The hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance on Twitter.
Twitter Inc. has given its backing behind the Milk Tea Alliance of democratic movements in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other parts of Asia, challenging China at a time when Beijing is punishing Western companies for commenting on what it considers internal affairs.
The social media company on Thursday prominently displayed flags of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Myanmar and Thailand as it presented an emoji to support pro-democracy activists in places that have seen historic protests in recent years and share a love for the lactic and caffeinated drink. popular in Asia. It will be displayed automatically when users post the hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance, which the company said has appeared 11 million times since it first appeared a year ago.
Although Twitter gets most of its revenue from the U.S. and is banned in China along with Facebook and Google, Asia is generally considered a growth area for the company. American Internet giants are gaining publicity income from Chinese companies and organizations wishing to reach the global public.
Chinese officials have also increasingly adopted Twitter to counter criticism on a variety of issues, from the suffocation of the democratic movement in Hong Kong to allegations of forced labor in the far west region of Xinjiang. Twitter now labels these accounts as government entities and in January used its anti-dehumanization policy door lock the official account of the Chinese embassy in the United States after a message defending Communist Party policies in Xinjiang.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a regular news conference on Thursday that the Milk Tea Alliance “has maintained steady positions against China and is full of biases against China.” After the briefing, Zhao added that he hopes Twitter can be “just on target” in providing its services.
The boycott of the Olympic Games becomes the next big battle between the United States and China
Last month, Beijing supported the boycott of retailers such as Hennes and Mauritz AB amid growing criticism of China’s policies in Xinjiang, where international observers have expressed concern about human rights abuses, including detention camps and forced labor, in a region that produces much of China’s cotton.
“We are proud that Twitter is a service where movements are formed, information is shared and changes are made,” a Twitter spokesman said.
A Hong Kong government spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Share tactics
Increasingly, Milk Tea Alliance is more than just a meme. Young activists with digital knowledge from across the region have shared tactics to organize and maintain national protest and democracy movements, while trying to ensure protesters and organizers know how to avoid identification or arrest.
After the prolonged unrest in Hong Kong in 2019, several activists in the territory have expressed support for other democratic movements: first Thai protesters challenging the monarchy and then protesters in Myanmar after a February 1 coup . Well-known Hong Kong democracy advocate Joshua Wong, who is currently in prison and facing multiple charges, has said the Milk Tea Alliance is not just about anger over China’s policies in Hong Kong. , Taiwan and Xinjiang, but also by the growing influence of China around the region.
On Thursday, Twitter also voiced opposition to governments censoring the Internet or suppressing access to wireless networks, a tactic deployed by Myanmar’s military government.
“From #Me too, #VidaNegraMateria a #MilkTeaAlliance, Twitter continues to play a unique role in enabling public conversation around major social movements that are taking place around the world, “the company tweeted.” In times of civil unrest or violent repression , it is more important than ever for the public to have access to #OpenInternet for real-time updates, credible information, and essential services. #Keep it up“.
– With the assistance of Vlad Savov and Lucille Liu
(Updates with the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the fifth paragraph.)