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Corona-Zoff: China warns Trump of "cold war" - "political virus spreads"

2020-05-24T15:00:38.665Z


China's People's Congress is all about the corona pandemic - only heads of state and government do without a mask. A message to Hong Kong is worrying.


China's People's Congress is all about the corona pandemic - only heads of state and government do without a mask. A message to Hong Kong is worrying.

  • The People's Congress in China started late on Friday (May 22) .
  • Both economic plans and possible new measures in Hong Kong caused concern in the rest of the world.
  • US President Donald Trump responded with a threat.

Update of May 24, 2020: In view of increasing tensions, the Chinese government has even warned the US of a " new Cold War ".

"We have noticed that some US political forces have taken US-China relations hostage and are putting our two countries on the brink of a new Cold War," said China's Secretary of State Wang Yi at an online press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing - obviously a swipe at US President Donald Trump . "In addition to the devastation caused by the new corona virus, there is also a political virus that is spreading in the United States," Wang said. This means that China is "attacked and slandered at every opportunity". "I call on the United States to stop, waste time and waste valuable life."

In addition to the dispute over responsibility for the corona pandemic , the relationship between the United States and China is being burdened by a new security law for Hong Kong planned by Beijing. Greens faction leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt calls on the German government to take action regarding the Chinese legal plans for Hong Kong. “The federal government must no longer be rabbit-footed when dealing with China. Foreign Minister Maas should appoint the Chinese ambassador and make it clear to him that passing the law will not be without consequences, ”she said on Sunday.

After Corona: China shocks Hong Kong - Merkel suddenly in focus, USA see "death blow"

Update of May 22, 3:55 p.m .: China apparently is planning an even tougher course in its Hong Kong policy - democracy activist Joshua Wong has therefore asked Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) for help. He appealed to Merkel and the federal government to "stand with Hong Kong and take a stand," Wong said on Friday of the picture . The planned new security law for Hong Kong, which Beijing can use to classify and ban "all protests and calls for democracy" as "attempted coups", means the end of all freedom, Wong said.

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Angela Merkel visits China - here in September 2016 at the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

© AFP / JOHANNES EISELE

The Greens also tried to make the chancellor responsible. Any criticism of the limitation of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedom of expression can be punished in the future, warned Bundestag parliamentary group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt . "I urge the German government to emphatically convey to Xi Jinping that passing the law will not be without consequences."

Any criticism of the limitation of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedom of expression can be punished in the future. I urge the German government to emphatically convey to Xi Jinping that passing the law will not be without consequences. 2/3

- Katrin Göring-Eckardt MdB (@GoeringEckardt) May 22, 2020

Meanwhile , President Donald Trump's US government has described China's proposed restrictive security laws for Hong Kong as a " death blow " for the vast autonomy of the metropolis. The planned "unilateral and arbitrary" enactment of such laws is condemned, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. The United States urged China to rethink the "devastating proposals" and instead stick to international agreements on Hong Kong's special status, which guarantees autonomy, civil rights and democratic institutions. 

After Corona: China's People's Congress starts and shocks Hong Kong and stock exchanges - Trump threatens

First announcement: Beijing - The Chinese People's Congress started in Beijing two months late . The annual meeting of the 3,000 delegates is all about the Corona crisis - for the first time in years, the Chinese government has not announced a growth target. This is causing concern on the stock exchanges. Many observers are also concerned about Beijing's new plans for Hong Kong.

Corona virus hits China: bad news for the economy - Xi Jinping without a mask despite pandemic 

Because of the corona pandemic, the annual meeting of the 3,000 delegates to the People's Congress had been postponed by two months and was also reduced from the usual two weeks to one week. Most delegates in the Great Hall of the People wore face masks on Friday. However, head of state Xi Jinping and prime minister Li Keqiang did not. The fight against the virus is the focus of the conference. This began with a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the pandemic .

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People's Congress in China: Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang at the People's Congress on Friday - without a mask.

© dpa / -

As a result of the pandemic, the country is facing "enormous" economic challenges, Prime Minister Li Keqiang said at the start of the conference. In view of this "great uncertainty", Beijing will concentrate on stabilizing the labor market. Li announced new debt and additional billions in spending to fight the economic consequences of the pandemic. According to him, new corona government bonds amounting to one trillion yuan (128 billion euros) are planned. Like China, the entire world economy is currently grappling with the pandemic consequences.

People's Congress launched in China: Hong Kong plans worry - "This is the end"

Li also announced in his government report a new security law for Hong Kong , which should cause new unrest there. China's leadership wants to set up and use its own national security organs in Hong Kong "if necessary" in the future. 

A draft decision states that the Chinese special administrative region must improve the institutions and implementation mechanisms to maintain national security. However, if necessary, the competent security authorities of the Beijing central government should set up branches in Hong Kong "to meet the relevant national security obligations under the law."

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People's Congress in China.

© dpa / Ng Han Guan

Leaders of Hong Kong's pro-democratic forces condemned the move as an attack on civil rights in the Special Administrative Region. "This is the end of Hong Kong," said opposition MP Dennis Kwok. Washington also received massive criticism of the proposed law. US President Donald Trump threatened a "strong" response from his government. The Hong Kong stock exchange declined by more than five percent.

In the past year, there were mass demonstrations in Hong Kong for seven months against Beijing's growing influence on the Special Administrative Region.

China: New Intervention in Hong Kong? Exchange investors "really scared"

According to observers, the planned security law should target activities that Beijing perceives as subversive or that could aim for independence. Critics see a massive attack on the "one country, two systems" principle that the former British crown colony has been managed largely autonomously since it was returned to China in 1997. The pro-democratic forces in Hong Kong fear that they will become the target of the new security law.

News from China pushed the Dax below the 11,000 point mark on Friday. "The announcements of the People's Congress really scared the investors," said market expert Thomas Altmann from the asset manager QC Partners.

Donald Trump has been in a trade dispute with China for months. In one point, however, he acts similarly to the heads of state in Beijing - Trump also likes to do without masks in the pandemic.

AFP / dpa / fn

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-05-24

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