EU Should Take China to UN Court Over Hong Kong, Lawmakers Say

Three Former Political Aides in Taiwan Arrested on Suspicion of Being Chinese Spies

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Three Taiwanese men who were once aides to local lawmakers have been taken into custody on espionage charges for allegedly passing on confidential information to China. The three former aides, Lee Yi-hsien, Chen Wei-jen, and Lin Yun-ta, were interrogated by the prosecutor’s office in Taipei on June 18, after local prosecutors and officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau conducted raids at five separate locations, according to local media. Lee and Chen were detained and held incommunicado for allegedly violating the island’s national security law, after the Taipei District Court granted a request from prosecutors to hold the two suspects, on the grounds that the two could collude or destroy evidence. Meanwhile, Lin was released after paying NT$100,000 (about $3,375) in bail. Prosecutors said the three men were…

BRUSSELS鈥擳he European Union should take China to the International Court of Justice in The Hague if Beijing imposes a new security law on Hong Kong, the European Parliament voted on Friday, also calling on the bloc to use economic leverage to dissuade China.

EU governments have already expressed “grave concern” over China’s security law for Hong Kong, which democracy activists, diplomats, and some businesses say will jeopardize its semi-autonomous status and its role as a global financial hub.

Riot police disperse stand guard as pro-democracy demonstrators take part a singing song protest at Mong Kok, Hong Kong, on June 12, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Pro-democracy demonstrators march holding their phones with flashlights on during a protest to mark the first anniversary of a mass rally against the now-withdrawn extradition bill, in Hong Kong on June 9, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

In a resolution, the European Parliament voted 565 in favor to 34 against, with 62 abstentions to protest the security law that Europe, Australia, and the United States say would undermine the “one country, two systems” principle that governs Hong Kong’s autonomy.

The European Parliament “calls on the EU and its member states to consider, in the event the new security law is applied, filing a case before the International Court of Justice,” the resolution said, referring to the highest United Nations legal body and based in The Hague, Netherlands.

The parliament’s resolutions are non-binding but the political signals they provide can steer policy.

The resolution also called on the EU to consider possible economic sanctions on China.

The parliament “believes that the EU should use its economic leverage to challenge China’s crackdown on human rights by economic means,” the resolution said.

The leaders of the EU institutions and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang are set to hold a summit by video on Monday.

Focus News: EU Should Take China to UN Court Over Hong Kong, Lawmakers Say

Trudeau ‘Very Disappointed’ as China Charges 2 Detained Canadians With Suspected Espionage

BEIJING鈥擟hinese prosecutors said on Friday they have charged two detained Canadians for suspected espionage, indictments that could result in life imprisonment, in a case that has driven a diplomatic wedge between Ottawa and Beijing. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “very disappointed” and would keep pressing China to release the duo. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018 on state security charges, soon after Canadian police detained Huawei Technologies Co’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on a U.S. warrant. While China maintains the detentions are not linked to Meng, former diplomats and experts have said they are being used to pressure聽Canada. China has repeatedly called for Meng’s release, and has warned聽Canada聽it could face consequences for aiding the United States in her case.…