Hello, everyone. Nathan Rich here again.
First of all, I just want to say thank you to everyone who's helped to donate
and support this channel.
Recently, I promoted my Paypal, SubscribeStar, Patreon public Wechat and
other methods of supporting this channel.
And it has been working.
Everything looks like we can continue to talk about political stuff and a bit
controversial subjects.
So thank you very much.
And that actually brings me to the topic of today's discussion, which is the
Hong Kong anti-treason laws.
If you've been following the news recently, you've seen that there's a lot of
talk about Hong Kong's new laws.
I came across an article that said this: "National security law, those
convicted could face life in prison.
As Beijing holds meeting to finalize bills set to be passed imminently, the
law will carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
And individuals convicted of national security crimes under the new law could
face life imprisonment.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Two sources told the Post that contentious legislation being tailor made for
Hong Kong to prevent, stop and punish acts of secession, subversion,
terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security
would carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
And I found another article that says this in vague language.
The law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with
foreign powers. People convicted of such crimes can face sentences of up to
life in prison. So this is pretty clear.
Both of these articles are saying that these crimes could get you up to life
in prison. And that is very, very serious.
It goes on to say "a terrorism charge can also include the vaguely worded
provision of 'other dangerous activities which seriously jeopardize public
health, safety or security.'" Before we really pass judgment on these laws,
we'll just go through them and maybe even compare them to the United States'
laws. So I have with me China's laws about these things and the United States'
laws about these things. So we're gonna go through them and we're going to
talk about them. But first, we really need to take a look at the China side
and see just how strict these are.
So let's take over- what?
No, I'm doing a video.
Just give me a minute. Sorry about that, guys.
Anyway, where was I? Chinese laws.
So I'm going to read to these Chinese laws and we're going to see just how
strict they are, if they match up with how CNN is describing them ,or what
the situation is. Vaguely worded?
I don't know - let's find out.
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group or
assembly of persons who teach, advocate or encourage the overthrow or
destruction of the government by force or violence or becomes or is a member
of or affiliates with any such society, group or assembly of persons, knowing
the purposes thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more
than 20 years or both.
Wow. So in China, secession is punishable by 20 years in prison and a fine.
OK. Well, that does sound pretty serious.
Let's keep going. Whoever, owing allegiance to the country, levies war
against them or adheres to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort within
the country or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or
shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title, but
not less than $10,000.
Dollars? Why is China fining someone dollars?
Anyway.. so this extremely strict China law says that if anyone in the world
offers any help or comfort to anyone else, and China says that that person
was their enemy, then all those people who have helped him can just be
killed. I mean, this is actually much worse than I thought it was going to
be. I mean, this isn't life in prison.
This is just literally death.
I mean, why is China doing this?
And why are they charging dollars?
Anyway, let's go on.
So state officials take terrorism charges very seriously and a conviction
involving terrorism could mean a life sentence or even the death penalty.
Wow, that's really bad.
Terrorism is not only limited to overseas groups, it can equally be applied
to people who have never even stepped foot outside the country.
Under the increasingly broad terrorism laws, the government can bring
attempted terrorism charges even when no one was ever harmed.
They can accuse people of terrorism even though no one was even hurt.
And they can give them the death penalty.
So they can just literally say, oh, anyone's a terrorist.
What did I do? No one's even hurt.
Yeah, well, you wanted to do something.
Death sentence. I mean, what is China thinking?
That is crazy.
It's clearly ignoring what better, more just countries like the United States
have done with their laws.
For collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, the maximum
penalties are up to life imprisonment.
I don't know what to say. This is much, much worse than I thought it was
going to be. I thought that what they're doing makes sense.
But now that I'm looking at the China Hong Kong laws, they just look
barbaric. I was wrong, everybody.
They aren't doing anything like other countries do.
Sometimes you make a video and you have a strong point and you're right about
things. And sometimes you make a video like this where, you know, you think
that things are going to make sense.
You read the China Hong Kong laws and they're much, much worse than you
thought. And for some reason, they're charging people dollars.
I'm just so overwhelmed.
I just can't really go over the United States one right now, but maybe
another time. And till then.
Thanks, everybody. Xiexie