China

Hong Kong residents fleeing by the thousands for Britain after Chinese visa crackdown

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2021

Thousands of Hong Kong residents are fleeing the semi-autonomous city for Britain as the Chinese communist party begins to refuse certain passports and travel documents and fears of repercussions for supporting pro-democracy groups increases.

British government officials are expecting around 300,000 Hong Kong residents to seek extended residency rights over the next five years in the UK, Axios reported last night.

In an unusual move that is exacerbating tensions with Beijing, Britain has opened its doors to as many as five million residents of its former colony Hong Kong. https://t.co/LaqzPjRva2
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 31, 2021

The Chinese government announced Saturday that it would no longer accept Hong Kong residents’ British National Overseas documentation for identity or travel purposes.

Now, 7,000 have so far fled to Britain and Axios reports that many are saying it is over a fear of crackdowns on those who support pro-democracy demonstrations and movements.

Britain launches new visa for millions of Hongkongers fleeing China's crackdown https://t.co/vsTTf57TNG
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 31, 2021

The AP further reported that most do not plan to ever return to Hong Kong

Axios reported in July that when China moved to restrict BNO identification, Britain saw it as violating its 1997 agreement in which terms were agreed upon that China would leave Hong Kong as an independent political entity for 50 years after Britain returned the city.

Read the full report here.

You can follow Ben Wilson on Twitter @BenDavisWilson

China

Chinese Spy Balloon: Tensions rise between the U.S. and China

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Alexander Carter

A strange object was spotted Wednesday over Billings Montana. The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that the strange object was, in fact, a Chinese spy balloon. According to a report from KPAX, a western Montana news outlet, the balloon had been on the governments radar for days.

On Friday, the Chinese government released a statement saying that the balloon spotted in Billings is a “civilian airship” that’s sole purpose is used to collect research on weather and that it had just blown off course. The balloon was not shot down by orders of the Pentagon due to the risk of falling debris injuring people on the ground.

Sara Carter, who has spoken frequently on the Chinese government’s threat and expansion to the West, stated on Twitter that the United States has failed to stop China from purchasing land near military installations, vital agricultural land, as well as, allowing Chinese linked companies, such as Huawei, to install technology in cellular towers. Those cellular towers are located in Montana, along side more than 150 ICBM nuclear silos.

👇U.S. didn’t stop the CCP from purchasing land near US military installations or stop Huawei from putting its technology in cellular towers near our ICBM nukes in Montana #Obama – the Chinese spy balloon on top of everything else is just another sign of what #China is planning.. https://t.co/CNuBYP29kC

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) February 3, 2023

China said, “The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure.” Majeure meaning that it was out of there control. It blew off course due to limited “self-steering” capabilities according the Ministry. The ministry also stated that the balloon, “deviated far from its planned course.”

This incident is adding fuel to the fire of what is already a tense relationship between the worlds two largest economies. China already lays claim to approximately 80% of the South China Sea, and is seeking full control over Taiwan after assuming full control of Hong Kong. China’s belt and road initiative has invested copious amounts of money into building infrastructure in other countries and uses it as economic blackmail. China’s transportation of fentanyl into Mexico is yet again another example of how they are seeking to damage the US.

Is this just a weather ballon that blew off course? US officials at the White House seem to be unconvinced and will continue to monitor the balloon, as reported.

UPDATED: Statement from the Pentagon was jaw dropping when a reporter asked if the public has a right to know about Beijing’s balloon.

“The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is,” a DOD official responded.

Wow, what a joke… I'm sure #China is shaking in their communist boots at this Pentagon reaction https://t.co/m9URCUkHr1

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) February 3, 2023