US Lawmakers Recommend Nobel Prize for 'Hong Kong Democracy Movement'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. Congress members have nominated the 'Hong Kong pro-democracy movement' for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

On the 3rd (local time), AP News and others reported that nine U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Jim McGovern, nominated the 'Hong Kong pro-democracy movement' for the Nobel Peace Prize. All nine members (five Democrats and four Republicans) belong to the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

In their nomination letter, they stated, "We nominate the movement that has peacefully advocated for and maintained human rights and democracy in Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997, and has continuously fought against the erosion of these rights."

They added, "Many pro-democracy activists have already been imprisoned, some have gone into exile, and more are awaiting trials where guilty verdicts are expected," criticizing, "All of this is solely because they peacefully expressed their political views through speech, publication, elections, and assembly."

They also pointed out, "China enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law) in response to opposing public opinion and protests, and this law is being actively used to suppress human rights and democracy."

The Chinese government immediately reacted. On the 4th, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized at a regular briefing that using the Nobel Peace Prize to empower anti-China forces would only damage the image of the United States.

Spokesperson Wang urged, "Some U.S. lawmakers should objectively and rationally view China and stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of the Hong Kong issue."

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