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WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand has actually suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and made a number of other modifications following China’s choice to pass a national security law for the territory, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters stated on Tuesday.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters speaks during a press conference after he went to an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey, March 22,2019 REUTERS/Murad Sezer/Files
” New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is adequately independent from China,” Peters stated in a declaration.
” If China in future programs adherence to the ‘one nation, two systems’ framework then we could reevaluate this choice.”
Beijing imposed new legislation on the former British colony previously this month regardless of the protests of Hong Kong locals and Western nations, setting the financial hub on a more authoritarian track.
Australia, Canada and Britain all suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong earlier this month. U.S. President Donald Trump has ended preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong.
Peters said New Zealand will deal with military and dual-use products and innovation exports to Hong Kong in the exact same method as it deals with such exports to China as part of a review of its overall relationship with Hong Kong.
Travel advice has been updated to alert New Zealanders to the threats provided by the new security law, he included.
In a website statement, the Chinese embassy in New Zealand called the choice a violation of global law and gross disturbance in China’s internal affairs.
” The Chinese side has actually lodged its serious concern and strong opposition,” an embassy representative said in the statement.
China reserves the right to make an additional action, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at an everyday news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner, with annual two-way trade just recently going beyond NZ$32 billion ($21 billion).
New Zealand’s ties with China have torn recently after the Pacific nation backed Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Modifying by Sam Holmes and Clarence Fernandez
