0x815

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/5294870

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday the presence of a Russian attack submarine in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea was "very worrisome".

"That’s very concerning. Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines, is very worrisome," Marcos told reporters, referring to part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' maritime zone.

A Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 80 nautical miles off the western province of Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28, Navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement on Monday, confirming a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.

Philippine navy frigate Jose Rizal established radio contact with the Russian submarine, which confirmed its identity as UFA 490 and its intent.

"The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia," Trinidad said, without elaborating on why it was in the area.

Philippine naval forces escorted the submarine to ensure compliance with maritime regulations, he added.

[...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday the presence of a Russian attack submarine in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea was "very worrisome".

"That’s very concerning. Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines, is very worrisome," Marcos told reporters, referring to part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' maritime zone.

A Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 80 nautical miles off the western province of Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28, Navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement on Monday, confirming a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.

Philippine navy frigate Jose Rizal established radio contact with the Russian submarine, which confirmed its identity as UFA 490 and its intent.

"The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia," Trinidad said, without elaborating on why it was in the area.

Philippine naval forces escorted the submarine to ensure compliance with maritime regulations, he added.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/5294198

• Pyongyang’s involvement and Russia’s testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine mark “a new phase in the war”
• Call on Beijing to end all military or dual-use assistance given to Russia
• MEPs ask for more sanctions against sectors of special economic importance for Russia

In a resolution adopted on Thursday (28 November), the European Parliament condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other partners to respond accordingly.

[...]

Further sanctions for countries providing military support to Russia

Denouncing Iran, Belarus and North Korea for their military support of Russia, MEPs urge the EU member states to further strengthen the sanctions regime against these countries. They stress that both Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and North Korea’s participation in the war and its nuclear and missile programmes constitute grave threats to the rules-based international order.

Involvement of China

MEPs also call on Beijing to end all military or dual-use assistance it is giving to Russia, adding that a refusal to change course risks seriously affecting bilateral EU-China relations. Instead, China could use its significant influence over North Korea and Russia to help reduce tensions, they say.

[...]

• Pyongyang’s involvement and Russia’s testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine mark “a new phase in the war”
• Call on Beijing to end all military or dual-use assistance given to Russia
• MEPs ask for more sanctions against sectors of special economic importance for Russia

In a resolution adopted on Thursday (28 November), the European Parliament condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other partners to respond accordingly.

[...]

Further sanctions for countries providing military support to Russia

Denouncing Iran, Belarus and North Korea for their military support of Russia, MEPs urge the EU member states to further strengthen the sanctions regime against these countries. They stress that both Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and North Korea’s participation in the war and its nuclear and missile programmes constitute grave threats to the rules-based international order.

Involvement of China

MEPs also call on Beijing to end all military or dual-use assistance it is giving to Russia, adding that a refusal to change course risks seriously affecting bilateral EU-China relations. Instead, China could use its significant influence over North Korea and Russia to help reduce tensions, they say.

[...]

Archived link

**China has been supporting Russia’s economy since the start of the Ukraine war by buying its oil while supplying it with everything from microelectronics to washing machines.

Meanwhile, Beijing has been getting its own strategic benefit: a real-world case study in how to circumvent Western sanctions.**

An interagency group, set up by China in the months following the full-scale invasion, has studied the impact of sanctions and produced reports regularly for the country’s leadership, according to people familiar with the matter. The goal is to draw lessons about how to mitigate them, particularly in case a conflict over Taiwan prompts the U.S. and its allies to impose similar penalties on China, the people said.

As part of the effort, Chinese officials periodically visit Moscow to meet with the Russian Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and other agencies involved in countering sanctions, the people said.

The Chinese study effort, which hasn’t previously been reported, is emblematic of the new age of economic warfare unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the lines between economic policy and geopolitical strategy are increasingly blurred. That trend is only likely to be amplified by Donald Trump’s second presidential term, where he plans to turbocharge the use of tariffs as a tool for negotiation and coercion.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/5291198

Archived version

“Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia,” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said in an emailed statement before departing Berlin airport on Sunday for her two-day visit to Beijing.

Vladimir “Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is a direct threat to our peace. I will also speak in Beijing about the fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China.”

The European Union is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine. Baerbock will meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to address this issue, her spokesman said. Germany’s top diplomat will also discuss the humanitarian situation in China, as well as EU tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles that were introduced in October.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania announced on December 1, that the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania “jointly agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia.”

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister added: “Opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries.”

[...]

On November 30 The European Parliament members had initiated a letter to Kaja Kallas, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urging the EU to impose sanctions on Georgian officials responsible for election fraud, democratic backsliding and the repression of civil society. The letter calls for “immediate action to protect democracy in Georgia” and asks the High Representative to present a proposal for sanctions.

This followed the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on November 28, “On Georgia’s worsening Democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud” which slams the ruling Georgian Dream for the authoritarian shift, condemns the democratic backsliding in Georgia, including as a result of the allegedly rigged elections, proposes a number of steps, such as targeted sanctions against those individuals who contribute to democratic backslide, and calls on the Georgian government to hold new, free and fair elections within one year.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/5291198

Archived version

“Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia,” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said in an emailed statement before departing Berlin airport on Sunday for her two-day visit to Beijing.

Vladimir “Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is a direct threat to our peace. I will also speak in Beijing about the fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China.”

The European Union is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine. Baerbock will meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to address this issue, her spokesman said. Germany’s top diplomat will also discuss the humanitarian situation in China, as well as EU tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles that were introduced in October.

Addition:

China Is Studying Russia’s Sanctions Evasion to Prepare for Taiwan Conflict -- (Archived link)

China has been supporting Russia’s economy since the start of the Ukraine war by buying its oil while supplying it with everything from microelectronics to washing machines.

Meanwhile, Beijing has been getting its own strategic benefit: a real-world case study in how to circumvent Western sanctions.

An interagency group, set up by China in the months following the full-scale invasion, has studied the impact of sanctions and produced reports regularly for the country’s leadership, according to people familiar with the matter. The goal is to draw lessons about how to mitigate them, particularly in case a conflict over Taiwan prompts the U.S. and its allies to impose similar penalties on China, the people said.

As part of the effort, Chinese officials periodically visit Moscow to meet with the Russian Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and other agencies involved in countering sanctions, the people said.

The Chinese study effort, which hasn’t previously been reported, is emblematic of the new age of economic warfare unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the lines between economic policy and geopolitical strategy are increasingly blurred. That trend is only likely to be amplified by Donald Trump’s second presidential term, where he plans to turbocharge the use of tariffs as a tool for negotiation and coercion.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/5291198

Archived version

“Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia,” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said in an emailed statement before departing Berlin airport on Sunday for her two-day visit to Beijing.

Vladimir “Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is a direct threat to our peace. I will also speak in Beijing about the fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China.”

The European Union is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine. Baerbock will meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to address this issue, her spokesman said. Germany’s top diplomat will also discuss the humanitarian situation in China, as well as EU tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles that were introduced in October.

Addition:

China Is Studying Russia’s Sanctions Evasion to Prepare for Taiwan Conflict -- (Archived link)

China has been supporting Russia’s economy since the start of the Ukraine war by buying its oil while supplying it with everything from microelectronics to washing machines.

Meanwhile, Beijing has been getting its own strategic benefit: a real-world case study in how to circumvent Western sanctions.

An interagency group, set up by China in the months following the full-scale invasion, has studied the impact of sanctions and produced reports regularly for the country’s leadership, according to people familiar with the matter. The goal is to draw lessons about how to mitigate them, particularly in case a conflict over Taiwan prompts the U.S. and its allies to impose similar penalties on China, the people said.

As part of the effort, Chinese officials periodically visit Moscow to meet with the Russian Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and other agencies involved in countering sanctions, the people said.

The Chinese study effort, which hasn’t previously been reported, is emblematic of the new age of economic warfare unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the lines between economic policy and geopolitical strategy are increasingly blurred. That trend is only likely to be amplified by Donald Trump’s second presidential term, where he plans to turbocharge the use of tariffs as a tool for negotiation and coercion.

Wie eine neue Studie der NGO „Citizens´ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights“ (NKHR) dokumentiert, werden die Gefangenen im „Kyohwaso Nummer 12“ systematisch ausgebeutet, um Textilprodukte für chinesische Firmen herzustellen – Produkte, die potenziell auch nach Europa exportiert werden können. Und damit auch die Kassen des Regimes von Kim Jong Un füllen.

„Wir wollen die weit verbreitete Praxis der Sklaverei in nordkoreanischen Gefangenenlagern aufzeigen. Eine Praxis, die von Nordkorea und China gemeinsam gefördert wird“, sagt die Autorin der Studie, Joanna Hosaniak. Die in Polen gebürtige Aktivistin arbeitet bereits seit mehreren Jahrzehnten als Menschenrechtsaktivistin in Seoul.

