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Japan Forward
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Election Success for Chinese-born Critic of Japan's China Policy
このページを 日本語 で読む In Japan's House of Councillors election on July 20, it was confirmed the following day that Seki Hei, a 63-year-old political commentator and first-time candidate, had secured a seat. He ran under the proportional representation system as a candidate for Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party). Seki Hei is also a JAPAN Forward contributor with his own column, China Watch. Born in China, Seki faced a barrage of abuse over his candidacy. But throughout the campaign, he stood firm, declaring he would not "succumb to slander." Seki was born in 1962 in Sichuan Province. He became disillusioned with the Chinese government following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, and later cut ties with China mentally and ideologically. In 2007, he became a naturalized Japanese citizen. People march through central London on June 4, 2023, to mourn the victims of the Tiananmen Massacre in China 34 years earlier. (© Kyodo) During the campaign, Seki called for constitutional reform, a tougher stance on China, stricter naturalization laws, and stronger measures to curb mass immigration. All of this, he said, was "to protect Japan." He initially announced his candidacy with Ishin in February 2025 but withdrew after facing a wave of slander and personal attacks. However, he later reversed course, saying, "I realized I must not give in to slander," and decided to run after all. When Seki re-declared his candidacy in June, he pointed to Japan's China policy, especially under the leadership of Shigeru Ishiba, as a major concern. "Japanese politics isn't responding," he said. "It's unbearable to watch. I felt I had no choice but to step up." As for why he chose to run with Ishin, Sekii explained that the party's platform matched his own views. He added that Osaka Governor and Ishin leader Hirofumi Yoshimura shared his concerns about China's growing hegemonic threat to Japan. Author: The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mysterious Vehicles Rolling Through Beijing Spur Speculation Of New Chinese Tank
A column of unidentified vehicles, each of them covered by a notably large, box-like structure, passing through the Chinese capital recently, poses something of a mystery. At this stage, we know next to nothing about what kinds of vehicles are concealed beneath these bizarre carapaces, although it's more than conceivable that they have some military or military-related purpose, with some observers suggesting they could be a new type of tank or other armored vehicle. Nevertheless, in the absence of more imagery or details, we cannot say for sure. China to unveil mystery tank at September 3 military parade marking victory over militarist Japan—spotted using unusual camouflage. — Clash Report (@clashreport) July 10, 2025 The vehicles appeared in a video that recently began to circulate on social media, and which seems to have originated on the Chinese social networking platform Xiaohongshu. It was then reportedly removed from there. The date of the footage is unknown, but it is thought to be recent. The location is said to be near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, which would make sense if these vehicles were related to some sort of military parade. Tanks were spotted being transported under a camouflage shell near Tiananmen Square on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing. The shells were labeled "Road Inspection Vehicle," identical to the text on the first large truck that passed. This video first appeared on the Chinese video… — Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferzeng97) July 9, 2025 At least four of the odd-looking vehicles are seen moving, at night, along a portion of an apparently closed-off road. Each of the vehicles, with their blue-painted coverings, is closely accompanied by a standard truck. It's possible that those white trucks are serving to further conceal the covered vehicles from closer inspection, although that cannot be confirmed. They may also be close by to provide additional instructions to the drivers of the mystery vehicles, as well as illuminating the road with their headlamps. The dimensions of the boxy blue structures are such that there is no way of actually determining what kind of vehicle is hidden below. Furthermore, rubber skirts around the bottom of the structure mean we can't say for sure if the concealed vehicles feature wheels or tracks, although the rumbling sound is more consistent with a heavy military vehicle, armored or otherwise. The size and dimensions, as well as the locations of various apertures, also point to an armored vehicle of some kind. A small aperture at the rear of the structure indicates that at least some of the internal area is illuminated, which is unusual since the open area at the front of the vehicle doesn't appear to be lit, or if so, only dimly. The writing on the sides of the mystery vehicles reads 'Road Inspection Vehicle,' although there is no obvious type that appears to match this description. On the other hand, the first standard blue truck seen passing in the video has the same writing on it and would seem to fit this purpose. While it remains possible that the mystery vehicles are somehow related to roadworks, the idea of this being a (literal) cover for some other kind of vehicle seems more likely at this time. Indeed, at least one social media description identified the hidden vehicles as tanks, although it's not clear if this is based on eyewitness accounts or if it's more like guesswork. There is also speculation that, whatever these vehicles are, they may be related in some way to an upcoming military parade scheduled for Sept. 3. This will take place in Tiananmen Square and will commemorate the 80th anniversary of China's victory in World War II. Wu Zeke, deputy director-general of the Operation Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, has said that this parade will include 'new-type combat capabilities' as well as traditional combat forces. In the past, events like these have seen the Chinese government put a large amount of previously unseen