China-Hong Kong tension: Raab admits Beijing control ‘unstoppable’ as he opens path to UK
CHINA's attempts to extend its influence over Hong Kong are unlikely to be contained with the intervention of the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab admitted.
Dominic Raab: ‘Little’ UK can do for China-Hong Kong tensions
China sparked the fury of the British Government after their controversial "anti-protest" law came into effect across Hong Kong on Wednesday. The new national security law, aimed at containing secession and subversion, spurred Dominic Raab into confirming British National Overseas Passport (BNO) holders will benefit from a new path to British citizenship. But Mr Raab conceded there is "little" else the UK can do to force China into renouncing their threatening behaviour towards Hong Kong.
Speaking to ITV Peston, the Foreign Secretary said: "Ultimately, if they follow through on something like that, there will be little we can do to coercibly force them.
"But I think China is sensible to the damage this is doing to their reputation in the UN Human Rights Council.
"We led yesterday a statement on Hong Kong and Xinchang and human rights issues, that had never been done before.
"We had 27 states in total with us and I think there’s a broader issue here."
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Mr Raab suggested the international backlash China has provoked by imposing the new law on Hong Kong could ultimately force Beijing to reconsider its stance to avoid damage to its reputation.
He continued: "There’s an issue around freedom and human rights in Hong Kong, and there’s an issue around China keeping its word on international obligations it made to the United Kingdom in 1994.
"I wouldn’t want to be naive about this, I think we need to be realistic, but I do think that China, as a rising leading member of the international community, is sensitive to the reputational risks in all of this.
"But clearly not sufficiently that it hasn’t proceeded anyway."
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PMQs: China has 'violated' Hong Kong's autonomy says Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced his full support to Hongkongers taking to the streets on Wednesday to protest the new national security law as he pledged the UK will help the city maintain its autonomy.
Mr Johnson said: "We stand for rules and obligations and we think that is the soundest basis for our international relations and the enactment and imposition of this national security law constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British joint declaration.
"It violates Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and is in direct conflict with Hong Kong basic law.
"The law also threatens the freedoms and rights protected by the Joint Declaration."
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Mr Johnson added: "We made clear that if China continued down this path we would introduce a new route for those with British national overseas status to enter the UK granting them limited leave to remain with the ability to live and work in the UK and thereafter to apply for citizenship and that is precisely what we will do now."
The new legislation came into effect on Wednesday after China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed it unanimously the day before.
The law has made it a criminal act to challenge Beijing's authority and arrests have already been made citing the new rule.
US officials have joined the UK in opposing China’s behaviour, warning of severe consequences in response to the national security law.
Members of both the Democratic and Republican parties have been able to agree in their opposition of China's new law.