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UK Minister Says France Must Tackle Channel Migrant Crossings

Robust Democratic Institutions an ‘Antidote’ Against Beijing’s Infiltration: Expert

Australia’s democratic institutions have proven to be an “antidote” to Beijing’s extensive infiltration operations and a case study for countries on how to expose and repel the communist regime’s United Front Work Department. In 2014, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s declared the influence activities of the United Front one of the regime’s “magic weapons.” A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found Australia’s free press, intelligence services, political will, along with lively public debate, worked in concert to expose and negate Xi’s “magic weapons.” Amy Searight, author of the report, says Australia is targeted as part of a grander scheme to undermine the United States’ regional dominance in the Pacific. As one of the United States’ closest allies, driving a wedge in the U.S.-Australia alliance would…

UK Minister Says France Must Tackle Channel Migrant Crossings

Britain is facing an “unacceptable” rise in the number of boats carrying migrants across the English Channel and would act to send “illegal” entrants back to France, immigration compliance minister Chris Philp wrote in a newspaper article published on Saturday.

Philp said he was going to Paris next week to raise concerns over the issue. The UK would urge France to stop migrants from getting into boats and would also “return those who make it to our shores,” Philp wrote in the Telegraph.

A rise in the number of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel has led to ministers demanding tougher actions from the French government.

“The French must ensure that migrants who are caught attempting to reach the UK by boat cannot do so again,” Philp wrote.

France has said calm weather conditions were making the illegal crossings easier. Surveillance teams deployed along its northern coast were intercepting migrants daily and extra resources had been mobilized, an interior ministry spokesman said.

The London-based Times newspaper reported that UK ministers were considering blocking migrant boats in the English Channel before they enter UK waters, a tactic used by Australia against migrants.

Almost 4,000 people have crossed the English Channel this year in more than 300 small boats, according to a BBC report.

France says five times as many migrant boats were caught between January and July compared with the same period in 2019. The English Channel is just 23 miles wide at its narrowest point between Dover and Calais.

“This is a joint problem … which needs a joint operational response,” the French interior ministry spokesman said.

Most migrants originate from countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Sudan and Iraq in search of better jobs and living conditions.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that people were “right to be frustrated” over migrant crossings.

By Bhargav Acharya and Kanishka Singh聽

Focus News: UK Minister Says France Must Tackle Channel Migrant Crossings

Trump Orders Ban on Transactions With TikTok, WeChat Parent Companies

President Donald Trump on Thursday issued executive orders to ban transactions with popular video sharing app TikTok and social media app WeChat in 45 days. The executive orders also ban transactions with the two social media applications’ parent companies, Chinese-owned ByteDance and Tencent Holdings. The executive order for TikTok said that “any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States” would be prohibited “with ByteDance Ltd. (a.k.a. Zìjié Tiàodòng), Beijing, China, or its subsidiaries,” in 45 days after the order, which is after Sept. 20. The executive order for WeChat said that “any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States” would be prohibited with its parent company “Tencent…