The arrest of dozens of opposition figures in Hong Kong has directly led to international criticism, including from Taiwan and the United States.
The proposed new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Beijing of an “attack on democracy”. He promised Hong Kong residents that they could count on the support of Joe Biden’s incoming government.
Republican Senator Ben Sasse concluded that Chinese leader Xi Jinping sees “America is divided and distracted” and takes advantage of it. He called the ruling Chinese communists “cowardly dictators”. Prominent activist Nathan Law, who has fled to Britain from Hong Kong, said authorities want to “stifle the fires of resistance.”
Hong Kong police have confirmed that 53 arrests have been made. This happened during a major operation involving more than a thousand agents of the security forces. Hong Kong Security Minister John Lee called the arrests “necessary”. He said it would be targeting people who want to “plunge Hong Kong into the abyss”.
Those arrested include well-known opposition politicians as well as young activists. It would be the enormous wave of arrests since China introduced a controversial security law in the former British crown colony.
It has belonged to communist China since 1997, which promised that the area would receive special status for at least half a century.
