China Slams Foreign Criticism of Hong Kong Security Law

China has strongly condemned foreign countries and institutions for criticizing Hong Kong’s new national security law, calling it an internal matter that outsiders have no right to interfere in. The sweeping legislation, which was passed unanimously by Hong Kong lawmakers on Tuesday, aims to crack down on dissent and pro-democracy protests that rocked the semi-autonomous territory in 2019.

Dismissing “Groundless Accusations”

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in Britain urged the UK to stop making “groundless accusations” about the security law. “Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, and the British side is not qualified to make irresponsible remarks,” the embassy said. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron had expressed concerns that the law would have “far-reaching implications” and further erode the rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers.

U.S. Warns of “Closing Open Society”

The United States also voiced apprehension, saying it believes the new bill “has the potential to accelerate the closing of a once-open society.” During a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denounced countries and institutions that “slander and smear” the legislation, calling such attacks “doomed to failure.”

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Protecting National Security a Priority

Lin defended the law as necessary for protecting China’s national security interests in Hong Kong. “The firm determination to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs is unswerving. Any attack on the protection of national security is a smear. It will never succeed, will be doomed to failure,” he said.

Eroding Freedoms Concerns

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” arrangement that was supposed to preserve the city’s democratic freedoms and way of life. However, critics argue that those freedoms, including freedom of speech, have been rapidly eroded – especially since the imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020.

Beijing Dismisses Foreign Criticism

Despite international condemnation, Beijing has dismissed foreign criticism of its policies in Hong Kong as unwarranted meddling in its internal affairs. With the latest security law, the ruling Communist Party appears determined to tighten its grip on the former British colony and snuff out the pro-democracy movement that triggered months of sometimes violent protests in 2019.