Posted on 07/31/2020 9:42:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
China is threatening to stop recognizing the British passports held by millions of Hong Kongers, creating the prospect of up to three million people being banned from leaving the region.
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, on Thursday issued the threat in the latest escalation of a dispute between London and Beijing which began when China imposed a draconian security law on Hong Kong, a former British colony.
The new law, which has seen hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong arrested, prompted Boris Johnson's UK government to offer all Hong Kong citizens — some three million people — the chance to live and work in Britain via five years limited leave, which could then lead to full UK citizenship.
Xiaoming yesterday warned the UK that China would take steps to stop recognizing British national (overseas) passports as valid travel documents, effectively banning Hong Kong citizens from leaving and moving to the UK.
"Since the UK violated the pledge and commitment on BNO we have to take other measures not to recognise the BNO as a valid travel document," he said in a press conference on Thursday.
He insisted "China threatens no one" but "we just let you know the consequences."
Xiaoming said: "China wants to be a friend of the UK and a UK partner, but if you do not want to be a partner and our friend, and you want to treat China as a hostile power, you will pay the price.
"We have a thousand reasons to make this relationship successful and not one reason to make it fail."
The new law imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese Communist Party, which is also opposed by the European Union and the US, is designed to curtail anti-government protests there.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
This is also a good option.
After making the 3M Hong Kong people citizens of the UK, then UK can claim that the CCP has violated the treaty and re-establish ownership of HK.
Yes, a fight will be required, but maybe it’s time.
Of course, if we once again recognize the government of Taiwan as the official government of China, give them China’s seat on the Security Council, things become a little easier......
RE: Threaten to recognize Taiwan if China follows through with their threat.
Do that and be prepared for war. China invades.
One single cruise missle on Three Gorges Dam and all of this goes away.
I doubt China would invade if the UK recognized Taiwan. China cares more about what the United Stated would do.
Besides, China doesn’t want a war. They want to win without fighting.
RE: Besides, China doesn’t want a war. They want to win without fighting.
I hope you’re right. I just find their spending on the military, with their aggression in the South China Sea and India, to be quite disheartening.
EXCELLENT IDEA - Boris has shown he has balls a time or two!
I would urge Hong Kongers to get out now.
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