Pro-separatist activists under pressure amid China’s growing impatience
Activists in Hong Kong and Taiwan are under growing surveillance and intimidation as Beijing increases the number of intelligence operatives
Hong Kong/Taipei — As Beijing grows wary of pro-independence groups seeking to forge closer ties in Hong Kong and Taiwan, activists say they are coming under increased surveillance and harassment from pro-China media outlets and unofficial “operatives”. Visits to Taiwan in January by several Hong Kong activists including Tony Chung generated heavy coverage by two pro-China newspapers, including detailed reports of their movements and meetings. The coverage prompted Taiwan to investigate the activities of the Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao newspapers on “national security” grounds. The government found that the papers committed unlawful acts, including invasive surveillance, and spread fake news. Officials said journalists from those papers would be banned from travelling to Taiwan for up to three years if the media outlets did not provide a reasonable explanation for their activities there. A Reuters examination of both papers’ articles show that at least 25 people linke...
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