China slams US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for condemning Hong Kong extradition bill
- Beijing demands Washington stop interfering in China’s internal affairs after Pelosi says Congress would reassess whether Hong Kong has ‘sufficient autonomy’
- British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt adds his support for the protesters, saying the legislation ought to be put on hold
China hit back at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday over what it called “erroneous remarks” about Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill, calling on Washington to stop interfering in Beijing’s affairs.
“The affairs of Hong Kong are purely the internal affairs of China. No other nation, organisation and individual can intervene,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said when asked about a statement by Pelosi on Tuesday night.
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to some people in the US for making irresponsible and incorrect remarks on the amendment to the extradition bill.
“We demand the United States view the [bill] objectively and impartially, and be cautious in making remarks, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and the internal affairs of China.”
In her statement, Pelosi, the California Democrat who runs the House of Representatives, condemned the extradition bill and said that if it was passed the US Congress would reassess whether Hong Kong had “sufficient autonomy”.
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She said the bill – which would allow extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China – “chillingly showcases Beijing’s brazen willingness to trample over the law to silence dissent and stifle the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong”.
“The extradition bill imperils the strong US-Hong Kong relationship that has flourished for two decades. If it passes, the Congress has no choice but to reassess whether Hong Kong is ‘sufficiently autonomous’ under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework,” she said, referring to the principle under which the special administrative region maintains its own political, legal, economic and financial systems.
“This legislation would legitimise and legalise the kidnapping of businessmen, booksellers and anyone that China disagrees with, and imperils the safety of the 85,000 Americans living in Hong Kong.”
Pelosi said that the Congress “looked forward” to the “introduction [soon] of a new bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act”, which would establish punitive measures against government officials responsible for “suppressing fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong”.
On Wednesday, the British government also called on Hong Kong authorities to put on hold legislation of the extradition bill.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, now vying to become the next prime minister, released a statement that said in part: “I urge the Hong Kong government to listen to the concerns of its people and its friends in the international community and to pause and reflect on these controversial measures.”
Hunt added that that the Hong Kong government must “engage in meaningful dialogue and take steps to preserve Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy, which underpin its international reputation”.
Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May also expressed concern, questioning whether the proposed legislation corresponded with the rights and freedoms prescribed in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
“We are concerned about potential effects of these proposals, particularly obviously given the large number of British citizens there are in Hong Kong,” May told parliament on Wednesday.
“But it is vital that those extradition arrangements in Hong Kong are in line with the rights and freedoms that were set down in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.”
On May 30, the British and Canadian foreign ministers also issued a joint statement expressing concern about the potential impact of the bill on its citizens as well as “business confidence and on Hong Kong’s international reputation”.
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The concerns come as China and the United States are at odds on a range of fronts, from trade and China’s military deployment in the South China Sea, its possible human rights abuses in Xinjiang and US restrictions on Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies.
On Monday, the US State Department expressed support for Hong Kong protesters, estimated at more than 1 million, who took to the streets on Sunday to demonstrate against the extradition bill, saying it had “grave concern” about the proposal and that any amendments should be pursued with great care.
Geng, of China’s foreign ministry, said the central government in Beijing resolutely supported the Hong Kong government’s efforts to change the extradition law.
“I also want to point out that since the handover, ‘one country, two systems’ – the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong and high autonomy – has been thoroughly implemented. The rights and freedom enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens have been thoroughly protected. We hope the relevant people in the US can fully respect this fact,” he said.
Additional reporting by Stuart Lau
