News on aviation management, CCP, Taiwan, U.S., WHA
News (1) to (5) / Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Screenshot from Xinhua News Agency
News (1)
State-owned enterprise COMAC cannot establish market competitiveness. It is too difficult for C919 to enter the international market
The "large" passenger aircraft C919 of China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. (COMAC) is highly anticipated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime in mainland China. It finally entered the final stage of verification flight a few days ago, starting the process of its first commercial operation by February 2024. This so-called "Chinese-made" airliner, which is expected to enter the international civil aviation market, will still have an extremely difficult path to compete with Boeing and Airbus in the future.
Many people think that only by improving the current relatively low localization rate can C919 compete with the two major civil aviation giants. In fact, the localization rate and manufacturing technology are not the main obstacles. The real problem lies in that this competitive product relies on the state-run systematic nationwide-coordinated propaganda production, hence failing to achieve product competitiveness in the free modern market economy.
News (2)
The C919 has no advantages in terms of technology, performance and mileage
Many people expect the C919 to be the beginning of CCP China breaking the monopoly of the two major civil aviation giants in Europe and the United States. In fact, the C919 is not the first civil aviation airliner independently developed by mainland China. As early as 2015, the ARJ21 short-to-medium range small airliner was launched, but the sales were not good. Therefore, few people are not optimistic about the performance of C919 in the international market. The C919 was approved by the State Council of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2007. Its maiden flight was successful in May 2017. It won the airworthiness certificate and started mass production in 2022. Compared with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 of the same level, the C919 has no advantages in terms of technology, performance, and mileage. It is so difficult to compete with the international civil aviation giants.
News (3)
C919 relies on foreign important components and technology and hence it is not a Chinese-made aircraft
Image : Screenshot from Sina.com
It is inevitable that COMAC's C919 will not be able to defeat the civil aviation giants for the time being, but what most people talk about is that the C919 has a large number of important components and technologies that rely on foreign countries, and there is a risk of being "stuck" in the future if foreign countries sanctioned CCP China for any possible invasion across the Taiwan Strait.
The official localization rate of C919 is 60% but most of the core components are imported from Europe and the United States, or are manufactured and provided by joint ventures authorized by foreign companies in mainland China, especially the aero-engine, which is considered the most important.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think tank, published a research report in 2020 and pointed out that there are 82 major suppliers of C919, of which 48 are American companies or joint ventures with the United States, and 26 are European or European joint ventures. There are only 7 foreign-funded enterprises. The report also ridiculed the C919, saying that it is not a Chinese-made aircraft at all, because most of the components are imported, and therefore the C919 does not pose a commercial threat to Boeing or Airbus. The ARJ21, which is also manufactured by COMAC, has only delivered less than 100 units in the past seven years, and the C919 may encounter the same problem in the future.
News (4)
CCP expects Chinese manufacturers to introduce key technologies to develop the local civil aviation industry
Although C919 is not technically competitive enough to compete with Boeing and Airbus, CCP still expects local manufacturers to introduce more key technologies for the development of China's civil aviation industry. At present, in addition to the Changjiang CJ-1000 engine that may be replaced, there are 16 Sino-foreign joint ventures participating in the C919 supply chain, providing important systems such as avionics, flight control, and communication and navigation for the C919. The Chinese side has also established factories through joint ventures with Europe and the United States. By gradually mastering key technologies and industrial chains, the proportion of domestic production of systems and components is gradually increasing.
News (5)
Chinese-produced compoments and systems have not met international airworthiness standards, COMAC is only a beginner in aircraft production
Image : Screenshot from Fast Technology
The consideration of international airworthiness standards is also an important factor for the low domestic production rate of C919. European and American countries take the lead in formulating airworthiness standards on the grounds of flight safety, and they are exclusive in many systems and components. If they are not used, they are already in line with international airworthiness. Standard systems and parts alone cannot obtain airworthiness certificates. The manufacturer even has problems flying the aircraft into the airspace of European and American countries, let alone selling them to local aviation companies. The industry estimates that it will take at least 20 years if all domestically produced components and systems in mainland China are to meet international airworthiness standards.
From this point of view, it is too ambitious and unrealistic to expect the C919 to open up the international market or increase the domestic production rate in a large amount.
The main purpose of China is to develop the civil aviation market. The C919 is only the first large passenger aircraft made by itself. It has only been more than 10 years since production was finalized. If you compare it with Airbus, it took 40 years to gain a firm foothold in the international market and compete with Boeing. The qualifications of COMAC can only be regarded as a beginner, and there is no need to worry about CCP China becoming an opponent.
