At election time, Beijing funded trips by local politicians to China in an attempt to influence voting behaviour…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau and Ministry of Culture accused China that it is attempting to interfere in Taiwan’s democratic processes, including influencing elections and interfering with media, Taiwan News reported on Wednesday
National Security Bureau (NSB) said China was inviting local politicians intending to influence elections, while the Ministry of Culture (MOC) said it would present a report on the alleged attempts by Chinese reporters to interfere with Taiwan’s media, reports said.
Officials from the Mainland Affairs Council, National Security Bureau, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau will present a report to the Legislative Yuan by July 4, detailing their findings on China’s alleged interference in Taiwan’s elections and media.
The methods used by China included underground financial institutions demanding confidential military data as a form of debt repayment by military officers, as per Taiwan News.
At election time, Beijing funded trips by local politicians to China in an attempt to influence voting behaviour, while also spreading reports about measures supposedly favouring Taiwan businesses.
The NSB reports that prosecutors have filed 39 indictments in 84 cases over the past year, indicating a rising trend in challenges to Taiwan’s national security, Taiwan News reported citing CNA.
According to the report, the alleged interference by Chinese journalists posted in Taiwan on TV talk shows was the subject of an investigation by the MOC.
Seven Chinese media companies had stationed a total of 10 correspondents in Taiwan, Taiwan News reported citing CNA.
The probe focused on a former reporter for China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency who was accused of involvement in the production of a TV show. He had already left Taiwan, as Chinese correspondents were issued a press pass for three months, with one extension possible.
The MOC said it would publish the results of its probe into the former Chinese journalist within a week, Taiwan News reported citing Radio Taiwan International (RTI) report.
The investigation focused both on UDN, the Taiwan media outlet that had invited the correspondent, and his employer, Xinhua News. The Chinese news agency’s two current reporters in Taiwan have also been invited to discuss the issue, according to the MOC. (ANI)
The facility, under construction since 2021, marks a significant upgrade to Cuba’s surveillance capabilities, which are believed to be linked to China…reports Asian Lite news
Cuba is constructing a new radar site near Santiago de Cuba, likely aimed at monitoring the nearby US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, according to satellite images analysed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), media reported.
This facility, under construction since 2021, marks a significant upgrade to Cuba’s surveillance capabilities, which are believed to be linked to China, Reuters reported.
However, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio refuted claims of Chinese military interests on the island, stating that the Wall Street Journal’s reports are baseless and meant to intimidate. He emphasised that there is no verifiable evidence of Chinese military bases in Cuba.
Due to its proximity to the US, Cuba is a strategic location for China, Washington’s primary rival, to gather signals intelligence. CSIS described the new radar site as a “powerful tool” capable of monitoring US military air and maritime activity.
The circularly disposed antenna array at the site, with a diameter of approximately 130 to 200 meters, could potentially track signals up to 9,206 miles away.
The facility would offer China a strategic vantage point near the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, just 45 miles east of Santiago.
While similar arrays were widely used during the Cold War by Russia and the US, both countries have since moved to more advanced technologies. However, China continues to develop these arrays, including on outposts in the South China Sea.
US officials have previously alleged that China has been conducting espionage activities from Cuba for years and has been upgrading its intelligence capabilities there since 2019, allegations denied by both Beijing and Havana.
According to a earlier report by the US Intelligence Community, China was reportedly considering pursuing military facilities in multiple locations, including Pakistan, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE.
These facilities are beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia.
“Beijing will focus on building a fully modernised national defence and military force by 2035 and for the PLA to become a world-class military by 2049. In the meantime, the CCP hopes to use the PLA to secure what it claims is its sovereign territory, to assert its preeminence in regional affairs, and to project power globally, particularly by being able to deter and counter an intervention by the US in a cross-Strait conflict,” the assessment by the US intelligence said.
However, China lacks recent warfighting experience, which probably would weaken the PLA’s effectiveness and leaders’ willingness to initiate a conflict, it said.
“Xi Jinping’s prioritisation of security and stability for the CCP is undermining China’s ability to solve complex domestic problems,” it added.
