Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 1337

'We Will Definitely See More Large-Scale Protests': Interview

There is a small proportion of people in Hong Kong who are genuinely supportive of the central government's electoral reform package. They can't see why it's a problem that we can't nominate candidates. They say that the general public doesn't take part in the primaries in the U.S. presidential elections, either. But the movement still enjoys broad support in Hong Kong, says democracy campaigner

Shanghai Petitioners Descend on Beijing Ahead of Annual Parliament

Around 1,000 petitioners from Shanghai have converged on Beijing ahead of China's parliamentary sessions next month in a bid to highlight their complaints against local governments. "Right now there are more than 1,000 people who have already arrived in Beijing, by our estimate," Shanghai petitioner Shen Lida told RFA on Monday from the Chinese capital. Read more

Does Asia Need a New Maritime Organization?

Some are calling for a new institution to manage Asia's maritime disputes. Read more

Reforming the Constitution is the Only Way for Taiwan

Former president Lee Teng-hui speaks out on the challenges facing the island. Read more

- It has become more difficult to be corrupt in China

I would say that it has at least become more difficult to be corrupt in China. But has corruption decreased? I don’t know. Many people take the risk, and although the hurdles are higher, they are still corrupt. In China, we cannot measure actual corruption, says China expert Christian Goebel. Read more

Former Chinese Premier Draws Praise for His Philanthropy

Since Zhu Rongji stepped down as premier of China in 2003, he has pursued interests including playing a type of fiddle called the huqin, writing best sellers and practicing philanthropy. It is this last activity, in particular, that returned Mr. Zhu to the spotlight, while also drawing attention to how unusual such charity is among former Chinese politicians. Read more

Former foreign secretaries caught in undercover sting over payments

Two former foreign secretaries, Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind, have been caught in an undercover sting offering to help a fictitious Chinese company in return for payments. Read more

Kinesisk advokat kan få 20 år i fengsel for tvitring

La Washington få kontrollere Beijing som mandatområde, ironiserte Pu Zhiqiang i en sarkastisk mikroblogmelding ingen tok bokstavelig. Unntatt kinesisk politi. Nå risikerer Pu 20 år bak murene. Les mer

Beijing Police Detain Hundreds For Trying to Visit Chinese Leaders Over New Year

Authorities in Beijing have detained hundreds of people who converged on Tiananmen Square this week in a bid to wish the ruling Chinese Communist Party leadership a happy Year of the Goat, activists said on Friday. "We ... wanted to wish President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang a Happy New Year," petitioner Li Min told RFA after being sent to an unofficial detention center on the outskirts of

Tibetans Openly Celebrate Dalai Lama’s Birthday During New Year

Tibetans living in northwestern China’s Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu provinces openly celebrated the 80th birth year of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama this week, combining public and private observances with traditional celebrations of Losar, the Lunar New Year, sources said. Read more