Now that CCP China has decided to develop civil aviation aircraft, it needs to give civil aviation aircraft manufacturers and suppliers a chance to test and improve, and use the vast mainland market to cultivate and build aircraft manufacturers. This is also to develop civil aviation aircraft from the current backwardness and the only route for manufacturing. However, what is worrying is that it is almost impossible for state-owned enterprises to produce highly competitive commodities like private enterprises, judging from past experience. Maybe a considerable part of China's civil aviation will purchase domestic civil aviation aircraft under the policy requirements but it is impossible for state-owned civil aviation aircraft manufacturers to produce internationally competitive products because of problems of inefficiency, waste and corruption. It will still be a nightmare for the operation of the state-owned enterprise system. These are the biggest obstacles to competing with Boeing and Airbus in the future.
Refs.: https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20221231000657-263101?chdtv, https://news.mydrivers.com/1/911/911466.htm
News (6)
"War and Peace" has become the main axis of the KMT's election campaign. Scholars: KMT misunderstood, deliberately misleading
Reporter : Chen Yufu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4311419
The KMT recruited New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi to run for president. KMT legislator Lai Shibao said in a recent interview that "war and peace" is definitely the main axis of KMT's election campaign. The KMT Central Committee even held a press conference on 24 May 2023, claiming that 2024's election is " War and Peace" election. In this regard, experts and scholars said that no political party wants a war, and using the "war and peace" operation to choose which party will cause a war is a deliberate misleading and wrong statement.
Wang Hongren, a professor of politics at Cheng Kung University, said in an interview that the KMT wants to make the election campaign a choice of "war and peace" because no one would choose war but the real problem is that sometimes wars happen involuntarily, as in the case of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Wang Hongren emphasized that the Kuomintang’s statement may seem reasonable at first glance but it can be heard as misleading. It implies that choosing the DPP will lead to war, and choosing the Kuomintang represents peace. This argument is completely wrong, because no political party wants war,. Even the same is true for the United States.
He mentioned that Taiwan's military defense, national defense reform, and military cooperation with the United States all hope that there will be no war in the Taiwan Strait. CCP China is responsible for intimidating military exercises against Taiwan and changing the status quo of stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is difficult to pin the blame on Taiwan. The KMT often says that the ruling party is provoking the other side but is there any example of a real provocation? Taiwan will not provoke other countries with the threat of nuclear weapons like North Korea. The problem is always with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Su Ziyun, director of the National Defense Strategy and Resources Research Institute of the National Defense Security Research Institute, said that national defense is a matter that transcends partisanship, and war and peace are not choices, but precautions. As the Russian writer Trotsky said, "You are not interested in war, but war is interested in you", which shows the importance of preparing for war.
News (7)
Criticize Tsai and Lai as "war mongers" accomplice structure KMT: Next year's general election will be an election of "war and peace"
Reporter : Shi Xiaoguang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4311311 / Image: On the 24th, the KMT held a press conference "Angrily criticize the DPP's 'war inevitability theory' and ask Lai Qingde to use 'peace' to compete with Hou Youyi." Legislator Li Dewei (from left), Taipei City Councilor Li Yanxiu, and Vice President He Zhiyong of the Geshi Yuan attended. (Photo by reporter Tu Jianrong)
The KMT held a press conference on 24 May 2023 "angrily condemning the DPP's 'inevitability of war' and asking Lai Ching-te to use "peace" to compete with Hou Youyi", criticizing President Tsai Ing-wen and DPP Chairman Lai Ching-te for selling the fear of war.and that next year's general election to KMT will be an election of war and peace, and shouted "Vote for the Kuomintang, peace is guaranteed!"
Li Yanxiu, deputy secretary-general of the Kuomintang, said that President Tsai Ing-wen and the Democratic Progressive Party are the most unqualified in the world to say that they sold war. It is the accomplice structure of "warmongers" who sell the fear of war.
Li Yanxiu also said that the Democratic Progressive Party wants everyone to prepare for war in order to intimidate the people and try to use the sense of national subjugation to divert poor governance. This is the true face of the DPP. Dare to join the ranks of the Kuomintang, take peace as the main axis of elections, and let the people of Taiwan choose who will be in power.
Li Dewei, a legislator of the Kuomintang, pointed out that the DPP wants war at one time, and peace at the other. It changes back and forth for the sake of votes. In contrast, when the Ma government was in power, the exchanges and interactions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were enthusiastic. There was no fear of war, and there was no need to extend military service. So next year's general election is a choice between war and peace.
In response to media inquiries about whether KMT presidential candidate Hou You-yi needs to say whether he agrees with the "1992 Consensus," Li Dewei said that Hou You-yi's position is very firm, that is, to uphold the Republic of China and the Constitution, which is completely different from what former President Ma Ying-jeou said when he visited CCP China in April. Unanimously, Lai Ching-te should return to the Republic of China and the Constitution, and there is no need to go back and forth on the text of the "1992 Consensus".
