Beijing’s big bucks billboards display chilling effect on free speech in Australia

Australian Senate candidate Drew Pavlou claims that Australian billboard advertising companies have refused to display his ad campaign out of fear of retaliation by the Chinese government, and that Beijing-funded billboard ads went up instead. Pavlou’s ad was designed to protest against the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics being held in a country with serious human rights issues, and depicted works by Chinese dissident artist Badiucao. Bishopp Outdoor Advertising had agreed to place the ad for $3,000. But yesterday, a representative

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Taiwan’s Hidden Power: How Taiwan can expand its power & role as a beacon of hope

By Colin Hodge A WORRYING TREND & A REASON FOR HOPE Worldwide, there’s a dangerous trend that threatens human rights, freedoms, and democracy. There are rising and emboldened powers working to suppress these freedoms, both inside and outside of their borders, in established democracies and in authoritarian governments alike. As an American, I’ve witnessed the fragility of our rights & democracy over the past few years.  As an American living here, I’ve felt solidarity with my friends in Taiwan, Hong

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Personal information of Taiwanese Hong Kong democracy supporters included on pro-China doxxing website

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today, “severely condemned” the leaking of personal information of at least eight Taiwanese citizens on a website set up to expose the identities of Hong Kong pro-democracy supporters. The website “Hong Kong Leaks” was set up in mid September, listing the names, dates of birth, social media accounts, phone numbers, and even residential addresses of people accused of “messing up Hong Kong”, along with profile pictures for easy identification. After the original site, hosted using

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Taiwan consulate in Germany calls for like-minded countries to support Taiwan’s liberal democracy

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Trade Office of Taiwan in Munich issued an appeal to like-minded nations to support Taiwan’s liberal and democratic society, in the face of threats from it’s belligerent neighbor, the People’s Republic of China. One of four Taiwanese representative offices in Germany, the Munich office published a picture on their Facebook page of pandas driving tanks facing a Formosan black bear bearing two cases, one labeled “democracy,” and

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