10 Years of HKFP: Why we revived our deer mascot
To 'call a deer a horse ' (指鹿為馬) refers to the distortion of facts and the misrepresentation of truth.
When HKFP launched in 2015, we adopted the deer as our mascot, promising to always 'call a deer a deer.'
The HKFP mascot. We'll always call a deer a deer.
Support us: https://t.co/ZbERgFRrbp pic.twitter.com/X1xlzdLYBN
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) October 29, 2015
To mark our 10th anniversary, a new version of our deer is returning to remind us all of the importance of truth and press freedom at a time when misinformation, disinformation and propaganda are rife.
If you would like to receive an exclusive HKFP plush deer keyring, designed from scratch by HKFP, sign up as a HK$150+ monthly donor as a member today and enjoy eight benefits.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AllAfrica
2 hours ago
- AllAfrica
Implausible deniability: China arming Russia, Pakistan, Iran
China has long maintained that it does not supply arms to any party at war – a central tenet of its 'noninterference' foreign policy. But in recent years, Beijing has repeatedly faced accusations of doing the opposite: providing direct military assistance to nations engaged in conflict, while publicly denying doing so and even adopting a position of diplomatic neutrality. That has seemingly been the case for two of China's closest allies: Russia in its war against Ukraine and Pakistan during its recent armed standoff with India in May. Now, Beijing is facing scrutiny over alleged military links to Iran – a country engaged in a long-running shadow conflict with Israel that recently tipped into a short-lived hot war. After the ceasefire that followed the 12-day war in the Middle East, China reportedly supplied batteries for surface-to-air missiles to Iran in exchange for oil. Such parts are a critical military need for Tehran after its air defense network was severely damaged by Israeli missiles. The Chinese Embassy in Israel denied the reports, stating that China firmly opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and does not export arms to countries at war. But China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the alleged transfer. As an expert specializing in China's grand strategy, I think it is highly possible that China would offer Iran military support while denying it publicly. Such plausible deniability would allow Beijing to assert military influence and showcase some of its hardware, while deflecting international criticism and preserving diplomatic flexibility. But the tactic works only so far. As indirect evidence accumulates, as many suggest is happening, such covert action may gradually develop into an open secret – leading to what scholars term 'implausible deniability,' where denial is no longer credible even if it is still officially maintained. Although Beijing has consistently said it is neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in 2022, China has, in practice, quietly supported Russia. In part, that is because China shares the same strategic goal of challenging the Western-led international order. Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that Beijing cannot afford to see Russia lose the war in Ukraine. He was said to have warned that a Russian defeat would likely bring the full force of US strategic pressure to bear on China. From Beijing's perspective, Moscow plays a vital role in keeping the West preoccupied, offering China valuable strategic breathing room by diverting American attention and resources away from the Asia-Pacific region. Beyond deepening trade relations that have become a lifeline for Moscow's economy under Western sanctions, China has reportedly supplied Russia with large quantities of dual-use goods – goods that can be used for civilian and military purposes – to enhance both Moscow's offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as to boost China's military-industrial production. Beijing has also allegedly provided satellite imagery to assist Russia on the battlefield. While the US and Europe have repeatedly tried to call out China for aiding Russia militarily, Beijing has consistently denied such claims. Most recently, on April 18, 2025, Ukraine formally accused China of directly supporting Russia and slapped sanctions on three Chinese-based firms that Kyiv said was involved in weapons production for the Russian war effort. In what has become a common refrain, China's Foreign Ministry rejected the Ukrainian accusation, reaffirming that China has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and reiterating its official stance of promoting a ceasefire and peace negotiations. Beijing has long presented itself as a neutral party in the India-Pakistan conflict, too, and has called for restraint on both sides and urged peaceful dialogue. But in practice, China is allied with Pakistan. And the direct military support it has provided to Lahore appears driven by China's desire to curb India's regional influence, counterbalance the growing US–India strategic partnership and protect the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, a massive bilateral infrastructure project. In the latest flare-up between India and Pakistan in May, Pakistan deployed Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets in combat for the first time, reportedly downing five Indian aircraft. Pakistan's air defense relied heavily on Chinese equipment during the short conflict, deploying Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems, air-to-air missiles, advanced radar systems and drones for reconnaissance and strike operations. Overall, more than 80% of Pakistan's military imports have come from China in the past five years. In what would be a far more stark example of military support if proven true, the deputy chief of India's army alleged that China had provided Pakistan with real-time intelligence on Indian troop movements during the conflict. When asked to respond, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they had no knowledge of the matter. They reaffirmed that China's ties with Pakistan are not directed against any third party and reiterated Beijing's long-standing position in favor of a peaceful resolution to any India-Pakistan dispute. Similar to Russia and Pakistan, Iran has increasingly been viewed as a partner to China. In 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-year, US$400 billion comprehensive cooperation