News (8)
Contact with specific candidates to influence their political opinions, National Security Bureau exposes the CCP’s interference in Paraguay’s Election
Reporter : Chen Yufu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4311459
DPP legislator Zhao Tianlin was concerned about the CCP’s involvement in Paraguay’s election during an inquiry in the Legislative Yuan recently, and asked the National Security Bureau to list the CCP’s mediation in the election and disclose it to the public in a timely manner, so as to prevent the CCP from using similar tactics to influence the Republic of China's presidential election in 2024. The National Security Bureau pointed out in a written reply that the CCP’s specific methods of mediating elections involved contacting specific candidates to influence their political opinions during the campaign, and hoped to include issues beneficial to the CCP in the election campaign.
In recent years, the CCP has attempted to win over Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Latin America. The outside world is concerned about whether the results of Paraguay's presidential election will affect "Taiwan-Paraguay diplomatic relations." On 1 May 2023, Santiago Pena, the candidate of Paraguay's ruling Red Party who promised to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, won the election. The opposition candidate Efrain Alegre, who favoured establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing, lost the election. The crisis was lifted.
The National Security Bureau’s written report in response to inquiries from legislators revealed that in order to loosen the friendship between Paraguay and the Republic of China, the CCP tried to intervene in the Paraguay general election after the end of the party’s primary election in December 2022. The tactics include using the CCP’s friendly countries in South America to contact the Paraguay opposition party’s senatorial candidates, and holding seminars on “China”-Paraguayrelations in the Paraguayan media to exaggerate the benefits of “China”-Paraguay cooperation to voters in this country, in an attempt to win the election and manipulate the issue of establishing diplomatic relations between CCP China and Paraguay.
The National Security Bureau analyzed the CCP’s approach to the election in Paraguay, including contacting specific candidates to influence their political opinions in the election campaign, hoping to put issues beneficial to the CCP in the election campaign, or using local Huawei and other Chinese companies to fund activities to change voters’ voting intentions , and through other niche media to spread disputes, including that the opposition party may win the election, and may immediately break off diplomatic relations with Taiwan after the election, etc., to expand the effect of cognitive operations.
The National Security Bureau emphasized that in order to influence the policies of the Republic of China government and promote unified political goals, the CCP will take measures to promote elections before my 2024 general election. The Bureau will continue to work closely with the National Security Team such as the Bureau of Investigation and the Police Administration to track the situation of the CCP’s mediation and file a case for investigation, and expose to the outside world in a timely manner to remind the people of the country to be vigilant and prevent the CCP from eroding the achievements of Taiwan's democracy.
News (9)
The main axis of the Kuomintang's election campaign is "sweeping gangs and fraud" Hou You-yi: First settle down inside and then fight outside
Reporter : Lai Xiaotong / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4311362 / It is rumored that the KMT’s 2024 election campaign will mainly focus on sweeping up gangsters and combating fraud. Hou Youyi, the mayor of New Taipei City, who has been recruited to run for president, said that recently the underworld has been rampant, fraud is rampant, and politics is linked to black money. He is confident in suppressing security issues. (Photo by reporter Lai Xiaotong)
In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, it is reported that the KMT's think tank is developing policies that will focus on sweeping up gangsters, cracking down on fraud, restoring special investigation teams, and investigating black money corruption cases. In this regard, the Kuomintang presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Youyi said today (24th) that the underworld has been rampant recently, fraud is rampant, and politics is linked to black money. Make Taiwan better and better.
KMT Secretary-General Huang Jianting invited New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Xie Zhengda and City Hall Deputy Secretary-General Zhang Qiqiang to hold the first campaign propaganda group meeting last night, mainly to establish communication channels and set up a temporary media liaison office. and activities etc.
Hou You-yi said that Xie Zhengda and Zhang Qiqiang used their off hours to discuss relevant policies and actions at the Party Central Committee, and how to work closely with the Party Central Committee in the future to make the country and society better and better. They should fully communicate with each other and discuss directions and details in detail.
Regarding the main axis of the election campaign, Hou You-yi said in an interview after the municipal meeting today that during this period of time, gangsters are rampant, scams are rampant, and politics is linked to black money. This is the most important challenge facing us at present. , No matter how extravagantly talk about living and working in peace and contentment, it’s too much talk”, so “If the domestic affairs that the people hate the most are not stable, how to face the international situation”?
Hou You-yi emphasized that domestic affairs must be rectified, and that people must go all out in places where the people are most fearful and unable to feel safe and secure. This is his job. Issues related to law and order” and “starting with safety first and then fighting against the outside world” will make Taiwan better and better, and the people will live a stable life in this land.
In addition, the New Taipei City Fire Department held a commendation meeting for firefighting and volunteer firefighters yesterday. Representatives of the Kuomintang public opinion were lined up on the stage, which was questioned as if it was a blue-blooded occasion. Hou You-yi responded that every year he will participate in the firefighting model conference, and he will praise more than 200 people on average. Every year, he invites firefighting colleagues to invite participation from all walks of life, regardless of party affiliation. Yesterday, many parties participated. Thank you for your support regardless of party affiliation. Brothers in the righteous consumer and firefighters, everyone "worked hard" to make New Taipei City safer.
