Australia, New Zealand concerned over Hong Kong developments, chide Chinese treatment of Uyghurs

Australia and New Zealand expressed concern over Hong Kong developments and also criticised China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. On Indo-Pacific, both Australia and New Zealand wanted a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific region and would work to ensure that goal was not threatened by rising tensions between the United States and China.

Canberra [Australia]: Australia and New Zealand expressed "deep concern over developments that limit the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong" and also criticised China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hosted her Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, for talks on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.

In a joint declaration, the two leaders called on Beijing to respect their human rights and grant the United Nations and other independent observers unfettered access to Xinjiang.

On the World Health Organization's inquiry into the origins of the pandemic, both leaders told reporters they hoped the global health body's investigation would continue.

"It's got nothing to do with global politics," Morrison said. "This has nothing to do with anything other than ensuring that the global pandemic, which has caused such havoc around the world, stealing lives and livelihoods, that we understand how this occurred so we can do everything we possibly can to ensure that it does not happen again."

On Indo-Pacific, both Australia and New Zealand wanted a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific region and would work to ensure that goal was not threatened by rising tensions between the United States and China.

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"The world is being characterised by increased strategic competition between the US and China, that is a self-evident fact," he said. "I would say our shared view is that such strategic competition does not need to lead to an increased likelihood of conflict."

Last year, China imposed a harsh national security law on Hong Kong following the anti-government protests. The protests were sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill with mainland China.

Since then, the pro-China Hong Kong administration has launched a crackdown against pro-democracy lawmakers, activists and businessmen.

More than 10,200 people have been arrested in connection with the anti-government protests, the Hong Kong Department of Justice said in April.

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Of those, more than 2,500 have been prosecuted and more than 600 convicted on charges including unlawful assembly, arson, rioting, possession of offensive weapons, assaulting a police officer and desecrating the Chinese national flag.

Separately, more than 100 people have been arrested under the security law or by the local police unit that was set up last summer to enforce it. Of those, 57 have been charged, John Lee, the security secretary, said last week.

ANI