“Beijing’s hardline approach to alleged separatism in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet, as well as broader crackdowns on religion and dissent in China, have generated widespread global criticism of China’s human rights abuses and extraterritorial interference,” it added.
Fu argued that the US actions undermine an inclusive business environment and called for Washington to reverse its decision…reports Asian Lite News
China’s UN envoy criticised US restrictions on certain AI investments in China, stating that they hinder the “healthy development” of AI technology and could cause divisions in global governance. Last month, the US issued draft rules to ban or require notification for investments in AI and other tech sectors in China that might threaten US national security.
“We are firmly opposed to these sanctions,” said Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong, following the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a Chinese-drafted resolution to enhance international cooperation on AI capacity-building. The resolution urges the global community to create a fair, open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory business environment for AI systems.
Fu argued that the US actions undermine an inclusive business environment and called for Washington to reverse its decision. He added that the US stance is not conducive to the healthy development of AI technology and risks dividing the world over AI standards and governance rules.
The US Treasury Department proposed the rules after President Joe Biden signed an executive order last August to prevent American expertise from aiding China in developing advanced technology and dominating global markets.
In June, China banned several business units of American aviation manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. and three of its executives over arms deals the company has signed with Taiwan, the self-ruling island it claims as its own territory, media reports said.
Chinese and U.S. flags flutter outside a company building in Shanghai, China November 16, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song – RC2DVQ90RYWC
China’s Foreign Ministry said that the company’s cooperation with Taiwan had violated the country’s sovereignty, standard terminology in its discussions of any outside dealings that support the island’s government, The Independent reported.
The entities include Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories, and Lockheed Martin Ventures. All of their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, foreign ministry said.
The senior executives under sanction include James Donald Taiclet, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Frank Andrew St. John, chief operating officer; and Jesus Malave, chief financial officer.
China has been steadily growing its domestic aircraft industry, producing parts, planes and services for Airbus and producing its commercial jets. Foreign technology has played a large part in that process, but Chinese companies have increasingly developed the means to replace their overseas suppliers, The Independent reported.
In a bid to cut dependency on Chinese products, the US has banned, restricted or put high tariffs on hundreds of goods imported from the country in recent months to promote local manufacturing.
In May, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) further extended additional tariffs duties on about half of 429 products.
The USTR modified the actions in the “Section 301” investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation by excluding additional duties on certain products of China.
The current 429 product-specific exclusions (352 previously reinstated exclusions and 77 COVID-related exclusions) are scheduled to expire on May 31, 2024.
In a new notice, the US trade regulator has announced to provide a 14-day transition period for all current exclusions, extending them through June 14, 2024, and to “extend certain exclusions through May 31, 2025”.
Space Pioneer, a leading company in the commercial rocket sphere, specializes in liquid-propellant rockets….reports Asian Lite News
A Chinese rocket, Tianlong-3 crashed on Sunday after an accidental launch during a ground test, its company Space Pioneer said in a statement, CNN reported.
Space Pioneer, a leading company in the commercial rocket sphere, specializes in liquid-propellant rockets.
According to CNN, the incident occurred when the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad due to a structural failure. The rocket landed in a hilly area of Gongyi city in central China.
In a statement, Space Pioneer explained that the connection between the rocket body and the test platform failed, causing the first-stage rocket to separate from the launch pad.
“Due to the structural failure of the connection between the rocket body and the test platform, the first-stage rocket was separated from the launch pad,” Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, said.
“After liftoff, the onboard computer was automatically shut down, and the rocket fell into the deep mountains 1.5 kilometers [0.9 miles] southwest of the test platform. The rocket body fell into the mountain and disintegrated.”
As per the company’s statement, there were no injuries after the crash as people in the area were evacuated in advance of the rocket test.
In April 2023, Space Pioneer successfully launched its Tianlong-2 rocket, becoming China’s first commercial launch operator to send a liquid carrier rocket into orbit, according to state media, as per CNN.
