between China, because Hong Kong is a part of China,†he declared — a comment that dismisses Hong Kong’s autonomy, solemnly guaranteed by Beijing years ago. Then he made it clear that the United States will have nothing to say: “They [China] have to deal with that themselves. They don’t need advice."
Trump has thoroughly relinquished any claim to moral authority by the United States. At a time when hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers have been courageously taking to the streets to assert their rights, the demonstrative disinterest of the president of the United States is scandalous — and dangerous. . .
President Tweety is too busy slapping China with tariffs that tax and hurt American buyers (businesses and consumers alike) far more than they'll ever hurt Beijing.
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I've wondered for some time if the Red Chinese were behind the scenes instigating this....
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Did the U.S. president greenlight a potential Chinese crackdown in Hong Kong? (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/06/did-us-president-greenlight-potential-chinese-crackdown-hong-kong/)
By Frita Ghitis
The Washington Post
President Tweety is too busy slapping China with tariffs that tax and hurt American buyers (businesses and consumers alike) far more than they'll ever hurt Beijing.
9999hair out0000
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The Epoch Times truly represents Chinese in Exile, mainly the Falun Gong, I'm going to be scouring their webpages to see if they are finding problems with Trump's approach, after all, Fuchs per the article, was in the State dept. under Obama.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china (https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china)
Let's see if anyone else says things like Fuchs, I did read the article and they spoke about a few things like "this is between China and HK", Trump needs to step it up if he has said things like this.
It does seem Farage, per post #1 was apt in criticizing China, Trump needs to get it together if the criticism is warranted. Good article, perhaps Trump has been weak in this alrighty.
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I've wondered for some time if the Red Chinese were behind the scenes instigating this....
Well, the protesters seem to have legitimate concerns about the agreement between Hong Kong and China, regarding extradition.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-is-hong-kongs-china-extradition-plan-so-controversial/ar-AACES4D (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-is-hong-kongs-china-extradition-plan-so-controversial/ar-AACES4D)
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The Epoch Times truly represents Chinese in Exile, mainly the Falun Gong, I'm going to be scouring their webpages to see if they are finding problems with Trump's approach, after all, Fuchs per the article, was in the State dept. under Obama.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china (https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china)
Let's see if anyone else says things like Fuchs, I did read the article and they spoke about a few things like "this is between China and HK", Trump needs to step it up if he has said things like this.
It does seem Farage, per post #1 was apt in criticizing China, Trump needs to get it together if the criticism is warranted. Good article, perhaps Trump has been weak in this alrighty.
Here's all you need to know about Trump's approach:
President Trump: "The Hong Kong thing is a very tough situation, very tough. We'll what see what happens. But I'm sure it'll work out. I hope it works out for everybody, including China, by the way."
https://twitchy.com/sarahd-313035/2019/08/13/donald-trumps-assessment-of-the-hong-kong-thing-leaves-some-things-to-be-desired-video/?spot_im_reply_id=sp_y8MrBHv4_1017229_c_Uh8pDx_r_iNMXkt&spot_im_highlight_immediate=true (https://twitchy.com/sarahd-313035/2019/08/13/donald-trumps-assessment-of-the-hong-kong-thing-leaves-some-things-to-be-desired-video/?spot_im_reply_id=sp_y8MrBHv4_1017229_c_Uh8pDx_r_iNMXkt&spot_im_highlight_immediate=true)
Not very Presidential and not very reassuring to those protesters in Hong Kong waiving American flags.
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Well, the protesters seem to have legitimate concerns about the agreement between Hong Kong and China, regarding extradition.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-is-hong-kongs-china-extradition-plan-so-controversial/ar-AACES4D (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-is-hong-kongs-china-extradition-plan-so-controversial/ar-AACES4D)
Yes, that seemed to be what germinated it organically, but IIRC they pulled that bill of the table a few weeks in.... rather than dissipating, it seemed to me that the protests ramped up....
Not saying that there areN'T legitimate issues, but it just seems a bit odd to me that this has become as inflamed as it has to this point....
:shrug:
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Why doesn't the President step up and say something in support of Hong Kong? I mean for goodness sakes the protesters are waiving around the most recognizable sign of freedom in the world at their protests...the American Flag!
Any overt show of support for the protestors will be seen as a direct provocation and will likely make a reprise of the Tiananmen Square atrocity even more likely. And there won't be a thing we can do about it.
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Any overt show of support for the protestors will be seen as a direct provocation and will likely make a reprise of the Tiananmen Square atrocity even more likely. And there won't be a thing we can do about it.
Exactly, it's a very tricky situation.
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Any overt show of support for the protestors will be seen as a direct provocation and will likely make a reprise of the Tiananmen Square atrocity even more likely. And there won't be a thing we can do about it.
If China's already amassing troops across the border from Hong Kong...then a reprise of the Tiananmen Square massacre is already in the planning stages.
Looks Trump could simply issue a strongly worded definitive statement supporting the protestors in Hong Kong and advice the mainland Chinese Government to show restraint to avoid a catastrophe.
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They can't be viewed as rational actors, they are Communist Red Chinese.
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Hong Kong then Taiwan.
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They can't be viewed as rational actors, they are Communist Red Chinese.
Exactly!
And if he doesn't put a stronger statement out soon...well the media is already writing their headlines about how Trump is more interested in a trade deal with China than trying to weigh in on the protests in Hong King.
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Hong Kong then Taiwan.
And that's where all those little illegal man made islands and the Red Chinese control of both ends of the Panama Canal come into play.
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBp2VusRhE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBp2VusRhE#)
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBp2VusRhE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBp2VusRhE#)
Yup
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Exactly!
And if he doesn't put a stronger statement out soon...well the media is already writing their headlines about how Trump is more interested in a trade deal with China than trying to weigh in on the protests in Hong King.
Indeed.
As someone mentioned upthread, zero was roundly criticized for letting the Persian people in the streets hang out to dry.... will he be willing to do the same to people of Hong Kong, and potentially the Taiwanese?
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Hong Kong then Taiwan.
Yep.
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Hong Kong then Taiwan.
WWIII coming right up?
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WWIII coming right up?
If we do it's gonna be a slug fest that will make the island hopping campaign of WW II look like a cake walk.
And forget transferring the needed naval assets through the Panama Canal...the Chinese control both ends and you can expect it to be locked down tight. Wouldn't surprise me if they trapped whatever ships we were trying to move through in that lake in between the Pacific and Atlantic locks.
Throw in the fact that China has now declared that 500 miles from their coastline is territorial waters (hence all the little man made reef islands)...yeah this will get ugly quick.
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WWIII coming right up?
Good be a good thing. Help the country get its priorities straight.
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Good be a good thing. Help the country get its priorities straight.
I don't think so. We've been helping them build their military up for 50 years now.
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Good be a good thing. Help the country get its priorities straight.
War is never, ever a "good thing". Perhaps necessary, but never good. JS....
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If we do it's gonna be a slug fest that will make the island hopping campaign of WW II look like a cake walk.
And forget transferring the needed naval assets through the Panama Canal...the Chinese control both ends and you can expect it to be locked down tight. Wouldn't surprise me if they trapped whatever ships we were trying to move through in that lake in between the Pacific and Atlantic locks.
Throw in the fact that China has now declared that 500 miles from their coastline is territorial waters (hence all the little man made reef islands)...yeah this will get ugly quick.
I look around at what the left has made of America (fundamentally transformed us into) so far.... and I think of how much worse it will be if they get their way... and get to fulfill their agenda.... after having sold out America to our enemies (China, Iran, Muslime Brotherhood, etc.)....
and I envision multiple "Hells on Earth" simultaneously in the future. Possibly the very near future. And we can't stop it. We can only delay the inevitable.
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I look around at what the left has made of America (fundamentally transformed us into) so far.... and I think of how much worse it will be if they get their way... and get to fulfill their agenda.... after having sold out America to our enemies (China, Iran, Muslime Brotherhood, etc.)....
and I envision multiple "Hells on Earth" simultaneously in the future. Possibly the very near future. And we can't stop it. We can only delay the inevitable.
The old Chinese saying about "May you live in interesting times" certainly seems to be coming to fruition.
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The old Chinese saying about "May you live in interesting times" certainly seems to be coming to fruition.
Yeah, and right about now... I could sure enjoy some boredom (FARC-for a refreshing change). :laugh:
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Yeah, and right about now... I could sure enjoy some boredom (FARC-for a refreshing change). :laugh:
You and me both!
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If we do it's gonna be a slug fest that will make the island hopping campaign of WW II look like a cake walk.
And forget transferring the needed naval assets through the Panama Canal...the Chinese control both ends and you can expect it to be locked down tight. Wouldn't surprise me if they trapped whatever ships we were trying to move through in that lake in between the Pacific and Atlantic locks.
Throw in the fact that China has now declared that 500 miles from their coastline is territorial waters (hence all the little man made reef islands)...yeah this will get ugly quick.
(https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/9Wnd5tmepuqF...abkmwZw--~B/YXBwaWQ9eWlzZWFyY2g7Zmk9Zml0O2dlPTAwNjYwMDtncz0wMEEzMDA7aD00OTc7dz00MDA-/http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/ED-AU227_FeithS_9U_20151013114214.jpg.cf.jpg)
Yes, the Chinese have built the artificial islands to establish military bases within what they call the Nine Dash Line, based on historical claims. Bill Gertz has written quite a bit about the growing threat China has become, over the past 30 years. He may be off in his timeframe, but their goal is clear.
China’s Secret Military Plan: Invade Taiwan by 2020
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinas-secret-military-plan-invade-taiwan-2020/ (https://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinas-secret-military-plan-invade-taiwan-2020/)
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Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Our Intelligence has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong. Everyone should be calm and safe!
40.1K
12:17 PM - Aug 13, 2019
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Many are blaming me, and the United States, for the problems going on in Hong Kong. I can’t imagine why?
46.9K
12:11 PM - Aug 13, 2019
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World Asia Hong Kong protests
Chinese state media blames CIA for violent Hong Kong protests
By Kirsty Needham
July 26, 2019 — 4.27pm
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/chinese-state-media-blames-cia-for-violent-hong-kong-protests-20190726-p52b1x.html (https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/chinese-state-media-blames-cia-for-violent-hong-kong-protests-20190726-p52b1x.html)
Also, let's not forget this, I wasn't even looking for this in my news search but I do remember the story, as I'm sure others do:
May 2017:
Killing C.I.A. Informants, China Crippled U.S. Spying Operations
By Mark Mazzetti, Adam Goldman, Michael S. Schmidt and Matt Apuzzo
WASHINGTON — The Chinese government systematically dismantled C.I.A. spying operations in the country starting in 2010, killing or imprisoning more than a dozen sources over two years and crippling intelligence gathering there for years afterward.
Current and former American officials described the intelligence breach as one of the worst in decades. It set off a scramble in Washington’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies to contain the fallout, but investigators were bitterly divided over the cause. Some were convinced that a mole within the C.I.A. had betrayed the United States. Others believed that the Chinese had hacked the covert system the C.I.A. used to communicate with its foreign sources. Years later, that debate remains unresolved.
But there was no disagreement about the damage. From the final weeks of 2010 through the end of 2012, according to former American officials, the Chinese killed at least a dozen of the C.I.A.’s sources. According to three of the officials, one was shot in front of his colleagues in the courtyard of a government building — a message to others who might have been working for the C.I.A.
Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/world/asia/china-cia-spies-espionage.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/world/asia/china-cia-spies-espionage.html)
Our CIA is active, all of the major countries, even players like Canada have spies. Events in the Ukraine blamed the CIA or USA, it goes around. The Chinese spy on us inordinately. I even heard one Chinese say the CIA was active at Tiananmen Square back then. If so, I doubt much, they were even more closed back then.
But it happens.
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Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bBKah3hCbNU#)
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Indeed.
As someone mentioned upthread, zero was roundly criticized for letting the Persian people in the streets hang out to dry.... will he be willing to do the same to people of Hong Kong, and potentially the Taiwanese?
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I, for one, am still throughly pissed off about that.
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(https://i.imgur.com/61HuNnL.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/61HuNnL.png)
Yes, they do. We do too.
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Drudge:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1161307104013160448/-oaeVyN8?format=jpg&name=small)
RIOT POLICE STORM HKG
VIDEO
BATTLE FOR FREEDOM!
TRUMP NEUTRAL
UK, from Farage in the OP to their Government do seem to be actively condemning this, I believe Canada did as well.
Looks like a "kinder and gentler crackdown" from Tiananmen, I will say, it looks like most are student aged protesters.
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If China's already amassing troops across the border from Hong Kong...then a reprise of the Tiananmen Square massacre is already in the planning stages.
Looks Trump could simply issue a strongly worded definitive statement supporting the protestors in Hong Kong and advice the mainland Chinese Government to show restraint to avoid a catastrophe.
Trump could get together some sort of alliance & issue a loud reminder of the promises the Chicoms made to the UK re: HK at the handover (and are currently violating) and the international prestige they are risking by their threats of violent resolution.
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Drudge:
UK, from Farage in the OP to their Government do seem to be actively condemning this, I believe Canada did as well.
Looks like a "kinder and gentler crackdown" from Tiananmen, I will say, it looks like most are student aged protesters.
Protests involving only students & young people do not worry the commie leadership so much.
When the middle aged join them they will become concerned.
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Gordon G. Chang
@GordonGChang
Prez #Trump's words on #HongKong are uninspiring. He's undoubtedly been advised not to aggravate #XiJinping. Unfortunately, there's no way to placate Xi. He has made us #China's enemy, and there's no turning back for him. It's time for us to stand with those who demand freedom.
3:42 PM · Aug 13, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
https://twitter.com/GordonGChang/status/1161377430113869825
Trump should probably say things like this:
Marco Rubio
@marcorubio
#China’s escalating threats against #HongKong is not an “internal matterâ€,it’s a blatant violation of commitment to Hong Kong’s autonomy Beijing made in an international treaty
And given their history of repression,Chinese troops massed on border is cause for grave concern
https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1161360974072471557
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Trump could get together some sort of alliance & issue a loud reminder of the promises the Chicoms made to the UK re: HK at the handover (and are currently violating) and the international prestige they are risking by their threats of violent resolution.
In that case it needs to be a strongly worded joint statement by Trump and Boris Johnson.
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@TomSea can you link us to a good site that has "live coverage" of what is unfolding?
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@EdJames
It's 6:52 AM there, so they are about 12 hours ahead of us, Here seems to be some news feeds:
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeX4EoJh_YM#)
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUYSz3L6QlE#)
Agenda Free TV:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china (https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china)
Anyone else have any ideas? We will see how this works.