News (10)
WHA ten countries relay solidarity with Taiwan, Estonia speaks for Taiwan for the first time
Reporter : Lu Yixuan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4311327 / Image : Speaking at the WHA conference, Estonian Health Minister Riina Sikkut said that Estonia believes that we should promote inclusiveness and meaningful participation of all partners, "including Taiwan," which will also contribute to global public health. (recapped from WHO live broadcast)
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is in progress, and on the 23rd, another 10 countries joined in solidarity with Taiwan. It is worth noting that European countries are increasingly supporting Taiwan. Estonia voiced justice for Taiwan for the first time this year. Lithuania and Luxembourg, which supported Taiwan for the first time last year, also expressed their support for Taiwan's participation again. Estonian Health Minister Riina Sikkut said Estonia believed that we should promote inclusion and meaningful participation of all partners, "including Taiwan," which would also contribute to global public health.
On the first day of the 76th WHA speech, 8 countries including Japan, Britain, Australia, France, the United States, the Czech Republic, Canada, and Guatemala spoke for Taiwan in the limited 3-minute speech time, praising Taiwan as a good example, should be given the opportunity to participate.
On the second day of the speeches at the conference, 10 countries including Lithuania, Paraguay, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Germany, Haiti, Nauru, Estonia, St. Vincent and St. Lucia joined the stage.
Lithuanian Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys said that we are still fighting emerging health threats and pre-planning for future global public health challenges. It is very important to invite Taiwan to participate in WHA as an observer and meaningfully participate in WHO-related work.
Marcelo Eliseo Scappini Ricciardi, Paraguay's ambassador to Geneva, said that solidarity and cooperation are the core of public health issues, and it is a basic requirement not to exclude any country from participating. Paraguay advocates that Taiwan should participate in the WHO as an associate member.
Marc Bichler, Luxembourg's ambassador to Geneva, said that to ensure inclusiveness, the WHO should enable all stakeholders to contribute their knowledge and skills, especially Taiwan's participation in WHO technical meetings as an observer.
Katharina Stasch, Germany's ambassador to Geneva, said we must not leave any blind spots on the map and ensure inclusiveness. Therefore, we must also refer to and learn from the experience of all parties and all partners, including Taiwan.
Marshall Health Minister Joe Bejang, St. Vincent's Health Minister St. Clair "Jimmy" Prince, and St. Lucia's Minister of Health and Welfare Moses Jn Baptiste all expounded on Taiwan's Contribution, emphasizing that diseases will not be controlled by human beings drawing boundaries on the map, 23 million people in Taiwan have inalienable equal rights in health issues, calling for "stop politics, end neglect, let Taiwan help!"
News (11)
Fearing that the Internet "anti-worshiping foreign countries and flattering foreigners" is out of control, the CCP urgently puts out the fire
Reporter : Li Li / Editor : Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/05/23/a103718646.html / Image : In 2019, Shandong University aroused public outrage when it provided study partners for African students. (Internet screenshot)
Recently, on the Douyin platform in mainland China, some people launched the challenge of "anti-worshiping foreigners and glamorizing foreigners", which has evolved from anti-"super national treatment for overseas students" to "anti-Black". Some people rationally suggested that the most classic "foreign element" is Marxism. The CCP officials quickly deleted relevant content.
In recent years, in order to win over some countries, the CCP government has given foreign students super-national treatment, which has aroused public anger in CCP China. In early July 2019, Sina Weibo sparked intense controversy after news broke out on Sina Weibo that "one foreign student is assigned three school buddies, and the school buddies are mainly girls". Netizens criticize the university for "worshipping foreign things".
In recent months, "unreasonable super-national treatment for foreigners" has become a hot topic on the Internet again. In the past week, netizens on the Douyin platform in mainland China have launched the challenge of "anti-worshiping foreigners and flattering foreigners".
However, with the participation of many people, the topic of discussion has also expanded. The topic of discussion has gradually evolved from the original anti-"super-national treatment" to: opposing Chinese girls marrying foreigners; discrimination against Chinese-African mixed-race. Even some ethnic minorities in Yunnan, China, have been targeted because of their darker skin and different looks from the Han people.
A Weibo netizen also said, "I mainly think that the super-national treatment for foreigners is unreasonable. This is what I said at the beginning. Now the public opinion has gone astray. Now no one pays attention to the super-national treatment and subsidies for foreign students." This is not anti-foreign worship, but anti-Black."
Some netizens also raised this topic, "Everyone is anti-foreigner and anti-foreigners against those rubbish foreigners, so what is the reason why these music have such a high status in China? I believe that ordinary people are against it, so who intends to elevate the status of these happy colours? Who is it? Who is it?"
Some netizens also posted the study abroad budgets of many famous universities in China, criticizing the CCP government for disregarding the country's basic education, but using government funds to allocate foreign students.
Image : Internet screenshot
Zhihu netizen "People from the South" said, "What is xenophobia? Is Marxism a model of xenophobia? If so, should you criticize it? Otherwise, is there anything more xenophobia than this?"
