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| US State Department spokesman Ned Price. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongmyeong Woo |
The US voiced criticism, saying that it was an “attack on freedom” as China passed a bill to reorganize the Hong Kong election system, which strengthens direct control over Hong Kong, with overwhelming approval at the National People’s Congress (Non-in University).
According to Reuters on the 11th (local time), US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a briefing, “What the NPC approved today is a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, freedom and democratic process, restricting political participation, reducing democratic representation, and political debate. “It is trying to suppress the point about it.
Previously, the NPC passed the draft’Resolution on Completion of the Hong Kong Election System’ at the 13th 4th Plenary Meeting with 2895 votes in favor and 1 abstention.
The focus of this bill is said to be aimed at strengthening the dominance of the central government (China) by eradicating anti-Chinese forces in the Hong Kong legislative assembly.
A spokesman for Price said at the US-China Alaska talks on the 18th that Secretary of State Tony Blincoln would be honest with Chinese officials about how China is challenging US values.
American values are interpreted to mean human rights and democracy.
“There will be some difficult dialogues,” said Price. “The point is that we do not want to participate in the’talks for talks’,” he said. “We will also look for areas of cooperation with China, such as climate change.”
Earlier on the day, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said, “China and the United States have common interests and many areas of cooperation,” said, “China will respect the core interests of the United States and each other, and hope that the bilateral relations will develop soundly based on win-win cooperation and non-interference in internal affairs. I hope,” he said.