On Tuesday, a spokesman for China’s embassy to the United Kingdom (UK) said China would resolutely respond to acts of interference in its internal affairs, reported Reuters.
The statement comes after the UK announced it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong “immediately and indefinitely” because of the recent national security law imposed by China in Hong Kong.
Addressing lawmakers, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, “Given the role, China has now assumed for the internal security of Hong Kong and the authority it is exerting over law enforcement, the UK will extend to Hong Kong the arms embargo that we have applied to mainland China since 1999.”
“There will be no exports from the UK to Hong Kong of potentially lethal weapons, their components or ammunition. It will also mean a ban on the export of any equipment, not already banned, which might be used for internal repression,” he added.
Along with welcoming steps taken by Australia, Canada, and the US with respect to Hong Kong, Raab also confirmed the UK’s provision of citizenship for up to 3 million Hong Kongers following China’s imposition of the new security law.
Referring to UK’s recent actions and statements, China’s spokesman to the UK accused Britain of continuously violating international law and not following the basic norms of international relations, and further stated that the UK would “bear the consequences if it insists on going down the wrong road”.