Japanese Citizen Speaks Out After Imprisonment in China on Espionage Charges

Hideji Suzuki, a Japanese citizen, was sentenced to six years in prison in China for espionage charges and was recently released from prison.

He said the conviction stemmed from a dinner party where he did nothing more than try to chat with a Chinese scholar about North Korean issues.

Since 2015, 17 Japanese citizens have been detained on similar charges, with Suzuki being one of them and the only one to publicly speak about his experience.

While it is difficult to determine the exact number of foreigners imprisoned in China, Beijing seems to have detained an unusually high number of Japanese citizens on espionage charges. Suzuki, a former chairman of a Japan-China friendship organization, was arrested during a trip to China in 2016. Since his first visit to China in 1983, he had visited over 200 times. He said he made many friends among Chinese scholars and senior officials during these visits and even met former Premier Li Keqiang twice. He also taught university courses on China and translated books on the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations after World War II.

However, he said that as China’s vigilance towards foreigners increased, these relationships and experiences made him a suspect. He believes he became a target because the Chinese government is tightening control over academic research on China, leading to the arrest of nearly 20 professors who returned to China after working at Japanese universities.

Suzuki said he was preparing to fly home from Beijing when plainclothes men forcibly pushed him into a van. He was informally detained and interrogated for seven months. During that time, the lights in his room were never turned off, even when he was sleeping; the guards only let him see the sun once for 15 minutes, he said.

When Suzuki was finally tried, the trial was not public and lasted only two days: the charges were read on the first day, and the verdict was announced on the second day. Although he was allowed to appeal, his appeal was rejected.

Japanese analysts attribute the surge in arrests to new national security laws introduced by China in 2014 and 2015. These laws target those seen as foreign spies and their local collaborators, expanding the scope of espionage charges.

The espionage charges against Japanese citizens vary but often seem arbitrary. Chinese law defines what constitutes state secrets broadly, including some information considered harmless in other countries.

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China Sentences Prominent Human Rights Lawyers to Lengthy Prison Terms

On Monday, two of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers were sentenced to 14 and 12 years in prison, respectively. These are the harshest sentences in such cases in recent years, indicating that the space for free expression has vanished under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Lawyers Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi were convicted of subverting state power due to their advocacy for the so-called “New Citizens’ Movement,” which encourages ordinary Chinese citizens to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and other liberties, at least in theory. They were detained after organizing a gathering of about 20 lawyers and activists in the coastal city of Xiamen in 2019, where they discussed plans to achieve these goals and the future of China’s rights movement.

During his first decade as China’s top leader, Xi Jinping has effectively suppressed the remaining dissent. He has targeted not only activists but also business tycoons, intellectuals, and elite members of the party, with some receiving prison sentences of nearly 20 years. Xi has also expanded internet censorship and demanded loyalty from the media.

The trial was conducted in secret at a court in eastern Shandong province.

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Xi Jinping Tightens Control Over China’s Financial System

To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Now, as China faces economic slowdowns, a real estate crisis, and heavy local government debt, Xi is once again wielding his hammer.

At the recent National People’s Congress (NPC), Xi introduced sweeping reforms to China’s regulatory framework, giving the CCP more direct control over financial policy and banking regulation. In the coming days, Xi’s loyalists are expected to be appointed to key regulatory positions, further solidifying CCP’s grip on the financial system.

These reforms align with Xi’s approach over the past decade: centralizing power within the CCP. As China’s economic growth slows, ensuring the financial sector aligns with his vision is crucial. Xi needs bankers to allocate funds according to government directives, prevent capital from flowing abroad, and avoid excessive lending that could jeopardize the financial system.

Last month, China’s top anti-corruption body issued a stern warning to bankers about ignoring the CCP’s leadership in financial work. This warning hints at structural reforms in financial regulation. The establishment of the new National Financial Regulatory Administration to oversee China’s massive financial system marks a significant shift in governance.

Heads are already starting to roll. Bao Fan, a prominent investment banker and chief executive of China Renaissance Holdings, vanished last month. After initially saying that it was unable to contact Mr. Bao, China Renaissance said it had learned that the banker was cooperating with an investigation being carried out by certain Chinese authorities.

By tightening control over the financial sector, Xi is guiding China further away from the market-driven economy that fueled its rise, towards a model where the CCP has an unchallenged influence over all aspects of the economy.

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Retirees Protest in Wuhan Over Healthcare Cuts

In a surprising turn of events, thousands of retirees in Wuhan gathered outside a well-known park to voice their frustration over recent cuts to their medical insurance. These senior citizens, facing significant changes to their healthcare benefits, took to the streets to confront local officials and police, highlighting the growing financial strain on China’s local governments.

