China on Tuesday warned of "the consequences" of the UK's suspension of its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, a further sign of the deterioration of already strained Sino-UK relations.
The move, taken on Monday in protest against a controversial security law in the former British colony, threatens to further strain relations between London and Beijing.
It comes after the United Kingdom announced it was banning all equipment of the Chinese group Huawei from its 5G networks and politicians criticized China for its treatment of ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang region.
A serious mistake according to Beijing
A statement on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Great Britain protested against the suspension of the treaty and said "that the British side is going even further in the wrong direction". "China urges the British side to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are China's internal affairs," said the statement attributed to an anonymous Chinese embassy spokesperson.
"The United Kingdom will bear the consequences if it insists on going in the wrong direction", adds the text. The suspension of the UK's extradition treaty follows similar steps taken by the US, Canada and Australia. British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab confirmed the decision in parliament on Monday despite Beijing's reaction citing a serious foreign policy error and the risk of retaliation.
"The government has decided to suspend the extradition treaty immediately and for an indefinite period," Raab said, adding that the national security law promulgated by Beijing - which provides for trying some cases in mainland China - undermines the principles which, for the British, underpin the extradition treaty. The security law is seen by its critics as an erosion of civil liberties and human rights in this semi-autonomous financial center.
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- Minority
- Extradition
- United Kingdom
- Hong Kong
- China
- World