The predominantly Muslim Uighur ethnic group are among the minorities targeted in what Beijing claims is a campaign to tackle unrest and separatism. The UN says a million Uighurs have been arbitrarily detained in extralegal “political reeducation camps,” whilst Human Rights Watch reports that surveillance and repression in Xinjiang has increased dramatically since 2016.

LATEST NEWS & VIEWS

US tightens rules on Chinese state media

By Shaun Tandon The United States on Tuesday tightened rules on Chinese state media organizations as it classified them as foreign missions, decrying what US officials described as Beijing’s growing “propaganda.” In a step likely to anger Beijing, the State Department told five outlets including the Xinhua news agency and the China Global Television Network that they will need to seek approval to buy any property. They will also […]

by AFP

Coronavirus and surveillance tech: how far will gov’ts go and will they stay when they get there?

Since the coronavirus outbreak became a fast-spreading pandemic, governments from across the globe have implemented new policies to help slow the spread of the virus. In addition to closing borders to non-citizens, many governments have also mobilised digital surveillance technologies to track and contain visitors and citizens alike. On Wednesday, the Hong Kong government announced […]

by Shui-yin Sharon Yam

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Huawei’s human rights record needs scrutiny before Britain signs 5G contracts

By Tom Tugendhat The debate about Huawei’s involvement in our key 5G infrastructure has so far focused on the national security risks. These are considerable – both the US and Australia have registered serious concerns, with the US threatening to stop sharing security with the UK if our deal goes ahead. But Huawei’s human rights record […]

‘Human rights with Chinese characteristics’ are not human rights at all

By Omer Kanat, Executive Director, Uyghur Human Rights Project In 2017, three days before Human Rights Day on December 10, Beijing hosted the ‘South-South Human Rights Forum.’ The event took place as the Chinese authorities were interning vast numbers of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in concentration camps. More than 300 delegates from 70 countries […]

FEATURES

Exclusive: ‘I am a Hongkonger’ – Artist Ai Weiwei on why he supports the city’s ‘brave, clever, beautiful’ protest movement

Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei made his name in visual arts, film and architecture, before his critical commentary against the Chinese government led to persecution and a trial on allegations of tax evasion. Ai moved to Berlin in 2015, and has become an outspoken advocate for migrants’ rights. During the height of the anti-extradition law […]

by Tom Grundy

Author Louisa Lim: How Beijing uses intimidation to censor the Tiannanmen Massacre outside of China

Although 30 years have passed since the Tiananmen Massacre, the bloody crackdown has become increasingly sensitive for journalists stationed in China to cover. Louisa Lim, a veteran China reporter-turned-scholar, surveyed 60 current and former China-based correspondents and found that three-quarters of those who had covered the anniversary had been on the receiving end of harassment […]

by Kris Cheng