In this file photo, taken on November 9, 2018, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese politburo member Yang Jiechi are seen following a press conference, during the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialog, in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department in Washington, DC, the US. (By AFP)
China has strongly objected to interference by the United States and the Group of Seven (G7) in its internal affairs over matters related to Hong Kong.
Senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi conveyed Beijings opposition to foreign interference in Hong Kong-related issues at a high-level meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hawaii on Thursday.
"China resolutely opposes the words and deeds of the US side interfering in Hong Kong affairs and resolutely opposes the statement made by the G7 foreign ministers on Hong Kong-related issues," Yang said.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the G7 foreign ministers urged China to reconsider its decision to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, expressing "grave concerns" about the law.
"The proposed national security law would risk seriously undermining the ‘One Country, Two Systems principle and the territorys high degree of autonomy," the statement read in part.
The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, as well as the EUs High Representative.
Last month, Beijing introduced a new national security law that is expected to criminalize sedition, secession, and subversion against the mainland. The law will also pave the way for Chinese national security institutions to operate in the city for the first time since 1997, when Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule.
Protests erupted in Hong Kong after the law was proposed on May 22.
The US has been holding up the law as a blow to Hong Kongs autonomy and civil liberties. This is while Hong Kong is subject to Chinese sovereignty.
Proponents, however, believe the proposed legislation will return stability and leave political freedoms intact.
Hong Kong was rocked by violent protests over another bill that would have reformed its extradition law last year. Rioters vandalized the city, destroying public and private property and attacking anyone deemed to be pro-government. Hong Kong dropped that bill, but the acts of violence continued.
The Chinese government says the United States and Britain fanned the flames of unrest in Hong Kong by supporting the protesters.
Hong Kong has been governed under the "one-country, two-system" model since the city - a former British colony - was returned to China in 1997.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/18659
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