Earth Science News
DEMOCRACY
China says Western criticism of HK sentences 'desecrates' rule of law
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
China says Western criticism of HK sentences 'desecrates' rule of law
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Nov 19, 2024

China on Tuesday said Western criticism of the sentencing of dozens of democracy campaigners in Hong Kong "desecrates and tramples on" the rule of law, after the United States and other nations slammed the rulings.

A court in the former British colony on Tuesday jailed all 45 defendants convicted of subversion in the city's largest national security trial, with "mastermind" Benny Tai receiving the longest term of 10 years.

The US consulate in Hong Kong said Washington "strongly condemns" the sentencing, while Australia said it was "gravely concerned" about the fate of a dual citizen sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

The self-ruled island of Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as its own -- and several human rights groups also issued condemnations.

A spokesperson for Beijing's foreign ministry said the criticism "seriously desecrates and tramples on the spirit of the rule of law".

"Some individual Western nations ignore the fact that they use relevant judicial procedures to uphold their own national security, while also arbitrarily condemning Hong Kong courts that implement the National Security Law", Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.

"China's central government... steadfastly opposes some Western countries taking individual judicial cases as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs, and to smear and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong," Lin said.

"Nobody may invoke democracy as a pretext to engage in illegal activities and attempt to evade legal sanction," he added.

Global lawmakers call for Hong Kong to free Jimmy Lai
London (AFP) Nov 19, 2024 - Dozens of lawmakers from across the world called Tuesday for the immediate and unconditional release of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, before he is due to give evidence in his collusion trial in Hong Kong.

Parliamentarians and foreign affairs experts from at least 22 countries and the European Parliament signed an open letter, expressing concern about the 76-year-old media tycoon's incarceration.

"His health is deteriorating. He has been held in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison in Hong Kong for almost four years. This is inhumane," they wrote, calling the charges against him "trumped up".

The letter's release came on the same day a Hong Kong court jailed all 45 defendants convicted in the city's largest trial under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020.

The separate charges against Lai, who founded the now-shuttered popular tabloid Apple Daily, revolve around the newspaper's publications, which supported the pro-democracy protests and criticised Beijing's leadership.

Lai, who is a British citizen, denies two counts of "conspiracy to collusion" and one count of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications".

But the parliamentarians said his trial was "tainted with unfairness", involving "hand-picked judges" and evidence allegedly obtained by torture.

"On the eve of the recommencement of his trial, we urgently demand Jimmy Lai's immediate and unconditional release," they added, warning China that "the world is watching as the rule of law, media freedom and human rights in Hong Kong are eroded and undermined".

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised Lai's case with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday.

Some 30 signatories were from the UK, which handed back sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997 but which has been increasingly critical of the authorities in the territory for its crackdown on political dissent.

Taiwan condemns China for jailing Hong Kong activists, says 'democracy is not a crime'
Taipei (AFP) Nov 19, 2024 - Taiwan condemned China over the jailing of 45 Hong Kong activists on Tuesday, saying "democracy is not a crime".

Presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said "democracy is not a crime" and "strongly condemned the Chinese government's use of judicial measures and unfair procedures to suppress the political participation and freedom of speech of Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists", according to a statement.

International condemnation of the jailings has been swift, with the United States, Australia and rights groups slamming the sentencing as evidence of the erosion of political freedoms in the city since Beijing imposed a security law in 2020.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed over to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" governance model, which guaranteed key freedoms to Hong Kongers and a high degree of autonomy.

Tuesday's sentencing "not only breaks the promises of '50 years unchanged' and 'high degree of autonomy', but also further proves that unworkability of 'one country, two systems'," Kuo said in the statement -- a reference to the 50-year transitionary governance model after the handover.

"The people of Taiwan and Hong Kong share a common pursuit of freedom and democracy," she said.

China claims Taiwan as part of its own territory and has consistently vowed to bring about "unification".

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
Beijing says Myanmar rebel leader in China for 'medical care'
Beijing (AFP) Nov 19, 2024
Beijing said Tuesday the head of a Myanmar ethnic minority armed group had come to China for "medical care", after news reports in its war-torn neighbour said he had been arrested on Chinese orders. China is a major ally and arms supplier of Myanmar's ruling junta, but is also thought to maintain ties with ethnic minority armed groups that hold territory along the countries' shared border where fighting often flares up. Local media in Myanmar reported this week that Chinese authorities had arres ... read more

DEMOCRACY
LIST and UNHCR partner to develop emergency early warning system

Senegal navy intercepts almost 1,000 illegal migrants in one month

Americans face an insurability crisis as climate change worsens disasters

Spain royals cheered in flood epicentre after chaotic trip

DEMOCRACY
Enormous potential for rare Earth elements found in US coal ash

Scientists show how a laser beam can cast a shadow

MIT engineers make converting CO2 into useful products more practical

British Museum secures record 1bn donation of Chinese ceramics

DEMOCRACY
Parts of Great Barrier Reef suffer highest coral mortality on record

How the Mediterranean lost 70% of its water during a prehistoric crisis

Taps run dry in sprawling suburb of Mauritania's capital

NASA data aids global efforts in combating sea level rise

DEMOCRACY
Political implications of Antarctic geoengineering debated

Space for Shore project tracks Svalbard glacier changes with Sentinel-1

Tajikistan lost 1,000 glaciers in 3 decades: minister

U.S., Finland and Canada agree to icebreaker collaboration pact

DEMOCRACY
Defiant Lebanese harvest olives in the shadow of war

Denmark's major parties agree carbon tax on livestock

Olive seeds from space mission begin growth in China

Planet expands partnership with Abelio for enhanced digital farming solutions

DEMOCRACY
Tropical storm Sara kills four in Honduras and Nicaragua

Burst dike leaves Filipino farmers under water

Magnitude 6.6 quake strikes off Papua New Guinea: USGS

Tropical Storm Sara pounds Honduras with heavy rain

DEMOCRACY
UK doubles aid to war-torn Sudan

World not listening to us, laments Kenyan climate scientist at COP29

Madagascar riverbank landslide hits boat, killing 16

French weapons in Sudan 'in violation of UN embargo': Amnesty

DEMOCRACY
Sitting for extended periods linked to higher cardiovascular risk even in physically active individuals

Iraq holds its first census in nearly 40 years

Swedish app aims to solve household chore disputes

Study shows ancient use of fire to manage Tasmania's environment 41,600 years ago

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.