The scene was a testament to the retirees’ determination: elderly citizens chanting revolutionary anthems like “The Internationale” while police set up barricades to manage the crowds. Despite efforts to disperse them, the retirees stood their ground, refusing to be silenced. One eyewitness described police detaining protestors, showing the intensity of the situation.

Local government officials in Wuhan assured the public that these reforms would ultimately lower personal medical expenses by shifting costs to collective funds. However, this means less money in individual accounts, raising concerns about financial security in old age. These changes are part of a broader strategy, but retirees are understandably worried about their future healthcare finances.

With the real estate market in decline and local governments facing financial challenges, the retirees’ protest underscores the growing social tensions in China. Their demand for fair healthcare benefits is a poignant reminder of the struggles many face in their golden years. And if their demands aren’t met, they’ve already vowed to return next week, showcasing their unwavering spirit and determination.

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Will there be more Chinese spy balloons?

From January 28 to February 4, 2023, a Chinese-operated high-altitude balloon was seen in North American airspace. On Feb 4, it was shot down by U.S. Air Force.

The U. S. government said that balloon carried antennas and other equipment clearly for intelligence surveillance, yet Chinese government insisted it was a civilian meteorological research airship that had blown off course.

Over the past weekend, four more unidentified objects were spotted U.S. and Canadian airspace and were shot down as well. Whether they’re also operated by China is unclear so far.

The Chinese Government’s Silent Crackdown on White Paper Movement Protesters

In late November 2022, Beijing saw rare protests against the strict “zero-COVID” policy. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) quickly responded with its usual tactic of silencing dissent through secret arrests and intimidation, all while attempting to discredit protesters by alleging foreign influence.

The first to be detained were a finance firm employee, a freelance writer, a teacher with a degree in British literature, and an editor at a Beijing publishing house. These four women, friends who shared interests in social issues like feminism and LGBTQ rights, participated in the November protests and were swiftly arrested.

These arrests are part of a broader strategy by the CCP to intimidate and warn those who might be inspired by the recent surge of public discontent. The protests posed a significant challenge to the CCP’s rule and embarrassed President Xi Jinping.

Despite the government’s efforts to keep these actions under wraps, news of the arrests has spread among those involved in the protests. The CCP has avoided officially announcing these arrests to prevent further public outrage but has ensured that the message is clear: even peaceful expression of dissent will not be tolerated, and those who challenge the government face severe personal risks.

The Beijing protests began as a vigil for victims of a deadly fire in Xinjiang, which many blamed on the restrictive “zero-COVID” measures. While initial police response during the protests was relatively restrained, it soon escalated. In the following days, police summoned or visited demonstrators, questioning their participation and connections.

One of the detained women, Cao Zhixin, recorded a video before her arrest, expressing her belief in the right to express opinions even in China. Her case, along with the other three women, has highlighted the personal risks of challenging the government.

Authorities have accused these women of using foreign communication platforms and participating in feminist activities, framing their actions as influenced by foreign forces. The charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague but commonly used accusation, carries a potential five-year prison sentence.

The CCP’s crackdown on these protesters serves as a stark reminder of the risks of dissent in China. The government’s actions aim to ensure that the recent wave of protests does not inspire further public outcry, using fear and repression to maintain control.

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Shanghai People’s Calls for Xi Jinping to Step Down Echo Nationwide

During the spring and summer lockdowns in Shanghai, a young couple refused to go to a quarantine center. When a health worker threatened that it would affect their family for three generations, the young man replied, “We are the last generation.” This statement was seen as an expression of despair. Now, Shanghai’s youth are chanting “We want freedom, we want human rights,” and “Xi Jinping step down, Communist Party step down.” This transformation of grievances into political demands is rare since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. The harsh zero-COVID policy of Xi Jinping’s regime has accelerated public resistance.

On November 24, a deadly fire in Urumqi trapped and killed over ten people in their homes. Fire trucks couldn’t get close to the building to extinguish the fire, fueling anger over the zero-COVID policy. The tragedy in Urumqi sparked nationwide protests, led by the youth. In Lanzhou, people overturned COVID testing vehicles, and Nanjing Communication University students gathered to support Xinjiang. The most prominent scene occurred in Shanghai, the economic hub devastated by the lockdown. Videos show that on the night of November 26, predominantly young people gathered on Urumqi Street, laying flowers and candles to mourn the victims. The police confronted them, leading to a standoff. When the police tried to disperse the crowd, the protesters sang “The March of the Volunteers,” China’s national anthem, and chanted “Communist Party, step down! Xi Jinping, step down!”

