⁍ New Zealand has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
⁍ Decision follows China’s decision to pass a national security law for the territory.
⁍ Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China.
– New Zealand has become the fourth country to suspend an extradition treaty with Hong Kong since China passed a new security law for the former British colony earlier this month. “New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China,” Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said in a statement, per Reuters. “If China in future shows adherence to the ‘one country, two systems’ framework then we could reconsider this decision.” Peters said New Zealand will treat military and dual-use goods and technology exports to Hong Kong in the same way it treats such exports to China as part of a review of its overall relationship with Hong Kong. Travel advice has been updated to alert New Zealanders to the risks presented by the new security law, he added. China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade recently exceeding $21 billion. New Zealand’s ties with China have frayed recently after the Pacific nation backed Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-newzealand/new-zealand-suspends-extradition-treaty-with-hong-kong-idUSKCN24S2U1