Taiwan sees arrest of six Hong Kong journalists as China's crackdown on free speech

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and island's largest opposition party have criticised China over Hong Kong police raid on city’s pro-democracy online media outlet Stand News and arrest of six journalists for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. Island’s agency in charge of cross-strait affairs, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said that raid and arrests were just latest measures taken by China’s Communist regime to suppress press freedom in former British colony. 

Tsai Ing-Wen said in a statement shared on Twitter that arrests of journalists including singer Denise Ho “are yet anor example of Beijing authorities' crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong. We in Taiwan regret to see ir detention & call on international community to stand up for freedom & democracy” in city. 

ditionally, MAC noted that Stand News offices were raided despite stipulations in Hong Kong’s Basic Law that ensure residents of special ministrative region freedom of speech, press and publication. In press release, agency ded that latest clampdown on pro-democracy media in Hong Kong is proof of hypocrisy of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ ministrative formula under which city returned to Chinese rule. 

Taiwan’s government condemned all forms of misconduct in suppressing human rights as well as freedom in Hong Kong and urged involved parties to stop serving as accomplices of Beijing. Taiwan’s criticism came after Stand News office was raided, six journalists were arrested over ‘sedition’ and forced non-profit media outlet to shut down. 

US denounces 'unjust' arrest of six Hong Kong journalists

Apart from Taiwan, United States also denounced Hong Kong journalists’ arrests and termed it as ‘unjust’ while noting that “journalism is not sedition”. In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for immediate release of media personnel who have been “unjustly detained and charged”.

Blinken also noted that freedom of expression and access to information “provided by an independent media is critical to prosperous and secure societies.” Denouncing arrests, US Secretary of State said that by “silencing” independent media, China and city’s local authorities “undermine Hong Kong’s credibility and viability. A confident government that is unafraid of truth embraces a free press.”

latest crackdown of independent media in semi-autonomous region witnessed Hong Kong Police on 29 December held six persons, including senior staff of an online pro-democracy media outlet, Stand News allegedly for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. news outlet is now shut down. According to a Hong Kong Free Press report, more than 200 national security police officers were deployed to raid offices of non-profit online news outlet. 

(IMAGE: AP)