Thread by @joshuawongcf

【My speech at Frankfurt Book Fair —— Joshua Wong als Gast auf der ARD-Buchmessenbühne】

Full speech: patreon.com/posts/43059474

1/ I recalled in last year a high-level official from a European country had openly said they don’t want to ‘’interfere in other people's issues"...

2/ ...despite the fact that companies of that country played a part in the brutality of Hong Kong police by supplying police vehicles. It is a typical display of the not-in-my-backyard mentality. However, we are living in a connected world. HK can serve as a story to learn from.

3/ We were unaware of the Chinese regime's intention to gain influence and control over our economy in the early years. And our economy now is to some extent too reliant on China, which makes our battle for freedom and democracy harder.

4/ There are calls for more cooperation between Euro & China to ‘guide’ it towards democratic norms. But to me, these are only concessions. it's proven multiple times in terms of trade, digital security or in territorial disputes that Beijing isn't responsible to plays by rules.

5/ I see no point of aiding and assisting the greatest threat to human rights to expand its scale of violence in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Trade and economic activities are indispensable, but perhaps we should emphasize more on ‘reciprocity’.

6/ I wish the world could uphold -- more principle-based and value-based instead of money-driven, just do business with conscience and make the righteous decisions. There are certainly more cherished values that deserve more genuine recognition than investment deal negotiation.

7/ But before any right things are done, it is high time we understand what is true from what is wrong. The case of Hong Kong is already a lesson proven painful. A relationship built on lies will not be trusted and sustainable. It is the high time these values were acknowledged.

8/ I’m sure it would be helpful to devote continuing attention to HK, no matter regarding @save12hkyouths or state targets like myself. Confronting Chinese propaganda and lies is also a way to stand with HKers. We hope the world continues to speak up when our voices are silenced.

9/ Here is my full speech at Frankfurt Book Fair: patreon.com/posts/43059474

10/ I doubts the plan boils down to a change of linking city in mainland China with HK to secure a majority that supports Beijing. Then voters in China can vote. It's the greatest election manipulation in HK history. dw.com/de/joshua-wong…

11/ Nina George, president of the European Writers' Council, was impressed by the determination and resistance that Joshua Wong exuded in spite of the repression and the personal risks: "Deep admiration, but also deep hope" dissolve the persistence of the Protest movements in...

12/ ...Hong Kong or Belarus expressed in it: "But it is also up to us not to let up," said George. Publishers and the Book Fair would have the opportunity to give critical voices like Wong a stage to make their books accessible.

boersenblatt.net/news/boersenve…

13/ "Für das Wort und für die Freiheit - #FreeHongKong" - Joshua Wong, einer der bekanntesten Köpfe der Demokratiebewegung, berichtet über die aktuelle Situation in Hongkong.