Political situation
Written by: Lin Jian
2020-08-10 13:15
Last update date: 2020-08-10 13:16This morning (10th), the police arrested the founder of Next Media Li Zhiying, his two sons and four senior officials of Next Media for allegedly violating the "Hong Kong National Security Act" and investigated them in the Next Media Building. This is the first time that the authorities have used the National Security Act. Search media organizations.
Li Zhiying has long been a "nail in the eye" of Beijing. Last year, he was bombarded by the Central Political and Legal Committee as the leader of the "gang of four". He has been to the United States many times to meet with officials in the past. One Media under his banner is now the most important democracy in Hong Kong. Send media. Outsiders are concerned whether the arrest is related to the sanctions on 11 Chinese and Hong Kong officials announced by the US Treasury Department last Friday.
Liu Zhaojia, vice president of the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association, believes that such arrests and searches require a long period of deployment and evaluation of external reactions, and therefore may not be directly related to the sanctions announced by the United States last Friday. However, he believes that dealing with anti-China forces at home and abroad is itself part of Beijing’s national policy. As the United States sanctions Chinese and Hong Kong officials and strengthens its suppression of China, China’s suppression of local opposition forces in Hong Kong will also accelerate. He believes similar enforcement actions will continue. Come.
Official media have repeatedly criticized Li Zhiying for "anti-China chaos in Hong Kong" and Martin Lee as "Gang of Four"
Since the founding of Next Media in the 1990s, Li Zhiying has always been regarded as one of the key figures of the democrats, and one of the main donors of the mainstream democratic parties. He is often criticized by the pro-Chinese and related media. In August last year, the Central Political and Legal Committee named "Fourteen crimes against the Gang of Four in Hong Kong" by name and criticized Li Zhiying, former Chief Secretary for Administration Chen Fang Ansheng, Democratic Party Founding Party Chairman Martin Lee, and former Chairman He Junren as "a curse". Gang of Four in Hong Kong."
The article stated that Li Zhiying is the leader of the "Gang of Four" and the "main sponsor of the opposition." With the help of Next Media's Anglo-American political forces, he continues to intervene in Hong Kong affairs. Whenever there is an opposition activity, he will stir up public sentiment. The article specifically named Li Zhiying’s assistant Mark Simon, saying that he had served as a US naval intelligence agent and questioned his representative’s contact with the United States and made several donations to the United States. It is reported that Mark Simon is currently wanted by the police.
It’s worth noting that CCTV broadcast a documentary "Another Hong Kong" this year, detailing the ins and outs that led to the anti-revision movement last year. The "Gang of Four" was mentioned again, and Li Zhiying criticized Li Zhiying for "long-term funding of anti-China chaos in Hong Kong." The media "incited illegal street political movements."
Li Zhiying contacts foreign countries from time to time. He visited the United States in July last year and was received by US Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Pompeo. Next Media’s "Apple News" has launched an English version in recent months. Li Zhiying makes political comments in English from time to time. Political circles generally believe this is aimed at overseas English readers and expands international influence.
CCTV broadcast the documentary "Another Hong Kong" in May this year, describing Li Zhiying, Martin Li and others as "gang of four." (Screenshot of "Another Hong Kong")
Tu Jinshen questioned political revenge Liu Zhaojia: law enforcement is coming
Democratic Party legislator Tu Jinshen believes that Next Media has always been regarded as a "nail in the eye" by Beijing. The police used the "Hong Kong National Security Act" to arrest Li Zhiying and search the "Apple Daily" within a short period of time when the United States announced the sanctions, criticizing this as being Beijing instigated the retaliatory action of the SAR government. He also believes that the police search of media organizations is affecting press freedom and creating a chilling effect.
Liu Zhaojia analyzed that such arrests generally require a period of preparation, with long-term and detailed deployment, clear legal basis, and full evaluation of external reactions; and implement the Central National Security Work, suppress domestic and foreign anti-China forces, and stop official or unofficial US forces in Hong Kong The political activities of institutions in Hong Kong are themselves part of the central state policy. Therefore, the arrests and the sanctions imposed by the United States a few days ago may not be directly related.
However, he pointed out that with the US sanctions, it can be seen that the US has stepped up its crackdown on China, and the cooperation of local pro-US forces with foreign forces is something Beijing believes must be suppressed. Liu Zhaojia believes that similar enforcement actions will continue, and the US sanctions will obviously accelerate the pace of related actions.
Liu Zhaojia pointed out that the enforcement of this time may not be directly related to US sanctions, but I believe that US actions against China will speed up China's suppression of opposing forces in Hong Kong. (Profile picture)
Li Zhiying was arrested | Police officers once told reporters Li Guihua: News materials will not be searched
Li Zhiying arrested | The Democratic Party denounces the chilling effect of high-pressure methods, saying that press freedom is at stake
Li Zhiying Arrested | Li Zhiying, his two sons, and four senior officials from Next Media were arrested for three crimes
Li Zhiying Hong Kong version of the National Security Act Liu Zhaojia Tu Jinshen sanctions US sanctions
