World news – African Union – China poses an unusual threat to Australia because of Hong Kong

Posted date: 00:34 GMT, November 20, 2020 | Updated: 01:38 GMT, November 20, 2020

China issued an unusual threat to Australia over its Hong Kong policy, saying it was time to « accept the truth » of returning the former British colony to the communist country.

Zhao Legian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to a statement on Hong Kong issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who united for an intelligence partnership known as the Five Eyes.

Mr. Legian said: « Regardless of whether they have five eyes or 10 eyes, if they dare to harm China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, they should beware of exposing their eyes to blindness. ».

China asked Australia to « accept the fact » that the former British colony of Hong Kong (pictured above) had been returned to the communist country

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian (pictured above) warned Australia against harming China’s sovereignty, security and development interests

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) said this week that « Australia will not concede its national interests or hand over its laws to another country »

Foreign ministers of the five countries said this week that the Chinese government’s new decision that excluded four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong appears to be «  part of a coordinated campaign to silence all critical voices.  ».

The joint statement also described the decision as a « breach of China’s international obligations » as well as its « commitment to grant Hong Kong a high degree of independence and freedom of expression. ». .

Mr. Legian also said that Hong Kong is « an inalienable part of China » and that government officials should « be loyal to the motherland. ».

This comes amid reports that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to attack Australia’s human rights record, including the treatment of indigenous Australians..

An embassy official told The Age China that it would work with NGOs to try to uncover Australia’s reckless behavior against non-indigenous people and those in the care of the elderly..

At the top of the list of 14 people, Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19, as well as the decision to ban Huawei from publishing the 5G network and ban many foreign investment deals..

11. « An outrageous condemnation of China’s ruling party by lawmakers and racist attacks against Chinese or Asians »

Mr Morrison said Australia will not concede its national interests or hand over its laws to another country.

« We make our laws and our rules and continue our relations for our interests and we stand with other countries, whether it be on human rights issues or things that happen around the world, including in China, »

.

On November 3, Chinese customs stopped a shipment of Australian lobsters and charcoal, wine and timber will soon follow..

The authoritarian regime continues to target Australian exports as tensions escalate between Beijing and Canberra in the wake of the pandemic.

The Communist Party has received unofficial instructions for all Chinese companies to stop buying Australian barley, sugar, red wine, logs, charcoal, crab and copper starting Friday..

The Communist Party has received unofficial instructions for all Chinese companies to stop buying Australian barley, sugar, red wine, logs, charcoal, crabs, and copper (pictured, an employee stacking Australian wine on shelves in Beijing)

This means that none of these products that arrive after Friday will not be cleared from customs, as China is looking to turn the screws in Australia’s largest export market, valued at more than $ 150 billion.. .

Since April, China has already imposed an 80 percent tariff on Australian barley, suspended imports of beef and cotton, and asked students and tourists not to travel down.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said that China discriminates against Australian exports and breaches the 2015 free trade agreement between the two countries.

In August, Beijing accused Australian exporters of selling wine in China at an artificially low price to eliminate competition and increase market share, a practice known as « dumping ».

The dumping allegations came after Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye made economic threats against Australia in May.

“It’s up to the people to decide. Maybe ordinary people will say why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef? AFR said.

In the wake of economic threats, the Australian barley industry has been hit with crippling tariffs and an arbitrary ban has also been imposed on the four largest beef producers in the country..

2019: Australian intelligence agencies concluded that China was responsible for a cyberattack on the Australian Parliament and three major political parties in the run-up to the May elections. .

April 2020: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison begins polling fellow world leaders for an investigation into the origin of the Coronavirus pandemic. . Britain and France were hesitant at first, but more than 100 countries ultimately support the investigation.

April 15: Morrison is one of the few leaders to express sympathy for Donald Trump’s criticism of the World Health Organization, which the US president accuses of being biased toward China. .

April 21: The Chinese embassy accuses Australian Foreign Minister Peter Dutton of « blind ignorance and bigotry » and « imitating what these Americans have confirmed » after he called on China to be more transparent about the outbreak..

April 23: Australian Agriculture Minister David Littlebrud called on the G20 countries to launch a campaign against the common « wet markets » in China associated with the first cases of coronavirus.. .

April 26: Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingyi hinted at a boycott of Australian wine and beef, and said that tourists and students might avoid Australia « even though it is not friendly to China ». Canberra rejects threat, warns Beijing of ‘economic coercion’.

May 11: China halted beef imports from four of Australia’s largest meat plants. This represents more than a third of one dollar in Australia. One billion beef exported to China.

May 18: The World Health Organization supports a partial epidemic investigation, but China says it is a « joke » for Australia to claim credit for it. On the same day, China imposes an 80 percent tariff on Australian barley. Australia says it may challenge that at the World Trade Organization.

May 21: China announces new iron ore import rules that could allow Australian imports – typically worth $ 41 billion annually – to discriminate on the basis of additional bureaucratic checks.

June 5: Beijing warns tourists against traveling to Australia, citing racism and violence against Chinese in connection with Covid-19.

June 9: The Chinese Ministry of Education warns students not to think twice about studying in Australia, citing similarly to alleged racist incidents.

June 19: Australia says it is under cyber attack from a foreign country that government sources say it believes is China. Morrison said the attack targeted industry, schools, hospitals, and government officials.

July 9: Australia suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong and offered to extend visas for 10,000 Hong Kong residents who are already in Australia due to China’s national security law that effectively bans protest.

August 18: China launches 12-month anti-dumping investigation of Australian wine imported into major threat to $ 6 billion industry.

August 26: Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that he will pass legislation to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that conflict with Australia’s foreign policy.. Analysts said it was targeting China

October 13: Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says he is investigating reports that Chinese customs officials have informally notified steelmakers and state-owned power plants to stop Australian coal, leaving it in ships offshore. .

November 2: Agriculture Minister David Littlebrud reveals that China is halting imports of Australian lobsters by inspecting them for minerals.

November 3: Barley, sugar, red wine, logs, charcoal, lobster and copper are banned from Friday.

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China, the pro-democracy camp, Five Eyes, Hong Kong Legislative Assembly, Hui Chi-fung