agreement that covered trade, energy and security, signaling the depth of their strategic relationship. The accord was indicative of the strategic value Beijing places on Iran. From Beijing's perspective, Tehran presents a counterbalance to the influence of the US and its allies – especially Israel and Saudi Arabia – in the region and helps divert Western resources and attention away from China. But recently, Tehran's position in the region has become far weaker. Not only has its air defense infrastructure suffered badly in the confrontations with Israel, but its regional proxies and allies – Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria – have either been devastated by Israel or collapsed altogether. Under these circumstances, it is strategically compelling for Beijing to provide support to Tehran in order to maintain regime stability. Indeed, Beijing has frequently circumvented sanctions on Iranian energy, with an estimated 90% of Iran's oil exports still going to China. Although Beijing did not extend any substantive support to Iran during the 12-day war, reports have abounded since that Iran is looking to China as an alternative supplier of its defense needs. The thinking here is that Russia, Tehran's traditional military partner, is no longer able to provide sufficient, quality defense equipment to Iran. Some influential social media posters in China have gone as far as advocating for direct military sales by Beijing. If China does do this, I believe it is likely to follow the same playbook it has used elsewhere by denying involvement publicly while covertly providing assistance. Doing so allows China to maintain diplomatic ties with Iran's regional rivals, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously benefiting from a turbulent Middle East that distracts Washington and grants Beijing strategic breathing room. China's use of plausible deniability reflects a broader strategic ambition. Namely, it wants to assert influence in key regional conflicts without triggering open backlash. By quietly supporting partners while maintaining a facade of neutrality, Beijing aims to undermine Western dominance, stretch US strategic focus and secure its own interests – and all while avoiding the risks and responsibilities of open military alignment. Linggong Kong is a PhD candidate in political science at Auburn University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
RTHK
14 hours ago
- RTHK
New round of China-US tariff talks next week: Bessett
New round of China-US tariff talks next week: Bessett Scott Bessent says trade with China was in "a very good place". File photo: Reuters US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he will meet his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week for tariff talks, as a mid-August deadline for levies to snap back to steeper levels approaches. Bessent told Fox Business that trade with China was in "a very good place", and the meetings in the Swedish capital will take place next Monday and Tuesday. "I think we've actually moved to a new level with China, where it's very constructive and... we're going to be able to get a lot of things done now that trade has kind of settled in at a good level," he said. That will be the third round of high-level negotiations to work out what he said would be a likely extension of the August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Beijing has not commented on Bessent's remarks on the talks. While a previous tariff truce was focused on restarting the flow of Chinese rare earth metals and US semiconductor software and materials, Bessent said that in Stockholm, Trump administration officials would discuss other issues, including reducing China's over-reliance on manufacturing and exports. Earlier this year, Beijing and Washington slapped escalating, tit-for-tat levies on each other's exports, reaching triple-digit levels, stalling trade between the world's two biggest economies as tensions surged. But after top officials met in Geneva, both sides agreed to temporarily lower the tariff levels in a de-escalation set to expire next month. Bassett also said the US was poised to announce "a rash of trade deals" with other countries, and Japan could be among these despite an election setback for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and difficult negotiations. "I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't able to iron out something with Japan pretty quickly," he said. (Reuters/AFP)
HKFP
19 hours ago
- HKFP
China probes former Tibet leader over bribes, ‘superstitious activities'
Chinese authorities have removed a former leader of Tibet from office over alleged crimes including taking bribes and engaging in 'superstitious activities', the country's top anti-corruption bodies said Tuesday. Qizhala — who was governor of the western region from 2017 to 2021 — was dismissed over 'serious violations of discipline', a statement said, a common euphemism for corruption. He had most recently served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's main political advisory body. Beijing's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission said Qizhala 'betrayed' his original mission by accepting bribes and misusing public funds to host illegal banquets. He also colluded with business owners to secure favourable contracts and engaged in 'superstitious activities' over a long period, they said. His family were also accused of using his official position for personal gain. Ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members are banned from participating in 'superstitious activities' — including some religious practices that 'erode' a cadre's loyalties. Religion is tightly controlled in Tibet, where Chinese troops in 1959 crushed an uprising in the capital forcing its spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to flee. United Nations experts have raised alarm at Chinese government policies allegedly aimed at assimilating Tibetan people culturally, religiously and linguistically. Last week, a court in Beijing handed a suspended death sentence to Wu Yingjie, the head of the CCP in the region from 2016 to 2021, for taking bribes worth almost $50 million. Wu was expelled from the party in December, also over 'serious violations of discipline.' President Xi Jinping has overseen a wide-ranging campaign against official graft since coming to power over a decade ago. Critics say it also serves as a way to purge political rivals.
