Latest news with #ChineseNationals
South China Morning Post
20 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
2 Chinese men arrested in South Korea for using drone to film naval base
Two Chinese men have been arrested in the South Korean city of Busan for using a drone to illegally film a naval base, including a visiting US aircraft carrier, amid fears of such incidents occurring more regularly and threatening national security. Advertisement One of the men, in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of undertaking an action 'benefiting an enemy by other methods', South Korean police said on Thursday. It marked the first time that South Korea has arrested a foreigner on such a charge and follows a series of incidents of unauthorised surveillance at sensitive South Korean military and other sites involving Chinese nationals, with at least five such incidents reported since the start of last year. 'This is a serious national security violation, particularly in light of the growing number of incidents involving foreign nationals illegally filming key infrastructure and military facilities,' South Korean police said, according to a report by The Chosun Daily. 'We will continue to respond firmly and decisively to deter similar offences in the future.' Advertisement The suspects, who are graduate exchange students at Busan University, allegedly flew a Chinese-made drone near the base of the Korean Fleet Command between March 2023 and June 2024 on nine occasions, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bots pushed anti-China narrative ahead of Ghana mining ban
The West African nation has long been home to an informal artisanal mining sector. (EPA Images pic) ABUJA : Before Ghana banned foreigners from its gold trade earlier this year, an online bot campaign pushed anti-Chinese sentiment, blaming Chinese nationals for exploiting the country and stealing its resources. The West African nation has long been home to an informal artisanal mining sector. However, recent years have seen foreign investors – including many Chinese nationals – bring in industrial equipment and operate without permits or regard for the environment, leading to accusations of land grabbing and the serious degradation of waterways. In April, the government took steps to rein in the 'galamsey' – as illegal mining is known – by banning foreigners from trading in Ghana's local gold markets and granting exclusive authority to do so to a new state body, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). The move was seen as sending a major signal to foreign mining operators – especially Chinese ones. However, ahead of the ban, fake accounts impersonating real Ghanaians on X had been pushing a coordinated effort to link China to galamsey explicitly for at least nine months, accounts seen by AFP and reviewed by disinformation experts show. Such campaigns have become common around the world to try to influence real-life politics. Who was behind the push remains unclear. While Chinese nationals have been blamed for the mining crisis, the role of Ghanaians went mostly unacknowledged in the posts, even though many of the country's political elite have been accused of direct involvement or complicity. 'Corruption be big wahala (problem) for here – look at galamsey, when Chinese come inside, everything change sharp,' said one typical post in Ghanaian Pidgin English, which researchers contacted by AFP identified as written by a bot. 'We for keep eye on them, no let them steal we gold like they done in other countries,' they said. Another accused Chinese companies of wanting to 'exploit we (our) resources and leave we (our) people with nothing'. Disinformation experts contacted by AFP identified 38 accounts involved in the push – 'though there are likely far more', said Darren Linvill, a professor at Clemson University. Competing interests Almost all of the bots flagged by Linvill and his colleague Patrick Warren appeared to have stopped posting about galamsey by March, just ahead of the April ban. Many have since been deleted. One typical phrasing had been repeated by various bots since July 2024, a search on X showed – but stopped being used completely just hours after the rule was passed. 'China's role is significant, but it would be misleading to scapegoat foreigners alone,' said Senyo Hosi, an anti-galamsey campaigner. Grace Ansah-Akrofi, a police spokeswoman, said that officers have been 'vigilant and proactive in detecting and dismantling digital networks engaged in disinformation', but did not provide details on the bot campaign specifically. The Ghanaian government and the Chinese embassy did not respond to a request for comment. If the campaign was affiliated with the government, it would have had to span rival administrations: John Mahama was elected president in December after running for the opposition against incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo. Rabiu Alhassan, director of FactSpace West Africa, an Accra-based fact-checking and disinformation research group, cautioned that many international and domestic players have mining interests in Ghana. He also pointed out that Ghana lies just south of the volatile Sahel region, where Russia, the West and other foreign powers have jockeyed for influence. Hot sauce and football The accounts also posted about hot sauce, a British football team and Russia's role in the conflict in Mali. Given the diverse targets, they are likely bots for hire, Linvill said – alhough attacking both Russia and China is 'unique'. Linvill also said that the campaign shed light on a 'blind spot' when it comes to disinformation and influence campaigns, where researchers often focus on Chinese, Russian and Iranian campaigns against Westerners. 'However, Westerners are not targeted nearly as much as non-Westerners,' he said. The most common culprits behind influence campaigns, he added, are governments trying to sway their own people. In May, the GoldBod announced its first arrests of foreign nationals since the ban. All the men in the group were from India.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