SCMP, South China Morning Post seems to have some objective articles. It is from Hong Kong, it was established in 1903, the newspaper of record. Maybe they have some objectivity after all:
Refuse Hong Kong’s protesters everything, and they will fight to the bitter end
This is not a storm that Carrie Lam’s administration can sit out. Deny the protesters everything and we force them to fight the current political order to the death, in nihilistic destruction, convinced they have nothing to lose
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022168/refuse-hong-kongs-protesters-everything-and-they-will-fight-bitter (https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022168/refuse-hong-kongs-protesters-everything-and-they-will-fight-bitter)
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David Lampton
The US has a role to play in the escalating Hong Kong crisis – as a moderating force
Washington is not the ‘black hand’ Beijing believes it to be. But neither should it wash its hands of the crisis, as Trump has apparently done
However limited its role, the US should be urging restraint on all sides and highlighting the credible repercussions beyond Hong Kong of any crackdown
David Lampton
Published: 2:00am, 14 Aug, 2019
Updated: 3:26am, 14 Aug, 2019
(https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2019/08/14/f75438ae-bdab-11e9-8f25-9b5536624008_image_hires_024723.jpg?itok=olZQdLeg&v=1565722048)
Illustration: Craig Stephens
In the past six weeks, I have been in mainland China, Hong Kong (three times), and Washington. From these trips and recent developments, I have concluded that Hong Kong is a huge tragedy in the making. Proactive and positive moves by all parties to this rapidly deteriorating situation are required.
Though Washington is not a principal party in these developments, it should be a constructive force rather than irrelevant or counterproductive.
The elements of the current crisis are many. In Hong Kong, there is a leaderless movement on the ground. There are rising levels of political
and socio-economic frustration among many Hong Kong citizens stemming from mobility and economic considerations, as well as perceptions of political retrogression
in the special administrative region.
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022537/us-has-role-play-escalating-hong-kong-crisis-moderating-force (https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022537/us-has-role-play-escalating-hong-kong-crisis-moderating-force)
Attached to above, "China Welcomes Trump's Remarks"
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0f-s151s-Y#)
That's pretty straightforward, I read on one of these links that there is a free press for now there.
Hong Kong Free Press seems to have an adequate twitter feed: https://twitter.com/HongKongFP (https://twitter.com/HongKongFP)
Hopefully, this will be like other times, when everyone raises a complaint and then, he acts on it. Who's advising him?
Gordon Chang also brought up this point: https://twitter.com/GordonGChang (https://twitter.com/GordonGChang)
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Intense scenes as Hong Kong airport descends into chaos; American flag emerges as symbol of hope and freedom
BPR, Aug 13, 2019
Armed with pepper spray and batons, riot police are trying to restore order but the protesters are fighting back, as seen in a wild incident caught on camera.
A lone officer is seen trying to apprehend an apparent protester when the mob suddenly turns on him. They manage to get his baton away from him and begin hitting the officer with it. The desperate officer managed to pull his weapon, causing the crowd to disperse.
Other police officers are then seen rushing to his aid as the video comes to an end.
Video shows police storming the airport and reporters say some protesters are being hit on the head as others are being taken away.
President Donald Trump took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to say Chinese troops are mobilizing, calling for everyone to remain calm.
“Our Intelligence has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong. Everyone should be calm and safe!†Trump tweeted.
The United States of America serves as inspiration for Hong Kong residents who are demanding more freedom to govern their lives.
More: https://www.bizpacreview.com/2019/08/13/intense-scenes-as-hong-kong-airport-descends-into-chaos-american-flag-emerges-as-symbol-of-hope-and-freedom-785214 (https://www.bizpacreview.com/2019/08/13/intense-scenes-as-hong-kong-airport-descends-into-chaos-american-flag-emerges-as-symbol-of-hope-and-freedom-785214)
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Some pretty intense video that easily could have escalated into fatalities.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Birdyword/status/1161299001414578177
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Donald J. Trumpâ€
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
Our Intelligence has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong. Everyone should be calm and safe!
10:17 AM - 13 Aug 2019
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1161325870516264961
Donald J. Trump Retweeted
Sean Hannity
â€Verified account @seanhannity
**BREAKING NOW**
(https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1161307778042007552/yDqCajNc?format=jpg&name=600x314)
BREAKING NEWS NOW: Chinese Riot Police Storm Hong Kong International Airport
https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/1161321695606648833
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Thanks @TomSea, appreciate all of the links!!
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Some pretty intense video that easily could have escalated into fatalities.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Birdyword/status/1161299001414578177
Yes, amazing video, I had not seen that.
Quite a bit on twitter with hashtags, #HongKong and I'm sure with #hongkongprotests maybe Hong_Kong ... I'm actually liking twitter for a lot of this, more localized coverage, people who are there. I rarely engage in debate or anything, just finding news on things.
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That last video posted by edpc , this is why in some senses, it doesn't look to me, like some HK police really have this heart in the matter. I don't know, the police could be a lot more brutal. Maybe that's a silly thing to say. Beware if the Red Army or their henchmen shows up, that's what I think.
That Hong Kong Free Press twitter showed some sort of law enforcement though, with the flag of China (PRC)... I think he was wearing an olive green uniform.
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That last video posted by edpc , this is why in some senses, it doesn't look to me, like some HK police really have this heart in the matter. I don't know, the police could be a lot more brutal. Maybe that's a silly thing to say. Beware if the Red Army or their henchmen shows up, that's what I think.
That is probably the difference - the police are Hong Kong residents, whereas the mainland Chinese military has no ties to the people.
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Say something like this, a lot of people are saying the right thing. And in a tweet? Something.
Kevin McCarthy
@GOPLeader
·
1h
To the thousands of young people in Hong Kong who are speaking UP for human rights and speaking OUT against the Communist Party of China: we see you waving the American flag, and we hear you singing our national anthem.
America stands for freedom. America stands with Hong Kong.
https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1161402162733187072
Lindsay Graham:
Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
·
5h
30 years after Tiananmen Square all Americans stand with the peaceful protesters in Hong Kong.
These protests highlight the moral authority of their demands for Freedom and Democracy
This is becoming a defining moment for US-China relations.
https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1161352799973773314
Though, I think I do realize this is a complex matter.
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Washington Insider
Latest Headlines and BREAKING NEWS Alerts!
Why isn’t Trump speaking out more about the Hong Kong protests?
By: Joe Stewart On: August 13, 2019 In: Politics
(https://i0.wp.com/hotair.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/t-3.jpg?resize=665%2C340&ssl=1)
If you wish to reply that by saying, “As a result of talking out wouldn’t accomplish something,†okay. Phrases with out the specter of U.S. navy pressure behind them aren’t going to vary a international authorities’s calculations about how one can deal with a preferred rebellion.
However we hammered Obama fairly exhausting in 2009 when he stored a low profile throughout Iran’s Inexperienced Revolution although there was no prospect of American navy intervention there. If nothing else, Trump reminding Beijing that the eyes of the world are upon Hong Kong might enhance stress on them to indicate restraint and enhance stress on European nations to punish China if a bloodbath ensues.
And the pundit-in-chief usually doesn’t want a strategic purpose to spout off on Twitter about one thing. He’ll lash out gratuitously if he regards you as an enemy, as Anthony Scaramucci and Chris Cuomo have every been reminded throughout the previous 24 hours or so. China occurs to be Trump’s designated archenemy internationally, a rising superpower with whom we’re already locked in a deepening commerce conflict. It’s … not like him to go on an opportunity to use an enemy’s embarrassment, however that’s what he’s doing proper now by holding a low profile in regards to the large protests.
More: https://www.thewashingtoninsider.com/why-isnt-trump-speaking-out-more-about-the-hong-kong-protests/ (https://www.thewashingtoninsider.com/why-isnt-trump-speaking-out-more-about-the-hong-kong-protests/)
Washington Insider, I know little about their editorial views, just posting this.
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Nice to see Trump standing up for freedom.
Oh, wait, .....
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Latest Headlines and BREAKING NEWS Alerts!
Why isn’t Trump speaking out more about the Hong Kong protests?
By: Joe Stewart On: August 13, 2019 In: Politics
It’s very simple: Siding with Hong Kong does not give him anything, with his base. Leaving them hanging out to dry doesn’t lose anything with them, either. Securing a trade deal scores big points with them, while abandoning the trade deal in favor of Hong Kong protesters is a loser.
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Nice to see Trump standing up for freedom.
Oh, wait, .....
Too busy freeing law breaking rappers from Nordic countries.... :cool:
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Too busy freeing law breaking rappers from Nordic countries.... :cool:
And making sure all those Epstein conspiracy theories get properly tweeted about.
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Nearly every President is tested by a serious geopolitical situation.
So far Trump is failing his. This is where the rubber meets the road with long term consequences for millions of people.
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CNN Updates, Drudge has that up, @EdJames
https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html)
Probably the kinds of updates one wants without having video news on.
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Canada, not every Chinese-American or Chinese Canadian is against the Beijing Govt. I think a similar situation has occurred in the SF area of California.
(https://www.thepostmillennial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/China-1-min.png)
Former Liberal Minister supports Communist China over pro-democracy Hong Kong
Dylan Gibbons, 16 mins ago 2 min read
The Hong Kong protests began in early March 2019 after an extradition bill was submitted to Hong Kong’s legislature in February. The proposed bill would amend Hong Kong’s legal system to allow for the extradition of accused persons to face charges in Chinese courts.
This would effectively undermine Hong Kong’s status as a Special Administrative Region within China—one which has been promised a degree of autonomy and self-determination before being absorbed into China in 2047.
The continued push for the bill to become law has led to hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers—if not millions at this point—to take to the streets and protest Chinese interference in Hong Kong’s legal system. This has evolved over time into a full-blown pro-democracy, independence movement, with many Hongkongers viewing the protests as their best chance to separate from China completely.
https://www.thepostmillennial.com/former-liberal-minister-supports-communist-china-over-pro-democracy-hong-kong/ (https://www.thepostmillennial.com/former-liberal-minister-supports-communist-china-over-pro-democracy-hong-kong/)
Post Millennial News, I've run into this ws before. I'm not too aware about it.
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Nearly every President is tested by a serious geopolitical situation.
So far Trump is failing his. This is where the rubber meets the road with long term consequences for millions of people.
Trump is a paper tiger, low hanging fruit type of person. He was tough on ISIS, because they had no method to project power, at the US, in a meaningful way. Conversely, he’s reluctant to act with strength, when the opposition has the ability to inflict real damage. The strikes on Syria were telegraphed and coordinated, so Russia wouldn’t be brought into the fold. North Korea still has nuclear weapons and launches short range missiles. That’s fine, because they don’t threaten CONUS. Iran can shoot down drones and hijack the occasional tanker, because they have the ability to effect the global oil market. China can engage in hard line tactics, because challenging them jeopardizes the US economy.
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CNN Updates, Drudge has that up, @EdJames
https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html)
Probably the kinds of updates one wants without having video news on.
Thanks @TomSea, you're a Prince!
That link is perfect!
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This looks like a positive development but then I think, well, would the protesters go into the designated areas of the airport? Probably not.
The Week:
Hong Kong airport reopens, with demonstrators told to protest in designated areas
10:43 p.m.
After violent clashes broke out at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday night, the airport authority announced on Wednesday it received a temporary injunction to prevent protesters from obstructing airport operations.
Demonstrators must also now stay in assigned areas, Reuters reports. Operations at the airport, one of the busiest in the world, came to a screeching halt on Monday, as protesters made their way through the airport, using luggage carts to block the entrances to customs checkpoints. On Tuesday night, protesters and riot police faced off, with law enforcement using pepper spray against the demonstrators. Police also said protesters "harassed and assaulted a visitor and a journalist," with the demonstrators saying they believed that one man was a Chinese spy and the other was a Chinese reporter.
As the airport resumed operations on Wednesday, employees were seen mopping up blood and trash from the floors, Reuters reports. The protests began 10 weeks ago, and since then, about 600 demonstrators have been arrested. They first began protesting against a proposed bill that would have made it so anyone arrested in Hong Kong could be extradited to China.
More: https://theweek.com/speedreads/858882/hong-kong-airport-reopens-demonstrators-told-protest-designated-areas
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No way would I take the side of Beijing but on reading about Tiananmen some 2 months ago, one of the reporters said he knew there'd be a problem when there was a sort of statue of Liberty put up in the square by the protesters. We had photos posted of that statue about 6 weeks ago.
So, a lot has been in the news about some protesters waving American flags and I read even saying the pledge of allegiance and singing the national anthem, that is all good... but would we like it in the same vein, if folks here waved the Chinese Communist Republic's flag or the Mexican flag? I think we know the answer. I'm just stating that this might be a bit antagonistic.
Some stories coming out:
'Frightened, angry and exhausted': Hong Kong protesters apologise for airport violence
Protest group asks for understanding after clashes in which a reporter and policeman were attacked
Hong Kong protesters have apologised to the public for the chaos caused at the city’s airport, one of the world’s busiest transport hubs, after demonstrations brought flights to a halt for two consecutive days and stranded thousands of visitors.
One protest group asked in a lengthy statement for understanding, saying protesters chose the airport as a forum for demonstration only because they no longer felt safe protesting in public due to police violence.
The group apologised for clashes on Wednesday, in which police armed with batons and pepper spray clashed with thousands of protesters, saying that “after months of prolonged resistance, we are frightened, angry and exhausted. Some of us have become easily agitated and over-reacted last night.â€
More at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/frightened-angry-and-exhausted-hong-kong-protesters-apologise-for-airport-violence (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/frightened-angry-and-exhausted-hong-kong-protesters-apologise-for-airport-violence)
OK, maybe that eases some of that chaos yesterday which it was. Hopefully, things will be much more orderly today.
Here is something from the enemy press, which I almost might consider "Zero Hedge" to be but worth a mention nonetheless:
Journalist For China's Global Times Brutally 'Arrested' By HK Airport Protesters
by Tyler Durden
Tue, 08/13/2019 - 13:21
Chinese state media outlet Global Times has reported one of its journalists had been seized and bound in an 'arrest' by anti-Beijing Hong Kong protesters which had occupied the city's international airport.
Global Times' editor-in-chief Hu Xijin made an appeal on social media Tuesday for the protesters to release the reporter, saying he was only there to cover the demonstrations and must not be harmed. He also called on western journalists to intervene in the situation.
(https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/hk%20gt%20reporter_0.jpg?itok=_G3ipFW2)
Hu Xijin confirmed the identity of the man seen in the video being bound with multiple zip ties with his arms placed above his head.
Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-08-13/journalist-chinas-global-times-brutally-arrested-hk-airport-protesters (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-08-13/journalist-chinas-global-times-brutally-arrested-hk-airport-protesters)
Sometimes, I'd skip zero-hedge altogether but they might have a good piece now and then. I'd think the protesters should not be doing things like this.
China-US News
U.S. Senator Warns China on Hong Kong Trade Status If It Intervenes in Protests
By Reuters
August 14, 2019 Updated: August 14, 2019
(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/08/14/Ben-Cardin-700x420.jpg)
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) speaks with reporters ahead of the weekly policy luncheons on Capitol Hill in Wash, U.S., May 7, 2019. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters)
A prominent U.S. senator warned China on Aug. 13 Hong Kong could lose its special U.S. trade status if Beijing intervenes directly to crack down on increasingly violent pro-democracy protests in the city.