Tianlong-3, the rocket that crashed on Sunday, is a large liquid carrier rocket. It was made to help construct China’s satellite internet network.
Space Pioneer claims that the Tianlong-3’s performance is comparable to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, adding that it will be capable of launching the rocket over 30 times per year after the rocket’s first successful flight.
The accident comes just days after China’s Chang’e-6 lunar module returned to Earth from space, where it collected the first ever samples from the far side of the moon.
The mission was a key milestone in China’s “eternal dream” – as articulated by Chinese leader Xi Jinping – to establish the country as a dominant space power and comes as a number of countries, including the United States, also ramp up their own lunar exploration programs. (ANI)
Abbas passionately stressed the urgency of recognising and confronting these atrocities, urging global action to prevent further human suffering…reports Asian Lite News
Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, recently reflected on the impact and ongoing challenges of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), a pivotal US federal law enacted to combat forced labour in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Nearly four years since advocacy efforts began and two years since the Act came into effect, significant strides have been made with 68 People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based companies now listed on its entity roster.
The law aims to deter and punish companies participating in or benefiting from Chinese state-sponsored forced labour in the Uyghur region of Western China – importing a product where the labor or raw materials are associated with Xinjiang, and the other is to source from a company included on the federal government’s official entity list.
These measures have effectively blocked an estimated USD 700 million worth of goods linked to forced labour, underscoring efforts to curtail American complicity in human rights abuses. However, Abbas cautioned that despite these achievements, much work remains to eradicate the scourge of #UyghurForcedLabor completely.
In a poignant statement, she highlighted the grim reality faced by Uyghur Muslims under Chinese rule, describing systematic abuses including forced marriages, mass rape, forced sterilization, arbitrary arrests, torture, child abduction, organ harvesting, and genocide.
Abbas passionately stressed the urgency of recognising and confronting these atrocities, urging global action to prevent further human suffering.
The personal toll of these injustices was evident as Abbas, whose brother, retired Dr Gulshan Abbas, has been detained by Chinese authorities since September 2018, expressed profound dismay at discovering American corporate involvement in supporting these violations.
She called for heightened awareness among consumers about the origins of the products they purchase, emphasising the ethical imperative to ensure that everyday consumption does not inadvertently fund human rights abuses. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act represents a critical shift in US policy towards Xinjiang, aiming to safeguard American entities from contributing to forced labour among ethnic minorities.
Yet, as Abbas reiterated, the global community must remain vigilant and proactive in holding China accountable for its actions, advocating for justice and dignity for the Uyghur people.
As international scrutiny intensifies, the effectiveness of legislative measures like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping global responses to human rights violations, underscoring the imperative of collective action in confronting systemic abuses worldwide. (ANI)
Opposition warned the government not to take loans under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China….reports Asian Lite News
The lawmakers from the Nepali Congress warned the government against BRI loans and proceeded forward without consultation during the parliamentary meeting on Thursday.
Opposition lawmaker and former foreign minister Narayan Prakash Saud, while addressing the house session, warned the government not to take loans under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. The former foreign minister rather suggested the government accept the grants but in line with the provisions that Nepal has with other countries.
“In regards to BRI, we should be clear that we should accept the grant like we have been doing with other countries. Talking about the loans, there are priorities that determine the need to take them; there should be potential plans, management of the finances, and a feasible market. Until and unless no feasible market has been ensured, big projects shouldn’t be taken forward depending on the loans, if we move forward with it, then it would be a trap for ourselves,” Saud said.
The former Foreign Minister also took a jibe at the government for recalling the ambassadors despite the dilute geopolitical situation and ongoing tension, claiming it has diluted the image of the nation. Lawmaker Saud also suggested the government make decisions about BRI only after holding consultations with the opposition and all the parties present in parliament.
“The Prime Minister had stated that the percentage of the interest on loans will be in equilibrium with the ADB and World Bank but the negotiation, whether it is progressing in that direction or not, should be taken into confidence in this regard. It would be good to proceed further on this matter only after forging a national consensus,” Saud added.
