A US congressional panel warned of an “alarming” rise in China’s interference in Hong Kong, noting fears over the territory’s continued role as a global financial hub.
In its annual report to the US Congress on Wednesday, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted the “chilling” abduction and detention of five booksellers based in Hong Kong, as well as pressure on media and academic freedoms.
The commission urged a fresh probe by the US Department of State into Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms, as well as continued congressional oversight.
“Hong Kong’s traditional standing as a global financial hub has significant economic implications for the United States,” the report said.
It said the booksellers’ detentions broadened domestic fears of mainland encroachment and sparked a record turnout in September’s legislative elections.
“This incident has threatened the maintenance of the ‘one country, two systems’ framework and led some observers to question Hong Kong’s status as a leading global financial hub,” the report said. “The election took place against the backdrop of an alarming rise in mainland interference in Hong Kong.”
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CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
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Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique