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Image source,EPA
The foreign ministers of the Five Eyes Alliance member states said they were “seriously concerned” by Beijing’s decision to authorize the withdrawal of membership from democratic parties.
The foreign ministers of the member states of the intelligence organization “Five Eyes Alliance” headed by the United States demanded that China withdraw the decision of the People’s Congress to authorize the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to revoke the qualifications of four democratic legislators and immediately reinstate at four.
The five Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement late on Wednesday (November 18) London time, questioning the decision taken by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China on the 11th “appears to be part of a premeditated action.” In “Quiet all critical critics.” Previously, the United Kingdom and the United States warned against imposing sanctions against officials in China and Hong Kong.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner’s Office in Hong Kong “strongly condemned” the “unprovoked defamation” of the five countries of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress on Thursday (19), saying that any country’s attempt to compel for China to make concessions is “an illusion, counterproductive and doomed to failure.”
After the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the aforementioned resolution last week, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government immediately issued an order to revoke the qualifications of four Democratic members, and the remaining 15 pan-Democratic members resigned. collectively. At present, there is only one radical democratic member and one neutral member in Hong Kong’s parliament, and the establishment has an overwhelming advantage. Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, made a harsh statement this week, saying the resolution of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress represents that “it has become a legal norm for those who oppose China to get rid of Hong Kong. “
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also said on Thursday that China expressed strong discontent and strong opposition to comments from relevant countries on Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs. .
What else did the Five Eyes statement say?
The Five Eyes Alliance statement was issued a week after the approval of the resolution of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Congress. The statement began by noting that the five foreign ministers reiterated their “serious concerns” about the relevant decisions of the Permanent Commission of the National People’s Congress.
The statement stated that the National People’s Congress resolution “further undermines the high degree of autonomy, rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong” and “obviously violates (China) under the” Sino-British Joint Declaration “registered in the United Nations (1984), which guarantees that Hong Kong Enjoy international responsibility for a ‘high degree of autonomy’ and the right to freedom of expression “.
The five foreign ministers urged China to fulfill its international commitments and its responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, to reconsider the actions it has taken against Hong Kong’s elected members, and to immediately resume the actions. relevant parliamentary positions.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China authorized the Hong Kong government to revoke the qualifications of members, and Democrats denounced Beijing for “abandoning” one country, two systems. “
What other actions have the Five Eyes countries taken?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Ministry issued a statement on two consecutive days last week criticizing the resolutions of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Congress and summoned Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, on the day 12 to express the deep concern of the British side. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (Dominic Raab; British Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau: Lan Taowen) called Beijing’s decision to “harass and suffocate” the Hong Kong Democrats and damage the international image of China and the Hong Kong’s long-term stability. Violation of the legally binding “Sino-British Joint Declaration”.
The Minister of State for Asian Affairs of the Foreign Office, Nigel Adams (Nigel Adams), said in the House of Commons of the British Parliament on the 12th that this is the third time since 1997 that the United Kingdom determines that China has violated the “Joint Declaration” and it is also in the last six months. Make this judgment a second time. Britain “will continue to consider” imposing “Magnitsky-style” sanctions on officials from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called on China last week to allow the Hong Kong Legislative Council to remain a key pillar of the rule of law and the “one country, two systems” principle. In response to subsequent criticism from Beijing that Australia “takes the initiative or participates in joint action against China” in Hong Kong and Xinjiang affairs, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that Australia will remain loyal to itself and that “We will always be Australia.”
Hong Kong’s version of the “National Security Law” appeared, elections were postponed … How will Hong Kong continue the path of democracy?
New Zealand’s participation in the Five Eyes Alliance Joint Statement is the first time it has expressed its position on the resolution of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Congress. However, the ruling party and opposition parties recently urged newly re-elected Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to agree to adopt the “Hong Kong Life Raft” plan to help young Hong Kongers who have suffered political persecution.
US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien commented on the 11th that “one country, two systems” is now only used to cover people’s eyes and ears and to escort the CCP’s one-party dictatorship in Hong Kong. Washington does not rule out further investigation and imposition of sanctions based on the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act”, the “Hong Kong Autonomy Act” and the United States “Presidential Executive Order on the Normalization of Hong Kong” .
What is Beijing’s attitude towards criticism from the Five Eyes Alliance countries?
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin last week criticized “a few countries” for “blaming” the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The Hong Kong Foreign Ministry Office questioned that the Sino-British Joint Declaration does not empower foreign countries to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. “On the contrary, they themselves blatantly violated international law, interfered in China’s internal affairs to no end, perverted in the international arena, ignored the rules, trampled on justice, violated contracts and withdrew, fraudulently intimidated, applied sanctions. everywhere and put domestic law above international law. “
Because of Hong Kong, China-UK relations are undergoing long-term changes.
Beijing’s response to Australia appears to be the most intense. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday that the Chinese embassy in Australia sent a document to the newspaper’s Channel Nine Media Group, detailing 14 disputes over Australia-China relations, and said that an employee of the Chinese embassy held a meeting in Canberra. A press conference said: “China is angry. If you want to defeat China as an enemy, China will treat you as an enemy.”
The report said that in this document, China accused Australia of “leading a crusade” against China in the affairs of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang. On Tuesday (17), China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also listed Australia’s three “misstatements” against China. The first is a “flagrant violation of the basic norms of international relations, and has repeatedly involved the core of China in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.” Mistakes of words and deeds on the issue of interests, including many times in the Human Rights Council and other times in Xinjiang-related matters or participating in joint actions against China, high-profile interference in Hong Kong’s national security legislation “.
Prior to this, Beijing had repeatedly criticized the UK for “reissuing the British national (foreign) passport (BNO)”, warning that China would consider not recognizing the British national (foreign) passport as a valid travel document and would reserved other measures. Right.
