China warns UK of ‘forceful counter-attack’

Hindustan Times, 21 July, 2020- China on Tuesday warned the UK of a “forceful counter-attack” after London suspended an extradition treaty with Beijing-ruled Hong Kong weeks after the mainland implemented a controversial security bill in the former British colony.   “China will make a forceful counter-attack to the UK’s wrong actions,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, said at the daily news conference in Beijing.  

“China urges the UK to give up its fantasies of continuing colonial influence in Hong Kong and immediately correct its mistakes,” Wang said, adding that London’s decision violated international law and norms.  

The two countries have had testy exchanges over the new security law for Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.  

Calling the decision to suspend the treaty an interference in China’s internal affairs, Wang added that the Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs, and no foreign country has the right to interfere.