Russia backed China’s law on Hong Kong slamming “external interference” on Thursday, and maintaining that the world must respect the territorial sovereignty of China. These remarks were aired by Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a video-conference meeting.
Speaking at a video conference in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the situation in Hong Kong “a purely internal affair” of China.
Russia backs China: opposes ‘external interference‘ in Hong Kong
Russia opposes foreign meddling in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
“If we all respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China, and I think there is no doubt about that, then we should consider the situation in Hong Kong as a purely internal matter of China. This also implies our Russian position: we are categorically against external interference in relations between the central government and one of the country’s regions,” she said.
Read more: Businesses rally around China in support of new Hong Kong law
Russia’s position remains unchanged that all issues concerning Hong Kong are internal affairs of China, and Moscow respects China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zakharova said during a weekly news briefing.
Crystal clear position; no ambivalence whatsoever. This badly isolates US whose efforts to rally EU countries have fallen far short of expectations. EU expresses concern over HK, but it will not prevent constructive engagement with China. ASEAN is aloof. https://t.co/piPqQsCp4b
— M. K. Bhadrakumar (@BhadraPunchline) July 3, 2020
“We are against all attempts of external forces to interfere in the relations between China’s central government and its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” she added.
Zakharova’s remarks came amid the one year anniversary of China and Russia upgrading bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Russia backs China by criticising UK move in UNSC
“Russia respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China. We consider the situation in Hong Kong to be an internal matter of China and call on foreign forces to end any interference in relations between the central government and its special administrative region,” Zakharova said Thursday at a press briefing.
https://twitter.com/st_aubrun/status/1279005596835098626
According to the spokeswoman, the US and UK attempt to initiate a discussion on Hong Kong at the Security Council last week was aimed more than anything else at ‘settling scores’ with a geopolitical adversary, and therefore “unacceptable” to Moscow.
Read more: US tries to salvage lost pride over Hong Kong: imposes sanctions on China
“Attempts to fill the Security Council’s agenda with topics that go beyond its mandate are counterproductive and threaten to reduce its effectiveness and weaken the authority of this body. It’s worth recalling that the Security Council has a crucial importance to the modern system of international relations,” the spokeswoman stressed.
More than 70 countries, including Russia, have backed China’s stance on Hong Kong.
What is the new Hong Kong security law?
On Tuesday, a new National Security Law was unanimously passed by China’s National People’s Congress and then signed by President Xi Jinping.
The law, which makes it a crime to undermine Beijing’s authority in Hong Kong, came in the wake of months of protests last year in the semi-autonomous territory.
It is touted by China as a move toward restoration of peace and stability in the now volatile region. Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, witnessed large protests last year against a move to legalize extradition of accused people to mainland China.
The Western world has been vocal in its harsh condemnation of the law, which it says will give unfettered powers to China to stamp out dissent in the territory, which it says is incongruous to the democratic charter of Hong Kong.
Read more: China one-ups the West by passing Hong Kong law
The new law, comprising six chapters and 66 articles, criminalizes four types of acts: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.
The new legislation was met by harsh criticism in Europe.
On Wednesday morning, over 300 Hong Kong activists were arrested for demonstrating against the new law and raising pro-independence flags and banners.
GVS News Desk with additional input by Anadolu and other sources
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