I don't want to detract from the main story, because we need to call this out regardless of the source nation, but it really does grind my gears the way that Western politicians use this kind of thing to strengthen the anti-Chinese FUD, when there are similar issues at home they could actually do something about, but don't (or worse, even support it - usually "because terrorists, paedos, foreigners etc").

Ach, I added this comment to the wrong parent - it was meant as a response to @boomskats's comment mentioning Julian Assange.

Julian Assange…

He is actually very clear on that. He is anti-CCP. China != CCP

A distinction that the CCP is clear to confuse. I believe his wife is Chinese, he lived in the country for a long time and his videos clearly show that he has no real problem with the Chinese people (if you had a problem with Chinese people...why would you move to China? It makes no sense, there must be some psychological bias where people see bigotry everywhere), he just doesn't like the CCP (tbh, his account of why he left China justifies that view, he may not be telling the truth, I don't really care tbh but that is his story). For some reason, people will view not liking the CCP as a slight against all Chinese people but those same people will usually dislike America with same venom they see in others...funny that.

But yeah, his videos are partisan, there is nothing wrong with being partisan and having an opinion. People are free to have opinions whether other people agree or disagree, whether they are justified by reason or changes in the stars. You can also watch a video that is partisan, agree with some of it, disagree with some of it without attempting to generalise that person's views as totally correct or incorrect...most people are not totally correct or incorrect all the time (ofc, this notion of truth is something that authoritarian govts fundamentally disagree with, having a monopoly on objective truth is a source of political and cultural control).

And I hear over in NK, 100% of people approve of the Kim dynasty.

Weird how great stats they get, gotta get in on their secret.

The CCP's "secret" is consistently materially improving the conditions of 1.4 billion people over decades.

You have to answer the question: why wouldn't the Chinese support their government?

>>>why wouldn't the Chinese support their government?

Trepidation at encouraging/rewarding a state apparatus that is comfortable driving armored vehicles over its own protesting student citizens? It's easy to support a government during periods of success and abundance. How does the government treat its population during periods of hardship and uncertainty? The CCP has already demonstrated its preferred solution: grind the population into hamburger under its power, in order to preserve the position and quality of life of those at the top.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/gabrielsanchez/disturbi...

https://allthatsinteresting.com/tiananmen-square-jiang-lin

If Tiananmen Square riots are enough reason for Chinese to overthrow their govt, then the Americans should have overthrown their govt 100 times due to LA riots, People's Park massacre, MOVE bombing, etc etc

What? I never said the Chinese people should rebel. Your anti anti China rhetoric is frankly absurd.

I said you cannot voice dissent towards CCP, so saying “x% approve” is utterly meaningless. Similarly, being a CCP member is not like being a member of a democratic party in some other country.

I’m sure you understand that though, you’re just out here pushing against anti CCP sentiment in a thread about a woman who put her career on the line to say that she has been sexually abused by powerful people.

It’s not a good look.

> >90% domestic approval rate

I always wonder about these kinds of numbers. Who's asking, and how are they asking? And is there an element of coercion involved?

His channel is clearly anti-CCP. He's married to a Chinese woman, and I believe genuinely loves China.

He was very pro-China until he had to literally escape with his family in-extremis while being hunted down.