China Suspends HK Extradition Treaty with Canada, Australia, UK, Warns NZL
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – China announced Tuesday the suspension of Hong Kong's extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, and the UK in response to the similar decisions by those countries, said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for Chinese foreign ministry.
The three countries all expressed their concern over the newly enacted national security law for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) before declaring the suspension of their extradition treaties with Hong Kong.
According to Wang, the move was gross interference in China's internal affairs and a severe violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.
"The wrong action of Canada, Australia, and the UK in politicizing judicial cooperation with Hong Kong has seriously hurt the basis of judicial cooperation," said Wang.
Earlier Tuesday, New Zealand also suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. China has lodged its grave concern and strong opposition to the decision made by New Zealand, said Wang, CGTN reported.
Wang urged New Zealand to correct its wrong decisions immediately, adding China reserves its right to make a further response.
Chinese Embassy in New Zealand also made its response in a statement on Tuesday.
It stressed that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's internal affairs and allow no foreign interference.
The Chinese side urges the New Zealand side to abide by the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form to avoid further harm to China-New Zealand relations, said the statement.
