Angered by the decision of Canada, Australia and the UK to suspend extradition treaties with China, Beijing announced the suspension of Hong Kong’s extradition treaties with these countries in response.
Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom are members of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance. Other members are New Zealand, which previously suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, and the United States, which indicated they were preparing to do the same.
“The wrong actions of Canada, Australia and the UK to politicize judicial cooperation with Hong Kong seriously damaged the foundations of judicial cooperation,” the Hong Kong Free Press quotes Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin as saying.
“China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as agreements on cooperation in the field of criminal justice,” he added.
Many countries are unhappy with China’s move to implement Hong Kong’s Security Law. The law, which came into force before July 1, provides for punishment for separatism, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference, up to life imprisonment.
While Australia, the UK and Canada have previously suspended extradition treaties, New Zealand announced it on 28 July. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that “New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China.”