English-speaking Intelligence Alliance 'Five Eyes' Transforms into Anti-China Coalition

Criticism of Hong Kong General Election Postponement Through Joint Statement

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The 'Five Eyes' countries, an intelligence alliance of the English-speaking Western world, have formed an anti-China coalition.

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

The foreign ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand issued a joint statement on the 9th (local time) condemning the Hong Kong government's postponement of the general election and the disqualification of pro-democracy candidates.

According to the U.S. Department of State, in the joint statement released that day by the five foreign ministers including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, they said, "We are seriously concerned about the Hong Kong government's unjust disqualification and the postponement of the Legislative Council election," and "We support the legitimate expectation of Hong Kong residents to elect Legislative Council members through genuinely free, fair, and credible elections." They demanded that the disqualified candidacies be reinstated and that the general election be held as soon as possible.

The Hong Kong government, at the end of last month, disqualified 12 pro-democracy Legislative Council candidates including Joshua Wong, a key figure in the 'Umbrella Movement,' and postponed the Legislative Council election by one year citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also stated, "We express serious concern over China's enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, which undermines the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents," emphasizing that "China promised autonomy and freedom to Hong Kong residents under the 'one country, two systems' principle and must keep that promise."

The statement attracted attention as all Five Eyes countries participated. The Five Eyes countries have joined the U.S. in increasing pressure on China, including successively suspending extradition treaties with Hong Kong. The Five Eyes countries are the highest-level allies among U.S. partners, sharing intelligence among themselves.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.