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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/dip...envoy-protest-over-hong-kong-extradition-bill
China summons US envoy in protest over Washington’s condemnation of Hong Kong extradition bill
Police use tear gas to disperse protesters against the anti-extradition law in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
China summoned a US envoy in Beijing on Friday to protest against Washington’s condemnation of Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill.
Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng urgently summoned Robert Forden, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Beijing, for the protest, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
Le said China did not accept foreign forces meddling in Hong Kong affairs.
“China called on the United States ... to immediately stop all interference in Hong Kong’s affairs and stop taking action that would affect the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong,” the statement said. “China will proceed with its next step based on the action taken by the US.”
The last time China summoned a US diplomat was in December when
Beijing protested to US ambassador to China Terry Branstad
over the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada at the request of the US.
What is behind Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests?
In September, Branstad and the US embassy’s defence attache were summoned over Washington’s decision to sanction a Chinese military agency and its director for buying Russian fighter jets and an advanced surface-to-air missile system.
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Le’s protest came after Beijing issued a stern warning to the United States over the extradition bill, reminding Washington that instability in the city does not serve American interests.
Underlining Beijing’s determination to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday that China was resolutely opposed to a move by US lawmakers to introduce bipartisan legislation that would require the US secretary of state to certify Hong Kong’s autonomy each year to justify special treatment for the city.
How Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protesters besieged city’s legislature
“The United States is one of Hong Kong’s major trading partners. It is in the interest of the United States that Hong Kong can continue to be prosperous and stable. It is not good for the United States to mess up Hong Kong,” Geng said.
“I would like to emphasise China’s determination and will to uphold its unshakeable sovereign and development interests. We are not afraid of any threats or intimidation.
“Any attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong and undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability will be confronted by all Chinese people, including the vast number of Hong Kong compatriots.”
The warning came a day after US lawmakers reintroduced proposed legislation to “reaffirm the US commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law at a time when these freedoms and Hong Kong’s autonomy are being eroded through interference by the Chinese government and Communist Party”.
Hong Kong government working to defuse extradition bill crisis, ‘considering pause rather than withdrawal’
If passed, the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act would require the US secretary of state to certify Hong Kong’s autonomy from mainland China so the city could continue enjoying special trade and economic benefits. Those benefits are the result of the US-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, which does not require the autonomy status to be reviewed.
The US is Hong Kong’s second-biggest trading partner, with US$69 billion in merchandise and services trade volume between the two in 2017, according to US data.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also said earlier this month that the US accounted for 18.3 per cent of all foreign companies with regional headquarters or offices in the city.
The reintroduction of the US bill came after hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through the city on Sunday to demonstrate against the proposed extradition legislation which would allow Hong Kong to send suspects to jurisdictions with which it does not have formal extradition treaties, including mainland China. Demonstrations also erupted on Wednesday, ending in a confrontation with police.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier that if the extradition bill was passed, the US Congress would have no choice but to review whether Hong Kong had sufficient autonomy.
Police chief’s disturbing details about Hong Kong extradition bill protests
On Friday, Geng issued his harshest warning this week against “foreign intervention” in Hong Kong’s affairs, accusing foreign politicians and diplomats of fuelling unrest in the city.
“I think everyone should be aware that some Western countries have recently made irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong affairs. Some Western politicians openly support the anti-China and Hong Kong elements,” he said. “Hong Kong is purely the internal affair of China. No nation, organisation or individual can interfere.”
Two days earlier, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said US President Donald Trump might raise the Hong Kong issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan where the two leaders are expected to meet later this month.
And late last month, the British and Canadian foreign ministers issued a joint statement expressing concern about the extradition bill’s potential impact on its citizens as well as “business confidence and on Hong Kong’s international reputation”.
