China slams US 'interference' in its 'internal affairs'

ANKARA

China on Tuesday condemned what it termed interference in its "internal issues" as the US sanctioned four Chinese officials over the recently passed national security law in Hong Kong.

"The purpose of the National Security Law is to protect the vast majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents… The US sanctioning of four Chinese officials over Hong Kong is blatant interference in China's internal affairs, which seriously violates international law and the basic principles of international relations," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference in the capital Beijing.

On Monday, Washington imposed sanctions on four officials in Hong Kong's governing and security establishment over their alleged role in "crushing dissent" in the semi-autonomous region.

Beijing has come under criticism for implementing the new law this July which, it maintains, is aimed at tackling unrest and instability.

"The central government firmly supports the Hong Kong government in fulfilling its duties in accordance with the law," Wang said, condemning the sanctions, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.

The four Chinese officials sanctioned by the US State Department are Deng Zhonghua, the deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office; Edwina Lau, the deputy commissioner of police in Hong Kong, and Li Jiangzhou and Li Kwai-wah, two officials at the newly-established national security office in Hong Kong.

However, officials in the former British colony have asserted to "continue defending Hong Kong and safeguard China's national security." Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said the sanctions were "unacceptable" and "barbaric."

Tensions between the world’s two largest economies escalated after the passing of the controversial law, Beijing’s alleged human rights violations, and political attacks over the origin of the novel coronavirus.

Canada, US 'abuse legal procedures'

Meanwhile, the Chinese spokesman said the US and Canada are "abusing legal procedures" by "illegally" interrogating Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

"Meng Wanzhou has been unjustifiably detained for over 700 days," he said, adding: "Canada [should] look into the fundamental reason of the issue, as more evidence shows the US and Canada have abused legal procedures and illegally interrogated Meng."

"Canada refuses to disclose key evidence to the public [that] indicates the political nature of the case," the official claimed.

Meng, 48, is accused of dealings that violated US sanctions against Iran. She is wanted in the US and is fighting an extortion case from under house arrest in Vancouver.