Head of EU diplomacy: sanctions are not the way to solve problems with China

The European Union is not considering imposing sanctions against China after the decision of the PRC authorities to develop a national security law for Hong Kong, said EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

He spoke on the basis of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in a video conference format, the main topic of which was relations with China.

“Only one country mentioned sanctions. I believe that sanctions are not a method to solve our problems with China”, – Borrel said at a press conference in Brussels.

On Thursday, deputies of the All-China People’s Congress adopted a “Decision to create and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms to ensure national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”. The resolution delegates to the NPC Standing Committee the development of a national security bill specifically for Hong Kong. Earlier, the South China Morning Post newspaper, citing an informed source, reported that it would take the NPC PC about two weeks to pass the law, which means that it can come into force in August.