On 23 May 2023, the CCP network management department quickly deleted related topics.
The CCP authorities have always used nationalism and patriotism to incite the people to xenophobic. Why should such topics be banned this time?
In this regard, current affairs commentator Zheng Xuguang told Radio Free Asia that in China, any action beyond official control, even if it is to promote "patriotism", the authorities will prohibit it. He gave an example, "For example, if you launch a rally in Tiananmen Square to support the Chinese Communist Party, you can try it. No matter what the topic is, once it shows strong organizational and provocative nature, because this kind of movement can easily point the finger at the party-state. They are mainly afraid of you taking to the streets first, and they are afraid of you being organized. It is not about the content of your activities, but about your form and energy."
News (12)
Many Cathay Pacific passengers tell their experiences: The crew are only courteous to White people, and their attitude is still indifferent today
Reporter : Lu Bohua / https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20230523005608-260409
Cathay Pacific's flight attendants' attitude towards customers involves discrimination, which has become a hot topic in the mainland media and the Internet for 2 consecutive days. Lu Media interviewed several Cathay Pacific passengers and pointed out that they "have gotten used to the indifference of Cathay Pacific flight attendants (flight attendants)", and even after the language discrimination incident broke out, "the attitude today is the same as usual." Some passengers pointedly pointed out that the flight attendants were "very courteous to white people" and "thanks to someone for letting Cathay Pacific face up to this issue."
According to the "Upstream News" report, in the afternoon of 23 May, in response to netizens' real-name reports of Cathay Pacific flight attendants discriminating against non-English-speaking passengers, Cathay Pacific's official Weibo once again apologized for the incident, and responded that the flight missions of the flight attendants had been suspended, and an internal investigation was launched immediately. The results of the investigation will be announced within 3 days.
After this incident became a hot topic on the Internet, a passenger who had just sat at the Business Class of Cathay Pacific Airways said that he had gotten used to the indifference of Cathay Pacific flight attendants before the incident, and "the attitude today is the same as usual."
The Cathay Pacific passenger article and recording aroused widespread concern and anger among netizens, and many netizens also posted posts about the discrimination they encountered when flying Cathay Pacific. A passenger surnamed Liu from Beijing who had just traveled to Thailand on Cathay Pacific Airways said that he is a tourist operator who often transits through Hong Kong and chooses Cathay Pacific flights most of the time. I didn’t encounter particularly exaggerated discrimination problems, and I always insisted on answering in Mandarin, only once was a man who looked completely Chinese but spoke English to me, I said, get someone who can speak Mandarin to serve.”
Regarding the discrimination against non-English-speaking passengers by Cathay Pacific flight attendants, Mr. Liu said that, in fact, it has always been there. He understands Chinese, we both know what the other is saying, but he just responds to me in English."
He said, "From their attitude towards our business class guests, including any questions you have, he also came over aggressively and spoke English to you coldly. For example, once I finished the meal on the plane, I wanted to Lie down and rest, put the plate next to me, and the flight attendant will come over and tell me: How can you do this.” Mr. Liu said: “My friend also encountered such as food delivery, he (flight attendant) may serve foreign countries first. Guest, mainland guests will be slower, how can I put it, it is not to the point of discrimination or making you angry, and it will be very good at measuring the scale of being unfriendly to you." "For example, before landing today, I have to adjust my seat, the flight attendant Just looking at you like a primary school student is a bit uncomfortable." "Today's incident is more heated, maybe the customer service in business class will be more restrained, but their attitude is still the same as usual."
Another Mr. Wu from Shanghai said after taking Cathay Pacific for the first time, "I only heard that Cathay Pacific flight attendants discriminated against non-English-speaking passengers." "However, I felt unhappy on the flight CX549 from Tokyo, Japan to Hong Kong, China on the 28th. "When I was packing my luggage, the stewardess asked me to put the bag upright. She gave me a blank look, and then she said let her do it, said it twice impatiently, and at the same time motioned me to step aside."
"I didn't think much of it at first, at most it was a bad attitude, but the white man behind me also didn't know how to put the bag, and the same stewardess came forward to help very attentively, and she definitely greeted her with a smile. I sat in my seat with a dazed face and thought about it." Mr. Wu recalled.
Ms. Chen, who is currently working in Australia, told the media that she has flown on Cathay Pacific no less than 30 times recently, all of which have been flown in economy and business class, "(Soda water), she said no, I said I saw the cart, I pointed to it, and she said in an educational tone, that is not sparkling water but soda water, but I am in Australia, Europe, and North America. The aerated water is called sparkling water, and we communicate in English the whole time.”
Ms. Chen said: "My passport was thrown on the table. They should be able to see it. At the beginning, she spoke Cantonese with her. I said in English that I couldn't understand Cantonese." "I often flew in 2019 from Sydney to Hong Kong, China-Hangzhou, China. At that time, most of the two sections were mainlanders. There was an elderly person next to me who wanted to order food. He obviously spoke Mandarin and did not speak English. He also used bilingual menus, but the flight attendants insisted on communicating in English. Sometimes you just give me a meal if you don’t understand it, sometimes it feels like a repeater, regardless of whether the passenger can speak English or not, he still insists on speaking English.”