A leading Republican also said the Trump administration must make clear to Beijing it would face “profound consequences,†including sanctions, if it intervened directly.
“I can assure you that if China comes down hard on the protesters that there will be action in Congress to enforce the autonomy agreements that were entered into that are part of the special recognition of Hong Kong,†Senator Ben Cardin told Reuters. He said such action had bipartisan support.
More at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/u-s-senator-warns-china-on-hong-kong-trade-status-if-it-intervenes-in-protests_3041360.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/u-s-senator-warns-china-on-hong-kong-trade-status-if-it-intervenes-in-protests_3041360.html)
Okay, it's been remarked how the Dems, some or a lot of them, are trying to shove socialism on us, so here, they are upset about China? Something to think about.
But that's a fairly good roundup of the latest events, hopefully, things will be more subdued today I'd say.
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Useful article on some background here, so, in 28 years, Hong Kong reverts back to China? Even that doesn't sound that long of an amount of time from now. The original HK deal was 50 years, here is some detail:
Bloomberg:
quicktake
Hong Kong’s Autonomy
By David Tweed and Natalie Lung
Updated on June 9, 2019, 8:54 PM CDT
Hong Kong is an island of free speech and civil liberties in an authoritarian sea. It is not, however, a democracy. Citizens have never had the power to choose their top leader, neither as part of China since 1997 nor as an outpost of the British Empire for 156 years before that.
...
The Background
The 1984 Sino-British power transfer agreement specified that China would give Hong Kong a “high degree of autonomy†for 50 years under a principle the Chinese call “one country, two systems.†Any talk of independence was on the fringes: More than 90 percent of the city’s nearly 7.5 million residents are ethnic Chinese with family ties to the mainland, which provides most of Hong Kong’s water and food as well as about half its trade.
More at: https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/hong-kongs-autonomy (https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/hong-kongs-autonomy)
So, in affect, in 1997, Hong Kong was "given back" to China with definite conditions, the main one being Hong Kong is largely autonomous for the first 50 years per how it is being given.
But these protesters, youthful who will surely just age in 28 years when the give-back is complete and those that come after them, I don't think any of them will care for the People's Republic of China as it stands now. China could change perhaps. Complex situation and as the article states, a big portion of HK residents seem to have ties to the mainland and the mainland seems to provide the city with water and other necessities.
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Nice to see Trump standing up for freedom.
Oh, wait, .....
Sad to see isn’t it?
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Daily Signal is Heritage Foundation:
What Hong Kong Unrest Tells Us About China’s Plans for the Rest of the World
James Carafano / @JJCarafano / August 14, 2019
(https://www.dailysignal.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1148670742-1250x650.jpg)
The outside world can do little to assure the future of freedom in Hong Kong beyond making the case that preserving the principles of liberty are at stake. Nevertheless, the plight of that territory’s more than 7 million souls can teach us an important lesson about what China has in mind for the rest of the world. It is not good.
For starters, the continuing protests speak volumes about China’s commitment to “one country, two systems.†When the British transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997, Beijing agreed to this arrangement. It guaranteed that Hong Kong would be allowed to maintain its own governance and economic system.
The Hong Kong system—one of great economic freedom—has produced tremendous economic success. But economic freedom is no more popular than political freedom among the Chinese Communist Party. And in recent years, Chinese authorities have been encroaching on the rights supposedly guaranteed to Hong Kongers under the “one country, two systems†agreement.
Read more at: https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/08/14/what-hong-kong-unrest-tells-us-about-chinas-plans-for-the-rest-of-the-world/ (https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/08/14/what-hong-kong-unrest-tells-us-about-chinas-plans-for-the-rest-of-the-world/)
Author James Jay Carafano, https://twitter.com/JJCarafano (https://twitter.com/JJCarafano)
Well, I've seen him say quite a few good things.
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Perhaps the comments are mild but Trump finally did speak. For all I know, the GOPers/Admin could have been letting Graham and Rubio and McCarthy and anyone make the commentary while the Pres. kept a low profile. I do think they do teamwork sometimes, I'm not saying that is the case here.
Business News
August 14, 2019 / 5:51 PM / Updated 4 hours ago
Trump says China should treat Hong Kong 'humanely' before trade deal can be agreed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China wants to make a trade deal but it should treat Hong Kong “humanely†first, explicitly tying a trade agreement to a peaceful resolution of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
“Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!†Trump said on Twitter.
“I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi (Jinping) wants to quickly and humanely solve the Hong Kong problem, he can do it. Personal meeting?†Trump said.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-trump-idUSKCN1V42BL (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-trump-idUSKCN1V42BL)
Say it's mild or too little to late, I think this is probably good enough.
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Andy McCarthy:
Andy McCarthy
@AndrewCMcCarthy
·
8h
Presidencies are not defined by BS like anthem-kneeling. We can handle that, thank you very much. We have a POTUS not for kulturkampf but to act for US in the world. Every now and then there’s a moment: Are you gonna be Reagan/Poland 1981, or Obama/Iran 2009? That’s Hong Kong.
https://twitter.com/AndrewCMcCarthy/status/1161818831272185856 (https://twitter.com/AndrewCMcCarthy/status/1161818831272185856)
Andy McCarthy
@AndrewCMcCarthy
History rhyming?: So kids, last time I voted for a Dem was 1992 — Bush-41 post-Tiananmen repulsed me, enough to hope Clinton’s ‘coddling dictators’ rhetoric was sincere. I was 33-yr-old conservative. Now, I read Trump on Xi and think: This could happen again ...
8:16 PM · Aug 14, 2019·Twitter for iPad
https://twitter.com/AndrewCMcCarthy/status/1161808803194712064 (https://twitter.com/AndrewCMcCarthy/status/1161808803194712064)
Hong Kong protests: Trump offers to meet with China's Xi to resolve crisis
United States President Donald Trump has suggested that China should deal with protests in Hong Kong "humanely" before making a trade deal with the US.https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/15/china/trump-xi-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/15/china/trump-xi-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html)
There seems to have been a turnaround but I don't know for certain. Are these pundits following the last news cycle still? Are they not updated? Let's see how this goes now.
BTW, I saw an editorial too, "Hong Kong is not Tiananmen (for now)"... so, all of this was pretty alarming when it hit the media hard about 2 days ago I'd believe. It seems to have dissipated mostly, CNN even pulling their live blog coverage though, they have another page for updates.
https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk (https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk)
Original live coverage: https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html)
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Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
If President Xi would meet directly and personally with the protesters, there would be a happy and enlightened ending to the Hong Kong problem. I have no doubt!
9:04 AM · Aug 15, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
He must’ve gotten this idea there would be a happy ending, after a meeting with the Chinese people, from Robert Kraft.
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Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
If President Xi would meet directly and personally with the protesters, there would be a happy and enlightened ending to the Hong Kong problem. I have no doubt!
9:04 AM · Aug 15, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
He must’ve gotten this idea there would be a happy ending, after a meeting with the Chinese people, from Robert Kraft.
At this point he's running the risk of looking as weak on Hong Kong as Obama looked on Iran and Egypt.
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Pro-China rally in Melbourne condemning Hong Kong protests delayed over fake council permit
By Bang Xiao and Echo Hui
A pro-China rally planned for Saturday in Melbourne to condemn the clashes in Hong Kong has been postponed after a letter claiming to be an event permit from the Melbourne City Council was confirmed to be fake.
Key points:
Sydney's pro-China protests will go ahead at Belmore Park on Saturday
Chinese media has called the fake council permits "a trap" for pro-China protesters
It's still unclear who created the fake permit letter and their intent
A well-known local Chinese media outlet, Australian Red Scarf, first announced the pro-Beijing protests in Melbourne on their WeChat account last Friday, accompanied by an image of a letter saying the council approved the "Support One China Principle" event to be held at the State Library in Melbourne.
About 100 people were expected to gather in front of the State Library in the morning, and countered by a collective of pro-democracy groups including Hong Kong, Uyghur and Tibet activists.
Read more at; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-16/pro-china-protest-delayed-over-fake-melbourne-council-permit/11416848 (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-16/pro-china-protest-delayed-over-fake-melbourne-council-permit/11416848)
https://twitter.com/badiucao/status/1162329296481878017 (https://twitter.com/badiucao/status/1162329296481878017)
If one is interested, I can't clearly tell if these people are pro-Chinese/pro-Hong Kong... Chinese flag with "Free Hong Kong"...
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Brian Sullivan
@SullyCNBC
·
1h
So literally moments ago this happened. Crowd leaving Hong Kong rally and the Star Spangled Banner began playing.
Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1162368819026771970
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(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/68509750_432566920688676_9202066104258658304_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=AQln_u6kyU_23GFmx7m3pQAsDZmpVFcsQTNlN8JADqozv08sV0WnOIGPqfMPtdtEduc&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=29665e0be7212251d059f416eb96e4bd&oe=5DDF2E8C)
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(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/68509750_432566920688676_9202066104258658304_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=AQln_u6kyU_23GFmx7m3pQAsDZmpVFcsQTNlN8JADqozv08sV0WnOIGPqfMPtdtEduc&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=29665e0be7212251d059f416eb96e4bd&oe=5DDF2E8C)
:thumbsup:
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A 91 year old tycoon published 2 full-page messages over there today addressed to the public and protesters.
Hong Kong Tycoon Warns Protesters and Beijing Against Violence
www.wsj.com (http://www.wsj.com)
The ads by a businessman who made a fortune navigating the tricky politics of Hong Kong and Beijing followed a week of some of the worst incidents of violence in more than two months of demonstrations.
Police shocked the city last weekend with fierce baton charges and new tactics, including disguising officers as protesters to make surprise arrests. Protesters then turned public opinion against themselves Tuesday night by beating and tying up two men from mainland China in a bout of mob justice at the airport.
Meanwhile, Chinese paramilitary police and armored personnel carriers massed across the border from Hong Kong in what the Global Times, a state-run tabloid, called “a clear warning to the Hong Kong rioters.â€
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-tycoon-warns-protesters-and-beijing-against-violence-11565957179 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-tycoon-warns-protesters-and-beijing-against-violence-11565957179)
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In a nutshell, theepochtimes.com will have some live streaming per link one (3rd link seems to say, if there is a major crackdow may be this weekend and they are about 12 hours ahead of us_ :
HK CURRENT AFFAIRS
Hong Kong Protesters Hoping For a Record Turnout This Weekend, Events to be Live-Streamed on Epoch Times Website
BY EPOCH TIMES STAFF
August 16, 2019 Updated: August 16, 2019
https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-protesters-hoping-for-a-record-turnout-this-weekend-events-to-be-live-streamed-on-epoch-times-website_3044972.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-protesters-hoping-for-a-record-turnout-this-weekend-events-to-be-live-streamed-on-epoch-times-website_3044972.html)
Epoch Times had a humble beginning with the Falun Gong, now, I think for example, some conservative pundits like Larry Elder has a show... they've grown to be somewhat influential.
(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/08/17/hongkong-700x420.jpg)
Pro-democracy protesters hold signs as they attend a rally in Hong Kong on Aug. 16, 2019. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-nears-an-abyss_3045485.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-nears-an-abyss_3045485.html)
HK CURRENT AFFAIRS
China Expert Warns Hongkongers Beijing Could Launch an Attack on Protesters at This Weekend’s Rally
The Chinese regime has three methods to quell the relentless protests
BY OLIVIA LI, EPOCH TIMES
August 16, 2019 Updated: August 16, 2019
https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-expert-warns-hongkongers-beijing-could-launch-an-attack-on-protesters-at-this-weekends-rally_3045205.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-expert-warns-hongkongers-beijing-could-launch-an-attack-on-protesters-at-this-weekends-rally_3045205.html)
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Hong Kong protesters took their organizing principle from Bruce Lee. Now some are having second thoughts
(https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5ce0f7f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4247x2826+0+0/resize/840x559!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fca-times.brightspotcdn.com%2F3c%2F9e%2Fa8c62aa5479fbf2f085a6af99266%2Fafp-getty-topshot-hong-kong-china-politics-crime2.JPG)
A tourist gives her luggage to security guards as she tries to enter the departures area Aug. 13 during protests at Hong Kong’s international airport.
(Philip Fong / AFP/Getty Images)
By Alice SuChina Correspondent
Aug. 16, 2019
6:37 PM
HONG KONG —
The protester felt torn as an elderly Australian woman in a wheelchair grabbed his hand and asked for help.
She was trying to get home and wanted assistance navigating through the thousands of demonstrators at the Hong Kong International Airport to reach her gate.
If he were in charge, he would have let her pass.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-16/de-escalation-becomes-difficult-among-hong-kong-protesters-who-refuse-to-be-divided (https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-16/de-escalation-becomes-difficult-among-hong-kong-protesters-who-refuse-to-be-divided)
So, protests have already started today, a teachers group I understand....
I also heard about this, I didn't know, she is supporting the crackdown:
Calls To Boycott The New "Mulan" After Its Star Spoke In Support Of Hong Kong Police
By Michael Blackmon
(https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2019-08/16/15/asset/45035d0a5b18/sub-buzz-1306-1565969678-1.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
Six months before the release of Disney’s Mulan, the live-action film is already the subject of calls for a boycott after its Chinese American star, Liu Yifei, posted in support of the authorities' crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Liu, who also goes by the name Crystal Liu, will star in the title role of Mulan when the film is released in March. But on Wednesday, the star posted an image on Weibo taken from People’s Daily, a newspaper that acts as the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.
"I support Hong Kong's police, you can beat me up now," Liu wrote. "What a shame for Hong Kong."
More: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michaelblackmon/mulan-hong-kong-liu-yifei-crystal (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michaelblackmon/mulan-hong-kong-liu-yifei-crystal)
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In that case it needs to be a strongly worded joint statement by Trump and Boris Johnson.
No one is watching this closer right now than the Tiawanese. I bet their fears about being thrown under the bus by Trump have jumped 10 fold in the past few weeks.
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No one is watching this closer right now than the Tiawanese. I bet their fears about being thrown under the bus by Trump have jumped 10 fold in the past few weeks.
Probably more like 100 fold since China has those man made island defensive barriers in that 9 dash line area to prevent the U.S. or anyone else from coming to Taiwan's rescue.
Add that and Trump's silence on the situation in Hong Kong...I imagine the Generals of the defense forces in Taiwan and their civilian counterparts are burning some serious midnight oil right now.
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No one is watching this closer right now than the Tiawanese. I bet their fears about being thrown under the bus by Trump have jumped 10 fold in the past few weeks.
That is probably part of China’s end game. Trump is definitely not playing even one dimensional chess here.
