China threatens US: There will be 'military conflict' if Biden supports Taiwanese independence: In what could be read as either a warning or a threat, China's ambassador to the United States said Thursday there will be "military conflict" between the U.S. and China should the island nation of Taiwan attempt to become fully independent from Xi Jinping's communist regime. In an interview with NPR, ambassador Qin Gang asserted that Taiwan is "walking down the road toward independence" and said, "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict." While Russian aggression on Ukraine's borders may precipitate war in Eastern Europe, China is taking increasingly aggressive action toward Taiwan under President Joe Biden's watch. Days ago, Chinese warplanes flew through Taiwan's southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone in what was the largest incursion on Taiwanese territory since last October, when China few 38 planes, including bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, through the ADIZ. The People's Republic of China has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, which is the last foothold of the old pre-communist Chinese government and a democracy. Last year, dictator Xi pledged to "reunify" Taiwan with mainland China and "smash" any attempts by the island nation to achieve independence from the PRC. The United States has traditionally supported Taiwan's right to be free of "force or threat" from the PRC. As a candidate for president, Joe Biden said that the U.S. has a "commitment" to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. But since assuming office and talking with Xi, Biden has backed down and said the future of Taiwan is in the country's own hands. "We are not encouraging independence," Biden said in November. And this is the US and every other country going distancing ourselves from China and Russia and letting them “Have it your way” … not much to laugh at except that we know the end chapter now! — Fair-use —- Pelosi warns US athletes not to risk 'incurring the anger' of 'ruthless' Chinese government during Olympics: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a warning message on Thursday to U.S. athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics, concluding that the Chinese communist government is "ruthless" and could damage the reputations of those competing. Speaking at a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing, Pelosi told the athletes that they are "there to compete" and are not to "risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless." "I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there," Pelosi added, one day ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games. "I respect that, but I also worry about what the Chinese government might do … to their reputations, to their families." The comments from the California congresswoman follow immense criticism of the Chinese communist regime’s human rights abuses at home, as well as its violations of international law and freedoms abroad. China's crackdown under hardline ruler Xi Jinping has been felt across wide swaths of society. Hong Kong authorities crushed anti-government protests in the city in 2019, and the central government in Beijing passed a national security law aimed at stifling dissent, leading to the arrest of activists and disbandment of civil society groups. An independent, unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on China’s alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded in December that the Chinese government committed genocide. China has consistently denied any human rights abuses in the region and has said it carried out its actions to counter extremism and ensure people's safety in the region. In the country's western region of Xinjiang, an estimated 1 million people or more — most of them Uyghurs — have been confined in reeducation camps in recent years, according to researchers. I think we need to pray for our athletes. Nicki Haley on Glen Beck said China has all kinds of spy equipment and can hear and see everything the athletes do or say. Plus while they are there, they are under China Law. In my opinion they should not be there. This is absurd...it is way too dangerous and risky. We have no control over what happens to them. Father watch over each one and keep them safe from harm. :prayer-hands: I agree Susan, if our government and many others are boycotting it from an official perspective why would we risk our athletes? I agree that our athletes shouldn't be there but I pray for their safety since they are. :prayer-hands: Baby video is priceless! TR China Bans Kids from Attending Church, Threatens Parents Who Break Law: China was No. 17 on this year's 2022 World Watch List, which ranks the countries of the world according to the danger level for Christians. The report said Christians "are facing increased pressure from the Chinese authorities," due partially to the "most oppressive and sophisticated" surveillance system in the world. They watch, and they track everybody in what they're doing – through facial recognition and other things. Imagine if the IRS owned every camera in every restaurant on every street in America. We would be very concerned that the IRS has that. China has that plus other means of surveilling, and so they have the ability to track and to score behavior." Christians in China must attend government-approved churches that face heavy regulations, such as the editing of sermons. Because of that, many Christians attend illegal underground churches. Curry summarized the surveillance strategy like this: "[These two citizens] are going to church too often. Therefore, they're not good communists. Therefore, they should lose their job. They can't fly – they're on a no-fly list." "And all they did was go to Bible study. That's happening right now in China," he said. Chinese law does not allow children "under the age of 18 to attend church," Curry said. "So parents either have to disciple them themselves or sneak them into some sort of Bible study," Curry said. "What happens, in this case, is that the kids may not be let into the college of their choice if they attend Bible study, they may not get jobs, the parents may lose their job. So there's repercussions for this sort of thing." "Converts from a Muslim or Buddhist background from minority ethnic groups arguably face the most severe violations of religious freedom, because they are persecuted, not only by the authorities, but also by their families and communities." Zhu Yi, US-Born Skater Who Defected to China, Falls on Ice Yet Again: The American-born Olympic ice skater who gave up her U.S. citizenship to compete for China has fallen on the ice for a second time, infuriating her adopted homeland. Beverly Yi, 19, was born in the U.S.A. but a few years ago decided to renounce her American citizenship and moved to China to make her debut as a Chinese figure skater. She changed her name to a Zhu Yi and began appearing in competitions in the communist nation. Yi’s debut was bad enough, but China’s ardent Olympics fans were sparked to anger all over again on Monday when Zhu Yi fell on the ice for a second time during Monday’s final event in the team competition. When Yi was chosen for China’s Olympic team, some questioned the government’s decision, but after her disastrous first time Olympic showing, that mere questioning became outright condemnation. Yi’s Olympic debut was an absolute debacle. Not only did she fall to the ice during her routine, but she scored in dead last place in her category. And Chinese fans were furious at her abject failure. She obviously got chosen for political reasons. 🙁 She must feel absolutely awful. I pray that she doesn't commit suicide and that she will encounter God, in her sorrow. Life in the Olympic gulag: Athletes are 'crying like crazy' in hellish quarantine with miserable food where 'hope is dead' as DOZENS miss out on their events after testing positive and being carted off to isolation camps: Athletes complained of hellish conditions in Chinese isolation hotels after dozens were confined with Covid. Valeria Vasnetsova, a Russian biathlete, uploaded a grim picture of food she said was served three times a day for five days straight, leaving her emaciated with 'bones sticking out.' Valeria Vasnetsova: During one 'night of horror' she said officials dragged her out of bed at 3am in order to take her back to the athlete's village after ruling she was Covid-free - only to later say they made a mistake before taking her back into solitary. 'I was sitting in the ambulance. It was 3am. I was crying like crazy because I didn't know what was going on. I did not feel safe at all,' the 26-year-old said. Vasnetsova took to Instagram to post an image of food she says was served to her three times a day for five days. The image shows a portion of plain pasta, some kind of grilled meat on the bone, an unidentifiable orange sauce, some potatoes, and what appears to be plain chicken. Other than the potatoes, which appear to have been fried, no vegetables are included on the plate. In a message alongside the since-deleted post, she wrote: 'My stomach hurts, I'm very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes. 'I want all this to end. I cry every day. I'm very tired.'
Natalia Maliszewska, a Polish skater, was left 'crying and crying' after being repeatedly taken to isolation over unclear Covid tests - including 'horror' wake-up by officials at 3 am.
German team boss said conditions 'unacceptable' with rooms too small, unhygienic, and Covid tests not given.