Ms. Chen said, "If it was just one thing, I would think it was due to the lack of personal quality or professionalism, but after a few times, I only felt Cathay Pacific's inaction and connivance. Thanks to the blogger recording this time, it was the first time I could put it on the table, let Cathay Pacific face up to this issue."
News (13) to (15) / Reporter : Li Li / Editor: Hu Long / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/05/23/a103718691.html
News (13)
The U.S. Congress focuses on the CCP’s cruel persecution of Falun Gong
Image : Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) speaks during a briefing on the Falun Gong persecution on Capitol Hill, 23 May 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
On Tuesday (23 May 2023), the U.S. Congress held a briefing on the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP. Members and scholars attending the meeting called on the international community to support freedom of religious belief and to support the Falun Gong group persecuted by the CCP authorities.
According to The Epoch Times, the briefing was convened by the International Religious Freedom Caucus under the U.S. House of Representatives.
At the briefing, U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida condemned the Chinese Communist regime's long-term abuse of Falun Gong practitioners. He said, "The Chinese Communist Party has been oppressing and exterminating specific religions and races, intending to destroy their culture, and Falun Gong is the main target of persecution by the Chinese (CCP) authorities. Under the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party, Falun Gong practitioners have been prosecuted, intimidated, and censored, imprisonment, forced labor, torture, forced organ harvesting, and even death, simply because of their beliefs."
Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington, also said at the meeting, “Among all the religious persecutions in the world, the Chinese Communist Party’s atrocities against Falun Gong are not often cited. It is discussed by the outside world, but it is very serious, even to the extent of religious extinction, babor, torture, ill-treatment. During the detention, many practitioners disappeared or died.”
Sia also pointed out that in the illegal overseas police station established by the CCP authorities in Manhattan, New York, the personnel of the overseas police station had illegally oppressed and harassed Falun Gong practitioners in the United States.
News (14)
Persecution instances
At the meeting, three Falun Gong practitioners and their families who were persecuted by the CCP also shared their experiences.
Zhou You, a blogger who runs a military channel on YouTube, said his mother was a Falun Gong practitioner but his father was not. However, after his father returned to China from the United States recently, he was secretly detained by the CCP authorities for no reason on the grounds of participating in Falun Gong and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. My mother is a fugitive, and there is not much difference between the main criminal and the accomplice, so my father was sentenced to 8 years in prison."
Zhou You said, "My grandfather passed away last year. I couldn't go to his funeral because if I went back to China, I would be put in prison. My father couldn't go to the funeral either because he was already in prison."
Image : On 23 May 2023, Zhou You spoke at a briefing on the persecution of Falun Gong held on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Falun Gong practitioner Ji Yunzhi was persecuted for a long time by the CCP authorities because of his belief, and was persecuted to death in prison in March last year. Ji Yunzhi's son, New York architect Simon Zhang, also attended the briefing on 23 May 2023.
Simon Zhang said that his mother was imprisoned many times for Falun Gong. In prison, Ji Yunzhi was tortured by electric shocks, forced labor, etc., and was severely malnourished. "(The first two times my mother was imprisoned) we could only take her home when she was dying. She was dying because of torture and ill-treatment. In the Lunar New Year in 2022, she was arrested again, and then she was in the detention center attempted to go on a hunger strike but the police force-fed her, abused and humiliated her, causing her to lose consciousness and be sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.” Ji Yunzhi died after being illegally detained for 48 days. In the last month of her life, she was handcuffed and shackled to a hospital bed.
Image : In 2012, Simon Zhang and his mother Ji Yunzhi traveled in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. (Contributed by Simon Zhang)
Shanshan Wang (Lydia), who is already a U.S. citizen, spoke out for her mother Liu Aihua and father Wang Guanghui at the briefing. She introduced that she originally had a happy family, and she was still in high school when the persecution started. She said she remembered that in 2000, the police broke into their home and forcibly took her father away. After being imprisoned for the fourth time in February 2003, Wang Shanshan's father was emaciated, suffering from diabetes and kidney failure. "If this person is not released today, he will be a dead body tomorrow," the prison doctor warned the prison guards. As a result, her father was released and returned home. After returning home, her father endured unimaginable pain.
Wang Shanshan said that due to being persecuted by the CCP for a long time, "every nerve in his body hurts, it is difficult to sleep, there are bruises on his body, and his legs are very swollen, and a pit will appear when he presses lightly with his hands." In 2009, his father passed away in pain.
Image : Lydia Wang speaks at a briefing on the persecution of Falun Gong on Capitol Hill in Washington, 23 May 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Wang Shanshan’s mother, Liu Aihua, was illegally kidnapped and imprisoned by the CCP 11 times because she insisted on believing in Falun Dafa several years ago. Less than a year after her mother was released from prison, on 7 July 2022, she was secretly arrested again by police from the Xingang Police Station of the Kaifu Branch of the Changsha Public Security Bureau, and was arrested on 10 March 2023. She was sentenced to 4 years in prison without a court trial. The reason for the sentence was only because her mother publicized the goodness of Falun Dafa to the public, and a large number of Falun Gong books were found in her home.
News (15)
The CCP must be held accountable for human rights violations
Regarding the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, Congressman Billirakis said, "Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted, intimidated, censored, imprisoned, forced labor, tortured, harvested organs, and even died just because they insist on their religious beliefs. …this does not just affect Chinese people … it has a direct impact on American citizens and people living in the United States of America.”
"We must do more," he said. "No one should be intimidated, forced from their homes, imprisoned or murdered just because of their beliefs."
He called on the U.S. government and Congress to take action, "The United States and its allies should send a firm signal to jointly defend basic human rights. Freedom of belief should be protected around the world. The United States is the leader of free countries. We have the responsibility and obligation to do so. No people should be intimidated, expelled from their ancestral lands, imprisoned, and even murdered because of their beliefs. We should not fear the Chinese (CCP) government, but hold China (CCP) accountable for human rights violations.”
News (16) to (20) / Reporters : Lili and Zhang Yingyu / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/5/23/n14002572.htm
News (16)
Number of Hong Kong cancellations of organ donation registrations soars
When the Hong Kong government was actively discussing the establishment of a regular organ transplant cooperation mechanism with the mainland, the number of registered organ donors dropped sharply. The Hong Kong government issued a statement to the media on the 22nd, saying that from the end of last year to April this year, 5,785 people canceled their registration on the Central Organ Donation Register, "(the number) is much higher than the previous figures."
The number of unregistered organ donations began to soar in December 2022, when Lu Chongmao, director of the Medical and Health Bureau, told party media Xinhua News Agency that he hoped to include Hong Kong hospitals in the mainland's "China Computer System for Human Organ Distribution and Sharing (COTRS)" occasion. Some commentators believe that citizens' cancellation of organ donation registration stems from Hong Kong people's distrust and suspicion of the mainland.
The Hong Kong government’s manuscript on the 22nd was strongly worded, accusing others of calling on others to cancel organ donation registration as “violating the spirit of great love for organ donation” and saying that the Medical and Health Bureau expressed regret for this.
The online media "Jizhishe" reported that as early as March this year, it had inquired from the Department of Health about the number of deregistered organ donations every month since 2020, but no reply was received. By April, they had inquired with the Department through the "Code on Access to Information", and received a reply on the 22nd, and the government issued the above-mentioned press release on the same day.
According to the deregistration data reported by Jizhi, the number has been in double digits since December 2021. There were only 38 cases in November last year, but it increased by more than ten times to 706 cases in December. In the first four months of this year alone, the monthly deregistration figures were 686, 257, 546 and 685 respectively, totaling 2,174, 1,106 more than last year.
Image : In December 2022, Lu Chongmao, the director of the Hong Kong Medical and Health Bureau, told the party media Xinhua News Agency that he hoped that Hong Kong hospitals would be included in the mainland's "China Computer System for Human Organ Distribution and Sharing (COTRS)", and the number of Hong Kong citizens canceling organ donation registrations soared . (Cartooned by The Epoch Times)
News (17)
Netizens: Talking more and more black
After the Hong Kong government published the article on the 22nd, many netizens said that the more the government criticizes, the more people will cancel organ donation registration. "If you don't talk about it, no one remembers it at all", "The more you talk, the darker it becomes. At the beginning, netizens said that there were no news reports."
Some netizens said, "He (the government) said again today that if I have time to spare (I was free just now), I will immediately cancel it online. There should be many people like me (like this), and I don't remember when I go back to the house after listening. He kept mentioning it (now) and there was always someone like me, and finally one time I had to go online and cancel immediately after listening to it.”
Others shared web links to cancel registration on the Central Organ Donation Register.
The Hong Kong government’s manuscript mentioned that among the 5,785 applications for cancellation of registration from the end of last year to April 2023, more than half (2,905) were invalid cancellation applications that had never been registered but applied for withdrawal, or repeated cancellations. The rate of invalid cancellation registration is as high as 74%. "It is not excluded that the intention of the minority is to disrupt the representativeness of the central register and to increase the administrative burden on government personnel," the manuscript said.
Current affairs commentator Cao Jiachao said in his Internet program "Hong Kong is Checkered", the deregistration incident stemmed from Hong Kong people's distrust and suspicion of the mainland.
For example, if there are poor people in mainland China who need a heart transplant but are unable to pay for the surgery, "it's not that Hong Kong is unwilling to donate, but it may be that mainland China is unwilling to receive medical treatment," and the organs may end up in the hands of the rich and powerful.
