US Vice President tells Hong Kong protesters: We stand with you

Tan KW

Publish date: Fri, 25 Oct 2019, 11:01 AM

WASHINGTON: Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing “rights and liberties” in Hong Kong in a wide-ranging critique of Beijing’s behavior but also insisted that the United States does not seek confrontation or to “de-couple” from its main economic rival.

Pence delivered a major policy address on China just ahead of a new round of talks aimed at resolving a bitter trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

“No longer will America and its leaders hope that economic engagement alone will transform Communist China’s authoritarian state into a free and open society that respects private property, the rule of law, and the international rules of commerce,” he said.

Pence took China to task over its handling of pro-democracy protests that have rocked Hong Kong for more than four months. President Donald Trump has warned previously that it would be harder for Washington to make a trade deal with Beijing if there were violence in the former British colony.

“Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen when China embraces liberty,” he said. “And yet, for the last few years, Beijing has increased its interventions in Hong Kong and engaged in actions that curtail the rights and liberties that Hong Kong’s people were guaranteed through a binding international agreement.”

He said the United States stands with the protesters in Hong Kong.

“We stand with you, we are inspired by you. We urge you to stay on the path of non-violent protest,” Pence said.

US lawmakers are pushing legislation that would put Hong Kong’s special status under tighter scrutiny, which would anger Beijing.

- Reuters

Discussions

Be the first to like this. Showing 3 of 3 comments

ks55

Damp stupid Pence like to 'transform' Chinese govt.
Does he mean to topple present govt through Hongkong unrest?
How come he doesn't know it is Donald Duck who desperately wanted a trade deal?
Duck started trade war, and this Duck wants to end it so desperate that he prophecies outcome of trade talk before it starts.
Easy to win trade war? My foot!
China's contention is Donald Duck will never win trade war.
President Xi already launch 'Long March' against US, and everybody knows Long March was a very long hard fought campaign with a lot of sacrifices, but final outcome is bitter victory to China. Thence on, US will be derogated to tier 2 power, just like Britain now......

2019-10-25 11:21

ks55

If US govt can render support to Hongkong rioters (aka criminals or reclassified as terrorists), it should not invade Libya or Iraq for their support those who attack US homeland.

Clearly US is practicing double standard in all aspects to fit into its political agenda. What a shameful american like 5 Pence.......

2019-10-25 11:31

Junichiro

Beware. Overnight, the Kurds became non-US allies. US has a long history of making use of others to achieve their cause and abandon them when they outlive their usefulness.

Thailand learned the painful lesson. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, US withdrew every personnel from Thailand leaving the US ally in danger. AS US bombed Vietnam using its airbase in Thailand, Vietnamese leader, Phan Van Dong, threaten to invade Thailand.

President Carter simply said, "US will no longer be the policeman of Asia."

2019-10-25 14:35

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