weapons and other hardware on display, including new mockups of stealthy uncrewed combat air vehicles, examples of high-speed rocket-powered reconnaissance drones, new bombers capable of carrying outsized payloads, and much more. We may well be in for more of the same come September. Perhaps, these mystery vehicles do conceal some new and previously unseen kind of combat vehicle, or other military equipment, destined to make its public debut later this year. If that's the case, the considerable effort that has been taken to hide (at least four of) them from prying eyes is very noteworthy. It's also somewhat odd that a rehearsal for an event in September would take place so early, although far from impossible. China unveiling a next-generation tank, for example, would be very much in line with what we have come to expect from parades like this. Once again, there could also be a much more innocuous explanation, too. In the meantime, if you have any information about these mysterious trucks, let us know! Contact the author: thomas@ Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
An Owego restaurant owner was detained by ICE. The community raised $15K for his family
Roger Huang, 50, owner of Kam Fung Chinese restaurant in the Village of Owego, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 16. An ICE spokesperson said in an email statement July 17 that Huang, identified by ICE as Kong Xiong Wang, was originally born in China and entered the United States with "a fraudulent document" at the Miami International Airport in 1993. After his arrival in the U.S., he was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge and failed to show up for his court hearing. A judge issued him a final order in 1994, and the appeal was denied in 1995. "He has exhausted all due process and has no legal remedies left to pursue," the spokesperson said. More: For Newark Valley residents, flash floods 'destroyed everything in sight' What happened to Roger Huang Kevin Millar, of Owego, created a GoFundMe campaign with the proceeds going toward Roger Huang's family for legal fees and his bail bond. According to Millar, Huang was detained by ICE officers when he arrived to a scheduled appointment to finalize his green card application process. Huang has been registered with ICE since 2012 and has met all of the requirements, Millar said. He has been living in the country for 33 years after fleeing political persecution after the unrest around the time of the Tiananmen Square protests in China. Huang has been a resident and business owner in Owego since 1996, working seven days a week at his restaurant and taking care of his two daughters, according to the GoFundMe. He is an active member of Owego Church of the Nazarene and he regularly volunteers and delivers meals to the homebound for Tioga Opportunities Inc. "Those trying to help are walking on eggshells since it seems that ICE has no set rules," Millar said. "What may help one day could hurt the next." According to the ICE spokesperson, immigrants are currently being offered $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport. "We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream," she said. "If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return." As of July 17, the GoFundMe has raised $15,340, surpassing the $15,000 goal set to support Huang and his family. "'Am I my brother's keeper?' emphasizes the importance of community, solidarity and mutual support, especially for those who are vulnerable or marginalized," Millar said on the GoFundMe page. "At this time Roger, as a member of our community, needs the community's support in the form of donations." This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Owego restaurant owner detained by ICE, $15K raised for family Solve the daily Crossword
Japan Forward
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Facing the Invisible Tank: A Dentist Charged for Remembering Tiananmen
In this five-part series, JAPAN Forward profiles individuals in Hong Kong who resist the sweeping effects of the National Security Law. Part 4 tells the story of dentist Lee Ying-chi, who faces charges for commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre online. Drawing on her experiences — from providing medical aid in China to supporting victims' families in Hong Kong — Lee offers a rare insight into the challenges faced by those whose voices are being silenced. As I stepped out of the building, I caught a glimpse of a shadow slipping by. I turned the corner into a narrow alley and stopped short. A man who had been tailing me brushed past. His face was blank, but his eyes gave him away. He flinched slightly, surprised I had stopped. I watched him walk off. "Well, someone's working hard," I muttered with a wry smile. Still, I was rattled. It was one thing to know the woman I had just met was under surveillance. Now it seemed I had become a target too. I met dentist Lee Ying-chi in a rundown building in Kowloon. She was arrested in May 2024 on suspicion of violating Hong Kong's Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and is currently out on bail. A devout Christian, she was charged for a social media post commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Authorities deemed it seditious, accusing her of inciting hatred toward the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The ordinance, enacted in March 2024, was introduced to supplement the Hong Kong National Security Law. If convicted, Lee faces up to seven years in prison. A woman commemorating the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown is taken away by security officials in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay on June 4, 2023. (©Kyodo) "Honestly, on July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong was handed back from Britain to China, I was happy," Lee told me. "I thought we were finally returning to our homeland." Lee studied medicine in Hong Kong and New Zealand. Since 1998, she had worked on medical aid projects in Kunming, China. She saw herself unquestionably as Chinese. But her perspective began to shift during the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, which struck while she was living in Kunming. "The way the Chinese media and Hong Kong media covered