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Australia joins UK, Japan in expressing concern over China's treatment of Uyghurs, Hong Kong - ABC News

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Australia joins UK, Japan in expressing concern over China's treatment of Uyghurs, Hong KongShareAustralia has expressed its "deep and growing concerns" over China's imposition of a new national security bill in Hong Kong and human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.Australia was one of 27 countries that issued a joint statement at the Human Rights Council, calling for China to allow the UN body's Commissioner, "meaningful access to Xinjiang at the earliest opportunity."It follows the publication of a major investigation into China's use of Presented by the UK's Ambassador to the UN, Julian Braithwaite, the statement reiterated the countries' "concern about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly targeting Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang".The Human Rights Council statement was also signed by Japan, New Zealand and a number of European countries.It came after almost 50 UN independent experts last week expressed "grave concerns" over the human rights situation in China, "especially [for] religious and ethnic minorities, in Xinjiang and Tibet", calling upon the Human Rights Council to urgently monitor Chinese human rights practices.Australia has been a&nbsp;."We further wish to raise our deep and growing concerns at the imposition of legislation related to national security on Hong Kong, with clear implications for the human rights of people in Hong Kong," the statement said.Elaine Pearson, Australia director at Human Rights Watch, told the ABC: "It's commendable that Australia joined 26 other governments in expressing concern about China's horrendous human rights abuses in places like Xinjiang and encroachments on civil liberties in Hong Kong.""This is a pivotal moment to bring attention to the rapidly deteriorating situation there with the passage of the national security law.""Australia is troubled by the law's implications for Hong Kong's judicial independence, and on the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong, both of which underpin the city's success," Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement, "That this decision was made without the direct participation of Hong Kong's people, legislature or judiciary is a further cause for concern," Senator Payne said."The&nbsp;eyes of the world will remain on Hong Kong."Senator Payne's comments come after a senior official from amid .Today also marks 23 years since the handover under the , in which China promised that, "Hong Kong's capitalist system and way of life would remain unchanged for 50 years".condemning the national security law, which it said was intended to "clearly undermine" Hong Kong's autonomy."We also continue to recognise the great contribution that people from Hong Kong have made, and continue to make, to Australia," Senator Payne added."Our people-to-people links are deep — stretching back 200 years — and continue to strengthen.""Australia has been a favoured destination for people from Hong Kong, and we will work to ensure it stays that way," she said.China's Government says the law is necessary following anti-government protests that escalated in June last year and plunged the city into its biggest crisis in decades.Some Australians of Hong Kong origin Developments over the past year have seen some Hongkongers think about&nbsp;, while others are&nbsp;Australia-based activists since the beginning of last year's mass protests in Hong Kong.Beijing meanwhile accused US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of being a "brazen liar" after he responded to reports of what "Mr Pompeo is a brazen liar," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responding to Mr Pompeo's comments denouncing Beijing's policies in Xinjiang, calling upon it to "end these horrific practices" and asking "all nations to join the United States in demanding an end to these dehumanising abuses.""The Chinese Communist Party is using forced sterilisation, forced abortion, and coercive family planning against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, as part of a continuing campaign of repression," Mr Pompeo said.Reiterating Beijing's official response to allegations of mass human rights abuses against Uyghurs, Mr Zhao said: "The Chinese government&nbsp;equally protects the legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, including ethnic minorities."Mr Zhao took aim at race relations in the United States, particularly in light of the "Let's&nbsp;take&nbsp;American&nbsp;Indians for example. The US government has been implementing genocide, racial segregation and assimilation policies on them," Mr Zhao said."We urge US politicians like Mr Pompeo to reject bias and double standards, face up to the&nbsp;issue&nbsp;of racial discrimination&nbsp;at home … and immediately stop smearing China and interfering in China's internal affairs by&nbsp;creating rumours under the pretext of Xinjiang."1 Jul 20201 Jul 2020Wed 1 Jul 2020 at 2:55amMore on:

Australia joins UK, Japan in expressing concern over China's treatment of Uyghurs, Hong KongShareAustralia has expressed its "deep and growing concerns" over China's imposition of a new national security bill in Hong Kong and human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.Australia was one of 27 countries that issued a joint statement at the Human Rights Council, calling for China to allow the UN body's Commissioner, "meaningful access to Xinjiang at the earliest opportunity."It follows the publication of a major investigation into China's use of Presented by the UK's Ambassador to...

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Australia joins UK, Japan in expressing concern over China's treatment of Uyghurs, Hong Kong - ABC News

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