Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Second Canadian 'missing' in China

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 117 posts

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#91

Post by RidingPegasus »

sonnyblarney wrote: post #88
RidingPegasus wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sealed indictment for her arrest was 4 months ago on Aug 22, she has traveled through numerous countries including Canada in that time. The arrest came only hours after US/China trade talks finished, it's also unusual in that it's an individual rather than the company being taken to court. She's also the CFO of the world's 2nd biggest smartphone manufacturer that just overtook Apple. Decide for yourself.

If this is true, it really sheds light on this because it would indicate the arrest was political. Given the situation, I actually doubt it. I don't think this is Trump et. al. throwing a curve ball, I think this is the Feds just doing their job with bad timing.

At the same moment the President is sitting down with Xi discussing trade government agents are making moves to arrest an incredibly high profile Chinese figure and everyone seems to think it's a coincidence?

China has an extensive history of politically motivated trials when there is foreign relation disputes between countries. They barely hide it. What's interesting here is the US doing the same thing back to them.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#92

Post by sonnyblarney »

RidingPegasus wrote: post #91
sonnyblarney wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this is true, it really sheds light on this because it would indicate the arrest was political. Given the situation, I actually doubt it. I don't think this is Trump et. al. throwing a curve ball, I think this is the Feds just doing their job with bad timing.

At the same moment the President is sitting down with Xi discussing trade government agents are making moves to arrest an incredibly high profile Chinese figure and everyone seems to think it's a coincidence? China has an extensive history of politically motivated trials when there is foreign relation disputes between countries. They barely hide it. What's interesting here is the US doing the same thing back to them.

I don't believe the US is doing it, essentially I'm doubting the specific facts you presented i.e. a warrant since Aug but no arrest until now, for political reasons.

One of the reasons I doubt this is because Trump does not control or direct these orgs - they are not highly politicized.

And also ... why would the US create some kind of warrant/indictment to not have her grabbed?

Maybe you are right, but I actually don't think any of it makes sense. Trump gains nothing by having someone nabbed like that.

Chinese nabbing of Canadians I do however think is political.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#93

Post by joaomacp »

This battle between the US and China for influence and control over the world will be interesting. We all know the US are far from harmless in their foreign policy. But still, between a US-centered world (which is still where we are in the western world, maybe not economically, but culturally for sure) and a China-centered one, I would choose the former by far.

This is still very much fiction, but there are many possibilities in the open. With the US questioning the support of EU to NATO, and the EU wanting the European Army, who knows where things will go (EU-China allying vs the US being the fictional world war III scenario).

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#94

Post by thestephen »

monksy wrote: post #43

If this is a retaliation and they intend on continuing on this. China is going to find it's self on the bad end of travel advisories by a lot of western nations. BTW There have been videos about "tourist crackdowns" and how some of the authoritarian governments use visitors as scapegoats of bad behavior.

China is actually doing something similar right now, albeit in a different way: https://nordic.businessinsider.com/china-swedens-bizarre-feu...

Chinese tourists visiting a Swedish hostel in Stockholm sparked an international incident when they appeared on video screaming and crying and accusing local police of trying to murder them.

The "graveyard" they were dropped off at is more of a park, with a train station 8 minutes from the city.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#95

Post by ahakki »

sonnyblarney wrote: post #84
diminish wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US has become a risky destination for ordinary business travel. I suppose business and tech conferences better take place in neutral places where rule of law prevails.

This is simply false, and the US will continue to be the #1 location for tech conferences for the foreseeable future. The only risk to travellers is that US customs may require people to see their Facebook profiles etc. - which is bad - but nobody is getting arrested arbitrarily, and even if they were 'rule of law prevails'.

Well I don’t know about tech, but multiple swiss banks have had internal advisories against visit to the US, as some of their employees have been arrested.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#96

Post by secwait »

monksy wrote: post #43

If this is a retaliation and they intend on continuing on this. China is going to find it's self on the bad end of travel advisories by a lot of western nations. BTW There have been videos about "tourist crackdowns" and how some of the authoritarian governments use visitors as scapegoats of bad behavior.

China will avoid doing the same with other nationalities. Only canadians will be targeted. And they will not target people with no significance.

They also don't care about other chinese nationals getting harrassed in canada. They want to prevent rich people from taking more money out of the country any way. Problems with canada will get that good side effect. China care very much about Huawei and tech sector overall. They will do anything it takes to help them.

If you are canadian and maybe maybe also american who is somebody (not nobody), you may want to avoid china in your trips now.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#97

Post by sonnyblarney »

ahakki wrote: post #95
sonnyblarney wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is simply false, and the US will continue to be the #1 location for tech conferences for the foreseeable future. The only risk to travellers is that US customs may require people to see their Facebook profiles etc. - which is bad - but nobody is getting arrested arbitrarily, and even if they were 'rule of law prevails'.

Well I don’t know about tech, but multiple swiss banks have had internal advisories against visit to the US, as some of their employees have been arrested.

Swiss banks have been hiding assets of people worldwide and many nations consider that a crime. So yes, if you're helping Americans cheat on their taxes, you're going to get arrested.

So the 'advisory' would be: don't break laws.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#98

Post by kodablah »

sonnyblarney wrote: post #87
kodablah wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This doesn't completely address the commenter's point. They asked how the GP came to the conclusion that they were arrested randomly which is a reasonable question. Not knowing doesn't mean your guess is accurate. Granted, one can take issue with the double standard question...but to twist it a bit, it's kinda a double standard to, without evidence/reason, say a country is doing something without evidence/reason.

There are charges laid against Meng in public, the whole world can see what she's accused of. So far, there seems to be rule of law. The Canadians in China have vanished: we don't know why they if they have been arrested, charged, there's no hint of anything. So yes - 'being charged in a court of law' is rather different from 'government agents arbitrarily grabbing you off the street'.

Once again doesn't answer the original question. How did the commenter come to the conclusion that two people were randomly arrested?

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#99

Post by mips_avatar »

diminish wrote: post #68
monksy wrote: post #43

If this is a retaliation and they intend on continuing on this. China is going to find it's self on the bad end of travel advisories by a lot of western nations. BTW There have been videos about "tourist crackdowns" and how some of the authoritarian governments use visitors as scapegoats of bad behavior.

US has become a risky destination for ordinary business travel. I suppose business and tech conferences better take place in neutral places where rule of law prevails.

It’s a risky place to go if you break US sanction and export law.

Re: Second Canadian 'missing' in China

#100

Post by golfer »

diminish wrote: post #68
monksy wrote: post #43

If this is a retaliation and they intend on continuing on this. China is going to find it's self on the bad end of travel advisories by a lot of western nations. BTW There have been videos about "tourist crackdowns" and how some of the authoritarian governments use visitors as scapegoats of bad behavior.

US has become a risky destination for ordinary business travel. I suppose business and tech conferences better take place in neutral places where rule of law prevails.

(Citation needed)
Post reply on HN