One of Hong Kong's last opposition parties disbands
Its lawmakers were known for their colorful heckling and symbolic protests in legislative sessions, which included lobbing bananas and fish sandwiches. It is the latest opposition party to cease operating after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 to end democracy protests that had brought the financial hub to a standstill.
"In the face of immense political pressure and after careful deliberation – particularly with regard to the consequences for our members and comrades – we have made the difficult decision to disband," LSD said in a statement. Party chair Chan Po-ying said the decision had been unanimous as the group had "no other choice." Asked if pressure had come from Beijing's middlemen, Chan declined to elaborate.
Democratic dreams dashed
At the height of its popularity in 2008, LSD held just three seats, but it was responsible for helping mainstream a more radical pro-democracy agenda. After the imposition of the national security law, the city's political opposition dwindled, with most democracy campaigners jailed or overseas. The Civic Party closed in 2023 and in February, the Democratic Party began winding down.
Regina Ip, convenor of the Hong Kong government's cabinet, told Agence France-Presse last week that it was a "good thing" that these opposition parties were disbanding. "All these parties have done great damage to Hong Kong and to the proper functioning of the Legislative Council," she said.
Authorities have since overhauled the electoral system to ensure only Beijing loyalists can hold office. Chan said she had no "false hope" of liberalization. "I don't think Hong Kong will go forward to the democratic system in the near future," she said.
According to the party, its bank accounts were closed in 2023, which added to operational difficulties. Six party members have been jailed over the past five years, including Chan's husband and one of LSD's founding members, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung. He remains behind bars after being found guilty of subversion last year in Hong Kong's largest national security trial.
'Domino effect'
Another LSD member jailed in the same case, Jimmy Sham, was released from prison last month. At the press conference, he described the group as Hong Kong's first political party to incorporate LGBTQ+ equality as part of its core platform. "I sincerely hope that in the future, there will still be voices in society that speak out for the marginalized," Sham added.
In recent years, LSD had limited its public activities to a Sunday street booth in a shopping district where a handful of activists handed out flyers while filmed by police. Vice-chairperson Dickson Chau recalled that some passersby would show their support by making small gestures, such as offering him a friendly nod or a beverage.
But operating in the current political environment has taken a personal toll. "These four years, I constantly worry about someone (knocking on) my door to arrest me or do a house search... and when I just walk around the streets, I need to worry, is it a sensitive date?" Chan warned of a "domino effect," saying that her group would not be the last to fold. She urged the public "on the one hand to survive, and on the other hand to try to exercise our rights as citizens."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
18 hours ago
- LeMonde
Japan's political fragilization
The defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the July 20 House of Councillors elections has opened an unprecedented political crisis in Japan. Even though Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has ruled out resigning, citing "the importance of avoiding any disruption to national policy," his position is clearly weakened. The loss of a majority in the upper house of the national legislature, following the setback in the October 2024 general elections, highlights the malaise in a society that appears, on the surface, to be calm. The rise of Sanseito, a small right-wing, populist, xenophobic, anti-globalist and anti-immigration party, is a symptom of that discontent. Against all expectations, and even to the surprise of its own leaders, the small party gained 14 seats in the House of Councillors elections, where it now has 15 out of 248 seats, despite holding only three seats in the lower house. Japanese democracy, whose stability has long surprised observers abroad, could now face the same transformations that have affected democracies in the United States and Europe: a crisis of trust in institutions, the rise of right-wing populism and the spread of disinformation. The LDP, which has held power since 1955 except for two brief intervals in 1993 and between 2009 and 2012, now appears deeply weakened. The party's heterogeneity, bringing together since its creation different strands of the liberal, conservative and nationalist right, has long been its strength. Each strand, represented within the party by different factions, cultivated its own electoral base. The party maintained unity against the opposition by negotiating compromises behind the scenes. This prolonged monopoly has finally worn thin. Anger among the working class Alongside the loss of trust in the LDP among conservative voters – infuriated by repeated scandals such as the 2023 revelation of slush funds, for which those responsible faced only moderate consequences – there has also been anger among the working class, from precariously employed youth to single women. Often living on a shoestring budget, they are all suffering from rising prices. Feeling neglected by the main parties, they are turning to smaller populist parties whose scapegoats are totalitarian globalism and foreigners, whether that means increasing tourism, rising immigration or the mass purchase of real estate, especially by Chinese buyers, made easier by the weak yen. Since Japan regained its sovereignty in 1951, the far right has rarely appeared as such in politics, except marginally in statements by a few conservative figures. Right-wing extremism had been confined to pressure groups such as Nippon Kaigi, whose aim has always been to steer national consciousness toward a form of historical revisionism. The xenophobic rhetoric about a silent invasion by foreigners abusing welfare and causing trouble, now present on the political stage, is not new. Although often virulent, it had previously been confined to social media. Today, it has entered the legislature with Sanseito's Trump-inspired slogan: "Japanese First." In the background, geopolitical stakes are cause for concern: China's hegemonic ambitions, the threat posed by North Korea and Trump's demands regarding tariffs and, no doubt, defense, despite the agreement announced on July 23. Prime Minister Ishiba is invoking these issues to stay in power as long as possible. But his purely defensive stance resolves nothing of substance.
Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
'Liberation Day' 2.0: What's coming and who will feel it the most
After a series of pauses and extensions, the 'Liberation Day' country-specific tariffs unveiled in April are set to snap back into force on 1 August. Aside from a few countries who negotiated deals before the deadline, many nations will see US levies revert to their original rates. The Liberation Day tariffs were announced on 2 April, after President Trump branded the US trade deficit a national emergency. Far more goods were flowing into the country than American products were being sold abroad. By invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Trump proceeded to sign executive orders that imposed what the government branded as "reciprocal tariffs". Namely, they were meant to counteract or reciprocate damaging trade practices and trade barriers. This is despite the fact that many analysts have attributed the US trade deficit to the strength of the dollar and consumer demand for foreign products. Countries like Myanmar and Lesotho had some of the highest tariff rates threatened on 2 April, at 44% and 50% respectively. In terms of trade volume affected and product reliance, countries like China at 34% or the EU bloc at 20% were — however — the biggest shocks to global markets and trade flows. For countries that weren't given a specific rate, a blanket tariff of 10% came into force on 5 April. On 9 April, the reciprocal tariffs were supposed to go into effect. First suspension After the initial announcement sent markets tumbling, Trump signed a 90-day suspension of the higher, country-specific reciprocal tariffs, which was set to expire on 9 July. The 10% baseline tariff based on IEEPA powers stayed in force. China, which had introduced a matching retaliatory tariff of 34% on the US, then got slapped with an additional 50% US tariff on April 9 — one they also then imposed back on the US. At this point, the US rate on Chinese goods came to 84%, not including an extra 20% fentanyl levy. In a tit-for-tat between the two biggest economies in the world, the US then raised the Chinese tariff rate to 145% (including the fentanyl levy). China responded with a total tariff rate of 125%, but said they would ignore future tariff increases. 'Even if the US continues to impose higher tariffs, it will no longer make economic sense and will become a joke in the history of world economy,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry said at the time. On 12 May, an agreement was reached to reduce the tariff rates, bring the US levy on Chinese goods to 30% and the Chinese levy on American goods to 10%. Both sides said they would re-assess the situation after 90 days. Negotiations for a comprehensive agreement are currently underway. Peter Navarro, Trump's counsellor on trade issues, told Time magazine that the US was open to negotiating individual deals with countries and that '90 deals in 90 days' — referring to the 90-day delay windows everyone received — was possible. The country has fallen far short of that, although a number of deals were sealed last-minute. Deals struck so far The UK was the first to secure a trade framework with the US on 16 June that kept the 10% baseline in place, with exceptions for some industries. Vietnam reached a deal on 2 July after facing a rate of 46% in the original "Liberation Day" package. It now faces a 20% tariff, excluding goods that travel through Vietnam from third countries and are destined for the US. Thailand and Cambodia, who struck deals shortly before the deadline, both received a 19% duty, from 36% and 49% respectively. Second suspension A second tariff delay was announced on 9 July, postponing the return of the Liberation Day tariffs until 1 August. Deals were subsequently struck with Indonesia, lowering the tariff rate to 19% from the original 32% rate, and the Philippines struck a preliminary agreement that would lower its rate to 19% as well. Japan and South Korea both announced that trade deals had been reached toward the end of July, both securing rates of 15%. That's a reduction from 24% for Japan and 25% for South Korea. An agreement was reached with Pakistan that would see the US develop its oil reserves in return for lowering the tariff rates to 19%. Previously, Pakistan was subject to a 29% rate. The EU reached an agreement with Trump on 27 July, lowering the rate to 15%. What about pre-Trump trade agreements? The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) was signed by Trump in his first mandate to replace NAFTA, the previous trade agreement between the three countries. On the 1 August, Canada is set to see tariffs on its US exports rise to 35%, although White House officials have suggested the new rate will only apply to goods not covered under the USMCA. Nearly 90% of Canadian goods imported into the US are exempted under the free trade deal. Mexico, meanwhile, was expecting to face a 30% tariff until Trump proposed a 90-day negotiating period on Thursday. Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, said a phone conversation he had with Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum was 'very successful in that, more and more, we are getting to know and understand each other". The Republican president said that goods from Mexico imported into the US would continue to face a 25% tariff that he has ostensibly linked to fentanyl trafficking. He said that autos would face a 25% tariff, while copper, aluminium and steel would be taxed at 50%. He said that Mexico would end its 'Non Tariff Trade Barriers', but he didn't provide specifics. Some goods will continue to be protected from the tariffs by the USMCA. Steel, aluminium, copper, Brazil and India Meanwhile, a 50% universal tariff was imposed on steel and aluminium products on 4 June. The UK faces only a 25% steel and aluminium tariff, and negotiations are underway for that to be possibly lowered further. On 30 July, Trump announced semi-finished copper products such as rods and sheets and copper-intensive products such as cables and electrical components will face a 50% tariff starting on Friday. Ahead of Friday's tariff package, Trump announced that a 25% tariff would be imposed on India along with another unspecified penalty for importing Russian oil and weapons despite US sanctions. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order on Wednesday to place a 50% tariff on Brazil, setting a legal rationale that Brazil's policies and criminal prosecution of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro constitute an economic emergency under a 1977 law. Trump had threatened the tariffs on 9 July in a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But the legal basis of that threat was an earlier executive order premised on trade imbalances being a threat to the US economy. The US nonetheless ran a $6.8 billion (€5.8bn) trade surplus last year with Brazil, according to the US Census Bureau, undermining the original basis for the Liberation Day tariffs. Russia, anyone? Russia was not part of the initial Liberation Day tariffs, a move some saw as an indicator of Trump's alleged soft spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yet due to sanctions that carried over from the administration of President Joe Biden, the trade volume with Russia had dropped significantly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On 14 July, Trump gave Putin a 50-day deadline to broker a ceasefire with Ukraine or else it would face a 100% tariff targeting nations that purchase oil and gas from Russia. During his recent trip to Scotland, he said he was "probably" shortening the deadline to 10-12 days, stating: "Because I think I already know the answer what's going to happen." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a bill in Congress that, if passed, would see countries that import Russian gas, such as India, face a whopping 500% tariff. So what happens on 1 August? Legally, because the previous tariff suspensions were temporary, all countries that have not negotiated a separate trade deal will see their Liberation Day rates re-imposed. For nations not given a country-specific rate, the minimum tariff for imports has been set at 10%, a relief for those who feared that the baseline may double. Trump has also included a 40% penalty for transshipped goods intended to avoid duties.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Fashion Network
Laos industry at risk as US imposes 40% tariffs
Laos, already struggling with high inflation and severe labour shortages, faces the risk of job losses and declining market share due to a 40% US tariff set to take effect this Friday, in the absence of a bilateral agreement, experts warn. This landlocked Southeast Asian nation of 7.6 million people is among those affected by former President Donald Trump 's trade measures. Countries like the UK, Japan and Vietnam have rushed to finalise trade deals ahead of the deadline. Although Laos exports relatively little, a small number of factories—mostly located in the capital, Vientiane—supply the American market, accounting for roughly 3% to 6% of the country's GDP. However, Laos' supply chains are closely tied to China, the United States' main economic rival. According to data from last year, the US has a trade deficit of over $760 million with Laos, prompting Washington to threaten one of the highest tariff surcharges announced by the Trump administration. 'We estimate that around 20,000 workers or more will be affected,' said Xaybandith Rasphone, president of the Lao Garment Industry Association. 'We're not sure of the exact number yet, but it could easily be higher if companies close down,' added Rasphone, who also serves as vice president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Rasphone said that if US customers pull back, 35 to 40 factories may face disruption. 'Finding alternative markets takes time, negotiation and a lot of effort. It could take years.' Like neighbouring Cambodia and Vietnam, Laos is a regional base for garment manufacturing, supplying many Western brands, including Dr. Martens. 'A 40% surtax is simply a nail in the coffin for any sector trying to export to the US,' said John F. Somers of Diep Vu Co, a garment manufacturer. In Vientiane, a local saleswoman who declined to be named said she was 'living from day to day.' She added, 'For the moment, I still have my business and the factory is running as usual,' though she expressed uncertainty about what the US will ultimately decide. From photovoltaics to textiles Production of mattresses, silicone products, and solar panels could also be affected by the tariffs. The solar sector has expanded rapidly in Laos since 2023, fueled in part by Washington's earlier 50% tariff on Chinese solar products. But according to Casey Tolzman, president of the Association of American-Laotian Businesses, this solar 'boom' may have raised suspicions in Washington. US trade authorities have increasingly targeted transhipment schemes—where countries repackage goods made in China for export to the US, bypassing tariffs. A temporary truce, due to expire on August 12, currently sets US tariffs on Chinese products at 30%, while China's tariffs on American goods remain at 10%. The Laotian textile sector is also closely watching the developments. Although the European Union—especially Germany—has been the main destination for Laotian textiles, the US has long been among the top five export markets. In this country of 7.6 million people, the garment industry employs nearly 30,000 workers and represents around 13% of export earnings, excluding natural resources. "Real question" 'One of the big questions for countries like Cambodia and Laos is: what can they offer that's attractive enough to the US to secure a deal?' said Tolzman. 'Any deal would probably require Laos to enforce stricter rules on transhipment and product origin, to ensure that Chinese-made goods aren't simply relabeled as Laotian.' Tolzman added that Washington may also demand action against cybercrime operations targeting American citizens, or ask for greater market access for US products in Laos. Both the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lao American Business Association are reportedly helping Vientiane draft a formal appeal to the US government, requesting the surtax be reduced to previous levels—or capped at 20%. But Somers warned of a deeper threat, regardless of whether a deal is reached. Laos is expected to graduate from the UN list of least developed countries in 2026, which would result in the loss of its duty-free access to the European Union. 'We'll be at a competitive disadvantage; our industry will probably collapse within a few years,' said Somers. 'The real issue is the EU's relationship with Laos, not just what the US does.' (with AFP)
