China on Tuesday expressed anger after German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has met prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, saying that no foreign country had a right to interfere in China’s internal affairs.
On Monday, During an event in Berlin which was hosted by the German newspaper BILD, Wong has met FM Mass.
After being held for around 24 hours at the Hong Kong airport on Sunday for allegedly breaching the terms of his bail, Wong arrived in Berlin where he said he would “continue his battle for free elections”.
Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had visited Beijing.
Last month, Wong who was one of the main leaders of the Umbrella Revolution in 2014, was arrested ahead of a proposed mass protest that has been banned by police
Hong Kong has been shaken by weeks of protests against a now-shelved extradition bill and now focused more on securing greater freedoms for Hong Kong.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China was “extremely dissatisfied and resolutely opposed” to German allowing Wong to visit and to allow him to meet the German foreign minister.
“China has already lodged stern representations with the German side,” Hua told a daily news briefing.
Hong Kong is an internal affair and no foreign government, organization or individual has a right to interfere, she added.
Hua also said that during Merkel visit, she clearly said that she opposes violence and supports “one country, two systems”.
China urges Germany to abide by its promises and avoid sending wrong messages to separatist Hong Kong forces, and urges Maas to abide by the basics of international law and act for the benefit of relations and not be a “damager” of the relationship, Hua added.
Earlier in the day, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had warned the United States not to “interfere” with her government’s response to the city’s pro-democracy movement after fresh protests called on Washington to ramp up pressure on Beijing.
Lam now has formally withdrawn the proposed law. The move meets one of five demands made by the protestors.
Hong Kong returned to Beijing from British rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.