Palau joined 26 other nations in opposing China’s new security law in Hong Kong, seen as limiting the rights and freedom of the city and its people.
President Tommy Remengesau said that Hong Kong’s autonomy is essential to peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Hong Kong’s autonomy under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle is an important part of regional peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, which is why Palau regrets the enactment of the new national security legislation in Hong Kong.”
Palau is one of the few allies of Taiwan, which considers itself as an independent country despite China’s claim that it’s a breakaway province.
President Remengesau is urging the “Chinese and Hong Kong Governments to reconsider the legislation and engage Hong Kong’s people, institutions, and judiciary to safeguard and preserve their rights and freedoms.”
At the Human Rights Council in Geneva, last week 53 countries backed China’s new security law.Those that opposed China included Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and two small nations in the Pacific, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Nations that opposed the new law said that China should “engage Hong Kong’s people, institutions and judiciary to prevent further erosion of the rights and freedoms that the people of Hong Kong have enjoyed for many years.”
Countries that support China said that the nation has the right to enact its own laws.
Backing China is Cuba, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea. (B. Carreon)