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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Blinken deletes tweet saying US would ‘stand with people of Hong Kong’, posts watered-down version

  • US secretary of state initially put the post up on September 16 but replaced it with a more muted version, later explaining position was unchanged despite criticism and questions
  • A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry’s Hong Kong office criticised ‘irresponsible comments from certain US politicians’ on Hong Kong

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has regularly criticised Beijing’s handling of Hong Kong’s opposition camp. Photo: EPA-EFE
Mimi Lau
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken deleted a tweet that said the United States would “stand with the people of Hong Kong”, a post in which he accused Beijing of weakening the city’s long-term political stability.
He posted the message after seven Hong Kong opposition district councillors were disqualified this week, with authorities declaring that the oaths taken by them were invalid.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry’s Hong Kong office issued a statement on Friday strongly opposing “irresponsible comments from certain US politicians” on Hong Kong, saying that “no US slanders” would deter the nation’s determination to enforce “patriots administering Hong Kong”.

“[The seven district councillors] smeared the Chinese central government and the HKSAR government, stood on the side of anti-China, destabilising forces in Hong Kong and interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs as a whole,” the statement said, referring to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The statement said it was common international practice to require an oath of allegiance, set out qualifications for legislators and ensure their national identity and political loyalty through legislation.

“It is sheer hypocrisy and [a] double standard that the US vilifies the just measure of the HKSAR government, even as it itself has an ‘iron net’ system to require public officers to swear allegiance at home, and disqualifies lawmakers for violating parliamentary rules.”

Image: Twitter
Image: Twitter

Blinken initially tweeted his criticism with an upfront tone on September 16.

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