[...]

Hosaniak und ihre Kollegen von NKHR haben für ihren Bericht über 25 Kernzeugen interviewt; darunter ehemalige Insassen aus dem Gefangenenlager, aber auch Staatsanwälte, Sicherheits- und Zollbeamte. Sie alle sind vor Jahren bereits aus ihrem Heimatland geflohen und leben wie über 30.000 weitere nordkoreanische Flüchtlinge mittlerweile in Südkorea.

[...]

So liefern chinesische Betriebe Rohmaterialien an die nordkoreanische Sonderwirtschaftszone Rason, welche sich im Dreiländereck mit Russland befindet. Von dort gelangen die Materialien in die Gefängnisse zur Weiterverarbeitung. Die Insassen nähen dann Sportartikel zusammen, Hosen und einfache Jacken. Vor allem aber fertigen sie Perücken und falsche Wimpern – Produkte, die noch im Vorjahr knapp 60 (!) Prozent aller nordkoreanischen Exporte nach China ausgemacht haben. Ein Millionengeschäft fürs Regime.

Lagertote werden in der Nähe verbrannt

Die ehemaligen Insassen hingegen schildern menschenunwürdige Arbeitsbedingungen: Schichten bis zu 20 Stunden, körperliche Misshandlungen durch die Wärter und sogar Vergewaltigungen. Wer die vorgegebenen Produktionsquoten nicht erfüllt habe, dem seien zudem die Nahrungsmittelrationen gekürzt worden.

Wie viele der Zwangsarbeiterinnen und Zwangsarbeiter aus dem „Kyohwaso Nummer 12“ einen frühzeitigen Tod starben, ist nicht bekannt. Sehr wohl jedoch erzählten die Insassen übereinstimmend, dass die Leichen der Lagertoten an einem nahegelegenen Berghang verbrannt wurden, ohne dass ihre Familien davon in Kenntnis gesetzt wurden.

„Einige Zeugen sagten uns, dass der Anblick des Rauchs von diesem Berg der stärkste Grund für sie war, unbedingt überleben zu wollen, um außerhalb des Lagers zu sterben“, sagt Aktivistin Hosaniak.

Textilien „Made in China“

Solch grauenvolle Menschenrechtsverbrechen scheinen aus europäischer Sicht weit entfernt, doch im Zeitalter globaler Lieferketten ist dies ein Trugschluss. Viele der Textilien können ganz legal von den chinesischen Firmen als „Made in China“ angepriesen werden, da sich ihre Produkte nie länger als ein halbes Jahr in Nordkorea befunden haben.

Rechtlich gesehen haben die Konzerne also nur einige Arbeitsschritte „ausgelagert“. So ist es schlussendlich für westliche Firmen nahezu unmöglich zu überprüfen, ob an ihren Waren nicht möglicherweise auch nordkoreanische Zwangsarbeiter beteiligt waren.

Diese Praxis ist durchaus bekannt und hinreichend dokumentiert. Bereits 2017, als innerhalb Chinas die Möglichkeiten für unabhängige Berichterstattung noch größer waren, gelang es der Nachrichtenagentur Reuters, in der Grenzstadt Dandong mit chinesisch-koreanischen Geschäftsmännern zu sprechen.

[...]

Archived version

“Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia,” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said in an emailed statement before departing Berlin airport on Sunday for her two-day visit to Beijing.

Vladimir “Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is a direct threat to our peace. I will also speak in Beijing about the fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China.”

The European Union is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine. Baerbock will meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to address this issue, her spokesman said. Germany’s top diplomat will also discuss the humanitarian situation in China, as well as EU tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles that were introduced in October.

Sixteen Next Generation Internet (NGI) projects are pleased to announce the transition to Mastodon and PeerTube, two European open-source platforms, for their communication and content-sharing needs. This strategic move aligns with NGI’s commitment to fostering an Internet that embodies European values of trust, security, and inclusion.

"Utilising European-developed platforms like Mastodon and PeerTube enhances digital sovereignty, ensuring that Europe’s digital infrastructure is built on values of openness, collaboration, and respect for fundamental rights. This transition marks a significant step toward a more human-centric Internet, reflecting NGI’s vision for a trustworthy, open, and inclusive digital future," NGI writes on its website.