China has escalated diplomatic tensions by urging countries to boycott an event organized by the United Kingdom at the United Nations in Geneva. The event, titled ‘Media Freedom in Hong Kong,’ is scheduled alongside the UN Human Rights Council meeting and is expected to feature Sebastien Lai, the son of incarcerated media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
China, through a widely circulated letter among UN diplomats, has called upon nations to abstain from participating in the event concerning Hong Kong media freedom. The Chinese diplomatic note underscored that Hong Kong-related issues are considered China’s internal affairs and should not be subject to external interference.
Four diplomats have confirmed the receipt of this communication, with three of them revealing that Chinese diplomats have individually contacted some countries to discourage attendance or support for the event. These diplomats chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter.
However, despite China’s efforts, at least 22 countries have co-sponsored the event, including notable nations such as the United States, France, and Germany.
Tensions between China and the United Kingdom have intensified in recent years, primarily centered on Hong Kong. The UK has accused China of violating the handover agreement that guaranteed extensive freedoms for the city, arguing that Beijing’s efforts to assert control over Hong Kong contradict this agreement. Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
This month, the UK released a report criticizing Hong Kong authorities for expanding the application of a Beijing-imposed national security law, asserting that it extended beyond genuine national security concerns. Jimmy Lai, who has been in detention for over 1,000 days, is awaiting trial under this new law, which is scheduled to begin on December 18 and may last for 80 days.
China, which is currently a member of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and is seeking re-election, has a history of countering criticism of its human rights record. Last year, it urged the former UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, not to publish a highly-anticipated report on arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, citing potential charges of crimes against humanity.
By Reuters