EU prosecutors uncover criminal scheme involving Chinese imports via Greece
June 26 (Reuters) - European prosecutors have uncovered a criminal scheme involving false documentation of Chinese imports to Europe through the Greek port of Piraeus that defrauded authorities of about 700 million euros ($820 million) in lost customs duties and VAT revenue. The investigation carried out by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) spans 14 EU countries and involved raids in Greece, Spain, France and Bulgaria, the EPPO said in a statement on Thursday. Ten suspects were arrested, including two customs officers during more than 100 searches conducted at the offices of customs brokers and other locations on Wednesday. Law enforcement agents seized thousands of e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as 480 containers for further checks and verification in the Port of Piraeus, with freezing orders issued to seize real estate, boats and bank accounts. Some 5.8 million euros in different currencies were seized, including 4.75 million euros in Greece, as well as several firearms and other weapons seized in the houses of three of the suspects. Eleven properties in Spain were also seized, as well as 27 vehicles and luxury items, the EPPO said. The EPPO said the scheme involved several criminal networks mainly controlled by Chinese nationals who handled Chinese imports into the EU, their distribution and sales, as well as money laundering and sending the profits back to China, the EPPO said. After the goods from China arrive in the EU, mainly through the port of Piraeus, they are undervalued or misclassified to evade custom duties, cleared by customs brokers and sold to companies in other EU states through the scheme designed to avoid the VAT payment, the EPPO said. It added that the criminal organisations under investigation produce the false invoices and transport documents to conceal the real destination of the goods, and recruit a network of sham companies that sell the products at very competitive prices, since VAT remains unpaid and customs duties and anti-dumping fees are largely evaded. ($1 = 0.8541 euros)
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Two Chinese men arrested in South Korea filming US carrier
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested for illegally flying drones to film a South Korean naval base and a visiting US aircraft carrier docked in the port city of Busan, local police said Thursday. South Korea finds itself in the middle of a growing superpower standoff between the United States, its traditional security guarantor, and China, its largest trade partner but also a key ally of North Korea. The two men - identified as international students in Busan - were arrested on Wednesday, charged with injuring the military interests of South Korea and violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act, according to the Busan Metropolitan Police. It is the first time foreign nationals have been detained on such charges, they said. 'Two Chinese individuals were arrested yesterday for illegally filming a naval base and a US aircraft carrier,' an official from the Busan police told AFP. 'A third Chinese individual is also currently being investigated without detention,' he added. South Korean police believe the detained suspects -- one in his 40s and the other in his 30s -- used drones and mobile phones to illegally film the Republic of Korea Fleet Command in Busan, which is responsible for and oversees the South Korean navy's operation and training. They are also accused of illicitly filming the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a US aircraft carrier docked in the port city for joint operations, and of conducting unauthorized filming on nine occasions between March 2023 and June 2024. Their most recent activity took place on June 25, 2024, when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol visited the aircraft carrier and met with South Korean and US troops, according to Busan police. The illegally obtained materials reportedly included 172 photos and 22 video files, some of which were sahred without authorization on social media platforms including TikTok. Busan police also said the suspects used drones manufactured by a Chinese company. The model in question reportedly requires users to register through the company's app before use, during which all data is believed to be transmitted to servers located in China. Last month, South Korea fined Chinese e-commerce giant Temu nearly $1 million for illegally transferring Korean users' personal information to China and other countries.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Move over, Musang King? Durian scene spikes in Malaysia as it savours markets beyond China
In the world of durians, Malaysia 's Musang King may reign supreme, but a new wave of contenders is emerging. From the creamy Black Thorn and Red Prawn to the sweet Hajah Hasmah, the government is championing lesser-known premium varieties to capture growing international demand. Other established types like Sultan and Tekka are also seeing interest, offering the fruit at a more accessible price and broadening Malaysia's footprint in the global durian market. Agriculture Department director general Nor Sam Alwi said Musang King and Bukit Merah are the main varieties recommended for export due to their rich, creamy texture and strong flavour, but efforts are under way to highlight other premium types such as Black Thorn, Red Prawn and Hajah Hasmah. 'These varieties are being evaluated for future certification and export readiness, based on their potential in terms of taste, texture, shelf life and suitability for long-distance shipping,' she said. Nor Sam said that Chinese nationals, in particular, are willing to pay premium prices for these varieties.
