The US government has sharply criticized the expulsion of several opposition members from parliament in Hong Kong and threatened sanctions. The leadership’s recent actions in Beijing left no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party had „shamelessly violated its international commitments,“ White House National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said yesterday.
The principle of „one country, two systems“, according to which Hong Kong has been governed since 1997, is just a fig leaf hiding the expansion of the one-party dictatorship to Hong Kong, according to O’Brien. The US government will continue to use all its powers to sanction those who are responsible for the „eradication of Hong Kong’s freedom“.
China tightened rules
With his statement, O’Brien responded to a statement from the Hong Kong government that four opposition politicians had been expelled from the parliament in the Chinese Special Administrative Region. In protest against the expulsion, the members of the democratic camp announced their resignation almost completely.
Shortly before, China’s state news agency Xinhua had published a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. According to this, Hong Kong MPs can be stripped of their seats without a court order if they advocate Hong Kong’s independence, engage in activities that – depending on interpretation – endanger national security or help foreign forces interfere in domestic affairs.
Since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong has been part of China again. The “one country, two systems” agreement stipulates that Hong Kongers will enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many freedoms until 2047. However, at the latest since the passing of the Security Act, critics have seen the change to the principle of “one country, one system”.
