President Biden criticizes China for Apple Daily shutdown, Chinese netizens ask about Trump’s Twitter account, Iranian news sites
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily was forced to shut down on Thursday, following a government raid of its office, arrest of its executives, freezing of its assets, not to say with its founder and critic of the Communist Party Jimmy Lai in jail for pro-democracy protests.
President Biden called it a “sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world,” and called on Beijing to stop targeting the independent press and release the journalists and media executives.
In mainland China, it was seen completely different. The People’s Daily ran an editorial titled “Apple Daily is a poison apple of the Hong Kong Society.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian described President Biden’s remarks as without a “shred of truth.” Global Times editor Hu Xijin tweeted “What about Trump’s twitter account? What about Parler? Trump and his supporters have the right to freedom of expression.”
Weibo users commented along those lines, questioning American idea of free press, under #Biden calls for release of Apple Daily executive#, #Zhao Lijian responds to U.S. call for releasing Apple Daily personnel#
Old Gu of Jiashan: I don’t know where the U.S. got the boldness, thinking if you called, China would release the people? You used made-up charges and had Meng Wanzhou arrested through Canada, while China arrested a few people with well-documented violations of state security on its own soil, and we need your consent?
Moon over West River: That newspaper had seen China as the enemy ever since the return of Hong Kong to China. It even advocated three strikes, provided funds to anti-China groups, and colluded with foreign hostile forces. Arresting them served as a warning to their reckless behavior.
Meridian warrior: The U.S. statements reminded us that not only should we arrest the people at Apple Daily, we should also pull up the roots of that poison Apple tree.
Following Amamiya lotus: When the U.S. banned Trump, there was no freedom. I think the U.S. should solve their own problems at home first.
Uplifting Tiaohou: Why not restore Trump’s Twitter account?
dongfang5816: At least you should first lift the internet ban of Trump before breaking this wind.
Rumor community: Biden: I shut down more than 30 Iranian media sites, but I want “freedom of the press” in China.
Moss not so green: Ha ha. How about wait to talk about freedom of the press after the rebuild of the Palestinian Media Building bombed by Israel, and after Assange is released?
Jie Lan-Dongguan: Why didn’t you talk about freedom of the press when you banned Iranian media?
hw3908: Who shut down Iranian news sites, and undermined “Iranian freedom of the press?”
Lushan floating light: The United States should also investigate the murder of Andre Vitchek and then talk about free press.
Yellow not green: What a joke for the U.S. president to talk about freedom of the press right after banning multiple Iranian news sites! The U.S. has never had free press, only fake news out of their political needs.
Dian2015: What do you say about closing of the Confucius Institutes?
Rhythm of wind: No rights to freedom, including press, should violate state security bottom line.
alohamiss: They oppose us, we must have done right.
Happy as water 08: Chairman Mao had a famous quote: Whatever the enemy opposes, we must support. Whatever the enemy supports, we must oppose.
Logic wall breaker: As a matter of fact, whatever Sleepy Joe and Gang oppose, we must support. Whatever Sleepy Joe and Gang support, we must oppose.
Yong Xinweng: The Yankees do not have qualifications to make irresponsible remarks about the internal affairs of other countries.
Horizon-S: For them, the rotten Apple was of course precious. It was such an obedient dog. Now they must find a new dog.
Watching over_ordinary world: The president of a superpower is always concerned about the affairs of the small Hong Kong. A guilty person always insists on his innocence.
Chenzi Chenzi big Chenzi: Release them or not, it is not yours to ask. You may have your U.S. government come to China and submit an administrative lawsuit to the Supreme People’s Court and win the case! Don’t you United States love the rule of law?
In the name of Tao 5245: The Hong Kong government can also sue the U.S. for interfering with its legal justice.
abu_shmily: If you really want democracy, then let the Chinese people vote on whether to let that rotten Apple go. What does it have to do with you?
magina: We should have tit for tat. Chinese style of freedom is superior to American style of freedom. American freedom allows nonsense about other countries while strictly controls reports about their own pandemic deaths. American freedom has Black Lives Matter and discrimination against Asians. Overall, American freedom is not as good as Chinese freedom.
Everything is pale: China cannot check the media of its own country, but the U.S. can ban dozens of websites of other countries. It is like you can set fire while we can’t even light a lamp!
True heart dances with wind: The U.S. with the so-called spirit of independent judiciary now is interfering with the independent judiciary of other countries. Psychosis.