China diplomat in HK summons US envoy over national security concerns

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Feb 2023 19:31

The commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry in Hong Kong summons the US Consul General Gregory May to protest against his "inappropriate" remarks.

US consulate building in Hong Kong (AFP)

The US Consul General Gregory May has been summoned by Liu Guangyuan, the commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry in Hong Kong, to protest against his "inappropriate" remarks, accusing him of endangering national security, according to a spokesperson.

Liu's office told AFP that the Commissioner met May "days ago" to "lodge solemn representations and express strong disapproval to him and his consulate over their inappropriate words and deeds that interfered in Hong Kong affairs."

May, in an online interview last month, expressed his initial concerns about Hong Kong, which included the scrutinization of the rule of law following the imposition of a national security law. May also noted concerns regarding academic freedom and a changing media landscape.

May also accused Beijing, through its interpretation of the national security law that inevitably expanded Hong Kong's authority, could "undermine the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary."

Liu's office, in light of these remarks, accused May of "vilifying Hong Kong's rule of law and freedom."

In that context, the Commissioner's spokesperson highlighted that Liu also had further warned May "not to endanger China's national security, not to engage in political infiltration in Hong Kong, and not to slander or damage Hong Kong's development prospects."

DoD to Al Mayadeen: Won't go into nature of consequences with Beijing

In another context, US Department of Defense Spokesperson Sabrina Singh refused to go into details about the nature of "consequences" that US President Joe Biden's administration threatened China with if it provided Russia with "lethal weapons".

In response to Al Mayadeen's question, Singh confirmed that during talks with their counterparts in China, US officials expressed their rejection of any "lethal" military aid provided to Russia while the war in Ukraine is still ongoing.

This came just days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that China was considering the provision of arms to Russia amid the war in Ukraine, warning that arms supplies from Beijing to Washington would "cause a serious problem."

"The concern we have now is based on information we have that they're considering providing lethal support," Blinken told CBS's Face The Nation.

Asked about what the arms supplies from China would include, Blinken claimed that it would include "everything from ammunition to the weapons themselves."

On his part, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin blamed the US for fueling escalations in the conflict by providing Kiev with arms and weapons.