Diplomacy24

It did not take too long for China to respond to Australia’s calls for investigation in its role in coronavirus pandemic. Beijing as a retaliation to the recent developments has targeted Australia’s exports. Soon after the rumblings of investigations started against China at a global stage, Australia is facing the retaliation of Beijing. In late April, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne was vocal and called for the investigation. In a response few days later, China’s Ambassador to Australia Chen Jingye indicated towards the boycott by Chinese people . He said in an interview to Australian Financial Review, “Maybe the Chinese people will say ‘Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?’”

After months of street protests, Hong Kong is becoming unprecedently “color-coded”. Shops and restaurants are being labeled as either ‘yellow’ to show support to the pro-democracy movement or ‘blue’ in support of the police and government establishments. Hong residents have termed the pro-democracy campaign by the restaurants and other businesses as part of the “yellow economic circle” – an informal association of thousands of businesses and retailers supporting the protest movement against the anti-extradition bill. It is being visualized as a peaceful means for people to extend support to the protest movement amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Read More...