Civil Society

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

After Apple Daily went out of Business: a well-known journalist arrested in Hong Kong
Another well-known journalist from the Apple Daily newspaper, which was recently forced to cease production, has been arrested in Hong Kong. Fung Wai Kong was detained at the Chinese Special Administrative Region’s airport on Sunday as he tried to leave Hong Kong, media reported on Monday. Apple Daily had last been published last week (China.Table […] continue reading →
Hong Kong’s resistance wanders off
More and more civil society organizations in Hong Kong are surrendering. Trade unionists, activists, and media representatives fear prosecution by the authorities. Resistance to Beijing's authoritarian takeover of the city is beginning to shift overseas, where former parliamentarians and activists are stepping up their lobbying efforts. continue reading →
Nora Sausmikat – a life dedicated to China’s civil society
When Nora Sausmikat stood on stage in the old Tea House Theatre in Chengdu at the end of the 1980s, newspapers, and television reported on the young European who had mastered Chinese opera. She has trained for a long time for this moment. Wearing a huge, colorful headdress and traditional costume, Sausmikat performs head voice […] continue reading →
Hong Kong’s largest trade union about to disband
Hong Kong’s largest opposition trade union announced plans on Sunday to dissolve. The organization has filed a motion to dissolve, which will be voted on by affiliates on October 3rd. “We want to apologize to the people of Hong Kong that we cannot continue,” Joe Wong, co-chairman of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, […] continue reading →
After Xinjiang report: Beijing closes labor rights auditor Verité
Chinese authorities have shut down the Chinese partner of US labor law auditor Verité, as the Wall Street Journal reports. This move means the Shenzhen-based company will lose its authority to advise companies on labor rights issues in Chinese factories. Verité is a Massachusetts-based company affiliated with U.S. labor law organization Verité Inc. Its clients […] continue reading →
Qincheng – China’s infamous prison
Numerous myths surround Qincheng Prison, located near Beijing. The political prison is reserved for party cadres fallen from grace – and is therefore not under the supervision of China's judiciary. continue reading →
“Companies want to do business, not politics”
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) are hit heavier by Covid visa regulations than by sanctions between the EU and China, says Christian Sommer, head of the German Centre in Shanghai. Sanctions are of no use, he says, and decoupling does not make sense. Despite all this, China is still dependent on the presence of foreign companies and their employees. But there is no point in forcing Europe to choose between China and the USA. The German Centre is a positive example of how government and business can work together, says Sommer in an interview with Frank Sieren. continue reading →
Christian Straube’s faith in China’s civil society
Since 2019, Christian Straube has been working as a program manager for the China Program of the Asienhaus Foundation. Together with his colleague Joanna Klabisch, Straube strives to promote civil society dialogue with China. “Chinese civil society faces some of the very same challenges as civil societies in Germany and Europe do, although structured differently,” […] continue reading →
Hong Kong: arrests over children’s books
Yesterday, Hong Kong police arrested five people on sedition charges. They are accused of inciting hatred against the city’s government by publishing certain children’s books, news agency Reuters reported. According to the report, police stated that in one of the books, wolves attacked a village while the sheep living there defended themselves. This story was […] continue reading →