Beijing urges ‘caution’ in handling of Singapore’s seized military vehicles
Foreign ministry spokesman stresses impound in Hong Kong is in accordance with the law
Beijing has called on Singapore to be cautious in its handling of the seizure of nine of its military vehicles in Hong Kong.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday that the Hong Kong government was handling the incident in accordance with the law, after Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the detention of the vehicles did not comply with international law.
“I hope the relevant parties can be cautious in their remarks and actions,” Lu said.
“I want to stress that China hopes other nations, including Singapore, follow the one-China principle. This is the foundation for bilateral ties between China and any other nation. I hope the relevant parties can follow the laws of Hong Kong, China.”
On Monday, Ng told Singapore’s parliament that the vehicles were the property of the Singapore government and thus protected by international law. The vehicles could not be seized or forfeited under the principle of sovereign immunity, according to a statement posted on the nation’s defence ministry website.