mayawang.bsky.social

Framing Hong Kong’s repression as “stability” risks legitimising authoritarian governance as an economic good, and words from democratic leaders matter far beyond Hong Kong and set precedents elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Chinese govt communique mentions Hong Kong, quoting Starmer as saying that the city's a "unique [UK-China] bridge". So on an issue the UK presumably cares about, it has ceded rhetorical grounds to Beijing. www.fmprc.gov.cn/zyxw/202601/... There's still time, and we're watching.

The UK’s 1st press release on Starmer's visit is all about business (no Hong Kong, no human rights): www.gov.uk/government/n.... Formality matters in diplomacy, esp when it comes to China.

Starmer stresses Hong Kong’s stability as key to stronger ties in meeting with Xi Meeting focused on shared interests to bolster Sino‑British relations, with Jimmy Lai’s national security case also touched upon in ‘respectful’ discussions.

When pressed by journalists, British PM Keir Starmer said he *mentioned* Jimmy Lai to Xi. He didn't seem to have called for Lai's release: www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Chinese govt has detained the leader + key members of underground Protestant church, the Early Rain Covenant Church. There's been a string of arrests of members of prominent “house churches” in China in past year. They should be freed, faith isn't a crime: www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...

Sexual Harassment of Chinese Critics Abroad China’s government has long sought to silence dissent abroad, but recently there’s been a disturbing escalation: harassment through sexually explicit letters targeting activists outside the country.

China’s government has long sought to silence dissent abroad, but recently there’s been a disturbing escalation: harassment through sexually explicit letters targeting activists outside the country www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

Greenwashing With Chinese Characteristics China's "Green Electrostate" Is Neither

The second is a deep dive into the numbers - and lives - behind China's renewable energy surge by @wang-seaver.bsky.social and @tednordhaus.bsky.social. --> www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/greenwashi...

China COP30 Cop Out By Sophie Richardson

Two great pieces just dropped that lift the veil on the story of China as a "green" saviour. Worth the read! First one by @sophiedrich.bsky.social @climaterights.bsky.social on what China showed - and obfuscated - at the most recent COP. climaterightsinternational.substack.com/p/china-cop3...

Trump, Xi Attacks on Rights a Challenge for APEC Summit At a summit dominated by two leaders who have demonstrated utter hostility to the international system, human rights law, and democratic principles, how should rights-respecting, democratic countries ...

At a summit dominated by two leaders who have demonstrated such utter hostility to the international system, human rights & democratic principles, how should democratic countries respond?

With courage and conviction.

By me & John Sifton: thediplomat.com/2025/10/trum...

What Democracy Does . . . And Does Not Do | Journal of Democracy People are losing faith in democracy’s ability to deliver social progress. But are democracies better than autocracies at promoting economic growth, alleviating poverty, and creating healthier…

Extensive research shows while autocracies eg China "sometimes achieve rapid gains, they also produce volatility, repression, & data manipulation", on balance democracies "offers the strongest odds for healthier, more stable, and prosperous societies" www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/wha...

Among the strongest words we've heard from Zelenskyy on China since the war began

US risks losing more ground to China in EV race as investment tumbles White House backing for petrol-based cars poses dilemma for many automakers

EV investment in the US tumbled by a third in the last quarter, the Clean Investment Monitor from Rhodium Group & MIT shows. Under Trump, the US is unilaterally surrendering the global EV market to China (and others). It risks turning the US into the Galapagos Islands of cars.

on.ft.com/4nlRcly

聚姬地社交｜我花了一百多万，把一个全女店开倒闭了。 过去三年，我把攒下的全部积蓄一百多万投进了一家全女空间。三年里做了三家店，如今两家已倒下，最后一家也不得不暂停营业。

What a striking vignette about gender relations in China today: A feminist opened three women-only spaces three years ago-- as emergency shelter, reading group, and gathering place--and men came in and destroyed two of them. They may all have to close: chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/7221...

中國政府剛剛主辦了「全球婦女峰會」。

在一個監禁女權運動者、把女性身體當作控制人口方式的地方舉行「婦女峰會」，不僅諷刺更令人感到冒犯。

這場峰會把女性權利當作營銷工具，並對女性觀點進行嚴密審查，而當前最迫切的議題，諸如基於性別的暴力（包括性騷擾和家庭暴力）以及生育自主權，大都遭到忽視或幾乎未見改進。

- 人權觀察 @mayawang.bsky.social

“Gao Zhen is facing years in prison for holding up a mirror to China’s past," @hrw.org's @elainepearson.bsky.social
said. “The Chinese government should break away from its abusive past practices, drop the charges against Gao, and immediately release him.”

