Pompeo Meets UK’s Raab For ‘Candid’ Discussions on China Tensions in London

LONDON (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held “candid´´ discussions in London with one of America´s closest allies on Tuesday, amid growing tensions between the West and China.

Hong Kong and human rights figured high on the agenda as Pompeo met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the U.K. leader´s office said.

The session came just hours after Britain suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and blocked arms sales to the former British territory – angering Beijing – after China imposed a tough new national security law.

We know that U.S.-UK cooperation is absolutely integral to global security and stability. Glad to meet with @DominicRaab once again – our dynamic discussion covering our shared security concerns and our continued coordination within the G7 reinforced how deep U.S.-UK ties are. pic.twitter.com/RHgmxdAZoT

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 21, 2020

China´s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, warned on Twitter that the U.K. should “bear the consequences of damaging bilateral relations.” He described the new measure as gross interference on the part of the U.K. in Chinese internal affairs.

Pompeo described his talks in London as being “constructive´´ and “candid,” and ranging “from 5G telecommunication to our negotiations for a U.S.-UK free trade agreement.”

Pompeo will also meet with senior members of Johnson´s Conservative Party who blocked plans to give Chinese telecommunications company Huawei a role in the U.K.´s new high-speed mobile phone network.

The U.S. has lobbied its allies to shun Huawei because it says the Chinese government could use the company´s technology to spy on Western nations. Huawei denies the allegations and argues that U.S. protectionism was behind the move.

Britain followed the United States, Australia and Canada in suspending extradition agreements with Hong Kong, which became a special administrative region of China after the U.K. returned control of the territory to Beijing in 1997.

Constructive visit with @BorisJohnson today. Our two countries’ long-standing, strong bilateral relationship has laid the foundation for today’s candid discussion on issues ranging from 5G telecommunication to our negotiations for a U.S.-UK free trade agreement. pic.twitter.com/9j1o3bK8e6

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 21, 2020

Events in Hong Kong are particularly sensitive for Britain because China agreed to a “one country, two systems´´ policy intended to protect the economic and social traditions of the territory for 50 years after the handover.

Britain and its allies believe the security law imposed by Beijing threatens that agreement because it restricts free speech and erodes the judicial independence of Hong Kong. The law makes crimes such as promoting secession punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. It also allows some cases to be tried on the mainland – which means people extradited to Hong Kong could end up being tried in mainland courts.

The U.K. has already accused the Beijing government of violating the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Hong Kong was returned to China, and announced it would open a special route to citizenship for up to 3 million eligible residents of the territory.