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It's a summer of unrest in Hong Kong, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets every week.
https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk (https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk)
Thousands out there today, a good cross-section of people, peaceful protests, rain early on. No apparent problems have I seen.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECQgxRKU4AERjdR?format=jpg&name=small)
https://twitter.com/ExploreHongKong/status/1163090642446086145/photo/1 (https://twitter.com/ExploreHongKong/status/1163090642446086145/photo/1)
I don't see how they can ever gain their full-independence, even considering that they are officially handed back in 2047...and these years until then, are semi-autonomous. One certainly doesn't begrudge them not wanting to be part of the People's Republic of China. Their struggle to me, seems futile somewhat.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HongKong&src=typed_query (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HongKong&src=typed_query)
UPDATE: Reports now saying 1.7 million protesters today.
https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protest-aug-18-intl-hnk/h_0b92e37d7449965e475c6a7a26c63715 (https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protest-aug-18-intl-hnk/h_0b92e37d7449965e475c6a7a26c63715)
https://www.stltoday.com/news/world/the-latest-organizers-say-million-at-hong-kong-rally/article_e54a86d0-bb23-56ec-b786-264c9052aa41.html (https://www.stltoday.com/news/world/the-latest-organizers-say-million-at-hong-kong-rally/article_e54a86d0-bb23-56ec-b786-264c9052aa41.html)
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China lashes out at Taiwan over Hong Kong asylum offer
KELVIN CHAN and YANAN WANG
HONG KONG (AP) — China lashed out at Taiwan on Monday over its offer of political asylum to participants in Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest movement, a day after hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully in the latest massive demonstration in the Chinese territory.
The government of Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers its own territory, strongly supports the protests, and Hong Kong students in Taiwan held events over the weekend expressing their backing. Taiwan's president made the asylum offer last month, though it's not clear if requests have been received.
Taiwan lacks a formal legal mechanism for assessing and granting asylum requests, although it has granted residency to several vocal opponents of the Chinese government.
Read more at: https://news.yahoo.com/china-lashes-taiwan-over-hong-051547548.html
This would be great news!!
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This would be great news!!
Not especially. As the story says, Taiwan has no legal mechanism to grant them asylum. Besides, China considers both to be part of them, anyway. It creates the position where Taiwan can be declared to be fomenting rebellion. It’s just a matter of time before there is a clash between Taiwan and the mainland. This could just speed things up.
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Hong Kong police fire tear gas, roll out water cannon trucks
HONG KONG (AP) — Police in Hong Kong used tear gas Sunday to clear pro-democracy demonstrators who had taken over a street and brought out water cannon trucks for the first time in the summerlong protests.
The skirmish on a main drag in the outlying Tsuen Wan district followed a march that ended in a nearby park. While a large crowd rallied in the park, a group of hard-line protesters took over a main street, strewing bamboo poles on the pavement and lining up orange and white traffic barriers and cones to obstruct police.
After hoisting warning flags, police used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd. Protesters responded by throwing bricks and gasoline bombs toward the police. The result was a surreal scene of small fires and scattered paving bricks on the street between the two sides, rising clouds of tear gas and green and blue laser lights pointed by the protesters at the police.
https://m.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Hong-Kong-protesters-gather-in-rain-for-14376722.php
I’m a bit suspicious about the brick and gas elements. The mass protests have been largely non-violent, with the demonstrators using mostly green lasers to disorient. It wouldn’t be surprising to find the molotov throwers are infiltrators, planted to make a crackdown look necessary.
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Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=b-YveF_quMA#)
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It's a good video.
About Friday, I saw an article about the crackdown, a number and I mean like 110 or 150 Chinese organizations in Australia, support the crackdown.
Here, Chinese organizations in Canada denounce HK protesters.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/pro-beijing-groups-in-canada-hold-event-to-denounce-hong-kong-democracy-protesters_3042217.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/pro-beijing-groups-in-canada-hold-event-to-denounce-hong-kong-democracy-protesters_3042217.html)
It's a mixed bag about what to think over there, even with Xinhua per the video above, Xinhua is state media but that above probably happened.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EC3EnGdXsAE7H8g?format=jpg&name=small)
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Chinese troop movement into Hong Kong prompts unease
Movements, which have been portrayed as a scheduled troop rotation, come days ahead of anti-government protests
Chinese military vehicles have been seen moving across the border into Hong Kong, in what the military said were regular troop movements, as fears rose that the city could see a Beijing-led crackdown after months of political unrest.
Following witness reports of the movements in the early hours of Thursday, state-run news agency Xinhua released a report that the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was making a scheduled rotation and that it was an “annual normal routineâ€.
The images published by Xinhua showed armoured carriers and trucks carrying troops at the border, and a naval vessel arriving in Hong Kong.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/29/chinese-troop-movement-into-hong-kong-prompts-unease (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/29/chinese-troop-movement-into-hong-kong-prompts-unease)
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Hong Kong bans weekend protest as prominent activists face charges
Hong Kong's government refused Friday to grant permission for a major protest march to take place over the weekend while two prominent activists, including Joshua Wong, were also charged for their participation in a June protest, per the AP.
Why it matters: The twin moves, which authorities claim are linked to violence and unrest at earlier demonstrations, indicate that Hong Kong may be taking a "harder line on this summer's protests," according to the AP. The planned march was meant to mark the fifth anniversary of China's decision not to allow fully democratic elections for Hong Kong's leader, though it is still unclear if some protestors may still take to the streets on their own.
https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-protests-china-march-ban-activist-charges-e7430b5a-a3c4-4be4-908c-c11279764cbb.html (https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-protests-china-march-ban-activist-charges-e7430b5a-a3c4-4be4-908c-c11279764cbb.html)
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Hong Kong commercial centers paralyzed as protesters, police exchange petrol bombs and tear gas
Simon Gardner, Jessie Pang
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon on Saturday and pro-democracy protesters threw petrol bombs in the latest in a series of chaotic clashes that have plunged the Chinese-ruled city into its worst political crisis in decades.
Police fired round after round of tear gas and protesters took cover behind umbrellas between the local headquarters of China’s People’s Liberation Army and the government. Protesters also threw bricks dug up from pathways at police.
Many shops and restaurants in protest areas popular with tourists were shuttered, while curious visitors peered out from windows of some luxury hotels overlooking the demonstrations.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-commercial-centers-paralyzed-as-protesters-police-exchange-petrol-bombs-and-tear-gas-idUSKCN1VL02V (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-commercial-centers-paralyzed-as-protesters-police-exchange-petrol-bombs-and-tear-gas-idUSKCN1VL02V)
See, this is the thing, I'm not cool with things like hurling "petrol bombs" and perhaps, it's just a very few who do things like that.
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Protesters block roads near Hong Kong airport
HONG KONG (AP) — Anti-government protesters blocked roads near Hong Kong's airport with burning barricades and damaged a train station Sunday after a night of violent clashes with police.
Train and some bus service to the airport on the outlying island of Chek Lap Kok were suspended. Some passengers walked to the airport, one of Asia's busiest, carrying their luggage.
Hong Kong has been the scene of tense anti-government protests for nearly three months. The demonstrations began in response to a proposed extradition law and have expanded to include other grievances and demands for more democracy and the resignation of the semiautonomous Chinese territory's leader.
https://news.yahoo.com/news/train-hong-kong-airport-suspended-061326051.html
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(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/09/02/lithuania-hong-kong-protest-china-700x420.jpg)
People form a human chain under the motto "The Baltic Way - It's Us" from Gediminas Tower to the City Limits in Vilnius, Lithuania on Aug. 23, 2019. From Catalan separatists to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, the human chain that helped the Baltic states win independence from the Soviet Union three decades ago still inspires freedom-seekers the world over. (Petras Malukas /AFP/Getty Images)
Lithuania Raps Chinese Diplomats for Role at Pro-Hong Kong Protest
By Reuters
September 2, 2019 Updated: September 2, 2019
VILNIUS, Lithuania—Lithuania said it’s lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy after some of its diplomats were involved in disruptions at a pro-Hong Kong protest in the capital Vilnius last month.
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry said Sept. 2 in a statement that Chinese diplomats acted “in violation of public order†at the Aug. 23 event, which was organized to show solidarity with anti-Beijing protesters in Hong Kong.
A police spokesman told Reuters that two Chinese citizens were detained and fined 15 euros ($17) each, after people agitated protesters by waving Chinese flags.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/lithuania-raps-chinese-diplomats-for-role-at-pro-hong-kong-protest_3065155.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/lithuania-raps-chinese-diplomats-for-role-at-pro-hong-kong-protest_3065155.html)
HK Current Affairs
Chinese Regime Threatens More Action Against Hong Kong Protesters on Upcoming Full Moon
By Frank Fang, Epoch Times
September 1, 2019 Updated: September 2, 2019
One of the Chinese regime’s top agencies issued a veiled threat that a more severe crackdown against Hong Kong protesters could take place in two weeks.
The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, China’s head legal agency, in an opinion article published on its social media WeChat account on Sept. 1, accused the protesters of engaging in “terrorist acts†during the protests on Aug. 31.
...
The article warned that protesters couldn’t “get away†simply by “covering up their faces.†It suggested that they would meet their fate “on the day of the full moon.†It then warned protesters to take notice that the Asian holiday the Mid-Autumn Festival—which falls on the full moon on Sept. 13 this year—is just days away.
The commentary continued that the presence of American flags in a march earlier in the day as “evidence of foreign interference.â€
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinese-regime-threatens-more-action-against-hong-kong-protesters-on-upcoming-full-moon_3064215.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinese-regime-threatens-more-action-against-hong-kong-protesters-on-upcoming-full-moon_3064215.html)
That's a bit odd and something to watch for, "the day of the full moon", Sept. 13th.
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Defiant Hong Kong Children Drown Out Chinese Anthem With Stirring 'Les Mis' Song
[HuffPost]Ed Mazza
HuffPost 3 September 2019
Students at a Hong Kong school drowned out the Chinese national anthem at a ceremony marking the start of the year with a rousing version of “Do You Hear the People Sing?†from the musical “Les Misérables.â€
Footage shows teachers standing stoically as students sing: “Do you hear the people sing?/Singing a song of angry men?/It is the music of a people/Who will not be slaves again!â€
The footage is going viral on social media:
Read more at: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-students-do-you-hear-the-people-sing-041313108.html
Gag! Source is the Huffington Post...
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Hong Kong leader announces withdrawal of controversial extradition bill
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of an extradition bill that triggered months of unrest and threw the Chinese-ruled city into its worst crisis in decades, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The announcement, in an internal meeting with pro- establishment lawmakers and Hong Kong delegates of China’s National People’s Congress, came just two days after Reuters revealed that Lam told business leaders last week she had caused “unforgivable havoc†by introducing the bill. If she had a choice she would apologize and resign, according to a leaked audio recording..
The protests against the bill in the former British colony began in March but snowballed in June and have since evolved into a push for greater democracy.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-leader-announces-withdrawal-of-controversial-extradition-bill-idUSKCN1VP05B (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-leader-announces-withdrawal-of-controversial-extradition-bill-idUSKCN1VP05B)
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Bookmark
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Hong Kong protesters appeal to Trump for help
Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong are appealing to President Donald Trump for help as they march near the US consulate general in the city.
Some are carrying banners reading, "President Trump, please save Hong Kong" and "Make Hong Kong great again".
The protests, now in their 14th straight week, have continued despite Hong Kong's leadership finally meeting one of the protesters' key demands.
More at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49625233 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49625233)
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U.S. should side with Hong Kong protesters, says ex-Pentagon chief Mattis
Jonathan Allen
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday anti-government protests in Hong Kong were “not an internal†Chinese matter and that the United States should offer at least moral support to the demonstrators.
The retired U.S. Marine general, speaking at a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York, said the United States should generally side with those standing up for human rights, which he said included the Hong Kong protesters.
“When people stand up for those (rights), I just inherently think we ought to stand with them, even if it’s just moral,†said Mattis, who abruptly resigned as Pentagon chief in December over disagreements with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mattis-idUSKCN1VU1YF (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mattis-idUSKCN1VU1YF)
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Hong Kong: Under city's streets, the subway becomes a new battleground - The Washington Post
Shibani Mahtani
HONG KONG — This city’s subway system — spotless, efficient, cheap to ride — has been a source of civic pride since it began operating four decades ago, and it is often held up as a benchmark for public transportation everywhere.
When unrest began to grip Hong Kong early this summer, the Mass Transit Railway took on a different role. It carried protesters to demonstration venues, allowing them to leave the scene or shuttle between rallies in minutes. The spectacle of strangers clapping and cheering aboard trains and leading each other in chants replaced the usual sight of commuters hypnotized by their cellphones.
But as police crack down harder on dissent, station ticket halls and platforms are becoming battlegrounds, strewn with debris, tear gas and blood as officers clash violently with demonstrators.
Read more at: https://beta.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/under-hong-kongs-streets-the-subway-becomes-a-battleground-for-protesters-and-police/2019/09/11/a29eac2a-d0c7-11e9-a620-0a91656d7db6_story.html
The danger of a Tiananmen Square event seems to subsided and that means, it appears thankfully, that we will not see a massacre. It might be time to return this thread to the regular forum area. Next 48 hours, let's say.
All suggestions welcomed!
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(https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2019/09/14/hong-kong-protests-human-chain-700x420.jpg)
Anti-government protesters gather at Lion Rock, in Hong Kong on Sept. 13, 2019. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)
Hong Kong Protesters Plan Shopping Mall Sit-Ins After Hill-Top Human Chains
By Reuters
HONG KONG—Hong Kong pro-democracy activists plan sit-ins at shopping malls on Saturday after a night in which protesters took to the hills to form lantern-carrying human chains, the latest demonstrations in months of unrest in the Chinese-ruled city.
Demonstrators also plan to gather outside the British Consulate on Sunday to demand that China honors a Sino-British Joint Declaration that was signed in 1984, laying out the former British colony’s future after its return to China in 1997.
Protesters came out peacefully in their hundreds across the territory on Friday, singing and chanting on the Mid-Autumn Festival, in contrast to the violence of many previous weekends when police have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-protesters-plan-shopping-mall-sit-ins-after-hill-top-human-chains_3081560.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-protesters-plan-shopping-mall-sit-ins-after-hill-top-human-chains_3081560.html)
The videos of the protesters on that mountain lion rock are very memorable.
One can always re-sticky this.
This is more like it.
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSCaMCqQT70#)
It may be a tradition in this "Mid-Fall Festival" to go up to that mountain in the first place, from all I am reading but they made a point to protest.
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Water cannons, the water is blue:
(https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/09/1862/1048/hk3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A police vehicle sprays blue-colored water towards anti-government protesters during a demonstration near Central Government Complex in Hong Kong, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Hong Kong police deploy water cannons amid clashes with protesters in 15th consecutive weekend of unrest
Travis Fedschun
The streets of downtown Hong Kong turned into the site of clashes between protesters and police on Sunday as the political turmoil continues in the global financial center for a 15th straight weekend.
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy supporters marched through downtown in defiance of a police ban before violence broke out later in the day as police fired chemical-laced blue water meant to mark protesters as well as tear gas at demonstrators who lobbed Molotov cocktails outside the Hong Kong government office complex.
Authorities had turned down a request by the Civil Human Rights Front to hold the march, but the demonstrators were undeterred. Instead, a mixed crowd made up of hardcore protesters in black wearing masks alongside families with children marched for more than 1.2 miles, some waving U.S. and British flags.