The reaction from the opposition comes two days after the Nepali Prime Minister informed the parliament that the government intends to take loans, promising they won’t exceed interest rates above 1 or 1.5 per cent.
“Our focus will be on obtaining grants. We want the projects to come under the framework of BRI in the form of grants, which would be our first priority, second would be concessional loans, whether they are from the ADB or the World Bank, Even if we take loans, we will not accept interest rates above 1 or 1.5 per cent. However, our main emphasis will be on obtaining grants and I have conveyed it to the Chinese sides as well,” the Prime Minister said on June 25 while addressing the parliament.
On May 12, 2017, Nepal and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The then Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Shanker Das Bairagi and Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong had signed the MoU.
Despite the signing of the BRI framework, a copy of it is not available in the public domain. Raising the issue, Nepali Congress lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain on Thursday demanded a copy of the agreement signed between Nepal and China be made public.
“Discussions are going on about the Belt and Road Initiative. It also is called the New Silk Road Project and is a major strategic project. In the year 2017, on May 12, Nepal and China signed on the MoU; that framework, that document, is not available in the records of our parliament, I expect a ruling from the house so that all the sovereign Nepali can go through the documents,” lawmaker Bajgain said. (ANI)
The two expelled ex-ministers are Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who was sacked last year after going missing, and his predecessor Wei Fenghe….reports Asian Lite News
Chinese Communist Party, the ruling party in the country has expelled two former defence ministers as part of an ‘anti-corruption crackdown’, Al Jazeera reported citing state media.
The two expelled ex-ministers are Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who was sacked last year after going missing, and his predecessor Wei Fenghe.
The expulsion of Li and predecessor Wei Fenghe for “serious violation of party discipline and the law” was reported by the official news agency Xinhua on Thursday, the purge coming at a time of increasing tension between China and the United States over the fate of Taiwan.
General Li Shangfu. (Photo:Twittre)
Li was removed in October 2023 after only a few months in office following his disappearance from public view for almost two months. Xinhua reported that his case had been referred to military prosecutors, potentially setting up a trial that could lead to him getting life in prison.
The party’s powerful Politburo of senior leaders convened on Thursday to review Li’s status. They ruled that Li had “betrayed his original mission and lost his party spirit and principles”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Li is alleged to have “seriously polluted the political environment and industrial ethos in the field of military equipment, and caused great damage to the party’s cause, national defence and the construction of the armed forces.”
The former defence minister was also accused of bribery, suspected of “taking advantage of his position and taking huge sums of money to seek benefits for others … and giving money to others to seek inappropriate benefits”, said CCTV.
Wei, who retired as defence minister in 2023 after five years in office, was accused of accepting money and gifts in violation of the rules and taking advantage of his post to seek benefits for others, accepting money and valuables in return, according to Xinhua.
Wei’s case has also been referred to military prosecutors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also party’s leader and heads the armed forces as chairman of the Central Military Commission, has made the fight against corruption a hallmark of his rule since taking power more than a decade ago, Al Jazeera reported.
However, insiders have alleged a widespread purge of officers suspected of conspiring with outside forces or simply being insufficiently loyal to Xi. High-ranking officers occupy an elevated position in Chinese politics and can command extensive privileges.
Meanwhile, the CCP is set to hold a highly anticipated meeting on July 15-18, focusing on future strategies amid rising geopolitical tensions over tariff hikes by the US and the European Union. (ANI)
Of the 122 projects initially announced under CPEC, only 36 have been completed. Although CPEC was envisioned as a transformative force for Pakistan’s economy, it has not succeeded in alleviating Islamabad’s economic troubles….reports Asian Lite News
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), announced in 2015 subsequent to Pakistan’s engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, represents a considerable collaborative venture. Originally valued at $46 billion, the project focuses on sectors such as energy, transportation, and industry, aiming to connect China’s Kashgar in northeastern Xinjiang with Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province across approximately 3,000 kilometers.
Subsequently, CPEC, often referred to as a ‘flagship project’, escalated into a $62 billion initiative projected for completion by 2030.
