755: 風馬牛不相及

2024年6月7日，聯合國大會通過第A/RES/78/286號決議，宣佈每年6月10日爲文明對話國際日。該決議由中國提出，共有80多個國家作爲共同提案國。決議強調，所有文明成果都是“全人類的集體遺產”。決議還強調了尊重文明多樣性的重要性，以及對話對維護全球和平、促進共同發展、增進人類福祉和實現共同進步的“關鍵作用”。

今年3月12日，十四屆全國人大四次會議表決通過《中華人民共和國民族團結進步促進法》，7月1日起施行該法。3月14日，聯合國人權事務高級專員福爾克爾·蒂爾克在該法通過後表示，該法「可能限制少數民族語言教育，以及宗教信仰的自由」。其後歐洲議會認為該法律「鼓勵同化政策，限制文化、宗教和語言自由，違反了中國在國際法下的義務」，呼籲中國政府廢除該法，同時「譴責該法對來自西藏、新疆和內蒙古地區的人口造成嚴重後果」。

中國駐歐盟使團發言人表示歐洲議會的有關決議「罔顧事實和法理，惡意抹黑中國法律和民族政策，粗暴干涉中國內政，中方表示強烈不滿和堅決反對，已向歐方提出嚴正交涉」。

6月10日, 墨爾本中國總領館在博士山巿政廳禮堂舉行了「中華民族團結日」暨「文明對話國際日」活動, 把這個風馬牛不相及的活動, 合在一起。奇澤姆聯邦議員黃嘉寶 (Gabriel Ng)、維州州長及反對黨都派了議員代表出席並就文明對話日發言。不過領事館的官方文告及在中國媒體的報導, 都以「中華民族團結」為主題, 推廣7月1日開始實施的法例。不知道澳洲各級議會出席的議員們, 是否知道自己的出席, 成為在西方社會備受爭議的《民族團結》法背書的政客。

其實, 在澳洲我們常常碰到這樣的情況, 政客們出席一些看似為社區或文化活動, 實質上卻是宣傳中國政策或是籠絡華人的統戰活動。今天的政客好像已沒有了基本的警覺性, 還是他們已經把與中國政要或權貴建立更緊密的合作關係, 變成了自己的工作目標之一。

這是令人擔心的事。

周偉文 社長

Entirely Unrelated

On June 7, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/78/286, proclaiming June 10 each year as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. The resolution was proposed by China and co-sponsored by more than 80 countries. It emphasizes that the achievements of all civilizations are the “collective heritage of mankind.” The resolution also highlights the importance of respecting cultural diversity and recognizes dialogue as playing a “critical role” in maintaining global peace, promoting common development, enhancing human well-being, and achieving shared progress.

On March 12 this year, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress passed the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which came into effect on July 1. On March 14, following the law’s passage, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the legislation “may restrict education in minority languages and freedom of religious belief.” Subsequently, the European Parliament argued that the law “encourages assimilation policies, restricts cultural, religious, and linguistic freedoms, and violates China’s obligations under international law.” It called on the Chinese government to repeal the law and “condemned the serious consequences the law may have for populations in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.”

A spokesperson for China’s Mission to the European Union responded that the European Parliament’s resolution “disregards facts and legal principles, maliciously smears China’s laws and ethnic policies, and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs.” China expressed its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and stated that it had lodged solemn representations with the European side.

On June 10, the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne held an event at the Box Hill Town Hall to mark both “Chinese Ethnic Unity Day” and the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, combining two matters that are essentially unrelated. Federal Member for Chisholm Gabriel Ng, along with representatives of the Victorian Government and the Opposition, attended and delivered remarks on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. However, the official statements issued by the Consulate and reports carried by Chinese media focused primarily on the theme of “Chinese Ethnic Unity,” promoting the legislation that came into effect on July 1. Wondering whether the Australian politicians who attended the event were aware that their presence could be interpreted as endorsing the highly controversial Ethnic Unity Law, a law that has attracted significant criticism in Western societies.

In reality, this is not an uncommon situation in Australia. Politicians frequently attend events that appear to be community or cultural gatherings but are, in substance, opportunities to promote Chinese government policies or to cultivate influence within the Chinese community through united front activities. Today’s politicians seem to have lost a basic sense of vigilance—or perhaps they have come to view building closer relationships with Chinese officials and influential figures as one of their working agenda.

That is a worrying development.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher