US State Department urges release of arrested Hong Kong newspaper reporter
Canada, Germany and the United Nations Office for Human Rights “Infringement on Freedom of the Press”
China demands US stop interfering in internal affairs counter-punitive sanctions
[앵커]
Conflict between the US and China is showing signs of escalation due to the closing of a newspaper that criticizes the government in Hong Kong.
The United States and Western countries are raising their voices of concern, but China dismissed it and faced sanctions against five Americans.
Correspondent Lee Jong-soo.
[기자]
Seven people, including the former and current editor-in-chief of Stand News, an English-language name of Stand News, were arrested by the Hong Kong authorities and eventually closed.
US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln issued a swift statement urging the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to stop any acts of violation of freedom and independence of the press and to immediately release the arrested journalists.
The governments of Canada and Germany also accused Hong Kong authorities of violating freedom of the press.
The United Nations Office for Human Rights has raised concerns that the channels through which Hong Kong citizens can express themselves are rapidly closing.
Taiwanese civic groups have also staged protests against the media crackdown in Hong Kong.
However, the Hong Kong authorities dismissed the demands of the international community, including the United States, saying it was not press suppression.
[캐리 람 / 홍콩 행정장관 : 선동 행위와 공적 활동을 통한 조장 행위가 뉴스 보도란 이름으로 용납될 수 없습니다.]
The Chinese government also countered, saying, “It is a lie that the United States supports freedom of the press” and “stop meddling in internal affairs.”
The Chinese government has also decided to impose sanctions on five U.S. officials, including former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
This is a counter-attack against the US government’s sanctions against five officials of the liaison office in Hong Kong, saying that it is playing a role in undermining democracy.
[자오리젠 / 중국 외교부 대변인 : 미국의 잘못된 행동에 따라 중국은 맞대응하기로 했습니다.]
In the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections on the 19th, the pro-Chinese party won 89 out of 90 seats, and the US-China relations are expected to deteriorate further amid concerns about the loss of the reputation of one country, two systems, one country, two systems due to the closing of this newspaper.
This is YTN Lee Jong-soo.
YTN Jongsoo Lee (jslee@ytn.co.kr)
[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
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