The European Parliament recently passed a resolution denouncing China's escalating crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing. The resolution specifically highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation since the implementation of the national security law in 2020. It called for the release of activist publisher Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy figures, urging targeted sanctions against officials responsible for the ongoing crackdown, including Hong Kong leader John Lee.

China's Foreign Ministry office in Hong Kong responded swiftly, accusing the EU Parliament of interfering in China's internal affairs and using Hong Kong as a pawn to hinder China's growth. They dismissed the resolution as a futile attempt to contain China and reaffirmed the Hong Kong government's commitment to upholding the law and prosecuting alleged crimes.

Hong Kong, a former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise of retaining its Western-style freedoms for 50 years, has seen a significant erosion of these freedoms following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The subsequent crackdown has led to an exodus of democracy advocates and professionals, prompting sanctions from the U.S. against Hong Kong officials.

The image above depicts EU and Chinese flags, symbolizing the ongoing diplomatic tension between the two entities. (John Thys/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Beijing views the pro-democracy movement as a Western conspiracy and has aggressively pursued legal action against those involved. The existence of alleged Chinese “overseas police stations” in various countries, purportedly providing citizen services, has further fueled tensions. The EU Parliament condemned these alleged stations as attempts to target diaspora communities.

The adopted resolution also called for the repeal of the National Security Law and an end to the alleged obstruction of journalists' work. China dismissed the resolution as mere political posturing. Separately, China criticized a U.S. State Department report on human trafficking in Hong Kong, labeling it politically biased and accusing the U.S. of using human rights as a tool for stigmatization. The report, however, acknowledged Hong Kong's efforts to combat trafficking while noting that it fell short of minimum standards.

This diplomatic clash comes just before Chinese Premier Li Qiang's scheduled visit to Germany and France, adding further complexity to the relationship between China and the EU. Visits by EU politicians to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, have further exacerbated tensions.