FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC — HFX today invited President Biden and democratic leaders everywhere to endorse #StandTogetherOnChina, its new initiative that encourages all democracies to coordinate their efforts to meet the challenge from China.

“Over the past little while, authoritarians have put forward alternative forms of government that, they say, are superior to democracy.  No country has asserted this falsehood more than Xi Jinping’s China,” Peter Van Praagh, HFX President, said.

“To counter China’s narrative, I have respectfully asked President Biden and leaders of the democratic world to endorse our HFX China Principles.   Working together, democracies will overcome the world’s biggest challenges,” Van Praagh said.

The HFX Principles are:

#1: We stand together against China’s attempts to interfere in democratic  societies.

#2: We stand together against the self-censorship of ideas related to China.

#3: We stand together against China’s oppression of its own people.

#4: We stand together against China’s attempts to control technology and the internet.

#5: We stand together against punishing those who are critical of China.

#6: We stand together against the trade of Chinese products made by forced labor or theft.

#7: We stand together against China’s intimidation of those who support democracy.

The annual Halifax International Security Forum will be held November 19-21, 2021 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  HFX is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.

—30—

For more information about HFX please visit HalifaxtheForum.org.