At the time of its announcement, Pakistan was grappling with a precarious economic condition characterised by a shortage of Foreign Direct Investment, significant electricity deficits, macroeconomic instability, and a severe internal security crisis due to terrorist activities.
Consequently, CPEC was perceived as a transformative element for Islamabad’s economic framework.
For China, the successful completion of CPEC promises enhanced access to the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Some experts believe that the project was also anticipated to mitigate separatist tensions in Xinjiang through increased infrastructural development and connectivity with Pakistan. Nonetheless, nearly nine years post-launch, the progress of projects under CPEC has fallen significantly short of its objectives, raising severe concerns regarding its actual benefit to China.
To date, Chinese investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has reached approximately $25 billion.
Of the 122 projects initially announced under CPEC, only 36 have been completed. Although CPEC was envisioned as a transformative force for Pakistan’s economy, it has not succeeded in alleviating Islamabad’s economic troubles.
Furthermore, the projects have been marred by allegations of corruption within Pakistan, including reports that Chinese investors were assured significant annual returns on their investments.
Additionally, the suspension of several CPEC projects in 2018 during Imran Khan’s administration contributed to Beijing’s frustration.
Concurrently, Pakistan’s total debt to China has escalated to $30 billion, exacerbating its economic challenges, which remain unaddressed despite the initiation of numerous CPEC projects.
The primary endeavor of the CPEC, the development of Gwadar port, has been embroiled in controversy due to Pakistan’s apparent neglect of the interests of local Gwadar residents and Baloch nationalist groups.
This oversight has precipitated increasing resentment within the province, exemplified by the emergence of the Gwadar Haq Do Tehreek (Gwadar Rights Movement).
Despite being declared ‘fully operational’ in 2021, Gwadar port has attracted minimal traffic and has underperformed compared to smaller ports, failing to secure any regularly scheduled deep-sea lines, thereby generating no significant cargo revenue for Pakistan or China.
In addition to its lackluster performance, political and economic instability in Balochistan; one of Pakistan’s most impoverished regions, has severely impeded the port’s potential as CPEC’s “game changer”.
This situation has intensified major unrest among natives and separatist groups in Balochistan, who demand a greater share in CPEC’s benefits. Chinese officials have repeatedly voiced concerns to Pakistan, emphasizing that the success of CPEC hinges on improving the conditions in Gwadar and alleviating poverty in Balochistan.
The frequent attacks on Chinese nationals involved in CPEC projects by insurgents have further decelerated progress, leading to significant investment losses and heightened security concerns for China.
Whether dealing with isolated terrorist incidents or orchestrated attacks targeting Chinese interests, Beijing is confronting diminishing returns from CPEC amid escalating security risks to its nationals in Pakistan.
This growing concern has compelled China to press Pakistan to prioritise addressing Beijing’s security apprehensions, highlighting a primary challenge in advancing CPEC initiatives.
The ambitious vision of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in a country grappling with economic and political challenges, such as Pakistan, has proven costly for Beijing.
In response to security concerns for its investments near the Wakhan Corridor compromised by Pakistan’s inability to secure the safety of Chinese nationals, China had resolved to expand CPEC into Afghanistan in May of the previous year, thereby incorporating the Taliban-led government into this flagship initiative.
This decision to seek alternatives, particularly with the Taliban regime, arises from Pakistan’s consistent failure to safeguard Chinese personnel and its ongoing issue with cross-border terrorism.
Nonetheless, this strategic shift appears to counteract Beijing’s initial intentions, as China now faces security issues in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, notably concerning attacks by Pakistani militant groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other factions such as Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K), which is a staunch adversary of the Taliban, threatening Chinese interests in the region.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif undertook a five-day visit to Beijing in early June 2024 with the objective of soliciting foreign investment to alleviate Pakistan’s financial distress, was perceived as an attempt to rejuvenate the CPEC.
During this visit, both nations agreed to progress CPEC to its second phase, despite the incomplete status of the majority of Phase I projects.
However, it is widely believed that Sharif’s commitments to enhance security for these projects did not sufficiently reassure China, considering previous experiences.
