Advertisement
Advertisement
Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio is likely to anger Beijing over his comments on Hong Kong. Photo; AP

US presidential candidate Marco Rubio accuses Beijing of tightening its grip over Hong Kong

Rubio and Congressman Chris Smith call into question the criminal prosecution of student leaders at the forefront of the Occupy protests

US Republican Party presidential hopeful Marco Rubio has accused China of using “tired tactics of repression and intimidation” to “tighten its grip” on Hong Kong, citing criminal proceedings facing Occupy student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung.

In a move likely to anger Beijing and the Hong Kong government, Rubio and fellow US congressman Chris Smith, who co-chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, also called into question the prosecution of student leaders at the forefront of the 2014 Occupy protests .

READ MORE: Xi Jinping is trying to push US out of Asia, Marco Rubio says in personal attack ahead of state visit

A statement issued by the two congressmen described the trial of Wong as “very disturbing”, adding that it appeared to be “nothing more than political muscle flexing targeting those who dared to stand up for freedom and democracy.”

In response, the Hong Kong government called it inappropriate to comment on ongoing criminal cases and said the US claim was “without foundation”.

“Indeed, as is evident from the cases arising from the ‘Occupy Movement’ that have already been prosecuted, they involve defendants from different camps,” the justice department replied. “Any suggestion that any of the prosecutions against persons participating in the ‘Occupy Movement’ were motivated by political considerations is no more than bare assertion without any foundation.”

Rubio sent a letter to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying six months ago when Wong was first charged with other student leaders, questioning their prosecution over alleged contempt of court for contravening a legal injunction imposed on their activities during protests in late 2014.

“Instead of putting Joshua Wong on trial, the Hong Kong government should be promoting and consulting him and his fellow student activists as the best hope for Hong Kong’s future,” said Smith.

READ MORE: US bill ties Hong Kong trade rights to democracy in bid to press China on 2017 elections

Rubio, who is running a poor second to Donald Trump for the Republican party nomination, said the trajectory of recent events in Hong Kong was troubling and merited greater attention from the Obama administration. He also questioned Beijing’s commitment to the principle of “one country, two systems”.

“It is against this backdrop that Joshua’s case goes to trial,” Rubio added. “We will be watching closely how it is handled. He and his fellow students represent the future of Hong Kong, not Beijing’s tired tactics of repression and intimidation.”

Post