A serious warning from Hong Kong

Chen Ping, founder of iSun Affairs Weekly

A coincidence, or a random act? Perhaps, but given how China treats freedom of expression, one can be forgiven for assuming the worst 

As those who care about such matters take a moment to commemorate tge 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, an incident in Hong Kong on Monday was a reminder of just how fragile freedom is, of how vulnerable it is to those who would cage it for their own selfish interests. 

Just as he was leaving his office in Hong Kong’s Chai Wan district, Chen Ping (陳平), the 58-year-old billionaire publisher of the political weekly iSun Affairs, was assaulted by two baton-wielding thugs in their 20s or 30s, sustaining injuries to his head, arms and chest, and requiring hospitalization. An investigation has been launched and it is not known who was behind the attack, but one can guess. 

My unsigned editorial, published today in the Taipei Times, continues here.

NOTE: This development is of special significance for me, as just last month I was publishing my first article (translated into Chinese) in Mr. Chen's publication, iSun Affairs Weekly.