This scene was unprecedented in China, where anti-government street protests are extremely rare. Despite Xi Jinping reaching the peak of his power at the recent 20th Party Congress, where he eliminated all internal opposition and secured a third term, the Shanghai people demanded his resignation.

The police eventually cleared the area, and videos show people protecting each other and rescuing fellow protesters. Photos shared by the Associated Press show a bus taking away a group of protesters. Although dispersed, their calls for “human rights, freedom” were echoed by students at Peking University and Tsinghua University. In Beijing, protesters at Liangmaqiao chanted slogans in support of Shanghai, and on Sunday, Shanghai residents returned to protest again.

Many wonder why, in such a large country with so many people, there has been compliance with a scientifically unfounded policy solely to satisfy the leader’s will. The answer is fear. Numerous tragedies have occurred this year alone: a nurse in Shanghai was denied emergency treatment at her own hospital, a three-year-old child in Lanzhou died of gas poisoning because his family couldn’t take him to the hospital, and two young women in Guangdong were publicly humiliated for not wearing masks. However, more and more people are refusing to be slaves. The “Superman” hero of Chongqing famously declared, “We have neither freedom nor wealth. We are still struggling with a mild illness.”

In September, a quarantine bus accident in Guizhou killed 27 people, prompting the cry, “We are all on that bus.” The Urumqi fire, which killed ten people, made many realize they could no longer “sit on the train of enslavement.” Three years of violent zero-COVID policies have led to economic decline and hardship. Many migrant workers are homeless, small businesses bankrupt, and youths have wasted their prime years, suffering humiliation and abuse from health workers.

Observers believe the Chinese people are aware of who is behind the cruel zero-COVID policies. By calling for the Communist Party and Xi Jinping to step down, Shanghai residents have shown their intolerable anger towards tyranny. Protests for human rights and freedom are common in most countries, even in autocratic ones like Russia and Iran. However, in China, these actions come with severe consequences, as evidenced by the continuous arrests by the police.

Shanghai’s protests were not isolated, as videos showed solidarity demonstrations in dozens of cities across China on Sunday. In Chengdu, people gathered on Wangping Street and chanted slogans against dictatorship and lifelong rule. Across many places in China, protesters held up blank sheets of paper in silent protest. Some said, “This is our generation’s revolution. We insist on saying what they forbid, insisting on freedom, dignity, and a China that belongs to us!” The blank paper has thus become a symbol of resistance against tyranny.

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Blank paper speaks louder than a thousand words

On November 24th, at least 10 people died in a high-rise fire in Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang. It was widely believed that Covid restrictions prevented the victims from escaping.

As China’s harsh Covid rules extend into the third year, frustration and desperation with lockdowns, quarantines and mass testings that have upended everyday life, have caused anger and defiance across china. This fire in Urumqi has pushed people’s anger even deeper. For the past a few days, demonstrators appeared in cities and on college campuses, most of them holding a blank sheet of A4 paper, a symbol of protest against Covid policies or even denouncing the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping.

There is definitely nothing on the paper, but we know what’s on there. Leaving things unsaid, a sheet of blank paper expresses even more than words can do. It represents everything we want to say but cannot say.

The Bus to Hell

A bus transporting 47 people from the city of Guiyang to a quarantine facility rolled over around 2:40 am on September 18th, killing at least 27 of them.
While the rest of the world moves toward living with the virus, China still have mass quarantines lockdowns under its “Zero Covid” policy which ordinary Chinese people are powerless to resist.
Angry comments and large outpourings of public grief were censored.

A Twisted Mid-Autumn Festival: Celebrating the “Heroics” of Liu Liangzong

September 10th, Mid-Autumn Festival! A time when families gather to admire the moon, share mooncakes, and bask in the warmth of togetherness. However, for a 12-year-old girl in Liuqiao Village of Tianlu Town, Jiangxi Province, it turned into a nightmare orchestrated by none other than the Village Party Secretary, Liu Liangzong. Yes, you read that right – the very same Liu Liangzong who has been lauded as an anti-pandemic hero. How fitting that he chose this sacred holiday to reveal his true colors.

At that time Liu Liangzong raping the young girl, her parents, ever so dutiful citizens, were diligently following pandemic protocols and were quarantined far from home. Meanwhile, the neighbors were under strict “silent management,”

The best part? The initial whistleblower tried to report this ghastly event to the proper authorities, only to be met with the bureaucratic equivalent of a shrug. No story here, folks! Move along! It took the persistent efforts of self-media to bring this atrocity to light, ensuring that Liu Liangzong’s “contributions” to the village would not go unnoticed.

