Hong Kong: China suspends extradition agreement with New Zealand week after latter's move
Beijing: Just a week after New Zealand suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, in response to China passing a new National Security Law- a change that gives the mainland unprecedented power over the territory- Beijing has decided to reciprocate.
Wang Wenbin, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday that the Communist regime will suspend its extradition agreement with Wellington, during a daily briefing.
On July 28, New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters had said that his country no longer trusted that "Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China".
China's passage of its new national security legislation has eroded rule-of-law principles, undermined the 'one country, two systems' framework that underpins Hong Kong's unique status, and gone against commitments China made to the international community.
"If China in future shows adherence to the ‘one country, two systems’ framework then we could reconsider this decision," he said while announcing New Zealand's decision to suspend the extradition treaty.
Reacting to New Zealand's decision, Wenbin said that it grossly interferes in China's internal affairs.
Hong Kong has witnessed a series of unrest ever since the new rule was imposed on June 30.
It led to some pro-democracy advocates fleeing the country and the local government disqualifying the candidature of as many as 12 people from the upcoming elections.
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