U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urges the immediate and unconditional release of more than 50 pro-democracy activists arrested in Hong Kong and announces that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan, according to a Jan. 6 statement.
Hong Kong democrats in July last year, a series of two days held 35 + Legislative Council election primary election, a total of 610,000 people voted. About 52 pro-democracy activists were arrested by the Hong Kong police at the doorstep early on the 6th of local time, saying they were suspected of violating the “Hong Kong National Security Law”. In response, Pompeo said, “Today, local authorities in Hong Kong arrested more than 50 politicians and pro-democracy activists, an outrageous reminder of the Communist Party’s contempt for its own people and the rule of law. Those arrested are innocent of any wrongdoing and are simply exercising the democratic rights promised by the treaty and to which they are entitled by virtue of their humanity. They should be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Pompeo said, “The United States will not stand idly by while the people of Hong Kong suffer under communist oppression. The United States will consider sanctions and other restrictions on any and all individuals and entities involved in attacks against the people of Hong Kong, explore restrictions on Hong Kong’s economic and trade offices in the United States, and take immediate and additional action against officials who undermine the democratic process in Hong Kong. I am also appalled by the news of the arrest of a U.S. citizen in the midst of this campaign of political repression. Let me be clear: The United States will not tolerate arbitrary detention or harassment of American citizens.”
Pompeo said, “The United States supports the people of Hong Kong and all those who aspire to freedom. In that spirit, I am pleased to announce an upcoming visit by U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Kraft to Taiwan, a reliable partner and vibrant democracy that is thriving despite the efforts of the Chinese Communist Party to undermine its tremendous success. Taiwan shows what a free China can achieve.”
The report said that Craft, who has made several public statements in support of Taiwan’s international engagement since taking office in 2019, will be the first current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to visit Taiwan since the U.S.-Taiwan diplomatic relationship was severed. But Pompeo did not disclose the date of Craft’s visit to Taiwan. Earlier, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for the next U.S. Secretary of State, John Blinken, said via Twitter that “mass arrests of pro-democrats are an attack on those brave enough to advance universal human rights. The Biden-Harris Administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong in opposing Beijing’s crackdown on democracy.”
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular press conference on the 7th that Pompeo’s above statement is a serious violation of the basic norms of international relations, a serious interference in China’s internal affairs and judicial sovereignty, and a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, which China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns. Hua Chunying stressed that we urge the U.S. side to immediately stop the words and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs, harm China’s interests and damage China-U.S. relations. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and security interests. The U.S. side will definitely pay a heavy price for its wrongdoing.
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