Liu Liangzong was eventually arrested. Yet, one can’t help but wonder how many more “heroes” like him are lurking in the shadows, protected by the very systems designed to uphold justice and order.

Deceased Resident’s COVID-19 Records Continue to Update

In September 2022, a news story garnered widespread attention. According to the report, a deceased resident in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China, had his health code and COVID-19 test records continue to update even after their death. This incident quickly sparked discussions on social media, with people questioning the reliability and accuracy of the COVID-19 testing system.

In the days following the resident’s death, his health code still showed green, and his COVID-19 test records were still being updated. The family expressed confusion and anger over this, questioning the negligence of the relevant authorities. After the media exposed the incident, the authorities promptly launched an investigation and claimed that it was an isolated case caused by a system error, not a widespread issue.

Forever Mask: China’s Commitment to Safety or Overzealous Control?

While the rest of the world breathes the sweet air of freedom, in China, face masks stay as the latest fashion statement with no expiration date. It’s as if the government is channeling its inner trendsetter, adamant that face masks are here to stay forever. Who needs facial expressions anyway?

Field Trip From Kindergarten to Quarantine Center

On September 7th, Enshi City in Hubei Province recorded a modest four new COVID-19 cases, the local government swiftly declared “temporary control measures.”

In a video that went viral on September 9th, Enshi’s youngest citizens—yes, the little ones from a local kindergarten—made their grand debut in full protective gear. Picture it: tiny humans swathed in oversized hazmat suits, resembling mini astronauts ready for a space mission, but alas, their destination was far less glamorous. They were being whisked away to isolation because three of their peers tested positive. Naturally, the entire kindergarten was escorted to quarantine, because why not?

Instead of nap time and story sessions, these kids get to experience the joys of quarantine—an opportunity to develop resilience, perhaps? Or maybe it’s just another chapter in their prematurely stressful lives.

We don’t need to breathe

China’s national women’s volleyball team were wearing N95 masks in the opening set of their match against Iran at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup, being held in the Philippines. They lost the first set. After taking masks off for the second set, they went on to win.
Sacrificing the health of players for the sake of the country’s “Zero Covid” policy, this ridiculous scene has caused a stir on Chinese social media. People couldn’t help asking: Who lost his mind and made the decision? Don’t you have any common sense?

COVID-19 Survivors Battling Societal Discrimination and Job Market Challenges in China

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, various discriminatory practices have emerged worldwide, but few are as stark as the “No COVID History” policies seen in China. In a bid to control the spread of COVID-19, some institutions in China have implemented a policy requiring individuals to have no history of COVID-19 infection. This means that even those who have recovered from the virus are denied entry to certain public spaces or employment opportunities. For instance, a museum in Hangzhou explicitly stated that visitors must not have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19.

The discrimination goes beyond policy. COVID-19 survivors have been labeled with dehumanizing terms such as “Yang Ren” (阳人), “Little Sheep” (小羊人), and simply “Sheep” (羊). These labels strip individuals of their dignity and reinforce negative stereotypes. Moreover, the personal details of COVID-19 patients have been publicly disclosed, leading to online harassment and further stigmatization.

Afen’s story is a poignant example of the impact of these discriminatory policies. After recovering from COVID-19, Afen struggled to find employment due to the “No COVID History” requirement. Despite numerous attempts to secure a job, she faced repeated rejections solely based on her past infection. Her situation became so dire that she ended up living in Hongqiao Railway Station, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many in similar circumstances.

The widespread implementation of the “No COVID History” policy has resulted in mass discrimination within industries such as the service sector in Shanghai. Many recovered patients, like Afen, find themselves in a precarious position, unable to secure basic employment despite being otherwise qualified.

One of the underlying reasons for this discrimination is the fear of “re-positive” cases—instances where recovered patients test positive for COVID-19 again. However, scientific evidence suggests that these cases are typically due to the presence of non-infectious viral fragments. Despite this, the fear persists, fueled by sensational media reports and public misunderstanding.

Educational efforts are crucial in combating the stigma associated with COVID-19 recovery. Clear communication about the nature of “re-positive” cases and the actual risks involved can help alleviate public fear. Additionally, policies must be revised to align with scientific understanding and to protect the rights of those who have recovered from COVID-19.

In conclusion, the “No COVID History” policy in China is a glaring example of how fear and misinformation can lead to widespread discrimination. It is a call to action for policymakers, educators, and the public to stand against such practices and support the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their health history.