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EU exchange threat on proposed new security law in China and Hong Kong



The European Union said Monday it would do well to promise China its economy and Beijing warned that there would be "very negative consequences" if it went ahead with the new security law, saying the West would cut basic rights.


European Commission President Ursula van der Leyon and European Council Head Charles Mitchell have briefed their top leaders in China about the new legislation, which critics say will undermine the autonomy and independence of the financial center.

The harsh message delivered at Monday's video summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang has sparked international concern over Hong Kong, though Beijing has not shown signs of a law backing. Count.

"We have expressed our serious concerns about the proposed national security law for Hong Kong," Mitchell told reporters after the talks.

"We have called on China to adhere to the promises made to the Hong Kong people and the international community in relation to high levels of autonomy and guaranteed freedom."

In response to European Union comments, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Hong Kong's issues were "domestic relations".

"We oppose foreign intervention in this regard," ministry spokesman Wang Lutong told reporters at a video summit, while Chinese leaders expressed "our position".

The summit report by Chinese state news agency Xinhua made no mention of Hong Kong, but Xi said his country wanted "peace without domination".

Last week, foreign ministers of the G7 group of industrialized countries called for Beijing to review the proposed legislation, expressing concern that it would end its independence in relation to Hong Kong and open the door to repression found in mainland China.

Echoing the language of the G7 statement, van der Leyon said China had made it clear that the EU had considered Beijing's international commitments to implement national security legislation.

'Very negative result'

"The National Security Act severely undermines the principle of 'one country, two systems' and Hong Kong's greater autonomy, which we would like to see."

Van der Leyon says he has warned Chinese leaders that Beijing owes its economic success to Beijing's economic autonomy.

"So we mentioned that China would have a lot of negative consequences if we proceeded to implement this law," she said.

Under the "One Country, Two Systems" treaty, Beijing agreed to retain some of its freedoms to Hong Kong until 2047 - including legislative and judicial independence and freedom of speech - before Britain returned the territory to China in 1997.

Beijing says the new law needs to end unrest and restore stability, following massive and often violent rallies that have become a popular call for democracy and police accountability.

China and the European Union both want to strengthen relations, but relations are strained on issues ranging from trade and investment rules to human rights and national security.

The talks were held on Monday amid rising tensions and growing distrust between Brussels and Beijing.

Cyber ​​complaints

The European Union is outraged that it is an important Chinese campaign for disinfection around the coronavirus pandemic that originated in China.

Van der Lyon said, "We have seen cyber attacks on hospitals and dedicated computing centers. We have seen an increase in online disinfection and we have made it clear that this is unacceptable."

The European Union has in recent months tried to walk a fine line with China, identifying it as a "systemic rival" and competitor, but also as a partner on some issues.

But Monday's announcements were sharp and poignant.

So far, European Union Xi's increasingly vocal efforts to stand up to China have been halted by the lack of unity in its 27 member states, many of which have been mobilized by the Asian giant.

On the way to the summit, Chinese officials calculated the proposed new EU legislation, which was not intended to jeopardize competition in Europe, given the massive state subsidies to foreign firms.

There is particular concern about the Chinese companies' willingness to buy European companies weakened by the coronavirus-induced recession.

According to Xinhua, Xi said China and the European economies should become "the double engine of the global economy" to boost recovery after the epidemic.

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