Read more at: https://www.foxnews.com/world/hong-kong-police-water-cannon-tear-gas-protest-fires-demonstrations-clash (https://www.foxnews.com/world/hong-kong-police-water-cannon-tear-gas-protest-fires-demonstrations-clash)
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Some fairly graphic video at link of the troubles there, I don't think this article says it is "protest" related but it certainly looks that way to me. Gurkhas, they fought on the allied side in World War II, they were suppose to be very crack soldiers for the Brits so it's a bit curious to see them mentioned here. By the way, I don't think the Gurkhas are involved in the video at the link, it's got some violence but little blood from what I saw. It's basically police quelling a disturbance in the subway, using clubs and pepper spray mostly:
Politics
MTR chief Jacob Kam takes heat for plan to use Gurkhas as railway enforcers because they do not know Cantonese curse words
CEO Kam says Nepalese workers would be able to ignore Cantonese swear words, taunts and foul language – meaning fewer conflicts
But rights activists recoil, one calls Kam’s comments ‘discrimination right down to the bones’
Sum Lok-kei Published: 9:00am, 15 Sep, 2019
A top Hong Kong railway official has come under fire for saying he plans to hire Gurkhas to handle fare evasions and other infractions because they do not understand foul language in Cantonese.
Jacob Kam Chak-pui, the chief executive officer of the MTR Corporation, said in an interview on Friday that Nepalese workers might react less to verbal abuse because of the language barrier and he was planning to include them on a task force to enforce railway regulations.
Kam doubled down on his comments in a television interview on Sunday morning, and said the rail operator planned to hire a 200-strong security force, made up of former Gurkhas and others with security backgrounds, to act as enforcers on the city’s railway network.
See video and more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3027269/mtr-chief-jacob-kam-takes-heat-plan-use-gurkhas-railway (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3027269/mtr-chief-jacob-kam-takes-heat-plan-use-gurkhas-railway)
You've got to think the disturbances are related to the protests.
But here is more protest coverage, "neighborhood brawls"(?) per the newspaper:
Live Hong Kong:
Day of protest violence in Hong Kong's city centre ends in brawls between rival camps in North Point
City's 15th straight weekend of protests sees police deploy tear gas and water cannons as illegal march in city centre descends into violence
Protesters earlier occupied roads near government headquarters and threw petrol bombs before bringing fight to Wan Chai
(https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1920x1080/public/d8/images/2019/09/15/new_heado.jpg?itok=9ThdjiwG)
- Live Hong Kong Protests (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3027308/causeway-bay-shops-close-illegal-march-kicks-hong-kongs)
Hong Kong tourism is down 40%, last I checked, that's got to hurt.
Tear gas fired amid neighbourhood brawls between rival camps in North Point following day of protest violence in Hong Kong's city centre
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3027308/causeway-bay-shops-close-illegal-march-kicks-hong-kongs (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3027308/causeway-bay-shops-close-illegal-march-kicks-hong-kongs)
https://twitter.com/demosisto/status/1173241121784225793 (https://twitter.com/demosisto/status/1173241121784225793) More video
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Police Union Calls For Use of Live Ammunition Amid Growing Violence in Hong Kong
2019-09-16
A Hong Kong police association called on Monday for the use of live ammunition against anti-extradition demonstrators after some protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police headquarters at the weekend.
The Junior Police Officers' Association said that responding with rubber and beanbag bullets, water cannon and tear gas may not be enough to deter protesters from using the weapons.
"I must remind the radical rioters that the petrol bombs you use are deadly weapons," association chairman Lam Chi-wai was quoted as saying in a statement from the Association.
Read more at: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-protest-09162019150024.html (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-protest-09162019150024.html)
Former Ontario minister sides with Beijing, pins Hong Kong protests on ‘outside’ forces
Qilai Shen/The Globe and Mail
A former Ontario cabinet minister, who held the province’s immigration and international trade portfolios under two Liberal premiers, has denounced acts of violence during the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong as the work of foreign actors intent on undermining the state of China.
Former MPP Michael Chan, in a recent interview with Chinanews, a Chinese state-backed news site, condemned the city’s anti-government protesters and applauded Hong Kong police for showing restraint in the crisis.
His assertions echo the statements by Chinese officials as the protest movement in Hong Kong gathered steam. China has blamed “foreign forces†for manipulating the protests and interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
More at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-former-ontario-minister-sides-with-beijing-pins-hong-kong-protests-on/ (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-former-ontario-minister-sides-with-beijing-pins-hong-kong-protests-on/)
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Rare Hong Kong train derailment injures at least 8 amid protests
By Frank Miles | Fox News
At least eight people were hurt in a derailment of a train owned by a Hong Kong company targeted by pro-democracy protesters earlier this month, according to reports.
Paramedics rushed the injured, who suffered neck pain or minor abrasions, to the hospital, Reuters reported.
Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, chairman of MTR Corp., offered an apology.
(https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/09/1862/1048/Train-derailment-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Continued at: https://www.foxnews.com/world/hong-kong-train-derailment-pro-democracy-protesters (https://www.foxnews.com/world/hong-kong-train-derailment-pro-democracy-protesters)
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Hong Kong protests: China flag desecrated as fresh unrest erupts
22 September 2019
Activists in Hong Kong have desecrated a Chinese flag and vandalised a shopping centre on the 16th straight weekend of anti-government protests.
Escalators and glass panels were targeted at the New Town Plaza in Sha Tin. Police have closed it and fired tear gas at brick-throwing protesters.
Police earlier prevented major unrest on the airport metro system.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49787134 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49787134)
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Full schedule of protests are on for this weekend.
Hong Kong protesters rebuild ‘Lennon Walls’ ahead of China National Day
September 28, 2019
(https://d2pggiv3o55wnc.cloudfront.net/oann/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-09-28T082855Z_1_LYNXMPEF8R070_RTROPTP_0_HONGKONG-PROTESTS-LENNON-WALL_1.jpg)
People stand next to banners, part of a Lennon Wall to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Umbrella Movement, at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, China September 28, 2019 REUTERS/Susana Vera
By Angie Teo and Joyce Zhou
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong protesters were rebuilding “Lennon Walls†of anti-government graffiti on Saturday as they marked the fifth anniversary of the “Umbrella†pro-democracy movement that gridlocked the territory for weeks.
A series of pro- and anti-Beijing protests is planned for the Chinese-ruled city ahead of the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday, including at the consulate of former colonial power Britain.
Anti-government protesters have attacked the legislature, Beijing’s main Liaison Office, occupied the airport, thrown petrol bombs at police, vandalized metro stations and set street fires in more than three months of unrest.
Read more at: https://www.oann.com/hong-kong-protesters-set-busy-schedule-ahead-of-china-national-day/ (https://www.oann.com/hong-kong-protesters-set-busy-schedule-ahead-of-china-national-day/)
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China
Cowardice and Appeasement Not Effective Against Chinese Regime, Says Hong Kong Lawmaker Eddie Chu
By Olivia Li, Epoch Times
September 28, 2019
A number of Taiwan’s non-governmental organizations have called on Taiwanese citizens to participate in a parade scheduled for Sept. 29 that supports Hongkongers’ protest against the extradition bill. In an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Sept. 26, Hong Kong legislator Eddie Chu Hoi-dick noted that when facing the Chinese authorities’ suppression and encroachment tactics, cowardice and appeasement serve no use. He called on the people of Taiwan to stand hand-in-hand with Hong Kong citizens against the Chinese regime, as the regime wants to control both territories.
Chu, a Hong Kong social activist and politician, graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong where he majored in English Studies. In 2016, he contested the 6th Legislative Council election and won the election with 84,121 votes, the highest among all candidates, without any party backing.
Hong Kong and Taiwan Are on the Front line
Chu explained that the main purpose of his trip to Taiwan is to encourage Taiwanese to participate in the march, on Sept. 29, themed “Support Hong Kong’s fight against totalitarianism.†It’s part of a global event where rallies and parades will be held in more than 20 countries on the same day.
More at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/cowardice-and-appeasement-not-effective-against-china_3099393.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/cowardice-and-appeasement-not-effective-against-china_3099393.html)
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Saw a picture of the victim, hopefully, it cleared vital areas and he can survive.
Hong Kong protester shot in chest during demonstrations on China's 70th anniversary - live updates
[The Telegraph]
Sophia Yan
,The Telegraph•October 1, 2019
Live rounds shot is first reported during four-month protests
Hong Kong Police confirm an officer shot a protester
Fifteen protesters injured in clashes, one critically
...
Hong Kong police shot a pro-democracy protestor in the chest on Tuesday as violent clashes erupted across the city hours after China held a massive military parade in Beijing to celebrate 70 years of Communist Party rule, according to a news agency.
It was the first such injury from a live round in nearly four months of increasingly violent protests and threatened to strip the spotlight from China's carefully-choreographed birthday party, designed to underscore its status as a global superpower.
While President Xi Jinping took salutes from some 15,000 troops in the capital, pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong threw eggs at his portrait, with tens of thousands of people defying police orders to disperse.
Read more at: https://news.yahoo.com/china-celebrates-70th-anniversary-hong-032234567.html
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Video: Riot Cop Shoots Hong Kong Protester in Chest With Live Round
Dramatic escalation in force.
Published 1 min ago on 1 October, 2019
Paul Joseph Watson
A shocking video shows a riot cop in Hong Kong shooting a protester in the chest with a live round at point blank range.
The incident occurred on Hoi Pa Street in Tsuen Wan during demonstrations to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China.
The clip shows the protester confront the cop before the officer draws his gun and fires into the protester’s chest. ... Video and full story here (https://summit.news/2019/10/01/video-riot-cop-shoots-hong-kong-protester-in-chest-with-live-round/).
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Chinese celebration fuels Hong Kong protests
by Onize Ohikere
Posted 10/01/19, 10:47 am
A police officer shot a teenager at near point-blank range, and at least 50 other people sustained injuries in protests on Tuesday in Hong Kong. The number of pro-democracy protesters hurt in clashes with police continues to rise as China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule. Protesters vandalized Chinese businesses and held up banners that read, “End dictatorial rule.†Hong Kong transitioned from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
How is China celebrating the day? In Beijing, a military parade showed off the country’s most advanced weapons, including the Dongfeng-41 missile with a 9,400-mile range. “No force can shake the status of our great motherland, and no force can stop the progress of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation,†Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a nationally televised address. President Donald Trump tweeted his well-wishes to Xi without referencing the unrest in Hong Kong: “Congratulations to President Xi and the Chinese people on the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China!†WORLD Magazine (https://world.wng.org/content/chinese_celebration_fuels_hong_kong_protests)
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It is heartbreaking to watch the brave protesters who want freedom and compare them to the young people in the US who can't wait to give their away and give all power to the government.
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It is heartbreaking to watch the brave protesters who want freedom and compare them to the young people in the US who can't wait to give their away and give all power to the government.
Well, this ought to boost the protesters' morale....
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Congratulations to President Xi and the Chinese people on the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China!
5:54 AM · Oct 1, 2019
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I have to share this video clip here, I guess the tweet is saying this was some sort of demonstration BY MAINLAND CHINA in New Zealand in response to HONG KONG protesters... odd video to see but if you look at the background and that there are only 2 of these Red Chinese soldiers there, it seems plausible.... to the tweet:
å·´ä¸¢è‰ Badiucao
@badiucao
1. this happened in New Zealand
2. this did not happen because of
#halloween2019
PM @jacindaardern
，why would ur country allow Chinese Amy marching on street & intimatng others people supporting HongKong‘s protest
#StandWithHongKong
Please see video:
https://twitter.com/badiucao/status/1190496734331334656
That's something else, well, :pondering: definitely in a freer nation.... and 2 people marching, Halloween pumpkin-nice like they say??:
Yes, even in America, I believe we've had incidences where pro-Communist-China demonstrators come out to confront the pro-Hong-Kong protesters, heck, even some Chinese-heritaged politician was for the Beijing government here.
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China Hints at Political Clampdown as Hong Kong Protests Enter Fifth Month
2019-11-01
China on Friday warned of a political clampdown in Hong Kong as anti-government protests entered their fifth month, hitting out at "foreign interference" in the city's affairs and hinting at further plans to educate the city's seven million residents to be more "patriotic."
Shen Chunyao, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, was commenting after the ruling Chinese Communist Party pledged that it would "establish and strengthen a legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security" in Hong Kong.
"We absolutely will not permit any behavior encouraging separatism or endangering national security," Shen told reporters on Friday.
More at: https://www.rfa.org/english/hongkong-warning-11012019131439.html (https://www.rfa.org/english/hongkong-warning-11012019131439.html)
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Nov. 3, 2019:
Man subdued after biting off ear of pro-democracy politician, stabbing four in Hong Kong mall
David Aaro
A knife-wielding man injured at least four people and bit off part of the ear of a local pro-democracy politician amidst clashes with police at a Hong Kong mall on Sunday, according to local media reports.
Riot police also stormed several malls in Hong Kong in an attempt to limit the pro-democracy protests, as the anti-government movement approaches the five-month mark.
The attack took place at the Cityplaza mall in the Tai Koo district on Hong Kong Island following online messages that urged protesters to meet in seven locations to push forward for political reform.
See pictures and article at: https://www.foxnews.com/world/knife-attacker-bites-ear-pro-democracy-politican-after-stabbing-four-hong-kong (https://www.foxnews.com/world/knife-attacker-bites-ear-pro-democracy-politican-after-stabbing-four-hong-kong)
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Politics
Three people in critical condition as protests rock 'heavy-hearted' Hong Kong
Three people were in critical condition in Hong Kong on Monday, authorities said, after a weekend of chaotic clashes with anti-government protesters that led China to call for a tougher stance to end months of unrest in the Asian financial hub.
The injuries were the result of yet another weekend of violence in the former British colony. Riot police stormed several shopping malls packed with families and children in the eastern suburb of Taikoo Shing on Sunday, including Cityplaza.
Protesters there had initially formed a human chain before facing off with police in skirmishes up and down escalators and spraying graffiti on a restaurant.
More at: https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/three-people-in-critical-condition-as-protests-rock-heavy-hearted-hong-kong (https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/three-people-in-critical-condition-as-protests-rock-heavy-hearted-hong-kong)
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November 15, 2019 / 7:17 PM / Updated 2 hours ago
China's PLA soldiers help clean up Hong Kong streets as protests rumble on
James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers in shorts and t-shirts made a surprising appearance in some Hong Kong streets on Saturday, briefly helping residents clean up debris and barricades after anti-government protests blocked roads.
The presence of PLA troops on the streets, even to help clean up roads near their base, could enrage protesters and stoke further controversy over the Chinese-ruled territory’s autonomous status.
