https://www.scmp.com/rss/503043/feed Hanscom Smith, consul general to Hong Kong and Macau from 2019 to 2022, is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has already faced criticism for his extensive personal experience in China. Richard Grenell, a former acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, asserted that “Communist China is very happy” he was chosen as the Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee. Walz taught in China and has reportedly travelled to the country about 30 times. Without proof to the contrary, it’s just plain wrong-headed to imply that there’s something suspect about... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3275328/us-should-welcome-leaders-experience-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3275328/us-should-welcome-leaders-experience-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:30:10 +0000 On my first visit to Hong Kong in the 1990s, I was struck by the city’s vitality, pluralism and openness. From my backpacker hotel, I experienced a dynamic metropolis fuelled by hard work and the free flow of ideas. Hong Kong felt upbeat and alive, a confident city ready to face anything. As an American, I felt at home in Hong Kong. Our common histories of openness and diversity are the basis for a strong relationship for more than 175 years. Hong Kong is home to 85,000 Americans and almost... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3127926/hong-kong-democracy-why-letting-hong-kong-be-itself-offers-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3127926/hong-kong-democracy-why-letting-hong-kong-be-itself-offers-best?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:30:20 +0000 The world is becoming a more hostile place for journalists. In both online and offline spaces, journalists are confronted with threats of torture, kidnapping, harassment, imprisonment and murder. Such threats against journalists are often committed with impunity and serve to intimidate journalists and constrict media environments. Among several worrying trends, the proportion of countries with a “very bad” media freedom ranking rose to 13 per cent this year, according to the World Press Freedom... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3110769/media-freedom-hong-kong-and-elsewhere-needs-defending-more-ever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3110769/media-freedom-hong-kong-and-elsewhere-needs-defending-more-ever?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Nov 2020 05:00:20 +0000 International Human Rights Day is a chance to reflect on those core principles and values to which 193 nations have committed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They committed to preserving ideals such as the right of freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to freedom of religion or belief, or the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, every human being in the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3041225/human-rights-are-universal-which-why-united-states-stands-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3041225/human-rights-are-universal-which-why-united-states-stands-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:00:14 +0000