Gao's father died in custody during the Cultural Revolution. As fellow Chinese artists noted in a public letter: "[The [police] has labeled Gao Zhen’s artistic creations as evidence of a crime, repeating the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.”

China: Free US-Resident Artist Unjustly Charged The Chinese government should drop the baseless charges against the artist Gao Zhen (高兟) and allow him and his family to return to the United States.

After Gao fainted, doctor at the detention center said he may have arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries, and that it could be “a precursor to a stroke.” Gao also suffers from a chronic back problem. He's held in a crowded cell with 14 others. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Gao's prosecuted for the crime of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs”--introduced in 2021--for the well-known sculptures he made over a decade ago, before the crime existed. Under Xi, the Chinese government has tightened ideological control.

China: Free US-Resident Artist Unjustly Charged The Chinese government should drop the baseless charges against the artist Gao Zhen (高兟) and allow him and his family to return to the United States.

❗️Detained Chinese artist Gao Zhen (高兟) is in poor health and had fainted in late Sept. Chinese govt should drop charges against the 69-year-old, allow him + his family to return to the United States. The Gaos are US green card holders & citizen. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

China: Draft ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law Tightens Ideological Control A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations throughout the country and abroad.

The Chinese govt's proposed draft "Ethnic Unity" Law would justify, intensify existing:
▶️ ideological controls
▶️ the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, including by erasing minority language rights +
▶️foster control beyond China’s borders.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

China: Draft ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law Tightens Ideological Control A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations throughout the country and abroad.

“ .. #Tibetans, #Uyghurs, and others who speak out for minority populations can expect even greater government repression.” @mayawang.bsky.social (HRW)

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

A Chinese international student and activist goes missing during a trip home Zhang “Tara” Yadi disappeared on July 30. Rights groups fear she will face national security charges on Tibet.

#張雅笛 被捕是「一件 #跨國鎮壓 案例。中國留學生的抗爭行動恐怕已遭嚴密監控。它的影響是使每個人都對自己的一言一行感到十分擔心，包括在中國國外。」- 人權觀察 @mayawang.bsky.social 對《自由亞洲電台》表示：

www.rfa.org/english/chin...

Our latest case of #transnationalrepression: a young Chinese woman studying in France has disappeared some seven weeks ago while on a trip to visit her family in Hunan province.

She is an editor for the digital platform “Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet” (CYST)
www.tibetanreview.net/chinese-intl...

‼️ A Chinese student has been missing during her visit home due to her activism for Tibetan rights while studying in France.

Lawyer Jiang Tianyong, who represents her, has been taken into custody during a meeting with her parents.

French govt should press for their freedom.

As people in China, including many young people, tighten their belts, dumpster-diving (or more precisely, picking vegetables thrown out by wholesale veggie sellers, 捡菜) has become a fashionable trend:

Leaked files show a Chinese company is exporting the Great Firewall’s censorship technology Geedge Networks is providing censorship capabilities to foreign governments, including those in Myanmar, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan

For years there are allegations of the spread of China's Great Firewall (especially by Myanmar activists) but there had been no concrete proof--until now. This looks like an incredibly important contribution: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

I'll speak at a #HRC60 side event on human rights in China, alongside Mary Lawlor, Rizwangul NurMuhammed, and Sophie Richardson, moderated by Raphael Viana David. We'll discuss the chilling effects of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances in China on human rights and offer recommendations.

While the world celebrated the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama this July, Tibetans inside Tibet faced brutal repression- owning a photo, singing in his honour, or organising a simple prayer can lead to arrest, torture, or disappearance under Chinese occupation

"Some diplomats asked me if it is still worth making public statements about abuses in Xinjiang...The answer is a resounding yes." Heartbreaking and personal by
@yalkun.bsky.social China's committed crimes against humanity and should be held accountable: thehill.com/opinion/inte...

Daniel Andrews’ photo with dictators is a glaring reminder of Australia’s hypocrisy on human rights | Daniela Gavshon A government can’t half care about human rights. And Australia’s ‘disagree where we must’ approach with China enables abuse and undermines our national interest

"A government can’t half care about human rights. And Australia’s ‘disagree where we must’ approach with China enables abuse and undermines [Australia's] national interest." Excellent piece by my colleague @dgavshon.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/law/commenti...