This Saturday, 8 February, nearly 30 human rights groups, including Hong Kongers, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Taiwanese, and Chinese allies will gather outside the Royal Mint Court to protest at the proposed new site for the Chinese Embassy in London. The action, dubbed ‘Space for Free Speech’ opposes the establishment of what would be the largest Chinese embassy in Europe, at a site of strategic vulnerability in the heart of London.
The embassy has previously been opposed by the local council and municipal authorities. The NGO ARTICLE 19 calls on the Metropolitan Police to guarantee enhanced protections for the right to protest and freedom of expression considering the risk of Chinese transnational repression against activists and organizers before, during, and after the demonstration. Parliament should also consider the specific holistic risks surrounding protest events as it launches its inquiry into transnational repression in the UK.
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And China won’t abandon us?
They haven’t abandoned any of their trade partners or allies so far, even when it would be politically and economically convenient to do so.