Additional reporting by Catherine Wong
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Beijing summons US envoy over ‘interference’
China summons US envoy in protest over Washington’s condemnation of Hong Kong extradition bill
- Chinese vice foreign minister says Beijing will not accept meddling by foreign forces in Hong Kong’s affairs
- It is in the interest of the United States that Hong Kong continue to be prosperous and stable, foreign ministry says
Police use tear gas to disperse protesters against the anti-extradition law in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
China summoned a US envoy in Beijing on Friday to protest against Washington’s condemnation of Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill.
Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng urgently summoned Robert Forden, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Beijing, for the protest, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
Le said China did not accept foreign forces meddling in Hong Kong affairs.
“China called on the United States ... to immediately stop all interference in Hong Kong’s affairs and stop taking action that would affect the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong,” the statement said. “China will proceed with its next step based on the action taken by the US.”
The last time China summoned a US diplomat was in December when
Beijing protested to US ambassador to China Terry Branstad
over the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada at the request of the US.
What is behind Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests?
In September, Branstad and the US embassy’s defence attache were summoned over Washington’s decision to sanction a Chinese military agency and its director for buying Russian fighter jets and an advanced surface-to-air missile system.
SUBSCRIBE TO US China Trade War
Get updates direct to your inbox
By registering for these newsletters you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Le’s protest came after Beijing issued a stern warning to the United States over the extradition bill, reminding Washington that instability in the city does not serve American interests.
Underlining Beijing’s determination to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday that China was resolutely opposed to a move by US lawmakers to introduce bipartisan legislation that would require the US secretary of state to certify Hong Kong’s autonomy each year to justify special treatment for the city.
How Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protesters besieged city’s legislature
“The United States is one of Hong Kong’s major trading partners. It is in the interest of the United States that Hong Kong can continue to be prosperous and stable. It is not good for the United States to mess up Hong Kong,” Geng said.
“I would like to emphasise China’s determination and will to uphold its unshakeable sovereign and development interests. We are not afraid of any threats or intimidation.
“Any attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong and undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability will be confronted by all Chinese people, including the vast number of Hong Kong compatriots.”
The warning came a day after US lawmakers reintroduced proposed legislation to “reaffirm the US commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law at a time when these freedoms and Hong Kong’s autonomy are being eroded through interference by the Chinese government and Communist Party”.
Hong Kong government working to defuse extradition bill crisis, ‘considering pause rather than withdrawal’
If passed, the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act would require the US secretary of state to certify Hong Kong’s autonomy from mainland China so the city could continue enjoying special trade and economic benefits. Those benefits are the result of the US-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, which does not require the autonomy status to be reviewed.
The US is Hong Kong’s second-biggest trading partner, with US$69 billion in merchandise and services trade volume between the two in 2017, according to US data.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also said earlier this month that the US accounted for 18.3 per cent of all foreign companies with regional headquarters or offices in the city.
The reintroduction of the US bill came after hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through the city on Sunday to demonstrate against the proposed extradition legislation which would allow Hong Kong to send suspects to jurisdictions with which it does not have formal extradition treaties, including mainland China. Demonstrations also erupted on Wednesday, ending in a confrontation with police.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier that if the extradition bill was passed, the US Congress would have no choice but to review whether Hong Kong had sufficient autonomy.
Police chief’s disturbing details about Hong Kong extradition bill protests
On Friday, Geng issued his harshest warning this week against “foreign intervention” in Hong Kong’s affairs, accusing foreign politicians and diplomats of fuelling unrest in the city.
“I think everyone should be aware that some Western countries have recently made irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong affairs. Some Western politicians openly support the anti-China and Hong Kong elements,” he said. “Hong Kong is purely the internal affair of China. No nation, organisation or individual can interfere.”
Two days earlier, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said US President Donald Trump might raise the Hong Kong issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan where the two leaders are expected to meet later this month.
And late last month, the British and Canadian foreign ministers issued a joint statement expressing concern about the extradition bill’s potential impact on its citizens as well as “business confidence and on Hong Kong’s international reputation”.
Additional reporting by Catherine Wong
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Beijing summons US envoy over ‘interference’