The former British colony has been rocked by more than five months of demonstrations, with pro-democracy protesters angry at perceived Communist Party meddling in a city guaranteed its freedoms when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/chinas-pla-soldiers-help-clean-up-hong-kong-streets-as-protests-rumble-on-idUSKBN1XQ022 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/chinas-pla-soldiers-help-clean-up-hong-kong-streets-as-protests-rumble-on-idUSKBN1XQ022)
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This in Hong Kong, it's hard for me to side with those throwing petrol bombs:
https://twitter.com/Woppa1Woppa/status/1195995105796087808
Sure, in general, I still side with the protesters but not this kind of behavior. I don't see how the Hong Kong dilemma can be solved.
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Sure, in general, I still side with the protesters but not this kind of behavior. I don't see how the Hong Kong dilemma can be solved.
As you'll recall, there was a point in the peaceful French yellow-vest protests when the protesters became violent. It was about then I figured they had been infiltrated, either by radicals (i.e., communist, Antifa-types) or those working for the government.
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@TomSea
@mystery-ak
@Cyber Liberty
@roamer_1
@Once-Ler
@Gefn
@musiclady
Tom, I watched the film and it is shocking to see Hong Kong like that.
My history with Hong Kong:
Background: My husband was Vice-President of American National Insurance Company, in the headquarters tall building in Galveston, Texas. Each year the company chose their highest earning insurance agents across the world, 1,000 of them each year, split into two groups of 500. One year the two groups were taken to an American location and the next year to a foreign location. One group of 500 were taken one week and another 500 the next week. As an officer, husband had to be there the entire two weeks. The company paid our bills for the two weeks wherever we were sent.
One year the location was Hong Kong so we were there two weeks. That time period was about one year before China took them over. We spoke to people in several large businesses and each time were told the business had moved all their money out of Hong Kong.
When you fly there (which you won't now) and are landing, don't look out the window. The approach is over water and you land at the end of the runway which starts at the water's edge. A description of Hong Kong then:
Hotels are fine. Look out the window of your room in the morning and you see employees from all buildings, outside and doing exercises. The place is so busy with people working and producing goods to export. I bought "Members Only" jackets made there for $5 each. We both had suits made in two days. I had a gold bracelet made in one day - solid gold throughout - not empty inside, so it is heavy. It is as fine today as it was then. I came back with a Chinese tea set fitted inside a basket. One like that was in our room when we got there, full of fresh made tea.
People were always smiling and helpful. The entire city is sparkling clean and their old religious shrines are revered and kept up well. The food was delicious - Peking Duck was one of their finest meals. A meal is many courses, each delivered separately as you finish one course. It was a wonderful city.
Then, one day, we took a skimming over-the-water boat to Macau, China. What a difference - at the port we had to take off all jewelry and watches and they were listed. When you leave, the list is checked to make sure you still have all the jewelry - they did not want you to give a Chinese person a piece of jewelry as that Chinese person would then have something another Chinese person did not have.
We were out in the country and the guide said every family in a village had the same number of items another family had - same number of cups, dishes, plates, etc.
We went to an outdoor market. Women were in small groups, pointing at me, and giggling. The guide said they don't see women with blond hair. My husband was a large man and the guide said the Chinese in the market would think he was a rich man because he could afford all the food he wanted.
When we got back to the port, sure enough, the jewelry lists were there and our jewelry/watches counted. With this information, compare how China was to Hong Kong at that time. I wonder if landing now in Hong Kong, your jewelry/watches are counted.
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@Victoria33
What an interesting life you have had. It really must have been wonderful to go see the world back when traveling was something. “Romanticâ€. I’m thinking of flying and hotels. I haven’t been in a plane since 2006 but the last time I was I felt like a sardine, on a cattle ranch.
Nowadays if I can’t drive to it I don’t want to go, but I am saving up for one more trip to Europe.
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@Victoria33
What an interesting life you have had. It really must have been wonderful to go see the world back when traveling was something. “Romanticâ€. I’m thinking of flying and hotels. I haven’t been in a plane since 2006 but the last time I was I felt like a sardine, on a cattle ranch. Nowadays if I can’t drive to it I don’t want to go, but I am saving up for one more trip to Europe.
@Gefn
There are some of those countries that are not safe now. If you go to Athens, Greece, don't go to the ladies bathroom at the airport - there were flies on the toilet seat. Worse bathroom I was ever in overseas, except maybe the one IN FRANCE, that was a hole in the floor and the bathroom light was automatic and turned off before you were through - but there were no flies.
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@TomSea
@mystery-ak
@Cyber Liberty
@roamer_1
@Once-Ler
@Gefn
@musiclady
Tom, I watched the film and it is shocking to see Hong Kong like that.
My history with Hong Kong:
Background: My husband was Vice-President of American National Insurance Company, in the headquarters tall building in Galveston, Texas. Each year the company chose their highest earning insurance agents across the world, 1,000 of them each year, split into two groups of 500. One year the two groups were taken to an American location and the next year to a foreign location. One group of 500 were taken one week and another 500 the next week. As an officer, husband had to be there the entire two weeks. The company paid our bills for the two weeks wherever we were sent.
One year the location was Hong Kong so we were there two weeks. That time period was about one year before China took them over. We spoke to people in several large businesses and each time were told the business had moved all their money out of Hong Kong.
When you fly there (which you won't now) and are landing, don't look out the window. The approach is over water and you land at the end of the runway which starts at the water's edge. A description of Hong Kong then:
Hotels are fine. Look out the window of your room in the morning and you see employees from all buildings, outside and doing exercises. The place is so busy with people working and producing goods to export. I bought "Members Only" jackets made there for $5 each. We both had suits made in two days. I had a gold bracelet made in one day - solid gold throughout - not empty inside, so it is heavy. It is as fine today as it was then. I came back with a Chinese tea set fitted inside a basket. One like that was in our room when we got there, full of fresh made tea.
People were always smiling and helpful. The entire city is sparkling clean and their old religious shrines are revered and kept up well. The food was delicious - Peking Duck was one of their finest meals. A meal is many courses, each delivered separately as you finish one course. It was a wonderful city.
Then, one day, we took a skimming over-the-water boat to Macau, China. What a difference - at the port we had to take off all jewelry and watches and they were listed. When you leave, the list is checked to make sure you still have all the jewelry - they did not want you to give a Chinese person a piece of jewelry as that Chinese person would then have something another Chinese person did not have.
We were out in the country and the guide said every family in a village had the same number of items another family had - same number of cups, dishes, plates, etc.
We went to an outdoor market. Women were in small groups, pointing at me, and giggling. The guide said they don't see women with blond hair. My husband was a large man and the guide said the Chinese in the market would think he was a rich man because he could afford all the food he wanted.
When we got back to the port, sure enough, the jewelry lists were there and our jewelry/watches counted. With this information, compare how China was to Hong Kong at that time. I wonder if landing now in Hong Kong, your jewelry/watches are counted.
I believe you might be talking about the old airport which landed in the city proper. Was quite an event as after a 13 hour flight over the Pacific the 747 would fly between hills with apartment houses and outside your plane window one would see people hanging their laundry out to dry just a few hundreds yards away from the plane prior to landing.
That airport has been replaced by a newer one out on one of the islands that requires a train ride to get into the city proper. Convenient, but a lessened experience.
Hong Kong remains one of the most beautiful cities I ever visited.
And you are right, people are friendly, respectful and highly efficient.
Both Singapore and Hong Kong share that character.
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@Gefn I thought your life was real exciting, going to Rome, Paris, London and probably a bunch of other interesting places you haven't mentioned.
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If the Hong Kong protesters keep goin' the way they're goin', there can be only one possible outcome:
Tiananmen Square II.
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Hong Kong protesters set fire to university entrance to stop police getting in
About 200 anti-government demonstrators remain in or around the university on a day which saw them fire arrows and catapult petrol bombs at police who deployed tear gas and water cannon.
Police gave them an ultimatum to leave but their move to force them out has been repelled, with the stand-off going into the early hours of the morning,
Officers have threatened to use live bullets if "rioters" carry out more violence, as the territory suffered some of its worst unrest in six months of demonstrations.
https://news.sky.com/story/hong-kong-protesters-set-fire-to-university-entrance-to-stop-police-getting-in-11863568
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The Latest: Hong Kong police enter campus held by protesters
Hong Kong police have stormed into a university campus held by protesters after an all-night standoff.
Fiery explosions could be seen inside as riot officers entered before dawn Monday.
Police had fired repeated barrages of tear gas and water cannon at protesters outside the campus since before midnight.
https://apnews.com/3fe4eae81391457ba7e4529881a5c95f
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Hong Kong is done as a democratic government/free people. The people of Hong Kong are property as far as the Chinese government is concerned. China cannot allow any actual independence there or it would open a Pandora's box for the rest of China.
The only thing to do is get out of Hong Kong while they still can. It is the modern case of the Berlin wall going up. And nobody outside of China is doing squat about it.
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If the Hong Kong protesters keep goin' the way they're goin', there can be only one possible outcome:
Tiananmen Square II.
It is that or be Chinese property. It is past time to get out of Hong Kong and China.
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Looks like all heck is breaking out there right now. It’s on every major wire service, :0001:
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HK police fire tear gas as protesters injure officer with arrow
Clashes resume following week marked by intensifying violence as police warn they will fire live rounds if attacked.
(https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/11/17/1a9d41197efb499fb4315771b3d9b812_18.jpg)
A police vehicle catches fire after being hit with Molotov cocktails on Sunday [Athit Perawongmetha/AP]
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/hong-kong-fire-tear-gas-protesters-injure-officer-arrow-191117111609972.html (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/hong-kong-fire-tear-gas-protesters-injure-officer-arrow-191117111609972.html)
I saw a video clip earlier of those who threw the molotov cocktails at that vehicle above that caught on fire. I couldn't help but feel sorry for those inside.
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I saw a video clip earlier of those who threw the molotov cocktails at that vehicle above that caught on fire. I couldn't help but feel sorry for those inside.
You understand that those inside have every intention of enslaving Hong Kong's population don't you?
They have a choice. Fight back, leave their homes for good or be swallowed by China with all their freedom and rights gone.
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Campus under siege as Hong Kong police battle protesters
HONG KONG (AP) — Police tightened their siege of a university campus where hundreds of protesters remained trapped overnight Tuesday in the latest dramatic episode in months of protests against growing Chinese control over the semi-autonomous city.
In yet another escalation for the movement, protests raged across other parts of the city, fueled by palpable public anger over the police blockade of Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the desire to help the students stuck inside.
Now in its fifth month, the Hong Kong protest movement has steadily intensified as local and Beijing authorities harden their positions and refuse to make concessions. Universities have become the latest battleground for the protesters, who used gasoline bombs and bows-and-arrows in their fight to keep riot police backed by armored cars and water cannon off of two campuses in the past week.
https://apnews.com/1575c7c2ce5c4cc3a572741b1e806320
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More breaking news from Hong Kong....
Hong Kong: police say surrender is only option for protesters
Hong Kong police have fought running battles with protesters trying to break a security cordon around a university in the city, firing teargas both at activists trying to escape the besieged campus and at crowds trying to reach it from outside.
Police have said the demonstrators inside Polytechnic University had no option but to come out and surrender.
The sprawling campus has been occupied by demonstrators since last week, and has become the focus of the most prolonged and tense confrontation between police and protesters in more than five months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/18/hong-kong-protests-up-to-800-trapped-as-police-lay-siege-to-university (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/18/hong-kong-protests-up-to-800-trapped-as-police-lay-siege-to-university)
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The Guardian is reporting in above article (which is scary)
The intensifying violence came as local media reported that district council elections may not be held this Sunday as scheduled because of the demonstrations.
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New Hong Kong police chief says the force can’t end protests alone
Christy Leung Published: 7:00am, 19 Nov, 2019Updated: 9:17am, 19 Nov, 2019
Chris Tang is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday morning as the Commissioner of Police. Photo: Nora Tam
Tang worries people only point fingers at police, turn blind eye to mob violence
Rejecting charges of brutality, new chief says worsening violence is ‘close to terrorism’
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3038305/incoming-police-chief-chris-tang-tells-hongkongers (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3038305/incoming-police-chief-chris-tang-tells-hongkongers)
Lots of stories out there, apparently, even in South Korea, SK students and Chinese students got into a confrontation because the South Korean are of course, supporting the Hong Kong protesters:
Tweet of the Day: Chinese Students Vandalize Korean Posters Supporting Hong Kong
https://www.rokdrop.net/2019/11/tweet-of-the-day-chinese-students-vandalize-korean-posters-supporting-hong-kong/ (https://www.rokdrop.net/2019/11/tweet-of-the-day-chinese-students-vandalize-korean-posters-supporting-hong-kong/)
Hong Kong Police Deploy New Weapons During Intense Clashes at Hong Kong College Campus
By Eva Fu
Hong Kong police have ramped up their tactics by deploying rifles and other more harmful weapons for the first time against protesters during violent weekend confrontations at a Hong Kong campus.
In an ongoing standoff since Saturday, Nov. 16, police continued to besiege the Polytechnic University (PolyU) campus on Nov. 18, firing tear gas and projectiles and deploying water cannons.
The protesters had blocked one of Hong Kong’s major highways, the Cross Harbor Tunnel linking Hong Kong island to the Kowloon peninsula, for much of last week, in an attempt to pressure the government into answering their demands.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-deploying-new-weapons-during-intense-clashes-at-hong-kong-college-campus_3149833.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-deploying-new-weapons-during-intense-clashes-at-hong-kong-college-campus_3149833.html)
Gandhi and King both led peaceful movements that apparently were successful in the end.
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Hong Kong police, protesters locked in university standoff as Global Affairs confirms Canadians 'affected'
The Associated Press · Posted: Nov 17, 2019 11:06 PM ET | Last Updated: 20 minutes ago
The latest in Hong Kong:
Tensions high at Hong Kong Polytechnic University as police, protesters in standoff.
Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam says she hopes standoff will be resolved 'peacefully.'
Global Affairs Canada confirms Canadians are 'affected.'
Protester at university tells CBC News Network there is no trust between law enforcement and protesters, says police want to 'quiet the movement.'
...
Global Affairs Canada said to CBC News in a statement that it is "aware of Canadians affected and we are in contact with local authorities."
Asked if those Canadians have been arrested, injured or are still protesting, a spokesperson would not comment, citing "provisions under the Privacy Act."
The University of British Columbia confirmed in a statement Monday that 11 of its exchange students have left Hong Kong and the 21 remaining in the city are safe and accounted for. An official says they are assisting the students with travel planning.
...
(https://i.cbc.ca/1.5363143.1574080112!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/hongkong-protests.jpg)
Protesters are escorted by police out of the campus. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
Read more at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hong-kong-university-clashes-1.5363072 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hong-kong-university-clashes-1.5363072)
Maybe the best coverage yet is the above article, AP via the CBC.
Some Hongkongers Contracted Chloracne, Likely From Harmful Chemicals in Tear Gas
By Olivia Li, Epoch Times
A journalist who has been reporting at the front lines of Hong Kong’s anti-government protests revealed on Facebook that he was diagnosed with chloracne a few days ago—a rare skin eruption of blackheads, cysts and nodules, which has been linked directly to dioxin exposure. Hong Kong’s medical experts believe the dioxin exposure came from the use of tear gas by Hong Kong police.
