White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said Sunday (Jan. 10) that the United States is considering further action in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of democracy in Hong Kong and its refusal to cooperate with the investigation into the source of the Chinese Communist virus (Wuhan pneumonia), after more than 50 pro-democracy activists were arrested in Hong Kong.
Last week, Hong Kong’s National Security Division arrested some 55 pro-democracy politicians and activists, the largest arrests since the Chinese Communist Party enacted its “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law.
In a statement, O’Brien said, “More than 50 people, including former elected officials, were politicized and arrested last week for exercising their political rights as guaranteed by the Hong Kong Basic Law.”
He said it was a new nail in the coffin of Hong Kong’s democracy that Beijing had driven into the coffin.
“The United States is the first major power to have the courage and conviction to honestly recognize the Chinese Communist regime for what it really is,” O’Brien said, “and it is critical that the nations of the world hold Beijing accountable.”
The Trump administration, O’Brien said, “foresaw and declared the death of a free and open society in Hong Kong” last May, that is.
The statement also noted, “Last May, the U.S. government demanded answers from Beijing about the source of the virus and accused the World health Organization of listening to the Chinese Communist Party, which allowed the truth to be concealed. Just as China has ignored its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, it continues to ignore the International Health Regulations.”
“The world cannot continue to pay a heavy price for its naiveté or for being complicit in Beijing’s irresponsible and harmful practices. Whether it is ending the rule of law in Hong Kong or failing to cooperate with health officials on the outbreak,” he said, adding that “the United States is working on further response options.”
On Saturday, the diplomatic chiefs of the United States, Australia, Canada and Britain, in a joint statement, condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s arrests in Hong Kong.
“It is clear that the National Security Law is being used to eliminate dissent and opposing political views,” the diplomats said, “and we call on the authorities in Hong Kong and the CCP to respect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong guaranteed by law so that they do not have to fear arbitrary arrest and detention. “
The joint statement was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lantawine, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
Last week, on the eve of a joint session of the U.S. Congress, the Chinese Communist Party took the opportunity to arrest more than 50 pro-democracy activists who hosted or participated in last year’s democratic primaries. Hong Kong officials said the pro-democracy primaries violated “subversion of state power” under the “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law. All but three have been released on bail, according to the Associated Press.
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