Cao also gave an example. Once the organ transplant databases of China and Hong Kong are interoperable, when a child in Hong Kong dies, is there a mechanism to ensure that children in need in Hong Kong can obtain the organs they need? The rich and powerful children need this heart (heart), and then perfunctory the heart of the child who is waiting to be rescued in Hong Kong (transplant needs)?"
News (18)
CCP-Hong Kong organ transplantation mechanism has a preliminary plan
Lu Chongmao, Director of the Hong Kong Medical and Health Bureau, has been promoting the interoperability of organ transplantation mechanisms between CCP China and Hong Kong. The last time he mentioned organ transplants in China and Hong Kong in public was on 12 May. When asked whether there will be two teams in the mainland and Hong Kong in the waiting order for organ transplants, he responded that there will be no two teams, claiming that "the entire organ transplantation and distribution system is open and transparent" and that Hong Kong's team, that is, the local team, will continue to be used. Donated organs will be distributed locally; if there are organs in the mainland, they belong to the "second tier", that is, if they cannot be distributed in the mainland, they will enter Hong Kong, and Hong Kong will distribute them to patients in need according to Hong Kong's mechanism and Hong Kong team .
He also said at the time that he had gone to the "National Health and Medical Commission" in Beijing in March, "also discussed with a foundation responsible for organ transplantation, exchanged opinions, and made a preliminary plan."
On 15 March, Lu met with Huang Jiefu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the China Organ Transplantation Development Foundation and Chairman of the China Human Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, and stated that the Medical and Health Bureau hopes to establish a regular organ transplant cooperation mechanism with the mainland.
However, after checking the press release of the Hong Kong Government Information Office, it was reported on 16 March that Lu Lian, Director of the Department of Health, Lin Wenjian, Deputy Secretary-General of the Medical and Health Bureau, Li Ligang, and Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Fan Hongling, went to Beijing to visit the "National Health and Medical Commission". During the "Committee", it only emphasized gratitude to the mainland for its assistance in Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic, and did not mention organ transplants.
Lu Chongmao also mentioned that in April, he also visited the computer system of the COTRS center in Guangzhou with representatives of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority to "understand in detail" how data management is done in mainland China, and pointed out that some colleagues in the Hospital Authority hoped that more transplant doctors and nurses have a better understanding of the system and system of organ transplantation and distribution in mainland China, so they lead colleagues in charge of organ transplantation to visit.
News (19)
The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong is in-depth exchanges with the mainland
The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong announced last Saturday (May 20) that the Chief Executive Officer Gao Basheng led a delegation of organ transplant experts to Guangdong Province on the same day to discuss organ donation, allocation, transplantation and related systems in China and Hong Kong with organ transplant experts from the mainland.
Gao Basheng said at the time that he would cooperate with the policy direction of the Medical and Health Bureau to explore the establishment of a regular organ transplant mechanism with the mainland, and said that Hong Kong and the mainland have a lot to learn from each other in terms of organ donation, distribution and transplantation.
Members of the delegation included organ transplant experts from different public hospitals, organ donation liaison officers, medical information and information technology personnel from the Hospital Authority, and representatives from the Medical and Health Bureau. According to the Bureau, the delegation visited the Human Tissue Organ Transplantation and Medical Big Data Center of the "National Health and Medical Commission" to learn about the operation of human organ distribution in the mainland.
News (20)
Lu Chongmao pushes for China-Hong Kong cooperation in organ sharing
Before Lu Chongmao became the director of the bureau last year, he had been advocating cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland in organ transplantation. In May 2015, Lu, who was then the director of the Liver Transplantation Center at Queen Mary Hospital and a professor of the Department of Surgery of the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine, had already expressed his hope for in-depth cooperation with the mainland when he was interviewed by the mainland media “Health World Website” and that China and Hong Kong were considering organ sharing .
In 2019, when Lu served as the president of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, he proposed that Hong Kong could discuss with the mainland the establishment of a waiting list for Hong Kong people to wait for organ donations from the mainland, or the hospital would centralize organ transplant operations for Hong Kong people.
By December 2022, less than half a year after Lu Chongmao took office as director of the bureau in July, he will facilitate the first transplant operation in Hong Kong to accept organs from mainlanders. At that time, the 4-month-old Hong Kong baby girl Zhixi suffered from "dilated cardiomyopathy" and developed acute heart failure, and her condition was critical. Lu Chongmao immediately sent a letter to the "National Health Commission" and "State General Administration of Customs" in the mainland to seek his heart. At that time, the CCP official Xinhua News Agency stated that the heart came from a free donation from a brain-dead child in mainland China, and quoted Lu Chongmao as saying that he hoped to use Zhixi’s case to establish a long-term mechanism to include Hong Kong hospitals into COTRS.
This happened in the same month that the number of unregistered organ donations soared.
After Zhixi's case, Lu Chongmao tried his best to sell the organ sharing mechanism between China and Hong Kong.
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