Another internet user also exposed on social media that many police officers had contracted chloracne as well, but senior police officers forbade them to tell others, for fear that it would scare other policemen.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/some-hongkongers-contracted-chloracne-likely-from-harmful-chemicals-in-tear-gas_3147948.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/some-hongkongers-contracted-chloracne-likely-from-harmful-chemicals-in-tear-gas_3147948.html)
Some pictures look "apocalyptic" imho. Not very uplifting, the poor souls.
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Gandhi and King both led peaceful movements that apparently were successful in the end.
The British are not the Chinese as far as Gandhi goes. The British are what made Hong Kong possible.
The Chinese government has only one goal - absolute power. They believe they own their people.
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Honest to gosh a proper comment, did not some students from that Poly-University in HK rappel to escape the incoming security forces?
Irina Tsukerman
@irinatsukerman
This should be a movie!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1196530562451869697/dB_Sqzjq?format=jpg&name=small)
https://twitter.com/irinatsukerman/status/1196652963361644547
Yes, sort of like what you would see in a movie.
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Looks like Senator Cruz sent out a few tweets in the past 24 addressing the situation in Hong Kong AND Iran, see actual account for accompanying articles:
Senator Ted Cruz
@SenTedCruz
To the people of Iran peacefully protesting: America stands with you against the oppressive regime. We will hold accountable those behind the violent crackdowns. #IranProtests -->
https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1196851518546305025
Senator Ted Cruz
@SenTedCruz
·
3h
As violence continues to escalate in Hong Kong, the cause for freedom has never been greater. The world is watching as police shamefully attack students. I will continue to support & stand w the students & brave activists fighting to preserve freedom in #HongKong.
Video Message.
https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1196827978442924033
Steve Herman
@W7VOA
·
3h
In video, @tedcruz
reaffirms "his unwavering support for all students and activists in Hong Kong fighting to preserve freedom and democracy." https://youtube.com/watch?v=q8EKmx_Fw80&feature=youtu.be #HongKongProtests
https://twitter.com/W7VOA/status/1196816209414705153
Senator Ted Cruz
@SenTedCruz
·
3h
The violence & oppression of the HK police attacking innocent students & activists at HK campuses has been shameful. To all the dissidents taking a stand against this brutality & for freedom: I will continue to support your fight for freedom.
https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1196818967572176896
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Triads, criminal gangs of China...maybe like the Mafia? Also, I think there is another term used which escapes me at the moment.
Home | Commentaries
Hong Kong’s Triads: A Reporter Looks Back
2019-11-13
Some two decades ago I met a former magazine editor who had written something that displeased one of Hong Kong’s notorious triad gangs.
At the time that I met him, this distinguished editor had left his editing job and gone to work at a university in Hong Kong. I came to consider him a friend.
But the triads have long memories.
Read more at: https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/hongkong-triads-11132019161722.html (https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/hongkong-triads-11132019161722.html)
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China demands Trump veto bills on Hong Kong
By Associated Press
Nov. 21, 2019
1:17 AM
BEIJING —
China on Thursday demanded President Trump veto legislation aimed at supporting human rights in Hong Kong and renewed a threat to take “strong countermeasures†if the bills become law.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act undermined both China’s interests and those of the U.S. in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
“We urge the U.S. to grasp the situation, stop its wrongdoing before it’s too late, prevent this act from becoming law (and) immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,†Geng said at a daily news briefing.
More at: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-21/china-demands-trump-veto-hong-kong-bill (https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-21/china-demands-trump-veto-hong-kong-bill)
The Senate voting I believe unanimously to condemn Hong Kong is great but what is it actually going to do?
:pondering:
In other news, I see the students used a sewer to escape the Poly-University but that venue has been closed.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-students-sewer-escape-thwarted-idUSKBN1XT086?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-students-sewer-escape-thwarted-idUSKBN1XT086?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews)
Some of the descriptions from the articles have the protesters saying there were snakes down there.
Also:
Ex-U.K. consulate staffer says Chinese police tortured him over Hong Kong protests
November 20, 2019 / 10:53 AM / AP
...
Cheng wrote that while being held he was shuttled between detention and interrogation centers while hooded and handcuffed. In addition to being shackled to the frame, he wrote he was ordered to assume stress positions for "countless hours," and was beaten with what felt like "sharpened batons" and poked in the knee if he faltered. He was also punished for dozing off during the sessions by being forced to sing the Chinese national anthem, he wrote.
"I was blindfolded and hooded during the whole torture and interrogations, I sweated a lot, and felt exhausted, dizzy and suffocated," Cheng wrote.
One interrogator speaking Hong Kong's native Cantonese dialect cursed him, saying, "How dare you work for the British to supervise Chinese," while another speaking in a northern Mandarin accent told him they were from China's secret intelligence service and that he had "no human rights in this place," Cheng wrote.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simon-cheng-hong-kong-employee-british-consulate-china-police-torture-grilling-over-protests-2019-11-20/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simon-cheng-hong-kong-employee-british-consulate-china-police-torture-grilling-over-protests-2019-11-20/)
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Thanks for the updates, @TomSea
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Why doesn't the President step up and say something in support of Hong Kong? I mean for goodness sakes the protesters are waiving around the most recognizable sign of freedom in the world at their protests...the American Flag!
Sad that they don't realize America has changed.
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China Offers Thousands of Dollars to Anyone Who Will Report Christians, 'Illegal' Churches to Government
https://www.gospelherald.com/articles/71944/20190409/china-offers-thousands-dollars-anyone-who-will-report-christians-illegal.htm (https://www.gospelherald.com/articles/71944/20190409/china-offers-thousands-dollars-anyone-who-will-report-christians-illegal.htm)
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It is suddenly time, to go into all out war with China.
Restart the draft, and build an army of several millions, for decades of death and injury.
Or stay the phuque out of others' business, let them fight their own wars, etc.
But if anybody here wants to ship out as a volunteer, there must be ways to sneak into Hong Kong, Taiwan, or China, to take up aarms on behalf of Christians, Falun Gong, muslims etc.
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Some Hong Kong protesters are reportedly going to "simmer down" as elections are forthcoming. Others, apparently, will not.
https://www.bing.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/11/23/hong-kong-protests-simmer-ahead-of-local-elections-i-dont-feel-optimistic-about-the-outcome.html (https://www.bing.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/11/23/hong-kong-protests-simmer-ahead-of-local-elections-i-dont-feel-optimistic-about-the-outcome.html)
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Those elections apparently are today.
Coverage: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3039132/results-blog (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3039132/results-blog)
Of course, I have no idea how to interpret it except "pro-democracy" must be more representational of the protesters.
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Pro-democracy candidates surge, pro-Beijing candidates suffer amid record turnout in Hong Kong elections
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/11/24/hong-kong-elections-pro-democracy-protesters-seek-seat-table/4290546002/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/11/24/hong-kong-elections-pro-democracy-protesters-seek-seat-table/4290546002/)
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Exclusive: China sets up Hong Kong crisis center in mainland, considers replacing chief liaison
Keith Zhai, James Pomfret, David Kirton
HONG KONG/SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) - Tightening control over efforts to manage the upheaval in Hong Kong, the Chinese leadership has set up a crisis command center on the mainland side of the border and is considering replacing its official liaison to the restive semi-autonomous city, people familiar with the matter said.
As violent protests roil Hong Kong, top Chinese leaders in recent months have been managing their response from a villa on the outskirts of Shenzhen, bypassing the formal bureaucracy through which Beijing has supervised the financial hub for two decades.
Ordinarily, communications between Beijing and Hong Kong are conducted through a Chinese government body: the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong. The Liaison Office is housed in a Hong Kong skyscraper stacked with surveillance cameras, ringed by steel barricades and topped by a reinforced glass globe.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-shenzhen-exclusive/exclusive-china-sets-up-hong-kong-crisis-center-in-mainland-considers-replacing-chief-liaison-idUSKBN1Y000P (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-shenzhen-exclusive/exclusive-china-sets-up-hong-kong-crisis-center-in-mainland-considers-replacing-chief-liaison-idUSKBN1Y000P)
It really shouldn't be that big of a deal to grant Hong Kong permanent "autonomy", it's a cash cow. I'd like to see them get total independence, that might not be realistic but perhaps their right to self-governorship, all of that, can be preserved.
In other news, yes, I think the protesters are out today yet.
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Trump signs bill backing Hong Kong protesters into law, in spite of Beijing’s objections
PUBLISHED WED, NOV 27 20196:08 PM EST
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/27/trump-signs-bill-backing-hong-kong-protesters-into-law-in-spite-of-beijings-objections.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/27/trump-signs-bill-backing-hong-kong-protesters-into-law-in-spite-of-beijings-objections.html)
Ping @TomSea
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Global Times
@globaltimesnews
#BREAKING: Chinese Foreign Ministry summons the US Ambassador to China concerning the latest #HongKong act signed by the US President.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKb8qNvVAAALXHG?format=jpg&name=small)
https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1199924158827679744
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Wow. This isn’t looking good.
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Hong Kong police fire tear gas as thousands take to the streets in fresh protests
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday, ending a rare lull in violence, as residents took to the streets chanting “revolution of our time†and “liberate Hong Kongâ€.
The protest in the busy shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui followed a march by hundreds of people to the U.S. consulate to show “gratitude†for U.S. support for the demonstrations that have agitated the Chinese-ruled city for six months.
Shops and businesses in the area closed early as police sprayed volleys of tear gas at protesters, including some elderly residents and others with their pets, as they marched past the city’s Kowloon waterfront, home to luxury hotels and shopping malls.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-as-thousands-take-to-the-streets-in-fresh-protests-idUSKBN1Y50SK (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-as-thousands-take-to-the-streets-in-fresh-protests-idUSKBN1Y50SK)
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China to suspend U.S. Navy visits to Hong Kong over new law
Published: Dec 2, 2019 5:17 a.m. ET
HONG KONG (AP) — China said Monday it will suspend U.S. Navy visits to Hong Kong and sanction several American pro-democracy organizations in retaliation for the signing into law of legislation supporting human rights in the semi-autonomous territory.
While the nature of the sanctions remained unclear, the move appeared to back up Chinese threats that the U.S. would bear the costs of the decision.
The steps are “in response to the U.S.’s unreasonable behavior,†foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, adding that the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act “seriously interfered†in China’s internal affairs.
Read more at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-to-suspend-us-navy-visits-to-hong-kong-over-new-law-2019-12-02 (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-to-suspend-us-navy-visits-to-hong-kong-over-new-law-2019-12-02)
Obviously, this is how it goes, we passed that congressional condemnation of events in Hong Kong, so China responds in this manner.
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Ted Cruz twitter:
Senator Ted Cruz
@SenTedCruz
We can file it in my office next to the measure by the Iranian parliament barring me from Iran.
https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1201607321631236096 (https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1201607321631236096)
Global Times
@globaltimesnews
.@SpeakerPelosi
, @marcorubio
, @tedcruz
, and @SecPompeo
... these #US politicians could be put on restricted entry list as China is mulling countermeasures to #HK act: analysts http://bit.ly/2OuViei (http://bit.ly/2OuViei)
https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1200039725194764290 (https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1200039725194764290)
If one has followed China, they kind of stuck it to Canada too, over disagreements. So, blowback is to be expected.
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I can't even begin to imagine the fear in the hearts of the ruling families in China when they think about revolution. That is a LOT of people to try to get back under control once they start rioting.
The fact that they haven't cracked down and started just shooting people dead in Hong Kong is,IMNSHO,proof they are terrified of what could happen if this isn't handed right.
20-30 years ago,they just didn't give a damn. Now they are terrified.
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I wonder when the ChiComs is going to send in the troops.
@kevindavis
About 3 minutes before the whole damn country rises up in revolt.
"How ya gonna keep them down on the farm after they've seen the internet?"
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But the other party watching Hong Kong is even more important: The Chinese public. Almost nobody in China buys into the rhetoric of communism anymore. The Chinese Communist Party’s rule is accepted because it has been delivering a massive increase in prosperity and constructing the sorts of facilities that make people proud of their nation’s ascent. But now, that prosperity is faltering, making the ongoing discontent with authoritarianism and endemic, massive corruption harder to dismiss.
@TomSea
And there it is. Pretty soon the only communists left in the world will be living in coastal US areas,and in Europe.
It's looking like we will have a severe crackdown,
I think that is what will happen,but I do NOT think this is what the Politburo wants. In fact,I think it is their greatest fear.
Any suggestions for thread names, ...
How about,"China,we barely knew ya!"
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@kevindavis
About 3 minutes before the whole damn country rises up in revolt.
"How ya gonna keep them down on the farm after they've seen the internet?"
China has hundreds of millions living in the center of the country who have no idea what is going on. In 1989, they sent in PLA soldiers into Beijing from areas who had no clue what had been going on there for the past month, they only knew what the government told them.
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China has hundreds of millions living in the center of the country who have no idea what is going on. In 1989, they sent in PLA soldiers into Beijing from areas who had no clue what had been going on there for the past month, they only knew what the government told them.
@dfwgator
That was in 1989. Things have changed a lot since then. Yeah,they still have the same leaders/dictators,but the difference is the leadership is now the ones living in fear. They tried to shut down internet access to any but "approved" users,but that cat is out of the bag now,and there is no putting it back.
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Do No Harm in Hong Kong
Kurt Tong
In the months after large-scale protests first broke out in Hong Kong last June, U.S. policy circles remained relatively quiet. Yet as demonstrations turned violent and rumors of a Beijing-directed crackdown spread, concern in Washington grew. Last week, President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which arrived at his desk with veto-proof backing from both houses of Congress. The legislation gives the U.S. government a stronger mandate to adjust its legal stance toward Hong Kong, as well as offering renewed sanctions authorities and a clearer expression of where the United States stands on the city’s future.
Yet the biggest questions for U.S. policy still lie ahead. At issue today in Hong Kong is not simply when and how the protests end. More consequential is whether Hong Kong’s uniquely autonomous status within China, as defined by the “one country, two systems†paradigm, can survive the current crisis. The most important focus for U.S. policymakers should be to do what they can to reinforce that paradigm, while avoiding steps that would undermine it.
The status quo in Hong Kong, with its high degree of autonomy, extensive personal freedoms, and strong rule of law, generates enormous benefits not just for the people of Hong Kong but also for the United States and China. Above all else, Washington must remember what it can, and cannot, do to ensure that this status quo continues. Done right, U.S. policy can help keep the Hong Kong dream alive. But there is a real risk that the United States could inadvertently make matters worse.
