News
Congressional-Executive Commission on China Holds Hearing on Countering Transnational Repression
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China holds a hearing at 10 a.m. ET, Sept. 12, on the transnational repression campaign that China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party engaged in, harassing diaspora communities and regime critics, specifically Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans, and others from suppressed groups in China. Witnesses: Panel 1 Michael Chong, member of Canadian Parliament, Wellington-Halton Hills Panel 2 Yana Gorokhovskaia, research director for strategy and design, Freedom House Laura Harth, campaign director, Safeguard Defenders Rushan Abbas, founder and executive director, Campaign for Uyghurs ... Governments May Plant More Spies Within the CCP: Defence Expert
Governments may increase their espionage efforts in China in response to weakening transparency from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, according to an Australian defence expert. Michael Shoebridge, director at Strategic Analysis Australia, made the comments as attention focuses on the CCP’s espionage interference overseas. “As Xi Jinping closes China to foreign journalists and academics and makes it harder for foreign businesses to operate there, there will be an increasing drive by other countries’ government agencies to get sources inside Chinese institutions and organisations,” he wrote in an email to The Epoch Times on Sept. 12. “Unlike Beijing’s efforts overseas, that is far less likely to involve trying to interfere in politics and decision making in China and be much more focused on gaining information and insights about the opaque workings of the CCP and those around Xi.”... China Remains Australia’s Largest Agricultural Export Market Despite Trade Sanctions
For the second consecutive year, the value of Australian agricultural exports has reached a historic high of $80 billion, with winter crops playing a pivotal role in driving an impressive 20 percent growth in the market. In the 2022-23 financial year, broadacre crop exports, valued at $31 billion, accounted for over one-third of Australia’s total exports. The cotton industry also witnessed a remarkable surge, doubling its export earnings to $4.9 billion, a notable increase of $2.7 billion from the previous year. Despite ongoing trade sanctions affecting specific Australian commodities, China continues to maintain its position as the primary export destination for Australian agricultural products. It accounts for roughly 20 percent of Australia’s agricultural exports and remains the top growth market in terms of dollar value for the second consecutive year....