US won’t let China ‘swallow’ HK
Pompeo says it is a ‘sad day’ for Hong Kongers, warns Beijing of new countermeasures
Washington, July 1: The US has warned China that it will not stand idle while it “swallows” Hong Kong into its “authoritarian maw”, a day after Beijing imposed a “draconian” national security law in the former British territory. In a strongly-worded statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was a “sad day” for the people in Hong Kong and warned China of new countermeasures, including ending defence and dualuse technology exports to the territory.
The national security law came into effect in Hong Kong on Tuesday dramatically broadens the powers of local and Chinese authorities to investigate, prosecute and punish dissenters. The law, approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping, criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers.
People convicted of such crimes can face sentences of up to life in prison. Reacting to Beijing’s move, Pompeo said, “The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) decision to impose draconian national security legislation on Hong Kong destroys the territory’s autonomy and one of China’s greatest achievements.” “Hong Kong demonstrated to the world what free Chinese people could achieve — one of the most successful economies and vibrant societies in the world,” he said on the 23rd anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from British rule to China.
But Beijing’s “paranoia and fear” of its own people’s aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory’s success, turning ‘One Country, Two Systems’ into ‘One Country, One System’, he said.
“Today marks a sad day for Hong Kong, and for freedom-loving people across China,” the top US diplomat said. The Chinese Communist Party promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people, and gave them only 23. Within