Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hua Chunying [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn]
The European Parliament has been urged to challenge the reality of China’s authority in legal matters concerning the Hong Kong Special Administrative Division.
The EP went beyond a resolution criticizing the Hong Kong human rights situation seen as a new intervention in matters within China in the name of human rights.
At a press conference in Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged the legislative body to suspend working as “human rights teachers” for other countries, and to respect sovereignty. and the rule of Chinese law.
Hua emphasized that Hong Kong issues are purely within China and have nothing to do with democratic or human rights issues. A foreign government body or regulator has no right to intervene.
In a press release, a spokesman for the People’s Republic of China Mission to the European Union said EP members have clearly engaged in China’s affairs by passing on the unfounded resolution.
It is perfectly reasonable for allied government departments to engage in illegal activity in their own countries in accordance with the law, in an effort to protect national sovereignty and security, the spokesman said. The handling of legal cases in Hong Kong applies only to matters within China, and no obstruction of foreign forces is acceptable.
The speaker urged the EP to oppose the return of Hong Kong to the mother country in 1997 and to suspend proceedings in Hong Kong affairs.
In a statement on Friday, Hong Kong’s SAR government said the resolution was “biased” politically motivated and does not reflect the truth “.
Reaffirming the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to protect city order and national security, the government said it was “appalled” by a call for MPs to arrest suspects, who are ‘suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be legally immune to sanctions.
In response to the so-called sanctions, the government said this will not affect the intent of Hong Kong officials to protect national security.
Connie Wong Wai-Ching, vice chairman of China’s Chamber of Commerce, said the proposed sanctions and other moves are meant to impede China’s development on the self-expression of Western countries. They have pushed for the continued efforts of international organizations to advance bilateral interests, Wong said.
Lau Siu-kai, vice president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, believes that EP members do not represent most European countries, so the sanctions requested will not they have a major impact on China-EU cooperation.
The resolution called for the release of Hong Kong militants arrested under National Security Law and “other political charges”. He also imposed sanctions against nine Hong Kong and mainland officials, including SAR Chief Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.