VCE Global Politics 2025 Unit 1 AOS 3: 'China' Evidence

Sino-British Joint Declaration.

In 1984, Britain and China sign Sino-British Joint Declaration on the conditions under which Hong Kong will revert to Chinese rule in 1997. It said that the “current social and economic systems” and “life-style” in Hong Kong would remain the same for 50 years. It would continue operating as a capitalist economy.  Until 2047.

When was Hong Kong returned to China?

1st of July 1997.

What is Basic Law?

Hong Kong’s mini constitution, in place until 2047, guarantees rights to speech, press, assembly and religious belief.

What happened after the original proposal of Article 23?

In July 2003, 500,000 people marched against Article 23, and the bill was shelved indefinitely.

What happened in 2004?

In April 2004, China ruled that its approval must be sought for changes to Hong Kong election laws, giving it the right to veto moves toward democracy.

What happened in 2014?

In August 2014, the Chinese government ruled out a fully democratic Hong Kong election in 2017, saying that only candidates approved by Beijing will be allowed to run.

Article 23

In 2024, Article 23 was added to the Basic Law. It allows for closed-door trials and gives the police the rights to detain suspects for up to 16 days without charge.

What is the Umbrella Movement?

A movement in 2014 demanding a democratic 2017 election. Over 600 people were arrested and the leaders of the movement were prosecuted.

2019 Protests.

Over 2 million marching and over 10,000 arrested in response to an Extradition Bill.

What is Taiwan’s government?

The Republic of China, a multi-party democracy.

What is the National Security Act?

Beijing imposed the National Security Law in 2020, bypassing local legislation. It criminalises anything considered as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces. All of these can be sentenced with life in prison. Those found guilty will not be allowed to stand for public office.

What did the National Security Act allow for?

 To justify rampant arrest and imprisonment, such as the mass sentencing of 45 pro-democracy figures on 19 November 2024.

What are the electable parties in each country?

Only the CCP and its 8 allied parties can be elected in China. Australia has 32 individual parties.

Does Australia vote for a party or person?

Australia votes for party, China votes for person.

Size comparison of China and Australia’s two biggest political parties.

CCP 99.1 million people, China Democratic League 330,600 in 2020. In 2020, Labor 60,085 members, Liberal 50,000 to 60,000.

Security camera stats.

China had 700 million cameras and facial recognition systems nationwide in August 2023, 1 for every 2 citizens. In 2019 there were about 1 million in Australia, totalling 1 per 26 people.

Golden Shield.

In 1998 China’s Ministry of Public Security began the Golden Shield Initiative. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Netflix are blocked, as well as some international news websites.

Media ownership.

According to BBC news in 2023, all of China’s 2,600+ radio stations are state owned. The largest media company is the state-run Chinese Central TV. In Australia, only two major state owned media companies, ABC and SBS.

Chinese Constitution

At the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017, in was announced that Xi Jinping thought was to be incorporated into the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Voice

The Voice Referendum in October 2023 was unable to be passed due to public input that did not approve.

Comparison of term lengths.

Xi is in his second decade of rule without re-election, Albanese had to be re-elected for another 3 year term in 2025.

Different roles of the leaders.

Xi Jinping holds three significant roles: Head of State, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CCP, and Chairman of the CPC’s Central Military Commission. He oversees the economy, his political party and the military. He is known as ‘Xi Dada’.