Assita Kanko on Hong Kong: “We need concrete action from the EU, not words”

“Words alone are not enough. The EU must not wait, but must take steps.” MEP Assita Kanko wants the EU to take action against China now that a Chinese law has come into force that severely restricts relative freedom in Hong Kong. “Otherwise, the European Union risks becoming a powerless dwarf on the geopolitical scene.”

The controversial Chinese “security law” came into force on Wednesday. It puts an end to the relative liberal freedom that the people of Hong Kong have enjoyed to date. The consequences are immense and drastically curtail the freedom of the residents of Hong Kong.

Global provocation

Assita Kanko has often pointed out the dangers of the growing Chinese seizure of power on the geopolitical stage. “China thinks it has the playing field all to itself. This is not just a power grab in Hong Kong, it is a global provocation. We can’t respond with words alone. The EU must act now.”

A basic act of an authoritarian police state

The new security law reads as an outright attack on the democratic rights that the residents of Hong Kong have so far enjoyed. “It is the standard manual of any authoritarian police state: all democratic freedoms are drastically curtailed, secret trials become possible, the government is not held accountable for its actions, and any kind of peaceful protest is categorised as terrorism, sedition or state subversion,” according to Assita Kanko, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Europe as a powerless dwarf

“As I said in a previous press statement, it is up to the EU to respond to this clearly and forcefully. Otherwise, the EU risks becoming a powerless dwarf on the geopolitical scene. China can get away with a lot, simply because the international community allows it. For the time being, the EU has only reacted with words to “express its concern”. That won’t affect Chinese President Xi Jinping much.”

Discussing the Hong Kong situation in the UN Security Council

A number of measures proposed in the European Parliament resolution of 19 June 2020 must now be made operational. For example, EU Member States that are members of the UN Security Council, including Belgium as a non-permanent member, must convene the Council to discuss the situation in Hong Kong with activists, representatives of NGOs and UN special rapporteurs. The EU and its Member States should bring the matter before the International Court of Justice for breach of international law. And why not blacklist the Chinese politicians, officials and military personnel involved in the repression in Hong Kong?

Won’t be pushed aside when it comes to human rights

“Words alone are not enough. The EU must not wait, but instead it must take steps. In order to protect the citizens of Hong Kong and the European Union from China’s malicious intentions, we must take action. The Member States must now unite and use their collective strength to make it clear to China that we will not allow ourselves to be sidelined when it comes to guaranteeing human rights,” concludes Assita Kanko.