The deliberation of the EU foreign ministers on China’s increasing grip on Hong Kong that was planned on Monday has been taken off the agenda by the blockade of one member state. Insiders confirm this. According to news agency Reuters it concerns Hungary.
Ministers will still meet online on Monday, but no longer about China. According to those involved, the vast majority, including the Netherlands, would have liked to do so. The topic has been postponed for another month. Previously, Hungary and Greece have already blocked statements about China. The Chinese are investing heavily in both Member States.
The European Union is concerned about more and more Beijing actions that restrict democracy in Hong Kong and threaten human rights. On Friday, Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and nine other pro-democratic activists were sentenced to prison for organizing and attending anti-government protests in 2019 and 2020.
The massive demonstrations in Hong Kong initially took place over a bill to allow extradition to China, but increasingly became an expression of broader dissatisfaction with democracy degradation. Last year, China introduced a strict security law in Hong Kong.
The EU already imposed punitive measures against China last month
Last month, the EU imposed punitive measures against China for violating the human rights of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang province. Beijing immediately responded with sanctions against Europe. Two Dutch people, Member of Parliament Sjoerd Sjoerdsma and EU ambassador in Brussels Delphine Pronk, have also ended up on the Chinese sanctions list. They are not allowed to travel to China or do business with the country.
Outgoing minister Stef Blok (Foreign Affairs) has summoned the Chinese ambassador for this. The Netherlands will “join forces with the other EU countries in our further response,” he said at the time.
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