US Halts Judicial Cooperation with Hong Kong, China Responds Immediately
Secretary Pompeo, "Chinese Communist Party Suppresses Freedom and Autonomy of Hong Kong People"
Chinese and Hong Kong Authorities Condemned for "Using Hong Kong as a Pawn"
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] On the 19th (local time), after the United States notified Hong Kong authorities of the suspension and termination of three bilateral agreements on extradition and taxation with Hong Kong, China immediately retaliated.
The Chinese government announced on the 20th (local time) that it would suspend judicial cooperation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the United States.
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that day, "China has decided to suspend the implementation of judicial cooperation treaties between the Hong Kong SAR and the United States in response to the United States' wrongful actions."
He added, "The Hong Kong issue is purely an internal matter of China, and no external forces have the right to interfere," and "China urges the United States to stop interfering in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs and not to take the wrong path."
Hong Kong authorities also immediately condemned the U.S. side after receiving the notification, saying, "The United States is using Hong Kong as a 'plaything' to pressure China."
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said, "The agreements were not privileges granted by the United States to Hong Kong but bilateral agreements established in good faith to benefit people and businesses on both sides," and "The Hong Kong SAR government strongly opposes and deplores the United States' actions."
Earlier, the U.S. Department of State explained the justification for suspending the bilateral agreements on extradition, stating in a press release, "This is to emphasize our deep concern regarding China's decision to enact the National Security Law that suppresses the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong."
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also confirmed on his Twitter, "The Chinese Communist Party has chosen to suppress the freedoms and autonomy of the people of Hong Kong," and "Because of the Chinese Communist Party's actions, we are terminating or suspending three bilateral agreements."
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