Notably, despite the declaration of upgrading CPEC, Sharif was unable to secure any new investments or debt restructuring arrangements from Beijing as anticipated.
Just days prior to the visit, Islamabad’s plea for an additional $17 billion to support nine infrastructure and energy projects, along with a $15 billion debt restructuring proposal, received a tepid response from Beijing.
This reflects China’s definite scepticism regarding Pakistan’s management of economic and security issues.
Furthermore, reports suggest that Pakistan plans to reallocate CPEC funds towards military activities along the Indian border, indicating a blatant disregard for both China’s security concerns and its own economic predicaments.
Evidently, the ambitious CPEC has become a strategic liability for China, presenting a complex challenge that it struggles to resolve.
Not surprising, an article in ‘The Diplomat’ claims that China had been upset with Pakistan and has subsequently downgraded Pakistan’s status from ‘Highest Priority’ to just ‘Priority’.
Regardless of the veracity of the claims made in ‘The Diplomat’ article, Pakistan has seen its relations with China and Afghanistan turn cold recently owing to its turbulent internal security dynamics.
Survivors’ testimonies reveal that detainees are subjected to torture through methods such as restraint chairs, weighted restraints, and hoods or blindfolds….reports Asian Lite Nws
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has highlighted the dire situation faced by millions of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang province, also known as East Turkistan.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the WUC detailed harrowing accounts of Uyghurs arbitrarily detained in concentration camps, where they endured severe and inhumane treatment.
Survivors’ testimonies reveal that detainees are subjected to torture through methods such as restraint chairs, weighted restraints, and hoods or blindfolds.
“Despite early legal prohibitions, ratification of the UN Convention against Torture in 1988, and official campaigns in the 1990s, China has not concretely implemented measures to curb torture,” the statement posted on X read.
The organisation also highlighted a persistent issue where police influence over the judiciary undermines these legal safeguards.
“Measures like the exclusionary rule (banning evidence from torture) & videotaped interrogations exist but are often undermined by the police’s power over the judiciary. Fundamental rights like access to independent lawyers, doctors, and family communication are frequently denied,” the World Uyghur Congress said in a statement.
The Congress further pointed out that in detention facilities, equipment such as restraint chairs (tiger chairs), weighted restraints, and hoods/blindfolds is used to torture Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture identified these items as inherently cruel, inhuman, or degrading.
The World Uyghur Congress’s statement underscored ongoing international concerns over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, urging global attention and concerted action to address the plight of Uyghur and other Turkic peoples facing persecution in the region. (ANI)
Despite these manipulations, some countries raised substantive concerns based on evidence from NGOs and UN bodies….reports Asian Lite News
Human rights organisations collectively condemned China for dismissing crucial recommendations intended to improve its deteriorating human rights situation, as evidenced in the latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN in January 2024.
According to a statement by Campaigns for Uyghurs, out of 428 recommendations, China accepted 290, partially accepted 8, noted 32, and rejected 98 recommendations.
The statement, endorsed by multiple organisations, emphasised that the accepted recommendations were primarily superficial and failed to tackle significant issues such as crimes against humanity, torture, or the persecution of human rights defenders and journalists.
The statement noted that China’s approach to the UPR process was characterised by the submission of false information and the exclusion of domestic civil society groups from contributing.
Despite these manipulations, some countries raised substantive concerns based on evidence from NGOs and UN bodies.
Nevertheless, China categorically rejected all recommendations related to halting human rights violations and ending reprisals against critics.
The response from human rights organisations underscores deep concern over China’s dismissive approach to international scrutiny and the urgent need for concerted global action to address ongoing human rights abuses.
China has faced widespread criticism and documented allegations of human rights violations across various domains.
China has been accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in internment camps under the guise of combating extremism.
The United Nations OHCHR report in August 2022 highlighted allegations of mass arbitrary detention, torture, forced labour, and sterilisation of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities.
Moreover, reports from human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International corroborate these allegations through satellite imagery, survivor testimonies, and leaked government documents. (ANI)
