Washington has condemned China’s move to reform Hong Kong’s electoral system, calling it an ongoing offensive against democracy in the region. predicted “difficult” talks with China’s top diplomats next week.
“The reforms approved by the National People’s Congress today, March 11, are a direct attack on Hong Kong autonomy, “His freedoms and democratic processes, a restriction on political participation, a reduction in democratic representation and a stifling of political dialogue,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
The Chinese parliament yesterday almost unanimously approved the reform of the electoral system in Hong Kong, which gives the government the right to veto pro-democracy opposition candidates in parliamentary elections.
Ignoring warnings from Western capitals, the estimated 3,000 members of the National Assembly approved, as expected, the “draft decision to improve the electoral system” in the former British colony.
Price said the United States would be honest with China that its actions challenged US values ​​when Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with top Chinese officials March 18 in Alaska, the first high-level private talks between the two countries. the Biden government.
«I expect that there will be some difficult conversations“, he said. “We will certainly not chew our words discussing the areas we disagree with.”
The US will also explore areas of cooperation with China where it is in the US interest, including climate change, the State Department spokesman added.
“But the issue remains that we do not want to engage in conversations just to talk,” he said. «We expect Beijing… to demonstrate this seriousness of purpose, to show that he seeks to live up to his own often expressed desire to change the tone of bilateral relations “.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said earlier yesterday that China and the United States have common interests and many areas for co-operation, and Beijing hopes that ties can be developed in a healthy way based on respect for each country’s vital interests, in a cooperation beneficial to all and non-interference in internal affairs.

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