Responding to the United State’s condemnation of China’s new security laws, China has condemned the “gangster logic” of US President Donald J Trump.
Beijing’s Liaison Office stated on the matter:
“Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats by the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behaviour,”
They further warned that any move to end Hong Kong’s special status under U.S. law, as Trump had ordered, would threaten US interests whilst having limited impact on Hong Kong.
The US has responded to the situation in China by imposing a new set of sanctions on the country. Similarly, the UK has responded by offering citizenship to the territory’s residents after Beijing passed a new highly criticised national security law.
The national security law
The new national security law includes 66 articles and harsh penalties, which cover a wide range of alleged offences including on “secession” and “terrorism”. Other articles give Chinese mainland security operatives the right to investigate cases that are vaguely described as "complex", "serious" or “difficult”, as well as trials being held in secret, without a jury, and without guaranteeing bail.
Critics of the law fear that it will erode the freedom enjoyed by those in Hong Kong and were promised to citizens when the land was returned to China in 1997.
The democratic will of Hong Kong
This week, pro-Hong Kong activists held an unofficial “primary” election which was seen as a protest against the measure. The vote was organised so as to help pick candidates for a Sept. 6 election for the 70-seat Legislative Council. However, Beijing has since warned that such a primary would be a violation of the new law.
On Wednesday, former Hong Kong lawmaker, Au Nok-hin, pulled out of organised the weekend vote due to pressure from Beijing.
Another organiser, Andrew Chiu, had pulled out stating in a Facebook post:
“After carefully considering different views ... I would like to withdraw from the coordination work”.
These withdrawals follow the arrest of a 17-year-old for unlawful assembly and a 19-year-old man for obstructing police on 1 July.
According to Reuters, “the 19-year-old tried to help the 17-year-old escape arrest by a policeman who was stabbed in the skirmish. The man accused of stabbing the officer was caught at the airport that night”.
The police have since arrested seven people for assisting him.
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