China May Face Further Sanctions for Removal of Pro-Democracy Hong Kong Legislators
The U.S. threatened sanctions against China and several other countries voiced concern after Beijing removed four pro-democracy legislators from Hong Kong’s parliament this week. U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien Nov. 11 said the forced removals provided more evidence that Beijing is seeking to quash dissent in Hong Kong. He said the U.S. will continue to punish China under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (see 2008110046 and 2006040038). The U.S. will look to “identify and sanction those responsible for extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom,” O’Brien said.
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Other countries said they are following the situation closely. Australia said Nov. 12 that Beijing’s decision “seriously undermines Hong Kong’s democratic processes and institutions” as well as “international confidence” in Hong Kong. It will “continue to monitor developments.” Germany on Nov. 11 said the move “is part of a trend toward the erosion of pluralism and freedom of opinion which has been a source of deep concern for us.” The European Union called for the “immediate reversal of these decisions” by Beijing and said it will review the situation in Hong Kong before year-end. “These latest developments will form part of the assessment,” the EU said Nov. 12.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the statements from other countries and criticized the U.S. sanctions threat. “First, they have no right to make such criticism; second, their criticism makes no sense; and third, their criticism has no audience,” the spokesperson said during a Nov. 12 news conference, adding that Hong Kong developments are “internal” matters. “China will not be pressured and no attempt to undermine China's sovereignty, security, and development interests will succeed.”