it was completely different," she said. Through Hong Kong newspapers online, she learned — shocked — that collapsed schools and dead children were the result of substandard construction. Grieving mothers were demanding answers. When she returned to Hong Kong in 2009, she joined a protest march calling for truth about Tiananmen. She thought of the mothers and wives of the victims who were still asking why their loved ones had to die. Their pain echoed what she had witnessed in Sichuan. Lee soon began supporting the families of Tiananmen victims. As June 4 approached this year — the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre — Lee realized she was being followed. While out, she was frequently surrounded by police and had her belongings searched. Officers warned her, "Don't go to Causeway Bay. If you do, it's a year in prison." Causeway Bay is home to Victoria Park, where Tiananmen memorial vigils had been held for over 30 years. But since the National Security Law took effect in 2020, police have shut down the gatherings. On June 4, 2025, Lee rode a tram past Victoria Park. "I didn't go in," she said. "I just passed by." It was a quiet act of defiance. Later that evening, she went to a waterfront area overlooking the lights of Hong Kong Island. The place was crowded with Chinese tourists. Rain began to fall. Lee pulled a recorder from her bag. Just after 7 PM, she played Flowers of Freedom , a protest song once sung during the Victoria Park vigils: But there is a dream, it will not die, remember it No matter how hard the rain falls, freedom still will bloom There is a dream, it will not die, remember this She didn't sing aloud — only in her heart. As she stood there, she thought about Hong Kong's future and how quickly the city was being absorbed into China. Lee once told a friend who had emigrated, "Don't feel sorry for those of us who stayed in Hong Kong. I'm not alone. I'm walking this path with others — my fellow travelers [同路人]." Reporters and police gathered in front of the court where the trial of pro-democracy activists was held for violating the Hong Kong National Security Law. May 30, 2024, Hong Kong. (©Kyodo) She had often worked with the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats. The party officially disbanded on June 29, 2025. Even with it gone, she remains a fellow traveler with its former members. Her commitment, she said, hasn't changed. During our interview, I noticed a tattoo on Lee's arm. When I asked about it, she smiled brightly. Inked in slangy Cantonese were the words: "I freaking love Hong Kong!" The phrase first appeared on a banner on July 1, 2020 — the day after the National Security Law came into effect. As the city slipped into darkness, the words rose up from the streets. Not a polished slogan, but something raw and desperate from the heart. In the years since, many people have buried those feelings deep inside. But Lee etched them onto her skin. As a Hong Konger, she refuses to forget the dream that will never die. ( Read the article in Japanese . ) Author: Kinya Fujimoto, The Sankei Shimbun
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Xi Jinping missing? No need to read too much into it
Written by Gunjan Singh The global media is abuzz with speculation about the future of Xi Jinping because of his absence from public view between May 21 to June 5. Further intensifying rumours, Xi decided to skip the BRICS summit. Given the opacity that surrounds the functioning of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), such speculation is recurrent. Similar rumours were floated in 2012, exactly a year before he became President, and during the Covid 19 pandemic. Xi has continued to rule for the last 13 years with a total grip on power. There has been no scope for dissent. Scholars and policymakers have relentlessly tried to get a peek into Xi Jinping's thoughts. Xi has been very clear about his idea of China and the CCP. He has consistently pushed for centralised control. He has totally abandoned Deng Xiaoping's dictum, 'Hide your strength and bide your time'. Xi has also purged a large number of opponents via the anti-corruption drive, targeting 'tigers and flies' alike. His current absence follows the removal of top Chinese military leadership. The inner workings of the CCP continue to be elusive, even more so under Xi. Even after decades of globalisation, the world fails to understand the CCP and its leadership. Recall Bill Clinton's optimism after the introduction of the internet to China and the hope of it moving towards political freedom. He famously stated that trying to control the internet would be equivalent to 'nailing Jell-O to the wall'. But the CCP has done it. Xi Jinping's absence could be due to something as mundane as a health issue, something which Chinese leaders do not like to make public, as it is perceived as a show of weakness, which can lead to instability. But he could just as well be taking time for strategy and policy. Before his historic 1992 Southern Tour, Deng Xiaoping had totally withdrawn himself from the public eye. This was after Tiananmen Square and the global backlash that followed. Xi is facing a number of challenges domestically as well as internationally. The growth rate is low, and unemployment is rising. The ongoing trade war has continued to aggravate the domestic situation. He chaired a meeting on June 30 of a 24-member politburo committee, which supposedly reviewed 'new regulations on the party's institution'. What these are will only be clear once the CCP decides to make it public. The party runs the country, and Xi Jinping runs the party, at least. With more than 100 million members by the end of 2024, the CCP is the second-largest political party in the world. China is one of the few countries in the world in which the communist party, albeit with an iron hand, has thrived in the 21st century. It has lifted millions out of poverty and made China the economic and military powerhouse that it is today. All this is not only due to centralised command but also because of its ability to adapt. With this backdrop, speculating too much about Xi's control over matters just because of his absence is bound to be a lazy, inaccurate analysis. The writer is Associate Professor, OP Jindal Global University
