EU Urges China to Respect Hong Kong Autonomy

Strict Isolation Measures in Place in Northeastern China as Virus Continues to Spread

As China’s National Health Commission continued to announce more CCP virus infections in northeastern China, locals described a tense atmosphere as they scrambled to understand the true scale of the outbreak. Chinese authorities have consistently underreported virus infections, leading to citizens’ distrust of official data. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, first broke out in central China’s Wuhan city in late 2019. It quickly spread across the country. After a brief period in which most regions of China reported little to no new infections, since early April, virus outbreaks have occurred in the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning in northeastern China. Jilin Jilin authorities announced the “patient zero” of the second wave outbreak on May 8, a 45-year-old cleaning lady who worked at…

BRUSSELS—China must respect Hong Kong’s autonomy, the European Union said on May 26, amid controversy over Chinese plans to adopt a national security law for the city.

“We attach great importance to the preservation of Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy in line with the Basic Law and international commitments,” European Council President Charles Michel, who represents European governments, said.

Speaking after a video conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he said Europe and Japan “share the same ideas” on China. “We are not naive about Chinese behavior,” Michel said.

EU Urges China to Respect Hong Kong Autonomy

He said Europe supported the “one country, two systems” principle that governs Hong Kong’s autonomy.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has proposed a security law that would reduce Hong Kong’s separate legal status and is expected to be discussed by China’s National People’s Congress and approved on Thursday.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the issue at a regular meeting on Friday. A spokeswoman for the EU’s executive Commission said it was too early to say if the bloc would consider sanctions against Beijing. Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said on Monday that the EU needs a “more robust strategy” for Beijing.

By Robin Emmott

Focus News: EU Urges China to Respect Hong Kong Autonomy

Taiwan Considers Revoking Hong Kong’s Special Status as Beijing’s National Security Law Looms

TAIPEI鈥擟hina’s planned national security law may prompt Taiwan to revoke the special status it extends to Hong Kong, President Tsai Ing-wen said, a move that could anger Beijing and make it harder for Hongkongers to visit and invest. China is proposing the new legislation for the Chinese-ruled city after months of anti-government protests, and the decision has already ignited renewed unrest in Hong Kong and prompted condemnation from Western countries. The demonstrators have won widespread sympathy in democratic, self-ruled Taiwan, and the support for the protesters by Tsai and her administration has further fueled tensions between Taipei and Beijing, which views the island state as part of its territory. China has repeatedly denounced Taiwan’s government for supporting the protesters. Writing on her Facebook page late on Sunday, Tsai said the…