The U.S. Secretary of State, State Department spokesman and national security adviser all tweeted Sunday (Feb. 28) condemning the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government, calling for their immediate release, and saying the U.S. stands with the people of Hong Kong.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted Sunday night, “We condemn the detention and charges against pan-democratic candidates in the Hong Kong election and call for their immediate release.”
“Political participation and free speech should not be a crime. The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong.” Blinken said.
State Department spokesman Ned Price also tweeted, “We join the international community in urging Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to release the detained pan-democratic candidates.”
He added that the move by the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government further confirms that the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law is indeed stifling dissent and undermining Hong Kong’s right to autonomy.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted that Beijing’s detention of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists further underscores China’s (CCP) broken promises to the world about Hong Kong’s autonomy and democratic rights, and “we stand in solidarity with these courageous activists.
Senator: Confronting the Growing Aggression of the Chinese Communist Party
Republican Senator Rick Scott tweeted Monday (March 1), “The Chinese Communist Party’s radical anti-democracy campaign against the people of Hong Kong must end immediately. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam must confront General Secretary Xi Jinping and immediately drop all charges against these freedom-loving citizens.”
Sen. Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, tweeted Monday that all freedom and autonomy for the people of Hong Kong is gone. “We must not ignore the brutal repression of the Chinese Communist Party and the censorship of independent thought. The U.S. must work with our allies to counter the growing aggression of the Chinese Communist Party.” Romney said.
Thousands of Hong Kong people show solidarity with accused pro-democracy activists LEE CHEUK-YAN: Let Beijing see that Hong Kong people’s hearts will not die
Forty-seven pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were charged Sunday with “conspiracy to subvert state power” and detained overnight. This is the largest crackdown on the opposition since the implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law.
Forty-seven people were charged in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, including 39 men and eight women; Tai Yiu Ting, Mao Meng Jing, Au Nuo Xuan, Sham Tze Kit, Chu Kai Dee, Wong Tze Yue, Yeung Ngok Kiu, Lam Cheuk Ting, Sham Ao Fai, Tam Man Ho and Leung Kwok Hung were among them.
More than 1,000 Hong Kong citizens responded to the call of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and gathered outside the West Kowloon Law Courts on Monday morning, with a number of large banners with slogans such as “Free Political Prisoners” written in English and Chinese.
The Washington Post reports that these allegations mean that every activist in Hong Kong who raises a strong or even moderate voice of opposition will either go to jail or go into exile after Beijing tightens its grip on the city. This has crushed Hong Kong’s democratic aspirations.
In an interview with WaPo, Tiffany Yuen said, “None of us had any idea that this would be the case today.” The 27-year-old, who wears pink glasses and fights back tears, said she has no regrets.
“Based on the consequences now, we can’t tell if we made the right or wrong choice,” Yuan said. “It’s our responsibility, at that moment, you have to take the responsibility as a Hong Kong person.”
Speaking to the Voice of America, Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said the large number of people who showed up outside the court to show solidarity with the 47 pro-democracy activists despite the deterrence of the National Security Law could show Beijing that the hearts of Hong Kong people will not die.
So far, 99 people have been arrested on suspicion of violating the National Security Law, according to Hong Kong police data. Among them is media mogul Lai Chi-ying.
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