Read more at: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2019-12-06/do-no-harm-hong-kong?utm_source=twitter_posts&utm_campaign=tw_daily_soc&utm_medium=social (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2019-12-06/do-no-harm-hong-kong?utm_source=twitter_posts&utm_campaign=tw_daily_soc&utm_medium=social)
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Leader McConnell
@senatemajldr
It was my pleasure to meet today with @NathanLawKC
, a Hong Kong activist and member of a new generation of aspirational leaders continuing Hong Kong’s fight for freedom and autonomy. The United States is proud to stand with them.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ELdk9krXUAsy5ZB?format=jpg&name=small)
https://twitter.com/senatemajldr/status/1204542600381960192
Nice to see, nowadays, we almost vilify every politician. Before the internet or when I was a kid, I know we had some of this, still, it seemed a bit more tolerant.
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Nice to see, nowadays, we almost vilify every politician. Before the internet or when I was a kid, I know we had some of this, still, it seemed a bit more tolerant.
@TomSea
Is he there to visit his money,or to meet a new Chinese wife?
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World News
December 15, 2019
Hong Kong mall protests flare with leader Lam in Beijing
Kate O'Donnell-Lamb, Sarah Wu
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Small groups of anti-government protesters gathered in shopping malls across Hong Kong on Sunday amid sporadic scuffles with riot police, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam away on a visit to Beijing.
(https://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20191215&t=2&i=1464413923&r=LYNXMPEFBE06O&w=1280)
Police officers detain an anti-government protester during a demonstration inside a mall in Hong Kong, China December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
In the peak shopping season ahead of Christmas, groups of masked protesters, clad in black, marched through malls chanting slogans including “Fight for freedom†and “Return justice to usâ€.
In the Telford Plaza mall in Kowloon Bay, skirmishes broke out with riot police, who used pepper spray on crowds and wrestled several people to the ground before taking them away.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-idUSKBN1YJ09S (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-idUSKBN1YJ09S)
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Here are some interesting stories out of HK, probably very primitively-explosive-devices, there is some mention of organized crime (The "Triads" in the 2nd story):
Hong Kong bomb disposal squad destroys suspicious object in village flower bed
Pedestrian spots object on a path linking two villages in northern Tsing Yi shortly before 1pm
Online image shows the object consisted of two 30cm-long tubes bound by yellow tape and connected by wires
Danny Mok
Published: 6:39pm, 15 Dec, 2019
(https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2019/12/15/71c72434-1f22-11ea-8971-922fdc94075f_image_hires_191902.jpg?itok=4n31VgrT&v=1576408749)
A robot is deployed to handle an object suspected of being a bomb in Tsing Yi. Photo: Handout
A Hong Kong police bomb disposal squad destroyed a suspicious object at a village in Tsing Yi on Sunday afternoon.
A pedestrian spotted the object in a flower bed on a path linking Tai Wong Ha Tsuen and San Uk Tsuen in northern Tsing Yi shortly before 1pm.
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3042184/hong-kong-bomb-disposal-squad-carries-out-controlled (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3042184/hong-kong-bomb-disposal-squad-carries-out-controlled)
Hong Kong police foil second bomb plot in under a week and arrest three men allegedly testing explosive devices and chemicals
Remote-controlled devices were intended for use at mass protests but it was unclear which chemicals or explosives were involved, police said
Officers also seized radio-controlled detonation device and protective gear after ambushing three suspects in Tuen Mun
Christy Leung Published: 8:55pm, 14 Dec, 2019
(https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2019/12/14/061e8eba-1e60-11ea-8971-922fdc94075f_image_hires_231703.jpg?itok=sAve2fNO&v=1576336640)
One of the suspects is brought to a Tuen Mun school as part of police investigations. Photo: Winson Wong
Hong Kong police on Saturday said they had foiled a second bomb plot in under a week related to the ongoing anti-government protests after officers arrested three men allegedly testing home-made devices and chemicals in a secluded area.
The suspects were testing the strength of remote-controlled devices, which were intended for use at mass protests, police said, but it was unclear which chemicals or explosives were involved as the bombs had been detonated.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the organised crime and triad bureau ambushed the trio in scrubland off Siu Lang Shui Road in Tuen Mun in the early hours as they carried out tests.
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMPjLt-1SGo#)
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3042112/hong-kong-protests-petrol-bombs-and-dangerous-chemicals (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3042112/hong-kong-protests-petrol-bombs-and-dangerous-chemicals)
And read more on the same page, Are organized crime Chinese gangs in the US called something like Chongs or something like that. Triad was a bit of a new term for me but I believe it.
Hong Kong protests: petrol bombs and dangerous chemicals found at City University a month after it was vandalised by radicals
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3042112/hong-kong-protests-petrol-bombs-and-dangerous-chemicals (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3042112/hong-kong-protests-petrol-bombs-and-dangerous-chemicals)
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Thanks for the updates @TomSea
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Related, Taiwan:
Taiwan police shoot man suspected of planting explosive device: media
By Ben Blanchard
December 14, 2019 — 1.22pm
Taipei: Police in southern Taiwan shot a man on Saturday suspected of planting a possible explosive device outside a campaign office for the island's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, the official Central News Agency reported.
Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections on January 11, and campaigning is in full swing with the Kuomintang challenging the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of President Tsai Ing-wen, who is currently far ahead in the polls.
The device, planted outside the entrance to a Kuomintang office in Tainan city, contain wires, liquid and powder, the report said.
See more at: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/taiwan-police-shoot-man-suspected-of-planting-explosive-device-media-20191214-p53jzh.html (https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/taiwan-police-shoot-man-suspected-of-planting-explosive-device-media-20191214-p53jzh.html)
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'We're next': Hong Kongers rally for China's Uighurs
AFP
Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters rallied in solidarity with China's Uighurs on Sunday in a move likely to infuriate Beijing as they likened their plight to that of the oppressed Muslim minority.
...
China has faced international condemnation for rounding up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in internment camps in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
The emergence of a huge surveillance and prison system that now blankets much of Xinjiang has been watched closely in Hong Kong which has been convulsed by six months of huge and sometimes violent protests against Beijing's rule.
Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/we-re-next-hong-kongers-rally-for-china-s-uighurs/ar-BBYeZrp (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/we-re-next-hong-kongers-rally-for-china-s-uighurs/ar-BBYeZrp)
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It looks pretty mild but damage nonetheless:
Hong Kong / Law and Crime
Hong Kong police station damaged by suspected petrol bomb attack on Sunday morning
Attack took place at Ngau Tau Kok Police Station in Kowloon Bay around 7.30am, while a wall nearby was also spray-painted ‘Dare not forget’
Police are investigating the arson case and no arrest was made till Sunday evening
By Ng Kang-chung
22 Dec, 2019
(http://[url=https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2019/12/22/e9c87bc0-2488-11ea-acfb-1fd6c5cf20a4_image_hires_200206.JPG?itok=Tx2x2SQi&v=1577016135]https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2019/12/22/e9c87bc0-2488-11ea-acfb-1fd6c5cf20a4_image_hires_200206.JPG?itok=Tx2x2SQi&v=1577016135[/url])
Burn marks on the wall of Ngau Tau Kok Police Station on December 22. Photo: Winson Wong
A Hong Kong police station was slightly damaged in a suspected petrol bomb attack on Sunday morning.
Officers at Ngau Tau Kok Police Station on Siu Yip Street in Kowloon Bay were alerted by a bang soon after 7.30am.
Police found burn marks on a wall near the entrance to the premises as well as on a pavement nearby.
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3043162/hong-kong-police-station-damaged-suspected-petrol-bomb (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3043162/hong-kong-police-station-damaged-suspected-petrol-bomb)
Nearly a fifth of Hong Kong voters say they support violent actions by protesters, such as attacking opponents or hurling petrol bombs and bricks
About 5 per cent strongly supported more extreme acts that include physical violence, hurling bricks and petrol bombs, and damaging public facilities
Much larger group supportive of milder behaviour such as vandalising mainland Chinese businesses, and blocking MTR stations
...
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C49ceT6r50#)
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3043073/nearly-fifth-voters-say-they-support-violent-actions (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3043073/nearly-fifth-voters-say-they-support-violent-actions)
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Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters rallied in solidarity with China's Uighurs on Sunday in a move likely to infuriate Beijing
[/quote]
@TomSea
Ya THINK? Just because the Chinese Politburo are in business now with the Bush and Clinton Crime families,that doesn't mean they aren't still a Communist dictatorship.
You don't pull on a dictator's beard without a price being paid.
I have to admit that I am in awe of the courage being shown by the Chinese that are standing up for individual freedoms,though. They are not just Chinese heroes,they are heroes for us all by setting examples we may need to follow in the next few years.
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It's a getty picture so, it's a no-no to post BUT, a very dramatic picture at this link, yes, a pistol aimed at the protester.
HK Protests
Facing the Barrel of a Gun, Woman Holds Epoch Times Poster to Protest Hong Kong Police
By Eva Fu
December 24, 2019 Updated: December 25, 2019
In a stunning show of defiance, an unarmed Hong Kong protester held up a poster produced by The Epoch Times’ Hong Kong edition while gesturing at a police officer who had pointed a pistol towards her.
The Epoch Times has been unable to identify the woman, but understands that the police did not fire the weapon and that the protester safely left the protest scene on Dec. 22.
...
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx3svMxAIas#)
Last month, four masked intruders set fire to the printing shop of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, an incident that bore the hallmarks of the Chinese regime’s tactics.
Read more at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-aim-gun-at-protester-holding-epoch-times-poster_3184292.html (https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-police-aim-gun-at-protester-holding-epoch-times-poster_3184292.html)
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You know they are communists because it took 3 of them to supervise the one guy lighting and throwing the match.
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Hong Kong to end year with multiple protests, kick off 2020 with big march
Clare Jim
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong will end 2019 with multiple protests planned for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day aimed at disrupting festivities and shopping in the Asian financial hub, which has seen a rise in clashes between police and protesters since Christmas.
Events dubbed “Suck the Eve†and “Shop With You†are set for New Year’s Eve on Tuesday in areas including the party district of Lan Kwai Fong, the picturesque Victoria Harbour, and popular shopping malls, according to notices on social media.
A pro-democracy march on Jan. 1 has been given police permission and will start from a large park in bustling Causeway Bay and end in the central business district.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-to-end-year-with-multiple-protests-kick-off-2020-with-big-march-idUSKBN1YY05F (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-to-end-year-with-multiple-protests-kick-off-2020-with-big-march-idUSKBN1YY05F)
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A pro-democracy march on Jan. 1 has been given police permission and will start from a large park in bustling Causeway Bay and end in the central business district.
It's hard to believe the Chinese are allowing that to happen. They must be taking names and counting them twice,and planning on quietly dealing with them later.
Remember the brave man that dared to stand down a Red Army tank in the square in Peking years ago? He got international attention and was hailed as a hero by practically everyone. I remember reading that he was quietly arrested and executed once all the attention died down. Who knows what happened to his family.
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As it happened: At least 400 arrested in Hong Kong as massive New Year's Day march gets cut short amid protest violence
Vandalism of banks and shops breaks out on sidelines, while march organisers claim a turnout of more than 1 million. Police say about 60,000 attended
Protesters continue to press government on demands as civil unrest rolls into seventh month
(https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1920x1080/public/d8/images/2020/01/01/dick.jpg?itok=PRwSlhpY)
INTRODUCTION
A massive, New Year's Day solidarity march against the Hong Kong government had to be called off three hours after it began as violence broke out on the sidelines, with a police source saying at least 400 people were arrested.
Organisers said the turnout was higher than the estimated 1.03 million who took to the streets on June 9
last year for the first major protest against the government's now-withdrawn extradition bill.
Read more at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3044190/thousands-kick-new-years-day-march-hong-kong-continuing (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3044190/thousands-kick-new-years-day-march-hong-kong-continuing)
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Hong Kong Isolates Fever Patient After Mystery Virus Hits China's Wuhan
Radio Free Asia 1/2/2020
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/outbreak-wuhan-01022020190644.html (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/outbreak-wuhan-01022020190644.html)
Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said on Thursday it had isolated a patient who arrived from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which state media says has seen an outbreak of "viral pneumonia" in recent days, but that she tested negative for SARS, avian and seasonal influenza.
The woman has been placed in isolation at Tuen Mun Hospital after falling sick after arriving from Wuhan, where officials are investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia, including seven people in critical condition.
The Authority said the woman has an upper respiratory tract infection and a fever and is in a stable condition, but has tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), as well as bird flu and regular influenza.
Officials in Wuhan said that several clinics and hospitals in the city have received patients suffering from pneumonia, of which the cause was unknown. However, all patients have previously visited a seafood market in the city.
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I passed on this earlier but...
Hong Kong PTSD levels akin to conflict zone: Study
ABC News
Fewer than half of those affected said they would seek professional help.
Unrest in Hong Kong is taking a major toll on many residents' mental health, according to a new study.
In Hong Kong, where mass protests erupted for nearly six months last year, 1 in 3 surveyed adults reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a 10-year observation study, which was published Thursday in the Lancet.
Those numbers are comparable to the prevalence of mental health problem observed after large-scale disasters, armed conflict or terrorist attacks, the researchers said.
Read more at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/hong-kong-ptsd-levels-akin-conflict-zone-study/story?id=68195475
Protests compared to a war zone, I don't think it could be a proper comparison.
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I passed on this earlier but...
Protests compared to a war zone, I don't think it could be a proper comparison.
@TomSea
I would think that by now the people of Hong Kong would be experts in how to handle stress. It is almost a birthright for people born there.
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We will "set topic non-sticky" on this thread too... perhaps, start a new thread if events warrant such.
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Bumping to the top, BTTT:
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian18 hours ago
University of Minnesota student jailed in China over tweets
A Chinese student at the University of Minnesota has been arrested in China and sentenced to six months in prison for tweets he posted while in the United States, according to a Chinese court document viewed by Axios. Some of the tweets contained images deemed to be unflattering portrayals of a "national leader."
Why it matters: The case represents a dramatic escalation of the Chinese government's attempts to shut down free speech abroad and a global expansion of a Chinese police campaign to track down Twitter users in China who posted content critical of the Chinese government.
What's happening: Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) called on China to release the student. "This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like," said Sasse.
Read more at: https://www.axios.com/china-arrests-university-minnesota-twitter-e495cf47-d895-4014-9ac8-8dc76aa6004d.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic (https://www.axios.com/china-arrests-university-minnesota-twitter-e495cf47-d895-4014-9ac8-8dc76aa6004d.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic)
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Bumping to the top, BTTT:
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian18 hours ago
University of Minnesota student jailed in China over tweets
A Chinese student at the University of Minnesota has been arrested in China and sentenced to six months in prison for tweets he posted while in the United States, according to a Chinese court document viewed by Axios. Some of the tweets contained images deemed to be unflattering portrayals of a "national leader."
Why it matters: The case represents a dramatic escalation of the Chinese government's attempts to shut down free speech abroad and a global expansion of a Chinese police campaign to track down Twitter users in China who posted content critical of the Chinese government.
What's happening: Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) called on China to release the student. "This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like," said Sasse.
Careful there,Bethany! Pelosi's laywer husband is China's legal rep here in the US,and if she tells him a name to watch,he is keeping it twice by passing it off to his Chinese masters.