There isn’t a strong tradition in Australia of grass-roots legal activism, so don’t expect, just because CO-WEST-PRO’s paper is a strong legal analysis of ASPI’s work, that it will be acted upon by Australian institutions (parliament, universities, etc.)
(2/4)
The success of this paper will depend on the actions of the 5th estate (i.e. the global citizenry) who care about the real human rights violations of the Uyghurs. The paper’s call-to-action recommendations are just a starting point. Please go further!
(3/4)
It’s time to end sham human rights activism. It’s time to stop the spread of junk research. It’s time to demand firm facts from think tanks, NGOs and academia. Otherwise, if the status quo remains, innocent people will continue to suffer.
(4/4)
To accommodate the recent criticism of CO-WEST-PRO's paper by ASPI's Nathan Ruser, a new section has been added to the paper under section 4.3.8 that deals with the evidentiary issues of ASPI's concerns that had already lacked merit. Please read here: cowestpro.co/uploads/1/9/9/…
To accommodate a recent criticism of CO-WEST-PRO's paper by Dr Timothy Grose, endorsed by ASPI's Dr James Leibold, a new section has been added to the paper under section 4.2.7 on pages 34 to 36. Please read here: cowestpro.co/papers
New version of CO-WEST-PRO paper is out now addressing some of the misinterpretations by journalist Michael Sainsbury. The other flaws with Sainsbury’s commentary will be addressed separately at a later date. cowestpro.co/papers #bizhumanrights#ASPI#Uyghurs4Sale
New version of my paper on ASPI's "Uyghur For Sale" report is out in anticipation of my attendance at ASPI's public event on Monday. I was particularly delighted to learn about and mention the "Rabbit Trapper" tactic, used by ASPI to mislead its readers. cowestpro.co/papers
It would seem that the greatest misgiving is ASPI omitting the story of Elken Bahalguri - a Xinjiang child bride...
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I'm back on X just to comment on the airspace incident between Australia and China:
1. Australia has a right to freedom of overflight in China's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and up to the edge of China's territorial sea, as per article 58 of UNCLOS.
2A. There is nothing in UNCLOS prohibiting foreign military vessels or aircraft from freedom of navigation/overflight if they are acting in accordance with peaceful purposes, as per article 88 (via article 58) of UNCLOS.
2B. The onus is on China to demonstrate that Australia was collecting intelligence on the PLA drills for non-peaceful purposes (i.e. the use of force).
1. There's consensus that China is inept at countering the West's orientalist propaganda and war propaganda. (@CarlZha's pet hate.) Such ineptness is dangerous because, for truth and peace to prevail, the global marketplace of ideas requires adept opposition.
2. Orientalist propaganda and war propaganda edges the world closer and closer to a hot war, as the US military-industrial-intelligence-complex utilises such propaganda for manufacturing consent in the West for military build-up, provocation and confrontation.
Just a reminder that in the lead-up to publishing the fourth CO-WEST-PRO paper on the OHCHR's Xinjiang report, I will be taking part in Twitter spaces to talk about the first three CO-WEST-PRO papers. Today's Twitter space is at 4pm Beijing time.
In today's Twitter space, I plan on focusing on ASPI's 'Uyghurs For Sale' report, so if you plan to join the space, I recommend you read my legal analysis now: cowestpro.co/papers
Given that Australia's anti-China propaganda has been in overdrive these last few days, I thought it would be timely to announce the new project I'll be launching next month... CO-WEST-PRO English Language Education. 1/
There's an urgent need for Western propaganda literacy now, and I'm doing my bit by utilising my skills and qualifications (a Master in #TESOL). Each fortnight I will be publishing #ESL lessons about Western propaganda for free on my site for ESL learners in the global south. 2/
The speed of my output will be quicker if my followers here on Twitter can suggest themes and topics for each ESL lesson. So please message me liberally! There will definitely have to be several lessons dedicated to @ASPI_org!
3/
CO-WEST-PRO's new working paper is out today: "The Uyghur Tribunal: People's Justice or Show Trial?"
I've taken a different approach with this paper to my last two. This time I leave it to the readers to answer the title's question. 1/ cowestpro.co/papers
Given CO-WEST-PRO is a one-person show, I need to come up with a new method for publishing more papers per year (3 a year isn't a viable model). So I've decided to trial writing papers that highlight key issues instead of undertaking full & comprehensive analyses.
2/
If CO-WEST-PRO ever has funds to be a fully-fledged consultancy firm that employs a full-time team, then I would like it to go back to full & comprehensive analyses. In the meantime, I hope my third paper gives a Chinese think tank guidance to complete the task I started.
3/
I've had a quick look at Bachelet's report this morning on the forced labour issue. I'm glad she focused on the key document that I did in my 2nd CO-WEST-PRO paper - the Chinese Govt's White Paper (which ASPI, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch did not). 1/
The screenshot below is of Bachelet's summary. This is not the win that ASPI, in their heart-of-hearts, would have hoped for. Bachelet's report ends with questions, not answers. 2/
I agree with Bachelet that more transparency and clarification is required from the Chinese Govt on how the VETCs interlock with 'work or service'. Again, I noted this issue in greater legal detail in my 2nd CO-WEST-PRO paper. 3/