Beijing is responding to Ottawa, which suspended this treaty in early July to challenge China’s new security law. The United Kingdom and Australia, which have followed suit in Canada, are also targeted.
China on Tuesday suspended the extradition treaty between Hong Kong and Canada. It is a response to the Trudeau government’s decision to do the same to protest against the new security law that Beijing has imposed on the former British colony.
The extradition agreements between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom and Australia, two other countries which have adopted the same policy as Canada, have also been put on hold by the Chinese government.
These erroneous actions … have seriously undermined the foundations of judicial cooperation , Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters.
China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as cooperation agreements in criminal justice matters.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy
Ottawa has yet to react to China’s decision.
In announcing the suspension of the extradition treaty between Ottawa and Hong Kong on July 3, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had serious concerns about the new Chinese security law , which came into force on June 30.
Canada firmly believes in the principle of one country, two systems , he said, in reference to the Chinese policy supposed to guarantee Hong Kong people unparalleled freedoms elsewhere in China until 2047, that is to say 50 years after the surrender of the territory by the United Kingdom.
Mr. Trudeau had also indicated at the same time that exports of sensitive goods to Hong Kong would henceforth be treated like those of China, and that the export of military equipment to the former British colony would be prohibited.
China on Tuesday suspended the extradition treaty between Hong Kong and Canada. It is a response to the Trudeau government’s decision to do the same to protest against the new security law that Beijing has imposed on the former British colony.
The extradition agreements between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom and Australia, two other countries which have adopted the same policy as Canada, have also been put on hold by the Chinese government.
These erroneous actions … have seriously undermined the foundations of judicial cooperation , Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters.
China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as cooperation agreements in criminal justice matters.Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy
Ottawa has yet to react to China’s decision.
In announcing the suspension of the extradition treaty between Ottawa and Hong Kong on July 3, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had serious concerns about the new Chinese security law , which came into force on June 30.
Canada firmly believes in the principle of one country, two systems , he said, in reference to the Chinese policy supposed to guarantee Hong Kong people unparalleled freedoms elsewhere in China until 2047, that is to say 50 years after the surrender of the territory by the United Kingdom.
Mr. Trudeau had also indicated at the same time that exports of sensitive goods to Hong Kong would henceforth be treated like those of China, and that the export of military equipment to the former British colony would be prohibited.
Another Five Eyes member follows suit in Canada
New Zealand risks suffering the same fate soon, as the government of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday that it was also suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
New Zealand can no longer have confidence in the sufficient independence of Hong Kong’s judicial system from China. If China shows in the future that it adheres to the “one country, two systems” principle, then we might reconsider this decision.
Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand
Mr. Peters also said Hong Kong would be treated the same as China for exports of military and dual-use technologies, as part of a review of New Zealand’s overall relationship with the United States. territory.
In a statement on its website, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand denounced a violation of international law and blatant interference in China’s internal affairs.
She spoke of her deep concern and firm opposition to the Ardern government’s decision.
Pending a similar decision in Washington
Like Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance that also brings together the United States.
Washington has also hinted that it will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, but has yet to do so.
The Trump administration has, however, adopted other measures to protest against Chinese law. In particular, it revoked the special status granted to the territory .
The Chinese security law notably allows for the first time Chinese agents to settle in Hong Kong and extradite suspects to mainland China.
Beijing considers it essential to restore order in Hong Kong, after the sometimes violent pro-democracy protests last year .
A policy of extraditing Hong Kong defendants to China had ignited the powder.
Critics of the law, however, see it as an authoritarian drift that could erode the civil liberties and human rights of some 7.5 million Hong Kong citizens.
Since 1997, Hong Kong has enjoyed wide autonomy from mainland China, led by the Communist Party. Its inhabitants must in particular benefit from freedom of expression, freedom of the press and independent justice.
European measures about to be adopted
The European Union (EU) will also limit exports of equipment usable for surveillance and repression in Hong Kong to denounce the application of the Chinese security law imposed by Beijing, according to an AFP diplomatic source in Brussels.
This and other measures to support the people of Hong Kong are to be formally adopted on Tuesday evening, two weeks after being discussed during a meeting of foreign ministers of member states in the Belgian capital.
The application of the security law imposed by Beijing in Hong Kong will have an impact on the EU’s relations with China, announced the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
The measures must have an impact on arms exports, including dual-use, civilian and military. We consider it logical to treat Hong Kong in the same way as mainland China , which is already hit by such measures, explained the German foreign minister, Heiko Maas, during the meeting with his counterparts on July 13.
Part of the measures approved by the EU on Tuesday aims to support the population of the former British colony and enable them to travel easily to Europe through the granting of visas, scholarships and academic exchanges, a- we specified.
