Latest news with #China-run
The Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
China security office flexes new power with Hong Kong probe
The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city. -- PHOTO: REUTERS HONG KONG/BEIJING (Bloomberg): Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub. Local authorities on Thursday night announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement. Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organization, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents. The suspects are accused of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities. The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control. Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term. In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it "strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply. Fast-Tracked The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel. While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system. The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide "all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request. The new rules also criminalize acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines. The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
China security office flexes new power with Hong Kong probe
The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city. PHOTO: REUTERS BEIJING - Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub. Local authorities on the night of June 12 announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement. Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organisation, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents. The suspects are accused of 'collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities. The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control. Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term. In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it 'strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply. Fast-tracked The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel. While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system. The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide 'all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request. The new rules also criminalise acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines. The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
China Security Office Flexes New Power With Hong Kong Probe
Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub. Local authorities on Thursday night announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement. Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organization, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents. The suspects are accused of 'collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities. The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control. Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term. In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it 'strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply. The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel. While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system. The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide 'all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request. The new rules also criminalize acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines. The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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First Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Taliban eager, India can help Afghanistan reduce dependence on Pak via Iran's Chabahar Port
Chabahar Port serves as a crucial transportation hub between Afghanistan, India, and Iran. Taliban representatives have reportedly already visited Tehran to talk about Kabul's involvement in the project read more With Afghanistan's relations with Pakistan worsening, the Taliban has begun to cosy up to India, despite the strained relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad. In an effort to lessen reliance on Pakistani ports, the Taliban government has chosen to concentrate on Iran's Chabahar Port, which is run by India and is considering joining the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), according to a report by The Economic Times. The Chabahar Port project encountered major obstacles after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, as tensions between Kabul and Islamabad grew—particularly when Pakistan started expelling Afghan refugees—the Taliban began to move more towards collaborating with Iran and India, according to sources familiar with the situation. The port serves as a crucial transportation hub between Afghanistan, India, and Iran. Taliban representatives have reportedly already visited Tehran to talk about Kabul's involvement in the project. According to Russia's leading think tank, the Valdai Club, which has close links to the Kremlin, the Taliban is attempting to project a message of independence from Pakistan by boosting its involvement in the Chabahar Port project, the report stated. As part of its plan to increase its regional influence, Iran is also seeking to include Afghanistan in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent meeting with acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi was the first formal engagement between an Indian and a Taliban minister since 1999, indicating a shift in regional geopolitics. In May of last year, India and Iran struck a 10-year deal for the development and management of the Iran's Chabahar Port. Chabahar Port is Iran's first deepwater port and is about 72 km from China-run Gwadar Port in Pakistan. Managing commerce between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Eurasian area depends heavily on the two nations' flagship project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition, the project created a sea-trade link that would allow India to reach the Afghan market and vice versa, avoiding Pakistan's ports of Gwadar and Karachi, as Pakistan had refused India a direct land route to Afghanistan. However, considering India's resistance to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it also has significant importance for its trade aspirations throughout Central Asia. Iran and the Taliban seem dedicated to developing the port as a vital transit hub connecting Afghanistan to international markets, according to the Afghanistan Times, even if US sanctions reinstated under President Trump might make it more difficult for larger involvement in the Chabahar project. Kabul also contributed $35 million.
Epoch Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Israel Is Handing China the Keys to America's Naval Front Yard
Commentary The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) just scored a major win, and one of America's closest allies handed it to them on a silver platter. In March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government approved new regulatory reforms to increase efficiency at Israel's ports. But tucked away in the announcement was a national security disaster in the making: the Chinese-operated Bay Port in Haifa will now be allowed to double its capacity. This isn't just a local upgrade. It's a decision with global consequences, and one that plays directly into the CCP's hands. Haifa is home to some of the most critical U.S. and Israeli naval operations in the region. Expanding Chinese control at this strategic site is nothing short of a gift to Beijing's surveillance machine. During my time in the Israeli Knesset, I saw firsthand how economic interests and political convenience often overshadowed national security concerns. Deals that should have raised red flags instead sailed through with little scrutiny, dismissed as 'harmless' investments or 'technocratic' decisions. This expansion of Chinese port control is no exception. It's a product of short-term thinking and a failure to reckon with the real cost of strategic alignment with Beijing, especially while Israel is at war and dependent on U.S. support like never before. Related Stories 12/18/2018 10/8/2024 Some officials are pushing this move as a sign of 'efficiency' and 'foreign investment,' but let's be clear: this is about politics, not policy, and the cost could be enormous. The Bay Port is operated by Shanghai International Port Group, a Chinese state-owned company with direct ties to the Communist Party. It's no secret that the CCP uses commercial infrastructure for intelligence collection. A 2022 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that the highly advanced cranes used in China-run ports, including Haifa, are embedded with sensors and software that can transmit vast amounts of data, including sensitive information about American Navy ships, cargo, and movements, straight to Beijing. When I served in the Knesset, Israeli military leaders were already warning about this. Rear Admiral Shaul Chorev said plainly: 'China is not on our side.' Rear Admiral Oded Gour-Lavie called the arrangement a 'serious security issue.' Their warnings were ignored then. Now, they're being doubled down on. In Washington, there's bipartisan agreement that Chinese surveillance infrastructure has no place in U.S. ports. So while America is working to push China out of its supply chains and ports, Israel is doing the opposite. And this comes as China expands its alignment with America's enemies: joint naval drills with Iran, potential arms transfers to the Houthis, and deeper involvement in Middle East shipping chokeholds like the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. China isn't neutral. It's enabling forces that are actively targeting U.S. ships, soldiers, and strategic allies. Allies must act like allies, especially in wartime. The United States provides Israel with vital defense aid, diplomatic cover, and moral support—all under the assumption that our strategic partnership is built on trust. But when Israel allows the CCP to build surveillance infrastructure next to U.S. naval operations, that trust is shaken. This isn't an Israeli domestic issue. It's a red flag for the entire free world. And it raises one very uncomfortable question: If our closest allies won't draw the line with China, who will? I say this not as a critic from the outside, but as someone who has been on the inside. I care deeply about Israel's future—and our alliance with the United States. But I also know this: you cannot play both sides when the Chinese Communist Party is one of them. The obvious objective of the CCP is to make the Indian-owned adjacent port unprofitable in order to kill the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that poses a challenge to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. Israel must halt this expansion, reassess the Haifa arrangement, and align itself once again with the values and interests it claims to share with the United States. Anything less is a betrayal of our shared security—and of the American trust we rely on. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
