US suspends its extradition treaty with Hong Kong over China’s national security law
- ‘These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing’s decision to impose the national security law, which has crushed’ Hongkongers’ freedoms: officials
- Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France and Britain have also recently halted their extradition agreements with Hong Kong
The US State Department halted its extradition treaty with Hong Kong on Wednesday, in the latest sign of deteriorating US-China relations in the weeks since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong.
The treaty was one of three US bilateral agreements with Hong Kong that the Trump administration announced it was suspending.
“These agreements covered the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships,” said Morgan Ortagus, the State Department spokeswoman.
The State Department said the move was pursuant to President Donald Trump’s July 14 executive order, which declared that Hong Kong was “no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to the People's Republic of China” because of the national security law.
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US suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong over city’s national security law
“These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing’s decision to impose the national security law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong,” Ortagus said.