At present we’re in a moment of both hope and fear. The vaccines are finally rolling out, and with them, we’re seeing a glimmer of a post-COVID world. But is that only a mirage? The decisions that will decide that answer are being made now. A key one will be how to get a global rollout to happen faster. The longer it takes, and the more piecemeal it is, the more ...
Category: Human Rights
In Africa, Chinese Diplomats Actively Promote Their Side of the Xinjiang Story — Even in Muslim Majority Countries
While in the U.S. and Europe Xinjiang is a highly contentious issue, that's not the case in most of Africa, even in Muslim-majority countries like Chad, where Chinese public diplomacy is very active in projecting Beijing's narrative on the issue. SUGGESTED ...
China Launches Full-Scale Media Blitz in Africa to Counter Mounting U.S-European Pressure on Xinjiang
China's propaganda strategists launched a full-scale campaign in print, broadcast and social media to rebut allegations of genocide and widespread human rights violations in Xinjiang. The effort is especially noticeable in Africa where over the past 24 hours, Chinese diplomatic ...
Two Totally Different Reactions From the U.S. and China About Tanzania’s Recent Elections
The United States and China have issued starkly different assessments of last week's presidential elections in Tanzania. Incumbent John Magufuli declared victory with 84% of the vote, with some international observers reporting instances of fraud and voter intimidation.
China Takes Its Messaging on Xinjiang to Nigeria, the World’s 5th Largest Muslim Country
China appears to be increasingly confident about promoting its position on Xinjiang in countries that have large Muslim populations, like Nigeria. The Chinese embassy in Abuja on Tuesday posted criticism of U.S. and European accusations that Beijing is persecuting its Uyghur minority population.
Inspired by China’s Example, Nigeria’s Information Minister Wants to Regulate Social Media
Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, sparked widespread outrage on Tuesday when he called for the government to step in and begin to censor online content. "If we don’t regulate social media, it will destroy us," he told a House committee. "The ...
Nigeria’s Not the Only African Country Seeking to Impose Chinese-Style Restrictions on Internet Activity
The Chinese-inspired model of government control over digital communications and internet activity is becoming increasingly popular in a number of African countries. While no African country goes to the lengths that China does in regulating online behavior, states like Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Ethiopia are definitely employing ...
Conservation Group Reports “Appalling” Human Rights Violations Aboard Chinese-Owned Fishing Trawlers in Ghana
The London-based conservation group Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) published a damning report on Monday that details "appalling" human rights violations aboard Chinese-owned fishing trawlers that operate in Ghanaian waters. The report details extensive exploitation of local crew members by Chinese managers ...
At the UN, African Countries Steer Clear of Bitter Human Rights Feud Between China and U.S., European Countries
No African states joined the 39 countries that signed a German-sponsored joint statement at the United Nations on Tuesday that condemned China's human rights record in Xinjiang and expressed "grave concern" about "recent developments in Hong Kong." The bulk ...
China Fires Back at U.S.-German Joint Statement
China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, led the counter-attack against the United States/German-sponsored joint statement on Tuesday condemning China's human rights practices in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. "The U.S. and a few other countries’ attempt to smear ...
Labor Abuse Allegations Against Chinese Company in Nigeria Explodes Into a Full-Blown Scandal
The Chinese factory at the center of an increasingly bitter dispute over allegations of gross abuse of its workers is pushing back against its accusers and the government. Over the weekend the Inner Galaxy Steel Company hired a law firm and opened a Twitter account, which it's ...